Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2009
No increased occurrence of ischemic heart disease prior to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis: results from two Swedish population-based rheumatoid arthritis cohorts.
To investigate the relative importance of shared etiologies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in terms of the well-known increased risk of IHD in patients with RA, by assessing the occurrence of IHD up until the time of the onset of the first symptoms of RA. ⋯ Shared risk factors or susceptibilities for RA and IHD are likely to contribute less than RA-related factors to the increased occurrence of IHD in patients with manifest RA. Nonetheless, the existence of shared factors associated with longer latency until the occurrence of IHD cannot be excluded.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2009
Induction of an antiinflammatory effect and prevention of cartilage damage in rat knee osteoarthritis by CF101 treatment.
Studies have suggested that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) share common characteristics. The highly selective A(3) adenosine receptor agonist CF101 was recently defined as a potent antiinflammatory agent for the treatment of RA. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of CF101 on the clinical and pathologic manifestations of OA in an experimental animal model. ⋯ CF101 deregulated the NF-kappaB signaling pathway involved in the pathogenesis of OA. CF101 induced apoptosis of inflammatory cells and acted as a cartilage protective agent, which suggests that it would be a suitable candidate drug for the treatment of OA.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Sep 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialA phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study of belimumab in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus.
To assess the safety, tolerability, biologic activity, and efficacy of belimumab in combination with standard of care therapy (SOC) in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ⋯ Belimumab was biologically active and well tolerated. The effect of belimumab on the reduction of SLE disease activity or flares was not significant. However, serologically active SLE patients responded significantly better to belimumab therapy plus SOC than to SOC alone.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Sep 2009
Psychophysical and functional imaging evidence supporting the presence of central sensitization in a cohort of osteoarthritis patients.
The groin pain experienced by patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) is often accompanied by areas of referred pain and changes in skin sensitivity. We aimed to identify the supraspinal influences that underlie these clinical manifestations that we consider indicative of possible central sensitization. ⋯ Using psychophysical (QST) and brain imaging methods (functional MRI), we have identified increased activity with the periaqueductal grey matter associated with stimulation of the skin in referred pain areas of patients with hip OA. This offers a central target for analgesia aimed at improving the treatment of this largely peripheral disease.