Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by synovitis and damage of bone and cartilage. The major goals of therapy in RA are to relieve pain, swelling of joints; improve joint function; stop joint damage, and prevent disability and disease-related morbidity. The past decade has seen a major transformation in the treatment of RA in terms of approach and choice of drugs. The previous therapeutic approach, termed the therapeutic pyramid, penerally involved initial conservative management with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for several years; disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were withheld until clear evidence of erosions was seen. DMARDs were then added individually in slow succession as the disease progressed. This form of treatment has been supplanted by early initiation of DMARDs and combination DMARD therapy in patients with the potential for progressive disease. The idea of early intervention with DMARDs has been validated in several randomised trials. This paradigm shift partly resulted from unsatisfactory outcomes with the pyramid approach, and an increased awareness of the cost, lost productivity, morbidity, and decreased life expectancy associated with RA. These findings are the consequences of progressive disease, and have provided the impetus for development of more effective therapies to prevent joint destruction and maintain functional status. The continuing elucidation of pathophysiological pathways relevant in RA, coupled with advanced in biotechnology, offer substantial hopes for the development of potent and specific pharmacotherapy for RA.
Antirheumatic Agents ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Biotechnology ; Cartilage ; Drug Therapy ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Efficiency ; Hope ; Humans ; Joints ; Life Expectancy ; Synovitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree and risk factors for decreased bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: One hundred and one patients with SLE and 57 age- and gender- matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The laboratory findings and clinical variables evaluated in the SLE patients consisted of disease duration, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), and medications, including mean and cumulative dose of glucocorticoid. At the time of the clinical and laboratory assessment, the levels of serum osteocalcin, serum FSH/LH, urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and serum cytokines, such as IL-6 and soluble receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL), were determined in SLE patients using a enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The BMD T score decreased in patients with SLE compared to the healthy controls (-1.11 versus -0.41, p=0.001 at lumbar spine, -0.84 versus -0.01, p<0.001 at femur neck, -1.20 versus -0.45, p<0.001 at total hip, respectively). Osteoporosis and osteopenia was present in 16.8% and 46.5% of patients, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed a low BMD in the lumbar spine to be associated with increased FSH, low BMI and cumulative glucocorticoid dose. A low BMD in the hip and femur neck was associated with increased FSH, low BMI, and duration of glucocorticoid. On the other hand, the levels of osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline (DPD), IL-6, and soluble RANKL were similar in patients with a low BMD and those with normal BMD. CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis and osteopenia are more common in young Korean SLE patients than in control subjects. Elevated FSH, low BMI, and the use of glucocorticoid are independent risk factors linked to a decreased BMD in Korean patients with SLE.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Amino Acids ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Cytokines ; Femur Neck ; Hand ; Hip ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; NF-kappa B ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoporosis ; Risk Factors ; Spine

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of radioiodine treatment for metastatic thyroid carcinoma, we reviewed results of radioactive iodine treatment in patients with functional lung or bone metastases. MATERIALS ANF METHODS: Of 760 patients who were treated for differentiated thyroid cancer between 1984 and 1998, we detected pulmonary metastases and bone metastases in 76 patients (10.0%) and 20 patients (2.6%), respectively. Among them, we could evaluate the effectiveness of I-131 therapy in 53 patients with lung metastases and 15 patients with bone metastases. RESULTS:Of 53 patients who received I-131 therapy with a mean cumulative dose of 26.2 GBq (1.1-84.4 GBq) for pulmonary metastases, metastatic lung lesions completely resolved in 19 patients (35.8%) and improved in 22 patients (41.5%). In 13 of 19 patients with complete remission of pulmonary metastases, the total accumulated dose of I-131 was less than 18.5 GBq. We found 43 sites of metastatic bone lesions in 15 patients with bone metastases. Of 29 lesions which received I-131 therapy, metastatic lesions improved in 14 sites (48.3%), but did not change or progress in 15 sites (51.7%) despite the I-131 therapy. Three lesions were completely cured with a combination treatment of surgery(+/- external radiotherapy) and I-131 therapy, and the other 11 lesions improved. CONCLUSION: Radioactive iodine treatment gives favorable results for pulmonary metastases. However, for bone metastases, there might be a need to use combination therapy including I-131 and surgery or external irradiation.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Humans ; Iodine ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Humans ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Oxygen* ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies*

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Humans ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Oxygen* ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies*

