[The role of laboratory biomarkers in monitoring of rituximab biosimilar therapy (Acellbia, "BIOCAD") in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Aim: to evaluate the role of laboratory biomarkers in monitoring effectiveness of rituximab (RTM) biosimilar therapy in a total dose of 1200 mg.

Materials And Methods: 20 patients (pts) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (18 woman, mean age 61.5(54-66.

[Combined medication ARTRA in the treatment of osteoarthrosis].

Aim: To study clinical effectiveness, safety and duration of the effect of combined medication ARTRA (500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride+500 mg chondroitine sulphate) in osteoarthrosis.

Material And Methods: Ninety women aged 40-75 suffering from knee OA and satisfying diagnostic criteria for OA of American Rheumatological Committee having x-ray II-III stages according to Kellgren-Lawrence; with distinct pain syndrome (pain intensity at walking 40 mm and more by the analogue visual scale); taking NSAIDS regularly during 30 days within 3 months before the study were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: 45 patients of the study group taking 1 tablet ARTRA 2 times a day within the first month, than 1 tablet a day within the following 5 months and diclofenac sodium 50 mg 2 times a day with gradual decrease of the dosage as the pain was decreasing; 45 patients of the control group taking only diclofenac sodium 50 mg twice a day during 6 months.

[Experience in long-term therapy of active rheumatoid arthritis with leflunomide].

Aim: To study therapeutic potential of a novel basic drug leflunomide in suppression of activity and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material And Methods: Leflunomide efficacy was investigated in a 36 month trial including 50 patients with moderate and high activity RA. Monthly registrations were made of the articular syndrome quantitative parameters (Richi's index, number of painful and swollen joints, severity of pain and general condition of the patient), morning stiffness duration, ESR, CRP, RF.

[Changes in indices of inflammatory activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during early stages of basic therapy with leflunomide].

Aim: To assess leflunomide efficacy and tolerance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the first four months of the treatment.

Material And Methods: The study included 200 RA patients treated in four Moscow clinical centers. Leflunomide was given in a dose of 100 mg/day for 3 days, then 20 mg/day for 16 weeks.

[Use of monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (remicade) in rheumatoid arthritis: preliminary results].

Aim: To study effectiveness and tolerance of monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (the drug remicade) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material And Methods: Remicade treatment results are considered for 25 RA patients receiving methotrexate the activity of which was inadequate for these patients. Remicade was infused intravenously in a dose 200 mg 4 times for 22 weeks.

[Soluble receptors of TNF-alpha with molecular mass 55 kDa in rheumatoid arthritis: clinical role].

Unlabelled: To evaluate clinical implications of the serum level of soluable receptors of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) with molecular mass 55 kDa (rTNF-55R) in rheumatoid arthritis, serum levels of rTNF-55R and rTNF-75R were measured with the use of radioimmunoassay in 76 RA patients, 38 donors and in 25 RA patients, 10 donors, respectively.

Results: Elevated serum level of rTNF-55R was recorded in 55.3% RA patients.

[Nimesil effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis].

Clinical efficiency and safety of nimesil were studied in the multicenter open clinical trial of 52 patients with verified rheumatoid arthritis. Nimesil was given for 12 weeks in a daily dose 200-400 mg in addition to basic therapy. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment and after its end.

[Current approaches to assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity].

Aim: To compare domestic criteria of RA activity and the disease activity scores (DAS).

Material And Methods: Russian criteria of RA activity and DAS were used in 99 RA patients.

Results: It is shown that RA activity by DAS is higher than when it is assessed by criteria practiced in Russia.

[Subreum efficacy and tolerance in patients with early rheumatic arthritis].

Aim: To evaluate effectiveness and tolerance of subreum in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material And Methods: 44 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Subreum was given as a single drug and in combination with other basic drugs.

[Soluble receptors of TNF-alpha in rheumatoid arthritis].

The serum level of soluble TNF-alpha receptors with molecular mass 55 kDa (sTNF-a55R) was measured by enzyme immunoassay with commercial kits in 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 38 healthy donors. High sTNF-a55R serum levels were registered in 90% of RA patients. These levels correlated with RA activity by DAS.

[Structum (chondroitin sulfate)--a new agent for the treatment of osteoarthrosis].

Aim: To study efficiency and tolerance of Structum in gonarthrosis patients as well as duration of its effect after discontinuation.

Materials And Methods: 100 patients with femorotibial gonarthrosis aged 45 years and older entered an open randomised trial. They had knee joint arthrosis satisfying diagnostic criteria OA ACR at stage II-III according to Kellgren-Lawrence with pain syndrome.

[Soluble adhesion molecules (P-selectin, ICAM-1 and ICAM-3) in rheumatoid arthritis].

Aim: Investigation of serum levels and clinical role of soluble intercellular molecules of adhesion (pICAM-1, PICAM-3 and pP-selectin) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials And Methods: Enzyme immunoassay with Bender MedSystem kits (Austria) was employed to measure serum concentration of soluble intercellular molecules of adhesion in 36 RA patients.

Results: Elevated levels of serum pICAM-1, pICAM-3 and pP-selectin were registered in 74.

[Neopterin: laboratory marker of cellular immunity activation in rheumatoid arthritis].

Aim: Measurement of neopterin in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials And Methods: 59 patients with verified RA diagnosis (22 cases of joint lesion stage I-IIa, 27 of stage IIb-IIIa, 10 of stage IIIb-IV established roentgenologically, 48 patients were seropositive by IgM-rheumatoid factor) were examined for concentrations of serum neopterin and C-reactive protein (CRP). The activity and prognostic factors were characterized by modified Wilke method, the severity index was calculated.

[Comparison of myocardial effects of various antirheumatic modalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (prospective clinico-echocardiographic study)].

A prospective study was conducted of basic antirheumatic drugs (chrisanolum, myocrisin, ridaura, chlorbutin, D-penicillamine) versus nonspecific antiinflammatory treatment in 127 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The drugs were compared by their effect on myocarditis. Basic antirheumatic drugs were found much superior to nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs.

[A trial of the use of the preparation Arthrotec for treating rheumatic diseases].

A clinical trial of arthrotek (Searle) in 60 RA patients aged 16-77 years demonstrated its high anti-inflammatory activity in 47 of them. These patients have received a complete treatment course, 10 patients were not included in the overall estimations because of side affects (gastric pains and nausea) causing them to withdraw early in the treatment course, 3 patients were nonresponders. The responders experienced attenuation of joint pain, morning stiffness.

[A multicenter evaluation of efficacy and tolerance in the local treatment with dolgit cream of patients with osteoarthrosis].

A 2-week clinical trial of cream dolgit efficacy and tolerance in 76 patients with primary osteoarthritis in 8 rheumatological centers showed this preparation to reduce local pain syndrome in 70.1%, palpation pain sensitivity in 79.2%, joint swelling in 75.

[Diclonate P in rheumatoid arthritis].

Diclonate P (sodium diclofenac, Pliva, Zagreb) was used in the treatment of 74 patients with rheumatoid arthritis as the basic antirheumatic drug. Analgesic and antiinflammatory activity and good tolerance of three dosage forms (tablets, suppositories, ampoules) of diclonate P were established on a statistically significant basis. In some parameters the drug compares very favourably with its chemical analogs.

[Heart defects in rheumatoid arthritis patients (the results of a multiyear prospective clinico-echocardiographic study)].

The analysis of life-time diagnosis of valvular heart disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients has been made basing on a long-term clinico-echocardiographic investigation. Within 18-year follow-up valvular disease was revealed in 17 out of 214 RA patients (7.9%).