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Biomedical subjects

F B Vasey

Publications and source records attributed to F B Vasey.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Pachydermoperiostosis: studies on the synovium.

Pachydermoperiostosis (primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy) is a familial disorder characterized by clubbing, periosteal bone changes, and furrowing of the skin. A 40 year old male with this syndrome and chronic arthritis was recently studied. The synovial fluid was non-inflammatory. Histologically the synovium exhibited hyperplasia and microvascular alterations. Immunofluorescent staining failed to identify deposits of immunoglobulin. Electron microscopy revealed multilayered basement laminae around small subsynovial blood vessels but no electron-dense deposits as described in studies of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy. The pathogenesis is obscure and appears to be non-immunological.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Increased frequency of leukocyte-reactive antinuclear antibody in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Immunofluorescent studies were conducted for leukocyte-reactive antinuclear antibody (LR-ANA) with sera from 125 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (as), 124 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 74 with miscellaneous immune disorders (MID), 34 with acute inflammatory disorders (AID) and 122 non-immune controls. Positive reactions occurred with 60% of AS patients, 47% of RA, 40% of MID, 12% of AID, and 9% of non-immune controls. LR-ANA in AS sera invariably showed a homogeneous pattern of immunofluorescent staining with human granulocytes, occasionally reacted with human lymphocytes but did not react with other human and non-human substrates. Studies of 61 members of seven families with 18 cases of AS revealed a frequency of 38% LR-ANA, 30% AS and 55% HLA-B27, but no correlations were found among these parameters. These studies provide evidence of altered humoral immunity to human nucleic acids in the majority of patients with AS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Serum complement and immunoglobulin levels in sporadic and familial ankylosing spondylitis.

Serum levels of C4, C3, IgG, IgM and IgA were measured by immunodiffusion in age matched groups of 48 sporadically encountered patients with ankylosing spondylitis, 56 with rheumatoid arthritis and 52 normal controls. Mean levels of C4 and IgA were significantly elevated in the sera of patients with sporadic ankylosing spondylitis, in comparison to normal controls. Mean IgA levels were also significantly elevated in 11 HL-A 27 positive patients with familial spondylitis but no such elevation was found in the sera of their healthy first-degree relatives with and without HL-A 27. The results of these studies suggest that humoral immune mechanisms may be involved in the pathophysiology of ankylosing spondylitis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Association between HLA-BW38 and peripheral psoriatic arthritis.

The frequency distribution of HLA antigens was studied in a group of psoriatic patients with and without arthritis. HLA-BW38 was found significantly increased in the group with peripheral psoriatic arthritis. There were no differences in the clinical features of the arthritis in the BW38 positive (+) and BW38 negative (-) individuals. It is suggested that BW38 is a genetic marker and/or an indicator of peripheral joint involvement in psoriatic patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: circulating immune complexes.

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were detected in a large population of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) alone, PMR-giant cell arteritis (GCA), and GCA alone. CIC were found in the majority of patients studied. A direct correlation was observed between levels of CIC material and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The presence of immune complexes in the sera of patients with these disorders do not have diagnostic significance but may play an important role in their pathogenesis.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological studies of the arthritis of acne conglobata and hidradenitis suppurativa.

The etiology and pathogenesis of acne arthritis and the arthritis of hidradenitis suppurativa remain unknown. Some patients have an asymmetrical pauciarticular arthritis compatible with the 'reactive' peripheral and central forms of Reiter's syndrome, whereas others have a symmetrical polyarthritis/polyarthralgias syndrome. The cutaneous disease is clinically manifest as acne conglobata or hidradenitis of axilla or groin. We determined human leukocyte antigens (HLA), levels of immunoglobulins, C3, C4 and circulating immune complexes from six patients with acne arthritis. Four of six patients had HLA antigens of B7 Creg group (B7, BW22, B27, BW40, BW42) and all six possessed DRW4. Isolated elevations of immunoglobulins, C3 and C4 were observed. Immune complexes were elevated uniformly. These observations suggest that immunogenetic mechanisms may play a role in the systemic manifestations of these skin diseases.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methotrexate: its use in the rheumatic diseases.

