Publications by authors named "Ivan Vlak"
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation, joint pain, and progressive cartilage and bone erosion. Despite advancements in RA management with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics, some patients remain refractory to conventional treatments. Tetracyclines, such as minocycline and doxycycline, exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, making them potential supplementary treatments.
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- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients often lose muscle and handgrip strength, which makes it hard for them to live normal lives.
- This study looked at 267 RA patients in Croatia to see what factors, like their exercise habits and medications, affect their muscle strength.
- It found that for women, things like weight, height, and exercise help improve muscle strength, while certain medications and severe symptoms make it worse.
The aim of this study was to evaluate body composition, handgrip strength, quality of life, disease duration and activity and lifestyle habits in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate possible associations between all of the abovementioned factors. Seventy-five stable RA patients were included. Data on sociodemographic data, disease activity, quality of life, nutritional risk, body mass composition, anthropometric parameters, and clinical and laboratory parameters were collected for each study participant.
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