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

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
3812350 Hematologic and iron-related measurements in rheumatoid arthritis. 1987 Feb The hematologic status of 265 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was assessed. In the group as a whole, a mild depression in the hemoglobin concentration and mean cell volume (MCV) was associated with an increase in the red blood cell distribution width (RDW), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and platelet count. Bone marrow trephine biopsies and further measurements of iron status and disease activity were done in [a further] 38 more anemic patients, and the findings in those with absent marrow iron (iron deficiency) were compared with those having stainable stores (anemia of chronic disorders). The RDW was raised in both, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. The concentrations of nonheme iron in the marrow and of serum ferritin were significantly lower in the iron-deficient group, but the geometric mean serum ferritin of 34 micrograms/L was still a good deal higher than that associated with uncomplicated iron deficiency. This was presumably because of the fact that the serum ferritin, which was significantly correlated with the ESR (r 0.55; P less than 0.0004) and C-reactive protein (CRP) r 0.41; P less than 0.01), was also functioning as an acute phase protein. While there was a weak correlation (r 0.37; P less than 0.04) between the marrow nonheme iron and the serum ferritin concentrations, it disappeared when nonactive patients with normal CRP concentrations were excluded. The absence of a correlation is unlike the findings that have previously been noted in other chronic inflammatory conditions and in neoplasia. This raises the possibility that serum ferritin concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis may reflect, in part at least, another store of iron located in affected joints.
1888843 [Collagenous colitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis]. 1991 Jun A patient diagnosed as having well-tolerated rheumatoid arthritis and diarrhea is described. The female patient in question was diagnosed as suffering from collagenous colitis by means of a colon biopsy. The association of this clinical state with immunological disease is discussed.
2819342 The protective effect of the oral contraceptive pill on rheumatoid arthritis: an overview 1989
1680596 Psoriasis-like skin reaction in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis after sulphasalazine t 1991 Jun Presented is a case story of a woman with classical rheumatoid arthritis, who during introduction of sulphasalazine (SASP) therapy developed a severe and lasting psoriasis-like skin reaction.
3668975 Clinical and genetic characteristics of upper gastrointestinal disease in rheumatoid arthr 1987 Aug Clinical and genetic studies were analyzed in 47 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopies. Fifty-three percent of patients with RA had peptic ulcers and/or erosions. Sixty percent of patients with ulcers and/or erosions had a history of peptic ulcer disease. Although a greater number of patients with ulcers and/or erosions was taking regular aspirin or indomethacin, comparable numbers of patients with abnormal and normal endoscopies were using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Nineteen of the 25 patients (76%) with ulcers and/or erosions had type O blood. Patients with abnormal and normal endoscopies had similar frequencies of GI complaints and fecal blood loss. GI symptoms and occult fecal blood loss, therefore, are not prominent features of upper GI disease in RA. ABO screening may be helpful in determining which patients with RA are at risk for developing peptic ulcers and/or erosions.
3625626 Plasminogen activator in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 1987 Jun The plasminogen activator in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) was analyzed on a molecular basis. The level of plasminogen activator in RA was found to be higher than in OA. The plaminogen activators of both RA and OA revealed 3 different molecular weights: 90,000, 55,000 and 33,000. RA demonstrated the 3 plasminogen activators in broadly comparable ratios, but OA had the 55,000 form dominantly. The 90,000 plasminogen activator was a tissue-type plasminogen activator, while the 55,000 and 33,000 plasminogen activators were of the urokinase-type. beta-Methasone suppressed the tissue-type plasminogen activator, and urinary trypsin inhibitor suppressed the urokinase-type plasminogen activators. When urinary trypsin inhibitor was injected clinically into the joint space of a patient with RA, the urokinase-type plasminogen inhibitor was suppressed as in the in vitro study, and the clinical signs and symptoms were markedly improved. Open trials of intraarticular injections of urinary trypsin inhibitor demonstrated improvement of the clinical signs and symptoms.
2690220 [Erythropoietin: current aspects and prospects]. 1989 Oct Authors have reviewed recent literature on erythropoietin. They report new information regarding synthesis, modulation, changes during several diseases and the possibility for a clinical use of erythropoietin for the correction of many anaemias. Finally the Authors report some personal observations about the physiopathology of erythropoietin. They have studied the circadian rhythm, action of aging and the prostaglandin system, and plasma levels of E. in patients with anaemia of active rheumatoid arthritis.
3401052 Comparison of serial synovial fluid cytology in rheumatoid arthritis: delineation of subgr 1988 Jul Serial synovial fluid samples were obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and analysed cytologically. Positive correlations in the serial samples between proportions of polymorphs and ragocytes were found. Based upon the serial synovial fluid cytology, distinct subgroups of rheumatoid joints emerged. Comparison of clinical findings in these subgroups showed that the joints with high ragocyte proportion had a significantly poorer outcome. This study therefore identifies two distinct subgroups of rheumatoid joints on the basis of the nature of the cellular reaction within the joint fluid, which usually holds true during subsequent clinical relapse. Identification of these groups may have prognostic significance.
