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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
24613550 Diagnostic performance of three-dimensional MR maximum intensity projection for the assess 2014 May PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of three-dimensional (3D) MR maximum intensity projection (MIP) in the assessment of synovitis of the hand and wrist in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to 3D contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with RA underwent MR examinations. 3D MR MIP images were derived from the enhanced images. MR images were reviewed by two radiologists for the presence and location of synovitis of the hand and wrist. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 3D MIP were, respectively, calculated with the reference standard 3D CE-MRI. RESULTS: In all subjects, 3D MIP images yielded directly and clearly the presence and location of synovitis with just one image. Synovitis demonstrated high signal intensity on MIP images. The k-values for the detection of articular synovitis indicated excellent interobserver agreements using 3D MIP images (k=0.87) and CE-MR images (k=0.91), respectively. 3D MIP demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 91.07%, 98.57% and 96.0%, respectively, for the detection of synonitis. CONCLUSION: 3D MIP can provide a whole overview of lesion locations and a reliable diagnostic performance in the assessment of articular synovitis of the hand and wrist in patients with RA, which has potential value of clinical practice.
23750183 Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) and Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease: Is There a Link? 2013 Autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as RA and SLE, are caused by genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) may be triggers of autoimmune rheumatic disease. HERVs are fossil viruses that began to be integrated into the human genome some 30-40 million years ago and now make up 8% of the genome. Evidence suggests HERVs may cause RA and SLE, among other rheumatic diseases. The key mechanisms by which HERVS are postulated to cause disease include molecular mimicry and immune dysregulation. Identification of HERVs in RA and SLE could lead to novel treatments for these chronic conditions. This review summarises the evidence for HERVs as contributors to autoimmune rheumatic disease and the clinical implications and mechanisms of pathogenesis are discussed.
26556001 Development and Evaluation of Dual Cross-Linked Pulsatile Beads for Chronotherapy of Rheum 2013 In the present investigation, pulsatile release beads were prepared by ionic gelation technique. Lornoxicam dual cross-linked beads were prepared by dropping dispersed phase of lornoxicam, pectin, and sodium alginate into the dispersion phase of different concentrations of calcium chloride solution followed by aluminium chloride solution. The formulated beads were further coated by Eudragit L & S 100 in the ratio 1 : 2 w/w in order to achieve desired lag time. In vitro release study showed lag time of 5-8 h before release of lornoxicam from the formulated beads. Thus, formulated dual cross-linked beads when administered at bed time may release lornoxicam when needed most for chronotherapeutics of early morning rheumatoid arthritis attacks in chronic patients.
23916813 [Preference for etanercept pen versus syringe in patients with chronic arthritis. Nurse ed 2013 Jul OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are to evaluate the level of fear of post-injection pain prior to the administration, the difficulty in handling the device, and the level of satisfaction of patients using a pre-filled syringe versus an etanercept pen, as well as to evaluate the usefulness of the training given by nursing staff prior to starting with the pen, and the preferences of patients after using both devices. METHOD: A prospective study was designed to follow-up a cohort of patients during a 6 months period. The data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS 18.00. Rank and McNemar tests were performed. Statistical significance was pre-set at an α level of 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients were included, of whom 69% female, and with a mean age 52.5±10.9 years. Of these, 48% had rheumatoid arthritis, 28% psoriatic arthritis, 21% ankylosing spondylitis, and 3% undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy. There were no statistically significant differences either with the fear or pain or handling of the device between the syringe and the pen (P=.469; P=.812; P=.169 respectively). At 6 months, 59% of patients referred to being satisfied or very satisfied with the pen. Almost all (93%) found useful or very useful the training given by nursing staff prior to using the pen, and 55% preferred the pen over the pre-filled syringe. CONCLUSIONS: The etanercept pen is another subcutaneous device option for patients with chronic arthritis. According to the present study, nursing educational workshops before starting this therapy are recommended.
