Rheumatology
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Comparative Study
Abnormal body composition phenotypes in Vietnamese women with early rheumatoid arthritis.
To characterize body composition phenotypes using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) method and to explore factors potentially contributing to alterations in body composition in Vietnamese women with early RA. ⋯ Women with early RA had a significantly higher proportion of unhealthy body composition phenotypes, higher total and truncal FM and lower appendicular LM than controls. Disease activity and disability scores were associated with unhealthy body composition. These findings suggest that clinicians should encourage muscle strengthening and fat loss in RA patients to reduce their disability.
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To translate the foot impact scale for RA (FIS-RA) to the dutch target language and to evaluate its internal construct validity using rasch analysis. ⋯ A Dutch language version of the FIS-RA questionnaire was successfully developed using Rasch analysis. Subscales for impairment/footwear and activity/participation showed good construct validity and were unidimensional.
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To characterize the in vitro binding and effector function properties of CD20-directed small modular immunopharmaceutical (SMIP) 2LM20-4, and to compare its in vivo B-cell depletion activity with the mutated 2LM20-4 P331S [no in vitro complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)] and rituximab in cynomolgus monkeys. ⋯ SMIP 2LM20-4, which binds to a fraction of CD20 molecules as compared with rituximab, has more potent in vitro CDC, and more potent and sustained B-cell depletion activity in cynomolgus monkeys. Our work has considerable clinical relevance since it provides novel insights related to the emerging B-cell depletion therapies in autoimmune diseases.
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Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but frequently fatal complication of SLE. It occurs in the context of both active and inactive lupus and carries a worse overall prognosis than idiopathic acquired TTP. ⋯ The illumination of the role of the von Willebrand factor multimer protease, ADAMTS13 in idiopathic TTP continues to enhance our comprehension of the pathogenesis of the disease and has contributed to improvements in diagnosis and management. We explore the overlap of TTP and SLE, and discuss the current understanding of the involvement of ADAMTS13 and its implications for patients with this uncommon form of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia.