Amyopathic Dermatomyositis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Uncommon Presentation of Overlap Syndrome

Abstract

Abstract The objective of our study was to estimate Radiological change in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to determine the possible correlation with established prognostic markers in those patients. Patient and method: Follow up study patients were diagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), those patients were studied clinically, history of fatigue, morning stiffness, number of joint pain or swollen functional disability assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS 28), Radiographic assessment; Plain radiograph of the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, subtalar, hands and feet analysis by The Larsen score. The correlation coefficients between Radiographic changes and different prognostic markers were calculated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Result: Mean DAS 28 activity at baseline was (4.4 ± 1.2), Most patient had moderate or severe disease activity, the mean health assessment questionnaire score (HAQ) of patients (1.2) was indicated moderate disability. The mean Radiological change assessment by Larsen score (34-200) M=[106 ± 44.3) was reflect progression radiological score most of patient s had grade in between 2 to 3 (narrow joint space and erosion), The distribution erosive changes is The hands, Elbows, feet and knees were most frequently affected .the significant correlation between progression joint damage and age, duration disease, antibodies against citrullinated antigens (anti-CCP), rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Conclusion: Improvement in health assessment questionnaire score (HAQ) after treatment from baseline indication less destructive joints.