scholarly journals Comparison of the Clinical Characteristics of Pneumocystis Pneumonia between Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Being Treated with Biologics and Those Being Treated without Biologics

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuhiro Akiyama ◽  
Yuko Kaneko ◽  
Tsutomu Takeuchi
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Pneumocystis Pneumonia ◽  
Normal Lymphocyte ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Antirheumatic Drugs ◽  
Lower Serum ◽  
Reactive Protein

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being treated with biologics and those being treated without biologics. Methods. From 8,630 patients with RA in our institution, we enrolled 24 patients who had developed PCP during the course of their treatment. They were divided into two groups according to the treatment they were receiving for RA: the biologics group (n=12) and the nonbiologics group (n=12). Clinical characteristics of PCP were compared between the two groups. Results. At PCP diagnosis, the biologics group showed significantly lower serum levels of β-D-glucan and C-reactive protein than the nonbiologics group, while the biologics group had significantly higher lymphocyte counts than the nonbiologics group. In the nonbiologics group, lower lymphocyte counts were associated with higher β-D-glucan levels; however, this was not observed in the biologics group. Conclusion. The finding that RA patients being treated with biologics developed PCP with relatively normal lymphocyte counts and lower β-D-glucan levels suggests that the pathophysiology of PCP in those patients is different from that in patients being treated with other antirheumatic drugs.

scholarly journals Elevated Serum Levels of Resistin, Leptin, and Adiponectin are Associated with C-reactive Protein and also Other Clinical Conditions in Rheumatoid Arthritis

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takumi Yoshino ◽  
Natsuko Kusunoki ◽  
Nahoko Tanaka ◽  
Kaichi Kaneko ◽  
Yoshie Kusunoki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Clinical Conditions

scholarly journals Expression of ICAM1 and VCAM1 Serum Levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Activity. Association with Genetic Polymorphisms

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Elena Navarro-Hernández ◽  
Edith Oregon-Romero ◽  
Mónica Vázquez-Del Mercado ◽  
Héctor Rangel-Villalobos ◽  
Claudia Azucena Palafox-Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Soluble Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Erythrocyte Sedimentation ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Elisa Technique

To investigate the association of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 with ICAM1 721G>A and VCAM1 1238G>C polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical activity, sixty RA patients and 60 healthy non-related subjects (HS) matched for age and sex were recruited. Soluble adhesion molecules were determined by ELISA technique. Rheumatoid factor (RF), C reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured by routine methods. Disability and clinical activity was measured with Spanish-HAQ-DI and DAS28 scores, respectively. The ICAM1 and VCAM1 polymorphism were identified using the PCR-RFLP procedure. Inter-group comparison showed increased levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in RA patients (284 and 481 ng/mL) versus HS (132 and 280 ng/mL); in the RA group, significant correlations between sVCAM-1 and RF (r= 0.402), ESR (r= 0.426), Spanish-HAQ-DI (r= 0.276), and DAS28 (r= 0.342) were found, whereas sICAM-1 only correlated with RF (r= 0.445). In RA patients, a significant association with the 721A allele of ICAM1 polymorphism (p= 0.04), was found. In addition, the allele impact (G/A+A/A) of this polymorphism was confirmed, (p= 0.038, OR = 2.3, C.I. 1.1–5.0). sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 serum levels reflected the clinical status in RA, independently of the ICAM1 and VCAM1 polymorphism. However, the ICAM1 721A allele could be a genetic marker to RA susceptibility.

scholarly journals Utility of ferritin, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein in severe patients with coronavirus disease 2019

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zhou ◽  
Jianqing She ◽  
Yadan Wang ◽  
Xiancang Ma
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Ferritin Level ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
The West ◽  
Clinical Prognosis ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Union Hospital ◽  
Poor Clinical Prognosis

Abstract Objectives It is of clinical significance to evaluate the disease severity and investigate possible biomarkers of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to describe the clinical characteristics of infection makers in severe and very severe patients with COVID-19.Methods This is a single center, observational analysis. We enrolled 48 in-hospital severe patients with COVID-19 admitted to the West District of Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College and analyzed infection biomarkers in 20 patients who had been tested for ferritin, PCT, CRP, etc.Results We noted significantly increased CRP (1.48mg/L [IQR: 16.69-2.74] vs. 57.98mg/L [IQR: 38.335-77.565], P<0.05), PCT(0.05ng/ml [IQR: 0.03-0.06] vs. 0.21ng/ml [IQR: 0.11-0.42], P<0.05) and ferritin (291.13ng/ml [IQR: 102.1-648.42] vs. 1006.16ng/ml [IQR: 408.265-1988.25]) in severe COVID-19. For blood count, significant increase was noticed in neutrophil count (3.75*10^9/L [IQR: 3.42-4.93] vs. 8.11*10^9/L [IQR: 5.675-8.905], P<0.05); and decrease was seen in lymphocyte count (1.62*10^9/L [IQR: 0.7-1.73] vs. 0.68*10^9/L [IQR: 0.385-1.04], P<0.05), and platelet count (214*10^9/L [IQR: 184-247] vs. 147*10^9/L [IQR: 126-202.5], P<0.05) in severe COVID-19.Conclusions The serum levels of CRP, PCT and ferritin are markedly increased in very severe compared with severe COVID-19. Increased CRP, PCT and ferritin level might correlate to secondary bacterial infection and associated with poor clinical prognosis.

