ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the retention rate of certolizumab pegol (CZP) was longer than that of other tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) based on baseline rheumatoid factor (RF) levels. METHODS: Longitudinal, retrospective and multicentre study including patients with RA who were treated with any TNFi (monoclonal antibodies (mAB), etanercept (ETA) or CZP). Log-rank test and Cox regressions were conducted to evaluate the retention rate in the three groups according to the level of RF, with the third quartile of the baseline levels used as cut-off: <200 (Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
, Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
, Humans
, Retrospective Studies
, Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors/therapeutic use
, Rheumatoid Factor
, Treatment Outcome
, Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy
, Certolizumab Pegol/therapeutic use
, Etanercept/therapeutic use
, Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
ABSTRACT
Calf pseudohypertrophy due to radiculopathy is an exceptional phenomenon rarely described. We report a 67 year old woman with a previous history of lumbar disc surgery consulting by progressive increase for more than a year of evolution painless right calf associated loss of strength. Electromyographic findings showed chronic S1 radiculopathy and radiologically was appreciated in the medial gastrocnemius and soleus rights substitution of normal muscle tissue by adipose tissue without evidence of myopathy or sarcomatous degeneration.
Subject(s)
Muscle, Skeletal/pathology , Muscular Diseases/etiology , Radiculopathy/diagnosis , Aged , Female , Humans , Hypertrophy/diagnostic imaging , Hypertrophy/etiology , Leg , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging , Muscular Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Muscular Diseases/pathology , Radiculopathy/complicationsABSTRACT
We report the case of a 50-year-old female smoker with an 11-year history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies) receiving triple therapy. She developed pulmonary nodules diagnosed as Langerhans cell histiocytosis by lung biopsy. We found no reported cases of the coexistence of these two diseases. Smoking abstinence led to radiologic resolution without modifying the immunosuppressive therapy.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications , Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell/diagnosis , Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/diagnosis , Female , Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell/complications , Humans , Middle Aged , Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/complicationsABSTRACT
Primary infection by cytomegalovirus (CMV) commonly occurs subclinically or manifested by a self-limited mononucleosis-like syndrome in immunocompetent subjects. Severe clinical pictures are uncommon. We present a case of acute myopericarditis and hepatitis in a previously healthy 32-year-old man with primary CMV infection, assessed by serology and positive pp65 antigenemia. He was successfully treated with a course of oral valganciclovir therapy, with an immediate clinical response and normalization of laboratory tests. The literature on simultaneous presentation of CMV pericarditis and hepatitis in immunocompetent hosts, as well as the role of oral valganciclovir in this clinical setting, is reviewed.