Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0152031 (swollen joints)
 535 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We studied whether patients with seropositivity in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) comprise a different clinical group than those with seronegativity. Four hundred seventeen patients with early RA according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria (disease duration less than 1 year) were retrospectively studied by analysis of demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and therapeutic disease characteristics from the time of diagnosis until the end of the study period (1981 1999) using a data base. There were 248 seropositive patients and 169 seronegative patients with RA. No statistically significant differences were seen between the two groups before commencement of the study period in relation to age of disease onset, male:female ratio, and disease duration. However, seropositive patients showed longer medical follow-up. In addition, at disease onset, seropositive RA patients presented more frequently with symmetrical polyarthritis and small joint involvement than seronegative patients. The seropositive group also had more tender and swollen joints, weaker grip strength, and higher erythrocyte sedimentation and C-reactive protein rates during the follow-up period. In contrast, the seronegative group had less severe radiological findings and greater functional ability at the end of the study. In Greek patients with early RA, rheumatoid factor seems to be a predictor of more severe disease activity.
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PMID:Clinical course and outcome of early rheumatoid arthritis. 1151 41

The purpose of the study was the evaluation of the effects of the combined therapy and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the acute phase reactants and clinical symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The acute phase reactants that were observed were sedimentation of erythrocytes, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin and fibrinogen, while the clinical parameters that were observed were the number of swollen joints and the number of joints sensitive to the pressure. All the parameters were evaluated before the therapy initiation, there and six months after the therapy was finished. The treatment involved 80 patients with rheumatoid arthritis separated into three groups depending on the therapy applied: Group A (n = 29) received gold salts, sulphasalazine and tenoxicam, Group B (n = 25) received gold salts, sulphasalazine and indometacin, and Group C (n = 26) received gold salts, chloroquine and piroxicam. The results of our examination showed statistically significant descrease in value of acute phase reactants and of clinical indicators after the therapy carried out in each of the patient groups, while the values between the groups were of no statistical significance.
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PMID:[Effect of combination therapy and nonsteroidal antirheumatic agents on acute phase reactants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. 1155 14

The aim of this study was to investigate if age at disease onset comprises a separate parameter for disease expression, prognosis, and outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Four hundred thirty-eight patients with early RA (disease duration less than 1 year) were studied. All of them fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and therapeutic characteristics of the disease at diagnosis and during and at the end of follow-up (time period 1981-2000) were analyzed according to age at disease onset (young patients aged less than 60 years at disease onset vs elderly patients aged more than 60 years at disease onset). We found 317 young and 121 elderly patients with early RA. The male:female ratio, which was 1:3.2 in the young patients, was nearly equal in the elderly (1:1.4). In addition, at disease onset elderly patients showed more severe joint involvement (decreased grip strength) associated with high titers of acute phase response (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein) than the younger patients. However, there were no differences between the two groups in the numbers of tender and swollen joints or acute phase response at the end of the study period. Furthermore, no differences were seen between the two groups concerning the presence of rheumatoid factor. Finally, the two patient groups showed the same degree of radiological changes and functional ability and were treated similarly, except for more frequent corticosteroid use in the elderly. We conclude that elderly patients present with more severe joint involvement at disease onset. However, at the end of the study, no differences were seen concerning radiological changes and functional ability. It seems that age at disease onset does not influence the clinical course and outcome of early RA patients.
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PMID:Early rheumatoid arthritis patients: relationship of age. 1263 39

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes of bone mineral density in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in one-year period and to establish the possible relation with the clinical and laboratory symptoms of inflammation and radiological signs of structural damage of the joints. Forty-one RA patient was investigated. Clinical activity of rheumatoid arthritis was assessed by the duration of morning stiffness, counts of tender and swollen joints, and general evaluation of the disease activity by the patient and investigator. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were used as laboratory markers of activity of inflammation. X-ray progression was evaluated by the appearance of new erosions and worsening of the joint spaces on the hands X-ray. Bone mineral density was measured by DEXA method (QDR 4500W Elite Hologic, USA) in the 1-4 lumbar vertebral bodies, and in the proximal part of the hip. It was established that systemic bone mineral density lossin all investigated locations was characteristic for active rheumatoid arthritis. Bone mineral density diminishing in the hip was in close correlation with the and symptoms of disease activity and radiological progression. This correlation was not characteristic for the lumbar vertebral bodies. Above-mentioned clinical, laboratory and radiological features of the disease had minimal influence on bone mineral density for the patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis.
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PMID:[Changes of bone mineral density in rheumatoid arthritis]. 1279 69

