The effectiveness for prevention of tuberculosis in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases treated with TNF inhibitors.

Background: New biologic therapies blocking TNF undoubtly constitute a considerable advancement in the management mentioned diseases, but are also associated with higher risk of activation of tuberculosis.

Methods: An assessment of tuberculosis activation rate in the group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis threated by anti-TNF inhibitors since January 1st 2001 to June 30th 2007 in Slovakia and went in for special anti-tuberculosis screening before start of therapy.

Results: A total 537 rheumatic patients received the anti-TNF therapy.

CC chemokine receptor 5 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and also mononuclear cell-attractant chemokines CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5 have been implicated in the immunopathogenesis of primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS). Both the gene coding for receptor CCR5 binding the aforementioned CCL ligands and the gene for IL-1Ra are polymorphic. We have therefore in a case control study assessed the putative role of these "candidate" polymorphic genes in the inflammatory process in Sjögren syndrome.

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with a topical non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug. Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the efficacy and safety of a 5% ibuprofen cream.

The efficacy and safety of a 5% ibuprofen cream (Dolgit cream) in primary knee osteoarthritis was assessed in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study with an adaptive sequential design. The background of the study was the need to confirm the efficacy of ibuprofen cream. Patients aged 40-75 years, with a visual analog scale (VAS) score of pain on motion of 40 mm, a Lequesne index score of 5-13 points, and a Kellgren and Lawrence radiographic score of grade II-III were enrolled between September 1999 and November 2000.

Six-month prospective study to monitor the treatment of rheumatic diseases with sustained-release flurbiprofen.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in the therapy of both inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the locomotor system. Due to the relatively high occurrence of adverse effects, mainly on the gastrointestinal tract, NSAID therapy often has to be discontinued. Studies focusing on long-term NSAID therapy end points are rare.