Outcomes analysis of Internet-based CME initiatives for diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia patients: transition from education to physician behavior to patient health.

A well designed outcomes research study was performed in which 20 primary care physicians were selected to participate. Each physician had more than 30 fibromyalgia patients in their practice. The study design consisted of four phases.

Use of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) antagonists infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab in patients with concurrent rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis B or hepatitis C: a retrospective record review of 11 patients.

An understanding of the cytokine cascade in a rheumatoid joint has led to the development of new therapeutic options, including drugs targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The safety profile of these agents in patients with hepatitis-induced liver disease, however, remains a concern because of risks associated with immune suppression. To examine the effect of three different TNF-alpha antagonists, infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab, on serum transaminases and hepatitis viral load in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and concurrent hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV).

Effects of methotrexate use in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share similar pathophysiologic processes but coexistence of both diseases in the same patient has rarely been described. We describe the case of a 32 year old woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated with 12.5 mg of methotrexate once a week and 1 mg folic acid who developed paresthesias of her upper and lower extremities.

Risk of development of lung cancer is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a large case control study in US veterans.

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of lung cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the US veteran population. Patients with rheumatic diseases appear to have an increased risk for the development of lymphoproliferative and some solid organ malignancies.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case control study using prospectively collected data from the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) 16 Veteran Affairs (VA) database from 1998 to 2004.

Histological evaluation of liver in two rheumatoid arthritis patients with chronic hepatitis B and C treated with TNF-alpha blockade: case reports.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonists successfully modulate the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, little is known about the effect of TNF-alpha blockade on the histology of chronic viral hepatitis. We describe the cases of two patients with RA, one with concurrent chronic hepatitis B virus and the other with hepatitis C virus infection who, as part of their evaluation, underwent liver biopsies while undergoing treatment with a TNF-alpha antagonist.

Successful etanercept use in an HIV-positive patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Limited information exists on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in a patient with coexisting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We report a case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who then became HIV positive. His HIV viral load was controlled with antiretroviral therapy, but he continued to have active rheumatoid arthritis despite therapy with hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and corticosteroids.