| 1. |
- Askling, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Cancer risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapies : does the risk change with the time since start of treatment?
- 2009
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 60:11, s. 3180-3189
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE:To determine the short-term and medium-term risks of cancer in patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFalpha) therapies that have proven effective in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions.METHODS:By linking together data from the Swedish Biologics Register, Swedish registers of RA, and the Swedish Cancer Register, we identified and analyzed for cancer occurrence a national cohort of 6,366 patients with RA who first started anti-TNF therapy between January 1999 and July 2006. As comparators, we used a national biologics-naive RA cohort (n = 61,160), a cohort of RA patients newly starting methotrexate (n = 5,989), a cohort of RA patients newly starting disease-modifying antirheumatic drug combination therapy (n = 1,838), and the general population of Sweden. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated using Cox regression analyses, examining overall RR as well as RR by time since the first start of anti-TNF therapy, by the duration of active anti-TNF therapy, and by the anti-TNF agent received.RESULTS:During 25,693 person-years of followup in 6,366 patients newly starting anti-TNF, 240 first cancers occurred, yielding an RR of 1.00 (95% confidence interval 0.86-1.15) versus the biologics-naive RA cohort, and similar RRs versus the other 2 RA comparators. RRs did not increase with increasing time since the start of anti-TNF therapy, nor with the cumulative duration of active anti-TNF therapy. During the first year following the first treatment start, but not thereafter, dissimilar cancer risks for adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab were observed.CONCLUSION:During the first 6 years after the start of anti-TNF therapy in routine care, no overall elevation of cancer risk and no increase with followup time were observed.
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| 2. |
- Olofsson, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic links between the acute-phase response and arthritis development in rats.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - 1529-0131 .- 0004-3591. ; 46:1, s. 259-268
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The acute-phase inflammatory response is closely correlated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis, but the pathophysiologic role of its specific components is largely unknown. We investigated the genetic control of the acute-phase protein response in pristane-induced arthritis (PIA), which is a chronic erosive arthritis model in rats. METHODS: Plasma levels of the acute-phase proteins interleukin-6 (IL-6), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid), fibrinogen, and alpha1-inhibitor3 were quantified in 3 strains of rats during the development and progression of disease: DA and LEW.1F, which are susceptible to arthritis, and E3, which is resistant. Genetic linkage analysis was performed on an F2 intercross between E3 and DA to determine the genetic control of the acute-phase response in arthritis. Elevated levels of alpha1-acid glycoprotein were associated with acute inflammation, whereas levels of IL-6 were increased during the entire course of the disease. RESULTS: Using these acute-phase markers as quantitative traits in linkage analysis revealed a colocalization of loci controlling the acute-phase response and regions previously shown to control the development of arthritis in chromosomes 10, 12, and 14. In addition, 2 loci that were not associated with arthritis were found to regulate serum levels of the acute-phase protein Apr1 (acute-phase response 1) at the telomeric end of chromosome 12 and Apr2 on chromosome 5. CONCLUSION: The PIA model in rats is a useful tool for understanding some of the pathways leading to chronic erosive arthritis. The analysis of acute-phase proteins in PIA and its application as quantitative traits for studying the genetics of arthritis will promote the understanding of the genetic regulation of the acute-phase response.
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| 3. |
- Haglund, Emma, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Work productivity in a population based cohort of patients with Spondyloarthritis
- 2012
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - Hoboken : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 64:10, s. S1015-S1015
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) often causes impaired function, activity limitations, affected health related quality of life and work disability. Work disability has been shown to be affected both in terms of absenteeism and in impaired productivity while working (presenteeism). In this group with increased socioeconomic costs there is also an increase in the use of expensive pharmacotherapies. Thus, it is important to study factors related to the ability to stay productive while at work.Objective: The aim was to study factors associated with presenteeism in patients with SpA. Also to analyse possible differences in age, gender and SpA subtypes (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and undifferentiated SpA).Methods: The analysis was based on 1773 patients seeking health care for SpA aged 18-67 years from southern Sweden, identified by a health care register. A questionnaire survey in 2009 included questions concerning self-reported presenteeism, defined as the percentage of impairment due to SpA while working 0-100, (0=no impact), was answered by 1447 individuals. Patients´ characteristics: disease duration, disease activity (BASDAI), physical function (BASFI), health related quality of life (EQ-5D), anxiety (HAD-a), depression (HAD-d), self-efficacy pain and symptom (ASES) and register based sick leave. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient and univariate analyses with ANOVA were used to study factors associated with presenteeism and t-test was used for group comparisons.Results: Fifty-five percent (n=802/1447) reported no impact on work presenteeism, while mean impairment was 20 (95% CI 18-21) (n=1447). Women reported higher impact on work presenteeism than men (mean impairment 23 vs. 17, p<0.001) but no statistically significant differences were found between the SpA subtype groups. Twenty-eight percent (n=504/1773) were registered for any sick leave (absenteeism > 14 days). Worse outcome in quality of life (EQ-5D), disease activity (BASDAI) and physical function (BASFI) all correlated to higher impact on work presenteeism (r >0.5, p <0.001), while sick leave (absenteeism) did not. In the univariate analyses experiencing worse outcome in EQ-5D (β-est -9.6, p<0.001) BASDAI (β-est 7.8, p<0.001) and BASFI (β-est 7.3, p<0.001) were all associated to higher impact on presenteeism regardless of age, gender and disease subtype. Worse outcome of EQ-5D was associated to a higher degree impact on presenteeism in the younger women (18-52 yrs). Self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, disease duration and education level <12 years were all associated to higher impact on presenteeism but were not significant in all strata for age, gender and disease subtype.Conclusion: Quality of life, disease activity and physical function all affect work presenteeism in patients with SpA, regardless of age, gender and disease subtype. The results indicate that work presenteeism is affected in patients with all types of SpA and more affected in women. We also find that presenteeism and register based sick leave (absenteeism) may be related to different dimensions of the individuals and their disease.
