Psoriatic arthritis and chronic lymphoedema: treatment efficacy by adalimumab

Lymphoedema is a rare complication of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and inflammatory joint disease, with no response noted to disease-modifying drugs. However, reports are emerging of a beneficial effect on lymphoedema in patients treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonists for PsA (Etanercept), rheumatoid arthritis (Etanercept) and ankylosing spondylitis (Infliximab). We describe a psoriatic arthritis patient whose lymphoedema greatly improved following commencement of adalimumab.     

Pathogenesis of chronic inflammation in experimental ferritin-induced arthritis.

The earliest and most severe changes in articular collagenous tissues (ACT) occur within 24 hours of antigen challenge and are associated with and are possibly secondary to maximal immune complex deposition in ACT surfaces. The immuno-electron microscopic (immuno-em) staining characterizes the ferritin as aggregates with antibody and suggests its occurrence and deposition as a preformed immune complex. These data indicate a direct interaction between immune complexes and collagenous matrix which could relate to both antigen persistence and chronicity of the immune response. The changes described in this model have features in common with rheumatoid disease and suggest the potential for similar mechanisms of cartilage degradation.     

The intra-articular efficacy of hyaluronate injections in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

To determine whether the intra-articular injection of hyaluronate (HA) is a potential clinical option for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we have evaluated the clinical efficacy of intra-articular corticosteroid and HA by analyzing the patient-based database from a cross-sectional observational cohort. A total of 668 (14.1%) of 4725 patients in the database received injections. The logistic regression analysis showed that the Japanese version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire functional index [J-HAQ; odds ratio (OR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35–1.73] and disease activity score 28 (DAS28; OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.19–1.39) were predictive in the case of receiving a joint injection compared to non-injection. The patient-perceived satisfactory rate of injection was 64.0 (95% CI 51.9–76.2) for corticosteroid injections and 59.3 (95% CI 50.6–67.9) for HA injections; however, there were no significant differences between the corticosteroid and HA injection groups (P < 0.074). Our results demonstrate that HA and corticosteroid injections generally have similar efficacy rates when the patient-perceived satisfactory rate was employed as an index. These results are encouraging, as the use of HA stimulates interest in clinical studies aimed at assessing the potential role of viscosupplementation in treating RA, and HA may represent another treatment option for RA.     

白芍总苷胶囊治疗儿童特发性关节炎的临床有效性和安全性观察

目的观察白芍总苷胶囊(帕夫林,TGP)治疗幼年型特发性关节炎(JIA)的疗效及安全性。方法2003—2004年在上海4个中心(上海仁济医院、复旦大学附属儿科医院、上海第二军医大学附属长海医院、上海第二医科大学附属儿童医学中心)选择诊断明确的JIA中少关节型、多关节型及全身型三种类型的患儿80例,随机分为治疗组和对照组(采用拆信封法),治疗组给予TGP(朗生医药公司)联合甲氨蝶吟(MTX)治疗,对照组单用MTX治疗,观察患者关节症状改善程度、血沉变化情况以及药物副作用。结果第4周时治疗组患儿关节症状改善50%,明显高于对照组的30%(P<0.05),并且第4周时治疗组有效率为60%,明显高于对照组的37.5%(P<0.05),此外,白芍总苷胶囊与MTX联合应用在治疗初期能较大幅度地降低血沉。在不良反应发生方面,治疗组仅出现轻度的腹泻,且发生率较低(10%),而对照组部分患儿出现了肝功能的异常。结论白芍总苷胶囊与MTX联合应用能较好地缓解JIA患儿的关节症状,缩短患儿症状改善的时间,且不良反应发生率低,患儿耐受性好。     

The efficacy and safety of auranofin in the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

The safety and efficacy of auranofin in the long-term treatment of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was investigated in an open study of 14 patients. Twelve patients completed at least 12 months of treatment, and 7 patients completed 36 months of treatment. Classic parameters of disease activity showed improvement over baseline values after 6 months of treatment, and laboratory indices remained stable or improved throughout the study. Auranofin was well tolerated; the frequency of adverse effects was lower in these patients than has been previously reported in either adults or children whose arthritis has been treated with injectable gold.     

Thymopentin in the treatment of juvenile chronic arthritis

An immunological imbalance is probably one of the major pathogenetic causes of rheumatoid arthritis in adults as well as in children. This aspect is the rationale for the use of immuno-modulating drugs. In our study we evaluated the effects of intravenously-administered thymopentin on systemic and local features in 10 children affected with systemic onset juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). We also considered the effects of intra-articular thymopentin in 3 children affected with pauciarticular onset JCA.     

