The Expression of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Kuwaiti Patients in an Outpatient Hospital-Based Practice

Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristic clinical, serologic and radiological features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Kuwaiti patients in a tertiary outpatient hospital-based practice. Subjects and Methods: An outpatient hospital-based study on 100 consecutive consenting Kuwaiti patients with RA was done at the Rheumatology Unit, Al-Amiri Hospital, one of the main teaching hospitals in Kuwait. The study group included 11 men and 89 women. The duration of their disease ranged from 2 to 30 years with a mean duration of 10.7 (SD 7.5) years. The age at disease onset ranged from 21 to 71 years with a mean age of 39.1 (SD 11.2) years. Results: Joints most commonly involved in RA were metacarpophalangeal, wrist, knee, and proximal interphalangeal joints. Extra-articular manifestations were present in 24 patients; the most common was the sicca complex in 14 individuals. Rheumatoid factor seropositivity was found in 60 patients and erosive arthropathy in 42 patients. Conclusion: The findings indicate a low incidence of radiological erosive arthropathy in Kuwaiti patients. The sicca complex was the most common extra-articular manifestation of RA in these patients.

Characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

“…Our study showed that the majority of patients was female (67%) and they were more frequently Qataris (91.3%) compared with Asians (52.5%) which reflects the pattern of the Qatar population (most Asians are male). Among all patients, RF was positive in 63%, anti‐CCP in 71% and both were positive in 49% which is close to that reported from Kuwait 60% . A comparative study of RA in British and Malaysian patients showed that RF was positive in 65% in each group of patients which is similar to our study …”

“…Few studies have reported prevalence and characteristics of the disease in an Arab population. Studies from Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon have suggested RA in Arab patients to be mild and nondestructive. These studies were descriptive and did not include disease activity score (DAS) measurement, However.…”

TLR-8, TNF-α, and ESR-1α Gene Polymorphism Susceptibility in Onset of Arthritis

“…The effect of estrogen was mediated by estrogen receptors located in the multiple immune cells (T cells, B cells, monocytes, and macrophages) as well as in the thymus [ 53 ]. This effect can be achieved by directly manipulating the profile of T-helper cytokine from interleukin (IL)-2, TNF - α , and interferon (IFN)- γ (pro-inflammatory) to IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)- β (anti-inflammatory) direction [ 54 ].…”

Challenges and opportunities in the early diagnosis and optimal management of rheumatoid arthritis in Africa and the Middle East

“…Two small hospital studies in Saudi Arabia also showed that radiographic changes in the hands and feet of RA patients were less severe, and the proportion of patients with erosions (60%) was lower than those reported in Western European and North American studies . Similarly, a study in 100 consecutive RA patients in Kuwait found a low incidence (42%) of radiological erosive arthropathy, with sicca complex being the most common extra‐articular manifestation of RA …”

“…In addition, the management practices also vary, in accordance with the healthcare infrastructure and socioeconomic status of patients. Of note, most countries do not have their own consensus guidelines for RA management …”