Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · May 2008
Comparative StudyOutcomes of obese and nonobese patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty.
To evaluate the effect of obesity on the incidence of adverse events (surgical site infection, dislocation, re-revision, or > or =1 adverse event), functional outcome, residual pain, and patient satisfaction after revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). ⋯ Revision THA is technically challenging, particularly in obese patients, probably due to more difficult anatomic conditions. We found an increased risk of adverse events, notably surgical site infection and dislocation in these patients.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · May 2008
Association between the level of circulating bioactive tumor necrosis factor alpha and the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene polymorphism at -308 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with a tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor.
The tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) -308A polymorphism has been associated with high production of TNFalpha and poor response to anti-TNFalpha therapy, but these associations remain controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the association between circulating TNFalpha bioactivity, the TNFalpha -308 polymorphism, and the clinical response to infliximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ The level of functional circulating TNFalpha is partially genetically determined and is predictive of the clinical response to infliximab. Nonresponders to anti-TNFalpha therapy are likely to have a disease that is not primarily driven by TNFalpha.