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

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
2162079 Rheumatoid factor modulation of neutrophil superoxide generation enhancing activity of pre 1990 Heat aggregated human (HAG) IgG pretreated with total rheumatoid factors isolated from the serum of rheumatoid arthritis patients showed decreased superoxide generation enhancing activity as compared with HAG pretreated with buffer alone. Similarly, monoclonal IgM rheumatoid factor isolated from the serum of a patient with macroglobulinemia complicated by rheumatoid arthritis inhibited superoxide generation enhancing activity of HAG. On the other hand, superoxide generation enhancing activity of BSA-antiBSA immune complexes was not affected by preincubation with rheumatoid factors isolated from the sera of either rheumatoid arthritis patients or the macroglobulinemia patient. Rheumatoid factors isolated from rheumatoid arthritis serum were fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography and IgM-class and IgG-class rheumatoid factors were obtained. IgG-class rheumatoid factor significantly enhanced the superoxide generation enhancing activity of HAG, whereas IgM rheumatoid factor inhibited it. Rheumatoid arthritis sera showed significantly higher superoxide generation enhancing activity than normal sera. HAG preincubated with rheumatoid arthritis sera showed significantly lower superoxide generation enhancing activity than HAG preincubated with normal sera. These results suggest that factors inhibiting superoxide generation enhancing activity of HAG are present in rheumatoid arthritis sera, and that the responsible is IgM rheumatoid factor, whereas IgG rheumatoid factor enhances it. The factors that express superoxide generation enhancing activity in rheumatoid arthritis sera are suggested to be intermediate size immune complexes.
3382266 Changes of lymphocyte membrane fluidity in rheumatoid arthritis: a fluorescence polarisati 1988 Jun Fluorescence polarisation of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was used to study the lymphocyte membrane in rheumatoid arthritis. The increase of polarisation value in the patients (n = 27) compared with healthy controls (n = 32) suggests a decrease of membrane fluidity. Moreover, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and plasma fibrinogen concentrations were positively correlated with lymphocyte fluorescence polarisation values (r = 0.66 and r = 0.76 respectively). The results suggest that the changes in lymphocyte membrane fluidity could be involved in the pathogenetic mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis.
3289627 [The difference between rheumatoid factors and normal immunoglobulins disclosed by a monom 1988 May 20 rheumatoid factors of two classes, namely IgG and IgM, were isolated from the serum of 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The method of monolayer analysis revealed that these proteins differ from normal ones either by the instability of their native structure, or by their anomalous hydrophilic properties. Dialysis resulted in partial or complete restoration of normal properties in the majority of samples studied. It has been concluded that at least some of the rheumatoid factors are complex structures that contain, beside IgG and IgM molecules, also certain smaller molecules.
3012892 [Incidence of neuropathies in so-called rheumatoid vasculitis]. 1986 Mar 15 40 patients with so-called rheumatoid vasculitis, a special form of the course of rheumatoid arthritis with high rheumatoid titres and inclination to extraarticular organ manifestation were clinico-neurologically and electro-diagnostically examined. Neurologically in 10 patients a neuropathy was found, in which case polyneuropathies numerically prevailed. By means of the additional electromyographic and electroneurographic examination in altogether 75% of the patients pathological findings and thus a participation of the peripheral nervous system could by proved. The aetiology of the individual disturbance of the nerve function remains open. Questions of the pathogenesis are discussed.
2005830 Development of a scoring system to assist in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. 1991 During the last decade there has been a wealth of papers discussing the development of scoring systems in medicine, some of which have led to fully operational computer-aided diagnostic systems. In this paper we sketch the development of a simple scoring system for one of the more common rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a two-tier model, independence Bayes' followed by logistic discrimination. The scoring system gives reasonably well calibrated probability estimates of RA which suggests ways in which the development of computerised systems in rheumatology might be approached.
3348827 Stability of normal joint findings in persistent classic rheumatoid arthritis. 1988 Feb We reviewed the records of 44 patients, retrospectively selected because they had had persistently active rheumatoid arthritis for more than 5 years (mean +/- SD followup 9.8 +/- 2.6 years) and because they met the American Rheumatism Association criteria for classic disease, to determine the change in extent of the anatomic distribution of joint involvement over time. The positive predictive value of a lack of inflammation in a joint during the first year for the lack of involvement over the ensuing 4 years was 87%. Thirty-eight of the 43 joints that required replacement were inflamed in the first year of disease.
