Effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis in an observational cohort study: comparison of patients according to their eligibility for major randomized clinical trials.

Objective: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluate the efficacy of treatments in selected groups of patients defined by strict inclusion criteria. The value of these trials in predicting therapeutic effectiveness in "real world" patients is limited. This observational cohort study was designed to complement the knowledge obtained in RCTs by evaluating the effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) according to their eligibility for the major trials.

Infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologic agents.

Objective: To estimate the incidence rates of serious and nonserious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who start treatment with a biologic agent, and to compare these rates with those in patients with RA who receive conventional treatment.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the German biologics register between May 2001 and September 2003 were included. Treating rheumatologists assessed adverse events and serious adverse events.

Treatment continuation in patients receiving biological agents or conventional DMARD therapy.

Objective: To compare drug continuation rates in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who start on a biological agent and in a control group of patients with a change in disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment after previous DMARD failure.

Methods: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis enrolled in the German biologics register between May 2001 and September 2003 were included in the study. Data were available for 511 patients treated with etanercept, 343 with infliximab, 70 with anakinra, and 599 controls.

Coexistence of antitopoisomerase I and anticentromere antibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: Antibodies targeting DNA topoisomerase I (ATA) or centromere proteins (ACA) are associated with clinical subsets of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The occurrence of those autoantibodies is considered to be mutually exclusive.

Objective: To describe the clinical and immunogenetic data of three patients who are co-expressing both antibodies, and then review previous publications.

[Streptokinase therapy in a patient with lupus anticoagulant and thrombosis of the A. iliaca externa].

We report on a 26-year-old male who suffered from thrombocytopenia, factor V-deficiency and punctuate hemorrhages during the past. On admission the patient presented with acute left iliac artery occlusion. The walking distance was reduced to 200 m.