Evaluación clínica y ultrasonográfica de la glándula tiroides en pacientes con artritis reumatoide.

Introducción: Los pacientes con artritis reumatoide pueden desarrollar enfermedad tiroidea autoinmune (ETA), cuyo diagnóstico clínico puede ser difícil debido a que ambas comparten síntomas como artralgias, mialgias, rigidez matutina o fatiga. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de ETA en pacientes con artritis reumatoide. Método: Estudio transversal que incluyó 78 pacientes con artritis reumatoide y 81 controles clínicamente sanos pareados por edad y sexo. A ambos grupos se realizó cuantificación de anticuerpos antitiroideos, pruebas de función tiroidea, ultrasonido y biopsia de glándula tiroides cuando la puntuación de Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) fue ≥ 4. Resultados: 24.4 % de los pacientes con artritis reumatoide presentó hipotiroidismo (p = 0.003) y altos títulos de anticuerpos antitiroideos versus controles clínicamente sanos; 53 % de los ultrasonidos tiroideos resultó normal en pacientes hipotiroideos; en pacientes con artritis reumatoide positivos para anticuerpos antitiroideos se encontró perfusión incrementada en 40 %. Los casos clasificados como TIRADS 4 fueron enviados a aspiración, con resultado histopatológico benigno. Conclusiones: Se demostró el valor clínico agregado de la evaluación tiroidea en pacientes con artritis reumatoide, conforme a la prevalencia de hipotiroidismo subclínico, positividad de anticuerpos antitiroideos y anomalías en el ultrasonido independientes de la función tiroidea normal o alterada. Introduction: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis can develop autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD), the clinical diagnosis of which can be difficult because both entities share symptoms such as arthralgia, myalgia, morning stiffness or fatigue. Objective: To determine the prevalence of ATD in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Method: Cross-sectional study that included 78 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 81 clinically healthy controls matched by age and gender. Both groups underwent anti-thyroid antibodies quantification, thyroid function tests, thyroid ultrasound and thyroid gland biopsy when the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) score was ≥ 4. Results: Hypothyroidism was found in 24.4% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (p = 0.003), as well as high titers of anti-thyroid antibodies versus clinically healthy controls; 53% of thyroid ultrasounds were normal in hypothyroid patients, and increased perfusion was found in 40% of rheumatoid arthritis patients who tested positive for anti-thyroid antibodies. Cases classified as TIRADS 4 underwent aspiration with benign histopathological results. Conclusions: Thyroid assessment added clinical value was demonstrated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism, anti-thyroid antibodies positivity and ultrasound abnormalities, regardless of normal or altered thyroid function.

Disease Activity Score on 28 Joints and Polypharmacy Are Independent Predictors for Health-Related Quality of Life Evaluated by INCAVISA in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the main factors associated to a diminished health-related quality of life (HRQoL) evaluated by INCAVISA (Health-Related Quality of Life Inventory for Latin American Patients) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Female, 18 years or older, RA (American College of Rheumatology 1987 criteria and American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism 2010 criteria) patients who attended the outpatient rheumatology department of the Hospital Civil "Dr. Juan I. Menchaca," Guadalajara, Mexico, matched with healthy controls were included. Patients with any known comorbidities or treatment with antidepressive drugs were excluded. Trained physicians performed the RA clinical evaluation and INCAVISA. All data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL); P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients with polypharmacy (≥3 drugs) had a lower HRQoL by INCAVISA. The number of drugs, total comorbidities, and DAS-28 (Disease Activity Score on 28 Joints) were negatively correlated with total INCAVISA. In multivariate analysis, DAS-28 and polypharmacy were independent predictors for a negative perception of HRQoL evaluated by INCAVISA in RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: Disease activity and disability secondary to RA have a negative impact in the HRQoL. Other factors such as the number of drugs prescribed to these patients have been shown to be important for the negative perception of their HRQoL evaluated by INCAVISA.

Serum levels of anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and C-reactive protein are associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness: a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients without cardiovascular risk factors.

UNLABELLED: The main cause of death in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is cardiovascular events. We evaluated the relationship of anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody levels with increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in RA patients. METHODS: Forty-five anti-CCP positive and 37 anti-CCP negative RA patients, and 62 healthy controls (HC) were studied. All groups were assessed for atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and cIMT. Anti-CCP, C-reactive protein (CRP), and levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The anti-CCP positive RA patients showed increased cIMT compared to HC and anti-CCP negative (P < 0.001). Anti-CCP positive versus anti-CCP negative RA patients, had increased AIP, TNFα and IL-6 (P < 0.01), and lower levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (P = 0.02). The cIMT correlated with levels of anti-CCP (r = 0.513, P = 0.001), CRP (r = 0.799, P < 0.001), TNFα (r = 0.642, P = 0.001), and IL-6 (r = 0.751, P < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, cIMT was associated with CRP (P < 0.001) and anti-CCP levels (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of anti-CCP and CRP are associated with increased cIMT and cardiovascular risk supporting a clinical role of the measurement of cIMT in RA in predicting and preventing cardiovascular events.

