Real-world evidence on methotrexate-free subcutaneous tocilizumab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: 24-week data from the SIMPACT study.

Objectives: The aim of the SIMPACT study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MTX-free s.c. tocilizumab (TCZ) therapy in RA patients.

The association of HLA-C and ERAP1 polymorphisms in early and late onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients of Hungary.

Introduction: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HLA-C and ERAP1 genes were recently determined to contribute to psoriasis susceptibility. However, data regarding the association of these genes with specific subgroups of psoriasis are scarce.

Aim: To examine the possible association of the HLA-C and ERAP-1 polymorphisms with early and late onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Acceptability of less than perfect health states in rheumatoid arthritis: the patients' perspective.

Some health problems are considered by many individuals as a 'normal' part of ageing. Our aim was to investigate whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) consider different types and levels of health losses as acceptable beyond a certain age. A multicenter cross-sectional survey was performed involving RA patients at the initiation of the first biological therapy.

Disease activity after the discontinuation of biological therapy in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

The objectives of this study are to explore the causes of permanent discontinuation of biological therapies in inflammatory rheumatic diseases and to analyse the subsequent course of the disease activity. In this multi-centre retrospective cohort study, data on 126 rheumatoid arthritis, 38 ankylosing spondylitis and 11 psoriatic arthritis patients were analysed, in whom biological therapies had been permanently discontinued. The reasons for the cessation of biologics, the DAS28 or BASDAI disease activity indices at the time of discontinuation and thereafter, and the subsequent occurrence of relapses and the duration of remission or low disease activity were investigated.

Genetic risk and protective factors of TNFSF15 gene variants detected using single nucleotide polymorphisms in Hungarians with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The aim of this study was to examine the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of the tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15) gene in Hungarians with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. A case-control study was performed, and five TNFSF15 SNPs (rs3810936, rs6478108, rs6478109, rs7848647, rs7869487) were genotyped in 319 patients with psoriasis, 105 of whom also have psoriatic arthritis, and in 200 healthy individuals. Three haplotypes (A, B, C) based on these five SNPs were also analyzed.

Incidence of lymphoma in systemic sclerosis: a retrospective analysis of 218 Hungarian patients with systemic sclerosis.

Recent results suggest that B cells may have multiple pathogenic roles in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and there may be increased incidence of B cell lymphomas in SSc. Here, we assessed the prevalence of lymphomas in a large SSc cohort. We analyzed data of 218 Hungarian patients undergoing follow-ups in our institutions between 1995 and 2007.