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

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
3947415 Effect of total lymphoid irradiation on levels of serum autoantibodies in systemic lupus e 1986 Jan The effects of total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) on serum levels of autoantibodies, and of antibodies to diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, and pneumococcal polysaccharide in patients with lupus nephritis were compared with those previously observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Baseline levels of antibodies to diphtheria toxoid and tetanus toxoid decreased significantly after TLI in patients with lupus and RA, but antibody levels to pneumococcal polysaccharide remained unchanged. After TLI, the levels of antinuclear and anti-DNA antibodies were reduced significantly in lupus, but levels of rheumatoid factor, antinuclear, and antigranulocyte antibodies all tended to increase in RA.
2672141 Reforming the pyramid. A plan for treating rheumatoid arthritis in the 1990s. 1989 Aug Standard treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as illustrated by the pyramid does not prevent joint damage in most patients. The concept that slow-acting drugs are uniquely disease modifying is not supported by experience. Disease modification correlates best with control of inflammation and this has been demonstrated with prednisone. Many medications working by different mechanisms have a partial or temporary effect on inflammation. Following the example of cancer chemotherapy, we propose the step-down bridge, a therapeutic plan in which a combination of drugs is used to control inflammation early in the disease before joints become damaged. Medications are then sequentially discontinued as inflammation remains controlled.
3593438 Plasma hydroxychloroquine concentrations and efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis. 1987 May Plasma levels of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its metabolites were measured, by high performance liquid chromatography, in 37 rheumatoid arthritis patients who could be clearly distinguished as responders (n = 28) or nonresponders (n = 9) to HCQ, 400 mg/day. Efficacy in both groups was determined by the patients' erythrocyte sedimentation rates, joint counts, morning stiffness, global assessments, concurrent drug therapies, and grip strength. The response rate was 76%. Responders had a mean HCQ level of 213 ng/ml, versus 306 in nonresponders (P less than 0.05). The mean level of HCQ plus total metabolites in responders was 363 ng/ml, versus 554 in nonresponders (P less than 0.01). We conclude that monitoring plasma HCQ levels is unlikely to be helpful in individualizing effective drug dosage.
2206970 Elastic fibre damage induced by low-dose D-penicillamine. 1990 Sep We have studied 23 patients receiving penicillamine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to determine the prevalence of penicillamine-induced elastosis. One female patient had pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like skin changes and bramble-bush elastosis without calcification in the involved skin. Penicillamine elastosis was present in the joint capsule in 62% of eight patients or 64% of II joints examined and was detected in joint capsules after as little as I year of treatment.
2306568 Plasma lactoferrin and neutrophil elastase in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus eryt 1990 Feb In order to assess lactoferrin (LF), stored in specific granules of neutrophils, as a marker of inflammation, LF was measured in plasma and serum samples of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In active RA, the median plasma LF level (800 ng/ml) was significantly higher than in normal individuals (220 ng/ml) (P less than 0.00001) and patients with active SLE (235 ng/ml) (P less than 0.00001). Median plasma elastase-proteinase inhibitor complex (EPIC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were also significantly higher in patients with RA than in normal individuals (P less than 0.00001) and active SLE (P less than 0.00001 for both EPIC and CRP). Elevations of LF, EPIC and CRP in RA were independent of rheumatoid factor titres. Plasma lactoferrin in RA correlated significantly with EPIC (Rs = 0.7, P less than 0.0001), CRP (Rx = 0.72, P less than 0.0001) and absolute neutrophil counts (Rs = 0.483, P less than 0.02), but surprisingly not with the Ritchie index, with which CRP showed a weak but significant correlation (Rs = 0.27, P less than 0.05 greater than 0.025). Thus plasma LF and EPIC are markers of inflammation in RA and their levels may reflect release of mediators of inflammation into the joint space and periarticular tissue.
