Gout is currently the most frequent cause of inflammatory arthritis worldwide and is responsible for poor health-related quality of life and loss of work productivity. It is caused by high levels of serum urate, leading to the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and soft tissues. This condition is associated with acute flares and, if untreated or refractory, chronic and potentially destructive arthritis and tophi formation. Pegloticase is a recombinant, pegylated uricase used in the treatment of gout patients who fail conventional urate-lowering therapy. In this review, we discuss the impact of pegloticase on patient outcomes in refractory gout. We analyze different parameters, such as plasma uric acid concentration, frequency of flares, tophi reduction, pain, function, quality of life, and safety.

(1) Background: Patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) experience profound effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) that cannot be explained by objective indicators of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to adapt the SLE Quality of Life (SLEQoL) questionnaire to the European Portuguese population and to assess its reliability and validity for patients with SLE. (2) Methods: Two independent translators translated the original version of the SLEQoL questionnaire into Portuguese. A back-translated version was produced. The Portuguese version of the questionnaire was reviewed and tested for validity and reliability. Cronbach’s alpha and the internal validity index were calculated to verify the internal reliability and validity of the content. Rheumatologists filled out the SLE Disease Activity Score (SLE-DAS) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index SLICC/ACR-DI questionnaires. (3) Results: This study involved 180 patients, of which 93.8% were females. The results indicated very high internal consistency reliability (α = 0.949), low correlations between the SLEQoL and the SLE-DAS, a correlation between all SLEQoL dimensions and all SF-36 dimensions (except for “response to treatment” and “self-image”), and good correlation scores with both the EQ-5D-5L index and VAS. (4) Conclusion: The Portuguese version of the SLEQoL questionnaire is valid and reliable for the measurement of HRQoL in SLE patients.

A osteomielite causada por bactérias anaeróbias é muito rara e, na revisão efetuada, não encontrámos relatos anteriores de osteomielite causada por Clostridium perfringens afetando fémur e acetábulo. Descrevemos o caso de um homem de 48 anos com artrite reumatóide sob tocilizumab intravenoso e artrite bilateral das coxofemorais, que se apresentou com dor intensa na articulação coxofemoral esquerda e fadiga. A investigação efetuada, que incluiu cultura óssea, permitiu o diagnóstico de osteomielite, causada por Clostridium perfringens, afetando o fémur e o acetábulo. O paciente iniciou tratamento com penicilina G endovenosa e cotrimoxazol, que foi depois substituído por amoxicilina/ácido clavulânico por via oral. O controlo imagiológico por ressonância magnética nuclear demonstrou redução do edema da medula óssea e do derrame articular e, apesar da limitação funcional, o doente apresenta controle da dor e recusa a cirurgia.