3482988 HLA studies in familial and sporadic rheumatoid arthritis. 1986 Jun Fifty-eight unrelated patients with familial (36) and non-familial (22) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been studied for HLA-A, B, C, and DR antigens. Among the 36 probands of families with multiple cases of RA (Group I) 73 per cent are DR4 positive, and 60 per cent of the DR4 negative probands possess DR1. The corresponding frequencies among the 22 patients with non-familial (sporadic) RA (Group II) are 59 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively, DR4 and/or DR1 are present in 89 per cent of patients in Group I and 82 per cent in Group II. Homozygosity for DR4 has been definitely established by family studies in six of the 26 DR4 positive patients (23 per cent) in Group I, and a further two patients are possible homozygous. Family studies have not been performed in sporadic RA patients but two of 13 DR4 positive patients in this group are possibly homozygous for DR4. HLA haplotypes A1, Cw7, B8, DR4; and A2, Cw3, B15, DR4 are shared by two or more unrelated probands of multicase families.
1897139 [Increased numbers of large granular lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in selected infla 1991 Jun In six patients with selected inflammatory rheumatic diseases the authors found increased numbers of LGL in the peripheral blood. Concurrently in these patients an increase of lymphocytes with the CD57 sign was found. In one patient with rheumatoid arthritis more detailed analysis revealed a reduced number of lymphocytes with sign CD16. In this patient in the peripheral blood cells with signs CD3+ and CD57 were found and the function of NK cells was markedly reduced. The clinical course of the disease in the patients was severe, in particular in SLE, where in three patients the disease was associated with the development of lupus glomerulonephritis. The patients were treated by immunosuppressive therapy. The authors reflect on the causes of the increase of LGL cells and do not rule out the possible presence of a serious immunoregulatory disorder between T and B lymphocytes.
3239177 [Indications and results of fusion operations of the upper cervical spine in chronic polya 1988 Sep 12 patients suffering from rheumatic or psoriatic instabilities of the upper cervical spine underwent operations by a dorsal approach from September '83 until October '86. They were examined 3 months to 3 years after operation. Different operative procedures were chosen depending upon the extent of the instabilities. Differential indications are discussed on the basis of clinical and x-ray features. Results were good in 10 patients, 1 was satisfactory, 1 patient died one week postoperatively. Rheumatoid and psoriatic instabilities of the upper cervical spine should receive early operative treatment while extent and risks of operative procedures are low.
2023195 Education level and rheumatoid arthritis: evidence from five data centers. 1991 Jan Data on 2,006 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 1984 and 1986 were analyzed from 5 American Rheumatism Association Medical Information Systems patient centers to assess covariates of future disability. The dependent variable was the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index, measured in 1986. Independent variables, measured in 1984, include years of schooling, age, age squared, sex, labor force status, occupation, marital status, race, income, sedimentation rate, log latex, number of tender joints, and duration of illness. A negative association between schooling and the disability index is strongly apparent for men and weaker in women. Results for men persist even after adjustment for occupation and income, but not after additional adjustment for biological variables. The effects of schooling upon progression of RA are complex and interpretation requires simultaneous assessment of a variety of other variables. Causal effects of level of schooling are seen with a social science perspective which considers the biologic data to represent dependent variables yet cannot be inferred from a clinical model which considers the biology of the disease as an independent variable.
2313471 Soluble interleukin-2 receptor: elevated levels in serum and synovial fluid of patients wi 1990 Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels were quantitated in the serum and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and degenerative joint disease (DJD). A sandwich immunoassay, employing two monoclonal antibodies against distinct epitopes on the IL-2R, was utilized for measurement. We found a striking elevation of sIL-2R in RA SF as compared with DJD SF (RA, 1319 +/- 135; DJD, 416 +/- 59; p less than 0.001). RA serum sIL-2R levels were also significantly elevated over DJD levels. There was no interaction between rheumatoid factor (RF) and sIL-2R. RA patients with elevated sIL-2R levels had significantly longer disease duration, higher c-reactive protein (CRP) levels in serum and SF, and higher RF levels in serum and SF. The groups were similar in regard to other laboratory variables. The presence of elevated levels of sIL-2R in RA serum and SF confirms the presence of a heightened immune reactivity and in vivo activation of lymphocytes in RA.