2126672 Evaluation of Tenidap (CP-66,248) on human neutrophil arachidonic acid metabolism, chemota 1990 Aug Ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were evaluated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study examining the clinical efficacy of a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent: Tenidap (CP-66,248). RA patients receiving active drug therapy (n = 6) demonstrated clinically significant improvements in observer assessment of pain (p less than 0.025), painful joint count (p less than 0.010), and overall clinical assessment as based on a modified rheumatoid activity index, MRAI (p less than 0.025). In parallel laboratory assays, Tenidap was found to exhibit a significant in vitro dose-dependent inhibition of ionophore-stimulated neutrophil production of the 5-lipoxygenase product: [3H]leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Although more importantly, Tenidap was also found to exhibit an in vitro dose-dependent inhibition (IC50 20 microM) of the ionophore-stimulated release (deacylation) of the precursor [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids. In further studies, Tenidap did not have any effect on fMLP-induced neutrophil chemotactic response. These results suggest that one of the possible mechanisms for the clinical effectiveness of this agent, may be through its effect at inhibiting the release of free AA from membrane phospholipids and therefore limiting its further metabolism into certain biologically-active inflammatory lipids.
2774703 Fatal aplastic anaemia and liver toxicity caused by D-penicillamine treatment of rheumatoi 1989 Jul A 65 year old woman with rheumatoid arthritis developed marrow aplasia and jaundice owing to D-penicillamine treatment. Recovery of bone marrow was ineffective, and the patient finally died despite intensive therapeutic measures. The rare coexistence of myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity is presented and discussed.
3782249 Survival of knee arthroplasties. A nation-wide multicentre investigation of 8000 cases. 1986 Nov A prospective nation-wide study of knee arthroplasty has been under way in Sweden since October 1975. By the end of 1983, 4505 arthroplasties for osteoarthritis and 3495 for rheumatoid arthritis had been recorded and reviewed one, three and six years after the operation. Using actuarial methods, the probability of the prosthesis remaining in situ after six years was calculated. In osteoarthritis this probability ranged from 65% for hinged prostheses to 90% for medial compartment prostheses. Two-and three-compartment prostheses produced intermediate results with 87% survival. In rheumatoid arthritis the probability varied from 72% for medial compartment prostheses to 90% for two- and three-compartment prostheses. The main reason for failure was loosening of the components, the second most common was infection. The probability of revision for infection by six years was 2% in osteoarthritis and 3% in rheumatoid arthritis. Most revisions were to a three-compartment prosthesis. Knee fusion at primary revision was required in 2% of the cases at six years.
3225411 Flexor tendon ruptures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 1988 Nov One hundred fifteen flexor tendon ruptures were reviewed in 43 hands with rheumatoid arthritis, one hand with psoriatic arthritis, and one hand with lupus erythematosis. Ninety-one tendons were ruptured at the wrist, four ruptures occurred at the palm, and 20 ruptures occurred within the digits. At the wrist level, 61 ruptures were caused by attrition on a bone spur and 30 were caused by direct invasion of the tendon by tenosynovium. All ruptures distal to the wrist were caused by invasion of the tendon by tenosynovium. Patients whose ruptures were caused by attrition regained better motion than those whose ruptures were caused by invasion by tenosynovitis; however, motion overall was poor. Patients with isolated ruptures in the palm or at the wrist had the best functional results. Those patients with multiple ruptures within the carpal canal had a worse prognosis. Ruptures of both tendons within the fibro-osseous canal had the worst prognosis. The severity of the patient's disease and the degree of articular involvement had a great effect on the outcome of surgery. Prevention of tendon ruptures by early tenosynovectomy and removal of bone spurs should be the cornerstone of treatment.
2138120 Factor H polymorphism, typing by isoelectrofocusing and immunoblotting: no association wit 1990 The genetic polymorphism of human factor H (beta 1H) was investigated by a combination of isoelectrofocusing and immunoblotting. This simple method is reliable and economical. The allelic frequencies in the Newfoundland population were estimated to be 0.597 and 0.403 for FH*1 and FH*2, respectively (129 individuals typed). No association of factor H types with rheumatoid arthritis was found (111 patients typed).
