Effects of Anti-TNF alpha Therapy on Blood Pressure in Resistant Hypertensive Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: The cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is elevated in resistant hypertension (RH), but the effects of a TNF-α inhibitor in this population is unknown.

Objective: The aim of this trial was to evaluate whether a single dose of infliximab controlled by placebo acutely reduces blood pressure (BP) in RH subjects.

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted, and randomized RH subjects received either infliximab or placebo.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Pregnancy: A Single-Center Observational Study of 69 Pregnancies.

Objective:  To evaluate the effects of pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods:  The present article is a retrospective cohort study. Data were collected from medical records of pregnant women with SLE from January 2002 to December 2012 at Universidade Estadual de Campinas, in the city of Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil.