AIM To determine the scope of acute hypoglycemic effects for certain anti-rheumatic medications in a large retrospective observational study. METHODS Patients enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis (VAR...AIM To determine the scope of acute hypoglycemic effects for certain anti-rheumatic medications in a large retrospective observational study. METHODS Patients enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis (VARA) registry were selected who, during follow-up, initiated treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi's, including etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab, or certolizumab), prednisone, or conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs(DMARDs), and for whom proximate random blood glucose (RBG) measurements were available within a window 2-wk prior to, and 6 mo following, medication initiation. Similar data were obtained for patients with proximate values available for glycosylated hemoglobin A1C values within a window 2 mo preceding, and 12 mo following, medication initiation. RBG and A1C measurements were compared before and after initiation events using paired t-tests, and multivariate regression analysis was performed including established comorbidities and demographics.RESULTS Two thousands one hundred and eleven patients contributed at least one proximate measurement surrounding the initiation of any examined medication. A significant decrease in RBG was noted surrounding 653 individual hydroxychloroquine-initiation events(-3.68 mg/dL, P = 0.04), while an increase was noted for RBG surrounding 665 prednisone-initiation events(+5.85 mg/d L, P < 0.01). A statistically significant decrease in A1C was noted for sulfasalazine initiation, as measured by 49 individual initiation events(-0.70%, P < 0.01). Multivariate regression analyses, using methotrexate as the referent, suggest sulfasalazine (β =-0.58, P = 0.01) and hydroxychloroquine(β =-5.78, P = 0.01) use as predictors of lower post-medicationinitiation RBG and A1C values, respectively. Analysis by drug class suggested prednisone (or glucocorticoids) as predictive of higher medication-initiation event RBG among all start events as compared to DMARDs, while this analysis did not show any drug class-level effect for TNFi. A diagnosis of congestive heart failure(β = 4.69, P = 0.03) was predictive for higher post-initiation RBG values among all medication-initiation events.CONCLUSION No statistically significant hypoglycemic effects surrounding TNFi initiation were observed in this large cohort. Sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine may have epidemiologically significant acute hypoglycemic effects.展开更多
Background:Clinical remission is the treatment target in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).This study aimed to investigate clinical remission and related factors in a large cohort of patients with RA.Methods:This study compos...Background:Clinical remission is the treatment target in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).This study aimed to investigate clinical remission and related factors in a large cohort of patients with RA.Methods:This study composed of 342 patients with RA.Data were collected by face-to-face interview of 1049 patients with RA who visited the Department of Rheumatology of three teaching hospitals from September 2015 to May 2016.The patients with RA were clinically assessed by rheumatologists and a four-page questionnaire was completed on site.Subsequently,patients fulfilled remission criteria were further analyzed.The practicability of different definitions of remission of RA was rated by a panel of rheumatologists.Sustained intensive disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment was defined as a combination treatment with two or more DMARDs for at least 6 months.Results:In this cohort of 342 patients with RA,the proportions of patients achieving remission were 38.0%,29.5%,24.9%,21.1%,19.0%,18.1%,and 17.0%,based on criteria of disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) using CRP (DAS28-CRP),DAS28 using ESR (DAS28-ESR),routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID-3),Boolean,simplified disease activity index (SDAI),clinical disease activity index,and the newly described clinical deep remission (CliDR),respectively.Boolean and CliDR are the best in practicability scored by rheumatologists (7.5 and 8.0,respectively).Compared with the non-sustained intensive group,sustained intensive treatment with DMARDs yielded higher remission rates of 25.6%,23.8%,and 21.3% in patients with RA based on Boolean (χ^2=3.937,P=0.047),SDAI (χ^2=4.666,P=0.031),and CliDR criteria (χ^2=4.297,P=0.038).The most commonly prescribed conventional synthesized DMARDs (csDMARDs) in patients with RA was leflunomide,followed by methotrexate,and hydroxychloroquine.Compared with the non-remission group,patients achieving remission had a longer median duration of DMARDs (45.0 [22.8–72.3] months,Z=-2.295,P=0.022).Conclusions:The findings in this study indicated that clinical deep remission is achievable in patients with RA.Sustained intensive DMARD treatment is needed to achieve a better outcome in RA.展开更多
Multiple sclerosis （MS） is a chronic and devastating autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. With the increased understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease in the past two decades, m...Multiple sclerosis （MS） is a chronic and devastating autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. With the increased understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease in the past two decades, many disease-modifying therapies that primarily target adaptive immunity have been shown to prevent exacerbations and new lesions in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. However, these therapies only have limited efficacy on the progression of disability. Increasing evidence has pointed to innate immunity, axonal damage and neuronal loss as important contributors to disease progression. Remyelination of denuded axons is considered an effective way to protect neurons from damage and to restore neuronal function. The identification of several key molecules and pathways controlling the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and myelination has yielded clues for the development of drug candidates that directly target remyelination and neuroprotection. The long-term efficacy of this strategy remains to be evaluated in clinical trials. Here, we provide an overview of current and emerging therapeutic concepts, with a focus on the opportunities and challenges for the remyelination approach to the treatment of MS.展开更多
A 30-year-old female patient with coexisting ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed and treated. The human leukocyte antigen （HLA）-B27 is a predisposing factor of ankylosing spondylitis and HL...A 30-year-old female patient with coexisting ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed and treated. The human leukocyte antigen （HLA）-B27 is a predisposing factor of ankylosing spondylitis and HLA-DR4 is a predisposing factor of rheumatoid arthritis. This patient was HLA-B27 and HLA-DR4 positive, and ankylosing spondylitis manifested before rheumatoid arthritis. After disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs successfully arrested ankylosing spondylitis activity the patient conceived and delivered a healthy baby. One year later, she developed peripheral polyarthritis and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. We hypothesized that pregnancy may be one of the environmental factors that can activate rheumatoid arthritis, and that disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs play an important role in keeping the disease under control.展开更多