In order to determine whether budesonide, which is believed to exert most of its anti-inflammatory effects in the intestinal tract, has a beneficial effect on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we treated 26 patients with active RA in double-blind fashion with either controlled ileal-release budesonide (9 mg by mouth) ( n=14) or placebo ( n=12). All patients remained on their existing disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Paracetamol was used for escape analgesia. Evaluations were performed at 0, 2, and 4 weeks and included tender and swollen joint counts, duration of morning stiffness, visual analogue scale for pain (VAS) on a 100-mm horizontal scale, grip strength using a vigorimeter (lb/in(2)), haemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (Westergren method, mm/1st h), plasma viscosity (PV) in cP (normal range 1.5-1.72), C-reactive protein (CRP) (normal upper level 1 mg/dl), random plasma cortisol (nmol/l) drawn between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and blood pressure. Disease activity scores based on 28 joints (DAS 28) were also derived at all time points. Within-group comparisons revealed significant improvement in the budesonide-treated but not the placebo group with respect to numbers of tender and swollen joints, duration of morning stiffness, grip strength, pain, ESR, PV, and DAS 28. Between-group comparisons showed significant differences for ESR, PV, pain, and random plasma cortisol (drawn between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.). There were no significant side effects in either group.
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PMID:Ileum-targeted steroid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of controlled-release budesonide. 1285 38

This study compares amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS) measured by phalangeal ultrasonography in a group of 60 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with those who had had the disease for more than 4 years. The mean duration of the early disease group was 1.4 years, and the mean of the established RA group was 14.6 years. Plasma viscosity (PV), C-reactive protein (CRP) and HAQ scores were obtained. Forty-nine patients with early RA had hand radiographs assessed by the Larsen score method. The DBM Sonic system was assessed on normal volunteers and a coefficient of variation of 0.88% obtained. A significant correlation was found between the left and right hands of the patients groups studied ( r=0.84). The mean Z score of both hands was therefore used in comparing the two clinical groups. Results showed no correlation between CRP, PV and Z scores of AD-SoS. The HAQ scores showed a weak negative correlation, and there was no correlation between the Larsen score and Z score, or the number of swollen joints and Z score. However, the early and established groups with RA were significantly different (#E5/E5#=0.004). Within the early RA group the Z score for AD-SoS was lower in those with disease duration of less than 2 years (-1.71) than in those with disease duration of 2-4 years (-1.01). This suggests that bone loss in the fingers is greater in the first 2 years of disease than in the following 2 years, which might reflect an effect of treatment.
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PMID:A comparison of bone loss in early and late rheumatoid arthritis using quantitative phalangeal ultrasound. 1450 11

Predicting which patients will develop severe rheumatoid arthritis is essential for selection of the most appropriate treatment regimen in early arthritis. The key outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis are persistence of the disease, joint damage (evaluated by X-ray progression), functional disability, and mortality rate. Rheumatoid factor positivity and number of swollen joints appear to be related to all of these outcomes, while radiologic scores are mostly related to joint damage and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) to functional disability. Other relevant prognostic parameters are erythrocyte sedimentation rate or serum C-reactive protein levels, and antibodies to citrullinated peptides.
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PMID:[Outcome predictors in rheumatoid arthritis]. 1520 37

