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

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
1507693 [A case of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia in a patient with rheumatoid arth 1992 Jun A 56-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea on exertion, fever and right chest pain. Chest X-ray showed bilateral, predominantly lower interstitial shadows and right pleural effusion. Open lung biopsy specimen showed bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) with prominent alveolitis, and corticosteroid therapy was introduced. Because the patient showed little response to corticosteroids, an immunosupressant (cyclophosphamide) was added. There was marked clinical, physiological and roentgenographic improvement in response to combined therapy. The therapeutic response of some BOOP patients seems to vary according to its pathogenesis and pathological findings, and these should be taken into consideration in the selection of therapeutic strategies.
1475640 Postural control, muscle function and psychological factors in rheumatoid arthritis. Are t 1992 The aim of the present study was to relate postural control, as measured on a quantitative test battery as standing balance on an AMTI force platform, to results of muscle function of the lower extremities, aerobic capacity, disease characteristics, attitudes revealing anxiety, and demographic variables in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A group of 61 patients with RA was investigated. Multiple regression analyses, using both the stepwise and the backward elimination method, were employed for length of sway path in two-leg standing looking straight ahead and blindfolded as dependent variables. The results revealed postural control in two-leg standing looking straight ahead to be highly related to age and sex but also to isokinetic endurance and to anxiety. In the model, 55% of the variance was explained by these variables at a significance level of p = 0.05. Characteristics of the RA disease, such as c-reactive protein and joint-mobility did not play any major role in explaining postural control.
1556695 Serial estimation of interleukin 6 as a measure of systemic disease in rheumatoid arthriti 1992 Jan Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is frequently associated with a marked acute phase response, thrombocytosis, hypergammaglobulinemia and the presence of rheumatoid factors (RF). Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that stimulates hepatocytes to produce acute phase reactants and B lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulin. We measured serum IL-6 in patients with active RA during induction of intramuscular gold therapy. Levels of IL-6 correlated strongly with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and RF titers and to a lesser degree with platelet counts. It may, therefore, be responsible for many of the systemic manifestations of RA and its measurement in the serum may be a convenient and reproducible variable for the assessment of disease activity in this very common disease.
8607895 High seroprevalence of anti-HTLV-I antibody in rheumatoid arthritis. 1996 Mar OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Nagasaki, an area highly endemic for HTLV-I infection. METHODS: Sera from 113 female patients with RA and 19,796 female blood donors were screened for anti-HTLV-I antibodies with a gelatin particle agglutination kit and confirmed using an immunoblotting kits. RESULTS: The age-adjusted summary odds ratio of HTLV-I infection among RA patients, as compared with blood donors, was 2.8 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.8-4.6). The etiologic fraction, i.e., the proportion of RA in the study population that is attributable to HTLV-I infection, was estimated to be 13.2% (95% CI 5.1-21.2). There was no significant difference in the clinical and laboratory findings between HTLV-I- infected and HTLV-I-uninfected RA patients. CONCLUSION: These epidemiologic findings support the idea that HTLV-I infection is a risk factor for RA, and suggest that approximately 13 % of the cases of RA in females living in Nagasaki are associated with HTLV-I infection.
8436870 Arthroscopic synovectomy of the rheumatoid wrist. 1993 Feb 18 wrists in 16 patients with synovitis due to rheumatoid arthritis were treated with arthroscopic synovectomy. The surgical procedure and the results after surgery are described. Range of motion, grip strength, subjective experience of pain and level of activity were registered pre- and post-operatively. The operations were found to give good pain relief, increased grip strength, no post-operative stiffness and a short period of rehabilitation.
1616343 An infiltrating rheumatoid nodule? 1992 May The case is presented of a patient with mild rheumatoid arthritis who developed an enlarged painful tissue mass in the left lower leg. Although the history, clinical, and imaging appearances suggested that it was a soft tissue sarcoma, a biopsy specimen showed histological features consistent with either a rheumatoid nodule or subcutaneous granuloma annulare.
7937031 [Structured assessment of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis]. 1994 As prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis has been shown to be much poorer than formerly believed, new treatment strategies have been proposed. However, trials of these strategies require improved evaluation of their effect on the disease course and its consequences for the patient. International guidelines and a Swedish model for such evaluation are presented in the article.
8732398 Excision of the distal ulna in rheumatoid arthritis. Is the price too high? 1996 Apr Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent excision of the distal ulna were reviewed and the operated wrist was compared with the non-operated side in the 40 patients who had the procedure performed unilaterally. Radiological assessment showed that the radiocapitate measurement of carpal translocation was the most consistent and that excision of the distal ulna was not associated with statistically significant collapse, ulnar translocation or radial rotation of the carpus. 61% of wrists spontaneously developed a radial shelf or limited radiocarpal fusion following excision of the distal ulna, compared to 21% of non-operated wrists. However, there was no statistically significant difference in carpal collapse or ulnar translocation between these two groups.
