Judith S. Walker, Rachel B. Sheather-Reid, John J. Carmody, Janet H. Vial, and Richard O. Day 1944

This article provides support for the concept of "responder" and "nonresponder" groups among patients treated with NSAIDs. The study sought predictors of these response outcomes using an array of clinical and laboratory measures. No such indicators were found in osteoarthritis patients, but the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cell counts were shown to have worthwhile predictive value in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Deborah P. M. Symmons, Clare R. Bankhead, Beverley J. Harrison, Paul Brennan, Elizabeth M. Barrett, David G. I. Scott, and Alan J. Silman 1955

This report presents the differences in lifestyle and comorbidity found between cases with recent-onset RA and age- and sex-matched controls within a population setting. Prior blood transfusion, a history of having ever smoked for more than a year, and obesity (body mass index [lte]30) were associated with an increased risk of developing RA in both men and women. These findings may be of interest to those who seek to develop strategies for the primary prevention of RA.

Marta B. Moroldo, B. Link Tague, Edith S. Shear, David N. Glass, and Edward H. Giannini 1962

This work demonstrates that JRA developing in a full biologic brother or sister of a child with JRA is likely to be of the same onset and course type. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the disease within the subtypes are essentially the same in affected sibpairs as in patients with nonfamilial JRA.

Carol J. Henderson, Gail Dunkel Cawkwell, Bonny L. Specker, Rosa I. Sierra, Robert W. Wilmott, Barbara N. Campaigne, and Daniel J. Lovell 1967

This study demonstrates that in a mildly to moderately ill prepubertal JRA population that had never been exposed to corticosteroids, almost 30% had significantly low total body bone mineral density. The patients with low total body BMD had more active and severe articular disease and greater limitation in physical functioning. Disease-related parameters in JRA appear to exert a negative effect on bone mineralization, even in prepubertal children.

Lisa G. Rider, Brian M. Feldman, Maria D. Perez, Robert M. Rennebohm, Carol B. Lindsley, Lawrence S. Zemel, Carol A. Wallace, Susan H. Ballinger, Suzanne L. Bowyer, Ann M. Reed, Murray H. Passo, Ildy M. Katona, Frederick W. Miller, and Peter A. Lachenbruch, in cooperation with the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Disease Activity Collaborative Study Group 1976

The rarity of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in children has resulted in the absence of validated measures to assess disease activity and damage. This study demonstrates the excellent interrater reliability and comprehensiveness of physician global assessments as measures of activity and damage in these diseases. Parent global ratings of disease activity appear to be reliable as surrogates for their childrens' assessments and are sensitive to change, yet are not redundant with physician global assessments. Therefore, both physician and parent global assessments appear to be valuable quantitative measures to comprehensively assess disease activity and outcomes in patients with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Virginia D. Steen and Thomas A. Medsger, Jr. 1984

Since 1985, 1,250 patients attending the University of Pittsburgh Scleroderma Clinic have completed a modified HAQ annually. The present study shows that scores on the HAQ disability index correlate with the degree and extent of skin involvement, scleroderma heart or kidney disease, tendon friction rubs, hand contractures, and proximal muscle strength. Over time, the disability index was found to correlate with changes in skin thickness and was a good predictor of survival. These data provide convincing evidence that a self-administered questionnaire is an accurate and inexpensive tool to measure disease status changes in scleroderma.

Teresa M. George, Joseph M. Cash, Carol Farver, Michael Sneller, Carolyn W. van Dyke, Charles L. Derus, and Gary S. Hoffman 1992

The present study reviewed 302 patient records from 2 WG registries for evidence of hilar adenopathy or mediastinal masses. Six cases were identified. Based on these case studies, it was concluded that WG can be associated with mediastinal or hilar masses. Because these are unusual features of WG, malignancy and infection should be excluded during the diagnostic process.

Lisa R. Sammaritano, Sonia Ng, Rachel Sobel, Siu Kong Lo, Ronit Simantov, Richard Furie, Alan Kaell, Roy Silverstein, and Jane E. Salmon 1998

Anticardiolipin antibodies are an important risk factor for the development of recurrent thromboses and recurrent fetal loss; however, only a subset of aCL-positive patients have these complications. In an attempt to stratify relative risk, some properties of aCL were studied. A significant association between the presence of IgG2 aCL and thrombosis was demonstrated. In addition, thrombotic complications were associated with the only allelic variant of IgG Fc receptors that efficiently recognizes IgG2. These findings have implications for understanding aCL pathogenicity and provide the opportunity to identify patients at risk for complications.

