The aim of the study was to examine lipid profiles, arterial stiffness (AS), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), in 55 women with RA without overt cardiovascular disease (capital ES, CyrillicVD) treated with rituximab (RTX).The following parameters were recorded before and 24 weeks after RTX therapy (2 infusions of 500 or 1,000 mg RTX intravenously, fortnightly): plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, DAS 28-ESR, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), RF IgM, AS (SI - stiffness index, RI - reflection index) by digital volume pulse contour analysis (Micro Medical, UK), and common cIMT by high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasound. Based on the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria, patients were divided into two groups: 1) moderate/good response to RTX therapy after 24 weeks (41 patients, 75%), 2) no response to RTX therapy (14 patients, 25%). Effective RTX therapy resulted in 9% increase in TC, 23% increase in HDL-C and 14% decrease in atherogenic index, 57% decrease in SI and 24% decrease in RI. We observed a 9% decrease of cIMTmax at 24 weeks. The improvement of cardiovascular parameters was accompanied by statistically significant decreases of CRP, ESR, RF IgM and DAS 28 in group 1 (P < 0.05). There were not significant changes in lipid profile, AS parameters, and cIMT in group 2. Two infusions of RTX in case of moderate/good EULAR effect of therapy exerted favorable effects on lipid profile, AS and cIMT in women with RA without overt CVD.
Antirheumatic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Biomarkers/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Cardiovascular Diseases/complications ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids/*blood ; Middle Aged ; Rituximab/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides/blood ; Vascular Stiffness

The aim of the study was to examine lipid profiles, arterial stiffness (AS), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), in 55 women with RA without overt cardiovascular disease (capital ES, CyrillicVD) treated with rituximab (RTX).The following parameters were recorded before and 24 weeks after RTX therapy (2 infusions of 500 or 1,000 mg RTX intravenously, fortnightly): plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, DAS 28-ESR, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), RF IgM, AS (SI - stiffness index, RI - reflection index) by digital volume pulse contour analysis (Micro Medical, UK), and common cIMT by high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasound. Based on the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria, patients were divided into two groups: 1) moderate/good response to RTX therapy after 24 weeks (41 patients, 75%), 2) no response to RTX therapy (14 patients, 25%). Effective RTX therapy resulted in 9% increase in TC, 23% increase in HDL-C and 14% decrease in atherogenic index, 57% decrease in SI and 24% decrease in RI. We observed a 9% decrease of cIMTmax at 24 weeks. The improvement of cardiovascular parameters was accompanied by statistically significant decreases of CRP, ESR, RF IgM and DAS 28 in group 1 (P < 0.05). There were not significant changes in lipid profile, AS parameters, and cIMT in group 2. Two infusions of RTX in case of moderate/good EULAR effect of therapy exerted favorable effects on lipid profile, AS and cIMT in women with RA without overt CVD.
Antirheumatic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Biomarkers/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Cardiovascular Diseases/complications ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids/*blood ; Middle Aged ; Rituximab/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides/blood ; Vascular Stiffness

Purpose: We evaluate various approaches to target volume definition and boost delivery in patients with complete response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) who were treated by radiotherapy without a surgery. Materials and Methods: A pathological complete response (pCR) was diagnosed in 21 of 27 patients included in “surgery de-escalation” prospective observation study. Clips were placed in the primary tumor volume (PrTV) before NST and during the vacuum aspiration biopsy. Twenty patients with pCR underwent the whole breast irradiation and a boost to the PrTV. High-dose rate brachytherapy (HDRB) was the basic technique for boost delivery. Finally, we identified the value of fused images (computed tomography [CT] before NST with simulation CT), clips and their combination for an accurate boost delivery. Results: A complete overlap between PrTV on pre-treatment CT with the localization of the clips on simulation CT was mentioned in 10, partial mismatch in three patients. In 12 of these 13 women, HDRB was successfully used for the boost delivery. In five cases we mentioned a marked discrepancy between the PrTV on fused images and the topography of the clips. In other two women we did not find clips on simulation CT. The fused images in five of these seven patients showed anatomical landmarks (scar, fibrosis) used for identification of the gross tumor volume. In all 20 women with pCR (average follow-up of 16.6 months), there were no locoregional recurrences. Conclusion Combination of the clips with fusion of pre-NST and simulation CTs is important for an accurate boost delivery.