Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialOcrelizumab, a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a phase I/II randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study.
Ocrelizumab, a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, was studied in a first-in-human trial in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving concomitant methotrexate (MTX). ⋯ Ocrelizumab therapy in combination with MTX was well tolerated. Doses of 200 mg (2 infusions) and higher showed better clinical responses, better reduction of C-reactive protein levels, and very low immunogenicity.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Sep 2008
Macrophage activation syndrome in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is associated with MUNC13-4 polymorphisms.
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is associated with macrophage activation syndrome. Macrophage activation syndrome bears a close resemblance to familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The development of familial HLH has been recently associated with mutations in MUNC13-4. The purpose of this study was to assess for possible sequence alterations in MUNC13-4 in patients with systemic JIA/macrophage activation syndrome. ⋯ The data suggest an association between MUNC13-4 polymorphisms and macrophage activation syndrome in patients with systemic JIA.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Sep 2008
Correlation of clinical and virologic responses to antiviral treatment and regulatory T cell evolution in patients with hepatitis C virus-induced mixed cryoglobulinemia vasculitis.
Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) vasculitis is an autoimmune disorder associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We previously reported that MC vasculitis is associated with a quantitative defect of peripheral blood regulatory T cells. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the evolution of this defect during the course of antiviral treatment. ⋯ The strong positive correlation between clinical responses and Treg cell levels provides further support for the central role of Treg cells in the pathogenesis of HCV-induced MC vasculitis and emphasizes the dual role of Treg cells in chronic HCV infection: while Treg cells may hinder viral elimination, they also limit autoimmune injury.