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

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
115084 Effects of sodium aurothiomalate on hyaluronic acid synthesis in normal and rheumatoid syn 1979 In studies with normal and rheumatoid synovial fibroblast cultures the effects of sodium aurothiomalate on the quantity and quality of hyaluronic acid were tested. This gold compound produced one clear effect: the molecular weight of hyaluronate produced by rheumatoid fibroblasts was increased (shifted towards normal) whereas the effects on the amounts of hyaluronic acid synthesized were small in both rheumatoid and control cultures. The importance of this finding in relation to the known beneficial effects of gold preparations in clinical medicine is discussed.
6887163 A systematic controlled study of pulmonary abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis. 1983 Jun We have conducted a prospective comparison of 155 rheumatoid patients and 95 control subjects. Both groups were selected without regard to respiratory status, but were comparable in age, sex and smoking experience. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms, of past respiratory illnesses and of pulmonary function findings of airway obstruction was similar in both groups. However, the rheumatoids showed an increased frequency of chest crackles and abnormal chest radiographs, and had pulmonary function changes suggestive of a restrictive ventilatory defect. These pulmonary abnormalities were associated with smoking, the presence of nonpulmonary extraarticular features, the level of rheumatoid disease activity and treatment with oral corticosteroid or gold.
7449214 Arthrodesis of the ankle joint with rheumatoid arthritis: experience with the transfibular 1980 Nov There are man methods of ankle joint arthrodesis, but nearly all are used for treatment of posttraumatic talocrural joint arthritis. Relatively few case reports of ankle arthrodesis are found in the literature on rheumatoid arthritis. The transfibular approach is remarkably effective for the fusion of talocrural joints destroyed and deformed by rheumatoid arthritis. In nine cases, the overall results were excellent in six and good in three. A sliding inlay graft in one case also produced a good result. Because patients with rheumatoid arthritis have osteoporosis caused by steroid therapy or its disuse, and some vascular disease, compression arthrodesis is unsafe. Moreover, the lateral transfibular approach provides better surgical exposure as well as protecting fragile rheumatoid tendons, vessels and nerves.
794700 [Pathophysiology and laboratory diagnosis of collagen diseases (author's transl)]. 1976 Dec Beginning with lesions of the capillary wall, rheumatoid arthritis is morphologically expressed by an aseptic inflammation of the synovia with following necrosis of the cartilage and the underlying bone tissue. Only little is known regarding the pathogenesis but most porbably immune mechansims are involved. There is evidence for the participation of type IV and type III-reactions i.e. sensitized lymphocytes as well as immune complexes. Equally the etiology of RA is totally unknown. Once the inflammatory process has reached some activity, in most cases it shows the character of a selfpertetuation as in other autoimmune diseases. Laboratory examinations include BSR, blood count, measurement of Fe, Cu, RF, complement, streptolysins, staphylolysins, ANA, and in doubtful cases synovial biopsy. Furthermore, effusion fluid of the joint may be examined for RF, ANA, complement, rhagocytes, crystals, protein content etc.--Among the collagen diseases sensu strictori, systemic lupus erythematosus is the most important. The underlying process may be characterized as vasculitis due to immune complexes and local activation of the complement system, the complexes containing native and/or denatured DNA, and antibodies mostly of the IgG class. Laboratory examinations include the demonstration of ANA but should concentrate on the measurement of DNA-antibodies using radioimmunological or at least a sensitive and specific immunofluorescence technique. The value of the various tests is discussed.
327948 Double-blind study of erbium 169 injection (synoviorthesis) in rheumatoid digital joints. 1977 Jun A double-blind study of erbium 169 injection into rheumatoid digital joints was carried out with saline as control. 201 joints in 36 patients were studied (137 metacarpophalalangeal, 64 proximal interphalangeal). Erbium 169 was injected into 121 joints and saline water into 80 joints. Local injection of corticosteroids was given to both groups. A definite improvement was observed in 55% to 58% of cases with erbium 169 (+prednisolone acetate) and in 26% to 28% of cases with saline (+prednisolone acetate). The difference was highly significant.
