[Development of studies on problem of infectious arthritis at the Institute of RHeumatology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in 1970 to 1990].

The paper presents information on the studies on the elucidation of the etiopathogenetic role of Chlamydia and Yersinia infections in reactive arthritis, which have been made at the Institute in the past decades. Among them it mentions the first experiments and subsequent findings of detection of both Chlamydia and DNA in joint tissues in urogenic arthritis, those of identification of altered minor forms of this microbe in chronic types, which mimic in vitro persistent Chlamydia infection. The clinical experience gained by the Institute in treating Chlamydia-induced urogenic arthritis with high-dose antibiotics is reported.

[The clinico-genetic characteristics of combined forms of seronegative spondylarthritis].

The authors present the results of clinico-genetic investigations made in 124 patients with combined forms of seronegative spondylarthritis. The combined and isolated forms are compared clinically. HLA-typing results are analysed.

[THe treatment of patients with chronic disease: the viewpoint of the physician and of the patient (exemplified by rheumatoid arthritis)].

The opinions of the experts and the patients with rheumatic arthritis in relation to the disease treatment and preventive measures have been analyzed. The views of the physicians coincided more frequently than those of the patients. It is emphasized that patients benefit from group and individual training, especially from individual conversations.

[Cartilage-protective preparations in the therapy of osteoarthrosis].

Based on an analysis of the current data on the pathogenesis of osteoarthrosis, the authors provide evidence for the importance of chondroprotective therapy. Present comparative experimental and clinical (tentative) data on the efficacy of chondroprotective drugs.

[The comparative efficacy of slow-acting (basic) preparations in psoriatic arthritis].

Overall 126 patients with verified and clinically active psoriatic arthritis (PA) were subjected to a randomized study of the efficacy of chrisanolum (Chr), sulfasalicylic drugs (SSD) (sulfasalazine and salazopyridazine) and methotrexate (MT) as compared to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). The treatment that lasted for a year was completed by 77 patients: in the group on NSAID, by 31, on Chr by 15, on SSD by 15, and on MT by 16. In the remainder, the treatment was discontinued because of side effects.

[Approach to evaluation of the indicators of Yersinia infections in reactive and rheumatoid arthritis].

A total of 140 patients with reactive arthritis due to Yersinia infection were under observation for 2-10 years. A group of 104 patients with erosive rheumatoid arthritis served as control for analysis of the results of bacteriological and serological studies. The bacteriological analysis of the feces, urine, smears of the feces and blood were made repeatedly.

[Immunoglobulin E in ankylosing spondylarthritis].

Ankylosing spondylarthritis (AS) patients (n-95) were examined for IgE concentrations using radioimmunoassay (commercial kits "Pharmacia"). Elevated IgE concentrations (greater than 100 Ku/l) were recorded in 16% out of 45 patients with central AS and in 40% out of 50 patients with peripheral AS (p less than 0.05).

[Microcirculatory disorders in patients with psoriatic arthritis].

As many as 39 patients with psoriatic arthritis were examined for hemorheology. Of these, 20 were examined at a time for the status of the microcirculatory bed in the skin and skeletal muscle by 133Xe clearance from the interstitial depot and by laser-Doppler flowmetry at the areas of the clinically intact skin. In 10 patients, the plasma blood viscosity was measured.

[The efficacy of bifidum-containing preparations in enterogenous reactive arthritis].

Analysis is made of the intestinal microflora in 43 patients suffering from reactive arthritides (ReA) that developed after intestinal infection. The overwhelming majority of the patients manifested a decrease of the level of the bifidoflora. The disorders of the intestinal microflora were related to the disease activity and standing.

[Evaluation of the activity of the inflammatory process in ankylosing spondyloarthritis].

A total of 139 patients with ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) (65 with the central form of the disease and 74 with the peripheral one) were examined to clarify the signs corresponding to the activity of the inflammatory process. To determine the degree of the inflammatory process activity in AS irrespective of its clinical forms the same laboratory indices can be used. With the central form of the disease some indices directly correlate with the markedness of pain and constraint in the spine.

[Ankylosing spondylarthritis beginning in childhood].

As many as 200 patients underwent comparative clinicoroentgenological and genetic examinations. The patients suffered from ankylosing spondylarthritis and were followed up for a long time. The patients were distributed into 2 groups depending on the age at which the disease commenced.

[Leukocyte function in reactive arthritis].

The authors studied ++chemotaxis, phagocytosis and the activity of intracellular enzymes of leukocytes in the peripheral blood of 90 patients with reactive arthritis as compared to 23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 28 healthy individuals. Disorders of all these parameters were noted. They correlated with the specific features of the clinical course of the disease and its activity.

[The microbiocenosis of the intestines and its influence on the course of postenterocolitic reactive arthritis].

The authors studied microbiocenosis of the intestine and its influence on the course of postenterocolitic reactive arthritis in 43 patients. The data obtained confirm the participation of intestinal dysbacteriosis in the development of a chronic form of reactive arthritis. The favourable effect of sour milk bifidumbacterin on articular manifestations in postenterocolitic reactive arthritis has been noted.

[Microbiocenosis and the status of the intestinal mucosa in alkylosing spondyloarthritis].

Intestinal microbiocenosis was examined in 53 patients with ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS). Of these, 23 had the central and 30 presented with the peripheral form. 34 patients underwent endoscopic examinations (rectoromanoscopy, ileocolonoscopy).

[Intra-articular administration of glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis from the doctor and patient's viewpoint].

Based on the opinions of 20 expert rheumatologists from two rheumatological hospitals a number of important assumptions are provided relative to the intraarticular administration of glucocorticoids in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The viewpoints appeared to be many and varied even within the frameworks of the same hospital. The ranging of some rehabilitation factors in certain parameters (efficacy, danger, availability, and so forth) demonstrated that the technique of intraarticular punctures is an effective and popular enough method for the treatment of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

[The state of the gastrointestinal tract in reactive arthritis].

The gastrointestinal tract status (GIT) was evaluated in 23 reactive arthritis (RA) patients: in 17 after intestinal infection, in 2 after urogenital infection, and in 4 after mixed infection. All the examined were found to have signs of diffuse variously pronounced chronic inflammation of the small and large intestine, impaired barrier function of the stomach, liver disorders, and moderate-severe intestinal dysbacteriosis with developing transitory bacteraemia in most severe cases. The GIT changes were correlated with the severity of the RA course.

[The development and testing of diagnostic criteria in psoriatic arthritis].

The paper is concerned with diagnostic criteria of psoriatic arthritis developed by the expert method. The criteria include 14 signs with the aid of which one can diagnose classical, definite and probable psoriatic arthritis. The sensitivity of the developed diagnostic criteria tried in 108 patients afflicted with psoriatic arthritis constitutes 99.

[A working classification and nomenclature of rheumatic diseases (pediatric aspects)].

The authors provide the working classification of rheumatic diseases prepared by a large group of scientists under the aegis of the All-Union Society of Rheumatologists and under the guidance of V. A. Nasonova, Academician of the USSR AMS.