Use of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy in patients with concurrent rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis B or hepatitis C: a retrospective analysis of 32 patients.

The safety of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors in the setting of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections is controversial. The use of anti-TNF-α in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk of hepatitis re-activation. This paper reports experience of using etanercept and adalimumab in 32 patients with RA and previous HBV or HCV infection.

Complement and autoimmunity.

The complement system is a component of the innate immune system. Its main function was initially believed to be limited to the recognition and elimination of pathogens through direct killing or stimulation of phagocytosis. However, in recent years, the immunoregulatory functions of the complement system were demonstrated and it was determined that the complement proteins play an important role in modulating adaptive immunity and in bridging innate and adaptive responses.

Role of the complement system in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis: relationship with anti-TNF inhibitors.

The complement system is an essential component of innate immunity and also plays an important role in modulating adaptive immunity. It comprises more than 30 plasma and membrane-bound proteins and can be activated through three pathways: the classical, the alternative and the lectin pathways. Its activation contributes to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

High levels of peripheral blood NK cells in women suffering from recurrent spontaneous abortion are reverted from high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins.

Problem: To determine the levels of peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells in healthy women and recurrent aborters, and the effect of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) on these levels.

Method Of Study: A total of 659 women were evaluated for NK cells by means of flow cytofluorimetry: 42 non-pregnant healthy women, 394 non-pregnant recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) women, 36 pregnant healthy women and 187 pregnant RSA women. Fifty-four of the pregnant RSA women were treated with IVIG; in 18 of them NK cells were measured immediately before and after the very first IVIG infusion (0.