Endoluminal occlusion devices: technology update.

Endoluminal occlusion has been performed since the early beginning of interventional radiology. Over recent decades, major technological advances have improved the techniques used and different devices have been developed for changing conditions. Most of these occlusion devices have been implemented in the vascular territory. Early embolization materials included glass particles, hot contrast, paraffin, fibrin, and tissue fragments such as muscle fibers and blood clots; today, occlusion materials include metallic devices, particles, and liquid materials, which can be indicated for proximal or distal occlusion, high-flow and low-flow situations, and in large-caliber and small-caliber vessels, based on need. Technological progress has led to a decreased size of delivery catheters, and an increase in safety due to release systems that permit the withdrawing and replacement of embolization material. Furthermore, bioactive embolization materials have been developed to increase the efficacy of embolization or the biological effect of medication. Finally, materials have been modified for changing indications. Intravascular stents were initially developed to keep an artery open; however, by adding a covering membrane, these stents can be used to occlude the wall of a vessel or other endoluminal structures. This article gives an overview of the devices most utilized for occlusion of endoluminal structures, as well as their major purpose in the endovascular territory.

Low levels of CD36 in peripheral blood monocytes in subclinical atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study in a Mexican population.

UNLABELLED: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a higher risk for atherosclerosis. There is no clinical information about scavenger receptor CD36 and the development of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between membrane expression of CD36 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in patients with RA. METHODS: We included 67 patients with RA from the Rheumatology Department of Hospital Civil "Dr. Juan I. Menchaca," Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. We evaluated the cIMT, considering subclinical atherosclerosis when >0.6 mm. Since our main objective was to associate the membrane expression of CD36 with subclinical atherosclerosis, other molecules related with cardiovascular risk such as ox-LDL, IL-6, and TNFα were tested. RESULTS: We found low CD36 membrane expression in PBMC from RA patients with subclinical atherosclerosis (P < 0.001). CD36 mean fluorescence intensity had negative correlations with cIMT (r = -0.578, P < 0.001), ox-LDL (r = -0.427, P = 0.05), TNFα (r = -0.729, P < 0.001), and IL-6 (r = -0.822, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: RA patients with subclinical atherosclerosis showed low membrane expression of CD36 in PBMC and increased serum proinflammatory cytokines. Further studies are needed to clarify the regulation of CD36 in RA.

The distribution of CD56(dim) CD16+ and CD56(bright) CD16- cells are associated with prolactin levels during pregnancy and menstrual cycle in healthy women.

PROBLEM: The pregnancy and menstrual cycle (MC) are the main physiologic events linked to the human reproduction. An adequate neuroendocrine axis is mandatory for the homeostasis in both events. To analyze the distribution of NK, T, Treg cells, expression of their receptors and to associate with hormone levels in pregnant and MC in healthy women. METHOD OF STUDY: We studied two groups of healthy women: 13 pregnant women followed up at 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters and 11 women in the 5th and 21st day of the MC. The distribution of NK, T, Treg cells population, expression of their receptors and hormone levels were quantified. RESULTS: In pregnant women, we found an association of NK cells CD56(dim) CD16(+) with prolactin levels. This finding was also was observed for CD56(brigthCD16-) being statistical significant during 1st trimester for both subpopulations. During MC, correlation of CD56(dim) CD16(+) , CD56(bright) CD16(-) cells with prolactin in follicular and luteal phase was found. CONCLUSION: This is the first report where these cell subpopulations have been analyzed prospectively. Even we can argue the random effect for the small number of women is interesting that prolactin showed the more consistent correlation with CD56(dim) CD16(+) , CD56(brigth) CD16(-) cells during both events studied.

IL-17 increased in the third trimester in healthy women with term labor.

INTRODUCTION: The function, peripheral blood expression, and physiologic importance of IL-17 is not well established. Detection of IL-17 in sera and plasma samples from patients with pre-eclampsia has been reported with inconsistent results. To establish the l levels of the IL-17 at peripheral level, we studied prospectively a cohort of 13 healthy pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in serum levels of IL-17 in healthy pregnant women in a prospective cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirteen healthy pregnant women were prospectively followed to evaluate serum levels of IL-17. Each patient was evaluated at each trimester. IL-17 levels were measured by ELISA. The statistical analysis was done using repeated measures anova and Bonferroni's multiple comparison test. RESULTS: IL-17 levels were significantly increased from first trimester with a mean of 14.61 up to 31.78 pg/mL at third trimester (P < 0.05), but when detectable, they were almost identical range in all trimesters. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that IL-17 levels in healthy women are present with very similar range levels during the whole pregnancy but the average is increased during the third trimester maybe as a part of the complex network of cytokines as a result of implantation, fetal development, and labor process itself.