Publications by authors named "Michiel M Zandbelt"

Objective: To investigate safety and tolerability and pilot efficacy of repeated single doses of Org39141 in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Org 39141 is recombinant human cartilage glycoprotein-39, intended to induce mucosal tolerance upon intranasal administration.

Methods: RA patients with moderate disease activity were treated for 4 weeks and followed for another 8 weeks.

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The presence of anti-alpha-fodrin autoantibodies has been reported to be a highly specific and sensitive test for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome (SjS). We looked (in Nijmegen) for anti-alpha-fodrin, anti-Ro60, and anti-La autoantibodies in a cohort of 51 patients with rheumatic diseases (primary SjS [21], secondary SjS 6, rheumatoid arthritis [RA] 12, systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] 6, and scleroderma 6) and in 28 healthy subjects, using ELISA, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation. The same samples were analyzed with an alternative anti-alpha-fodrin ELISA in Hanover.

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Objective: This pilot study evaluated the effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor-a antiinflammatory treatment with etanercept (Enbrel(R)) on sicca, systemic, and histological signs in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Methods: Fifteen patients with well defined primary SS were treated with 25 mg etanercept subcutaneously twice per week during 12 weeks, with followup visits at Weeks 18 and 24. Evaluation measures included a Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) questionnaire, serological monitoring, salivary flow tests, Schirmer test, rose bengal cornea staining, and tear film breakup time.

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