[Clinical efficacy instant goat milk in the complex therapy and prevention of osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Osteoporosis (OP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refers to a secondary immune-mediated metabolic osteopathy characterized by periarticular and systemic decreased bone mass, impaired bone strength and increased risk of fractures. According to some studies, adding milk in the diet helps to increase bone mineral density and to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and maintain normal levels of vitamin D. To study the state of mineral and bone metabolism in RA patients zeith osteopenic syndrome and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and prevention of OP by adding dry goat milk "Amalteya" in the diet. The study included 42 patients with a documented diagnosis of RA (ACR, 1987) - 23 men (mean age 59 years) and 19 postmenopausal women (mean age 62 years) with the presence of osteoporosis and osteopenia according to the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. 21 (50%) RA patients (main group) received standard antiosteoporotichesky (alendronate 70 mg/week + calcium 1000 mg/day + Vitamin D3 800 IU/day) therapy and milk powder Amalteya® (400 ml/day). The control group (21 patients with RA) received only standard antiosteoporotic therapy. Follow-up lasted for 6 months. The concentration of total calcium in the blood of RA patients was on average 2.33 mmol/l, ionized Ca - 1,18 mmol/l and inorganic P - 1,09 mmol/l, which corresponds to normal values. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 17,5% of patients, and failure - in 32,5% of patients with RA. After 6 months of the treatment it was found that b-CrossLaps levels tend to be reducing in both of the groups and with reduction of bone formation marker osteocalcin in the group not receiving goat milk. Also, due to the background of ongoing combinative therapy it was clear that concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D and 25(OH)D in the blood serum are increasing (by 18,5-28,2% at the main group and by 8,0-17,9% at the control group), however, inter-group differences was below the level of the reliable importance. It was strongly marked in the group who received goat's milk "Amalteya®". Reduced levels of vitamin D in the blood is typical for 50% of RA patients with osteopenic syndrome with normal values of calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Combination therapy and prevention of osteoporosis in patients with RA with an additional inclusion in the diet of the daily administration of 400 ml of goat's milk Amalthea® has a positive impact on bone metabolism.

[Immunological aspects of early stage rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis]. / Immunologicheskie aspekty diagnostiki rannei stadii revmatoidnogo artita.

AIM: To study immune status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to improve immunodiagnosis at early stage of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunological examination covered 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) aged 16 to 72 years. The duration of RA varied from 1.5 months to 1.5 years. Lymphocyte population and T-lymphocyte subpopulation were measured using monoclonal antibodies. Serum Ig were measured in Reafarm plates. RESULTS: Patients with stage II articular function insufficiency (AFI) demonstrated a significant lowering of the absolute number of lymphocytes, natural killers, elevated concentration of IgA compared to patients with less severe AFI. Patients with systemic symptoms had significantly decreased percentage of T-lymphocytes vs patients with isolated articular syndrome. Natural killers' levels were elevated in all the patients in early RA. A significant rise in the percentage of B-lymphocytes and serum IgG concentrations were also seen. In T-lymphopenia, relative amount of T-helpers and T-suppressors was significantly elevated while the ratio T-helpers/T-suppressors was reduced. CONCLUSION: Changes found in the immune status allows diagnosis of early RA, characterize immune disorders, help to select adequate immunomodulating therapy supporting function of the suppressor cells.