Biomedical subjects

J Sany

Publications and source records attributed to J Sany.

329 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Kinetics of prolactin release in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the dynamics of pituitary prolactin secretion in RA, and its association with the HLA DR4 status in patients. METHODS: TRH stimulation of the pituitary secretion of PRL was performed in 23 RA patients and 8 control subjects, all of whom were post-menopausal women. Hormone concentrations were assessed by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Basal prolactin concentrations were higher in RA patients compared to controls (579 +/- 80 mu UI/ml versus 187 +/- 47, (p < 0.01). An increase in the prolactin response to TRH at 30 min (2257 +/- 218 mu UI/l versus 1074 +/- 207, p < 0.005), independent of disease activity, was observed in the RA patients. In DR4+ RA patients, we observed a higher PRL peak at 60 min. (3913 +/- 506 mu UI/ml versus 2120 +/- 443, p < 0.01), and an increased residual value at 120 min compared to DR4- RA patients. The area under the curve of the PRL response was also increased in DR4+ RA patients, suggesting higher PRL secretion compared to DR4- RA patients. CONCLUSION: In female, post-menopausal RA patients an alteration in pituitary prolactin release, not linked to disease activity, can be observed. In DR4+ RA patients, the overall prolactin secretion reflected by the AUC is increased compared to DR4- patients. These results suggest a dysregulation of the pituitary response in RA.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vasculitis and psoriatic arthritis associated with Down's syndrome.

Only a few observations of inflammatory arthritis have been associated with Down's syndrome. We report a case of severe erosive, peripheral and axial psoriatic arthritis associated with cutaneous vasculitis in a 24-year old man with trisomy 21. A long standing remission of vasculitis and arthritis was achieved with corticoid and azathioprine treatment. The relationship between chromosomal abnormalities and synovial proliferation is further discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Association of methotrexate and corticosteroids in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the association of methotrexate (MTX) and corticosteroids introduced concomitantly is more effective than MTX alone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Twenty-eight RA patients (group 1) were treated with MTX (mean dose: 10 +/- 1.4 mg/week) and corticosteroids (mean dose: 14.9 +/- 5.6 mg/day, range: 5-25) introduced concomitantly, and were compared to 251 RA patients (group 2) treated with MTX alone (mean dose: 9.8 +/-1.5 mg/week). Variations in the clinical (number of swollen and painful joints, morning stiffness, Ritchie's articular index), biological (ESR, CRP), and radiological parameters were studied. Remission was defined according to Pinals' criteria. At baseline, there were no significant differences between the two groups, except for a greater number of swollen and painful joints in group 1 (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). The total MTX dose and the duration of treatment (26 +/- 21.8 months in group 1 versus 33.5 +/- 27.2) months in group 2) did not differ between the two groups. RESULTS: We noted a more marked reduction in the number of swollen and the number of painful joints in group 1 (p = 0.03). No differences were noted for the other clinical and biological parameters. The proportion of patients fulfilling Pinals' remission criteria was higher in group 1 (25% versus 10.1% in group 2, p = 0.04). The steroid dosage could be significantly reduced in group 1 (-3.4 +/- 6.1 mg/day, p = 0.05) and corticosteroids were stopped in 11 patients. The frequency and type of side effects, as well as the frequency and reasons leading to MTX withdrawal, did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The association of MTX and corticosteroids seems to bring about a greater improvement in the different clinical activity parameters of RA than MTX alone, without any significant increase in the frequency of side effects. These results need to be confirmed in larger scale prospective studies.

Antirheumatic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Methotrexate as the initial second-line disease modifying agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and toxicity profile of methotrexate (MTX) as the initial second-line disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This was an observational retrospective cohort study comparing 28 patients who were treated with MTX as the first DMARD (MTX cases) and 55 matched patients treated with MTX after other DMARDs (MTX controls). RESULTS: The follow-up time was identical in the two groups: 19.4 +/- 14 months (2-56) for the MTX cases and 21.8 +/- 15.3 months (3-87) for MTX controls (NS). MTX efficacy was the same in the two groups, except for a higher incidence of remission in the MTX cases (8/28, 28.6% versus 5/55, 9.1%, p = 0.028). The toxicity profiles, frequencies, and reasons for MTX withdrawals were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study suggest a benefit from MTX prescribed as an initial second-line agent in the treatment of RA, but studies involving a larger number of patients are needed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cross-sectional epidemiological survey of rheumatoid arthritis patients seen in private practice in France. Descriptive results (1629 cases).

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an epidemiological study of rheumatoid arthritis patients seen by office-based rheumatologists in France (first semester of 1996). METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 1629 rheumatoid arthritis patients conducted by 373 office-based rheumatologists who volunteered for the study (one visit per patient). Each rheumatologist was to complete a 200-variable questionnaire for the first four rheumatoid arthritis patients who came to their office. RESULTS: Women contributed 81% of the sample (mean age, 57 years); 19% of patients were seen in the Paris area, 20% in the North East, 20% in the North West, 22% in the South East and 19% in the South West. Twenty-nine per cent of patients had a paid job and 21.1% (all women) were homemakers. Among the patients with a paid job, 44% were on sick leave, with the reason for the sick leave being the rheumatoid arthritis in 36% of cases. Nineteen per cent of patients had stopped working permanently because of their rheumatoid arthritis, after a mean disease duration of six years. Mean disease duration in the overall sample was eight years. The diagnosis was established within six months of symptom onset in 75% of cases. A family history of rheumatoid arthritis was found in 11% of patients and a family history of other autoimmune diseases in 2%. The disease was precipitated by a stressful life event in 17% of cases. Follow-up was being provided only by the study rheumatologist in 59% of cases and also by a general practitioner in 39%. The disease was quiescent in 9% of cases, minimally active in 32%, moderately active in 46% and severely active in 13%. Eighty-four per cent of patients were on one (78%) or more (6%) second-line drugs including methotrexate (45%), an antimalarial (17%), intramuscular gold (14%), tiopronin (9%), D-penicillamine (6%) and sulfasalazine (12%). Fifty-two per cent of patients were on steroid therapy (mean dose, 7.5 +/- 5.7 mg/d). Other drugs included nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents (61%), analgesics (61%), gastroduodenal protective agents (45%) and anxiety-relieving agents (10%). Twenty-four per cent of patients had had one or more surgical procedures (mean, 3/patient) for their joint disease. CONCLUSION: This nation-wide epidemiological survey conducted in France provides a database on the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients followed in private practice.

Adult↗