Vincent Agnello and Gyorgy Abel. 2007

These studies suggest that HCV plays a major role in the pathogenesis of the cutaneous vasculitis in patients with type II cryoglobulinemia and strengthen the rationale for antiviral drug therapy in these patients. In addition, they provide in vivo evidence of endocytosis of HCV by the LDL receptor, which has recently been demonstrated in vitro.

Shirley P. Rigby, David J. Griffiths, Robin A. Weiss, and Patrick J. W. Venables 2016

The cause of idiopathic/primary Sjogren's syndrome is unknown although retroviruses have been implicated as potential etiologic agents. A sequence corresponding to part of a new human retrovirus, human retrovirus-5 (HRV-5), was recently identified in the salivary glands of patients with Sjogren's syndrome, although it is not known whether this new retrovirus is causally associated. This study sought HRV-5 infection in the salivary glands of patients with Sjogren's syndrome and patients with sicca symptoms. The results do not provide evidence for an etiologic role of HRV-5 in primary Sjogren's syndrome.

A. L. Dolan, C. Moniz, B. Dasgupta, F. Li, C. Mackintosh, P. Todd, V. Corrigall, and G. S. Panayi 2022

This study considers the effect of both the inflammatory process and subsequent corticosteroid treatment on bone turnover and bone mass in PMR. Patients with the most active inflammation at presentation lose the most bone and require longer treatment. These findings have practical implications regarding the treatment of PMR and the need for osteoporosis prophylaxis.

Michel de Bandt, Veronique Ollivier, Olivier Meyer, Catherine Babin-Chevaye, Fouzi Khechai, Dominique de Prost, Jacques Hakim, and Catherine Pasquier 2030

In biopsy samples obtained from patients with Wegener's granulomatosis, abnormal coagulation and local vasculitic thrombosis could be seen. The present study sought to determine the mechanism(s) underlying this disease process, and found that classic antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (anti-PR3) can activate endothelial cells and stimulate them to express tissue factor (the main initiator of the coagulation cascade) on the endothelial wall. These results give new insights into the pathophysiology of systemic vasculitis.

James N. Jarvis, Wenlian Wang, Heide T. Moore, Lin Zhao, and Chengsu Xu 2039

In the present study of synovial fluid specimens from 7 patients with JRA, it was found that synovial fluid immune complexes initiate a series of inflammatory events that include the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from leukocytes. These results provide insight into the pathophysiology of chronic synovial inflammation in JRA.

Elisabeth Marker-Hermann, Karl-Hermann Meyer zum Buschenfelde, and Gerhild Wildner 2047

In this study, it is shown that peptides derived from the sequence of the HLA-B27 molecule can be recognized as autoantigens by peripheral blood T cells from HLA-B27+ patients with ankylosing spondylitis and from HLA-B27+ healthy blood donors. In T cell lines specifically stimulated with one of the HLA-B27-derived peptides, γ/δ T cells were markedly expanded. These findings may have relevance for further investigations in animal models and for treatment studies such as oral tolerization trials in patients with AS.

Takuaki Yamamoto, Takahiko Irisa, Yoichi Sugioka, and Katsuo Sueishi 2055

This study found that high-dose methylprednisolone (20 mg/kg) can induce multifocal osteonecrosis, in conjunction with thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, and hyperlipemia, in rabbits. Detailed clinical and laboratory evaluations of the coagulation system are recommended in patients who develop manifestations of abnormal lipid metabolism shortly after high-dose corticosteroid therapy. Moreover, investigations of the pathophysiology of this model could be useful not only for researching the pathogenesis, but also for exploring ways to potentially prevent, corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis in humans.

Boris V. Shlopov, Wen-Rong Lie, Carlo L. Mainardi, Ada A. Cole, Susan Chubinskaya, and Karen A. Hasty 2065

The collagenase subfamily of matrix metalloproteinases consists of at least 3 distinct enzymes which collectively break down the collagen in physiologic and pathologic remodeling. These 3 enzymes are increased in OA cartilage, particularly in the region directly adjacent to discrete OA lesions. These findings strongly suggest a key role for MMP-13, MMP-8, and MMP-1 in the disabling process of OA.

L. Wei, O. Svensson, and A. Hjerpe. 2075

Spontaneous OA occurs in guinea pigs. This animal model can therefore be useful for studying the development of spontaneous OA and for facilitating intervention in the OA process in humans. The present results differ in some respects from those obtained in previous models of secondary OA.