6090712 Identification of multiple Epstein-Barr virus-induced nuclear antigens with sera from pati 1984 Oct By means of the protein immunoblot technique, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen (EBNA) could be identified in a variety of EBV-transformed cell lines with anti-EBNA-positive sera from normal donors. The molecular weight of EBNA expressed in each of the cell lines varied between 70,000 and 75,000 and was dependent upon the strain of infecting virus. In contrast, 15 of 21 sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis identified antigens in addition to EBNA. The most prominent of these antigens had molecular weights of 110,000 to 115,000 and 92,000. All of the EBV genome-positive cell lines except for QIMR-GOR and cell lines containing the P3HR-1 virus expressed these antigens. The antigens were not present in the EBV genome-negative Ramos and BJAB cell lines, nor were they identified with EBV seronegative sera, indicating that they were EBV related. There was no direct correlation between the presence of antibodies in sera to EBNA, viral capsid antigen or early antigen, and reaction with the 92,000-molecular-weight antigen in immunoblots, indicating that this antigen was distinct from previously described EBV-related antigens.
6604160 Relationship between the articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis and circulating 1983 Jun Although detected in most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the relationship of the concentration of circulating immune complexes and specific classes of rheumatoid factors (RF) to the activity of the articular manifestations is uncertain. Therefore, 57 patients were evaluated in a prospective fashion. Combining all data, the concentration of IgG RF and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) correlated most strongly with the articular index (Pc less than 10(-4], while the concentrations of IgM RF and IgA RF did not correlate. The quantity of immune complexes detected by the C1q-SP and the mRF-SP assays correlated significantly with articular manifestations (Pc less than 0.02 and less than 0.002) while those detected by the C1q-BA did not. Strong associations between the change of the articular index and both the change of ESR (r = 0.76, Pc less than 0.007) and the change of IgG RF (r = 0.72, Pc less than 0.014) were noted in those begun on remittive agents during the course of this investigation. Of the assays for immune complexes, changes of those detected by the C1q-SP correlated most closely with the articular index (r = 0.63) in this group. These observations support a potential role for the selective use of certain laboratory parameters, in addition to the ESR, in monitoring the articular activity of certain patients with RA.
394545 Immunological studies on synovial joint membranes in psoriatic arthritis. 1979 Psoriatic arthritis (PA) is included in the seronegative arthritis group, though it is now generally considered to represent a clinical entity. In PA, in contrast to psoriasis vulgaris and to other types of rheumatoid arthritis, only a few immunological studies have been reported. In the present report synovial joint membranes from patients with PA and control groups have been studied for the presence of (a) vascular changes, (b) fibrin, (c) immunoglobulins and complement factor C3.
7188434 Serum ferritin and iron uptake by peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with active rheu 1982 Dec Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease in which anaemia is common. The origin of the anaemia is usually multifactorial. Iron deficiency, a defect of release of iron from the reticulo-endothelial system is discussed. Ferritin content of monocytes, lymphocytes and polymorphs is found altered and mostly elevated in monocytes affected by serum iron deficiency. In all cell types iron uptake is related to transferrin saturation. Alterations against normal subjects in iron uptake, ferritin synthesis and iron incorporation into ferritin are mostly found in patients with serum iron deficiency.
6467867 Rheumatoid factor production in response to gonococcal polyarthritis and tenosynovitis. 1984 Jun A case of gonococcal polyarthritis in a 19-year old woman was rheumatoid factor positive on presentation. Titres of rheumatoid factor declined to normal as her arthritis resolved with treatment. A positive rheumatoid factor test in a person with possible gonococcal polyarthritis should therefore be disregarded until an infective aetiology has been ruled out.
6123967 [Serum concentration of bile acids as an index of liver lesions in rheumatoid arthritis]. 1982 Jun 8 Many Authors reported an impairment of liver function tests in Rheumatoid Arthritis (R.A.) No study can be found on Serum Bile Acids (S.B.A.), which are a specific index of liver dysfunction. In a series of 20 patients, affected by R.A. and without other causes of hepatic damage, we found S.B.A. elevated in 80% (mean value 14,1 muM/l versus 2,6 muM/l in controls), bromosulphalein retenction (BSP) elevated in 60% and glutamyltranspeptidase (GT) in 55%. These results confirm BSP and GT frequent impairment, as found by others, and give evidence to S.B.A. reliability in evaluating liver function in R.A.
