Pro-inflammatory interleukins in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis associated with joint hypermobility.

Background: Joint hypermobility (JH) is frequently seen in rheumatology; in some cases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it may represent a worsening of disease evolution. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of joint hypermobility on RA synovial fluid (SF) inflammation. Patients and methods.

Bactericidal/permeability increasing protein and proinflammatory cytokines in synovial fluid of psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: Bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (BPI) is a leukocyte product exerting antibacterial activity. Its production may be stimulated by cytokines, mainly Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) alpha. We studied BPI in the synovial fluid (SF) of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a disease suspected to be influenced by infectious agents.

Tryptophan catabolism in synovial fluid of various arthropathies and its relationship with inflammatory cytokines.

Synovial fluids (SF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), gout, and osteoarthritis (OA) were investigated for the levels of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8, tryptophan (Trp) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity. Significant differences exist in the levels of IL-1 beta between inflammatory arthritides RA, PsA and gout and non inflammatory arthritis, such as OA. The highest concentration of IL-1 beta was found in RA, that showed high levels also of IL-6 and IL-8.

Clinical, laboratory and immunogenetic aspects of post-traumatic psoriatic arthritis: a study of 25 patients.

Objective: In a previous study we demonstrated that the prevalence of trauma preceding arthritis was higher in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS); of 300 consecutive patients with PsA, 25 (8%) had a history of trauma before (< 3 months) the onset of the disease. The present study was carried out to characterize the clinical, laboratory and immunogenetic profiles of post-traumatic (PT)-PsA.

Patients And Methods: The clinical and laboratory features of 25 patients with PT-PsA were studied at onset (first 6 months) and after a follow-up period of 1-7 years, and were compared with those of 275 PsA patients without any history of trauma (nonPT-PsA).

Clinical, laboratory and immunogenetic aspects of arthritis associated with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.

Objective: Synovial fluid effusions and/or arthritis may be found in patients with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT), even in the absence of hypothyroidism. Sometimes these arthropathies can be attributed to the rheumatic diseases frequently associated with CLT, but in some instances the arthritis seems to be independent of any of the diseases known to cause arthritis, and therefore remains unclassified. This study was carried out in an attempt to characterize the type and outcome of arthritis associated with CLT.