The effect of leflunomide on the variation of clinical and laboratory parameters on patients suffering from rheumatismal arthritis at active stage and the monitoring of side effects were studied in a 6 month opening non-comparing clinical investigation at 4 institutions in Vietnam. Oral leflunomide was administered 1 tablet (100mg) daily in the first 3 day, then 20mg daily in 6 months continuously. Results showed that clinical testing mean parameters reduced by 28-77% after 2 months and 57-83% after 6 months. In 21.4% of patients, at least 1 side effect manifested at light to moderate level
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthritis ; Rheumatoid Factor

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Rheumatoid Factor

No abstract available.
Coal* ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Rheumatoid Factor*

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Rheumatoid Factor*

BACKGROUND: The American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (ACR/EULAR criteria) include the rheumatoid factor (RF) test and the anti-citrullinated peptide/protein antibody (ACPA) test as serologic makers for rheumatoid arthritis. Antiperinuclear factor (APF) test, an originator of ACPA, is highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis and can be detected in RF or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) negative rheumatoid arthritis, but it is not included in the serologic criterion of ACR/EULAR criteria. In this study, we investigated the way for applying the APF test to ACR/EULAR criteria. METHODS: We analyzed clinical symptoms and laboratory findings of 53 patients who were suspected having rheumatoid arthritis. All patients were negative for the RF and anti-CCP and positive for APF. We classified these patients into 4 groups according to the fluorescence intensity of APF test, and gave 1-4 points for APF positivity. The proportion of patients who scored 6 or greater in ACR/EULAR criteria in relation to APF scores was evaluated. RESULTS: Median scores of ACR/EULAR criteria showed a tendency to increase as the level of fluorescence intensity of APF rises, but ACR/EULAR scores of 4 groups were not different significantly from each other (P>0.05). The proportion of patients who scored 6 or greater in ACR/EULAR criteria were 39.6% and 77.4%, when scores of APF positivity were 2 and 3 points, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We think it is reasonable to include APF test in the ACPA of ACR/EULAR criteria and give 3 points for APF positivity, regardless of its fluorescence intensity.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Rheumatoid Factor

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect and safety of periodontal therapy in relieving the symptoms and clinical signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSThe electronic search was conducted in Medline (OVID, 1950-2010 Sep), EMBASE (1984-2010 Sep), CENTRAL (2010, Issue 3), CBM (1978-2010 Sep) and the Chinese journals on stomatology were hand-searched. Clinical randomized controlled trials as well as clinical controlled trials were selected regarding the targeted issue. Two investigators evaluated the reporting quality and risk of bias of those included trials in accordance with CONSORT statement and Cochrane risk of bias assessment tools, and collected data of included studies in duplicate. Revman 5.0.23 was applied for Meta-analysis.

RESULTSFour trials met the inclusion criteria and a total of 150 patients were enrolled in the trials, one had low risk of bias and others had moderate risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed that pure periodontal therapy could not decrease disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) (P=0.06), and there was no statistically significant difference between periodontal therapy with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) medication and pure anti-TNF-alpha medication (P=0.24). But the subgroup analysis showed that a significantly decreased DAS28 was achieved by periodontal therapy (P=0.03), and the interventions provided a remarkable effect on alleviating clinical signs and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of RA (P<0.05). Results of the symptoms relief differed from the studies. No adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONThe evidence available currently indicates that periodontal therapy may play a positive role in remitting the clinical signs and periodontal status of RA except the relief of the symptoms.

Rheumatoid nodulosis, a benign variant of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is a rare condition characterized by multiple subcutaneous nodules and positive rheumatoid factor in the absence of systemic manifestations or joint disease. Asymptomatic nodules rarely require treatment, and are unlikely to recur after excision, except in cases in which RA develops. Here, we describe an unusual case of recurrent rheumatoid nodulosis in a 42-year-old female presenting with recurrent subcutaneous nodules on the plantar side of her left foot, which caused pain when walking. Nodules were initially excised to control symptoms; however, since the excision, the nodules have recurred twice in the absence of other RA symptoms.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Rheumatoid Nodule* ; Synovitis ; Walking

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis of any degree of severity or duration may develop necrotizing granulomatous pleuritis, a morphologic replica of the inflammatory reaction characteristic of rheumatoid synovitis and rheumatoid nodules. The principal feature is the background composed of granular, amorphous, particulate material or debris of various hues. The material is sometimes eosinophilic, sometimes more cyanophilic, or even green in the Papanicolaou stain. Within this background are elongated, fibroblast-like epithelioid cells, numerous multinucleated giant cells and degenerating leukocytes. The combination of the debris, spindle epithelioid cells, and multinucleated giant cells in fluid is pathognomonic for rheumatoid pleuritis. We experienced a hcase of rheumatoid pleuritis showing these characteristic cytologic findings. The patient was a 63 year-old man with positive rheumatoid factor. The pleual fluid specimen revealed elongated epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells in a background of amorphous granular material.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Eosinophils ; Epithelioid Cells ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleurisy* ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Rheumatoid Nodule ; Synovitis

We report a case of rheumatoid nodule of the right knee in a 55-year-old woman which on the basis of MR images was misdiagnosed as soft tissue sarcoma. Rheumatoid nodules occur in up to 20% of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and most patients with rheumatoid nodules are rheumatoid factor positive. The nod-ules are most commonly located between the skin and an underlying bony prominence. In this case, the patient had a history of rheumatoid arthritis and a soft tissue mass was present in the lateral aspect of the right knee. T1-weighted images revealed a mass of similar signal intensity to that of muscle, and on T2 weighted im-ages, a central portion of high signal intensity was noted. Enhanced T1 weighted images demonstrated periph-eral rim enhancement. The mass extended to subcutaneous tissue, with penetration of lateral patellar retinacu-lum. Excisional biopsy was performed, and the pathologic diagnosis was rheumatoid nodule. Although its radi-ologic findings are non-specific, rheumatoid nodule should - in appropriate clinical settings - be included in the differential diagnosis of a predominently solid or centrally necrotic periarticular soft tissue.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Middle Aged ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Rheumatoid Nodule* ; Sarcoma* ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue