Cryoglobulinaemia and rheumatic manifestations in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. (1/1178)

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of cryoglobulinaemia and rheumatic manifestations in Korean patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS: Forty nine Korean patients with HCV infection were recruited. The prevalence, concentration, and type of cryoglobulin (by immunofixation), rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibody (ANA), and various rheumatological symptoms were investigated and HCV genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction with genotype specific primer. RESULTS: The prevalence of cryoglobulin was 59% in Korean HCV patients and the concentration of cryoglobulin was 9.8 (7.9) g/l (mean (SD)). The type of cryoglobulinaemia was identified in 23 (80%) of 29 HCV patients with cryoglobulinaemia and they were all type III. There were no differences in age, sex, history of operation and transfusion, proportion of liver cirrhosis between the patients with cryoglobulinaemia and those without cryoglobulinaemia. The frequencies of RF and ANA were 14% and 3.4% respectively in HCV patients with cryoglobulinaemia. There was no difference in HCV genotype between the patients with cryoglobulinaemia and those without cryoglobulinaemia. Clinical features of HCV patients were as follows: arthralgia/arthritis (35%), cutaneous manifestation (37%), Raynaud's phenomenon (8%), paresthesia (44%), dry eyes (22%), dry mouth (10%), oral ulcer (33%), and abdominal pain (14%). However, these rheumatological symptoms did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although the rheumatological symptoms were not different between HCV patients with and without cryoglobulinaemia, HCV patients showed various rheumatological manifestations. These result suggests that HCV infection could be included as one of the causes in patients with unexplained rheumatological symptoms.  (+info)

Inhibition of K cell function by human breast cancer sera. (2/1178)

Sera from breast cancer patients and from female controls were tested for inhibition of lysis of antibody-coated target cells by human leukocytes (K cells). Sera from 39% of breast cancer patients, but from only 8% of controls, inhibited lysis by more than 30%. This inhibition was unrelated to the stage of the disease, the patient's age or whether the patient was pre- or post-operative. Inhibition was apparently not due to anti-HLA antibodies and did not correlate with the IgG level or anti-complementary activity of the serum. On fractionation by gel-filtration, inhibitory activity was found in fractions of higher molecular weight than IgG. As no IgG could be detected in these fractions, inhibition is probably not due to immune complexes containing IgG antibody. The inhibitory factor may well contribute to the immunosuppressed status of a proportion of breast cancer patients.  (+info)

The therapeutic response to D-penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis: influence of glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms. (3/1178)

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the therapeutic response of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to D-penicillamine is associated with polymorphisms in genes of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) supergene family. METHODS: Disease activity in 81 patients with RA treated with D-penicillamine monotherapy was assessed using the Stoke Index, a validated index of disease activity, prior to treatment and at 6 months. GST typing was performed using a polymerase chain reaction-based approach and a logistic regression model was used to investigate any possible association between the therapeutic response to D-penicillamine and the GST genotype. RESULTS: A poor therapeutic response was associated with the GSTM1 null genotype [odds ratio (OR) 3.94], and in particular with the GSTM1*0/GSTM3*A haplotype (OR 7.63). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that GST polymorphisms may influence the response to D-penicillamine in RA, and that patients in possession of the GSTM1*0/GSTM3*A haplotype are significantly less likely to show a beneficial response to the drug.  (+info)

The influence of a partially HLA-matched blood transfusion on the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis. (4/1178)

OBJECTIVE: Based on the immunosuppressive effects of blood transfusions in organ transplantation, we determined the effect of a blood transfusion on disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: In this double-blind pilot study, 40 patients with active RA were randomly assigned to receive a HLA-DRB1-matched blood transfusion (n = 30) or placebo (n = 10). Disease activity was scored according to the American College of Rheumatology response criteria during 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: After 1 month and 6 months, respectively, 6 and 16% of patients fulfilled the response criteria in the blood transfusion group compared to none and 30%, respectively, in the placebo group. Following correction for the increase in haemoglobin levels, a majority of the response parameters in the blood transfusion group showed significant improvement compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSION: A DRB1-matched blood transfusion shows improvement of symptoms in several RA patients. Additional studies are required to identify blood transfusion regimens that enhance the potential for therapeutic responses.  (+info)

Serum dioxin and immunologic response in veterans of Operation Ranch Hand. (5/1178)

The authors studied immune response and exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin) among veterans of Operation Ranch Hand, the US Air Force unit responsible for the aerial spraying of herbicides in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971. A comparison group of Air Force veterans who served in Southeast Asia but were not involved in spraying herbicides was included. The authors studied delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test responses to Candida albicans, mumps, Trichophyton, and a bacterial antigen made from lysed Staphylococcus aureus. Lymphocyte measurements included total lymphocyte counts; T-cell (CD3, CD4, CD5, and CD8), B-cell (CD20), and NK-cell (CD16 and CD56) subsets; and expression of the activation antigen CD25 on CD3 T cells. The authors quantitated the serum concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, and IgM; examined sera for the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulins (M proteins); and looked for a broad range of autoantibodies (rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody, smooth muscle autoantibody, mitochondrial autoantibody, parietal cell autoantibody, and thyroid microsomal autoantibodies). They measured the level of dioxin in 1987 or 1992, extrapolated the result to the time of service in Vietnam, and assigned each veteran to one of four exposure categories: Comparison and three Ranch Hand groups (Background, Low, or High). Overall, the authors found no evidence of a consistent relation between dioxin exposure category and immune system alteration.  (+info)

Does rheumatoid arthritis remit during pregnancy and relapse postpartum? Results from a nationwide study in the United Kingdom performed prospectively from late pregnancy. (6/1178)

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the influence of pregnancy on disease activity in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during pregnancy and postpartum. METHODS: One hundred forty pregnant women were recruited from a nationwide campaign and were followed prospectively in the last trimester and at 1 and 6 months postpartum. Standardized assessment of joint symptoms, examination of inflamed joints, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were the main measures of disease activity. RESULTS: There was only a modest fall in HAQ scores during pregnancy, with >25% of women having substantial levels of disability. Other parameters of disease activity showed a greater trend toward improvement, although only 23 (16%) were in complete remission (no joints with active disease and no therapy). Similarly, there was relatively little change in the distribution of HAQ scores from pregnancy to postpartum. There was, however, a statistically significant increase in the mean number of inflamed joints compared with the findings during pregnancy. Analysis of the possible influence of treatment suggested that therapy was associated with more severe disease and was not related to reduction in disease activity. CONCLUSION: This, the largest prospective study of the influence of pregnancy on RA activity, has demonstrated widespread variability in disease response.  (+info)

Excessive paternal transmission in psoriatic arthritis. (7/1178)

OBJECTIVE: The differential expression of a disease according to the sex of the disease-transmitting parent has been demonstrated in several autoimmune disorders. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there are differences in the transmission and expression of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) that are dependent on the sex of the affected parent. METHODS: All probands (patients with PsA) were identified from among the patients attending the University of Toronto Psoriatic Arthritis Clinic. A self-reported family history of psoriasis or PsA was noted for each proband. Differences in parental and offspring transmission with respect to the proband were evaluated. In addition, the expression of PsA according to the sex of the affected parent was assessed at the time of the proband's presentation to the clinic. RESULTS: Ninety-five probands had affected parents: 62 (65%) had an affected father, and 33 (35%) had an affected mother. Thus, the proportion of paternal transmission (0.65) was significantly greater than was expected (0.5) (P = 0.001). Twelve of 74 offspring from male probands (16.2%) were affected with psoriasis or PsA, as compared with 9 of 108 offspring from female probands (8.3%) (P = 0.10). Probands whose fathers were affected had a higher frequency of skin lesions prior to arthritis (P = 0.047), an erythrocyte sedimentation rate > 15 mm/hour (P = 0.044), and a lower incidence of rheumatoid factor (P = 0.044). No differences were noted with respect to age at the onset of psoriasis or PsA, the severity of the PsA, or the frequency of HLA antigens. CONCLUSION: There appears to be excessive paternal transmission in PsA. Further clinical confirmation and elucidation of its genetic basis is warranted.  (+info)

The effects of interferon beta treatment on arthritis. (8/1178)

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether interferon beta (IFN-beta) therapy might have a beneficial effect on arthritis, we evaluated the effect of IFN-beta on collagen type II-induced arthritis (CIA) in rhesus monkeys and conducted a pilot study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Four rhesus monkeys with CIA were treated with 10 x 10(6) U (MIU)/kg mammalian cell-derived recombinant IFN-beta (Rebif; Ares-Serono) s.c. daily for 1 week. Subsequently, 12 patients with active RA were treated for 12 weeks with purified natural fibroblast IFN-beta (Frone, Ares-Serono) s.c. 3 times weekly at the following dosages: 6 MIU (n = 4), 12 MIU (n = 4) and 18 MIU (n = 4). RESULTS: Rapid clinical improvement during IFN-beta therapy was observed in three of the four rhesus monkeys with CIA. There was also a marked decrease in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with a subsequent increase after discontinuation of the treatment in all monkeys. The 10 RA patients who completed the study exhibited on average gradual improvement of tender and swollen joint counts, patient's assessment of pain, and patient's and doctor's global assessment (all P < 0.05). The health assessment questionnaire and serum CRP levels also tended to decrease, but this was not statistically significant; 40% of the patients fulfilled the ACR criteria for 20%, improvement, whereas none fulfilled the ACR criteria for 50% improvement 12 weeks after initiation of treatment. There was no clear dose response relationship. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that IFN-beta treatment has a beneficial effect on arthritis.  (+info)