The Influence of Hand Dominance on the Degree of Deformities in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Jaccoud Arthropathy.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVE

Joint deformities in Jaccoud arthropathy (JA), associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can lead to a reduction in articular function and an impaired quality of life. There is controversy in the literature as to whether hand dominance contributes to deformities observed in rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of rheumatism. The purpose of this study was to assess whether hand dominance has any influence on the degree of deformity or joint range of motion in patients with JA associated with SLE.

METHODS

This was a pilot cross-sectional study of 22 female patients (mean age, 46.18 ± 12.61 years) with both SLE and JA. Each patient's hand grip and hand and wrist joint range of motion were assessed by the same examiner. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the median values of the angles and muscular strength found between the sides.

RESULTS

All the study participants were right-side dominant. The median muscle strength of the right and left hands was 13.25 kilogram-force (KgF) (range, 7.00-18.00 KgF) and 10.50 KgF (range, 7.50-17.25 KgF), respectively. Both the fingers of the right and left hands had a median ulnar drift of 10.00°; however, their ranges differed (right, 4.50° to 20.00°; left: 0.00° to 15.50°). No statistically significant differences were found in the extension angulation of the proximal interphalangeal joints or the flexion of the distal interphalangeal joints of the second to fifth fingers, between the dominant and nondominant hands.

CONCLUSIONS

Hand dominance does not seem to influence the degree of JA deformities in patients with SLE.