Modern rheumatology
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Modern rheumatology · Sep 2012
Whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with active polymyalgia rheumatica: evidence for distinctive bursitis and large-vessel vasculitis.
To investigate fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation in large joints, bursas, and large vessels in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) using 18-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and to differentiate PMR from similar diseases. ⋯ Fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT may be useful for the detection of PMR lesions, which are difficult to identify using other methods.
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Modern rheumatology · Aug 2012
Multicenter StudyHigh serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 is characteristic of patients with paraneoplastic remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema syndrome.
Recently, it was reported that remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome could be complicated with solid tumors. In a retrospective, multicenter study between October, 2003 and September, 2010, we investigated the characteristics of patients with paraneoplastic RS3PE syndrome who fulfilled following criteria: (1) bilateral pitting edema of hands or feet or both, (2) sudden onset of polyarthritis, and (3) age >50 years, (4) seronegativity for rheumatoid factor (RF). A total of 33 cases fulfilled the above criteria. ⋯ There was no significant difference between the neoplastic and nonneoplastic groups in the proportions of patients with fever, symmetrical polyarthritis, pitting edema, and good response to corticosteroids. Serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) level (median 437.3 ng/ml) in the paraneoplastic RS3PE patients was significantly higher than that in patients without neoplasia (median 114.7 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). We found that high serum MMP-3 is characteristic of patients with paraneoplastic RS3PE syndrome.
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Modern rheumatology · Aug 2012
Case ReportsImprovement of endothelial function in parallel with the amelioration of dry cough and dyspnea due to interstitial pneumonia by intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in patients with systemic sclerosis: a preliminary report of two cases.
Intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy (IVCY) exerts its efficacy against interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) by restoring vascular injuries as well as aberrant immune activation. We recently experienced two patients with SSc-ILD in whom the values of brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) reflected the efficacy of IVCY. We herein report the details of these cases and discuss the potential of FMD to predict and evaluate the effect of IVCY on SSc-ILD.
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Modern rheumatology · Aug 2012
Case ReportsAmyopathic dermatomyositis developing rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease with elevation of anti-CADM-140/MDA5 autoantibodies.
Anti-clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM)-140/MDA5 autoantibodies are specifically detected in patients with dermatomyositis and are known to have a strong association with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). Here we report an amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM) patient who developed RP-ILD characterized by elevated anti-CADM-140/MDA5 titer. Respiratory symptoms gradually improved, and anti-CADM-140/MDA5 titer decreased in parallel to below the cutoff level. It may be useful to quantify CADM-140-specific autoantibodies for monitoring disease activity in patients with ADM and RP-ILD.
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Modern rheumatology · Aug 2012
Positional occlusion of the vertebral artery in a case of rheumatoid atlantoaxial subluxation presenting with multiple cerebral and cerebellar infarction.
We report an uncommon case of positional occlusion of the vertebral artery associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Plain radiography showed reducible atlantoaxial subluxation, and dynamic vertebral arteriography demonstrated positional occlusion of the left vertebral artery. ⋯ However, when RA patients manifest recurrent cerebral and cerebellar symptoms, this condition should be kept in mind and actions taken to avoid further irreversible cerebral damage. Recommended imaging methods include vertebral dynamic lateral plain radiography of the cervical spine and vertebral arteriography at multiple cervical positions.