Summary
There is a growing interest in the study of the pattern of rheumatic disorders in Africa. This has led to our studying the pattern of rheumatic disorders seen among patients attending both urban and rural clinics in West Africa. A wide spectrum of rheumatic diseases was observed among those attending both clinics. Osteoarthritis and soft tissue lesions were most commonly seen while inflammatory joint disease and connective tissue disorders were less commonly observed. We consider that these observations have significant rheumatological health care implications for West Africa and may provide useful aetiopathogenic clues.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Muirden, K.D. What can be learned from third world rheumatism. Br J Rheumatol 1987, 26, 1–2.
Villaumey, J. The fight against the rheumatic diseases in Africa. EULAR Bulletin 1991, 1, 17–22.
Kellgren, J.H., Lawrence, J.S. Radiological assessment of osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1957, 16, 494–502.
Ropes, M.W., Bennett, G.A., Cobb, S., Jacox, R., Jessan, R.A. Revision of diagnostic criteria of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1959, 18, 49–53.
Solomon, L., Beighton, P., Lawrence, J.S., Rheumatic disorders in the South African Negro. Part II. Osteoarthritis. S Afr Med J 1975, 49, 1737–50.
Brighton, S.W., de la Harper, A.L., Van Staden, D.A. The prevalence of osteoarthrosis in a rural African community. Br J Rheumatol 1985, 24, 321–5.
Mody, G.M., Meyers, O.L. Rheumatoid arthritis in Blacks in South Africa. Ann Rheum Dis 1989, 48, 69–72.
Kanyerezi, B.G., Baddeley, H., Kisumbu, D., Rheumatoid arthritis in Ugandan Africans. Ann Rheum Dis 1970, 29, 617–21.
Greenwood, B.M., Polyarthritis in Western Nigeria. I. Rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1969, 28, 488–96.
Adebajo, A.O., ARA criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 1989, 28, 177–8.
Ebong, W.W. The treatment of severely ill patients with sickle cell anaemia and associated spetic arthritis. Clin Orthop 1980, 149, 145–49.
Onyemelukwe, G., Sturrock, R.D. Septic arthritis in Northern Nigeria. Rheumatol Rehabil 1979, 18, 13–15.
Kibukiamusoke, J.W., Gout in Africans. East Afr Med J 1968, 45, 378–81.
Mody, G.M., Naidoo, P.D. Gout in South African Blacks. Ann Rheum Dis 1984, 43, 394–7.
Lutalo, S.K. Chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases in black Zimbabweans. Ann Rheum Dis 1985, 44, 121–5.
Chalmers, I.M. Ankylosing spondylitis in African Blacks. Arthritis Rheum 1980, 23, 1366–70.
Taylor, H.G., Stein, C.M. Systemic lupus erythematosus in Zimbabwe. Ann Rheum Dis 1986, 45, 645–8.
Solomon, L., Robin, G., Valkenburg, H.A. Rheumatoid arthritis in an urban South African negro population. Ann Rheum Dis 1975, 34, 128–35.
Beighton, P., Solomon, L., Valkenburg, H.A. Rheumatoid arthritis in a rural South African population. Ann Rheum Dis 1975, 34, 128–35.
Moore, D.L., Reddy, S., Akinkugbe, F.M., Lee, V.H., David-West, T.S., Causey, O.R., Carey, D.E., An epidemic of chikungunya fever at Ibadan, Nigeria. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 1969, 68, 59–68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Adebajo, A.O., Birrell, F. & Hazleman, B.L. The pattern of rheumatic disorders seen amongst patients attending urban and rural clinics in West Africa. Clin Rheumatol 11, 512–515 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02283109
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02283109