Methotrexate in a low dose intermittent regimen has become popular as a therapeutic choice for refractory psoriatic arthritis, polymyositis, Reiter's disease and more recently rheumatoid arthritis. As a folate analogue, it inhibits the formation of reduced folate cofactors which participate in a host of important reactions including DNA synthesis. It has been shown to have both immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties although its precise mechanism of action in these diseases is not known. It may be variably absorbed especially in psoriatics and its action may be antagonized by folate supplements. Its major route of metabolism appears to be via the enterohepatic circulation. Numerous drugs, including salicylates, may increase serum levels by displacing the drug from protein binding sites and by competing for renal excretion. It has fewer short term side effects than the other immunosuppressives used in rheumatic disease. Its major long term toxicity is liver fibrosis or cirrhosis which appears to increase with greater cumulative dosage and treatment duration. Several recent reports of hypersensitivity pneumonitis reinforce the previous literature on this topic. Pulmonary toxicity may be more common than suggested as more patients are treated with methotrexate for rheumatic diseases. Clinical studies in general have been uncontrolled and lacking in scope and size. Nevertheless, the literature to date appears to show this to be an excellent drug for use in the diseases mentioned. Prospective double blind controlled studies on psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis should help establish this drug as the immunosuppressive of choice in these diseases.

Absorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Histocompatibility studies in psoriasis vulgaris: family studies.

A significant correlation between certain histocompatibility antigens, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is well established. Familial studies of psoriatic patients have shown a familial aggregation of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. In the present investigation, we studied 2 families in which psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis were seen in several members of different generations. HLA typing and mixed lymphocyte culture studies were performed. The results provide further documentation of the complexity of the genetic influences in psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Possible involvement of group A streptococci in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis.

Bacteria have been implicated in the form of Reiter's syndrome, known as reactive arthritis. If bacteria are important in the related spondyloarthropathy psoriatic arthritis, they may be those comprising skin flora. We found elevated levels of antibody to the streptococcal exotoxin antideoxyribonuclease-B in psoriatic arthritis patients in comparison to patients with psoriasis without arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, other forms of dermatitis, and normal controls. Patients with peripheral arthritis were more likely than psoriatic spondylitis patients to be antideoxyribonuclease-B positive. Streptococci or streptococcal products may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis in some patients.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The major histocompatibility complex.

The major histocompatibility complex on the sixth chromosome controls expression of a complex series of cell surface antigens which comprise the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. These markers, beyond their importance in human organ transplantation, have been demonstrated to occur with an increased prevalence in certain disease states. The group of conditions showing the closest association with specific HLA antigens are the "spondyloarthropathies." These include ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Reiter's syndrome (RS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and the arthritis of inflammatory bowel disease (AIBD). Clinical and radiographic studies were made of 310 unrelated caucasoid patients with seronegative arthritis. HLA-A, B, C, and DR typing were performed using the microdroplet lymphocyte cytotoxicity test. Statistically increased prevalences of A26, B27, and Bw38 were observed, while B27 was associated with spinal involvement regardless of diagnosis (90 percent in AS p less than 0.0001). Experiments found A26 (23 percent p less than 0.001) and Bw38 (38 percent p less than 0.0001) in patients with PsA. Spondyloarthritis patients with spinal involvement who lacked B27 frequently had B7. The HLA DR typing for seven specificities was carried out in 196 patients. It was found that DRw4 (52 percent p less than 0.03) and DRw7 (39 percent p less than 0.04) were increased in the PsA patients. This study further confirms the close association of HLA antigens and the spondylarthropathies.

Arthritis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cell-mediated immunity in psoriatic arthritis.

Mitogen response of peripheral blood lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), conconavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and purified protein derivative (PPD) was studied in 32 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Results were compared with those obtained from a control group with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and another group of normal subjects. The PHA, Con A, and PWM responses were depressed in the PsA group. The degree of depression of the mitogen response was comparable to that observed in the group of patients with active RA. Sequential studies done in a small group of PsA patients revealed that the mitogen response paralleled disease activity. Improvement of disease activity was followed by increased mitogen response.

Arthritis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reactive arthritis associated with brucellosis: HLA studies.

HLA typing studies were performed on a group of 16 patients with acute Brucella-induced reactive arthritis and results were compared to those obtained in 16 patients with acute brucellosis but without arthritis and to 55 normal control subjects. No increased prevalence of any HLA antigen was noted between patients and control groups. HLA-B27 frequency was diminished in the Peruvian population studied. The most interesting finding was the presence of a statistically significant low frequency of HLA-A2 in the disease group suggesting that this antigen may play a protective role for the development of brucellosis.

Adolescent↗