Rheumatology international
-
The objective of the present study was to investigate possible changes in granulysin (GNLY)-mediated cytotoxicity of peripheral blood lymphocytes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with respect to different phases of the disease. We prospectively enrolled 25 PsA patients in the active phase, 26 PsA patients in remission and 24 healthy controls. The simultaneous detection of intracellular GNLY and cell surface antigens (CD3 and CD56) was performed with flow cytometry. ⋯ The mean fluorescence intensity for GNLY was higher in all lymphocyte subpopulations in the acute phase than in remission and in healthy controls. Accordingly, GNLY-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity against K-562 cells of active phase PsA patients was significantly higher than that in patients in remission or in healthy controls. These findings demonstrated the involvement of GNLY in the worsening of PsA and suggested that GNLY mediated the development of joint lesions.
-
To determine the incidence of latent tuberculosis infection and evaluate the follow-up protocol of the patients diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and other chronic rheumatologic diseases treated with anti-TNF-α treatment (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab) in Turkey, 144 patients were evaluated retrospectively for the development of tuberculosis. Patients were evaluated every 6 months for tuberculosis using history, physical examination, tuberculin skin test (TST), chest radiographs, and, when required, examination of sputum/early morning gastric aspirates for acid-fast bacilli and chest tomography. A tuberculin skin test over 10 mm induration was interpreted as positive. ⋯ He was started on an anti-tuberculosis drug regimen. In conclusion, anti-TNF-α treatment in children with chronic inflammatory disease is safe. Follow-up every 6 months of children on anti-TNF-α treatment with respect to tuberculosis by the pediatric infectious disease department is important to prevent possible complications.
-
Cryopyrinopathies are a subgroup of autoinflammatory syndromes. Most cases have mutations in the CIAS1/NLRL3 gene, encoding the cryopyrin/NLRP3 protein. Cryopyrin, together with other proteins, is involved in the assembly of the cryopyrin/NLRP3 inflammasome. ⋯ FCAS results in cold-induced cytokine dysregulation and systemic inflammation. Symptoms can be treated, using IL-1β antagonists. Further research is warranted, particularly in order to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms in "mutation negative" individuals.
-
In systemic sclerosis (SSc), mouth and face involvement leads to problems in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis scale (MHISS) is a 12-item questionnaire specifically quantifying mouth disability in SSc, organized in 3 subscales. Our aim was to validate Italian version of MHISS, by assessing its test-retest reliability and internal and external consistency in Italian SSc patients. ⋯ Total and subscale 2 scores are higher in dSSc than in lSSc. This result may be due to the higher presence of sicca syndrome in dSSc than in lSSc (p = 0.0109). Our results support validity and reliability in Italian SSc patients of MHISS, specifically measuring SSc OHRQoL.
-
It is recommended to evaluate the presence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) prior to the use of antitumor necrosis factor α. The aim of this study is to assess the presence of LTBI in patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing treatment with infliximab in an endemic area for tuberculosis (TB). LTBI was searched through the contact history, chest X-ray and tuberculin skin test with purified protein derivative (PPD) ≥5 mm. ⋯ No significant difference between the reactivity of the PPD and the use of immunosuppressive drugs (P = 0.81) is observed. The immunoprophylaxis with INH showed an efficacy of 95% (20/21); three (1.9%) patients developed active TB (spondylodiscitis, meningitis and lymphadenopathy) after the use of infliximab, reaffirming extrapulmonary involvement. These results suggest that PPD has a low sensitivity for detection of LTBI in RA and that the previous use of immunosuppressive drugs does not affect the response to PPD.