Search for: rheumatoid arthritis    methotrexate    autoimmune disease    biomarker    gene expression    GWAS    HLA genes    non-HLA genes   

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
2591128 Rheumatoid arthritis and chronic lymphatic leukaemia. 1989 Sep There is evidence for an increased incidence of lymphoproliferative disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We present the clinical features of 4 patients with RA and chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL) which, occurring in a population of 1505 RA patients, represents a significantly increased prevalence of CLL (p less than 0.05) compared to the general population. These patients had significantly lower natural killer cell activity than matched rheumatoid controls (p less than 0.05) or normal controls (p less than 0.01) and we discuss this as a possible mechanism of association.
3172091 The effect of age on piroxicam disposition in rheumatoid arthritis. 1988 The disposition of piroxicam in 23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (9 males, 14 females, aged 27-79) was studied over 6 weeks using the standard oral dose of 20 mg daily. Clinical status was monitored using standard methods. The mean piroxicam steady state plasma concentration (Css) averaged 9.2 +/- 4.4 micrograms/ml, the majority of which was highly protein bound (1.4 +/- 0.5% unbound). Total plasma clearance (CL/F) of piroxicam was 1.85 +/- 0.81 ml/min and the half life (t1/2) was 53.0 +/- 24.2 h. There was wide intersubject variability in the kinetics of piroxicam and its major metabolite 5'-hydroxypiroxicam. Piroxicam CL/F, t1/2 and Css were modestly correlated with patient age. Clinical effects did not appear to be related to piroxicam plasma levels.
3718011 Quantitative microfocal radiography accurately detects joint changes in rheumatoid arthrit 1986 May Microfocal radiography, producing x5 magnified images of the wrist and hands with a high spacial resolution (25 microns) in the film, permitted direct measurement of erosion area and joint space width in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The magnitude of errors relating to direct measurement, repositioning the wrist and hand on successive x ray visits, repeated identification of erosions and their area calculation were assessed. The coefficients of variation for length and area measurements were 3.7% and 13% respectively, while the change in joint space width and erosion area in five patients over 18 months had average coefficients of variation of 12.7% and 42.0% respectively. The combined errors correspond approximately to the fifth percentile level for the total changes in size of these x ray features. The remaining alterations were due to the disease, which was markedly greater that that attributable to errors of measurement.
2141981 Inflammation and cartilage metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis. Studies of the blood marker 1990 Jun Single analyses of peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients showed a significant reduction in the mean value for keratan sulfate (KS) compared with that in control subjects, but the mean value for orosomucoid (OM) was elevated compared with that in control subjects. Some RA patients displayed highly elevated levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), while others exhibited normal levels. There was a significant inverse correlation between OM and KS content in RA patients, as well as a direct correlation between HA and OM. In longitudinal studies of RA patients, parallel changes in OM and HA and inverse changes between KS and OM or HA were commonly observed. Clinical analyses revealed that there was an inverse correlation between KS and morning stiffness, and direct correlations between the number of tender joints and HA, and between HA or the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the number of joints with effusions. The reason(s) for the inverse correlation between KS and OM as an index of systemic inflammation remains to be established. Circulating HA represents an index of joint inflammation, for which a marker has not been previously available.
2672139 Total lymphoid irradiation. 1989 Aug Total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) was shown to have potent immunosuppressive effects in patients with Hodgkin's disease. In the last decade a handful of studies assessed the efficacy of TLI in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A correlation between decline in T-helper cell number and a reduction in disease activity was noted in all studies; however, the toxicity of TLI remains a major problems limiting a more widespread use of this treatment modality.
