TITLE:
Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases in Rheumatological Practice in Lomé (Togo)
AUTHORS:
Kodjo Kakpovi, Sadat Oniankitan, Komi C. Tagbor, Koulouktsoa Kondian, Viwalé ES Koffi-Tessio, Awaki-Esso Atake, Lamine Mamadou Diallo, Pahimi Yibe, Erika Djougnwe Mba, Moubarak Tiadjeri, Eyram Fianyo, Prénam Houzou, Owonayo Oniankitan, Moustafa Mijiyawa
KEYWORDS:
Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthropathies, Sub-Saharan Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.12 No.1,
December
21,
2021
ABSTRACT: Chronic inflammatory rheumatism is a pathology of
variable frequency and severity with a significant impact on the
socio-economic, personal and family level. Study Aim: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, radiological,
therapeutic and evolutive features of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases
in rheumatological practice in Togo. Patients and Methods:
This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted from January 2011 to
December 2019 on patients examined in the three rheumatology departments in
Lomé (Togo). Patients 18 years old and above who have presented joint pain with or without synovitis, and/or rachialgia
(back pain) for at least three months were included. The diagnosis of
chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases was made according to international
consensus criteria. Results: Out of the 20333 patients whose files were
collected during our study period, 290 (1.43%) suffered from chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. There were 226 (77.93%)
females and 64 (22.07%) males. The mean age of the patients was 42.79 ± 15.18 years. The mean duration of symptoms was
40.80 ± 54.09 months. Arthritis (67.24%) was the main reason for
consultation, followed by joint pain (31.38%). rheumatoid arthritis (41.03%),
unclassified chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (38.62%),
spondyloarthropathies (15.17%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (2.41%) were
the major clinical forms. The immunological tests performed in 13.79% of cases
were positive in 52.94% of cases. Carpitis (57.55%) and diffuse osteoporosis
(45.28%) were the commonest radiographic features of the hands. 289 patients
(99.66%) received symptomatic treatments such as NSAIDs (73.36%) and
corticosteroids (51.90%) and 90 patients (31.03%) were treated with synthetic
DMARDs such as methotrexate (88.89%). The
outcome was favorable in 27.93% of cases. Conclusion: Chronic
inflammatory rheumatic diseases are common diseases in rheumatological practice
in Togo that deserve special attention. The establishment of a specialized
immunology laboratory could be very useful for the diagnosis and early
management of these diseases.