Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objective: To examine the localisation of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in the inflamed vessel wall in temporal arteritis (TA) and to measure MCP-1 in plasma both in patients with TA and patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods: By immunohistochemical techniques MCP-1 was localised to the vessel wall in patients with TA. In TA, PMR, and healthy controls MCP-1 was quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in plasma.

Human Parvovirus and giant cell arteritis: a selective arteritic impact?

Peak incidences of giant cell arteritis (GCA) following human Parvovirus epidemics were found in 2 previous epidemiological studies. The incidence of GCA [temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica (TA + PMR)] was studied before and after a major epidemic of human Parvovirus in 1994. Clinical data from the National Patient Register showed a significant inversion of the TA/PMR ratio during a 12-month period after an HPV epidemic.

A reduced CD8+ lymphocyte subset distinguishes patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis from patients with other diseases.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic and screening test qualities of concentrations of the CD8+ lymphocyte subset in peripheral blood to discriminate patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) from patients with other diseases.

Methods: A CD8+ lymphocyte test was performed in 454 patients from the Department of Medicine, Randers Central Hospital. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of the test were calculated and presented as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

[Synchronous variations in the incidence of temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica in Danish counties. Association with epidemics of Mycoplasma pneumonia infection].

The incidences of temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica during a twelve year period were studied in different regions of Denmark. Data concerning the incidences of these diagnoses were obtained from two general hospitals from 1982 to 1994 and from the National Patient Register of all diagnoses from all hospitals in 13 of 16 Danish counties from 1982 til 1993. Data from all temporal artery biopsies in two counties were also obtained.

Reduced CD8+ T-cell concentration in peripheral blood of patients with carotid artery stenosis: relation to arteritis temporalis.

The percentage and numbers of CD8+ T cells are markedly decreased in peripheral blood from patients with arteritis temporalis. Transient cerebral ischaemic attacks (TIA) or brain infarctions have been frequently reported as the first and only clinical manifestation, and signs of carotid artery stenosis have been reported in 15-20% of patients with arteritis temporalis. We used a determination of the CD8+ T-cell subset to evaluate patients with TIA.

Synchronous variations of the incidence of temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica in different regions of Denmark; association with epidemics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Objective: The etiology of temporal arteritis (TA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is unknown, but the sudden onset and the wide variation in incidence reported from various parts of the world suggest the existence of environmental and/or genetic factors. We studied the incidence of TA and PMR during a 12 year period in different regions of Denmark.

Methods: For the period 1982 to 1994, data were obtained on the incidence of PMR and TA prospectively recorded in 2 general hospitals, and for 1982 to 1993 on the incidence reported by legal requirement to the national patient register by all hospitals in 13 of the 16 counties in Denmark.

A genetic approach to the aetiology of giant cell arteritis: depletion of the CD8+ T-lymphocyte subset in relatives of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and arteritis temporalis.

Objective: To investigate the CD8+ T-cell concentrations in first degree relatives of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in order to evaluate whether the low CD8+ T-cell values found in most patients with GCA are acquired or hereditary.

Methods: Probands were 5 patients with arteritis temporalis (TA) and 15 with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Forty of 60 available relatives participated in the study.

[CD8+ T-lymphocytes. Evaluation of the diagnostic value in patients with giant cell arteritis].

In patients with temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, a marked depletion of percentage and number of circulating CD8+ T-lymphocytes are found in most cases. We assessed the diagnostic value of CD8+ levels in a larger group of patients with temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica before and after treatment with prednisolone and in relation to patients with other medical and rheumatic diseases. Median percentage and number of CD8+ cells in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica were significantly decreased (CD8+% 12.

Derivatives of bis-aldonic acid amides and their anticoagulant and antithrombotic properties.

Aprosulate sodium was the first representative of a new class of synthetic polyanions showing antithrombotic efficacy in different animal models. In several clinical trails (Phase I) in human volunteers aprosulate demonstrated anticoagulant properties, too. Searching for other active substances of similar structure, a series of bis-aldonic acid amides were synthesized.

Demonstration of flufenamic acid in histological sections.

A simple method is described to show the transdermal penetration of flufenamic acid (CAS 530-78-9) into the skin of laboratory animals. After topical application of gels and creams containing flufenamic acid the substance exerts a fluorescent painting in corium and subcutis of histological slides. This effect needs the chemical reaction between the test substance and sulphuric acid in synthetic resin sections.

