Serological markers in psoriatic arthritis: promising tools.

The aim of this study was to identify specific biomarkers that could be used to screen for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), as well as to assess disease activity and treatment outcome in affected patients. Forty-three outpatients considered eligible for anti-TNF-α treatment (etanercept 50 mg/week) were enrolled. Serum samples of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), pentraxin 3 (PTX3), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were collected at baseline (t0) and after 6 (t6), 12 (t12), and 24 months (t24) of treatment.

Serological markers of erosive hand osteoarthritis.

This review focuses on biomarkers in erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA), a subset of hand osteoarthritis (HOA), that primarily affects interphalangeal joints and is characterized by abrupt onset, severe pain and functional impairment, as well as signs of inflammation, in particular stiffness, swelling, erythema, paraesthesiae, and worse outcome. Inflammatory features and radiographic erosions are the main diagnostic hallmarks of this particular disease subset. As in other fields of OA, EHOA biomarkers can be classified as dry and soluble.

Erosive hand osteoarthritis and systemic sclerosis: a casual association?

To describe an unexpected association between a patient affected with erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). We report a case of SSc presenting typical radiological findings of EHOA in a 60-year-old woman referred to our outpatient Rheumatology Unit. Physical examination revealed puffy hands with sclerodactyly and concomitant adduction of the thumb and subluxation of the first carpometacarpal (CMC) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints bilaterally and nodose deformities of the distal interphalangeal (DIP).

Anterior chest wall involvement in early stages of spondyloarthritis: advanced diagnostic tools.

Objective: Anterior chest wall (ACW) involvement is difficult to evaluate in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Bone scan is sensitive to ACW involvement, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects early alterations in SpA. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of bone scans and MRI in assessing ACW in early SpA.

The tumor necrosis factor-{alpha}-blocking agent infliximab inhibits interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-6 gene expression in human osteoblastic cells.

Objective: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of several rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), associated with systemic bone loss and subchondral bone erosions. TNF-alpha-blocking agents such as infliximab have been successful in treatment of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-resistant rheumatic diseases. Infliximab therapy in RA also had beneficial effects on local bone destruction and bone mineral density.