Archive for April, 2006

Charcot-like arthropathy: A newly-recognized subset of psoriatic arthritis.

Tuesday, April 25th, 2006

Related ArticlesCharcot-like arthropathy: A newly-recognized subset of psoriatic arthritis.

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006 Mar-Apr;24(2):172-5

Authors: Candia L, Cuellar ML, Marlowe SM, Marquez J, Iglesias A, Espinoza LR

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe a group of patients with a highly destructive and asymptomatic form of psoriatic arthritis, mimicking a Charcot-like joint disease. METHODS: We studied 180 patients with psoriatic arthritis and identified 4 patients with arthritis mutilans mimicking a Charcot-like joint disease. Clinical history, physical exam, and immunological testing were performed as well as X-ray of affected joints. Synovial membrane and sural nerve biopsies were performed and diagnosis of psoriasis was confirmed by skin biopsy. RESULTS: Four patients with psoriatic arthritis mutilans according to Moll and Wright classification criteria (1) and Charcot-like joint disease were identified and evaluated. There were 2 males and 2 females, all Caucasians. The mean age +/- SD was 57.8 +/- 14.2 years. Mean arthritis duration +/- SD was 6 +/- 4.6 years and mean cutaneous duration +/- SD was 13 +/- 10.4 years. All patients had polyarthritis and a sudden onset of bilateral, painless, and highly destructive arthropathy involving large, non-weight bearing (elbows) and weight bearing (knees), and also small joint of hands and feet. Synovial membrane biopsy showed findings similar to those found in Charcot joint disease, including ischemic neuropathy. CONCLUSION: A newly-recognized subset of patients with psoriatic arthritis and Charcot-like joint disease according to clinical, radiographic and histological features is described. The proposed neurovascular theory may explain the pathogenesis of this presentation.

PMID: 16762153 [PubMed - in process]

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Infliximab improves health related quality of life and physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Thursday, April 20th, 2006

Related ArticlesInfliximab improves health related quality of life and physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Apr;65(4):471-7

Authors: Kavanaugh A, Antoni C, Krueger GG, Yan S, Bala M, Dooley LT, Beutler A, Guzzo C, Gladman D

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of infliximab on health related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical function in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the IMPACT 2 trial. METHODS: 200 patients with PsA unresponsive to conventional treatment were randomised to intravenous infusions of infliximab 5 mg/kg or placebo at weeks 0, 2, 6, 14, and 22; patients with inadequate response entered early escape at week 16. HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) at weeks 0, 14, and 24. Functional disability was assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) at every visit through week 24. Associations between changes in quality of life (SF-36) and articular (American College of Rheumatology (ACR)) and dermatological (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)) responses were examined. RESULTS: Mean percentage improvement from baseline in HAQ was 48.6% in the infliximab group compared with worsening of 18.4% in the placebo group at week 14 (p or = 0.3 unit decrease) at week 14 (p

PMID: 16096330 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Charcot-like arthropathy: A newly-recognized subset of psoriatic arthritis.

Thursday, April 20th, 2006

Related ArticlesCharcot-like arthropathy: A newly-recognized subset of psoriatic arthritis.

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006 Mar-Apr;24(2):172-5

Authors: Candia L, Cuellar ML, Marlowe SM, Marquez J, Iglesias A, Espinoza LR

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe a group of patients with a highly destructive and asymptomatic form of psoriatic arthritis, mimicking a Charcot-like joint disease. METHODS: We studied 180 patients with psoriatic arthritis and identified 4 patients with arthritis mutilans mimicking a Charcot-like joint disease. Clinical history, physical exam, and immunological testing were performed as well as X-ray of affected joints. Synovial membrane and sural nerve biopsies were performed and diagnosis of psoriasis was confirmed by skin biopsy. RESULTS: Four patients with psoriatic arthritis mutilans according to Moll and Wright classification criteria (1) and Charcot-like joint disease were identified and evaluated. There were 2 males and 2 females, all Caucasians. The mean age +/- SD was 57.8 +/- 14.2 years. Mean arthritis duration +/- SD was 6 +/- 4.6 years and mean cutaneous duration +/- SD was 13 +/- 10.4 years. All patients had polyarthritis and a sudden onset of bilateral, painless, and highly destructive arthropathy involving large, non-weight bearing (elbows) and weight bearing (knees), and also small joint of hands and feet. Synovial membrane biopsy showed findings similar to those found in Charcot joint disease, including ischemic neuropathy. CONCLUSION: A newly-recognized subset of patients with psoriatic arthritis and Charcot-like joint disease according to clinical, radiographic and histological features is described. The proposed neurovascular theory may explain the pathogenesis of this presentation.