1867371 [An unnoticed dislocation of the dens axis in a patient with primary chronic polyarthritis 1991 May Involvement of the cervical spine is seen in 40%-60% of all patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Consequences are instability of the upper cervical column with pain and neurological deficits, in some cases tetraplegia, and sudden death. From this reason special care has to be taken in the management of those patients, even when they are comatose or anesthetized, to avoid sudden spinal cord compression with irreversible neurological deficits. We report a 49-year-old female with a history of rheumatoid arthritis for more than 10 years. Because of an adhesive ileus complicated by septicemia, she underwent abdominal surgery twice followed by prolonged mechanical ventilation under high doses of sedative drugs. After reduction of the tranquilizer doses tetraplegia with respiratory insufficiency was found. Neurophysiological and X-ray examinations showed spinal cord compression due to dislocation of the odontoid process, a rare but typical complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It was not possible to determine the date of the dislocation, but it might have been caused by intubation or respositioning. Although the patient underwent immobilization and surgical fusion of the upper cervical spine, there was no improvement in the neurological status and she died 5 months later. In patients with advanced rheumatoid arthritis a detailed medical history, clinical examination, and radiography are necessary before general anesthesia or intensive care with intubation is considered. If an unstable cervical spine is suspected, intubation should be performed by fiberoptic technique under light sedation. Regional anesthesia should be preferred over general anesthesia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
3958444 The long-term results of Swanson silicone rubber interpositional wrist arthroplasty. 1986 Mar Fifty-three Swanson silicone rubber interpositional wrist arthroplasties were done in 42 patients. A painful rheumatoid wrist was the most common operative indication. Very acceptable clinical results were obtained early in follow-up, with more than 90% of the wrists obtaining significant pain relief. However, in the group of wrists followed for more than 2.5 years, only 61% had good or excellent results. The reoperation rate in this group was 25%. Postoperative complications included prosthetic breakage (9.4%), ulnar cap breakage (71%), and a very high incidence of progressive radiographic deterioration (70%).
2969703 Expression of CD 21, CD 22, and the mouse erythrocyte receptor on peripheral B lymphocytes 1988 Jul The expression of the B cell antigens, CD 21, CD 22, and the mouse erythrocyte receptor (MER), on peripheral mononuclear cells (PMC) in 61 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 25 patients with various other forms of rheumatic disease was studied. Patients with RA showed significantly more peripheral B cells than control patients, whereas there was no difference between patients with RA and controls in resting B cells expressing the MER or resting and activated B cells expressing CD 21. Patients with active RA had significantly less MER positive and more CD 21 positive B cells than patients with inactive disease. The relation between disease activity and expression of MER and CD 21 was independent of drug treatment or production of classical rheumatoid factor. These data may be interpreted as a sign of B cell activation in RA. In addition, patients with seronegative RA receiving gold treatment showed significantly more MER positive cells than patients receiving different drugs, whereas patients receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone had significantly more CD 21 positive cells. This may be the result of different immunomodulating effects of drugs on B cell subsets.
2886236 Activities of dipeptidyl peptidase II and dipeptidyl peptidase IV in mice with lupus eryth 1987 Aug We examined the activities of peptidases in plasma and tissues of the New Zealand Black (NZB) mouse as an animal model of human systemic lupus erythematosus, and also in serum from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Activities of dipeptidyl peptidase II (DAP II) and post-proline cleaving enzyme (PPCE) were increased, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DAP IV) activity was decreased in plasma and spleen of NZB mice, as compared with the control BALB/c mice. Likewise, the activity of DAP II was increased and that of DAP IV was decreased in serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. These results indicate the importance of hydrolytic enzymes in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
3277685 Epidemiological aspects of studying outcome in rheumatoid arthritis. 1988 Knowledge of the outcome of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is important both to the patient and to the rheumatologist. However, little data exist on the long-term outcome and effects of treatment on the disease. Consideration is given to the problems that arise in the choice of methods and measures to be used in an outcome study. Patient selection is an underestimated factor, which often produces biases and problems of comparability. Useful lessons can be learnt from examining outcome studies in other chronic diseases.
3075087 Role of HLA class II and cytokine expression in rheumatoid arthritis. 1988 HLA class II expression is notable in rheumatoid arthritis. We have investigated the mechanism of HLA class II regulation in the joints and found local synthesis, as judged by mRNA levels to be high. The role of antigen presentation in maintaining class II mRNA was explored, and blocking presentation by using monoclonal antibodies to HLA class II inhibited synthesis of mRNA for HLA-DR alpha chain. HLA class II expression is maintained by cytokines and so cytokine production in rheumatoid joints was investigated. It was chosen to use mRNA analysis by slot blotting as a screening assay, and the expression of many cytokines was detected. Levels of these were maintained in culture in the absence of extrinsic stimulation.
