Akpabio Akanimo Akpabio

Royal National Hospital For Rheumatic Diseases NHS Foundation Trust · Department of Rheumatology

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an extracutaneous manifestation of psoriasis occurring in 6% to 42% of patients. Both conditions are common among whites but rarely reported among black Africans.Few African studies, however, have reported PsA frequencies of 0% to 4.6%, with a previous case report of 2 patients from a Nigerian rheumatology...

Objectives To determine the prevalence of depression and its determinants among Nigerian patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Two hundred and fifty patients satisfying the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for knee OA were recruited from five centers. Pain was assessed using Western Ontario and McMaster Universiti...

Purpose: To highlight the pattern and treatment outcomes of ophthalmologic disorders referred to a private specialist rheumatology clinic. Methods: Retrospective review (January 2015–December 2016) of referrals from Eye Foundation Hospital, Lagos to Arthrimed Specialist Clinic, Lagos. Case records were retrieved and relevant information extracted....

To compare left ventricular (LV) geometry patterns among normotensive type 2 diabetics (NT2DM) with normoalbuminuria, NT2DM with microalbuminuria and healthy controls. A cross-sectional study conducted at the medical outpatient department of a Teaching Hospital from January 2013 to March 2014. Sixty-three normoalbuminuric NT2DM, 71 microalbuminuric...

Objectives To highlight common precipitants and co-morbidities of gout in Nigerians; determine the frequency of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Nigerian gout patients, as well as identify significant associations of CKD in gout patients. Material and methods Retrospective cross-sectional study of gout cases seen at the Rheumatology Clinic of the L...

Background/Aims According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, low back pain remains the leading cause of years lived with disability (YLDs) globally affecting about 619 million people as of 2020. Inflammatory back pain affects fewer patients but remains an important referral indication. A previous audit from the early back pain clinic of ca...

Dissemination of accurate scientific and medical information was critical during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly during the early phases when little was known about the disease. Unfortunately, poor science literacy is a serious public health problem, contributing to widespread difficulties in accurately interpreting i...

Introduction Family physicians are often the first healthcare providers to encounter patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Nigeria, given the paucity of rheumatology services nationwide. This study aimed to assess and address the knowledge gap regarding RA among family physicians in Nigeria. Methods A cross‐sectional survey involving 609 fami...

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that has been reported in virtually every country. Healthcare workers (HCW) are more at risk of COVID-19 than the general population making them a priority group for vaccination. Before the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, some HCW were using some repurposed, unapproved dr...

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that has been reported in virtually every country. Healthcare workers (HCW) are more at risk of COVID-19 than the general population making them a priority group for vaccination. Before the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, some HCW were using some repurposed, unapproved dr...

Sustained ventricular tachycardia is a life-threatening emergency contributing to cardiac mortality worldwide. Antiarrhythmic medications, Implantable cardioverter defibrillator and catheter ablation are the cornerstones for its management. Unfortunately, they are not accessible and/or affordable to patients seen in our setting. 42year old obese, r...

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic has been linked with a high level of psychological stress from the associated lockdown policy by the government. University students are amongst the high-risk groups for developing COVID-19 related stress due to several factors. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of psy...

In Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs in 75% of patients. Chronic doses of proton pump inhibitors may elicit in the general population long-term risk. When medical therapy fails, surgery can be employed but consensus on surgical procedures for refractory GERD is still lacking in SSc. Our aim was to evaluate the...

Objective We investigated prolonged COVID-19 symptom duration, defined as lasting 28 days or longer, among people with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). Methods We analysed data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Vaccine Survey (2 April 2021–15 October 2021) to identify people with SARDs reporting test-confirmed COVID-19....

Background Gender disparities in health care are pervasive worldwide, including the field of rheumatology in Africa, where there is a scarcity of rheumatologists. The heterogeneity of these disparities underscores the importance of addressing unmet needs at a regional level. We aimed to determine the number of rheumatologists in Africa, the gender...

Background Among gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) one of the predominant and challenging problems is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which occurs in ~75% of patients. Although proton pump inhibitors are useful, they are ineffective in 40% of cases with chronic use at high doses, against the background of long...