29702796 Work Productivity and Costs Related to Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Ar 2014 Sep OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriasis on work productivity, to calculate the productivity costs (PC), and to map out factors that influence (functional status and disease activity) work productivity. METHODS: The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire was used to evaluate productivity losses of patients with RA (n = 77), AS (n = 230), and psoriasis (n = 93). Demographic data, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) (Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ] and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI]), and clinical parameters (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28], body surface area [BSA], and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI]) were collected. The correlations among PROs, clinical parameters, and overall productivity loss were examined, and multiple regression models were used to examine relationships among parameters and productivity loss. PC were calculated using the friction cost approach. RESULTS: Mean patient age and disease duration were 47.1 and 15.7 years, respectively. The mean HAQ and DAS28 in patients with RA were 1.22 and 5.6, respectively. The mean BASDAI score in patients with AS was 4.43. The mean BSA and PASI score in patients with psoriasis were 21.1% and 12.9, respectively. The percentage of patients with psoriatic arthritis (in those with psoriasis) was 24.7%. We did not find significant differences in Work Productivity and Activity Impairment domains among various diagnoses. Patients with AS, RA, and psoriasis reported overall work productivity losses of 40.9%, 42.9%, and 42.8%, respectively. Daily activity impairments were approximately 50.0%. Overall work productivity loss strongly correlated with PROs, whereas correlations with clinical parameters were weak. The HAQ and BASDAI were identified as major predictors of productivity impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The greatest loss in productivity was in those with psoriatic arthritis; however, it was not significant. In contrast to clinical parameters (DAS28, BSA, and PASI score), PROs (HAQ and BASDAI score) significantly influence loss of productivity. The average annual lost PC per patient was estimated to be €2000.
26155164 A novel peptide from TCTA protein inhibits proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes o 2014 BACKGROUND: We have demonstrated that a peptide, which we named 'Peptide A', derived from the extracellular domain of T-cell leukemia translocation-associated gene (TCTA) protein, inhibited human osteoclastogenesis. OBJECTIVE: In the current study, we examined whether this peptide inhibits the proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes obtained from five RA patients were cultured in the absence or presence of 1, 5, 10 µg/ml of peptide. We used 29-mer scrambled peptide as a control. RESULTS: The peptide inhibited the proliferation of RA FLS dose-dependently. On the other hand, the scrambled peptide showed no inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: The peptide inhibits both human osteoclastogenesis and the proliferation of RA FLS. Thus, the peptide may be used for the therapy of both osteoporosis and synovitis of RA patients. This is the first report of the new peptide we discovered, which inhibits both osteoclastogenesis and synovitis. Thus, this new peptide could be a new drug for patients with both osteoporosis and RA.
23640244 [Histopathology and microbiology of joint infections: extension of diagnostic safety in pa 2013 Sep BACKGROUND: It can be difficult to distinguish between synovitis due to rheumatism and synovitis due to a bacterial infection. Microbiological detection of bacteria is not always successful and the clinical significance of low virulent bacteria often remains uncertain. Therefore, the histopathological finding of inflammatory reactions is very important. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: From patients with clinically clear signs of infections and rheumatoid arthritis who underwent surgery between April and August 2011, samples were taken during surgery. Histopathological diagnosis was carried out by conventional enzyme and immunohistochemical techniques based on defined criteria of bacterial infection in tissues, synovial tissue and bone. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were included, 10 males and 10 females with a mean age of 61.7 years. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly detected bacteria and in 4 cases bacteria could not be demonstrated. The correlation between the histopathological signs of an infection and microbiological detection of bacteria was 93.3 %. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis the combination of histopathology and microbiology significantly increased the safety of detecting an infection or contamination.
24223657 Differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis with compl 2013 Nov The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in complements C3 and C4 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to evaluate the role of these indices in the differential diagnosis of SLE and RA. The first 347 patients with SLE, 382 patients with RA and 66 patients with erythema nodosum were selected for the measurement of complement and CRP levels in the serum, the erythema nodosum patients were the control group. The roles of the complements and CRP in the differential diagnosis and disease activity evaluation of SLE and RA were analyzed with SPSS 13.0. Complement C3 and C4 levels were significantly reduced in patients with SLE compared with those in the control group. However, in RA patients, the CRP level was increased. In addition, the levels of complements C3 and C4 in patients with SLE were much lower than those in patients with RA and the level of CRP in RA patients was much higher than that in patients with SLE. The reduction of complement C3 levels in SLE patients, and increase of CRP and complement C4 in patients with RA were associated with a higher risk of joint pain, butterfly rash and oral ulcer. These results show that the disease activity of SLE was negatively correlated with complement C3 and C4, and the disease activity of RA was positively correlated with CRP. With the increase in disease activity, the levels of complements C3 and C4 in patients with SLE were gradually reduced and the level of CRP in patients with RA was increased. There were distinctive differences in the levels of complements C3 and C4 and CRP between SLE and RA patients. The differences are useful in disease activity evaluation and the differential diagnosis of the two diseases that have similar symptoms.