scholarly journals The influence of tocilizumab immunogenicity markers on the effectiveness of treating rheumatoid arthritis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36
Author(s):  
Vladimir D. Nazarov ◽  
Sergey V. Lapin ◽  
Ksenia V. Tulenko ◽  
Rusana R. Samigullina ◽  
Vadim I. Mazurov
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Patient Visit ◽  
Drug Injection ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
The Impact

Purpose. The study assesses the impact of tocilizumab immunogenicity markers on clinical response to conducted treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods. A total of 17 patients with the confirmed diagnosis of RA receiving tocilizumab therapy for more than 1 year were enrolled into the study. Blood serum samples were collected once every six months before every drug injection during 2.5 years of treatment. The concentration of antibodies to tocilizumab and level of tocilizumab was determined using the ELISA. Additionally, DAS28 values were measured at the first and the last patient visit during the course of study, whereas levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells, platelets, rheumatoid factor, and circulating immune complexes were only measured at the last examination. Results. Positive correlations between the antibodies to tocilizumab and the last point DAS28 values were found, as well as a negative correlation of tocilizumab level and the level of DAS28. Conclusions. The data obtained indicate a significant effect of serum levels of tocilizumab, as well as of the concentration of antibodies to tocilizumab on the effectiveness of RA treatment. A routine study of these biomarkers might be useful for individualizing treatment approaches for RA patients and determining the causes of tocilizumab resistance.

scholarly journals Decrease in Serum Interleukin-21 Levels Is Associated With Disease Activity Improvement in Patients With Recent-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis

2014 ◽  
pp. 475-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. SGLUNDA ◽  
H. F. MANN ◽  
H. HULEJOVÁ ◽  
O. PECHA ◽  
L. PLEŠTILOVÁ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Disease Activity Score ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Interleukin 21

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of our study was to assess serum levels of IL-21 in patients with recent-onset RA in relation to disease activity and response to treatment. We analyzed serum levels of IL-21 in 51 RA patients, both before and 12 weeks after the initiation of treatment and in 36 healthy individuals. Disease activity was assessed at baseline and at weeks 12 and 24 using the Disease Activity Score for 28 joints, serum levels of C-reactive protein, and the total swollen joint count. We found that IL-21 levels were not increased in patients with recent-onset RA compared with healthy controls, but they had significantly decreased from baseline to week 12 during treatment. Baseline levels of IL-21 significantly correlated with measures of disease activity (p<0.02 for all). Although IL-21 levels did not predict achievement of remission, decrease in IL-21 levels correlated with improvement in disease activity after 12 weeks (p<0.02) and also after 24 weeks (p<0.04) of treatment. Our data suggest that circulating IL-21 levels may serve as a biomarker of disease activity and better outcome in early phase of RA.

Genetic Variation in TNF-α, its Relation with Inflammatory Biomarkers and Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khadiga Ahmed Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Serum Level ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Amplification Refractory Mutation System ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Mutation System ◽  
Potential Factor ◽  
Factor Α

Background: Tumor necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) is encoded and controlled by TNF-α gene, which is involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. This research aimed to identify genetic variations of TNF-α (G308A) and to establish its association with inflammatory markers in Rheumatoid Arthritis predisposition. Methods: In the present study, fifty RA patients and fifty volunteers were involved and evaluated for the C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, and TNF-α were estimated by ELISA, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) by Wintergreen method and for TNF-α-308 G>A polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction with amplification refractory mutation system (PCR-ARMS). Results: The CRP, RF, ESR and TNF-α were significantly elevated in RA patients relative to controls. The serum level TNF-α was also significantly elevated in female patients and in patients ≥50 years. Analysis of TNF-308 gene polymorphism revealed that GG genotypes were more prevalent in RA patients than in the healthy individuals and that GG genotype may be a potential factor to RA. The G allele was more common in RA than in the control. Elevated TNF-α serum levels were significantly associated the GG genotype and functional disability in RA patients. Conclusion: TNF-α promoter 308polymorphism GG genotype may be considered as a risk factor for RA and the TNF-α serum level was significantly related to the functional disability in the disease.

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