2159750 Mechanisms of matrix degradation in rheumatoid arthritis. 1990 In the inflammatory synovium production of collagenase is probably responsible for the degradation of collagen in the extracellular matrix and distortion of the architecture and function of the joints. Major collagenase-producing cells are mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts and chondrocytes, which synthesize and secrete the enzyme influenced by the action of cytokines produced by adjacent mononuclear cells. The cytokines act primarily through cell-surface receptors, whose signal is probably then mediated by complexes of nuclear oncoproteins, to activate transcription of the procollagenase gene. The increased production of collagenase ultimately is the result of a cascade of cellular effects involving complex interactions of different ligands in a system characterized by amplification and feedback loops.
2784866 Changes in PMN leukocyte migration activity and complement C3d levels in RA patients with 1989 We have investigated chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) from 7 well characterized RA patients with intense disease activity, before and after steroid treatment. Increased spontaneous and directed granulocyte migration was observed in 6 out of 7 patients before steroid treatment. In 5 patients these parameters were reduced after treatment. In contrast to this, decreased chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) from patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), have been reported earlier. This has been suggested as a partial explanation of the increased morbidity of these patients. Plasma levels of Complement C3d were initially increased in all patients and were slightly reduced following treatment. PMN migration in highly active RA cases is increased and responds markedly to steroid treatment, in contrast to the complement activation. The mainly unaffected, increased levels of plasma C3d might, in part, explain the early recurrence of symptoms often seen when steroid medication is withdrawn. Our results contrast with earlier findings and need to be confirmed in further studies.
1957402 [Is rheumatoid arthritis a new disease? Review of the literature]. 1991 Nov 25 No convincing descriptions of the lesions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be found in the medical literature before 1800. The non-medical literature, the visual arts, and paleopathological observations have revealed finger abnormalities which have been considered suggestive of RA before 1800. However, many authorities remain unconvinced by such interpretations and it is felt, that RA may be a disease of recent origin. Recently, paleopathological observations of skeletons from 1000-3000 B.C. in the US have shown convincing bone erosions compatible with RA, and it has been suggested that RA may be an old disease in the New World, and, like syphilis, it may have been transferred to the Old World after the time of Columbus.
2584665 Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation in rheumatoid arthritis. 1989 Dec In a review of 100 consecutive patients with adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA), clinical evidence of liver disease was absent, whereas minor abnormalities of liver biochemistry, mainly a raised alkaline phosphatase, were present in 32 cases. Liver biopsies were obtained in eight patients; the most striking finding was the presence of sinusoidal dilation in all samples, with a normal central vein and preservation of hepatic architecture. The mechanism of this nonspecific histological change is not known, though it could be speculated to be secondary to a humoral factor related to RA. We conclude that hepatic involvement in adult RA is common but trivial and that routine liver biopsy is not indicated.
3808398 [Behavior of the turnover of I131-fibrinogen in various diseases of the connective tissue] 1987 Jan 15 It is generally admitted that alteration to the blood coagulation system, particularly the creation of fibrin from fibrinogen may play a pathogenetic role in the complex mechanism that characterises rheumatic diseases of the connective tissue. A study was therefore conducted to see whether accelerated fibrinogen turnover could be demonstrated in such patients. To this end the clearance of fibrinogen marked with I131 was assessed in 25 patients in various stages of connectivitis and 10 controls was measured. The results showed a distinct acceleration in fibrinogen turnover only in patients with highly active rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the regressive phase or with stable progressive systemic sclerosis showed values similar to the control subjects. Finally the possible explanations for this behaviour are examined and the clinical interest of the technique employed is assessed.
2359079 Respiratory failure due to a massive rheumatoid pleural effusion. 1990 May A patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic obstructive lung disease was admitted with respiratory failure due to a massive pleural effusion. An extensive evaluation proved the effusion to be of rheumatoid origin. The effusion resolved with prednisone and penicillamine therapy. Although pleural effusions associated with RA are common, massive effusions are rare and respiratory failure from a rheumatoid pleural effusion has not been reported.
2462458 Serum hyaluronate in rheumatoid arthritis: study by affino-immunoenzymatic assay. 1988 Dec Serum level of hyaluronate (HA) was assayed by an affino-immunoenzymatic method using hyaluronectin, in 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 24 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 103 controls. The mean serum HA level was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in RA (171 +/- 39 micrograms/l) than in controls (22.4 +/- 1.6 micrograms/l) and AS patients (30.3 +/- 3.0 micrograms/l). The mean HA level in RA on corticosteroids (98.2 +/- 25.9 micrograms/l) was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than that of RA without steroids (220.1 +/- 60.5 micrograms/l). The serum HA levels were not correlated with clinical or serological indicators of inflammatory activity. This increase in serum HA probably reflected an excessive production by rheumatoid synovium and not a lowered catabolism, all patients having normal hepatic function. The origin of the increased synthesis is still unknown. These results suggest that serum hyaluronate is not a universal indicator of inflammation but is perhaps a characteristic of RA.
