OBJECTIVETo evaluate rates on the adverse side effect and discontinuation of second-line drugs frequently used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODEight hundred and sixty-four RA patients were studied in a retrospective program.

RESULTSUpper abdominal discomfort was most commonly seen when using second-line drugs. Rash was often associated with D-penicillamine (20.6%) and Sinomenium therapy (13.7%). Methotrexate (MTX) was uniquely characterized by substantial upper GI toxicity (32.2%) and Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (TWH) (14.4%) by menstrual abnormality. Sulfasalazine users reported adverse events including upper abdominal trouble (39.0%), nausea (7.3%) and anorexia (7.3%) while the risk of GI malaise was greater. Patients taking hydroxychloroquine complained of blurred vision (19.6%) but no one went blind. Toxic side effects seemed to be the most common reasons for stoppages, and the patients taking MTX had the lowest discontinuation rate. Combination of D-penicillamine and Methotrexate did not increase the incidence of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONSKnowledge on these different patterns of toxicity provided choices in the selection of second line agents for particular RA patients. However, long-term monitor are required when drugs are being used.

Adult ; Anorexia ; chemically induced ; Antirheumatic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Exanthema ; chemically induced ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Methotrexate ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Penicillamine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Preparations ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinomenium ; Sulfasalazine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

Central nervous system involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is less common and usually presents as white matter lesions, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), or transverse myelitis. NMOSD is an immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with a high rate of relapse and significant disability. Studies have shown that patients with pSS combined with NMOSD have more severe symptoms and poorer prognosis. Here, we present a case of critical illness in pregnancy-associated NMOSD combined with Sjögren's syndrome. The patient was a 30-year-old pregnant woman with a history of Sjögren's syndrome who was diagnosed with NMOSD. She received combination therapy with steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and hydroxychloroquine during pregnancy, resulting in partial resolution of numbness below the waist. However, due to irregular medication adherence outside the hospital setting, she developed weakness in her right lower limb accompanied by inability to move it, while her left lower limb still had some mobility but occasional numbness along with urinary and fecal incontinence. Ten days later, she was admitted to the emergency department where an emergency cesarean section was performed to deliver a healthy baby boy. However, her condition worsened postpartum as she developed high fever accompanied by bilateral lower limb paralysis and weakness along with loss of voluntary control over urination and defecation. The patient underwent ano-ther course of treatment consisting of steroids and IVIG; however there was limited improvement in symptoms observed after this intervention. Following administration of rituximab for the first time, the patient developed urinary tract infection which was successfully managed before continuing regular infusions. In later stages the patient could walk slightly with a limp and regained control over urination and defecation, allowing her to resume normal activities. This case suggests that combination therapy with steroids, IVIG, and hydroxychloroquine should be considered for the patients with pregnancy-associated NMOSD combined with Sjögren's syndrome. Rituximab can significantly improve symptoms such as postpartum paralysis in patients with NMOSD, however, there may be a risk of infection associated with its use.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Cesarean Section/adverse effects* ; Critical Illness ; Hydroxychloroquine/therapeutic use* ; Hypesthesia/complications* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use* ; Inflammation/complications* ; Neuromyelitis Optica/diagnosis* ; Paralysis/complications* ; Pregnancy Complications/therapy* ; Rituximab/therapeutic use* ; Sjogren's Syndrome/complications* ; Steroids/therapeutic use* ; Vision Disorders

There is no consensus on whether it is safe to re-administer tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) flared after withdrawal of TNFalpha inhibitors due to active tuberculosis (TB). We evaluated the safety of restarting anti-TNFalpha therapy in patients with TNFalpha-associated TB. We used data of 1,012 patients with RA or AS treated with TNFalpha inhibitors at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between January 2003 and July 2013 to identify patients who developed active TB. Demographic and clinical data including the results of tuberculin skin tests (TST) and interferon-gamma releasing assays (IGRA) were collected. Fifteen patients developed active TB. Five cases were occurred in RA and 10 cases in AS. Nine of 15 patients had a negative TST or IGRA and 6 TST-positive patients had received prophylaxis prior to initiating anti-TNFalpha therapy. All patients discontinued TNFalpha inhibitors with starting the treatment of TB. Eight patients were re-administered TNFalpha inhibitors due to disease flares and promptly improved without recurrence of TB. TNFalpha inhibitors could be safely resumed after starting anti-TB regimen in patients with RA or AS.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*drug therapy ; Enzyme Inhibitors/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Immunoglobulin G/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Interferon-gamma Release Tests ; Male ; Methotrexate/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*drug therapy ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis/*chemically induced/microbiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*antagonists & inhibitors

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a kind of LE-non-specific bullous skin disease that is rarely induced by a medication. We describe the first case of bullous SLE to develop after administration of methimazole. A 31-yr-old woman presented with generalized erythematous patches, multiple bullae, arthralgia, fever, conjunctivitis, and hemolytic anemia. Biopsy of her bulla showed linear deposition of lgG, lgA, C3, fibrinogen, and C1q at dermo-epidermal junction. She was diagnosed as bullous SLE and treated with prednisolone, dapsone, hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate. Our experience suggests that SLE should be considered as a differential diagnosis when bullous skin lesions develop in patients being treated for hyperthyroidism.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use ; Antithyroid Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Blister/chemically induced/pathology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Graves Disease/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine/therapeutic use ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/chemically induced/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Lupus Nephritis/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Methimazole/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Mycophenolic Acid/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Skin/pathology