27747492 Comparison of Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Therapy Persistence Between Bi 2015 Jun INTRODUCTION: To compare biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy persistence between biologics among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who previously used ≥1 other biologic. METHODS: Using a large United States administrative claims dataset, we identified adult patients with RA initiating abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, or tocilizumab between January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2012 (initiation date = index). Patients were required to have used ≥1 other biologic before index. Outcomes were biologic persistence, defined in two alternative ways: (1) time from initiation until switching to a different biologic (time to switch) and (2) time from initiation until switching or the first occurrence of a 90-day gap in treatment with the initiated biologic (time to switch/discontinuation). Rituximab was excluded from analyses due to retreatment based on clinical evaluation, which complicates the measurement of persistence. Multivariable survival analyses compared persistence outcomes between tocilizumab and the other biologics, adjusting for patient characteristics. RESULTS: The sample comprised 9,782 biologic initiations; mean age 54 years and 82% female. Compared with tocilizumab, the hazards of switching biologic therapy were significantly higher for abatacept [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.19, P = 0.041], adalimumab (HR = 1.39, P < 0.001), certolizumab (HR = 1.39, P < 0.001), golimumab (HR = 1.20, P = 0.047), and infliximab (HR = 1.33, P < 0.001), but not significantly different for etanercept (HR = 1.19, P = 0.095); the hazards of switching/discontinuing biologic therapy were significantly higher for adalimumab (HR = 1.16, P = 0.014) and certolizumab (HR = 1.15, P < 0.012), but not significantly different for abatacept (HR = 1.08, P = 0.229), etanercept (HR = 0.97, P = 0.644), golimumab (HR = 0.99, P = 0.829), and infliximab (HR = 0.97, P = 0.721). CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first studies of biologic persistence to focus specifically on patients with RA who are not naïve to biologic treatment. Among patients with RA who previously used ≥1 other biologic, tocilizumab-treated patients had similar or significantly better biologic persistence compared with other biologics.
25664294 Estimating the prevalence and disease characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in Tehran: A 2014 BACKGROUND: To estimate the prevalence and characteristics of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in an urban area of Tehran. METHODS: A total of 50 clusters were randomly selected in Tehran and 10291 subjects completed the COPCORD Core Questionnaire during 2004 and 2005. Patients with rheumatic complaints were examined and diagnosed by subspecialty fellows in rheumatology. Laboratory and radiology tests were also performed if required. RESULTS: A total of 35 subjects (5 men and 30 women) were diagnosed with RA, with a prevalence of 0.33% (95% CI: 0.22-0.46). Our results demonstrated that RA was six times more common in women than men. The mean age (± SD) of patients was 52.3 (± 17.6) years. Morning stiffness > 1 hour was reported in 37.1% of patients. Rheumatic signs were commonly found in wrist (60%), knee (60%), metacarpophalangeal (48.6%) and proximal interphalangeals of hand (40%). Approximately 46% of patients had difficulty carrying out daily activities. CONCLUSION: According to our study, the prevalence of RA in Iran seems to be lower than western countries. However, the prevalence of RA in Iran seems to be approximately in the middle point comparing the APLAR region (from 0.7% in Australia (rural) to 0.12% in Thailand).
25499920 A comprehensive analysis of treatment outcomes in patients with pemphigus vulgaris treated 2015 Apr Approximately 500 treatment recalcitrant pemphigus vulgaris patients have been treated with rituximab. They were treated according to the lymphoma protocol (N=224) or rheumatoid arthritis protocol (RAP) (N=209) patients. Others were treated with modifications or combinations of the two. The mean duration of follow-up with the lymphoma protocol was 28.9months and 21.9 in the rheumatoid arthritis protocol. The majority of the patients received corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy before, during, and after rituximab therapy. A clinical remission on therapy was observed in 90%-95% of patients within less than six weeks. A complete resolution occurred within three to four months. A small percentage of patients were able to stay in clinical remission without the need for additional systemic therapy. The incidence of relapse was at least 50%. The number of patients who required additional rituximab was 60% to 90%. A majority of patients in clinical remission post-rituximab therapy, were still on CS and ISA, albeit at lower doses. Serious adverse events were reported in a mean of five patients (range 2-9), the most important was infection and frequently resulting in septicemia. The mortality rate related to rituximab was a mean of 2 patients (range 1-3). Hence, the preliminary conclusions that can be drawn are that rituximab is an excellent agent to induce early remission. The protocols that were used were not ideal for producing a prolonged and sustained remission without additional therapy. The advantages and specificity of targeting B-cells demonstrate that rituximab is one of the best biological agents, currently available for treating recalcitrant pemphigus. Its further use is encouraged. Future research needs to focus on modifying, improving and possibly adding additional agents, so that prolonged and sustained remissions can be obtained by its use.