2623975 Personality pattern in rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgic syndrome. Psychological inves 1989 Nov This study reports the psychological symptomatology assessed in 50 rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) and 50 with primary fibromyalgic syndrome (PFS). Depression and illness behavior were investigated by two self-report scales in their validated Italian translations: the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) and Illness Behavior Questionnaire developed by Pilowsky and Spence (IBQ). Our results suggest that the average RA patients were not depressed to a clinically significant level at the time of the investigation. The mean scores of CES-D by RA patients do not differ from those found in Italian patients affected by other organic diseases. On the contrary, mean score in the CES-D depression scale obtained from PFS patients was significantly higher than the cut-off point. In analyzing the pattern of illness behavior the significant difference between RA and PFS patients in scale of denial of problems is relevant. This means the RA patients have a tendency to deny life stresses and to attribute all problems to the effects of their illness. Such a result is in line with a classic psychosomatic point of view, that defines RA patients as alexitimic ones, that is, with poor capacity to recognize and express emotions. Our data support both the hypothesis that depressive symptoms are more common among PFS patients than RA patients, and that psychological factors may play a significant role in most patients with PFS.
3239264 Autometallographic demonstration of gold in rheumatoid synovial tissue. 1988 Sep A new autometallographic method for the detection of gold was applied to synovial tissue obtained by synovectomy from 30 patients with chronic arthritis. Granules staining for gold were visualized in biopsies from 26 patients previously or currently treated with gold, but not in biopsies from untreated patients. Location of macrophages was confirmed, and in half the biopsies fibroblast-like cells were also stained. Lymphocytes, plasma cells and interstitial tissue were devoid of gold. Granules were seen after treatment with as small an amount as 85 mg gold sodium aurothiomalate. The amount of gold staining varied between the biopsies and seemed to be related to the amount of gold given. Within individual biopsies, the distribution of gold staining was irregular. It is suggested that there may be at least two targets of chrysotherapy in arthritic joints, and that an influence of gold on the immune system may take place, at least in part, via the macrophages. A relationship between the biopsy findings and the clinical course could not be established.
3801073 Association between HLA and Sjögren's syndrome in Japanese patients. 1986 Dec Japanese patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), patients with SS and rheumatoid arthritis (SS-RA), and patients with SS and connective tissue disease without RA (nonrheumatoid connective tissue disease [SS-CTD]) were typed for HLA antigens. Patients with primary SS and those with SS-RA had higher frequencies of DRw53 than did those who had SS-CTD; however, the group with SS-CTD showed a negative correlation with DRw52. These data indicate that Japanese and white patients with SS have different HLA specificities, and that genetic factors involved in the development of SS-CTD might be different from those in primary SS and SS-RA.
2084856 [Clinical results of total knee arthroplasty using Kinematic type in patients with rheumat 1990 Oct We reviewed 24 total knee arthroplasties using Kinematic type (anteriorly joined type or posterior cruciate retention type) in 18 rheumatoid patients who were under the age of 50 years. Thirteen knees with Kinematic type total knee arthroplasty in 10 rheumatoid patients who were over 70 years of age were also reviewed. Using rheumatoid arthritic knee rating score of J.O.A. (Japan Orthopedic Association), the clinical results of young patients were evaluated and were compared with those of elderly patients. The average total score of young patients and that of older patients was almost equally increased after arthroplasty. Postoperatively in older patients, pain score was elevated more remarkably than in young patients. However, increase in score of quadriceps muscle strength, walking ability and climbing stairs ability were less in older patients than that in young patients. Range of motion was not improved in both young and older patients. However, flexion contracture was improved remarkably in both groups.
3430482 Levels of serum amyloid P-component associated with pregnancy and collagen-induced arthrit 1987 Oct The levels of the acute-phase reactant serum amyloid P-component (SAP) were measured by quantitative rocket immunoelectrophoresis in pregnant and non-pregnant DBA/1 female mice with or without collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA). Non-pregnant animals with CIA showed elevated SAP titres related to the severity of the disease. Pregnancy alone also caused increased SAP levels equivalent to those found in animals with established CIA but which were virgin. The clinical remission seen in arthritic animals during pregnancy was not associated with reductions in circulating SAP levels. Increasing parity, however, caused a lowering of SAP levels in animals with or without CIA compared to the primiparous individuals. Pregnancy causes a strain-dependent elevation of serum SAP which is not further elevated by CIA, thus limiting the usefulness of SAP measurements in assessment of disease progression or remission during gestation.