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in serum levels of endothelial cell injury markers, soluble (s) E-selectin and thrombomodulin (TM), in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before and after antirheumatic drug treatment and to assess the relationship between these changes and clinical responses to the drug treatment. Eleven patients with RA having active arthritis and 12 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. They were monitored by clinical and laboratory parameters while receiving a combination of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and sulphasalazine. Pre- and post-treatment clinical and laboratory parameters, including sE-selectin and sTM levels, were measured. The ages of the patients were comparable with those of the control groups. Significant improvements were detected in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, morning stiffness, patients' global assessment, physicians' global assessment, number of tender joints and number of swollen joints improved at the end of the therapy (for each parameter p < 0.05). Significant improvements were detected in clinical and laboratory parameters. In the patient group there were significant decreases in the levels of sTM and sE-selectin after treatment (p < 0.05). The patient group had significantly higher sTM and sE-selectin levels than the control group at the beginning of the study (p < 0.01), but the difference returned to normal after the treatment (p > 0.05). The sE-selectin and sTM levels significantly correlated with each other, and also with clinical and laboratory findings. Combination treatment successfully treated RA patients. sE-selectin and sTM levels probably reflect disease activity and can be helpful in monitoring disease status and response to therapy.
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PMID:Successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a reduction in serum sE-selectin and thrombomodulin level. 1527 55

The tumor necrosis factor blocking agent etanercept is effective in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Previously published studies provided no evidence for an elevated frequency of severe adverse events under therapy. The present work documents efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with etanercept up to four years in 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in single German study center. Follow-up examinations were conducted at monthly intervals. The response was assessed in an intention-to-treat analysis (last observation carried forward) according to the ACR and EULAR criteria. The evaluation is based on 95 patient years, the median observation period was 50 (4-52) months. After four years, 21 patients were still in the study. Reasons for study dropouts were inefficacy (n=3), severe adverse events (n=1), long distance to study center (n=2), scheduled surgery (n=1), and desire for pregnancy (n=1). Morning stiffness, the number of painful and swollen joints, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and DAS28 significantly decreased within 6 months. At their most recent visit, 26 patients (90%) had achieved the ACR20, 17 patients (59%) the ACR50, and 6 patients (21%) the ACR70 criteria. Subject to the EULAR criteria, 14 patients (48%) responded well and another 12 patients (41%) moderately well. Severe adverse events occurred in the form of a sigma perforation with subsequent sepsis (week 17), suture insufficiency (twice) following rupture of an Achilles tendon (weeks 3 and 9), pneumonia (week 121), and breast cancer (week 197). In our patients, long-term treatment with etanercept continued to be effective and safe up to four years. Severe adverse events were rare and not more frequent than expected. For the detection of uncommon or late occurring severe adverse events under the treatment with biologic agents, documentation in central registers should be encouraged.
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PMID:[Four-year observation of etanercept therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in a single German center]. 1590 87

Antibodies to citrullinated proteins (anti-cyclic-citrullinated peptide [anti-CCP] antibodies) are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and precede the onset of disease symptoms, indicating a pathogenetic role for these antibodies in RA. We recently showed that distinct genetic risk factors are associated with either anti-CCP-positive disease or anti-CCP-negative disease. These data are important as they indicate that distinct pathogenic mechanisms are underlying anti-CCP-positive disease or anti-CCP-negative disease. Likewise, these observations raise the question of whether anti-CCP-positive RA and anti-CCP-negative RA are clinically different disease entities. We therefore investigated whether RA patients with anti-CCP antibodies have a different clinical presentation and disease course compared with patients without these autoantibodies. In a cohort of 454 incident patients with RA, 228 patients were anti-CCP-positive and 226 patients were anti-CCP-negative. The early symptoms, tender and swollen joint count, and C-reactive protein level at inclusion, as well as the swollen joint count and radiological destruction during 4 years of follow-up, were compared for the two groups. There were no differences in morning stiffness, type, location and distribution of early symptoms, patients' rated disease activity and C-reactive protein at inclusion between RA patients with and without anti-CCP antibodies. The mean tender and swollen joint count for the different joints at inclusion was similar. At follow-up, patients with anti-CCP antibodies had more swollen joints and more severe radiological destruction. Nevertheless, the distribution of affected joints, for swelling, bone erosions and joint space narrowing, was similar. In conclusion, the phenotype of RA patients with or without anti-CCP antibodies is similar with respect to clinical presentation but differs with respect to disease course.
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PMID:Antibodies to citrullinated proteins and differences in clinical progression of rheumatoid arthritis. 1620 36


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