Volume 36, Number 2

February 2007

Rheumatology in Singapore – Moving Forward

The practice of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology has made big strides in the last decade. The availability of immune modifiers, e.g. anti-cytokine agents, has changed the therapeutic landscape of arthritis treatment. What is refractory arthritis previously had now become controllable disease. This article is available only as a PDF. Please...

Interleukin-18 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms in Chinese Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Association With CC Genotype at Position –607

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterised by the production of high titres of autoantibodies and associated with a diverse array of clinical manifestations that include arthritis, vasculitis and nephritis. It is a complex disease, and genetic and environmental factors contribute to the disease pathogenesis. Abnormal Th1...

In vivo Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines in Normal and Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by severe joint deformities due to bony erosions and tendon damage. The chronic inflammatory process is mediated through a complex cytokine network. The clinical expressions and outcome of the disease can vary among different ethnic groups, possibly depending upon the...

Outcomes of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in Oriental Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

More than 75% of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are found in Asia, where hepatitis B is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).1 A hepatitis B seroprevalence survey conducted in 1999 showed that the overall prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB)...

The Value of Joint Aspirations in the Diagnosis and Management of Arthritis in a Hospital-based Rheumatology Service

Joint aspiration with synovial fluid analysis can provide information which complements that which is available from the history and physical examination of the patient, and can help to differentiate various causes of arthritis. It is most useful in monoarthritis, where septic arthritis as a medical emergency needs to be...