[Case of eosinophilic fasciitis with change of serum Th 1/Th 2 cytokine level which correlated with disease activity].

A 25-year-old female who had right knee and ankle joint swelling with arthralgia in July 1999, was diagnosed as having eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) based on typical skin sign and the result of muscle biopsy. Treatment was started with 20 mg of oral prednisolone per day. Her symptoms had subsided but they later recurred as the prednisolone dose was gradually tapered.

[A case of non-specific interstitial pneumonia in patient with microscopic polyangiitis].

Non-specific interstitial pneumonia developed as an initial manifestation in a patient with microscopic polyangiitis. A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in March 2001, because of fever and intermittent myalgia of lower extremities. Chest X-ray had revealed reticular shadows in the bilateral middle and lower lung fields since 1996.

Cytokine production profile in patients with Behcet's disease treated with infliximab.

Although the etiology of Behcet's disease (BD) still remains uncertain, various immune abnormalities have been implicated in BD. We studied cytokine production in patients with active and inactive BD, and evaluated the effect of treatment with infliximab (anti-TNF-alpha antibody) on disease activity and cytokine production by the ELISPOT assay. The numbers of cells spontaneously secreting IFN-gamma, IL-12, and TNF-alpha were significantly increased in patients with active BD.

[A solitary lung lesion in Wegener's granulomatosis, which was difficult to differentiate from lung neoplasm].

A 35-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of a persistent nasal obstruction and headache. In the laboratory findings, inflammatory reactions were seen, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR 3-ANCA) was positive. He was diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) based on the above symptoms, PR 3-ANCA positivity and pathology of nasal mucosa.

[Two cases of limited cutaneous nodular amyloidosis with primary Sjögren's syndrome].

We described two female patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome associated with localized cutaneous nodular amyloidosis (LCNA), in which amyloid protein was derived from immunoglobulin light chain. Case 1; a 70-year-old female had complained with polyarthralgia, low-grade fever and parotid gland swelling. She was diagnosed as primary Sjögren's syndrome.

An autopsy case of intravascular lymphomatosis with dermatomyositis.

A 62-year-old man was admitted to hospital with general malaise, arthralgia, edema, and high-grade fever. He was diagnosed as dermatomyositis because of typical skin rashes and muscle weakness. His symptoms were improved by high-doses of prednisolone and cyclosporin A, with the exception of the skin rash over the back.

[Difference in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by internists and orthopedists: a survey at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000].

Objective And Methods: One of the reasons of the wide variation in the management of RA in Japan might be due to the different behaviors between internists and orthopedists. To investigate this possibility, a survey was done at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000.

Results: Four hundred and ninety clinicians responded to our survey, including 212 internists and 252 orthopedists, respectively.

[How Japanese clinicians treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA): a survey at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000].

Objective And Methods: To gain insight into the current management of RA in Japan, a survey was done at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000.

Results: Four hundred and ninety clinicians responded to our survey, including 212 internists and 252 orthopedists, respectively. In the management of RA, there was a wide difference between their present behaviors and the ideal way they believe.