Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jan 2012
Treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and the risk of acute coronary syndromes in early rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease, in both early and established RA. Data on the risk of ischemic heart disease in relation to therapy with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists (anti-TNF) are conflicting in patients with established RA and essentially lacking in those with early RA. In established RA, the risk of myocardial infarction has been linked to the response to anti-TNF therapies. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in patients with early RA in relation to treatment with, and response to, anti-TNF. ⋯ In this study of patients treated with anti-TNF within the first years of RA, neither treatment with, nor response to, anti-TNF therapy could be linked to any statistically significant decrease in the risk of ACS.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jan 2012
The relationship of vibratory perception to dynamic joint loading, radiographic severity, and pain in knee osteoarthritis.
Patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) have been shown to have somatosensory deficits of the lower extremity. This study was designed to assess the association of these deficits with dynamic joint loading and their relationship to the structural and symptomatic severity of knee OA. ⋯ These findings demonstrate an association between greater somatosensory deficits and higher dynamic loads in OA. They also demonstrate structural consequences associated with somatosensory deficits in OA, since the extent of sensory loss directly correlated with the radiographic severity of knee OA. However, there was no relationship observed between vibratory sense and symptomatic knee OA pain.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled study of belimumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits B lymphocyte stimulator, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
To assess the efficacy/safety of the B lymphocyte stimulator inhibitor belimumab plus standard therapy compared with placebo plus standard therapy in active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ⋯ Belimumab plus standard therapy significantly improved SRI response rate, reduced SLE disease activity and severe flares, and was generally well tolerated in SLE.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2011
Case ReportsPurpura, cutaneous necrosis, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies associated with levamisole-adulterated cocaine.
To describe the clinical and serologic abnormalities in 6 patients who presented with retiform purpura and extensive cutaneous necrosis after exposure to levamisole-adulterated cocaine. ⋯ Rheumatologists should be aware of this distinctive form of necrotic purpura, its associated autoantibodies, and its link to levamisole-adulterated cocaine.