[Bronchiectasis in rheumatoid arthritis. High resolution computed pulmonary tomography].

To evaluate the prevalence of bronchiectasis in rhumatoid arthritis (RA) we have study thirty patients (24 women and 6 men), with a mean age of 45,2 years. All patients have a RA with a follow up of 5,84 years, positive rhumatoid factor were found in 22 cases. All patients have had high resolution computed pulmonary tomography, study of clinical, radiological and spirometry parameters.

[Leflunomide in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

The aim of this study was to assess the effect and safety of leflunomide (LEF) in refractory RA and to review the literature on this subject. A one year prospective study was conducted on a group of patients (n:15). Mean duration disease was 6.

[Cardiac involvement in spondylarthropathies].

Cardiac involvement is a real manifestation of spondylarthropathies and include specially aortic regurgitation and conduction troubles. We present a prospective open study of fifty patients with spondylarthropathy (responded to Amor criteria) in order to evaluate the frequency of cardiac involvement, to see its type and if we can evaluate a group of patients able to this complication. We have included forty-four men and six women with a mean age of 38 years.

[TNF alfa modulators in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Current slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs available at now for rheumatoid arthritis fail in majority of cases and have an inconstant chondro-protective effect. Improvements in our knowledge of its pathogenesis and advances in molecular biology have made possible to develop selective immunotherapy approaches. Tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF alfa) is an important inflammatory mediator that play a crucial role in rheumatoid arthritis.

[Efficacy of cyclines in agammaglobulinemia arthritis].

Five to 40% of patients with agammaglobulineamia develop joint manifestation consisting of septic arthritis or aseptic arthritis of unclear pathogenesis. Intravenous gamma-globulin therapy seems effective on the better condition but is burden-some and expensive. We report the case of a 31-year old woman, having a common variable immunodeficiency that has a chronic oligoarthritis seronegative and not warping.

[Plasmocytic lymphoma/multiple myeloma. Association or transformation?].

Extramedullary plsmocytoma (plasmocytic lymphoma) is very rare, it seems to have an indolent course and the progression to a multiple myeloma is very rare (about 30 cases are reported in the literature). We report the case of 68-old-woman who presented in 1997 with an axillary left node. Physical examination, biologic and radiologic tests were normal.

[Antigliadin antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis].

We had study on the antibodies antigliadin type IgA in 40 patients having rheumatoid arthritis (33 Women and 7 men; middle age 51 years; rheumatoid factors was positive in 60%; the follow up of patient is 5.9 years). The technique applied is by ELISA.