6145028 Captopril: a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis? 1984 Jun 16 Captopril, an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme, is prescribed for hypertension. Its molecular structure shares features with D-penicillamine, in that both agents contain a thiol group. In addition, captopril has immunosuppressant activity. Captopril was therefore considered a potential slow-acting drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis. In an open study 15 patients with active arthritis were treated with captopril and followed for 48 weeks. Two-thirds of the patients reported improved arthritis symptoms, and significant changes were seen in several clinical and biochemical measurements, notably Ritchie articular index, clinical score, plasma viscosity, and C-reactive protein. Side-effects were generally mild and included transient taste loss, rashes, and hypotension. Only 2 patients withdrew as a result of drug intolerance.
4062454 Pneumonitis complicating low-dose methotrexate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. 1985 Nov Three of 95 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were being treated with low-dose (5 to 15 mg/wk) methotrexate sodium developed the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of methotrexate-associated pulmonary injury. Marked hypoxemia emphasized the severity of illness in our patients; lowest oxygen pressure values for each patient were 35 mm Hg, 42 mm Hg, and 45 mm Hg. The management of our patients with a pulmonary toxic reaction to methotrexate included discontinuing the drug treatment, antibiotic therapy until an infectious cause was excluded, and high-dose methylprednisolone. Two patients recovered and one died. Contrary to an earlier report that suggested that pneumonitis occurred only with methotrexate sodium doses exceeding 15 mg/wk, our three cases demonstrate that a severe pulmonary toxic reaction may also complicate low-dose weekly methotrexate therapy of rheumatoid arthritis.
604477 Cellular immune reactivity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and effects of levamisole 1977 Winter Cellular immune reactivity was examined in control subjects and in 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after administration of levamisole. Prior to levamisole treatment, this population of patients with rheumatoid arthritis had diminished cellular immunity as measured by skin test reactivity, lymphocyte stimulation by antigen and by PHA, lymphocyte count and percentage and absolute numbers of long-incubation rosette-forming cells (RFC). Administration of levamisole caused enhancement of skin test reactivity and flares at dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) test sites which were not paralleled by an increase in lymphocyte stimulation by the same antigens in vitro or enhancement in the PHA response. The increase in lymphocyte count and RFC was borderline (p = .06). Of the 16 patients who received levamisole for three months, nine patients showed at least one physical sign of improvement, five patients remained unchanged, and two patients experienced progression of their disease.
6750781 Lack of beneficial effect of zinc sulphate in rheumatoid arthritis. 1982 Twenty-two patients with severe long-standing rheumatoid arthritis were treated with oral zinc sulphate in a prospective long-term open trial. Six patients had (only subjective) improvement during the first 6 months of treatment, but all deteriorated subsequently. The remaining 16 deteriorated or did not improve and these patients expressed a wish to stop taking the drug after a mean period of 5 months. In the whole group of 22 patients, neither the number of affected joints, the ARA grading, nor functional classification changed significantly, nor did ESR, haemoglobin, haematocrit, or platelet count. The unpleasant taste and nausea caused by zinc sulphate was the main side effect. Our study confirms that ZnSO4 has no long-lasting beneficial effect for patients severely affected with rheumatoid arthritis.
51603 Macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity: its possible role in rheumatoid arthritis. 1975 Jun 13 The association of macrophages with destructive processes in transplantation and tumoral, bacterial, and protozoan immunity illustrates their versatility in different situations. Their participation in inflammatory responses, including graft rejection and rheumatoid arthritis, would guarantee focal areas of high concentrations of hydrolytic enzymes and other macrophage products. That erosion of synovial tissue occurs in the presence of enzymes known to be associated with macrophages suggests that the large numbers of infiltrating macrophages and destruction of synovial tissue may be related.
