| 1. |
- Bengtsson, Ann
(författare)
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The muscle in fibromyalgia
- 2002
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332. ; 41:7
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 2. |
- Berglin, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Predictors of radiological progression and changes in hand bone density in early rheumatoid arthritis
- 2003
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332 .- 1460-2172. ; 42:2, s. 268-275
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors for radiological and functional outcome and bone loss in the hands in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the first 2 yr of disease and to study the relationship between these variables.METHODS: An inception cohort of consecutively recruited patients was examined at baseline and after 12 and 24 months using X-rays of hands and feet, clinical [28-joint count, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), global visual analogue scale (VAS), grip strength] and laboratory (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, markers of bone formation and resorption) measurements and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements of the hands.RESULTS: Joint destruction increased significantly during the study, with the Larsen score at baseline as the strongest predictor. Radiological progression and bone loss over 24 months were significantly retarded in patients responding to therapy. The effects of the shared epitope and initial high inflammatory activity on radiological progression were overridden by the therapeutic response. Radiological progression correlated significantly with bone loss. Global VAS, Larsen score and HAQ at inclusion significantly predicted change in HAQ over time.CONCLUSIONS: Radiological progression and bone loss were retarded by early therapeutic response. Bone loss was related to radiological progression.
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| 3. |
- Bodman-Smith, M.D., et al.
(författare)
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Antibody response to the human stress protein BiP in rheumatoid arthritis
- 2004
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332 .- 1460-2172. ; 43:10, s. 1283-1287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives. The human stress protein BiP (immunoglobulin binding protein) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) since BiP was found to stimulate synovial T-cell proliferation and anti-BiP antibodies are present in the serum of RA patients. The aim of this study was the development of a rapid and reproducible enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the specificity and sensitivity of anti-BiP antibodies in RA.Methods. An ELISA was developed that detected antibodies to BiP. The prevalence of anti-BiP antibodies was determined in sera from patients with early and established RA, sera antedating the onset of RA and sera from patients with other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and healthy controls.Results. We have confirmed the increased prevalence of antibodies to BiP in the sera of a large cohort of patients with established RA (specificity 71% and sensitivity 73%) and early RA (specificity 65% and sensitivity 66%). In pre-disease sera, median 2.5 yr (interquartile range 1.1–4.7) before symptoms of joint disease, the sensitivity for anti-BiP antibodies was 45% and the specificity was 65% for the development of RA.Conclusion. Antibodies to BiP are found in the sera of patients with RA and in sera antedating the onset of RA.
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| 4. |
- Cvetkovic, J T, et al.
(författare)
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Increased levels of autoantibodies against copper-oxidized low density lipoprotein, malondialdehyde-modified low density lipoprotein and cardiolipin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
- 2002
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332. ; 41, s. 988-995
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives. To analyse the association of autoantibodies against cardiolipin (CL) and oxidized low density lipoproteins [copper-oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL)] with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cardiovascular complications. Methods. One hundred and twenty-one patients with RA were consecutively included. Autoantibodies were determined by ELISA. Healthy individuals from the same region were used as controls. Results. Levels of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against MDA-LDL and CL, as well as IgG and IgA antibodies against oxLDL were increased in the patients (P<0.01). The prevalence of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against CL was higher than in the normal population (74, 82 and 14%, respectively). The prevalence of IgG and IgA antibodies against oxLDL was also significantly increased (35 and 25%, respectively) and so was the prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against MDA-LDL (17 and 26%, respectively) compared with controls. The levels of IgM and IgA antibodies against aCL and IgM against MDA-LDL were increased in patients with extra-articular manifestations. Patients who developed myocardial infarction had a higher prevalence of IgG antibodies against MDA-LDL (P=0.04). There were substantial correlations between the levels of antibodies against oxLDL, MDA-LDL and CL. Conclusions. RA patients had increased levels and prevalence of autoantibodies against CL, oxLDL and MDA-LDL, with associations to severity of disease and cardiovascular complications.
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| 5. |
- Englund, M, et al.
