J Rheumatol
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
A multicenter trial of recombinant human interferon gamma in patients with systemic sclerosis: effects on cutaneous fibrosis and interleukin 2 receptor levels.
To evaluate the acute toxicity, potential efficacy, and effects on the soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) of recombinant human interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). ⋯ rIFN-gamma may be beneficial for some patients with SSc, but the benefit appears marginal for most individuals and the side effects frequent. Although sIL-2R was elevated in many of the patients with SSc, it did not appear to be correlated with activity of cutaneous disease or response to therapy.
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Comment Letter Case Reports
Polymyalgia rheumatica in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
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Pulmonary hypertension may occur in the antiphospholipid syndrome as a result of recurrent pulmonary embolism or microthrombosis of pulmonary vessels. We describe 3 cases of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and cor pulmonale that fulfilled the criteria for chronic major vessel thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. ⋯ Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension should be added to the list of pulmonary vascular complications of primary APS. Despite its risk, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy represents a treatment option for this otherwise lethal condition.
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To evaluate computed tomography (CT) guided corticosteroid injections of inflamed sacroiliac (SI) joints in patients with spondyloarthropathies (SpA), and to evaluate dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (DMRI) of the SI joints in serial examinations of these patients, who had different degrees of inflammatory back pain. ⋯ CT guided corticosteroid injection of inflamed SI joints is a useful option in therapy for sacroiliitis in patients with SpA. Different degrees of inflammation in the SI joints can be quantitatively assessed by DMRI.
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Although Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is known to occur in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), this infection has rarely been described in childhood SLE. We describe 3 children with SLE who developed PCP and describe risk factors for this complication. ⋯ PCP is an uncommon but serious complication of childhood SLE, and should be considered in the presence of respiratory symptoms, however subtle. The role of oral chemoprophylaxis is discussed.