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- Albers, J.M.C., et al.
(författare)
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Treatment strategy, disease activity, and outcome in four cohorts of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis
- 2001
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 60:5, s. 453-458
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective-To compare four different inception cohorts of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with respect to treatment strategies, disease activity, and outcome during a five year follow up period. Method-Data from cohorts of patients with early RA, with a standardised assessment at least every six months for five years from four different centres, were included in one database. Owing to slight differences in the individual study designs, linearly interpolated values were calculated to complete the standard follow up schedule. Results-Despite similar inclusion criteria, significant differences in demographic factors and baseline disease activity were found between the different cohorts. During the follow up an aggressive treatment strategy was followed in the Dutch and Finnish cohort, an intermediate strategy in the British cohort, and a conservative strategy in the Swedish cohort. A significant improvement in disease activity was seen in all cohorts, though the most rapid and striking improvement was seen in those receiving aggressive treatment. This resulted in less radiographic destruction in the long run. Conclusion-This observational study of cohorts of patients with early RA confirms that early aggressive treatment results not only in a more rapid reduction of disease activity but also in less radiographic progression in the long term.
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- Van den Bosch, F, et al.
(författare)
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Effectiveness of adalimumab in treating patients with active psoriatic arthritis and predictors of good clinical responses for arthritis, skin and nail lesions
- 2010
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Ingår i: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 69:2, s. 394-399
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To evaluate the effectiveness of adalimumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and identify predictors of good clinical response for joint and skin lesions.Methods:Patients received adalimumab 40 mg every other week in addition to standard therapy in this prospective, 12-week, open-label, uncontrolled study. Four definitions of good clinical response were used: ⩾50% improvement in American College of Rheumatology response criteria (ACR50), good response according to European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) guidelines, a ⩾3-grade improvement in Physician Global Assessment of psoriasis (PGA) and a ⩾50% improvement in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI). Response predictors were determined by logistic regression with backward elimination (selection level was 5%).Results:Of 442 patients, 94% completed 12 weeks of treatment. At week 12, 74%, 51% and 32% of the patients had achieved ACR20, 50 and 70, respectively; 87% and 61% experienced moderate and good responses according to EULAR criteria, respectively. The percentage of patients with PGA results of “clear/almost clear” increased from 34% (baseline) to 68%. The mean NAPSI score was reduced by 44%. No new safety signals were detected. A lower Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score, greater pain assessment, male sex and absence of systemic glucocorticoid therapy were strongly associated with achievement of ACR50 and good response according to EULAR criteria. In addition, greater C-reactive protein concentration and polyarthritis predicted ACR50, and non-involvement of large joints predicted a good response according to EULAR criteria.Conclusions:Adalimumab was effective in patients with PsA. Lower impairment of physical function, greater pain, male sex and no systemic treatment with glucocorticoids were factors that increased the chance of achieving a good clinical response.
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- Kuuliala, A, et al.
(författare)
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Circulating soluble E-selectin in early rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective five year study
- 2002
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 61:3, s. 242-246
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) is a marker of activation of vascular endothelium. Objective: To examine serum levels of sE-selectin in a cohort of 85 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) followed up for five years. Methods: sE-selectin levels were assessed annually using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and related to simultaneously obtained clinical and laboratory measures. Joint inflammation was evaluated by active joint count, functional status by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and radiographic findings in hands and feet by the Larsen method. Laboratory tests included serum C reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood haemoglobin level, white blood cell count (WBC), and platelet count. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each variable, and Jonckheere's test for ordered alternatives was applied to assess significance of association between sE-selectin AUC tertiles and other variables. Baseline sE-selectin tertiles were related to change in Larsen score and HAQ score at five years. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: sE-selectin levels were associated with CRP level (p=0.012), WBC (p=0.037), active joint count (P=0.019), progression of joint destruction (P=0.038), and HAQ score at five years (P=0.021 but not with extra-articular symptoms or comorbidity. Baseline sE-selectin levels in the third tertile predicted the HAQ score at five years (OR 4.18, 95% CI 1.15 to 15.22). sE-selectin levels of patients did not differ significantly from those of healthy control subjects. Conclusion: The degree of activation of vascular endothelium is associated with activity and outcome of early RA.
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- Nissinen, R, et al.
(författare)
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Immune activation in the small intestine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
- 2004
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 63:10, s. 1327-1330
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To determine whether inflammation in the gut associated immune system is activated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The expression of chemokine receptor- (CCR4, CCR5) and cytokine- (interleukin (IL)2, IL10, interferon γ (IFNγ), tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)) specific mRNA in intestinal biopsy samples from patients with RA was examined. Methods: Duodenal biopsy samples from 13 patients with RA and 15 control subjects were studied. The mRNA expression of CCR4, CCR5, IL2, IL10, IFNγ, TNFα, and TGFβ in intestinal biopsy samples was demonstrated by real time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results: The mRNA expression of CCR4, CCR5, and IL10 in intestinal biopsy samples was increased in patients with RA in comparison with control subjects (p = 0.001, p = 0.046, p = 0.019). No difference in the expression levels of IL2, IFNγ, TNFα, or TGFβ was seen between patients with RA and controls. Conclusions: The increased intestinal mRNA expression of IL10, CCR5, and CCR4 suggests that gut associated immune cells are activated in patients with RA.
