Tag: Psoriatic arthritis

  • Seronegative spondyloarthropathies

    Seronegative spondyloarthropathies

    Introduction Among the thousands of patients whom you might want to diagnose with mechanical low back pain, one or two might actually have one of the seronegative spondyloarthropathies, an important group of systemic diseases, which requires careful and particular management. The seronegative spondyloarthropathies are: Seronegative (= negative for rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies) Spondyloarthropathies…

  • Back Pain: a “Worst First” Approach

    Back Pain: a “Worst First” Approach

    When it comes to back pain, think of the worst, i.e. the most dangerous ones, first. That way you won’t miss anything critical, either in real life or on the Boards. Cardiovascular Upper back pain: consider acute coronary syndrome or thoracic aortic dissection Lower back pain: consider abdominal aortic aneurism or rupture (older smoker) and retroperitoneal hematoma.…