Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0003873 (rheumatoid arthritis)
 53,068 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Erythrocyte and serological parameters were assessed in 44 anaemic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to detect iron deficiency as assessed by stainable bone marrow iron. The anaemia was normochromic normocytic in 60% and hypochromic normocytic in 30% of those with anaemia of chronic disease (ACD). Iron deficiency was present in 55% and the anaemia was hypochromic microcytic in 54% and hypochromic normocytic or normochromic normocytic in 21%. Iron absorption was found to be higher in iron deficient patients. In ACD patients, iron absorption correlated inversely with ESR and CRP. For the detection of iron deficiency among RA patients with ACD, the MCV showed the highest specificity (90%) and predictive value (87%). Serum ferritin was the most sensitive (82%) and valid (86%) test. Combination of MCV, ferritin and transferrin resulted in 100% validity. It was concluded that iron deficiency can be detected accurately without bone marrow aspiration using combinations of blood parameters.
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PMID:Anaemia of chronic disease: diagnostic significance of erythrocyte and serological parameters in iron deficient rheumatoid arthritis patients. 218 67

Fifty-three patients with rheumatoid arthritis who required immunosuppressive therapy were commenced in a randomized trial comparing azathioprine to weekly oral pulse methotrexate. After an initial 24-week period, both groups had significantly improved from baseline measures of pain and functional capacity and there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups. Laboratory variables of disease activity showed a significant improvement in haemoglobin and ESR in the methotrexate group. Subsequently, the patients were followed for up to 3 years. After one year, more than half of the patients in both groups had discontinued therapy due to inefficacy or adverse events. Adverse effects were more frequent in the patients treated with methotrexate, but withdrawal rates were similar in both groups. From these data, the probability of a patient continuing therapy with either agent for greater than 18 months is low.
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PMID:Comparative controlled trial of low-dose weekly methotrexate versus azathioprine in rheumatoid arthritis: 3-year prospective study. 218 69

Serum levels of the aminoterminal type III procollagen peptide (S-PIIINP) have been used as markers of proliferative inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a prognostic significance has been suggested. To test this further we have measured S-PIIINP longitudinally for 2 years in 66 patients with definite RA and a disease duration of less than 2 years, and related the levels to clinical, biochemical, and radiographic findings. In this patient group the correlations between S-PIIINP and ESR and CRP, respectively, were higher than those obtained between S-PIIINP and articular indices, and markedly higher than in patients with RA of longer duration. Patients with normal mean levels of S-PIIINP during the study period had a significantly slower rate of radiographic progression than patients with elevated mean levels of S-PIIINP. ESR yielded in general higher correlations with the joint damage process than did S-PIIINP. The correlations between S-PIIINP and the joint damage scores increased with time. A multiple regression analysis showed that ESR explained most of the variance in joint damage progression over 2 years, but S-PIIINP added independent information. About one third of the variance could be explained by the two variables.
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PMID:Serum aminoterminal type III procollagen peptide in early rheumatoid arthritis: relation to disease activity and progression of joint damage. 220 10

A forty-eight year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis developed cough, sputum and dyspnea. Chest X-ray film demonstrated bilateral diffuse interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis. Laboratory findings were as follows: ESR 29 mm/h, CRP 3.86 mg/dl, RA test (+), RAHA (-) and WBC 7200/mm3. Marked hypoxemia (po(2)45 Torr) was demonstrated by blood gas analysis. Asymptomatic pulmonary fibrotic lesions which preceded articular symptoms were identified on her previous chest X-ray films. Methylprednisolone-pulse therapy (1g/day, for 3 days) was repeated three times with a 2-week interval. The treatment rapidly improved both pulmonary symptoms and chest X-ray findings. Although the fibrotic shadows on chest X-ray did not completely disappear, her conditions have been maintained well under the treatment with prednisolone (10mg/day) plus D-penicillamine (200mg/day).
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PMID:[Methylprednisolone-pulse therapy in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and diffuse interstitial pneumonia/pulmonary fibrosis]. 223 73

In this open pilot study a combination of hydroxychloroquine, prednisolone and alternating months of treatment with sulphasalazine or oral weekly pulse methotrexate has been investigated in 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to a total of 67 disease suppressive medications. Results at 3 months indicated significant improvements in visual analogue score for pain, joint count, Ritchie index, scale of disability related to activities of daily living, ESR, rheumatoid factor and C-reactive protein. This degree of improvement, however, was not maintained 6 and 12 months after commencement of treatment. Pain score, Ritchie index and ESR were the only parameters demonstrating significant improvement at 12 months. Therapy was terminated in eight patients, half due to lack of efficacy and half because of side effects.
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PMID:The cycling of combination antirheumatic drug therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. 186 32

