Rheumatoid Arthritis of Man: A Study of 35 Cases in a Senegalese Hospital

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is predominant in women. In men certain clinical signs can delay diagnosis. Methods: A cross-section study of the epidemio-clinical and immunobiological features of rheumatoid arthritis in a male, black African population was carried out at the Aristide Le Dantec, University hospital of Dakar. Results: we studied 35 male subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Their mean age was 42 years and the average time between the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 44 months. In 70% of these patients, at least one joint deformation was present, most frequently an ulnar deviation of the fingers (34.3%). Extra-articular symptoms were dominated by dry eye syndrome (34%) and anemia (17%). Anemia was significantly less frequent in men than in women. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was accelerated in 51.4% and C reactive proteins were increased in 92% of patients. The rheumatoid factor was positive in all patients and the anticyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP) antibody was positive in 80% of cases. Conclusion: Male rheumatoid arthritis, relatively less studied, was associated with strongly positive immunological markers and a high rate of joint disorders.

Comorbidities and extra-articular manifestations of Rheumatoid arthritis in sub-Saharian Africa

“…HIV infection was present in 2.1 to 9.3% of the subjects surveyed [11][12]15]. (Table II) Nodules were observed in 3 to 41.17% [4,12,[17][18][19][20], pulmonary involvement in 2.7 to 8.9% [4,12,18,[20][21] and cardiac involvement in 4 to 32% of subjects [1,4,12]. The prevalence of sicca syndrome varied between 2 and 86.36% [17][18][19][20][21] and anemia between 17 and 78.2% [12,[17][18][19][20][21].…”

“…(Table II) Nodules were observed in 3 to 41.17% [4,12,[17][18][19][20], pulmonary involvement in 2.7 to 8.9% [4,12,18,[20][21] and cardiac involvement in 4 to 32% of subjects [1,4,12]. The prevalence of sicca syndrome varied between 2 and 86.36% [17][18][19][20][21] and anemia between 17 and 78.2% [12,[17][18][19][20][21]. The other manifestations observed were infection 11.2-58% [1,12], ocular involvement 4.92-41.9% [18,[22][23], lymphadenopathy 1.5-6% [20 -21], fever in 1.5% [21], cerebrovascular accidents in 6% [1] and vasculitis in 1.4% [12] of subjects.…”