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Eric L Matteson

Publications and source records attributed to Eric L Matteson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Genetics of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disorder of unknown cause with variable clinical expression. About 70% of patients are women. Genetic factors play an important role and likely account for about 60% of disease susceptibility and expression. The association with the HLA-DRB1 gene is the best understood, although several non-HLA loci have been linked to RA, including the 18q21 region of the TNFRSR11A gene, which encodes the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB, important in bone resorption in RA. Genetic factors are also important in the treatment of RA because the activity of enzymes relevant in the metabolism of drugs such as methotrexate and azathioprine, including methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and thiopurine methyltransferase, are in part genetically determined.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Cogan syndrome: a retrospective review of 60 patients throughout a half century.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the disease manifestations and clinical course of patients affected by Cogan syndrome (a syndrome of nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis and vestibuloauditory symptoms) at a single institution during roughly a half century. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of all patients diagnosed as having Cogan syndrome at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, and who were followed up from 1940 to 2002 were comprehensively reviewed. Otolaryngologic, ophthalmologic, and systemic manifestations of disease were analyzed. Analysis included patient demographics, presenting manifestations, delayed manifestations, laboratory testing, physical examination features, therapeutic interventions, disease course, and hearing and vision outcomes. RESULTS: Sixty patients were identified as having Cogan syndrome, with follow-up from 1940 to 2002. Most patients presented initially with vestibuloauditory symptoms, most commonly sudden hearing loss (50%). The most common inflammatory ophthalmologic condition noted was bilateral interstitial keratitis. Headache (40%), fever (27%), and arthralgia (35%) were the most frequently encountered systemic manifestations. Evidence of aortitis was found in 12% of patients. Complete hearing loss was eventually noted in 52% of affected patients, whereas permanent loss of any degree of vision was uncommon. Cochlear implantation outcomes were uniformly good. Death directly or indirectly attributed to the effects of Cogan syndrome was noted in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The major disease-related morbidities were due to vestibuloauditory disease and only infrequently due to systemic manifestations such as vasculitis, with or without aortitis. Cochlear implantation has been of major benefit in modern hearing rehabilitation for this patient population. We advise caution before institution of protracted courses of high-dose corticosteroids and/or chemotherapy for patients without pronounced systemic disease or severe eye disease unmanageable by topical or periocular corticosteroids alone.

Adolescent↗

The impact of HLA-DRB1 genes on extra-articular disease manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.

The objective of this study was to examine HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 genotypes in patients with severe extra-articular rheumatoid arthritis (ExRA) and to compare them with the genotypes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without extra-articular manifestations. Patients with severe ExRA were recruited from a large research database of patients with RA, from two cohorts of prevalent RA cases, and from a regional multicenter early RA cohort. Cases with ExRA manifestations (n = 159) were classified according to predefined criteria. Controls (n = 178) with RA but no ExRA were selected from the same sources. Cases and controls were matched for duration of RA and for clinical center. PCR based HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 genotyping was performed using the Biotest SSP kit, with additional sequencing in order to distinguish DRB1*04 subtypes. Associations between alleles and disease phenotypes were tested using multiple simulations of random distributions of alleles. There was no difference in global distribution of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles between patients with ExRA and controls. DRB1*0401 (P = 0.003) and 0401/0401 homozygosity (P = 0.002) were more frequent in Felty's syndrome than in controls. The presence of two HLA-DRB1*04 alleles encoding the shared epitope (SE) was associated with ExRA (overall odds ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.04-3.08) and with rheumatoid vasculitis (odds ratio 2.44, 95% confidence interval 1.22-4.89). In this large sample of patients with ExRA, Felty's syndrome was the only manifestation that was clearly associated with HLA-DRB1*0401. Other ExRA manifestations were not associated with individual alleles but with DRB1*04 SE double dose genotypes. This confirms that SE genes contribute to RA disease severity and ExRA. Other genetic and environmental factors may have a more specific impact on individual ExRA manifestations.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Lupus arthropathy: a case series of patients with rhupus.

Among the clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an arthropathy, which is usually nonerosive. In many cases the joint involvement is mild. A subset of patients have deforming, nonerosive Jaccoud's arthropathy, and a minority have an arthropathy with clinical findings similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that has been called "rhupus." We report our series of eight patients (seven female, one male) with rhupus arthropathy. Patients were between the ages of 17 and 38 years (average: 30.3 years) at disease onset. All had deforming or Jaccoud's arthropathy, and three had erosive disease. The arthritis was typically the first disease manifestation. Other symptoms of lupus including vasculitis and glomerulonephritis appeared after an average of 2.8 years. All had positive antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor. Rhupus arthritis is not a combination of RA and SLE, but should be regarded as a variant of the arthropathy of lupus.