3393838 [Serum, synovial and intra-articular pharmacokinetics of naproxen after one-gram oral admi 1988 Apr 30 After a reminder of the major points of the pharmacokinetics of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, the authors report the results of a multicentric study of the kinetics of naproxen after oral intake of one single dose of 1 gram in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The half-life is longer in the synovial fluid than in the serum, 23 hours versus 17 hours. The balance point is obtained at the 24th hour and, at that time, the naproxen level in the synovium and the joint fluid are 32 and 60 p. cent, respectively, of the corresponding maximum concentrations.
3564588 [Heart involvement in rheumatoid arthritis]. 1986 Nov 15 It is reported on the malignant course of a case of rheumatoid arthritis, in which the participation of the heart became the cause of death. Here it is stated that we certainly enlarge our knowledge on the participation of the heart by modern cardiological diagnostics, but therapeutically are not yet able to engage decisively in the fateful course of the systemic rheumatoid basic disease. Therefore, efforts about an early cardiologic diagnosis are at present not yet of therapeutic consequences.
1721846 Identification of antibody epitopes within the CB-11 peptide of type II collagen. I: Detec 1991 Using epitope scanning, the precise location of antibody binding sites on the CB-11 peptide of bovine type II collagen have been identified for the first time. Two hundred and seventy two peptides (8 amino acids in length and overlapping by seven amino acids), representing the complete CB-11 sequence, were synthesised on solid phase supports, in duplicate, and were screened with sera from arthritic and non-arthritic, bovine type II collagen-immunised rats. A total of twenty one different antibody binding sites were identified with no epitope being uniquely recognised by sera from arthritic, as compared to non-arthritic, rats although differences in the relative amount of antibody binding were seen. Individual sera identified between two and thirteen epitopes with one epitope being recognised by all sera. Some of the amino acid sequences, of the CB-11 region of bovine type II collagen, recognised by the rat sera are identical to the sequences in human type II collagen and thus these epitopes may be relevant to autoimmunity to type II collagen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
2340818 Quality of social support and associated social and psychological functioning in women wit 1990 Using a cross-sectional interview study of 194 women with rheumatoid arthritis, investigated the relationship between health status, social integration, qualitative aspects of social support, and social and psychological functioning in the presence of a chronic, disabling disease. Even after controlling for the influences of current physical limitations and social integration, qualitative dimensions of social support as measured by the Quality of Social Support Scale, a scale developed for this study, explained a significant proportion of the variance in home and family functioning and in depression.
2772755 [Arthroscopic findings of cartilage changes in knees with rheumatoid arthritis]. 1989 Apr We evaluated 28 cases (45 knee joints) with rheumatoid arthritis as our subjects using simple X-rays of the knee joints according to their Larsen grade and also measured the femoro-tibial angle (FTA). Moreover, using an arthroscope we observed 6 regions, namely, the medial femoral condyle, medial tibial plateau, medial meniscus, lateral femoral condyle, lateral tibial plateau, and lateral meniscus, and evaluated the degree of cartilage degeneration according to a 5-point grade classification of our own devising. We studied the relationship between the simple X-ray findings and the arthroscopic findings of cartilage degeneration and reached the following conclusions. Even when simple X-ray findings are slight as in Larsen grade I, various degrees of cartilage degeneration are observed and moreover, as the stage of the disease progresses, cartilage degeneration becomes more severe. The progression of cartilage degeneration up to Larsen grade III is not uniform but degenerative changes in the lateral meniscus progress. Also, a correlation was observed between the nature of the cartilage destruction and the FTA.
