Long-term follow-up of certolizumab pegol in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: multicentre study of 80 patients.

Objectives: To evaluate effectiveness and safety of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).

Methods: Multicentre study of CZP-treated patients with IMID uveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppressant. Effectiveness was assessed through the following ocular parameters: best-corrected visual acuity, anterior chamber cells, vitritis, macular thickness and retinal vasculitis.

Comparative Study of Infliximab Versus Adalimumab in Refractory Uveitis due to Behçet's Disease: National Multicenter Study of 177 Cases.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) versus adalimumab (ADA) as a first-line biologic drug over 1 year of treatment in a large series of patients with refractory uveitis due to Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: We conducted an open-label multicenter study of IFX versus ADA for BD-related uveitis refractory to conventional nonbiologic treatment. IFX or ADA was chosen as the first-line biologic agent based on physician and patient agreement.

Articular manifestations in patients with Lyme disease.

Objectives: To determine the percentage of Lyme patients with articular manifestations in NW Spain and to know their evolution and response to treatment.

Patients: A retrospective study (2006-2013) was performed using medical histories of confirmed cases of Lyme disease showing articular manifestations. Clinical and laboratory characteristics, together with the treatment and evolution of the patients, were analysed.

Tocilizumab in giant cell arteritis: Multicenter open-label study of 22 patients.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) in giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients with refractory disease and/or with unacceptable side effects due to corticosteroids.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter open-label study on 22 GCA patients treated with TCZ at standard dose of 8mg/kg/month. The main outcomes were achievement of disease remission and reduction of corticosteroid dose.

Anti-TNF-α therapy in patients with refractory uveitis due to Behçet's disease: a 1-year follow-up study of 124 patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of anti-TNF-α therapy in refractory uveitis due to Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: We performed a multicentre study of 124 patients with BD uveitis refractory to conventional treatment including high-dose corticosteroids and at least one standard immunosuppressive agent. Patients were treated for at least 12 months with infliximab (IFX) (3-5 mg/kg at 0, 2 and 6 weeks and then every 4-8 weeks) or adalimumab (ADA) (usually 40 mg every 2 weeks).

Relationships between eosinophilia, anti-Fasciola IgG, and IgM rheumatoid factors, in urban and rural areas of north-western Spain.

A study was carried out, among adult patients attending a hospital in Lugo, in north-western Spain, to investigate possible relationships between eosinophilia, IgG antibodies against the parasitic helminth Fasciola hepatica, and IgM rheumatoid factors (IgM-RF). Blood samples were collected from 1264 individuals and divided into three groups according to eosinophil count: normal (<0.5 x 10(9) eosinophils/litre), eosinophilic (0.

Cancer in biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis. A population-based study.

Objective: To investigate the potential association between giant cell arteritis (GCA) and cancer in a series of consecutive patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven GCA over a 25-year period at the single reference hospital for a well-defined population.

Methods: The case records of all patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven GCA at the Department of Medicine of the Hospital Xeral-Calde (Lugo, Northwest Spain) between January 1, 1981 and December 31, 2005 were reviewed. Information on cancer and cause of death over the extended follow-up was assessed.

Giant cell arteritis in northwestern Spain: a 25-year epidemiologic study.

To continue our investigation of the epidemiology of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in southern Europe, we assessed the potential presence of trends, peaks, and fluctuations in the incidence of this vasculitis over a 25-year period in the Lugo region of northwestern Spain. We also sought to determine whether changes in the clinical spectrum of the disease existed. From 1981 to 2005, biopsy-proven GCA was diagnosed in 255 Lugo residents.

Influence of anti-TNF-alpha infliximab therapy on adhesion molecules associated with atherogenesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Chronic systemic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Soluble (s) adhesion molecules were found significantly increased in RA patients with active disease. Since increased levels of some adhesion molecules were closely linked to the development of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis and administration of anti-TNF-alpha-infliximab resulted in a rapid and dramatic improvement of endothelial function in long-term infliximab treated RA patients, we assessed whether infusion of the chimeric anti-TNF-alpha infliximab might also yield a rapid and favorable effect on serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules in RA patients periodically treated with this drug because of severe disease.

Short-term adalimumab therapy improves endo-thelial function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to infliximab.

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction has been found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we aimed to assess whether adalimumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against TNF-alpha, was able to improve endothelial function in RA patients with long-standing disease refractory to infliximab.

Methods: Eight RA patients (7 women; range: 24- 74 years) were studied.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockade improves insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction have been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since insulin resistance can promote endothelial dysfunction and anti-TNF-alpha blockade yield a rapid improvement of endothelial function, we have sought to assess whether TNF-alpha blockade may also result in a reduction of insulin serum levels and improvement of insulin resistance in RA patients who require this therapy because of severe and refractory disease.

Methods: We recruited patients with RA seen over a period of 1 month at Hospital Xeral-Calde, Lugo, Spain, that were on treatment with anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody-infliximab.

Steroid therapy improves endothelial function in patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis.

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction has been found to be present in subjects with both small and medium-size blood vessel vasculitides. We assess whether endothelial dysfunction was also present in patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) and whether it might be improved following steroid treatment.

Methods: Endothelial function was determined in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of 6 patients with biopsy-proven GCA diagnosed between January and May 2002 by measuring flow-mediated endothelial-dependent and independent vasodilatation (EDV and EIV) by brachial ultrasonography.

Giant cell arteritis: laboratory tests at the time of diagnosis in a series of 240 patients.

The outcome of a patient with giant cell arteritis (GCA) is closely related to the development of severe ischemic manifestations. In the current study we analyzed the implications of routine laboratory tests obtained at the time of diagnosis in the clinical spectrum of a series of 240 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven GCA at the single hospital for a defined population. We also examined whether the laboratory markers of inflammation may be predictors of severe ischemic manifestations (visual ischemic events, cerebrovascular accidents, jaw claudication, or large-artery stenosis of the extremities of recent onset), and their potential correlation.

Giant cell arteritis: disease patterns of clinical presentation in a series of 240 patients.

Classically, patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) present with cranial ischemic manifestations that are directly related to vascular involvement. However, a variable proportion of GCA patients may present without obvious vascular manifestations. Since a high index of suspicion of this condition in individuals over the age of 50 years is needed to prevent the development of severe complications, we have studied the different patterns of disease presentation in a series of 240 patients with biopsy-proven GCA diagnosed at the single hospital for the well-defined population of Lugo, Spain, between January 1, 1981, and June 15, 2004.

Ischemic heart disease in patients from Northwest Spain with biopsy proven giant cell arteritis. A population based study.

Objective: To assess the incidence, mortality, and predictors of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in patients from the Lugo region of Northwest Spain with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Retrospective study of patients with biopsy-proven GCA diagnosed from 1981 to 2001 at the single hospital for a population of 250,000 people. A survival analysis was performed.

A new rare mutation (691delCC/insAAA) in exon 17 of the PYGM gene causing McArdle disease.

Objective: To investigate the genetic effect of a new mutation found in exon 17 of the myophosphorylase (PYGM) gene as a cause of McArdle disease (also known as type 5 glycogenosis). Patients A Spanish patient with McArdle disease was screened for 3 common mutations in the PYGM gene (R49X, W797R, and G204S), as previously described. The patient was heterozygous for R49X.

Giant cell arteritis in Lugo, Spain, is associated with low longterm mortality.

Objective: To assess the longterm survival of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a well defined area in Northwestern Spain.

Methods: A followup study of consecutive biopsy proven patients with GCA diagnosed in Lugo, Spain January 1, 1982-March 31, 1996 was performed. Patients were followed from time of diagnosis until either their death or October 1, 1996.