Comparisons between comorbid conditions and health care consumption in rheumatoid arthritis patients with or without biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs: a register-based study.

Background: Symptoms and prognosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have improved with more intensive therapy, including the biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). Real life data concerning how comorbidities are distributed among patients treated or not treated with bDMARDs are scarce. Our objective was to investigate differences in comorbidity and health care consumption in RA patients, with and without bDMARDs.

Vertebral fractures in ankylosing spondylitis are associated with lower bone mineral density in both central and peripheral skeleton.

Objective: To study the prevalence and risk factors for vertebral fractures (VF) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the relation between VF, measures of disease activity, and bone mineral density (BMD) in different measurement sites.

Methods: Patients with AS (modified New York criteria) underwent examination, answered questionnaires, and gave blood samples. Lateral spine radiographs were scored for VF (Genant score) and syndesmophyte formation through modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS).

Osteoporosis in ankylosing spondylitis - prevalence, risk factors and methods of assessment.

Introduction: Osteoporosis can be a complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but diagnosing spinal osteoporosis can be difficult since pathologic new bone formation interferes with the assessment of the bone mineral density (BMD). The aims of the current study were to investigate prevalence and risk factors for reduced BMD in a Swedish cohort of AS patients, and to examine how progressive ankylosis influences BMD with the use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine in different projections.

Methods: Methods of assessment were questionnaires, back mobility tests, blood samples, lateral spine radiographs for syndesmophyte grading (mSASSS), DXA of the hip, radius and lumbar spine in anteroposterior (AP) and lateral projections with estimation of volumetric BMD (vBMD).

Calprotectin in ankylosing spondylitis--frequently elevated in feces, but normal in serum.

Objectives: To investigate indirectly the prevalence of intestinal inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients by assessing the levels of fecal calprotectin, to study levels of serum calprotectin in AS, and to correlate the concentrations of calprotectin in feces and serum with reported gastrointestinal symptoms, medication, and measures of disease activity.

Methods: All patients fulfilling the Modified New York criteria of AS at the study centers were invited to participate. The patients answered questionnaires concerning medication, symptoms, and disease activity.

Differential effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on vascular reactivity of the forearm microcirculation in hyperlipidemic, overweight men.

Background: Recent evidence supports differential effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the 2 major omega3 fatty acids of marine origin, on blood pressure in humans and vascular reactivity in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats. We investigated possible differences in the effects of purified EPA or DHA on forearm vascular reactivity in overweight hyperlipidemic men that might contribute to the blood pressure-lowering effects of fish oils.

Methods And Results: With a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of parallel design, 59 overweight, mildly hyperlipidemic men were randomized to receive 4 g/d purified EPA, DHA, or olive oil (placebo) capsules while continuing their usual diets for 6 weeks.

Functional autoimmune epitope on alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in patients with malignant hypertension.

Because of the growing evidence that hypertensive disease is accompanied by immunological dysfunction, we have investigated autoimmunity in patients with malignant hypertension. Peptides corresponding to the sequence of the second extracellular loops of the human alpha 1-adrenergic receptor and the M2-muscarinic receptor were used as antigens in an ELISA. Serum from 4 (12%) of 33 healthy controls, 3 (20%) of 15 patients with malignant essential hypertension, and 7 (64%) of 11 with secondary hypertension showed positive responses in the ELISA for the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor peptide.

Abnormal immune function in malignant hypertension.

Objective: To investigate the extent to which the immune system is influenced in patients with previous malignant hypertension.

Design: Twenty-three patients with malignant hypertension (fundus hypertonicus grades III or IV) in the Gothenburg area were studied over a 3-year period. After treatment had been instituted they were investigated to establish the function of the cellular immune system (number of T lymphocytes and the proliferative response to T-cell mitogens), human leucocyte antigens A, B and C and frequency of autoantibodies.

Urinary kallikrein excretion is low in malignant essential hypertension.

Objective: To determine whether the urinary excretion of kallikrein is altered in patients with previously malignant hypertension.

Design: Twenty-two patients with malignant hypertension (fundus hypertonicus III or IV) in the Gothenburg area were studied over a 3-year period. After treatment had begun they were investigated for blood pressure control, family history of hypertension, renal function and urinary kallikrein and plasma prekallikrein concentrations.

Erythrocyte sodium transport in malignant hypertension.

Twenty-three patients with treated malignant hypertension (MH), 23 patients with treated non-malignant hypertension (NMH) and 46 normotensive control subjects were investigated with regard to intraerythrocyte sodium (Na) and potassium (K) levels, as well as transmembrane fluxes of sodium (Na-influx and Na-efflux rate constant). Intraerythrocyte Na and K concentrations were determined by flame photometry. The Na-influx and Na-efflux rate constant were calculated from uptake values for 22Na in vitro.

Increased secretion of immunoglobulins in malignant hypertension.

Recent evidence suggests that immunogenic factors may be of importance for development and maintenance of severe hypertension. Twenty-three patients with a previously malignant phase of hypertension (MH) were investigated with respect to serum levels as well as actual production of immunoglobulins (lgs) and compared with a group of 22 patients with non-malignant hypertension (NMH) and 45 matched normotensive control subjects (C). Patients with MH had a significantly elevated secretion of IgG and IgA as compared with C.