28509209 Tocilizumab-induced remission of nephrotic syndrome accompanied by secondary amyloidosis a 2014 Nov Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune-mediated systemic disorder that primarily affects the musculoskeletal system. Patients with RA often present with kidney diseases, such as nephrotic syndrome. Causes of nephrotic syndrome include membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy and secondary amyloidosis. Recently, biological agents, including anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha and anti-interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor antibodies, have been used for the treatment of RA. Anti-IL-6 receptor antibody therapy is believed to ameliorate RA-related kidney diseases, as IL-6 plays a central role in the pathogenesis of RA. We, herein, present the case of a patient with RA and related nephrotic syndrome whose proteinuria completely disappeared 1 month after tocilizumab treatment. A light microscopic examination of the pretreatment kidney biopsy specimen showed active glomerulonephritis with fibrocellular crescents and the deposition of amorphous substances stained weakly with hematoxylin-eosin and strongly with the Dylon method. Electron microscopy revealed the accumulation of microtubules ranging from 10 to 20 μm in width, primarily in the mesangial lesion. Amyloid A (AA) protein was positively stained in the mesangial area and vascular wall on immunohistochemistry. The final histologic diagnosis was RA-related glomerulonephritis and secondary AA amyloidosis. This case indicates that biological treatment targeting IL-6 is a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of kidney diseases associated with RA.
27708874 Prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondyli 2014 Jun OBJECTIVE: Immunosuppressive therapies, especially tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, are frequently used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). These therapies can induce viral reactivation in concurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV)- or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients. On the other hand, the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections is not exactly known in RA and AS patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in RA and AS patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 1517 RA and 886 AS consecutive patients followed by six different rheumatology outpatient clinics of Turkey were recruited in this study. The prevalence of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: The mean age was 49.0±13.2 years in RA and 37.3±10.5 years in AS patients. HBsAg prevalence was 35 (2.3%) in RA and 27 (3%) in AS patients. Anti-HCV prevalence was 17 (1.1%) and 10 (1.1%), respectively. In the RA group, both HBsAg and anti-HCV positive patients were older than negative ones (p<0.05), and the highest prevalence was found in those 60-69 years (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In previous national data, the prevalence of HBsAg has been reported as 3.99% and shown to increase with age. In this study we have found a lower HBV infection prevalence in both RA and AS patients according to Turkish national data. This result may explain by being younger age of our patients. In another conclusion, lower prevalence could be related to, joint complaints may less consulted to Rheumatologist in HBV positive.
24829713 The effect of quercetin on plasma oxidative status, C-reactive protein and blood pressure 2014 Mar BACKGROUND: Considering the increased production of free radicals and inflammatory factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the effects of bioflavonoid quercetin on reducing oxidative stress, inflammation and blood pressure, the present study examined the effects of bioflavonoid quercetin on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of plasma, lipid peroxidation and blood pressure in women with RA. METHODS: The current study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial in which 51 women with RA aged 19-70 years, were participated. Patients were assigned into quercetin (500 mg/day) or placebo groups for 8 weeks. Dietary intake was recorded using 24-h dietary recall questionnaire and the physical activity was assessed through an international short questionnaire of physical activity at the beginning and end of the study. Plasma TAC and malondialdehyde (MDA) using colorimetric method, oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and also blood pressure were measured at the beginning and end of intervention. RESULTS: After 8 weeks there were no significant differences in TAC of plasma, ox-LDL, MDA, hs-CRP, systolic and diastolic blood pressure between quercetin and placebo groups and in each group comparing before and after. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, quercetin had no effect on oxidative and inflammatory status of plasma and blood pressure in patients with RA. Further studies are needed to ensure the effect of quercetin on oxidative stress and inflammation in human.
24298814 [Indexes used to evaluate the disease activity of Sjögren's syndrome]. 2013 Oct Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects the exocrine glands. A set of indexes have been established to evaluate the disease activity in SS, including symptoms, systemic characteristics, and long-term disease damage as well as the patients' quality of life. This article briefly introduced the background, content, and scoring rules of SS indexes. Current clinical applications and prospects were also reviewed.
25111417 Osteomyelitis and arthritis of the wrist caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare in an immu 2014 Apr Mycobacterium intracellulare causes infection in humans. Involvement of joint and bone, however, is extremely rare. We present the case of an immunocompetent 67-year-old female with chronic swelling of the wrist joint diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis by her previous physician. Examination revealed an unclosed fistula associated with a puncture, and bone and joint destruction on radiographs. She was diagnosed with osteomyelitis and arthritis due to M. intracellulare on histological and microbiological examinations. She was successfully treated with radical surgical debridement and anti-tuberculous drugs for 1 year and there was no recurrence at 3 years postoperatively.