3405628 Giant synovial cyst of the hip joint. 1988 Jun Synovial cysts are known to occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Their presentation in the hip joint, however, continues to be a diagnostic challenge. A case is presented involving a patient with a large synovial cyst of the hip, emphasizing the need for the orthopaedic surgeon to include synovial cyst in the differential diagnosis of a painless groin mass, particularly in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
1669588 IgE rheumatoid factor. Occurrence and diagnostic importance in comparison with IgM rheumat 1991 Oct The sera of 80 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA)--30 of them with extraarticular manifestations (EAM) and 50 patients with articular disease only--of 25 patients with other joint diseases and of 30 normal healthy subjects, were analyzed for the presence of 1) IgE rheumatoid factors (IgE RF) by means of a solid phase radioimmunoassay and an ELISA, 2) IgM rheumatoid factors by using solid phase radioimmune techniques, and 3) circulating immune complexes (CIC) with the C1q binding test (C1q BT) and the solid phase conglutinin binding test (SPCBT). The best technique to discriminate RA patients with EAM from RA patients without EAM and patients with other articular diseases was the determination of IgE RF (73.3%, 38.0%, 0%, resp.) compared to IgM RF (86.7%, 78.0%, and 56.0%) and CIC (C1q BT: 80.0%, 66.0% and 45.0%; SPCBT: 46.7%, 22.0%, and 20.0%). The results suggest a certain role of IgE RF for diagnosis and a possible development of extraarticular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.
3594915 Lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde in the synovial fluid and plasma of patients with r 1987 May 15 The concentration of lipid peroxides in the plasma and synovial fluid of 65 arthritic patients was determined using a new ion-pairing reverse phase HPLC technique. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, had a significantly higher mean concentration of lipid peroxides in synovial fluid samples (162 +/- 22.0 micrograms/l) than osteoarthritic patients (40.0 +/- 8.0 micrograms/l, p less than 0.0001). Mean concentrations in both groups correlated strongly with the level of beta-glucuronidase activity as a measure of lysosomal enzyme release (r = 0.71, p less than 0.0001). Contrary to previous reports by investigators using less specific methods, we were unable to demonstrate any increase in plasma levels of lipid peroxides in the rheumatoid patient. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with D-penicillamine was associated with a significant reduction of lipid peroxide levels (83.2 +/- 11.5 micrograms/ml, p less than 0.002), suggesting that this drug may function as an oxygen radical scavenger in the joint cavity. These results give further support to the concept of oxygen-free radicals playing an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disorders.
1714859 [Antibodies to anticoagulants in rheumatic autoimmune diseases]. 1990 The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as the classic autoimmune diseases exhibit a great number of autoantibodies. Some of them are anticoagulants. Besides inactivating inhibitors against single coagulation factors interfering anticoagulants are known, belonging to the group of anti-phospholipid antibodies and detected as the lupus anticoagulants or anticardiolipin antibodies. Anti-phospholipid antibodies 184 patients with SLE or RA had been checked for. An enzyme immuno assay was used for detection of the anti-cardiolipin antibodies. The relations between occurrence of the anti-cardiolipin antibodies and vascular processes as well as other immunologic parameters had been tested for clinical relevancy.
3192949 Measurement of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by area under a cytotoxic curve. A method 1988 Nov 25 Calculation of the area under a curve derived from a 51Cr cellular release assay gives a reproducible expression of cellular cytotoxicity and correlates well with results at fixed lymphocyte-to-target cell ratios and with lytic units at 20% and 30% cytotoxicity. This method is suitable for quantifying the low cytotoxicity seen in rheumatoid arthritis. The area under the cellular cytotoxic curve may be calculated using a simple mathematical formula or by computer analysis.
