Anti-CCP, IgM RF, ESR and female gender were independent predictors of radiographic progression and could be combined into an algorithm for better prediction. Patients with high levels of anti-CCP were especially prone to radiographic progression, indicating that the anti-CCP level may add prognostic information.

Background-Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at risk of developing metabolic bone disease. Aims-To compare bone mineral density in patients with Crohn's disease with patients with ulcerative colitis and healthy subjects, and to evaluate possible risk factors for bone loss in inflammatory bowel disease. Patients-60 patients with Crohn's disease, 60 with ulcerative colitis, and 60 healthy subjects were investigated. Each group consisted of 24 men and 36 women. Methods-Lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total body bone mineral density were measured by dual x ray absorptiometry (DXA), and Z scores were obtained by comparison with age and sex matched normal values.

EU and the Seventh Framework Programme (the MeDALL project).

Objective. To compare the 1-year retention rates of anti-tumor necrosis factor ␣ (anti-TNF␣) medications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with complementary analyses of the effect on health status. Methods. Our analyses comprised 847, 172, and 249 anti-TNF␣ treatment courses in patients with RA, PsA, and AS, respectively. Crude drug survival was compared and hazard ratios (HRs) for treatment termination were calculated with adjustments for age, sex, investigator's global assessment, and concomitant methotrexate (MTX). Adjusted changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were compared among the groups. Results. Unadjusted 1-year retention rates were 65.4%, 77.3%, and 77.5% in the RA, PsA, and AS groups, respectively. The adjusted HRs for treatment termination were 0.76 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.53-1.07) for PsA versus RA and 0.66 (95% CI 0.47-0.92) for AS versus RA. High baseline disease activity and female sex were significantly associated with premature treatment termination, whereas concomitant MTX was associated with better drug survival. However, the impact of MTX was apparent for RA and PsA, but not for AS in stratified analyses. The improvements in HRQOL were superior in patients with PsA and AS compared with RA. Conclusion. Our results suggest that survival of anti-TNF␣ treatment is superior in AS and PsA patients compared with RA patients. Larger improvements in HRQOL in patients with spondylarthritides may contribute to the differences in drug survival. Concomitant MTX was associated with better retention rates in RA and PsA patients, but not AS patients.

Recorded time in MVPA and energy expenditure varies substantially among physical activity monitors. Thus, when comparing physical activity level among studies, it is essential to know the type of physical activity monitor being used.

Hypovitaminosis D is common in CD patients. Patients with CD and small-bowel resections are at risk of developing secondary hyperparathyroidism and low BMD.

No abstract

SUMMARYObjective: Despite side effects associated with the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), withdrawal of AEDs remains controversial, even after prolonged seizure freedom. The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of AED withdrawal on cognitive functions, seizure relapse, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and EEG results. Additionally, potential predictors for freedom from seizures after AED withdrawal were studied. Methods: Patients, seizure-free for more than 2 years on AED monotherapy, were recruited for a controlled, prospective, randomized, doubleblinded withdrawal study lasting for 12 months, or until seizure relapse. Patients were randomized to AED withdrawal (n = 79) and nonwithdrawal (n = 81) groups. The examination program included clinical neurological examinations, neuropsychological testing, EEG-recordings, cerebral MRI, and assessments of HRQOL. Follow-up data on seizure relapse were also collected beyond the 12-month study period (median 47 months). Approximately 70% of patients with recent onset epilepsy become seizure-free on antiepileptic drugs Results