Adolescent↗

Etanercept therapy for immune-mediated cochleovestibular disorders: a multi-center, open-label, pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Immune-mediated cochleovestibular disorders (IMCVDs) continue to present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Antirheumatic agents, commonly employed for IMCVDs, are associated with variable efficacy and sometimes with serious side effects. The objective of the current study was to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of etanercept therapy for IMCVD. METHODS: In this open-label prospective pilot study, 23 patients with bilateral IMCVDs or symptoms of bilateral Meniere's disease were treated with etanercept (25 mg twice weekly, by subcutaneous injection) for 24 weeks. All participants showed progressive hearing loss within 3 months prior to the study and responded to prednisone therapy. Hearing improvement was defined as an improvement of sensorineural hearing from baseline, in at least one ear, of 15 dB or more in the pure-tone air conduction thresholds, or an increase of more than 12% in word identification score. When present, vertigo and tinnitus were assessed by frequency and severity of attack and a functional level scale. Limited serial positron emission tomography (PET) of the inner ear region was performed in 5 patients to assess disease activity. RESULTS: There were 12 female (52%) and 11 male patients with a mean age of 48 years. Hearing improved in 7 (30%) patients, was unchanged in 13 (57%), and worsened in 3 (13%). Of 21 patients with tinnitus, this symptom improved in 7 (33%), was unchanged in 10 (48%), and worsened in 3 (13%). Of 16 patients with vertigo, 8 (50%) were improved, 7 (47%) unchanged, and 1 (3%) worse at the end of the study. Etanercept was generally well tolerated. PET was positive on one ear of 2 of 5 patients, remained positive with treatment on 1 of these, and was initially positive in 1 deaf ear, becoming negative at followup. CONCLUSION: These prospective pilot data suggest that etanercept therapy is safe among patients with IMCVDs. However, these data do not suggest substantial efficacy of etanercept among patients with IMCVDs in improving hearing loss. There appeared to be stabilization or improvement of hearing in 87% in this group of patients with pretreatment intractable progressive hearing loss. However, the study endpoint of improvement in 70% of patients was not attained. This short-term effect of possible stabilization requires further study. PET scanning was not useful as a tool to evaluate hearing loss in a limited subset of patients.

Adult↗

Increased CD4+ T cell infiltrates in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial pneumonitis compared with idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis.

OBJECTIVE: To study lymphocyte markers in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial pneumonitis (IP) compared with idiopathic IP. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded lung biopsy specimens from patients with RA (n = 15) and from those without RA (n = 16), all of whom had a diagnosis of either nonspecific IP or usual IP, were studied. Tissue sections from each patient were reviewed by a pathologist, who was blinded to the clinical data. Age and pulmonary function test results were similar in RA and non-RA patients. After high-temperature antigen unmasking, sections were incubated with mouse monoclonal antibodies directed against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, and CD20. All slides were coded, and digital images (100x magnification) of the entire tissue area were obtained. Staining was quantified using computer-assisted image analysis. RESULTS: Staining for CD4 was more prominent in patients with RA than in the non-RA comparison group (median 9.3 cells/mm(2), interquartile range [IQR] 5.5-27.3 versus 0.6 cells/mm(2), IQR 0.2-1.9; P = 0.002). CD4+ cell counts were increased in RA patients with nonspecific IP as well as in RA patients with usual IP, with no major difference between these groups. Results were similar for quantification of CD3 (P = 0.012). There was a less striking trend toward more CD8+ cells in RA patients (P = 0.27 versus those with non-RA lung disease). CONCLUSION: IP lesions in patients with RA are characterized by an increased number of CD4+ cells, as compared with that in patients with idiopathic IP. This finding suggests that CD4+ T cells are critical for the development of pulmonary manifestations in RA, and may have implications for the treatment of RA-associated lung disease.