6628528 Plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of diclofenac sodium and its major hydroxylated m 1983 Plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of diclofenac sodium and its principal hydroxylated metabolites have been measured in sixteen rheumatoid patients on chronic therapy to investigate possible reasons for the drug's extended duration of action despite its apparent short elimination half-life in plasma. Diclofenac was detected in synovial fluid 2 h after dosing but at a lower level than in plasma. Thereafter synovial fluid concentrations remained relatively constant through to 11 h post-dosing whereas plasma levels in the same period declined rapidly from an initially high peak to near the sensitivity limit of the assay. Hydroxylated metabolites (free + conjugated) were rapidly formed with measurable concentrations of the 4' and 5 mono and dihydroxy derivatives being detected in plasma 2 h after dosing; levels of the 3' hydroxy metabolite were negligible at this time. Initially plasma levels of all metabolites were higher than those in synovial fluid but after 4 h synovial fluid levels were equal to or slightly higher than those in plasma. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the drug's overall clinical effect.
907312 Arthrodesis of the wrist in rheumatoid arthritis. A follow-up study of 62 cases. 1977 Two cases of pseudarthrosis of the total of 62 wrists are reported. The motion of the first, fourth and fifth C-MC joints has practical value after "subtotal" wrist arthrodesis in rheumatoid patients. The frequent non-union of the joints between the trapezium/scaphoid and around the os triquetrum was painless and without clinical significance. If the wrist was fused in a neutral position (41 wrists) the position of the index finger was increased more than five degrees in the ulnar direction at follow-up in nine hands (22%). In no single case was the change in the deviation more than five degrees in the radial direction. If the wrist was fused in the radial position more than five degrees (five cases), the change in the deviation of the index finger was correspondingly ulnar in every case. If the wrist was fused over five degrees in the ulnar position (12 cases), in four cases the index finger deviated more than five but ten degrees or less in the radial direction at follow-up compared with the position before the arthrodesis. The wrist was 15 degrees or more in the ulnar direction in each of these four cases at follow-up. The position of the wrist should be in only slight ulnar deviation, less than 10 degrees, when the angle between the radius and the second metacarpal bone is measured. Either slight dorsal flexion or the zero position are recommended.
6335792 HLA antigen associations with extra-articular rheumatoid arthritis. 1984 Nov Seventy-seven patients with rheumatoid arthritis were investigated to examine the frequency of HLA antigens and their relationship to clinical and serological manifestations of extra-articular disease. The phenotype frequencies of DR4, DRw53, Bw62 and Cw3 were significantly increased, compared to normal controls, and there were negative associations with DR2 and DR7. The HLA antigen in strongest association with rheumatoid arthritis was DR4 (73.6%) and the relationship with DRw53 appeared to be secondary. The frequency of DR4 rose to 92% in seropositive patients with extra-articular disease manifestations whose serum contained immune complexes. A high frequency of DR4 was also seen in male patients (86%), reaching 100% in the small group of seropositive male patients with immune complexes. It is suggested that extra-articular disease represents a manifestation of severe classical rheumatoid arthritis and is not an 'overlap' syndrome. We propose that the HLA haplotype Cw3-Bw62-Dw4-DR4-DRw53 makes a greater genetic contribution to disease susceptibility in both extra-articular and male rheumatoid arthritis patients than in other subsets of RA.
1198076 Questionable effects of Myocrisin in experimental arthritis in rabbits. 1975 In 18 rabbits arthritis was induced in one knee joint by injection with 0.2 ml 3% ovalbumin 4 weeks after sensitization by 3% ovalbumin and 2 mg/ml tubercle bacilli suspended in Freunds incomplete adjuvant. Half of the rabbits were treated with Myocrisin 4 mg i.m. once a week during the experimental period lasting 4-5 months. At killing, both knee joints were examined macroscopically and microscopically. In all rabbits a distinct synovitis was found in the injected knee joint. Histologically, the changes were most pronounced in the rabbits not treated with Myocrisin. An activity index of the synovial membrane changes in the Myocrisin-treated and untreated cases was calculated to 6.3 and 3.6 respectively. Some changes were also found in the uninjected knee joints of 50% of the rabbits. In contrast to some other works, this preliminary investigation suggests that antigen-induced experimental arthritis is suppressed by gold. We feel that this model of experimental arthritis may be suitable for trying out the effect of various drugs.