1575571 Food intolerance in rheumatoid arthritis. I. A double blind, controlled trial of the clini 1992 Mar The hypothetically negative influence of food on the clinical activity of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis was studied using two types of artificial elementary food. One diet was allergen free, the other allergen restricted, containing only lactoproteins and yellow dyes. Ninety four patients entered the study, which lasted 12 weeks. During the second four week period they were randomly assigned to one of the two artificial foods. Comparison between baseline and subsequent periods showed only subjective improvements. No differences were seen between the clinical effects of the two tested diets. Nine patients (three in the allergen restricted group, six in the allergen free group) showed favourable responses, followed by marked disease exacerbation during rechallenge. Dietary manipulation also brought about changes in objective disease activity parameters in these patients. The existence of a subgroup of patients in whom food intolerance influences the activity of rheumatoid factor seropositive rheumatoid arthritis deserves serious consideration.
7697955 Wrist splints in rheumatoid arthritis: a question of belief? 1994 Dec Wrist splints are often used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We applied a questionnaire to RA patients and rheumatologists to assess wrist splint use and to assess the policy of prescription. We related the reported use to patient satisfaction, severity of disease and physician's advice. Of 44 RA patients admitted to our hospital in 1990, 32 received one or more splints. Most patients (23) had both a wrist immobilization splint and a wrist activity splint (Futuro cock-up splint). The response rate to the questionnaire sent to all (n = 109) Dutch rheumatologists was 83%; 89 of 91 rheumatologists prescribed splints. Each rheumatologist prescribed yearly a mean of 30 immobilization splints (min-max: 2-120) and 51 activity splints (min-max: 4-170). Both types were mainly prescribed to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. From the patients' point of view, only the wrist activity splints were worth regular and continued use. Our findings suggest that if one prescribed splints, more attention should be paid to patient education and compliance.
8181213 [Evaluation of the use of calcitonin in rheumatoid arthritis by bone densitometry and the 1994 Feb Forty-eight patients were subdivided into three groups according to the stage of their rheumatoid arthritis and to whether or not they received glucocorticoids; they were compared to healthy volunteers of similar sex, age, and body weight. Before calcitonin treatment, bone mineral content (BMC) of RA patients was significantly lowered, especially in patients with 3rd and 4th Steinbroker degree and in those taking glucocorticoids. Synthetic eel calcitonin was administered in three 60-day cycles separated by 40-day intervals with daily dosage 40 U.M.R.C. (1 vial). This treatment did not result in a increase of BMC compared to baseline. A further decrease of BMC observed at the end of treatment was not statistically significant. No appreciable variation was found in parameters of phospho-calcic metabolism.
8267029 Penicillamine-induced rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in a patient with rheumatoid 1993 A 67-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis presented rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) after 5 months of D-penicillamine (250 mg/day) treatment. Light microscopy study showed severe glomerulonephritis with crescent formation in 60% of the glomeruli and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the wall of an arteriole. Immunofluorescence revealed scanty granular IgG, IgA and C3 deposits along the capillary walls and mesangium. The patient was treated with steroid pulse, plasmapheresis, cyclophosphamide and antiplatelet agents. A complete recovery of renal function was achieved in a few weeks. This new case of RPGN in the course of D-penicillamine treatment emphasizes the need for frequent monitoring of renal function and evaluation of urinary sediment and proteinuria in these patients. The prompt discontinuation of D-penicillamine and vigorous treatment measures could allow for a good prognosis as in this case.
1366144 [Complement (C3 and C4) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during 6 months of treatment 1992 The aim of research was to establish effect of gold-salts under protected name "Tauredon" Byk Gulden, on the dynamics of fraction of complements C3 and C4 at patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Following the dynamics of both parameters, was performed during 6 months continued application of "Tauredon", on 8 men and 35 women with certain diagnosis. Profile of the age of patients was 50 years old. With continuous observation of patients and their laboratory findings, in regular time intervals, we found out that "Tauredon" has significant influence on increase of level of C3 in serum of patients (P = 0.006) but not in increase of fraction of complement C4 (P = 0.117).
8235918 [Study on Japan Rheumatism Association diagnostic criteria for early rheumatoid arthritis. 1993 Aug The Clinical Research Committee of the Japan Rheumatism Association is planning to formulate the diagnostic criteria for early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have analysed 123 contemporaneously and consecutively registered patients with early RA and 61 control subjects with rheumatic diseases other than RA (non-RA). As the first step of the works, these 184 patients were applied to the criteria of ARA in 1985 and 1987 for the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of each items. Consequently, we found that the two ARA criteria were not sufficiently sensitive as the diagnostic criteria for patients studied in this work. Therefore it would be necessary to formulate a new diagnostic criteria for the patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.
