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Biomedical subjects

M H Ellman

Publications and source records attributed to M H Ellman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Crohn's disease arthritis treated with infliximab: an open trial in four patients.

Four patients with Crohn's disease arthritis, who were unresponsive to conventional treatment, improved very rapidly and safely with the use of infliximab, the chimeric antibody directed against tumor necrosis factor alpha. The patients were able to stop or significantly decrease other antirheumatic medications after the infliximab infusions. It is likely that tumor necrosis factor plays a major role in the arthritis as well as the bowel involvement that is seen in Crohn's disease. Suppression of this cytokine may effectively ameliorate Crohn's disease arthritis in some patients.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Therapeutic plasma exchange for the acute management of the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies as a marker of response to therapy.

We describe two patients with the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome associated with elevation of beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies and fulminant thrombotic diatheses. Both patients were treated with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), which resulted in a marked decrease in antibody titer accompanied by an improved clinical outcome in one patient (IgG antibody). In the second patient, the outcome was poor despite TPE (IgA antibody). There were no significant complications of TPE in either case. Because of the fulminant nature of the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, we conclude that a trial of TPE is warranted for the acute management. Further studies are needed to clarify which patients may benefit from this treatment.

Amputation, Surgical↗
PubMed1996

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease presenting as tumoral calcinosis (periarticular pseudogout).

It has been considered unusual for periarticular calcifications to consist of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD). We describe a patient presenting with pain and inflammation adjacent to the site of tumoral calcifications and extending to the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Aspiration of the material revealed weakly positive birefringent rhomboid shaped crystals that proved to be CPPD by atomic force microscopy. The patient had no metabolic abnormalities or radiographic chondrocalcinosis. We believe other cases similar to ours represent another clinical form of CPPD deposition disease-periarticular pseudogout.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Lymphoma developing in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis taking low dose weekly methotrexate.

We describe the occurrence of a lymphoma in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking weekly oral pulse methotrexate (MTX) in low doses for 33 months. This occurrence may be coincidental. There may be an increased incidence of lymphoma in RA not treated with immunosuppressive medications. However, the increasing use of MTX warrants reporting unusual events, especially malignancy. It is possible that even the mild immunosuppression that occurs with MTX therapy places patients with RA at added risk for developing lymphoproliferative diseases.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1989

Lack of association between hypothyroidism and chondrocalcinosis.

The association between hypothyroidism and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) is controversial. We studied the prevalence of chondrocalcinosis, the roentgenographic marker of CPPD by obtaining anteroposterior knee roentgenograms in 49 hypothyroid patients over the age of 40 years, and compared them with knee roentgenograms in 31 euthyroid patients matched for age and sex. Only 2 hypothyroid patients and one euthyroid control had knee chondrocalcinosis. Our results indicate that hypothyroid patients have no greater prevalence of chondrocalcinosis compared to euthyroid subjects. There are also no difference in the degree and prevalence of osteoarthritis between the 2 groups, although hypothyroid patients may have a higher prevalence of periarticular osteopenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Causes and management of shoulder arthritis.

We recommend that physicians distinguish shoulder arthritis from periarticular disorders. A specific diagnosis should be made in the former, if possible. A number of arthritides have frequent shoulder involvement, and they should be kept in mind. Septic arthritis should always be suspected when there is acute pain and swelling. Joint fluid aspiration should almost always be performed when fluid is present. The diagnosis of gout or CPPD deposition disease usually requires crystal identification from joint fluid for diagnosis. Treatment of shoulder arthritis with oral anti-inflammatory medication is usually indicated; appropriate treatment of the underlying disorder, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, is necessary. Physical therapy started early, often combined with IA corticosteroids, helps to maintain or improve shoulder motion.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1985

Ventricular tachycardia in acute rheumatic fever.

A 19-year-old man presented with fever, migratory polyarthritis, and palpitations; a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever was made. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory cardiac monitoring (Holter) performed during the patient's hospitalization revealed ventricular tachycardia. Although disturbances in cardiac conduction and rhythm are common during the acute phase of rheumatic fever, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, to our knowledge, have not been described. Recognition of this occurrence emphasizes the need for continuous cardiac monitoring in selected patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Shoulder arthritis. Distinguishing among the many causes of inflammation.

Shoulder inflammation occurs in many rheumatic diseases. It is present in about half of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis but in a higher percentage of patients with less common diseases (eg, amyloid arthropathy, polymyalgia rheumatica). Shoulder arthritis, probably more than arthritis involving any other joint, requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent loss of motion and function. For most patients, antiinflammatory medications, range of motion exercises, and instruction in joint protection constitute adequate treatment. A baseline shoulder roentgenogram is usually recommended. Intraarticular corticosteroid therapy may be a helpful adjunct, provided infection has been excluded.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Rheumatologic aspects of painful conditions affecting the shoulder.

Patients with shoulder arthritis present to the orthopedic surgeon due to joint pain and loss of shoulder motion. A differential diagnosis is established, based on the history and physical examination and selected laboratory tests and roentgenograms. Synovial fluid analysis is often very helpful in the diagnosis of shoulder arthritis and critical for differential diagnosis of inflammatory, degenerative, and septic arthritis. Shoulder involvement in primary osteoarthritis is uncommon. The shoulder is rarely the initial joint involved in rheumatoid arthritis. Several uncommon conditions, e.g., amyloid arthropathy and reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, may present early and frequently in the form of shoulder pain. The results of treatment are determined by etiology of shoulder joint disease. Patients with shoulder involvement in rheumatoid arthritis generally respond to the basic management for rheumatoid arthritis. Physical therapy to improve the range of motion of the shoulder and anti-inflammatory medications, including intra-articular corticosteroids, are helpful in most cases.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1982

Symptomatic spinal stenosis associated with ankylosing spondylitis.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis frequently experience back pain and they have a well-known propensity for spinal fractures, but they rarely manifest motor and sensory nerve root impairment. We recently encountered a patient with ankylosing spondylitis who complained of classical spinal claudication with urinary sphincter dysfunction. Computed axial tomography revealed marked lumbosacral lateral recess and foraminal spinal stenosis that was not evident on the myelogram; at operation the stenosis appeared to be the result of extensive posterior soft tissue ossification. This heretofore unrecognized yet potentially treatable complication of ankylosing spondylitis is discussed.

Cauda Equina↗