Risk, predictors, and clinical characteristics of lymphoma development in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: To assess the risk and predictors of lymphoma development in a large cohort of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: Cox-regression analyses were used to study the predictive value of clinical and laboratory findings at pSS diagnosis, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves to compare survival probability between patients who developed lymphoma and the total cohort. Expected risk for lymphoma was calculated by comparison with the background population.

Stroke and multi-infarct dementia as presenting symptoms of giant cell arteritis: report of 7 cases and review of the literature.

Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) and multi-infarct dementia have rarely been reported as presenting symptoms of giant cell arteritis (GCA), although 3%-4% of patients with GCA may present with CVAs during the course of the disease. We describe 7 patients with biopsy-proven GCA who presented with stroke or multi-infarct dementia. Most of them had other symptoms of GCA when the disease began that were misdiagnosed or not noticed.

Paraneoplastic vasculitis in patients with solid tumors: report of 15 cases.

Objective: To review all cases of concurrent vasculitis and solid tumors diagnosed at our Department over a 15-year period and explore evidence that would support the notion of vasculitis being a true paraneoplastic syndrome.

Methods: We reviewed the records of all patients diagnosed with vasculitis and solid tumors within 12 months of each other and prospectively followed until death or our report. We analyzed the main features and outcome of vasculitis in this setting.

Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in giant cell arteritis: involvement in vascular remodeling.

Background: Both matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9) have been postulated to play roles in the pathophysiology of giant cell arteritis (GCA) because of their ability to degrade elastin. Understanding the specific mediators of arterial damage in GCA could lead to new therapeutic targets in this disease.

Methods And Results: Temporal artery biopsy specimens were obtained from 147 consecutive patients suspected of GCA.

No detection of parvovirus B19 or herpesvirus DNA in giant cell arteritis.

Background: Compelling arguments exist for a role of infectious agent in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Parvovirus B19 and several herpesviruses have focussed the attention in recent years, but the few studies to date have yielded inconsistent results.

Objectives: To study the relationship between the presence of parvovirus B19 DNA or major known herpesviruses and the histopathological features of GCA.