2353281 Sudden death from cord compression associated with atlanto-axial instability in rheumatoid 1990 Apr We have presented a case of death from AAS in a rheumatoid patient. We believe her cardiac arrest was caused by an acute myocardial infarction (MI) or dysrhythmia. We cannot determine whether the MI/dysrhythmia was itself a lethal event. The damage to her lower medulla and upper cervical cord, which most likely occurred at the time of her intubation, was a lethal injury. The presence of spinal cord ischemic changes and acute inflammatory cells within the cord indicate that the cervical spine injury occurred premortem. This patient had no neck pain, no neurologic symptoms or signs, and had AAS of 8 mm. Weissman suggests that 9 mm of AAS is the critical amount. The 1-mm subluxation difference here is probably not significant, because there is inherent error when measuring radiographs. We took into account her clinical and radiographic data, and decided to manage her C1-C2 articulation nonoperatively. Nevertheless, her atlanto-axial joint consisted of abnormal soft and hard tissue. This joint was satisfactory for her usual activities of daily living. The anteroposterior forces generated during ACLS intubation, which are unlikely to disrupt a normal atlanto-axial joint, were sufficient to subluxate her joint. This case demonstrates that it behooves us to maintain a high level of awareness for potential cervical spine problems in all rheumatoid arthritis patients.
3499510 A comparison of clinical and immunogenetic features in familial and sporadic rheumatoid ar 1987 Aug Clinical and immunogenetic factors were compared in 214 patients with sporadic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 117 patients from 52 multiplex families. Sex distribution, articular disease severity and seropositivity for rheumatoid and antinuclear factors were similar in familial and sporadic disease. There was a trend for Sjögren's and Felty's syndromes to be more frequent in familial RA but extraarticular disease features were otherwise similar in the 2 RA disease groups. Mean age of onset was 41.1 years in familial and 46.5 years in sporadic RA (p less than 0.0006); 67% of family probands, 74% of affected relatives and 57% of sporadic patients were HLA-DR4 positive (p less than 0.05 affected relatives vs sporadic). The similarity of clinical features found in familial and sporadic RA justifies the use of families with RA to study aspects of disease pathogenesis.
3117465 Expression of HLA-D-locus (DP, DQ, DR)-coded antigens, beta 2-microglobulin, and the inter 1987 Nov The expression of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m), class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens (HLA-DP, -DQ, -DR) and the interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) on resident and infiltrating cells in labial salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) was studied using an immunoperoxidase technique based on staining with monoclonal antibodies. The progression of the inflammatory process was accompanied by increasing numbers of immunocompetent cells as well as glandular epithelial cells expressing beta 2m and class II MHC antigens. Up to 60% of the infiltrating lymphocytes were DQ- and DR-positive while fewer cells stained for DP antigen. Glandular epithelium (acinar and ductal cells) stained for products of all three HLA-D subregions but with varying degrees of expression following the pattern DR greater than DP greater than DQ related to the severity of inflammation. A minor portion of the infiltrating lymphocytes expressed IL-2R. These findings emphasize the potential importance of epithelial expression of class II antigens in the local activation of T lymphocytes in salivary gland lesions of SS patients. They also indicate that differences may exist in this respect between T-cell reactions restricted by different class II MHC-encoded gene products.
3711603 Surgical management of basal joint arthritis of the thumb. Part I. Long-term results of si 1986 May Seventy-two procedures in 53 patients with advanced basal joint arthritis are retrospectively evaluated with follow-up ranging from 12 months to 8 years. Follow-up of a subset of 32 silicone implant arthroplasties in osteoarthritic thumbs averaged 3.9 years with a 25% failure rate. Despite providing early symptomatic relief, silicone implants lost nearly 50% of vertical height at the ulnar margin secondary to cold flow and wear and subluxed 35% of the width of the prosthesis during the study period. Dynamic tendon transfers did not prevent implant subluxation and had no effect on the magnitude or pattern of implant wear. Ligamentous reconstruction reduced implant instability, but was accompanied by an increase in silicone wear and cold flow. Reactive giant cell synovitis with silicone particulates and adjacent bone resorption was seen in some cases of implant arthroplasty failure. Forces across the osteoarthritic basal joint would seem to preclude a stable silicone implant arthroplasty in the absence of eventual wear and symptomatic foreign body synovitis. Because of this unresolved conflict between implant stability and wear, at the present time we seldom use silicone in the osteoarthritic basal joint, but continue to utilize the silicone hemitrapezium or the cannulated trapezium replacement with satisfactory results in the low-demand rheumatoid thumb.