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| 4. |
- Sahlman, Janne, et al.
(författare)
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A human COL2A1 gene with an Arg519Cys mutation causes osteochondrodysplasia in transgenic mice.
- 2004
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 50:10, s. 3153-3160
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: An arginine-to-cysteine substitution at position 519 of the COL2A1 gene causes early generalized osteoarthritis with mild chondrodysplasia in humans. In this study, a human COL2A1 gene with the same mutation was introduced into a murine genome having 1 or no alleles of the murine Col2a1 gene, and the skeletal phenotypes of the transgenic mice were compared with those of control mice.METHODS: Mice with 1 allele of the normal murine Col2a1 gene and 1 allele of the mutated human COL2A1 gene (n = 10), those with no murine Col2a1 gene and 2 alleles of the mutated human COL2A1 gene (n = 13), those with no murine Col2a1 gene and only 1 allele of the mutated COL2A1 gene (n = 9), and normal control mice (n = 11) were studied for skeletal abnormalities, using radiographic imaging and light microscopic analyses of histologic sections. The collagen network of cartilage was also investigated with transmission electron microscopy.RESULTS: At 2 months of age, all transgenic mice had dysplastic changes in their long bones, flattened vertebral bodies, and osteoarthritic changes in their joints. The intervertebral discs of the transgenic animals were degenerated, and their histologic structure was disturbed. The changes were more severe in mice with no murine Col2a1 allele.CONCLUSION: The human COL2A1 gene with the Arg519Cys mutation causes osteochondrodysplasia in mice, as it does in humans.
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| 5. |
- Sundqvist, Martina, et al.
(författare)
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Increased intracellular oxygen radical production in neutrophils during febrile episodes of PFAPA syndrome.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Arthritis and rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 1529-0131 .- 0004-3591. ; 65:11, s. 2971-2983
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is an autoinflammatory disease of unknown etiology that primarily affects preschool children. PFAPA is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and inflammatory symptoms consistent with the disease acronym. Since autoinflammatory diseases by definition are mediated by cells of the innate immune system, we aimed at evaluating functional features of neutrophils, the most abundant innate immune cell in circulation, in PFAPA syndrome. Methods: Blood neutrophils, obtained from PFAPA patients during both febrile and asymptomatic afebrile phases of disease, as well as from healthy children (afebrile controls) and children with fever and abdominal pain (febrile controls) were analysed for three key neutrophil characteristics: (i) apoptosis (measured by Annexin V/7AAD staining), (ii) production of reactive oxygen species (ROS; by luminol/isoluminol-amplified chemiluminescence), and (iii) priming status (as responsiveness to galectin-3 and upregulation of CD11b). Results: Compared to neutrophils from both PFAPA patients in an afebrile interval and from febrile controls, neutrophils obtained during a PFAPA flare produced elevated levels of intracellular NADPH-oxidase-derived ROS, had significantly diminished rates of spontaneous apoptosis, and displayed signatures of priming. In contrast, neutrophils from afebrile PFAPA patients had a significantly elevated rate of spontaneous apoptosis compared to neutrophils from afebrile controls. Conclusions: We demonstrate that three key aspects of neutrophil innate immune function, namely apoptosis, priming, and generation of an intracellular oxidative burst are altered, most prominently during febrile attacks in PFAPA syndrome. © 2013 American College of Rheumatology.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Askling, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Risk and case characteristics of tuberculosis in rheumatoid arthritis associated with tumor necrosis factor antagonists in Sweden
- 2005
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 52:7, s. 1986-1992
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE:Because treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists may increase the risk of tuberculosis (TB), and because knowledge of the risk of TB in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not treated with biologics is scarce and of uncertain generalizability to low-risk populations, this study sought to determine the risk of TB among Swedish patients with RA.METHODS:Using data from Swedish nationwide and population-based registers and data from an ongoing monitoring program of TNF antagonists, the relative risks of TB in patients with RA (versus the general population) and of TB associated with TNF antagonists (versus RA patients not treated with biologics) were determined by comparing the incidence of hospitalization for TB in 3 RA cohorts and 2 general population cohorts from 1999 to 2001. We also reviewed the characteristics of all reported cases of TB in RA patients treated with TNF antagonists in Sweden and calculated the incidence of TB per type of TNF antagonist between 1999 and 2004.RESULTS:During 1999-2001, RA patients who were not treated with TNF antagonists were at increased risk of TB versus the general population (relative risk 2.0, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2-3.4). RA patients treated with TNF antagonists had a 4-fold increased risk of TB (relative risk 4.0, 95% CI 1.3-12) versus RA patients not treated with TNF antagonists. The reported TB cases during 1999-2004 in RA patients exposed to TNF antagonists (9 infliximab, 4 etanercept, 2 both) were predominantly pulmonary. TB occurred up to 3 years following the start of treatment.CONCLUSION:Irrespective of whether TNF antagonists are administered, Swedish patients with RA are at increased risk of TB. During 1999-2001, TNF antagonists were associated with an increased risk of TB, up to 4-fold in magnitude. This increased risk may persist over time during treatment and is related to both infliximab and etanercept.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Apaz, Maria Teresa, et al.