3408830 Bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy due to vertical subluxation of the odontoid process in r 1988 Aug Two patients with rheumatoid arthritis involving the cervical spine developed a rapidly progressive dysarthria due to bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsies, in one patient as an isolated lesion, and in the other in conjunction with dysfunction of the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves. Both patients showed upward movement of the axis, relative to the foramen magnum, which has been termed 'vertical subluxation of the odontoid' or 'cranial settling'. Mechanical injury to the nerves, secondary to this process, is the most likely mechanism.
3064451 [Nonmedicamentous therapy procedures in rheumatology]. 1988 Nov 15 In a survey paper various non-medicamentous therapeutic approaches in rheumatology are described. The classical treatment methods such as operation and physical therapy are only mentioned, the possibilities of the ergotherapy, the manual therapy and several controversial non-medicamentous treatment methods such as laser therapy, magnetic field radiation, acupuncture and fasting cures are discussed more in detail. In connection with the post-operative rehabilitation is it particularly referred to the fact that in the regular case not the complete rehabilitation in the sense of an unrestricted functional capacity of the patient is to be achieved, but that an individual aim of rehabilitation depending upon age, activity and initial position of the patient must be established which shall lead to social independence and occupational reintegration, respectively.
1942911 [2 cases from the practice of intensive treatment]. 1991 Two cases from the intensive treatment practice are presented: Case I--a 43-year-old woman drawn out from a state of clinical death during chronic dialysis for chronic renal failure with importunate ultrafiltration to combat the severe pulmonary edema, which led to hypoxia and cardiac arrest with functionally affected hemodynamic parameters (central venous pressure), because of centrally placed a/v fistula. Case II--a 46-year-old woman with severe drug disease and extremely critical hypotonic hyperhydration and anasarca, treated also with ultrafiltration, enhanced sodium influx and intensive application of diuretics; for 24 hours a negative fluid balance was achieved (71191 ml) until finally a relative fluid-electrolyte equilibrium was reached.
1689600 Terminal N-acetylglucosamine in chronic synovitis. 1990 Feb The distribution of terminal GlcNAc residues in normal and diseased synovial tissue has been studied using a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) which binds to terminal N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Normal human connective tissue, including synovium, showed no staining for terminal GlcNAc. Normal epithelial tissues, including tonsillar epithelium, skin, small intestinal epithelium and salivary epithelium showed cellular staining. Synovium from patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis showed dense granular staining of macrophages. In addition, synovium from 9 of 12 patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis showed reticular extracellular staining indicating deposition of material bearing terminal GlcNAc in the connective tissue stroma. The extracellular staining was not seen in synovium from patients with osteoarthritis. Extracellular material bearing terminal GlcNAc may act as an inflammatory stimulus in rheumatoid arthritis, either by acting as antigen or by interaction with receptors on macrophage membranes which also recognize GlcNAc on bacterial material, thus triggering biochemical pathways normally occurring in response to the presence of micro-organisms.
3262913 [Osteocalcin and anomalies of cellular immunity in rheumatoid polyarthritis]. 1988 Jun Spinal and peripheral skeletal demineralisation is sometimes observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Numerous studies have shown the role of osteoclasts in its genesis, but few studies have been conducted to demonstrate a functional anomaly of osteoblasts. Synthesized by osteoblasts, osteocalcin enables to approach the osteoblastic activity, through titration of its serum level. In 31 patients suffering from erosive classical RA, we titrated the serum osteocalcin. In 9 cases, we found a definite decrease of the serum osteocalcin levels. There was a statistically significant difference between these 9 patients and the 21 others, in the presence of anomalies of the CD4/CD8 lymphocytic ratio, the presence of extra-articular manifestations, a high level of rheumatoid factors, class IgM, with an immuno-enzymatic technique. On the contrary, there was no difference regarding the mean duration of the RA course, the mean age, calcemia, and alkaline phosphatases level. Thus, in the course of severe clinical and immunological rheumatoid arthritis, an anomaly of cellular immunity was observed associated with abnormal serum osteocalcin levels. The exact mechanism of this decrease remains to be specified. Other prospective studies are necessary to confirm this preliminary research.