基金Supported by VA HSR&D MERIT Award IIR,No.14-048-3 for Dr Caplansupported by a VA GME Enhancement Award
文摘AIM To determine the scope of acute hypoglycemic effects for certain anti-rheumatic medications in a large retrospective observational study. METHODS Patients enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis (VARA) registry were selected who, during follow-up, initiated treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi's, including etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab, or certolizumab), prednisone, or conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs(DMARDs), and for whom proximate random blood glucose (RBG) measurements were available within a window 2-wk prior to, and 6 mo following, medication initiation. Similar data were obtained for patients with proximate values available for glycosylated hemoglobin A1C values within a window 2 mo preceding, and 12 mo following, medication initiation. RBG and A1C measurements were compared before and after initiation events using paired t-tests, and multivariate regression analysis was performed including established comorbidities and demographics.RESULTS Two thousands one hundred and eleven patients contributed at least one proximate measurement surrounding the initiation of any examined medication. A significant decrease in RBG was noted surrounding 653 individual hydroxychloroquine-initiation events(-3.68 mg/dL, P = 0.04), while an increase was noted for RBG surrounding 665 prednisone-initiation events(+5.85 mg/d L, P < 0.01). A statistically significant decrease in A1C was noted for sulfasalazine initiation, as measured by 49 individual initiation events(-0.70%, P < 0.01). Multivariate regression analyses, using methotrexate as the referent, suggest sulfasalazine (β =-0.58, P = 0.01) and hydroxychloroquine(β =-5.78, P = 0.01) use as predictors of lower post-medicationinitiation RBG and A1C values, respectively. Analysis by drug class suggested prednisone (or glucocorticoids) as predictive of higher medication-initiation event RBG among all start events as compared to DMARDs, while this analysis did not show any drug class-level effect for TNFi. A diagnosis of congestive heart failure(β = 4.69, P = 0.03) was predictive for higher post-initiation RBG values among all medication-initiation events.CONCLUSION No statistically significant hypoglycemic effects surrounding TNFi initiation were observed in this large cohort. Sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine may have epidemiologically significant acute hypoglycemic effects.
基金the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31530020 and No.81401329)Beijing Sci-Tech Program (No.Z171100000417007).
文摘Background:Clinical remission is the treatment target in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).This study aimed to investigate clinical remission and related factors in a large cohort of patients with RA.Methods:This study composed of 342 patients with RA.Data were collected by face-to-face interview of 1049 patients with RA who visited the Department of Rheumatology of three teaching hospitals from September 2015 to May 2016.The patients with RA were clinically assessed by rheumatologists and a four-page questionnaire was completed on site.Subsequently,patients fulfilled remission criteria were further analyzed.The practicability of different definitions of remission of RA was rated by a panel of rheumatologists.Sustained intensive disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment was defined as a combination treatment with two or more DMARDs for at least 6 months.Results:In this cohort of 342 patients with RA,the proportions of patients achieving remission were 38.0%,29.5%,24.9%,21.1%,19.0%,18.1%,and 17.0%,based on criteria of disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) using CRP (DAS28-CRP),DAS28 using ESR (DAS28-ESR),routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID-3),Boolean,simplified disease activity index (SDAI),clinical disease activity index,and the newly described clinical deep remission (CliDR),respectively.Boolean and CliDR are the best in practicability scored by rheumatologists (7.5 and 8.0,respectively).Compared with the non-sustained intensive group,sustained intensive treatment with DMARDs yielded higher remission rates of 25.6%,23.8%,and 21.3% in patients with RA based on Boolean (χ^2=3.937,P=0.047),SDAI (χ^2=4.666,P=0.031),and CliDR criteria (χ^2=4.297,P=0.038).The most commonly prescribed conventional synthesized DMARDs (csDMARDs) in patients with RA was leflunomide,followed by methotrexate,and hydroxychloroquine.Compared with the non-remission group,patients achieving remission had a longer median duration of DMARDs (45.0 [22.8–72.3] months,Z=-2.295,P=0.022).Conclusions:The findings in this study indicated that clinical deep remission is achievable in patients with RA.Sustained intensive DMARD treatment is needed to achieve a better outcome in RA.
文摘Multiple sclerosis （MS） is a chronic and devastating autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. With the increased understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease in the past two decades, many disease-modifying therapies that primarily target adaptive immunity have been shown to prevent exacerbations and new lesions in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. However, these therapies only have limited efficacy on the progression of disability. Increasing evidence has pointed to innate immunity, axonal damage and neuronal loss as important contributors to disease progression. Remyelination of denuded axons is considered an effective way to protect neurons from damage and to restore neuronal function. The identification of several key molecules and pathways controlling the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and myelination has yielded clues for the development of drug candidates that directly target remyelination and neuroprotection. The long-term efficacy of this strategy remains to be evaluated in clinical trials. Here, we provide an overview of current and emerging therapeutic concepts, with a focus on the opportunities and challenges for the remyelination approach to the treatment of MS.
文摘A 30-year-old female patient with coexisting ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed and treated. The human leukocyte antigen （HLA）-B27 is a predisposing factor of ankylosing spondylitis and HLA-DR4 is a predisposing factor of rheumatoid arthritis. This patient was HLA-B27 and HLA-DR4 positive, and ankylosing spondylitis manifested before rheumatoid arthritis. After disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs successfully arrested ankylosing spondylitis activity the patient conceived and delivered a healthy baby. One year later, she developed peripheral polyarthritis and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. We hypothesized that pregnancy may be one of the environmental factors that can activate rheumatoid arthritis, and that disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs play an important role in keeping the disease under control.
