Clin Exp Rheumatol
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To determine whether there is any difference in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and serum cytokine levels and association between clinical parameters and rCBF and serum cytokine levels in young females with fibromyalgia (FM). The other aim was to search whether the depression state has any effect on these two parameters. ⋯ This study shows a significant increase in rCBF of caudate nuclei, a reduction in the pons, some cortical regions activity and a increase in IL 8, IL2r levels of young female patients with FM. These findings are more prominent in patients with low HDRS scores.
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Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common (prevalence 0.2-0.9%) chronic inflammatory disease that mainly affects young males and is characterised by inflammatory back pain with sacroiliitis and often arthritis of the peripheral joints. The disease can lead to deformities of the vertebral column, joints and extra-spinal structures, e.g. the eye (uveitis). ⋯ In placebo controlled trials, sulfasalazine showed some improvement of disease activity, especially in spondyloarthropathy patients with peripheral arthritis. Altogether the number of therapeutic options for AS is limited and other drugs, such as leflunomide or thalidomide, should be explored further in placebo-controlled trials.
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Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) effects in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) are only suspensive but because of their rapid efficacy on inflammatory symptoms they are the first-line treatment in AS. Short term efficacy of NSAIDs in AS is observed for most patients but the correlation of NSAID intake with the long term prognosis and its potential influence on the structural progression of the disease is still unknown. Therefore, and due to the gastrointestinal side effects of these drugs, daily practice is mostly in favour of discontinuous intake of NSAIDs, following the clinical relapses. ⋯ Moreover, some patients are inadequately relieved of pain and inflammation by NSAIDs. The number of NSAIDs to be tested and for each NSAID, the optimal dosage that must be used before categorizing a patient as "refractory to NSAID therapy" have to be clarified. The recent determination of response and remission criteria for NSAIDs therapy is the first step towards well-defined guidelines for short-term and long-term management of NSAIDs in AS.