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P Oelzner

Publications and source records attributed to P Oelzner.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Inflammation and bone metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis. Pathogenetic viewpoints and therapeutic possibilities].

BACKGROUND: Systemic osteoporosis is a common and pathogenetically heterogenous complication in rheumatoid arthritis. Various factors such as disease activity, dosage and duration of glucocorticoid treatment and immobilization are involved in pathogenesis of osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis. INFLAMMATION AND BONE METABOLISM: Proinflammatory cytokines secreted by immunocompetent cells have a role in the regulation of the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The effects of these proinflammatory cytokines include the inhibition of bone formation and an increase in bone resorption. Interleukin-6 and nitric oxide induced in osteoblasts by proinflammatory cytokines are likely to be important mediators between these cytokines and the function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Furthermore, disease activity dependent changes in the secretion of glucocorticoids and in vitamin D metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in this disease. Alteration of bone remodeling associated with immobilization is an important factor of systemic bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis may cause penarticular and systemic bone loss by various cytokine and hormone mediated mechanisms. Concluding from these pathogenetic mechanisms, bisphosphonates and active vitamin D metabolites are likely to be effective therapeutic options in osteoporosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1996

Predictors of flares and long-term outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus during combined treatment with azathioprine and low-dose prednisolone.

Many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receive long-term treatment with azathioprine and prednisolone to control disease activity. In a retrospective study we evaluated the efficacy of combined treatment with azathioprine (2 mg/kg body weight/d) and low-dose prednisolone (7-12 mg/d) and the predictors of disease flares during this therapy regimen in 61 patients with SLE. We found three predictors of flares: renal disease, persistence of dsDNA antibodies for at least 1 year after the beginning of treatment and reduction in azathioprine dosage to below 2 mg/kg/d. The occurrence of flares was significantly associated with a higher rate of disease-related death. Furthermore, the persistence of dsDNA antibodies for at least 2 years was associated with progression of renal disease. We concluded that suppression of production of dsDNA antibodies with high avidity is a suitable parameter to determine efficacy of treatment and long-term outcome during combined therapy with azathioprine and low-dose prednisolone in SLE.

Adolescent↗