We read with interest the comprehensive review on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by Almoallim and Alharbi.1 We would like to make a few comments. The best predictors for the development of RA, are anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factors (RF), which can appear more than 10 years before clinical arthritis.2 Screening using ACPA and RF ar...

Objective(s): In developing countries and worldwide cervical cancer is an important cause of   female mortality. Reports describing the frequency and pattern of abnormal Pap smears in Saudi Arabia, using the revised Bethesda system (RBS) are very few. The current study was conducted to explore the changing pattern of epithelial cell abnormalities (ECA) detected in Pap smears (PS) in females of ...

Depression is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In the year 2000 depression accounted for 4.4% of the global disability adjusted life years (DALYs). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a population of 28 million people and is one of the countries experiencing demographic transition in its population structure. Improvements in socioeconomic status have been shown ...

OBJECTIVE To determine the primary health care (PHC) physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices on asthma care in the sectors of Abha and Khamis Mushayt, Aseer Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia during the period from June to July 2001. Sixty-one PHC physicians were selected randomly through 2-stage stratified sampl...

OBJECTIVE The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea OSA has not been assessed in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to assess the prevalence of individuals who were at risk of OSA in a sample of middle-aged Saudi males, using the Berlin questionnaire at primary care settings. METHODS The study was conducted at King Khalid University and King Fahd National Guard primary health care clinics in Riyadh, King...

OBJECTIVES To explore medical students' attitudes towards communication skills learning in Western Saudi Arabia and to examine impact of socio-demographic variables on the attitudes towards learning these skills.   METHODS In this cross-sectional study, sample of medical students were recruited from Taif University, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the second semester (January-May 2014). ...

Human hydatid disease is caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Its distribution is world wide and it affects mainly the liver, but other organs could be involved. Primary involvement of pelvic organs is very rare. This is a case report of primary ovarian hydatid disease in a postmenopausal woman, diagnosed postoperatively. Surgical excision was adequate. Ultrasonography, particularly high frequenc...