Clin Exp Rheumatol
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Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by a microvascular damage due to an impairment of different angiogenic and angiostatic factors. Aim of this study was to measure plasma levels of nine molecules involved in these vascular processes in a group of SSc patients, respect to healthy controls (NC). ⋯ Our findings show significantly higher circulating levels of seven angiogenic parameters in SSc patients, thus reflecting the disregulation of endothelium in this disease. Abnormal levels of these molecules may be considered an attempt for compensatory although ineffective mechanisms of vascular function, leading to the development of the main clinical manifestations of SSc.
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Vasculitis affecting large elastic arteries, including the aorta and major proximal branches, encompasses various diseases including Takayasu arteritis, giant cell (or temporal) arteritis, and tertiary syphilis, but also may occur as a rare complication of Behçet's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, Cogan syndrome, Kawasaki disease, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Wegener's granulomatosis. Recent reports have also established a link between inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm as well as lymphoplasmacytic thoracic aortitis with an overabundance of IgG4-producing plasma cells and the burgeoning constellation of 'Hyper-IgG4' syndromes. This review focuses on morphologic aspects of large-vessel vasculitis pathology associated with giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis, idiopathic or isolated aortitis, lymphoplasmacytic thoracic and ascending aortitis, and the inflammatory aneurysm/retroperitoneal fibrosis syndrome.
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Clinical Trial
Effects of rituximab therapy on quality of life in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
To assess the efficacy of the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in improving physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with active primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), as well as the duration and sources of HRQoL improvements. ⋯ Substantial alterations in HRQoL were noted in patients with pSS. Rituximab infusions without corticosteroid therapy produced meaningful improvements in HRQoL. Controlled studies of rituximab are needed.
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To develop a questionnaire assessing the burden of fibromyalgia's impacts on patients' lives. ⋯ The FMBA is a self-reported questionnaire allowing the assessment and a better understanding of the impacts of fibromyalgia and the burden associated with these on patients' daily lives. It is available in UK English, French, German and Spanish. Its scoring and validation remain to be undertaken.