(författare)
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Patient-relevant outcomes fourteen years after meniscectomy : influence of type of meniscal tear and size of resection
- 2001
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0332 .- 1462-0324. ; 40:6, s. 631-639
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To study long-term patient-relevant outcomes after meniscectomy, a surgical procedure associated with a high risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Principal objectives were to compare traumatic with degenerative meniscal tear and partial with subtotal meniscectomy.METHODS: We studied a well-defined cohort of 205 patients who had undergone isolated unilateral meniscectomy between 1983 and 1985. There was no previous knee surgery and all knees were stable. The type of meniscal tear and surgical resection was ascertained by review of medical records. Patients were followed up after 14 yr (range 12-15 yr) by self-administered questionnaires, one generic [Short Form 36 (SF-36)] and one disease-specific [Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)].RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, using the Sports and Recreation Function and knee-related Quality of Life subscales of the KOOS questionnaire as dependent variables, patients with a degenerative tear scored significantly worse than individuals with a traumatic tear (P < or = 0.001). When we analysed unmatched subgroups and age- and sex-matched patients with degenerative or traumatic lesions, the same result was found for the knee-specific outcome (P < or = 0.02) and SF-36 except for Social Functioning (P < or = 0.04). There was no difference in outcome for the total cohort according to the type of resection. However, subgroup analyses showed that patients who underwent subtotal meniscectomy for a degenerative tear scored significantly worse on the knee-specific outcome than individuals who had had a partial meniscectomy for the same type of tear (P < or = 0.02).CONCLUSIONS: The long-term outcome of meniscal injury and surgery appears to be determined largely by the type of meniscal tear. Furthermore, our findings support the use of minimal meniscal resection in the treatment of degenerative tears. We suggest that the disease processes associated with the development of OA of the joint cartilage may also be active in the meniscus, and that a tear in a meniscus with degenerative changes might be regarded as the first sign of OA of the joint.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Hallert, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Rheumatoid arthritis is already expensive during the first year of the disease (the Swedish TIRA Project)
- 2004
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332 .- 1460-2172. ; 43:11, s. 1374-1382
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To calculate direct and indirect costs in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to characterize patients generating high and low costs respectively. Methods. Two hundred and ninety-seven patients with recent-onset (≤12 months) RA were recruited. Clinical/laboratory data and 'health assessment questionnaire' (HAQ) were registered at inclusion and after 3, 6 and 12 months. After 6 and 12 months, the patients completed a questionnaire concerning health-care utilization and days lost from work. A cut-off point for direct costs was set at 34 000 Swedish kronor (3675) defining one-third of the patients as a high-cost group and two-thirds as low-cost group. Indirect costs were calculated for patients aged <65 yr. Results. Two hundred and eleven patients completed the HAQ on both occasions. Indirect costs exceeded direct costs by a factor of 2.3. Sixty three per cent experienced work disability during the first year and were identified as the 'high-indirect-cost group'. Indirect costs accounted for >70% of total costs. Direct costs included ambulatory health care (76%), hospitalization (12%) and medication (9%). Men aged ≥65 yr had low costs compared with younger men and women of all ages. In multiple logistic regression tests, HAQ, high levels of IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM RF) and poor hand function increased the odds of entering the high-direct-cost group, and poor hand function and pain increased the odds of entering the high-indirect-cost group. Conclusions. Substantial costs were incurred during the first year after diagnosis of early RA, mainly due to work disability. Indirect costs were two to three times higher than direct costs. High levels of IgM RF, high HAQ score, poor hand function and pain increased the odds of entering high-cost groups.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Larsson, E, et al.
(författare)
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Corticosteroid treatment of experimental arthritis retards cartilage destruction as determined by histology and serum COMP
- 2004
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0332 .- 1460-2172 .- 1462-0324. ; 43:4, s. 428-434
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To examine if changes in serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) correlate with the development of cartilage damage, as measured by histological grading, in corticosteroid-treated animals with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Methods. DA rats with established CIA were treated with corticosteroids (betamethasone, 0.1 mg/kg body weight) or placebo (saline) intraperitoneally once daily after reaching an arthritis score exceeding 1. The treatment continued throughout the study. Arthritis progression was monitored by clinical scoring of paws, serial measurements of serum COMP and fibrinogen, and histological grading of paws. Results. Corticosteroid treatment reduced clinical signs of arthritis compared with placebo (arthritis score reduced, P < 0.01 at day 25). Corticosteroid treatment also reduced fibrinogen levels compared with placebo (P < 0.01). The morphological changes in the joint were less severe in the corticosteroid-treated animals (median cartilage score 4 in the placebo group, 0 in the corticosteroid-treated group; P < 0.01). The levels of COMP remained unchanged during treatment in the corticosteroid-treated arthritic animals, whereas an increase in levels of COMP was observed in rats treated with placebo (P < 0.01). There was a correlation between serum COMP and the extent of cartilage destruction at day 25 after immunization (r=0.77, P < 0.001). Conclusions. Corticosteroids given therapeutically to arthritic rats diminish joint destruction histologically, and stable serum COMP levels reflect this effect.
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