2629140 [The possibilities of an individual approach to intra-articular drug administration in rhe 1989 A study was made of the possibilities of an individual approach to intraarticular administration of protease inhibitors, cytostatics and orgoteine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The activity of hyaluronidase, superoxide dismutase, the level of rheumatoid factor and the phagocyte count in synovial fluid were examined. With regard to the results of synovial fluid analysis in 67 RA patients, contrykal, orgoteine or cyclophosphamide were administered intra-articularly (based on an individual approach) in addition to corticosteroid hormones. It has been shown that with the individual approach to intraarticular drug administration the number of repeated punctures of the joints decreased by 18.8% while the amount of glucocorticosteroid hormones administered was twice as reduced.
2795530 Pain avoidance in rheumatoid arthritis. 1989 Forty-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared to 52 pain-free controls in terms of tolerance/avoidance and rated intensity of cold pressor pain. The patients had lower thresholds and tolerated the cold pressor pain for a shorter period, although not significantly so. However, the patients rated the novel nociceptive cold stimulus as significantly more painful. The results demonstrate that arthritis patients report novel pain experiences as being more painful, which necessitates special attention to their post-operative analgesic demands needs. Tolerance/avoidance of the cold pressor pain had different correlates in the more and less chronic patient groups, and was respectively related to the affective and sensory qualities of the pain stimulus. The results confirmed qualitative similarities between different chronic pain populations, suggesting that chronicity of the pain problem may be a more important factor in determining pain experience and pain-related behaviours than the specific locus of the pain.
1686751 Immunogenetics of rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjögren's syndrome: DNA polymorphism o 1991 Sep We investigated the DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the Major Histocompatability Complex (MHC) class II genes: HLA-DRB, -DQA, -DQB, DPA, and -DFB in 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in 19 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (primary SS), and healthy Danes. The frequencies of DNA fragments associated with the following HLA class II genes were increased in RA when compared to normal controls: DRB1*04 (DR4) (relative risk, RR = 7.4, P less than 10(-3), DRB4*0101 (DRw53) (RR = 9.6, P less than 10(-3), DQA1*0301 (RR = 9.6, P less than 10(-3), DQB1*0301 (DQw7) (RR = 2.8, P less than 0.05, 'corrected' P greater than 0.05), and DQB1*0302 (DQw8) (RR = 4.5, P less than 10(-2). Negative associations were found between RA and DRB1*1501 (DR2/DRw15) (RR = 0.2, P less than 10(-2) and DQB1*0602 (DQw6) (RR = 0.2, P less than 10(-2), 'corrected' P greater than 0.05). The frequencies in RA of other HLA class II associated DNA fragments including DPA and DPB and the antigens DPw1-w6 defined by primed lymphocyte stimulation, did not differ significantly from those in controls. In primary SS, the frequency of HLA-B8 was significantly increased (RR = 9.0, P less than 10(-3). Positive associations were found between primary SS and DNA fragments associated with DRB1*03/13 (RR = 6.8, P less than 10(-3), DRB3*0101 (DRw52) (RR = 5.7, P less than 10(-2), DQA1*0501 (RR = 6.8, P less than 10(-3), DQB1*0201 (DQw2) (RR = 11.6, P less than 10(-5), and DQB1*0602 (DQw6) (RR = 2.7, P less than 0.05, 'corrected' P greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
3568483 The early results of porous-coated total shoulder arthroplasty. 1987 May A porous-coated total shoulder arthroplasty of the authors' design was investigated over a period of six years. Thirteen of the first 21 arthroplasties, with an average follow-up period of three years, revealed the difficulty of proving stability by either bony or fibrous tissue ingrowth or both. With the exception of two patients (one glenoid and one humeral component), there was no gross evidence of radiographic loosening. Clinically, the early results were encouraging, but long-term follow-up observations are necessary before definitive conclusions are possible.
