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Background: The value of antibiotics in the treatment of reactive arthritis (REA) is still controversial. Objectives: To analyse the long term outcome of patients with ReA, treated with a three [...]

Most clinical symptoms do not adequately indicate the likely progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with recent-onset disease. Researchers monitored 142 RA patients for an average of six years, and found that serious initial disease and the presence of rheumatoid factor were the best predictors of patients more likely to have progressive RA resistant to treatment. Mallya score, incorporating measures of morning stiffness, pain, and other factors, and rheumatoid factor positivity best predicted the patients with a poor prognosis.

Parvovirus B19 probably does not play a significant role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Parvovirus B19 is the only parvovirus known to infect humans. Symptoms mimicking arthritis are common after a parvovirus B19 infection. Researchers tested the joint fluid of 61 patients with early-stage rheumatoid arthritis, 28 patients with advanced-stage rheumatoid arthritis, and 18 patients with reactive arthritis as controls. Only 2 patients with early-stage rheumatoid arthritis tested positive for the presence of parvovirus B19. None of the late-stage rheumatoid arthritis patients or controls tested positive for parvovirus B19.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory joint disease, is associated with abnormalities of the immune system. These include serum hyperimmunoglobulinemia, increased blood levels of immunoglobulins (Ig), which are immune proteins; and the production of autoantibodies, abnormal immune proteins that attack body tissues and factors. The mechanisms underlying these abnormalities are not known. However, studies show that the production of Ig is decreased, despite the increased blood levels of Ig. The role of various types of immune cells, including B and T cells, and monocytes, a type of white blood cell, in decreasing Ig production was assessed in 60 RA patients. Thymus-dependent factors, such as mitogens, and thymus-independent factors were used to activate the production of Ig in these cells at the onset of RA, and again six months later. Activation of these cells with thymus-dependent factors resulted in decreased production of the various types of Ig, including IgA, IgG, and IgM in mononuclear cells at RA onset; Ig production was even lower six months later. In contrast, B cells maintained their normal ability to produce Ig when stimulated by thymus-independent factors. The function of immune T-helper cells, which increase B cell production of antibodies (immune proteins), was impaired as indicated by a decreased production of the growth factor interleukin-2. The functions of suppressor T cells and monocytes were shown to be normal. Thus, the impairment of Ig production by RA mononuclear cells activated by mitogen worsens with time; this may indicate the decreased ability of B cells to transform into Ig-producing cells in response to certain activators. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Abstract Objective--To determine whether there are genetic differences between female and male patients with familial rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods--45 men and 119 women from 78 families with RA who all [...]

Abstract Background--Treatment of reactive arthritis (ReA) with antibiotics has so far remained controversial. Eradication of the causative microbe appears logical, but short term antibiotic treatment has no beneficial effect on [...]