Kyung-Eun Lee

To determine the outcomes of Korean patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and to identify prognostic factors associated with improvement at 1-year follow-up. Forty-eight patients with FM were enrolled and examined every 3 months for 1 year. At the time of enrollment, we interviewed all patients using a structured questionnaire that recorded socio-demographic data, current or past FM symptoms, and current use of relevant medications. Tender point counts and scores were assessed by thumb palpation. Patients were asked to complete the Korean versions of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the SF-36, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Social Support Scale. Tender points, FIQ scores, and the use of relevant medications were recorded during one year of follow-up. Of the 48 patients, 32 (66.7%) had improved FIQ scores 1 year after enrollment. Improved patients had higher baseline FIQ scores (68.4±13.9 vs. 48.4±20.8, p=0.001) and STAI-II scores (55.8±10.9 vs. 11.5±11.5, p=0.022). Patients treated with pregabalin were more likely to improve after 1 year, based on the FIQ scores (71.9% vs. 37.5%, p=0.031). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, a higher STAI-II score at the time of enrollment and pregabalin treatment during one year of follow-up were the predictors of improvement. Two-thirds of our Korean FM patients experienced some clinical improvement by 1-year follow-up. A high baseline STAI-II score and treatment with pregabalin were the important predictor of improved FM.

Lee KE, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2016 Feb;31(2):190-195. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2016.31.2.190

No available anti-osteoporotic medication has been shown to completely prevent declines in bone mineral density (BMD) and the resulting increased risk of fracture. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors for treatment failure in osteoporotic patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A retrospective cohort study of 103 patients with RA and osteoporosis was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups for comparison: those whose osteoporosis treatment was effective and those whose treatment failed. Risk factors for treatment failure were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression using variables that differed significantly between the groups. Osteoporosis treatment failed in 66 of 103 patients (64.1%). During 14.01 months of follow-up, non-adherence to bisphosphonate use was the most powerful risk factor for treatment failure. Daily glucocorticoid dosage ≥ 7.5 mg/day before the first BMD measurement, immobilization > 3 months, and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) ≥ 3.2 were also significantly related to treatment failure. Our findings indicate that osteoporosis treatment fails frequently in RA patients and adherence to bisphosphonate use, daily glucocorticoid dosage, immobilization, and DAS28 score should be taken into consideration when treating osteoporotic patients with RA.

Choi JH, et al. J Rheum Dis. 2014 Aug;21(4):187-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2014.21.4.187

Kang JH, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2014 Sep;29(9):1205-1211. http://dx.doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.9.1205

Choi JH, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2014 Mar;29(3):334-337. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.3.334

Lee KE, et al. J Rheum Dis. 2013 Jun;20(3):186-189. http://dx.doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2013.20.3.186