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Biomedical subjects

B McConkey

Publications and source records attributed to B McConkey.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone in rheumatoid arthritis.

Fourteen patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were given 27 courses of methylprednisolone intravenously, each of 3 infusions of 1 g on alternate days. After 7 days there was marked improvement in clinical state and most laboratory tests; levels of ESR and 4 serum acute-phase proteins, C3, C, IgG, and IgA, fell significantly. Serum IgM and rheumatoid factor titre were unchanged. 125I C1q binding fell in all instances where it was initially raised. Clinical remission lasted a mean of 10 weeks. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) fell to less than 30 mg/l after all courses except one within 7 days and rose above this figure after a mean of 7 weeks. The ESR fell below 30 mm/h within seven days in 17 courses and remained below this value for a mean of 7 weeks. Three patients had clinical remissions, with serum CRP less than 30 mg/l and ESR less than 30 mm/h, lasting more than 42 weeks.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Policeman's heel.

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Foot Diseases↗
PubMed1980

Sulphasalazine in rheumatoid arthritis.

Seventy-four patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with sulphasalazine. There was a significant improvement in clinical score, with substantial falls in serum C-reactive protein concentrations and erythrocyte sedimentation rate four weeks after starting the drug. Improvement was maintained in the 38 patients who remained on the drug for one year. The mean Rose-Waaler titre did not change. There was little difference between the results in seropositive and seronegative patients. The commonest adverse effect was dyspepsia, but five patients developed a megaloblastic anaemia and one patient neutropenia; all made a complete recovery. The results suggest that the drug has a disease-modifying action not attributable to its "salicylate" content. The mode of action might be by an antibacterial effect on gut flora.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Rheumatoid arthritis: effects of a new agent (ICI 55 897) on serum acute phase proteins and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Thirty-four patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated with a new agent (ICI 55 897) in addition to basic therapy with nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Five patients had the drug for less than 28 days; the remaining 29 were observed for periods up to a year. At 140 days, when all but 2 patients were in the study, there had been statistically significant improvement in clinical score, serum C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and plasma fibrinogen. Thereafter results continued to improve but were biased because some patients had stopped taking the drug. The final conclusion was that 17 patients had improved with 1 late relapse, and 15 had not responded. Adverse effects were trivial except in 2 instances: one patient had a transient unexplained rise in blood urea, another had a haematemesis. Neither effect could be attributed with certainty to the drug. ICI 55 897 has no intrinsic analgesic or anti-inflammatory properties. We suggest the findings of this study indicate that this agent, with low toxicity and the ability to lower acute-phase protein levels, may be an alternative to gold or penicillamine in the treatment of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Insulin oedema.

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Adult↗
PubMed1979

Effects of gold, dapsone, and prednisone on serum C-reactive protein and haptoglobin and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in rheumatoid arthritis.

Sequential measurements of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum haptoglobin (Hp), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were made in 209 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); 78 of them were treated with gold, 71 with dapsone, and 60 with prednisone. The results were expressed as proportional changes in the measurements at 28-day intervals after treatment began. The period of study was 140 days. During treatment with gold and dapsone there were statistically significant gradual and progressive falls of similar magnitude in serum CRP and ESR. During treatment with prednisone serum CRP and ESR fell abruptly by 28 days and thereafter altered little. At 140 days prednisone had had the largest proportional effect on both measurements. During gold treatment the fall in serum Hp was similar to that of the ESR. In contrast, prednisone had little effect on Hp levels despite large falls in serum CRP and the ESR. Either prednisone stimulates Hp synthesis or the divergence is an expression of the difference in type of effect between gold and prednisone on RA. The effect of dapsone on serum Hp was large and progressive; it partly reflects haemolysis and, since the haemolysis was not progressive, partly improvement in the RA. The results show the relative efficacy of the drugs and suggest that dapsone may be a useful alternative treatment for RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1979

Relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C-reactive protein in rheumatoid arthritis.

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were compared in 241 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There was a positive linear correlation between the 2 measurements with a high degree of variability. Neither age nor duration of RA had a detectable influence. The relationship between CRP and ESR was, however, altered by treatment with gold, penicillamine, or high doses of prednisone. It is suggested that serum CRP is the more sensitive measurement, but that CRP and ESR do not have identical clinical significance.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