血浆置换治疗重症类风湿关节炎的疗效和安全性评价

目的评价血浆置换治疗重症类风湿关节炎（RA）的疗效和安全性。方法入选RA患者48例均进行血浆置换，同时口服甲氨蝶呤及柳氮磺胺吡啶或来氟米特。第1次血浆置换前和血浆置换后1周进行临床观察及评估。疗效评价主要以美国风湿病学会（ACR）疗效评价指标为标准。结果血浆置换治疗后1周，患者多项观察指标如肿胀关节数、触痛关节数、晨僵时间、静息痛视觉模拟评分（VAS）、血沉（ESR）和c反应蛋白（CRP）等均有明显改善，与治疗前比较差异有统计学意义（P≤0．01）。血浆置换治疗后1周达到ACR20患者为52％，达到ACIB0患者为12．5％。48例患者血浆置换过程中出现不良反应4例，症状均较轻，对症处理后好转。结论血浆置换治疗重症RA的疗效肯定，起效快，短期疗效显著，毒副作用小，安全性好。     

Sulphasalazine in the treatment of children with chronic arthritis

The ainich of study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of sulphasalazine (SASP) in the treatment of children with chronic arthritis. The medical records of 36 children (25 boys, 11 girls) who received SASP for the treatment of chronic arthritis were reviewed. Twenty-one patients had juvenile spondyloarthropathies (JSA) (eight juvenile ankylosing spondylitis (JAS), 13 undifferentiated JSA (uJSA) and 15 had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). The patients received SASP therapy for a mean of 2.5 years (range 3 weeks to 8.1 years). Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed retrospectively to determine the effects of treatment. A clinically significant response occurred in 23 (64%) children: remission in 14 (39%) (JRA 5, JSA 9) and improvement (25% reduction in joint count) in nine (25%) (JRA 4, JSA 5). There was no difference in response rate between JR and JSA patients (p=0.11), but the time to remission shorter in JSA patients (mean 5 months) JRA patients (mean 25 months) (p=0.024). Twelve of the 36 patients discontinued non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and six of eight patients discontinued prednisolone. A significant fall in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rise in haemoglobin occurred in SASP-treated patients (p<0.005) comparing most recent results with pretreatment levels. Side-effects occurred in four of 36 patients (11%); only one patient who had persisting severe diarrhoea required discontinuation of SASP. It was concluded that SASP appears to be effective and safe in the treatment of JRA and JSA patients. As a second-line agent, SASP is the drug of first choice for patients with JSA; for JRA patients SASP may be a useful, possibly less toxic alternative to methotrexate.     

Sulphasalazine in the treatment of pauciarticular-onset juvenile chronic arthritis

Summary Sulphasalazine in a dose of 50 mg/kg/day was administered to ten patients with pauciarticular-onset juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), with active disease not adequately controlled by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). The treatment was initiated with 1/4 of this dose and increased by weekly increments of 250–500 mg until the total dose was reached. In all patients sulphasalazine was the first disease-modifying agent tried. Among nine of the ten patients there was significant improvement in all clinical scores, including the number of active joints and the severity grading (tenderness and limitation of motion). Within 3 months of sulphasalazine therapy the laboratory measurements revealed marked improvement in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and haemoglobin values. One patient, in whom the ESR and haemoglobin were normal at onset, had no change in clinical scores. Transient skin rash and elevated liver enzyme levels developed in one patient. These preliminary data suggest that sulphasalazine is an effective and safe second-line agent in the management of pauciarticular-onset JCA. More trials with this drug are needed, including double blind, to study efficacy and safety of sulphasalazine in JCA.     

替比夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎疗效及其影响因素

目的评价替比夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎52周的疗效及其影响因素。方法采用替比夫定治疗22例慢性乙型肝炎患者52周,对治疗前后ALT、HBVDNA、HBeAg消失、HBeAg血清转换、组织学改善、基因型耐药进行比较。同时根据患者治疗前状况的评估和治疗4周、8周、12周和24周的HBVDNA来预测影响疗效的因素。结果治疗52周,HBV DNA和ALT与治疗前相比明显下降,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．001）。患者治疗前的评估对52周的疗效无明显影响,而治疗24周HBV DNA水平低于300拷贝／ml时,52周HBV检测不到、ALT复常、HBeAg消失和HBeAg血清转换的比例明显增高,基因型耐药明显减少,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论替比夫定能明显抑制HBV DNA复制,使ALT复常,促进HBeAg血清转换。治疗24周的HBV DNA抑制水平可预测治疗52周的疗效。     

Influence of x-ray treatment on antigen-induced experimental arthritis.

Six groups of 3 rabbits each were immunised with ovalbumin and received one intra-articular injection of antigen. The animals of 3 groups received local x-ray irradiation of 600 rads for 8 minutes to the right knee joint 12 days after the intra-articular challenge. Animals of the other 3 groups were not irradiated. The antigen-induced arthritis was investigated by determining the exudation is synovial fluid and by histological study of the synovium examined 48 hours, 7 days, and 4 weeks after the irradiation date. All animals in the nonirradiated groups showed a distinct chronic synovitis. Irradiated animals showed almost no synovitis 48 hours and 7 days following irradiation. In 2 rabbits synovitis had reappeared 4 weeks after irradiation with findings similar to those in the control groups. Only one animal still showed an inhibition of synovitis. X-ray irradiation of non-challenged knees did not induce any pathological changes. This time-limited effect of one local irradiation on antigen-induced arthritis seems to be mainly an anti-inflammatory action. Local immunological inhibition might possibly operate too. X-ray induced inhibition of synovitis is compared with the effect of locally injected radiocolloids.     

Gouty arthritis in the black race

This review of 65 black-black patients with gout, in contrast to tan or tinted, is presented to emphasize the universal nature of the disease, irrespective of race or geographic region. One case of a female who delivered a living child 4 yr after her initial attack of gout is reported. No case of gout secondary to chronic renal disease, or to a blood dyscrasia, including sickle cell disease, was discovered. Except for the race, aberrant sex distribution and low incidence of urate stones, this series is not unlike a series of white gout patients.