Arthritis and rheumatism
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2007
Clinical TrialSafety and efficacy of additional courses of rituximab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: an open-label extension analysis.
To determine the safety and efficacy of additional courses of rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ These findings indicate that patients treated with repeated courses of rituximab have sustained clinical responses with no new adverse events.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyDisease remission and sustained halting of radiographic progression with combination etanercept and methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The Trial of Etanercept and Methotrexate with Radiographic Patient Outcomes (TEMPO) is a 3-year, double-blind, multicenter study evaluating the efficacy and safety of etanercept, methotrexate, and the combination of etanercept plus methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results after 1 and 2 years of the study have been previously reported. Here we provide the 3-year clinical and radiographic outcomes and safety of etanercept, methotrexate, and the combination in patients with RA. ⋯ Etanercept plus methotrexate showed sustained efficacy through 3 years and remained more effective than either monotherapy, even after adjustment for patient withdrawal. Combination therapy for 3 years led to disease remission and inhibition of radiographic progression, 2 key goals for treatment of patients with RA.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyThe efficacy and safety of diacerein in the treatment of painful osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with primary end points at two months after the end of a three-month treatment period.
To determine whether the efficacy of diacerein persists at 2 months after the end of a 3-month treatment period, compared with placebo, in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ This is the first published study of a symptomatic slow-acting OA drug in which the time of assessment of the primary outcome end points was 2 months after the end of a 3-month treatment period. The results show that diacerein is safe and effective for the treatment of knee OA and has a long carryover effect.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2007
Multicenter StudyEffect of meniscal damage on the development of frequent knee pain, aching, or stiffness.
To evaluate the effect of meniscal damage on the development of frequent knee pain, aching, or stiffness in middle-aged and older adults. ⋯ In middle-aged and older adults, any association between meniscal damage and the development of frequent knee pain seems to be present because both pain and meniscal damage are related to OA and not because of a direct link between the two.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2007
Acute Kawasaki disease is associated with reverse regulation of soluble receptor for advance glycation end products and its proinflammatory ligand S100A12.
Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) serves as a pattern recognition receptor for several endogenous ligands that are potent inducers of inflammation. By activating endothelial cells and leukocytes, RAGE augments recruitment of leukocytes to sites of inflammation, which is a key process, especially in vasculitis. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) acts as a naturally occurring inhibitor of RAGE by neutralizing proinflammatory ligands, e.g., S100A12. This neutrophil-derived protein has been reported to be associated with Kawasaki disease (KD) and to provoke proinflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to investigate circulating sRAGE in an acute inflammatory disorder and to compare these data directly with concentrations of the proinflammatory RAGE ligand S100A12. ⋯ Inverse regulation of both sRAGE and its proinflammatory ligand S100A12 seems to be a relevant molecular mechanism promoting systemic inflammation. Calculating the S100A12:sRAGE ratio might help to detect patients with KD who are at risk of being unresponsive to IVIG therapy.