Objective: To investigate the effect of infliximab treatment on anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis not responding to disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) received intravenous infliximab at a dose of 3 mg/kg at baseline and after two and six weeks, and subsequently bimonthly, in combination with methotrexate. Serum samples were collected at baseline and at week 24. A commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to test for anti-CCP antibodies; RF were detected using a quantitative nephelometric assay. Results: At baseline, 38 of the 43 patients (88%) were positive for anti-CCP antibodies, and 41 (95%) were positive for RF. The serum titre of anti-CCP and RF decreased significantly after six months of treatment (p = 0.0001 and p,0.0001, respectively). When the patients were grouped on the basis of their clinical response to infliximab, a significant decrease in serum anti-CCP antibodies and RF was observed only in patients who had clinical improvement (ACR 20 and ACR 50). Conclusions: Anti-TNFa treatment in rheumatoid arthritis results in a decrease in the serum titres of RF and anti-CCP antibodies in patients showing clinical improvement, suggesting that these measurements may be a useful adjunct in assessing treatment efficacy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), to compare it with that of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to correlate it with other parameters. HR-QOL was evaluated by the Short Form 36 (SF-36), SSc disease activity and severity by preliminary indexes recently proposed, disability by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and depressive symptoms by the Beck Depression Inventory. HR-QOL perception was not statistically different in patients with SSc and RA, except that patients with diffuse cutaneous involvement had worse scores in the general health and mental health dimensions than patients with RA (p=0.03). Compared with RA, patients with SSc tended to perceive less bodily pain (p=0.06) and have less disability (p=0.04) but to report higher depressive symptom scores (p=0.05). SSc patients' HR-QOL was associated with some disease severity scales (general, kidney and, less significantly, heart), but it was poorly correlated with the other evaluated disease activity and severity indexes. A strong correlation with disability and with depressive symptoms was observed. In conclusion, patients with SSc perceived a reduced HR-QOL similar to that of patients with RA. SF-36 may provide useful information in their evaluation.

This diagnostic approach allowed us to identify a large group (47 patients) with UV. Most did not present the clinical (prolonged duration of weals and bruising) and laboratory features that have previously been described as characteristic of UV. Cinnarizine was found to be a valuable treatment option.

Background Heat‐and‐pepsin‐sensitive plant food allergens (PR‐10 and profilin) sometimes cause systemic reaction. Objective To detect the risk factors for systemic reactions induced by labile food allergens. Methods A retrospective multicenter study was performed on patients with a documented history of systemic allergic reaction to labile plant food allergens and on age‐matched controls with a history of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) induced by the same foods. Offending foods, their amount, and state (solid or liquid), and potential cofactors (nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, protonic pump inhibitors, exercise, alcohol, and fasting) were considered. Results We studied 89 patients and 81 controls. Sensitization to PR‐10 or profilin, IgE to Bet v 1 and/or Bet v 2, and foods causing OAS were similar in the two groups. Twenty patients experienced >1 systemic allergic reaction. Tree nuts, Rosaceae, Apiaceae, and soymilk were the main offending foods. Seventeen (19%) patients were taking a PPI when the systemic reaction occurred (vs 5% in controls; P < .025). The ingestion of the offending food in liquid form (soymilk) was frequent among patients (15%) but unusual among controls (2%; P < .025). Soy milk‐induced systemic reactions were independent of PPI treatment. Fasting and excess of allergen, but not NSAID and exercise, were other relevant cofactors for systemic reactions. Systemic reactions occurred without any identifiable cofactor in 39 (44%) cases. Conclusion PR‐10‐ and profilin‐induced systemic reactions are facilitated by PPI, ingestion of large amounts of unprocessed foods, and fasting. Soybean beverages represent a risk for PR‐10 hypersensitive patients and should be avoided.

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