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and to measure FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex in the sera of patients with various rheumatic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and adult onset Still? disease (AOSD). METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 37 patients with SLE, 40 with RA, 30 with SSc, 20 with AOSD, and 40 healthy controls. The serum sFasL, FasL-Fas complex, and FasL-IgG complex were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Hospital medical records were retrospectively reviewed for clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with SLE. Disease activity in SLE patients was assessed by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score. RESULTS: In patients with SLE, serum sFasL levels (383.1+/-208.9pg/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than those of healthy controls (192.0+/-84.7pg/ml). sFasL levels in patients with RA (150.8+/-30.7pg/ml, p=0.014), SSc (115.4+/-13.5pg/ml, p<0.001), and AOSD (137.5+/-12.9pg/ml, p=0.001) were significantly lower compared with healthy controls. The frequencies of positive FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex were higher in patients with SLE (56.8%, 56.8% respectively) than in healthy controls (2.5%, 0% respectively) (p<0.001). All patients with RA or AOSD were negative for FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex. No patients with SSc were positive for FasL-Fas complex. On the other hand, the positive frequency of FasL-IgG complex was greater in patients with SSc (16.7%) than in healthy controls (0%)(p=0.012). Serum levels of FasL-IgG complexes in active SLE patients (OD 0.467+/-0.050) were tended to be lower than those in inactive SLE patients (OD 0.509+/-0.055)(p=0.060). SLEDAI score was tended to be negatively correlated with the serum levels of FasL-IgG complex in patients with SLE (r=-0.308, p=0.068). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FasL may possibly play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Fas Ligand Protein* ; Hand ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases* ; Scleroderma, Systemic

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and to measure FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex in the sera of patients with various rheumatic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and adult onset Still? disease (AOSD). METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 37 patients with SLE, 40 with RA, 30 with SSc, 20 with AOSD, and 40 healthy controls. The serum sFasL, FasL-Fas complex, and FasL-IgG complex were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Hospital medical records were retrospectively reviewed for clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with SLE. Disease activity in SLE patients was assessed by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score. RESULTS: In patients with SLE, serum sFasL levels (383.1+/-208.9pg/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than those of healthy controls (192.0+/-84.7pg/ml). sFasL levels in patients with RA (150.8+/-30.7pg/ml, p=0.014), SSc (115.4+/-13.5pg/ml, p<0.001), and AOSD (137.5+/-12.9pg/ml, p=0.001) were significantly lower compared with healthy controls. The frequencies of positive FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex were higher in patients with SLE (56.8%, 56.8% respectively) than in healthy controls (2.5%, 0% respectively) (p<0.001). All patients with RA or AOSD were negative for FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex. No patients with SSc were positive for FasL-Fas complex. On the other hand, the positive frequency of FasL-IgG complex was greater in patients with SSc (16.7%) than in healthy controls (0%)(p=0.012). Serum levels of FasL-IgG complexes in active SLE patients (OD 0.467+/-0.050) were tended to be lower than those in inactive SLE patients (OD 0.509+/-0.055)(p=0.060). SLEDAI score was tended to be negatively correlated with the serum levels of FasL-IgG complex in patients with SLE (r=-0.308, p=0.068). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FasL may possibly play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Fas Ligand Protein* ; Hand ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases* ; Scleroderma, Systemic

OBJECTIVE: To determine the causative organisms and predisposing factors of bacteremia in patients with systemic lupus erythemaosus (SLE). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated medical records of 358 patients with SLE who were followed in Kangnam St. Mary? Hospital from 1992 to 1997. Bacteremic SLE patients were compared to non-bacteremic SLE patients in terms of laboratory and clinical variables. RESULTS: Twenty-nine episodes of bacteremia in 27 patients with SLE (26 women, 1 man) were identified. The episode of community acquired bacteremia (n=21, 72.4%) was more frequent than that of hospital acquired bacteremia (n=8, 27.6%). Isolated bacterial organisms from blood were as follows: gram negative organisms (n=14); Salmonella species (n=8), E. coli (n=4), P. mirabilis (n=1), K. pneumonia (n=1). gram positive organisms (n=15); S. aureus (n=6), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=2), coagulase negative Staphylococci (n=2), Bacillus species (n=1), Streptococcus viridans (n=1), Streptococcus pyogenes (n=1), Enterococcus faecalis (n=1), Listeria monocytogenes (n=1). SLE was the most common underlying condition among Salmonella bacteremic patients. One of twenty seven bacteremic SLE patients (3.8%) died in spite of antibiotic therapy. Logistic regression analysis of the laboratory and clinical variables between bacteremic SLE patients and non-bacteremic SLE patients (n=140) showed that bacteremic SLE patients were more frequently associated with thrombocytopenia (p=0.008, odds ratio (OR)=7.8, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7 to 35.9), lupus nephritis (p=0.023, OR=5.3, 95% CI, 1.1 to 26.8), and high dose steroid therapy (prednisolone > 0.5mg/kg/day, p=0.008, OR=12.1, 95% CI 2.5 to 58.6) than non-bacteremic SLE patients. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that Salmonella was the single most frequent isolate from the blood of SLE patients. Lupus nephritis and high dose steroid therapy were independent predisposing factors for the development of bacteremia in SLE patients.
Bacillus ; Bacteremia* ; Causality ; Coagulase ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Female ; Humans ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Logistic Models ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lupus Nephritis ; Medical Records ; Mirabilis ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Salmonella ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; Thrombocytopenia ; Viridans Streptococci