(författare)
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Health-related quality of life of patients with juvenile dermatomyositis: results from the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation multinational quality of life cohort study.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Arthritis and rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 61:4, s. 509-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) change over time, as measured by the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), and its determinants in patients with active juvenile dermatomyositis (DM). METHODS: We assessed patients with juvenile DM at both baseline and 6 months of followup, and healthy children age < or =18 years. Potential determinants of poor HRQOL included demographic data, physician's and parent's global assessments, muscle strength, functional ability as measured by the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C-HAQ), global disease activity assessments, and laboratory markers. RESULTS: A total of 272 children with juvenile DM and 2,288 healthy children were enrolled from 37 countries. The mean +/- SD CHQ physical and psychosocial summary scores were significantly lower in children with juvenile DM (33.7 +/- 11.7 versus 54.6 +/- 4.1) than in healthy children (45.1 +/- 9.0 versus 52 +/- 7.2), with physical well-being domains being the most impaired. HRQOL improved over time in responders to treatment and remained unchanged or worsened in nonresponders. Both physical and psychosocial summary scores decreased with increasing levels of disease activity, muscle strength, and parent's evaluation of the child's overall well-being. A C-HAQ score >1.6 (odds ratio [OR] 5.06, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.03-12.59), child's overall well-being score >6.2 (OR 5.24, 95% CI 2.27-12.10), and to a lesser extent muscle strength and alanine aminotransferase level were the strongest determinants of poor physical well-being at baseline. Baseline disability and longer disease duration were the major determinants for poor physical well-being at followup. CONCLUSION: We found that patients with juvenile DM have a significant impairment in their HRQOL compared with healthy peers, particularly in the physical domain. Physical well-being was mostly affected by the level of functional impairment.
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| 10. |
- Apel, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Variants in RUNX3 Contribute to Susceptibility to Psoriatic Arthritis, Exhibiting Further Common Ground With Ankylosing Spondylitis
- 2013
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 65:5, s. 1224-1231
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common inflammatory joint disease distinct from other chronic arthritides and frequently accompanied by psoriasis vulgaris. In a first genome-wide association study (GWAS), we were able to identify several genetic risk factors. However, even combined with previously identified factors, the genetic contribution to disease was not fully explained. Therefore, we undertook this study to investigate further 17 loci from our GWAS that did not reach genome-wide significance levels of association in the initial analysis. Methods Twenty-one of 22 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were successfully genotyped in independent cohorts of 1,398 PsA patients and 6,389 controls and in a group of 964 German patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Results Association with a RUNX3 variant, rs4649038, was replicated in independent patients and controls and resulted in a combined P value of 1.40 x 108 by Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and an odds ratio (OR) of 1.24 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.151.33). Further analyses based on linkage disequilibrium (LD) at RUNX3 refined the most significant association to an LD block located in the first intron of one isoform. Weaker evidence for association was detected in German patients with psoriasis vulgaris (P = 5.89 x 102; OR 1.13 [95% CI 1.001.28]), indicating a role in the skin manifestations of psoriasis. Conclusion Our analyses identified variants in RUNX3 as susceptibility factors for PsA. RUNX3 has already been implicated in susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis, another spondyloarthritis, although its risk allele is independent from the one for PsA. RUNX-3 is involved in CD8+ T lymphocyte differentiation and is therefore a good candidate for involvement in PsA and psoriasis vulgaris as T cellmediated diseases.
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