A 6-month double-blind study of OM-8980 and auranofin in 145 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was followed by an open observation period of 6 months for which 100 OM-8980-treated patients could be assessed. At the end of this second phase, the Ritchie index, number of swollen joints, pain scale, morning stiffness, grip strength and ESR had all improved further with respect to the significant improvements already recorded under OM-8980 and auranofin in the double-blind phase. The statistical analysis of the Ritchie index, pain scale and ESR showed significant changes in these 3 parameters during both the 6-month follow-up phase and the entire 12-month period. As regards the tolerance, 2 patients reported gastrointestinal disorders during the follow-up. The investigators' final assessment of efficacy indicated an improvement in 76% of the patients during the follow-up phase and in 95% during the entire 12-month period.
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PMID:Follow-up with OM-8980 after a double-blind study of OM-8980 and auranofin in rheumatoid arthritis. 226 35

This study involved the screening for dermal microcirculatory abnormalities using periungueal capillaroscopy in a group of 80 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, so-defined in terms of ARA criteria. Excessive erythrocyte aggregation and/or pericapillary edema were detected in 74% of cases and were statistically correlated with ESR, reflecting an inflammatory syndrome. Capillary neogenesis, probably in reaction to subclinical cutaneous vascularity, was detected in 59% of cases (86% of subjects presenting extra-articular rheumatism). In 28% of cases this was accompanied by spontaneous hemorrhage, suggesting a progressive condition. Stigmata of cutaneous atrophy were present in 54% of subjects. These findings demonstrate the frequency of subclinical cutaneous damage in rheumatoid disease and suggest the possibility of the clinical usefulness of capillaroscopy, a non-invasive technic, in the follow-up of this disease.
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PMID:[Periungual capillaroscopy in rheumatoid arthritis. Prospective study of 80 cases]. 242 62

A number of laboratory variables, including Hb., ESR and several phase proteins, fluctuated in concord with the clinical signs of synovitis activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during a controlled study of 3 disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD). The correlation between laboratory variables and clinical synovitis was significant in a large patient population but the correlation coefficients were not of such magnitude that any of the laboratory variables reflected clinical synovitis activity in a reliable manner in the individual patients. In patients treated with azathioprine, the response of the Hb, (and consequently of the ESR), was reduced compared to patients given other DMARD. This phenomenon was caused by the bone marrow suppressing effect of azathioprine. However, the effect of azathioprine on the clinical synovitis activity did not differ from that of the 2 other drugs. Similar results were found by reviewing the literature about controlled trials of DMARD. In the present trial the clinical evaluation was performed under optimal conditions. In daily clinical practice the evaluations of the joints may be less than optimal since they may be performed by different rheumatologists with varying experience. Consequently, it may be difficult to do without the unreliable laboratory variables mentioned in the routine assessments of disease activity, unless the quality of routine evaluations of synovitis activity is improved considerably.
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PMID:Acute phase proteins and clinical synovitis activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 244 20

The etiology of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Virus infection is one of alleged factors initiating the disease process. In view of this, the authors undertook a trial of administration of an antiviral and immunostimulating preparation - isoprinosine, given in the early phase of the disease prior to the development of erosions. Isoprinosine was given to ten seropositive cases of rheumatoid arthritis (two males, eight females) aged 34-61 years, with disease duration from 6 months to 5 years treated previously only with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Isoprinosine was administered for 4 weeks (2 weeks of 3.0 g daily and 2 weeks of 1.5 g daily). After the treatment, a statistically significant reduction was observed in the number of joints painful on pressure, the number of swollen joints, and the duration of morning stiffness. The grip strength of the left hand was increased. The ESR and serum uric acid level were not changed significantly. The titre of Waaler-Rose reaction in four patients was decreased, in two it was increased, and in four it remained unchanged. No side effects were observed during the treatment. In the light of these observations it seems worthwhile to continue further studies on the action of isoprinosine in early rheumatoid arthritis.
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PMID:Isoprinosine in the early pre-erosive stage of rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study. 245 93

A highly significant association of an amino acid sequence, '70Q71R72R73A74A' located on the DR beta-1 chain, with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was confirmed in Japanese patients using polymerase chain reaction. The '70QRRA74A' is the most plausible candidate of susceptibility epitope in Japanese RA patients. The patients carrying the sequence showed slightly higher but not significant familial incidence. The positivity of the 'QRRAA' showed no effect on the positivity of the rheumatoid factor, rheumatoid nodules, and extra-articular signs. Also no significant differences in other clinical parameters (ESR, CRP, Hb, A/G) and age at onset were observed regarding the positivity. The risk that the 'QRRAA' positive subjects would suffer from RA was estimated to be about 1.3% which meant 7.2 times easier to get RA than those without 'QRRAA'.
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PMID:Susceptibility epitope on HLA-DR beta chain for rheumatoid arthritis and the effect of the positivity on the clinical features. 248 14


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