24037329 Caring for people with arthritis and a stoma. 2013 Sep 12 It is understood that 10 million people currently live with arthritis and that there are two main types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (Arthritis Care, 2013). As the numbers of people with arthritis grows, and the population ages, it is likely that nurses may be presented with increasing numbers of people who require advice, not only when they have their stoma fashioned, but later in their life. The purpose of this article is to consider the impact of arthritis upon stoma care and make practical suggestions for stoma management. Sources of further help and information for people living with a stoma and arthritis have also been included. It is hoped that by reading this article the nurse will be more familiar with the impact that arthritis may have on a person with a stoma and how they can be assisted to manage as independently as possible.
24992210 A novel bispecific antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor α and ED-B fibronectin effect 2014 Sep 30 Specific delivery of TNF-α antagonist to the inflamed site can increase its efficacy and reduce the side effects. In this study, we constructed a bispecific diabody (BsDb) that targets TNF-α and ED-B-containing fibronectin (B-FN), a fibronectin isoform specifically expressed in the pannus of the inflamed joint in rheumatoid arthritis. BsDb was produced in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies, purified to homogeneity, and refolded to the functional form. Our data demonstrate that BsDb could simultaneously bind to human TNF-α and B-FN and neutralize TNF-α action. In the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model, we compared the biodistrubtion and therapeutic efficacy of BsDb with those of the anti-TNF-α scFv (TNF-scFv). Similar to TNF-scFv, BsDb penetrated into the synovial tissue quickly, showing a rapid clearance from blood and normal organs. In contrast, BsDb could selectively accumulate and retain in arthritic joints of mice for a long period time, resulting in a much stronger inhibition of arthritis progression in mice than TNF-scFv. The findings described herein indicate that BsDb has a good specificity to the inflamed joint, with low toxicity to normal organs and seems to be an ideal biological agent for the treatment of RA and other chronic inflammatory disease.
27708889 Body composition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is not different than healthy subje 2014 Sep OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased body fat, particularly its central distribution, is a well-known risk factor for CVD. A change in body composition in RA has been described previously. However, in most of these studies, age- and sex- but not body mass index (BMI)-matched controls were used. The aim of this study was to evaluate body composition in RA patients and compare it with age-, sex-, and BMI-matched controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-five RA patients (55 females and 10 males; mean age 54.9 ± 10.8) and 31 healthy controls (25 females, 6 males; 53.8±8.6) were included in this study. Mean disease duration was 9.2±9.6 years. Body composition was assessed by anthropometric methods (skinfold thicknesses, body circumferences), bioimpedance analysis, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was assessed with computed tomography. RESULTS: There were no significant differences for total body fatness, regional fat distribution, and total body water and fat-free mass between RA patients and control subjects. Bone mineral content (BMC), assessed by DXA, was significantly lower in RA patients (p=0.004). Clinical disease activity indices and steroid treatment do not affect soft tissue body composition or BMC. CONCLUSION: At least some RA patients do not have soft tissue composition alterations and may have similar health risks in comparison with subjects with similar age, sex, and total adiposity.
25816593 Proteolytic activity of IgGs from blood serum of Wistar rats at experimental rheumatoid ar 2014 Sep The aim of this work was to study the proteolytic activity of IgGs purified from blood serum of Wistar rats at experimental rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) induced by an injection of bovine collagen of type II. Twenty rats were immunized with a preparation of bovine collagen II (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) in the presence of complete Freund's adjuvant. ERA development was determined by inflammation in limbs of treated animals. IgG preparations were isolated from blood serum of immunized and non-immunized animals by precipitation of antibodies with 33% ammonium sulfate followed by chromatography on the Protein G-Sepharose column. Human histone H1, bovine collagen II, calf thymus histones, myelin basic protein (MBP), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and bovine casein were used as substrates of the proteolytic activity of IgGs. It was found that IgG preparations from blood serum of rats with ERA were capable of cleaving histone H1 and MBP, however, they were catalytically inactive towards collagen II, casein, BSA, and core histones. IgGs from blood serum of non-immunized rats were proteolytically inactive towards all used protein substrates. Thus, we demonstrated that immunization of rats with bovine collagen II induced IgG-antibodies possessing the proteolytic activity towards histone H1 and MBP. This activity might be associated with the development of inflammatory processes in the immunized rats.