Loss of functional capacity caused by a delayed onset of DMARD therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term follow-up results of the Keitel function test. Brief definite report.

The aim of this analysis was to investigate the impact of the postponement of DMARD therapy on the functional outcome of rheumatoid arthritis after 10 years of disease. 321 individuals with a disease duration of at least ten years were selected out of a cohort of more than 1800 patients. Two groups were analysed separately: patients who started DMARD therapy within the first year of their disease, and patients who received their first DMARD not earlier than five years after the onset of RA.

Long-term application of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD). A single-center, observational study of 1681 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objective: To study the long-term efficacy and safety of methotrexate (MTX), intramuscular gold, azathioprine (AZA), chloroquine (CQ), sulphasalazine (SASP), and D-penicillamine (DPA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Between 1979 and 1994, clinical data were prospectively gathered in a single center. 1681 patients were followed-up for at least 4 years.

Efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of methotrexate, chloroquine and cyclophosphamide in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis: results of an observational study with matched-pair analysis.

The efficacy and safety of a combination of methotrexate (MTX), chloroquine (CQ) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) were studied in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis. A single-centre, matched-pair observational study with prospectively gathered data was performed. Fifty-six patients who had previously failed with MTX were treated with 15 mg MTX per week, 50 mg CYC three times a week and 250 mg CQ per day (group A).

Matrix metalloproteinases, but not cathepsins B, H, and L or their inhibitors in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are potentially useful markers of disease activity.

Objective: The clinical activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not reliably reflected by laboratory measures. Proteolytic enzymes involved in the cascade of joint destruction are potentially useful parameters to monitor the extent of joint inflammation in RA. This study compares the validity of two classes of proteolytic enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and lysosomal cysteine proteinases (cathepsin B, H, and L) as well as their respective inhibitors to serve as parameters of RA disease activity.

Circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-3 and MMP-1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), and MMP-1/TIMP-1 complex in rheumatic disease. Correlation with clinical activity of rheumatoid arthritis versus other surrogate markers.

Objective: To investigate whether plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases 3 (MMP-3, stromelysin), MMP-1 (collagenase), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), and MMP1/TIMP-1 complex (MT complex) are specifically elevated in erosive joint diseases compared to nonerosive rheumatic diseases, and to assess how these markers reflect the clinical activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to circulating cytokines and markers of connective tissue turnover as well as established variables [C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid factor titer].

Methods: Plasma levels of MMP-3, MMP-1, TIMP- 1, and MT complex were determined by ELISA. One hundred fifteen patients with RA, 20 with osteoarthritis (OA), 28 with psoriasis arthritis (PsA), 24 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 3 groups with systemic autoimmune diseases, and 30 healthy controls were analyzed.