PMID: 16762153 [PubMed - in process]

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Continued inhibition of radiographic progression in patients with psoriatic arthritis following 2 years of treatment with etanercept.

Thursday, April 20th, 2006

Related ArticlesContinued inhibition of radiographic progression in patients with psoriatic arthritis following 2 years of treatment with etanercept.

J Rheumatol. 2006 Apr;33(4):712-21

Authors: Mease PJ, Kivitz AJ, Burch FX, Siegel EL, Cohen SB, Ory P, Salonen D, Rubenstein J, Sharp JT, Dunn M, Tsuji W

OBJECTIVE: Clinical and radiographic responses were evaluated in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treated for up to 2 years with etanercept. METHODS: Patients were previously randomized to receive placebo or etanercept in a double-blind study and chose to participate in the current open-label extension phase. All patients received etanercept 25 mg twice weekly. Radiographic progression was determined at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years using the Sharp method modified to include joints frequently affected in PsA. Arthritis and psoriasis responses were determined using American College of Rheumatology 20% (ACR20) improvement criteria, PsA response criteria (PsARC), and the psoriasis area severity index (PASI). RESULTS: Of 205 patients randomized, 169 entered open-label, and 141 [71 randomized to receive placebo (placebo/etanercept) and 70 randomized to receive etanercept (etanercept/etanercept)] had radiographic data available for analysis at 2 years. ACR20 criteria, PsARC, and PASI 50 criteria were met by 64%, 84%, and 62%, respectively, of etanercept/etanercept patients at the end of the 48-week open-label period. Placebo/etanercept patients achieved comparable results within 12 weeks that were sustained at 48 weeks (63%, 80%, and 73%). Radiographic progression was inhibited in the etanercept/ etanercept patients (mean adjusted change in total Sharp score of -0.38 from baseline to 2 yrs). In placebo/etanercept patients, disease progression was inhibited once patients began receiving etanercept (mean adjusted change of -0.22 from 1 year to 2 years). Adverse event rates were similar to those observed during randomized phase, with only one serious adverse event deemed possibly related to etanercept. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate a sustained benefit of etanercept treatment, including inhibition of radiographic progression, in patients with PsA.

PMID: 16463435 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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AA amyloidosis in psoriatic arthritis.

Monday, April 17th, 2006

Related ArticlesAA amyloidosis in psoriatic arthritis.

Ir J Med Sci. 2006 Apr-Jun;175(2):81-2

Authors: Ryan JG, Dorman AM, O’Connell PG

BACKGROUND: Amyloidosis is an extremely rare complication of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and is associated with a poor prognosis. We report a case of amyloidosis secondary to severe PsA in a young patient and the course of his disease over a 13-year period of aggressive immunosuppression. METHODS: Diagnosis of renal amyloidosis was made on biopsy: multi-agent immunosuppressive therapy was continued with stabilisation of renal function. RESULTS: Marked deterioration in renal function subsequently occurred following a reduction in cyclosporin A (CyA) dose and repeat biopsy confirmed worsening amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: This case report emphasises the need for aggressive control of the inflammatory response in secondary amyloidosis.

PMID: 16872037 [PubMed - in process]

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Concurrence of Relapsing Polychondritis and Psoriatic Arthritis.

Saturday, April 8th, 2006

Related ArticlesConcurrence of Relapsing Polychondritis and Psoriatic Arthritis.

J Clin Rheumatol. 2002 Apr;8(2):120-122

Authors: Raffayová H, Rovenský J

PMID: 17041338 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Cholangiocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and parathyroid adenoma found synchronously in a patient on long-term methotrexate.

Monday, April 3rd, 2006

Related ArticlesCholangiocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and parathyroid adenoma found synchronously in a patient on long-term methotrexate.

HPB (Oxford). 2006;8(2):151-3

Authors: Levy BF, Nisar A, Karanjia ND

Cases of patients developing lymphoma and cutaneous neoplasms after long-term methotrexate therapy are well documented in the literature; however, there are no reported cases of other neoplasms resulting from methotrexate therapy. A 52-year-old woman who had been on methotrexate for 9 years for psoriatic arthritis was found to have abnormal liver function tests on screening. Investigation with ultrasound, CT scanning and MRCP showed a hilar cholangiocarcinoma and a synchronous right renal tumour. A left hemi-hepatectomy extended to segments 5 and 8 with the formation of a hepaticojejunostomy was performed for a poorly differentiated infiltrative hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This was combined with a right radical nephrectomy for a T1 renal cell adenocarcinoma. Postoperative vomiting was subsequently found to be due to hypercalcaemia and primary hyperparathyroidism. A parathyroid adenoma was later excised. It seems likely that treatment with methotrexate was causal in the development of these three non-cutaneous neoplasms-two malignant and one benign.

PMID: 18333265 [PubMed - in process]

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