Impaired expression of erythrocyte glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane CD59 in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Relation to terminal complement pathway activation.

Objective: Complement-mediated injury is regulated by many factors; among these CD59 has been identified as a widely distributed glycoprotein that inhibits membrane C5b-9 (terminal complement component) formation. The aim of the study was to assess erythrocyte CD59 expression in patients with psoriatic arthritis in order to understand the role of CD59 in the pathogenesis.

Methods: Washed erythrocytes from 50 patients with psoriatic arthritis, 8 with cutaneous psoriasis and 24 healthy subjects were incubated with monoclonal anti-CD59 antibody followed by a second FITC conjugated antibody and fluorescence intensity analysed by FAC-Scan flow cytometer to assess their CD59 membrane expression.

[Periungual capillaroscopy in psoriatic arthritis].

Purpose: The aim of the study is the evaluation of the microcirculation trough periungueal capillaroscopy in patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen patients (mean age 44 years, nine males and nine females) were examined according to the different clinical forms (spondylitic, mutilans, simil-rheumatoid, onyco-arthritis, oligo-articular) of the disease.

Results: In most of the patients, the exam showed a reduction in ansas' density and in capillary length and calibre as well as interstitial edema and expansion of the ansa venular portion with coiling and kinking, demonstrating the re-organization of the veins and the neo-angiogenesis.

[Magnetic resonance imaging of seronegative sacroiliitis].

Introduction: The inflammatory involvement of the sacroiliac joint is frequent during seronegative spondylarthritis. The clinical diagnosis of sacroiliitis may be very difficult, especially in the early stage, because joint motion cannot be assessed directly and the clinical picture is very similar to that of lumbar pain. Conventional radiography is negative as long as the structural change in the joint is limited to the synovial membrane and the cartilage (early stage).

[Efficacy and tolerability of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To verify, in an open study, the efficacy and safety of long-term administration of low weekly doses (5 mg) of methotrexate (MTX) i.m. in different stage rheumatoid arthritis patients.

[Exfoliative conjunctival cytology in Sjögren's syndrome].

The study has been performed in order to give a contribution to the knowledge of the conjunctival cytology in Sjögren's syndrome. Exfoliated cells were obtained by a tampon from the inferior conjunctival sac of 11 patients affected by primary or secondary Sjögren's syndrome; the material was placed onto a microscope slide and it was stained with May-Grumwald-Giemsa, after the ferning test had been performed. Tear production had been previously assessed in all patients by Schirmer's I test and basic secretion test that showed an evident tear fluid hyposecretion.