Pharmacologic profile of the antithrombotic and bleeding actions of sulfated lactobionic acid amides.

1. The introduced bis-lactobionic acid amides represent a new group of synthetic polyanions with a molecular weight of 2387 to 2514d. The compounds are homogeneous and chemically defined.

Antithrombotic action of recombinant hirudin in a venous thrombosis model.

The dose- and time-dependent antithrombotic activity of recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) was examined in a new animal model of venous thrombosis. For the evaluation of the antithrombotic activity of r-hirudin, an occluding thrombus was produced by repeated clamping of the rat jugular vein. The number of clampings necessary to induce thrombosis served as a measure of antithrombotic activity.

Double blind placebo controlled trial of pulse treatment with methylprednisolone combined with disease modifying drugs in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To assess whether monthly treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone enhances or accelerates the effect of disease modifying drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Design: A 12 month double blind, placebo controlled, multicentre trial in which patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to receive pulses of either methylprednisolone or saline every four weeks for six months. At the start of the pulse treatment all patients were started on penicillamine or azathioprine.

CD8+ T lymphocyte subset in giant cell arteritis and related disorders.

Median percentage and number of circulating CD8+ T lymphocytes (suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes) are markedly decreased in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). We assessed the diagnostic usefulness of CD8+ T cell values, in 108 patients who had a temporal artery biopsy during a 3 year period. Histologic evidence of GCA was found in 26 patients.

[The effect on wound healing of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate].

Experimental Investigations on the Influence of Glycosaminoglycan Polysulfate on Wound Healing. The effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (GAGPS) on wound healing has been studied using two different animal models. In the first model the treatment with GAGPS significantly reduced the area of skin lesions on irradiated rats.

Serological and immunohistochemical determination of von Willebrand factor antigen in serum and biopsy specimens from patients with arteritis temporalis and polymyalgia rheumatica.

Von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) levels in serum from patients with untreated polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and arteritis temporalis (AT) were measured using an ELISA technique. The level in patients with AT was significantly higher (median 229%, range 182-358%) than in patients with PMR (median 190%, range 131-390%) and in controls (median 179%, range 65-296%). Using an immunoperoxidase technique and biopsy specimens from 21 temporal arteries (7 patients with AT, 7 with PMR and 7 with other diseases), vWF-Ag was localized in the luminal endothelium in all cases.

Anticoagulant and antithrombotic properties of synthetic sulfated bis-lactobionic acid amides.

Sulfated bis-lactobionic acid amides, a new class of polyanions with heparin-like properties, were synthesized and their antithrombotic and anticoagulant activities were determined. Compared to heparin and Fragmin, a low molecular weight heparin, the substances exhibited moderate to low anticoagulant activities in aPTT, thrombin clotting time and Heptest assays. In amidolytic assays no anti-IIa activity and only exceedingly low anti-Xa activity was observed.

CD8+ lymphocyte subset in polymyalgia rheumatica and arteritis temporalis. Inverse relationship between the acute hepatic phase reactants and the CD8+ T-cell subset.

Laboratory hallmarks of giant cell arteritis (GCA) are mainly an elevated ESR and a decreased level of the CD8+ T-lymphocyte subset. Because a normal or minimally raised ESR is found in 10-20% of patients with an active GCA, we assessed the role of the CD8+ T-cell subset in patients with high and low acute hepatic phase response. Fifty-five patients with active, untreated disease were studied.

[Percutaneous penetration of mucopolysaccharide-polysulfate ester from a combination preparation].

The cutaneous penetration of mucopolysaccharide polysulfate (MPS) from a commercial available combination drug (Mobilat) could be shown by means of histochemical and immunohistological methods. Deposition of MPS from ointment and gel in corium and subcutis of different animal species has been improved by the keratolytic activity of the salicylic acid component. There are differences in the intensity of absorption of MPS not only in the various animal species, but also caused by the particular galenic preparations investigated.

[Histopathologic studies modification of genetically fixed arthrosis in C 57 black mice by glycosaminoglycan polysulfate].

The effect of the chondroprotective substances glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (GAGPS) and chondroitin sulfate upon the genetically fixed osteoarthritis of C 57-black mice has been investigated. The histological preparation showed that at the age of 13 months all mice suffered from more or less severe articular changes resembling an osteoarthritis of the knee. In comparison to the control group, however, the degree of severity and the frequency of the arthrotic changes were significantly lower in the GAGPS groups.