Objective To examine the frequency of, and risk factors for, disease flare following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with systemic rheumatic disease (SRD). Methods An international study was conducted from April 2 to August 16, 2021, using an online survey of 5619 adults with SRD for adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination, including flares...

Introduction Psoriatic arthritis is an extra-cutaneous manifestation affecting up to 40% of psoriasis patients with multiple therapies recommended by international guidelines including conventional and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as well as biologics. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) have emerged as a unique th...

Background: Studies on androgenetic alopecia in Nigerian females are few. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of female androgenetic alopecia, its severity and trichoscopic features.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has surpassed 211 million cases and 4.4 million deaths globally. Seroprevalence among Health care workers (HCWs) ranges from 10.6% (Qatar) to 45.1% in Southwest Nigeria. We surveyed Staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo - Nigeria to determine the prevalence of IgM and IgG seropositivity, c...

Background We describe the early experiences of adults with systemic rheumatic disease who received the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods From 2 April to 30 April 2021, we conducted an online, international survey of adults with systemic rheumatic disease who received COVID-19 vaccination. We collected patient-reported data on clinician communication, bel...

Background: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a common autosomal recessive disorder worldwide that mostly affects Africans. Hyperuricemia, a common biochemical finding, occurs in up to 41% of SCD patients. Although hyperuricaemia is the most important risk factor for gout, the latter is uncommonly reported in SCD. Objective: To determine the frequency a...

Background We describe the early experiences of adults with systemic rheumatic disease who received the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods From 2 April to 30 April 2021, we conducted an online, international survey of adults with systemic rheumatic disease who received COVID-19 vaccination. We collected patient-reported data on clinician communication, bel...

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and reversible abnormal condition of the heart also known as stress cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome, or broken heart syndrome. It is an uncommon disease that mostly occurs among Asians though studies have shown its occurrence in other parts of the world. The typical takotsubo syndrome patient has a un...

Background The impact and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with rheumatic disease are unclear. We developed the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Patient Experience Survey to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with rheumatic disease worldwide. Methods Survey questions were developed by key stakeholder groups a...

INTRODUCTION: Universal health coverage in Africa is constantly threatened by inadequate workforce relative to the health needs of the population. These inadequacies may be worsened by gender disparities with female doctors worse affected. This study aims to highlight the gender distribution of residents across specialties, compare the residency pr...

Background An increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes may be seen in patients with autoimmune diseases on moderate to high daily doses of glucocorticoids, as well as in those with comorbidities. However, specific information about COVID-19 outcomes in SLE is scarce. Objectives To determine the characteristics associated with severe COVID-19 out...

Background Targeted DMARDs may dampen the inflammatory response in COVID-19, perhaps leading to a less severe clinical course. However, some DMARD targets may impair viral immune defenses. Due to sample size limitations, previous studies of DMARD use and COVID-19 outcomes have combined several heterogeneous rheumatic diseases and medications, inves...

Objective To investigate baseline use of biologic or targeted synthetic (b/ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and COVID-19 outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We analysed the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician registry (from 24 March 2020 to 12 April 2021). We investigated b/tsDMARD use for RA at the clinica...

Objective To gain consensus on the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core domain set for rheumatology trials of shared decision making (SDM) interventions. Methods The process followed the OMERACT Filter 2.1 methodology, and used consensus-building methods, with patients involved since the inception. After developing the draft core domain...

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative condition leading to significant pain, functional limitation, and economic loss. Generalized OA (GOA) is associated with greater morbidity and accounts for 5–25% of total OA cases depending on definition used. This paper aims to determine the frequency and pattern of GOA, compare clinical and...

Background: Rheumatic and Musculo-skeletal Diseases (RMDs) previously known as the musculoskeletal (MSK) diseases are a major cause of chronic pain and functional disability. While there are few hospital based reports of RMDs and its individual conditions in Nigeria, community data of these conditions are even rarer. Objectives: To determine the pr...

