Vertebrae, destruction

Other evidence which has been adduced to support the significance of neurogenic factors in renal hypertension is the observation that the arterial pressures of normal and renal hypertensive dogs and rabbits were reduced to essentially the same level after complete destruction of the central nervous system (18,19). However, interpretation of the results obtained with this drastic procedure is difficult. Other workers have observed a sharp fall in pressure when the spinal cord was destroyed below C5 (the level of the fifth cervical vertebra) in renal hypertensive dogs, but the pressures returned to hypertensive levels as the acute effects of the operation wore off (32). Other experiments involving elimination of the central connections of the sympathetics by cervical cord section in the region of C7... 

The temporomandibular joint (jaw) can be affected, resulting in malocclusion and difficulty in chewing food. Inflammation of cartilage in the chest can lead to chest wall pain. Hip pain may occur as a result of destructive changes in the hip joint, soft-tissue inflammation (e.g., bursitis), or referred pain from nerve entrapment at the lumbar vertebrae. 

Sarcoid bone involvement occurs in 1% to 13% of patients (213). It is most common in patients between the ages of 30 and 50 and in African Americans (213). Bone lesions are most common in the bones of the hands and feet however, the nasal bones, skull, and vertebrae may be affected (213). The lesions are often asymptomatic and routinely found on radiographic or MR studies. Radiologic findings usually show cystic or punched-out lesions (221). Sarcoidosis arthritis is usually treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (215), which are especially useful for acute sarcoid arthritis. Chronic destructive synovitis may require systemic corticosteroids or intra-articular injections (213). The addition of azathioprine or methotrexate may improve results and be corticosteroid sparing (213). 

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