Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialChanges in lipoproteins associated with methotrexate or combination therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: results from the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis trial.
To study changes in lipid profiles at 24 weeks among patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) participating in the Treatment of Early RA (TEAR) trial and randomized to receive methotrexate (MTX) plus etanercept, triple therapy (MTX plus sulfasalazine plus hydroxychloroquine), or aggressively titrated MTX monotherapy. ⋯ Levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol increased comparably shortly after initiation of MTX plus etanercept, triple therapy, and MTX monotherapy among patients with early RA with active disease participating in a clinical trial. The clinical relevance of short-term changes in traditional lipids on cardiovascular outcomes remains to be determined.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2013
Neuropathic pain in ankylosing spondylitis: a psychophysics and brain imaging study.
To determine whether there is a neuropathic component in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) back pain and to delineate gray matter brain abnormalities associated with AS. ⋯ The present findings indicate that neuropathic pain occurs in AS. Furthermore, abnormal brain gray matter and neural correlates of neuropathic pain are concordant with the clinical picture of AS, which includes sensorimotor and mood deficits as well as neuropathic pain symptoms. These results suggest that back pain in AS is a mixed pain condition that includes a neuropathic pain component.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2013
In situ analysis of interleukin-23- and interleukin-12-positive cells in the spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
The interleukin-12 (IL-12) family of cytokines has been suggested to play a critical role in inflammatory autoimmune diseases, and recent studies analyzing peripheral blood and synovial fluid from patients with spondyloarthritides suggest that IL-23 might be a proinflammatory factor in these disorders. This study was undertaken to investigate the presence and source of IL-23 in the spines of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ⋯ IL-23 is expressed in the subchondral bone marrow and in fibrous tissue replacing bone marrow in facet joints of patients with AS. It might have a role in inflammatory processes and in chronic changes in AS joints, which makes it an interesting potential therapeutic target in this disease.