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- Söderlin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Infections preceding early arthritis in southern Sweden : a prospective population-based study
- 2003
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Ingår i: The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X. ; 30:3, s. 459-464
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To detect evidence of infections preceding early arthritis in Southern Sweden and to compare the clinical outcome of remission during a 6-month followup for patients with and without signs of prior infection. METHODS: Adult patients with arthritis of less than 3 months' duration were referred from primary health care centers to rheumatologists. All patients were systematically screened for infections caused by Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter jejuni, Borrelia burgdorferi, Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and parvovirus B19. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were included in this study. Twenty-seven (38%) patients had reactive arthritis (ReA), 17 (24%) undifferentiated arthritis, 15 (21%) rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 4 (6%) psoriatic arthritis, and the rest (11%) other diagnoses. Of all the patients, 45% had evidence of a recent infection preceding the arthritis, as indicated by laboratory tests and/or disease history. C. jejuni dominated the ReA group. The occurrence of recent C. trachomatis, B. burgdorferi, C. pneumoniae, and parvovirus B19 infections was low. Overall, 58% of the patients went into remission during the 6-month followup. Of the patients with a preceding infection, 69% went into remission as compared to 38% of the patients without a preceding infection (p = 0.011). Thirty-three percent of the patients with RA were in remission after 6 months. CONCLUSION: In this population-based cohort, 45% of the patients presenting with a new-onset arthritis had had a prior infection. Campylobacter ReA dominated the ReA group. There were only a few cases preceded by infections by C. trachomatis, B. burgdorferi, C. pneumoniae, and parvovirus B19 infections. Remission during the first 6 months was especially frequent in the group of patients with a prior infection, but the remission rate was relatively high even for arthritis without prior infection.
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- Kvien, TK, et al.
(författare)
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Long term efficacy and safety of cyclosporin versus parenteral old in early rheumatoid arthritis: a three year study of radiographic progression, renal function, and arterial hypertension
- 2002
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 61:6, s. 511-516
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To compare the three year safety and efficacy of cyclosporin and parenteral gold in the treatment of early, active, severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to study the reversibility of cyclosporin associated renal dysfunction in patients who discontinued cyclosporin treatment. Methods: The patients continued to receive cyclosporin or parenteral gold in an 18 month open extension to an 18 month randomised, parallel group study. The main efficacy variable was blinded evaluation of radiographic progression of joint damage, Safety variables included serum creatinine, calculated creatinine clearance, and blood pressure. Results: Radiographic progression during follow up was similar in both groups. About 60% of the patients in the intention to treat groups (n=272) and about half of the patients in the completer groups (n=114) had definite radiographic progression in joint damage (increases >6 in the Larsen-Dale score), and about one in three also had substantial progression (>18 increase in Larsen-Dale score). Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly increased in the cyclosporin group compared with the gold group, and 12/139 (9%) versus 3/139 (2%) (p=0.03) had notably raised blood pressure. The mean serum creatinine increased by 28% at the treatment end point in the cyclosporin group as compared with 7% in the gold group, The mean calculated creatinine clearance was reduced by 16% and increased by 1% in the cyclosporin and gold groups, respectively, at the end of the study. At the final follow up visit after discontinuation of cyclosporin (at least three months after treatment was stopped) the mean serum creatinine was increased by 15% and creatinine clearance reduced by 16%. Sustained increases in serum creatinine at this post-treatment end point were mostly seen in patients with a raised serum creatinine during treatment of at least 50%. Conclusion: Three year changes in radiographic damage during cyclosporin and parenteral gold were similar in patients with early, active RA. Abnormal renal function and raised blood pressure were often seen in the cyclosporin treated patients.
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| 18. |
- Nissinen, R, et al.
(författare)
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Cytokine and chemokine receptor profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells during treatment with infliximab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
- 2004
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 63:6, s. 681-687
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To analyse immunological changes during treatment with a monoclonal anti-tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) antibody, infliximab, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: 25 patients with RA and 5 patients with other arthritides were studied during the first 6 weeks of treatment with infliximab. At the start of treatment and after 2 and 6 weeks, spontaneous expression of CCR3 and CCR5 on peripheral blood T cells and monocytes was studied by flow cytometry. The secretion and mRNA expression of interferon γ (IFNγ), interleukin (IL)4, IL5, and TNFα from phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured with an ELISA and RT-PCR. Plasma levels of C reactive protein, serum amyloid protein A, rheumatoid factor, and antibodies to filaggrin and citrullinated cyclic peptide were measured with an ELISA. Results: The number of CD4 T cells and CD14 monocytes expressing CCR3 (p = 0.013, p = 0.009, respectively) and CD8 T cells expressing CCR5 (p = 0.040) as well as PHA stimulated secretion of IL4 and IFNγ (p<0.05) increased during treatment in patients with RA. 15 (60%) patients with RA achieved clinical response (at least ACR20) during the first 2 weeks. The number of T cells expressing CCR3 and CCR5 was higher before treatment in non-responders than in responders (p<0.05). The number of T cells increased in responders. Conclusion: Increase in secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines together with induced expression of chemokine receptors on T cells and monocytes suggest restoration of peripheral cell mediated immunity and blockade of the accumulation of inflammatory cells in joints as response to treatment.
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