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Objectives: This study was aimed to evaluate the frequency of fibromyalgianess, fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) and widespread pain in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and their relationship with clinical and demographic parameters. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional multicenter trial was performed in 14 centers across Türkiye. 661 patients (342 RA, 319 AS) have been recruited for the study. In these cohorts those who did not meet the criteria for FS and had widespread pain (widespread pain index≥7) were evaluated as a separate group. Clinical status and demographic parameters of patients in both cohorts were evaluated as well as the evaluations of RA and AS patients with widespread pain (widespread pain index≥7) and RA and AS patients with FS groups. In addition, correlations between Polysymptomatic Distress Scale (PSD) scores and visual analogue scale (VAS), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Disease Activity Score using 28 joint counts (DAS 28) for RA patients and VAS, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) for AS patients were analyzed. Results: Frequencies of patients with FS and patients who had PSD scores≥12 were 34.1% and 44.4% in all RA patients respectively. Moreover, FS and PSD scores ≥12 were found as 29.2% and 36.9% in all AS patients respectively. PSD scores of RA patients with FS were higher than all RA and RA with widespread pain patients’. SDAI and CDAI scores of RA patients with FSwere higher than all RA and RA with widespread pain patients’as well. Similarly,PSD scores of AS patients with FS were higher than all AS and AS with widespread pain patients’. ASDAS-ESR and BASDAI scores of AS patients with FS were found higher than all AS and AS with widespread pain patients’. Conclusion: Disease activity scores including pain in RA and AS patients’ were seemed higher in the presence of FS or fibromyalgianess. It may be related to clinical parameters, but cohort studies with long-term follow-up are needed in order to reveal causality. Additionally, in order to reduce overtreatment, coexistence of fibromyalgianess should be kept in mind in patients who had inflammatory diseases like RA and AS especially with intractable widespread pain.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to contribute further to this debated topic by investigating the correlation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with the clinical picture in lumbar spondylosis patients. Patients and methods: This multicenter retrospective study (as part of the epidemiological project of the TLAR-OASG [Turkish League Against Rheumatism-Osteoarthritis Study Group]) included 514 patients (101 males, 413 females; mean age: 63.6±10.8 years; range, 40 to 85 years) who were diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis by clinical examination and direct X-ray between December 2016 and June 2018. Demographic characteristics of patients, Visual Analog Scale for pain, presence of radiating pain, Roland-Morris disability questionnaire, straight leg raise test, deep tendon reflexes, neurogenic intermittent claudication symptoms, any decrease of muscle strength, and abnormality of sensation were recorded. Lumbar MRI findings of the patients were recorded as positive or negative in terms of disc herniation, intervertebral disc degeneration, root compression, osteophytes, spinal stenosis. Statistical analysis was done to assess the correlation between the clinical symptoms, physical examination, and MRI findings. Results: Correlation analysis of the MRI results and the clinical findings showed a significant correlation between straight leg raise test and root compression (p Conclusion: The results of this study corroborate the notion that diligent patient history and physical examination are more valuable than MRI findings, even though a higher incidence of abnormal MRI findings have been obtained in patients with disability and dermatomal radiating pain.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the clinical, functional, and radiological features of hand osteoarthritis (OA) and to examine their relationships in different geographic samples of the Turkish population. Patients and methods: Between April 2017 and January 2019, a total of 520 patients (49 males, 471 females; mean age: 63.6±9.8 years) with hand OA were included in the study from 26 centers across Turkey by the Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR). The demographic characteristics, grip strengths with Jamar dynamometer, duration of hand pain (month), the severity of hand pain (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]), and morning stiffness were evaluated. The functional disability was evaluated with Duruöz Hand Index (DHI). The Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) OA scoring system was used to assess the radiological stage of hand OA. Results: The DHI had significant correlations with VAS-pain (r=0.367, p0.05). The differences between the groups of radiological hand OA grades in terms of age (p=0.007), VAS-pain (p0.05 for all). Conclusion: In our population, the patients with hand OA had pain, functional disability, and weak grip strength. The functional impairment was significantly correlated with the severity of the pain, and the functional status was worse in high radiological hand OA grades.