The COVID19 pandemic has caused widespread global devastation with over 11 million infections and 534,000 deaths recorded at the end of June 2020. Measures effective in controlling the disease include physical distancing and regular hand hygiene, though compliance varies. This study aimed to determine the frequency of hand hygiene compliance, ident...

Objectives. To identify the changes in rheumatology service delivery across the five regions of Africa from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. The COVID-19 African Rheumatology Study Group created an online survey consisting of 40 questions relating to the current practices and experiences of rheumatologists across Africa. The CHERRIES c...

Objectives: To identify the changes in rheumatology service delivery across the five regions of Africa from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The COVID-19 African Rheumatology Study Group created an online survey consisting of 40 questions relating to the current practices and experiences of rheumatologists across Africa. The CHERRIE...

Objectives: To develop recommendations for the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A task force comprising of 25 rheumatologists from the 5 regions of the continent was formed and operated through a hub-and-spoke model with a central working committee (CWC) and 4 subgroups. The subgro...

Drug-induced acute thrombocytopaenia (DITP) is a complication of various medications resulting in a platelet count <50 x 109/L from prior normal levels. It typically occurs within 1-2 weeks post-administration but can occur rapidly within 1-3 days with previous exposure. Rituximab (an anti-CD20 antibody) used to treat many autoimmune cytopaenias, h...

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) occurs in 15% of connective tissue disease (CTD) patients causing considerable morbidity and mortality. Data is scarce regarding its clinical characteristics and outcomes in Africa. We aim to study the frequency, clinico-radiological characteristics, and treatment outcomes of African CTD-ILD patients. A retrospective...

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) is a blistering skin condition occurring in lupus patients. Although cutaneous manifestations are common in lupus (59-85%), BSLE is rare, affecting <5% of lupus patients with very few reported cases among Africans. Dapsone is effective in mild to moderate cases, but off-label standard-dose rituximab (1,00...

Abstract Objectives. To identify the changes in rheumatology service delivery across the five regions of Africa from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. The COVID-19 African Rheumatology Study Group created an online survey consisting of 40 questions relating to the current practices and experiences of rheumatologists across Africa. The C...

Keywords: Brugada syndrome elderly African hypertensive heart disease A B S T R A C T Rationale: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a cardiac ion channel disease that is caused by an autosomal dominant genetic abnormality. It is frequently seen among young and middle-aged adults of Asian descent and rarely in blacks. Patient Concerns: We report an extremely...

Background Rheumatic diseases lead to substantial economic costs ¹ especially in resource-poor settings like sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).² Annual direct cost of lupus treatment ranges from $13,735-20,926 /patient in the US to £3231($4232)/patient in the UK.1,3Data is rare for SSA and Nigeria in particular where the minimum wage is N30,000 ($83/mth) wi...

Cost-of-illness studies for patients with rheumatic disease to enhance patient advocacy efforts.

Objective: To determine if albuminuria status in Nigerians with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can predict the presence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) prior to the onset of overt heart disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at the diabetic and cardiology clinics of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Uyo, Akwa-I...

ABSTRACT Abstract: Ergotism can present with vascular, neurologic and gastrointestinal symptoms including gangrene in severe cases. In HIV, toxicity from interaction with protease inhibitors has been documented. We report case of a female who took cafergot for migraine resulting in absent peripheral pulses. She made a good recovery with steroids an...

Despite the availability of evidence-based preventive interventions and antihypertensive medications [1], sufficient blood pressure (BP) control is far from satisfactory across most of Africa [2]. Thus, the burden of hypertension, the major preventable cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause death globally, remains very high in our cont...

Objectives: To determine the frequency and predictors of sleep abnormalities among patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in Nigeria. Material and methods: A multi-centre, hospital-based, cross-sectional study, involving 250 knee OA patients. Consenting patients 18 years and above, who satisfied the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteri...

Objectives: To identify the most and least preferred rheumatology lectures, the proportional increase in students able to identify rheumatic conditions after the lectures as well as evaluate resident teaching effectiveness. Methods: All 134 clinical students in the University of Uyo Medical School, South-south Nigeria were asked to evaluate their r...

A student based evaluation of rheumatology lectures by a rheumatology senior resident

A report on 6 cases of a rare movement disorder.