Background: The evidence on the use of dexamethasone implants in the treatment of Behçet's disease (BD)-related uveitis is limited to a few cases.
Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone implants on ocular functional, morphological, and clinical parameters in BD patients with severe refractory uveitis.
Methods: Five eyes from five BD patients were enrolled.
Objective: Atypical manifestations have been described in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV), such as pachymeningitis, orbital mass or chronic periaortitis. Because these manifestations have been associated to the spectrum of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), we hypothesized that both diseases could overlap.
Methods: We conducted a European retrospective multicenter observational study including patients fulfilling ACR and Chapel Hill criteria for AAV and IgG4-RD Comprehensive Diagnostic Criteria.
Objectives: To evaluate if the timing of appearance with respect to disease onset may influence the arthritis presentation pattern in antisynthetase syndrome (ASSD).
Methods: The patients were selected from a retrospective large international cohort of ASSD patients regularly followed-up in centres referring to AENEAS collaborative group. Patients were eligible if they had an antisynthetase antibody testing positive in at least two determinations along with arthritis occurring either at ASSD onset (Group 1) or during the course of the disease (Group 2).
Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to describe our experience with the recombinant Fab' antibody fragment against TNF-α Certolizumab Pegol (CZP) in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) refractory to standardized therapies and previous biologic agents.
Methods: Retrieved data including demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and previous treatments were collected in three different specialized Rheumatologic Units in Italy. In order to evaluate disease activity, the BD current activity form (BDCAF) has been used before starting CZP therapy and at each visit during treatment.
Interleukin (IL)-1 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD). To evaluate the efficacy and safety of anakinra (ANA) and canakinumab (CAN) in a large group of AOSD patients. Data on clinical, serological features, and concomitant treatments were retrospectively collected at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months from AOSD patients (Yamaguchi criteria) referred by 18 Italian centers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and the systemic corticosteroid sparing effect of a single intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant in patients with chronic noninfectious uveitic macular edema (UME).
Methods: Data from 22 eyes treated with DEX implant for UME related to systemic or ocular-confined noninfectious diseases were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: The mean systemic prednisone (or equivalent) dosage significantly decreased at 3- and 6-month follow-up evaluations compared to baseline (P = 0.
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides are rare systemic diseases that usually occur in adulthood. They comprise granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, Wegener's), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, Churg-Strauss syndrome). Their clinical presentation is often heterogeneous, with frequent involvement of the respiratory tract, the kidney, the skin and the joints.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOur aim was to retrospectively assess the role of golimumab as a treatment choice in patients with Behçet's disease (BD). Seventeen patients diagnosed with BD according to the international criteria were consecutively enrolled; the BD Current Activity Form (BDCAF) was used to evaluate disease activity. After having collected clinical data from patients, statistical analysis was performed to identify differences between the start of therapy and last visit; significance was defined as p < 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is well known that exercise training can deeply affect redox homeostasis by enhancing antioxidant defenses. However, exhaustive exercise can induce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to oxidative stress-related tissue injury and impaired muscle contractility. Hence, ROS represent important signaling molecules whose level has to be maintained to preserve normal cellular function, but which can also accumulate in response to repetitive muscle contraction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by recurrent arterial/venous thrombosis and miscarriages in the persistent presence of autoantibodies against phospholipid-binding proteins (aPLs), such as β2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI). In addition to the aPL thrombophilic effect, arterial thrombosis was related to accelerated atherosclerosis in animal models; however, contrasting findings were reported in primary APS patients with regard to the increased number of plaques or abnormal arterial wall thickness. We investigated the cytokine production induced by β2GPI in activated T cells that infiltrate in vivo atherosclerotic lesions of primary APS patients with atherothrombosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGiant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common form of vasculitis in individuals older than 50 years in Western countries. To shed light onto the genetic background influencing susceptibility for GCA, we performed a genome-wide association screening in a well-powered study cohort. After imputation, 1,844,133 genetic variants were analyzed in 2,134 case subjects and 9,125 unaffected individuals from ten independent populations of European ancestry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to evaluate the role of interleukin (IL)-1 inhibitors anakinra (ANA) and canakinumab (CAN) in the treatment of Behçet's disease (BD)-related uveitis. Multicenter retrospective observational study includes 19 consecutive BD patients (31 affected eyes) received treatment with anti-IL-1 agents. Data were analyzed at baseline and at 3 and 12 months.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) in a large series of Behçet's disease (BD)-related uveitis. We performed a multicenter retrospective observational study including 40 selected patients (66 eyes) receiving ADA. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed at baseline, at 3 and 12 months of treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInterleukin (IL)-1 inhibitors have been suggested as possible therapeutic options in a large number of old and new clinical entities characterized by an IL-1 driven pathogenesis. To perform a nationwide snapshot of the on-label and off-label use of anakinra (ANA) and canakinumab (CAN) for different conditions both in children and adults. We retrospectively collected demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data from both adult and pediatric patients treated with IL-1 inhibitors from January 2008 to July 2016.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenopathy (PFAPA) syndrome is a non-Mendelian autoinflammatory disorder until now considered to be specifically limited to paediatric age. Recently, an increasing number of reports seems to suggest that PFAPA syndrome, diagnosed by the Marshall criteria revised by Thomas et al., can also affect adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOur aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of adalimumab (ADA) during a 24-month study period in patients affected with Behçet's disease (BD). Clinical and therapeutic data from 100 consecutive BD patients treated with ADA were retrospectively collected and statistically analyzed. At 12-week follow-up, ADA induced clinical efficacy in 81 patients, with a mean time to response of 7.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMediastinal fibrosis is a rare disease characterised by fibrous proliferation in the mediastinum. It can be idiopathic or secondary to several conditions such as infections and malignancies. Anecdotal reports have described idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis (IMF) in association with other fibro-inflammatory or autoimmune diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study objective was to evaluate the occurrence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in patients with Behcet's disease (BD), looking at potential correlations with specific demographic, clinical, and therapeutic features. Forty-four consecutive patients (15 males, 29 females) fulfilling the International Study Group (ISG) and/or the International Criteria for Behçet's Disease (ICBD) were enrolled. The endpoints of the study consisted in identifying a deflection of at least 25 dB on pure-tone audiometry and performing statistical analysis to evaluate demographic, clinical, or therapeutic differences between patients with and without SNHL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutoimmune diseases are not infrequently associated with arterial or venous thrombotic events. Chronic inflammation and immune system impairment are considered the main pathogenetic mechanisms. Some of the drugs used in the treatment of such diseases have been associated with an increased risk of thrombosis.
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