Severe deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25-OH-D₃) is associated with high disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aims to measure the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25-OH-D₃) in 302 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), studying the association to disease activity. Three hundred two RA patients underwent clinical examination and serological analysis. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D₃ was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A study of the prevalence of sicca symptoms and secondary Sjögren's syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and its association to disease activity and treatment profile.

Aim: To examine the prevalence of sicca symptoms and secondary Sjögren's syndrome (sSS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and the impact of sSS on disease activity and treatment profile in RA patients.

Methods: Three hundred and seven RA patients responding positive to at least one of the questions in a questionnaire about sicca symptoms, were examined by Schirmer I test for tear production, and unstimulated whole saliva collection (USWC). Secondary Sjögren's syndrome was defined by at least one subjective sicca symptom, in addition to a positive Schirmer I test and positive USWC.

Prevalence of IgA class antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Determine the prevalence of anti-CCP isotype IgA and its relation to peripheral arthritis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In a population-based cohort of 654 patients with a definitive diagnosis of IBD, 521 patients were clinically examined by a rheumatologist 6 years after IBD diagnosis Blood serum samples of 416 of these patients were available and analyzed. Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides anti-CCP IgA were determined in the serum samples by an immunofluoresence technique ELiA TM.

Prevalence of IgA class antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, and its association to clinical manifestations.

This study aims to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-CCP isotype IgA in a population of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Sixty-two patients diagnosed according to the USA-European classification criteria for pSS were examined two to four times during a 60.4-month follow-up, and clinical and laboratory data were registered prospectively.

Do rheumatoid arthritis patients in clinical practice benefit from switching from infliximab to a second tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor?

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of switching to a second biological drug in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Since 2000, Danish RA patients (n = 1021) receiving biological therapy have been registered in the nationwide DANBIO database. The first and second treatment series of patients, who switched therapy before 2005 (n = 235), were analysed for their reasons for switching, Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), DAS28 improvement, European League against Rheumatology (EULAR) response and drug survival.