1802497 A multivariate analysis of risk factors for anterior atlantoaxial subluxation and an evalu 1991 Dec A cross-sectional, retrospective computerized analysis of risk factors for anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) was performed. Logistic regression performed on the clinical variables involved in 145 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disclosed a high joint score index and a low blood haemoglobin level as significant independent risk factors. This means that the development of anterior AAS is connected with widespread RA. Linear multiple regression analysis showed an association between the extent of anterior AAS in millimetres and the spread of erosions of the dens of axis and negative correlation with the severity of vertical atlantoaxial dislocation (VD). This suggests that whereas the presence of anterior AAS is connected with the severity of the systemic disease, its actual extent is associated with signs of local involvement, other than severe VD. The duration or cumulative dosage of glucocorticoids were not associated with the development or extent of anterior AAS, nor with the severity of vertical dislocation. This suggests that low dose glucocorticoid treatment is not involved with the development of rheumatoid changes in the upper cervical spine. It should be borne in mind, of course, that although no correlation was found, a causal relation cannot be excluded.
2769663 Postmenopausal hormones and the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis. 1989 Jul This case-control study assessed whether postmenopausal use of hormones reduces the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cases had classical or definite RA. Controls were patients with primary osteoarthritis or soft tissue rheumatism. Information on exposure was obtained by telephone interview. Compared to women who had never used postmenopausal hormones before onset of rheumatologic symptoms, adjusted relative risk (95% confidence limits) for past and current users were 0.95 (0.56-1.60) and 0.89 (0.49-1.63), respectively. Among current users, the association was not related to the duration of use. Our results provide little support for the hypothesis that use of postmenopausal hormones has a protective effect on the development of RA.
3031422 [Assessment of kidney function with 99mTc-pyrophosphate during the scintigraphy of the joi 1987 Mar Diagnostic potentialities of investigation of the kidneys using 99mTc-pyrophosphate were studied in 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for articular scintigraphy. The results obtained were compared with those of radionuclide renography with 131I-hippuran and excretory urography. A possibility of investigation of the kidneys with 99mTc-pyrophosphate for the assessment of parenchyma function and kidney urodynamics was shown. Taking into account a high prevalence of nephropathy in RA patients, dynamic renal scintigraphy and clearance registration were recommended at the first stage of articular scintigraphy with 99mTc-pyrophosphate in order to obtain information on the anatomotopographic site and accumulation-evacuatory function of the kidneys.
3089270 Thrombocytopenia associated with gold therapy: a drug-induced autoimmune disease? 1986 Jul We studied 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gold-induced thrombocytopenia. Platelet-specific autoantibodies of the IgG and often also of the IgM class were detected by immunofluorescence on the patient's platelets and in ether eluates from these platelets. In nine patients we also detected autoantibodies in the serum. The antibodies were unreactive with platelets from patients with Glanzmann's disease in most cases, and were not EDTA dependent. Thus, they had the serological characteristics of true autoantibodies. The reaction of the antibodies with platelets was not influenced by the addition of extra gold. By atomic absorption spectrophotometry we found that the ether eluates, which were often strongly reactive with donor platelets, were free of gold. This indicated that the autoantibodies in the thrombocytopenic patients were not dependent on gold for their reaction. The possibility is raised that gold treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients induces or enhances the formation of platelet-specific autoantibodies, and that gold-induced thrombocytopenia is a drug-induced autoimmune disease.
2527109 A destructive discovertebral lesion: septic discitis, ankylosing spondylitis, or rheumatoi 1989 Jun A 41-year-old male with a 20-year history of classical ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and seropositive, nodular erosive rheumatoid arthritis presented with a 12-month history of thoracolumbar junction pain following minor trauma. A pseudoarthrosis was noted at the T11/12 level on plain radiographs and tomograms. A gallium scan showed no increased isotope uptake, and a computed tomogram (CT) revealed no evidence of a paraspinal collection. Conservative management including cast immobilisation and local radiotherapy was ineffective, and spinal fusion was required. A typical Andersson lesion was found at operation. The diagnostic and therapeutic problems of such discovertebral lesions are discussed.