Aged↗

Modulation of CD28 expression with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The immune system of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the accumulation of CD4+ T cells deficient in CD28 expression and the up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). Previous in vitro studies have shown that TNFalpha induces transcriptional silencing of the CD28 gene. Because reduced expression of CD28 in T cells compromises immunocompetence, we examined whether CD28 expression is reduced in patients with RA in vivo and whether the reduction is related to TNFalpha. METHODS: Patients with RA and age-matched individuals were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28, TNF receptor I (TNFRI), and TNFRII, and analyzed by quantitative flow cytometry. The number of CD28 and TNFR molecules was monitored in a subgroup of patients with RA undergoing treatment with anti-TNFalpha. RESULTS: In addition to higher frequencies of CD28null T cells, patients with RA had significantly reduced numbers of CD28 and TNFRI molecules on CD4+,CD28+ T cells. Normal expression could be restored in vitro by overnight culture, suggesting that CD28 in patients was modulated by exogenous factors. In contrast, treatment with TNFalpha in vitro resulted in further down-regulation. CD28 expression was normalized in patients undergoing TNFalpha-neutralizing therapy. CONCLUSION: Overproduction of TNFalpha in RA induces a global down-regulation of CD28 in CD4+ T cells and may cause reduced sensitivity to costimulatory signals in T cell responses.

Adolescent↗

Current status of outcome measures in vasculitis: focus on Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis. Report from OMERACT 7.

The complexity of assessing disease activity, disease status, and damage in the vasculitides reflects the multisystemic pathologic manifestations of these often chronic illnesses. Major progress has been made in the past decade in the development of validated and widely accepted outcome measures for use in clinical trials. Over time, these tools have been regularly revised, expanded, and supplemented with new measures of disease prognosis and damage. As a result clinical research in this area has become increasingly complex. This article critically reviews the current status of tools for assessing disease activity and damage in "ANCA-associated" vasculitides (Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis), summarizes the current level of validation of each measure, addresses central problems and controversies to be considered during development of new vasculitis assessment tools, and proposes a series of research agendas for consideration by the vasculitis research community.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

An historical review of systemic lupus erythematosus in Latin America.

In this paper we highlight the role and contributions of Latin American researchers in the study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The first case of SLE in the world was probably from a mummy from the Huary culture in Peru from about 890 AD, which was extensively studied by macroscopic examination and with light and electronic microscopy, as well as conventional radiography. From the end of the 19th century to the present date there have been many contributions of Latin Americans to the knowledge base of SLE. In this article, we discuss the initial observations of SLE in Latin America and then more specifically review the most important contributions to knowledge about SLE made by physicians in individual Latin American countries, as well as the Gladel group (Latin American group for the study of SLE). The investigation of lupus continues to be pursued by a very dedicated group of Latin American researchers, who continue to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of this condition.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Prognostic markers of radiographic progression in early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify prognostic markers that are predictive of progressive erosive disease in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The study involved an inception cohort of 111 consecutive patients with RA and a disease duration of <1 year. Patients were treated according to an algorithm designed to avoid overtreatment of mild disease and to accelerate treatment in patients who had continuous disease activity. Patients were evaluated for the presence of clinical and laboratory disease activity markers. We determined the frequency of CD4+,CD28(null) T cells by flow cytometry, HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequencing, and 26 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 19 candidate genes by multiplex PCR and hybridization to an immobilized probe array. Data were analyzed using proportional odds models to identify prognostic markers predictive of erosive progression over 2 years on serial hand/wrist radiographs. RESULTS: After 2 years, disease activity in 52% of the cohort was controlled by treatment with hydroxychloroquine and nonsteroidal agents. Forty-eight percent of the patients did not develop erosions. Older age, presence of erosions at baseline, presence of rheumatoid factor, rheumatoid factor titer, and HLA-DRB1*04 alleles, particularly homozygosity for HLA-DRB1*04, were univariate predictors of radiographic progression. Promising novel markers were the frequency of CD4+,CD28(null) T cells as an immunosenescence indicator, and a polymorphism in the uteroglobin gene. CONCLUSION: Clinical disease activity in patients with early RA can frequently be controlled with nonaggressive treatment, but this is not always sufficient to prevent new erosions. Rheumatoid factor titer, HLA-DRB1 polymorphisms, age, and immunosenescence markers are predictors of poor radiographic outcome. A polymorphism in the uteroglobin gene may identify patients who have a low risk of erosive disease.

Adolescent↗

Lupus arthropathy: historical evolution from deforming arthritis to rhupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease with multiple clinical manifestations, including arthropathy. The clinical presentation of articular involvement is variable, ranging from arthralgia without erosions or deformity to an erosive arthropathy and severe functional disability. A subset of patients with this articular involvement have Jaccoud's arthropathy, and others have an arthropathy with clinical findings similar to rheumatoid arthritis that has been called "rhupus." In this paper we review the historical evolution of concepts of lupus arthropathy, from deforming arthritis to rhupus, and conclude that rhupus is not a combination of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Instead, rhupus arthropathy should be regarded as a variant of the arthropathy of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Arthritis↗