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Biomedical subjects

M Franke

Publications and source records attributed to M Franke.

101 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of recombinant human gamma interferon in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

In a clinical phase II trial the efficacy and side effects of recombinant human interferon gamma in 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are reported. 2 patients (15.3%) showed a marked improvement of rest- and motion pains and of their general motility after a 6 and 8 month treatment. Only a temporary improvement within 2-3 months was observed in 4 patients (30.7%). In 2 cases a reduction of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and in 4 cases a reduction of the alpha-1 acid glycoprotein and of the number of thrombocytes was documented parallel to the clinical improvement. 3 patients developed new antinuclear antibodies (ANA) or showed an increased titer of ANA. Fever was the most common side effect followed by lymphopenia and increased liver values. All side effects were reversible after dosage reduction. Our results confirm the relatively good short term efficacy of human recombinant interferon gamma in RA. In contrast, the clinical long term benefit remains doubtful.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Quantification of SS-B autoantibodies in patient sera using highly purified human SS-B antigens and their clinical interpretation].

For the identification of SS-B autoantibodies in the sera of patients with rheumatic diseases (n = 319) a sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed using highly purified human SS-B antigen as a reference antigen. In 30/319 patients' sera SS-B autoantibodies were detected. In this group, the ratio female : male patients was outstandingly high (29:1), the serum of the single male patient exhibiting the lowest titer of SS-B autoantibodies. The highest portion of anti-SS-B positive sera was observed in the group of patients with systemic Lupus erythematosus (48%) followed by the groups with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (17%), Sjögren-syndrome (13%) and rheumatoid arthritis (6%). The protein components reacting with human SS-B autoantibodies were characterized in permanent cell lines of various species. In each of 9 human cell lines only one component with a molecular weight of 49 kD reacted; in cell lines of other species analogously, only one component reacted, showing slightly different molecular weights depending on the species. The SS-B antigen isolated from human cells contained at least 7 isoelectric variants, all reacting with human SS-B autoantibodies.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rheumatoid arthritis, progressive systemic sclerosis without skin involvement and mixed collagen disease in a family. Clinical description of a mother and her 3 adult children--studies of HLA antigens and review of the literature].

We report on four members of a family with rheumatic diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis of an extremely severe and mutilating type developed in a 17-year-old boy (Patient 1). The disease showed some characteristics of juvenile chronic arthritis. 20 years later his sister (Patient 2) was affected by progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) with arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, aperistalsis of the esophagus and pulmonary fibrosis, however without skin involvement. After 2 years rheumatoid arthritis developed in the mother of the family (Patient 3) and another 2 years later the second son (Patient 4) was affected by mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) with arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, aperistalsis of the esophagus and a high titer of antibody to extractable nuclear antigen (ENA). Rheumatoid factor was found in Patient 1, 2 and 3. All members of the family expressed HLA-DR3 in association with HLA-B8. Earlier reports in the medical literature of the familial occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis, progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and other collagen diseases, e.g. mixed connective tissue disease, are reviewed, with a discussion of the possible etiologic mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Thermographic diagnosis of arthritis in peripheral joints].

The measurement of absolute temperatures on the surface of the human body using quantitative thermography allows this technique to be used in rheumatology, for the diagnosis and monitoring the course of inflammatory diseases of the locomotor system. The patient is exposed to a room temperature of 18 degrees C and the skin temperature measured over the joint for a defined area (region of interest). Inflamed joints show distinctly higher absolute temperatures than normal ones within the observation time of 40 minutes. Moreover, the skin over healthy joints cools faster and to a greater extent than skin over inflamed joints, whose temperatures remain the same or even rise minimally in more acute cases. Using two measurements, the determination of the absolute temperatures (static thermography), and the changes in these temperatures within a definite time interval (dynamic thermography) it is thus possible to establish a diagnosis of arthritis in the regions of the peripheral joints with the help of standardised nomograms with an accuracy of more than 90%, and to follow the course of the disease more exactly.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Current status of D-penicillamine therapy in chronic polyarthritis].

Long-term-treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with D-Penicillamine (DPA) is well established. In several controlled clinical studies, DPA-therapy has been shown to be effective, even in lower dosage (450--600 mg/day) than used in first years after introduction of this drug. As the dosage has been reduced there was a marked decrease in unwanted drug effects. Nevertheless proteinuria, agranulocytosis and LED-like syndromes remain serious side-effects. Therefore a close supervision of patients under DPA is still necessary. The limitations for DPA-treatment are age, disease activity and LED-like symptoms. RA-patients with renal insufficiency, penicillin-allergy, hematopoietic dysfunction, cancer and chronic infections should never be treated with DPA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