8612020 Changes in glycosylation of IgG during fasting in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 1996 Feb Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a higher proportion of agalactosyl IgG than healthy individuals. Glycosylation status was examined in 26 RA patients who fasted for 7-10 days and afterwards followed a vegetarian diet for 3.5 months. The decrease in the proportion of agalactosyl IgG correlated significantly with the clinical improvement after the fasting period, but not after the vegetarian diet period. Although the glycosylation status of IgG may have played a role in the improvement of disease during the fasting period, it did not seem to be associated with, and therefore responsible for, the clinical improvement observed after the vegetarian diet.
9082592 [The serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis] 1996 Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease characterized by development of severe destruction of the joints caused by uncontrollable activation of cellular immunity. Activated T-lymphocytes synthesize interleukin-2 (IL-2) and specific membrane soluble receptors (sIL-2r) for this cytokine. The level of sIL-2r release is proportional to the number of molecules expressed on the membrane of activated immunocompetent cells. The data are provided for 59 patients with a significant RA diagnosis according to criteria of the American Rheumatology Board. Serum sIL-2r level was measured by enzyme immunoassay. It was found higher in RA patients than in controls (p < 0.001). Concentrations of sIL-2r increased with activation of RA. It is suggested that determination of sIL-2r extends potentialities of laboratory diagnosis of RA activity which is important for evaluating effectivity of the treatment and RA prognosis.
1581770 TNF alpha--a pivotal role in rheumatoid arthritis? 1992 May This review seeks to describe data which support the concept that TNF alpha has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of RA. There is now compelling evidence from in vitro studies and in animal models that this is the case. The in vitro studies suggest that the direct pathogenic effects of TNF alpha are amplified by its potential to act as a potent paracrine molecule, by inducing other pro-inflammatory molecules such as IL-1, and GM-CSF. It has yet to be established whether similar paracine effects of TNF-alpha are observed in the collagen type II mouse, or in human TNF alpha transgenic mice, where (as discussed in this review), TNF alpha undoubtedly has a pathogenic involvement. During the ongoing inflammation in RA, TNF alpha (and other mediators?) induce the production of soluble TNF-R which can act as natural inhibitors. This process is, however, inadequate within the inflamed synovium, due to the fact that cytokine interactions are very local, through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. In this environment there is a continuous competition between the interactions of surface or soluble receptor with TNF alpha. It may well be that soluble TNF-Rs play a more important role in the periphery where they act as an essential clearance mechanism for the ligand. If, as the available data suggest, TNF alpha does indeed have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of RA, this needs to be verified by demonstrating that removal of TNF alpha locally in the synovial joint of RA patients has a significant effect on clinical parameters of disease, and the progression of the disease process itself.
8311537 Increased type I collagen degradation correlates with disease severity in rheumatoid arthr 1993 Dec OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent and clinical significance of type I collagen degradation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Serum samples from 90 consecutive patients with RA from a cross-sectional population based study and 90 age- and sex-matched controls were analysed with the new assay of cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP). RESULTS: Patients with RA had significantly higher concentrations of ICTP than the controls. ICTP correlated strongly with measures of impairment in RA, such as the erosive state of joint disease (ES) (r = 0.57, p < 0.001) and Keitel function test (KFT) (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), and more weakly with various disease activity markers. When erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ES or KFT were used as indicators of disease severity among the patients with disease duration over five years, ICTP distinguished the more serious RA from milder cases. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum concentrations of ICTP are common in RA and are associated with signs of aggressive disease.
1613731 Rheumatoid factors: historical perspective, origins and possible role in disease. 1992 Jan The recognition of antibodies by the immune system is more complex than previously believed. Rheumatoid factor (RF), a family of autoantibodies against gammaglobulin, has long been recognized as an important biologic marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When RF contributes to the generation of the inflammatory aspects of RA, it probably does so by forming immune complexes that are themselves able to bring about the inflammatory response. Contrary to the widely accepted belief that RF somehow is triggered by recognition of self IgG, antibodies to viral Fc receptors may provide the initial stimulus for RF production in RA.
8212921 [Expanded anamnesis and psychodiagnostic classification in psychosomatic rheumatic patient 1993 Jul This paper tries to associate psychosomatic manifestations of the locomotion-system to one of the following four diagnosis: 1) conversion disorder, 2) anxiety disorder, 3) depressive mood disorder, 4) somatization disorder. For each of these diagnosis definition, clinical manifestation, diagnostic and differential-diagnostic criteria are mentioned. The diagnostic criteria can easily be associated to the new ICD-10 (V)F diagnosis.