Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2008
The clinimetric properties of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II in early inflammatory arthritis.
To assess the clinimetric properties of a new health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II), in patients with early inflammatory arthritis. ⋯ The WHODAS II is a valid and reliable measure of HRQOL in cross-sectional studies of patients with early inflammatory arthritis. Research is still required to investigate potential item redundancy and determine its usefulness in longitudinal studies.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2008
Progression of carotid intima-media thickness and plaque in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The goals of this study were to determine the extent of atherosclerotic progression among women with SLE compared with a group of healthy controls and to determine whether factors attributed to SLE or its treatment were associated with atherosclerotic progression independent of traditional CVD risk factors. ⋯ SLE patients have accelerated plaque progression compared with controls. SLE-related risk factors are associated with the progression of IMT and plaque after controlling for traditional CVD risk factors. Carotid B-mode ultrasound may serve as a surrogate end point in SLE intervention trials and clinically to track SLE management.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialDynamic levels of glutamate within the insula are associated with improvements in multiple pain domains in fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic widespread pain condition that is thought to arise from augmentation of central neural activity. Glutamate (Glu) is an excitatory neurotransmitter that functions in pain-processing pathways. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between changing levels of Glu within the insula and changes in multiple pain domains in patients with FM. ⋯ Changes in Glu levels within the insula are associated with changes in multiple pain domains in patients with FM. Thus, H-MRS data may serve as a useful biomarker and surrogate end point for clinical trials of FM.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2008
Does tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibition promote or prevent heart failure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?
To determine the hazard risk of developing or worsening heart failure in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) inhibitors. ⋯ The findings of this study indicate that TNFalpha inhibitor treatment that effectively reduces the inflammatory activity of RA is more likely to be beneficial than harmful with regard to the risk of heart failure, especially if there is no concomitant therapy with glucocorticoids or cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors. Furthermore, the data suggest that TNFalpha inhibition does not increase the risk of worsening of prevalent heart failure.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2008
Association of IRF5 polymorphisms with systemic lupus erythematosus in a Japanese population: support for a crucial role of intron 1 polymorphisms.
To determine whether the IRF5 gene, which encodes interferon regulatory factor 5, is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Japanese population. ⋯ IRF5 was found to be associated with SLE in Asian populations. Intron 1 SNPs, rather than exon 6 and 3'-untranslated region polymorphisms, appeared to play a crucial role.