OBJECTIVE: To determine the causative organisms and predisposing factors of bacteremia in patients with systemic lupus erythemaosus (SLE). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated medical records of 358 patients with SLE who were followed in Kangnam St. Mary? Hospital from 1992 to 1997. Bacteremic SLE patients were compared to non-bacteremic SLE patients in terms of laboratory and clinical variables. RESULTS: Twenty-nine episodes of bacteremia in 27 patients with SLE (26 women, 1 man) were identified. The episode of community acquired bacteremia (n=21, 72.4%) was more frequent than that of hospital acquired bacteremia (n=8, 27.6%). Isolated bacterial organisms from blood were as follows: gram negative organisms (n=14); Salmonella species (n=8), E. coli (n=4), P. mirabilis (n=1), K. pneumonia (n=1). gram positive organisms (n=15); S. aureus (n=6), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=2), coagulase negative Staphylococci (n=2), Bacillus species (n=1), Streptococcus viridans (n=1), Streptococcus pyogenes (n=1), Enterococcus faecalis (n=1), Listeria monocytogenes (n=1). SLE was the most common underlying condition among Salmonella bacteremic patients. One of twenty seven bacteremic SLE patients (3.8%) died in spite of antibiotic therapy. Logistic regression analysis of the laboratory and clinical variables between bacteremic SLE patients and non-bacteremic SLE patients (n=140) showed that bacteremic SLE patients were more frequently associated with thrombocytopenia (p=0.008, odds ratio (OR)=7.8, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7 to 35.9), lupus nephritis (p=0.023, OR=5.3, 95% CI, 1.1 to 26.8), and high dose steroid therapy (prednisolone > 0.5mg/kg/day, p=0.008, OR=12.1, 95% CI 2.5 to 58.6) than non-bacteremic SLE patients. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that Salmonella was the single most frequent isolate from the blood of SLE patients. Lupus nephritis and high dose steroid therapy were independent predisposing factors for the development of bacteremia in SLE patients.
Bacillus ; Bacteremia* ; Causality ; Coagulase ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Female ; Humans ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Logistic Models ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lupus Nephritis ; Medical Records ; Mirabilis ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Salmonella ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; Thrombocytopenia ; Viridans Streptococci

OBJECTIVES: To investigate protective effect of rebamipide against nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury. METHODS: Randomized eight patients with rheumatic disease starting NSAIDs underwent pre-treatment gastroduodenoscopy,and degree of mucosal injury and several gastrointestinal (GI)symptoms were graded by Lanza score scale (rating from 0 to 4)and symptom score scale (rating from 0 to 3).Eight weeks after the subjects had received concomitant rebamipide 100mg bid and NSAIDs they underwent post-treatment gastroduodenoscopy and degree of mucosal injury and GI symptoms were graded.Randomized previous NSAIDs-used 20 patients with rheumatic disease were also investigated.Eight weeks after 100mg bid with concomitant NSAIDs,they underwent gastroduodenoscopy and degree of mucosal injury and GI symptoms were graded. RESULTS: All eight patients who received concomitant rebamipide and NSAIDs had no interval changes between pre and post-treatment mucosal injury scores and had little interval changes between pre and post-treatment symptom scores. In previous NSAIDs-used patients with rheumatic disease,incidence of each gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer were 16.7%and 11.1%and all mean symptom scores were lower than 1.0.No special adverse effect was developed during the study. CONCLUSION: Rebamipide seems to have a good protective effect against NSAIDs induced mucosal injury and GI symptoms and probably have rare adverse effect.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Humans ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Stomach Ulcer