Antibodies against carbamylated proteins: prevalence and associated disease characteristics in Belgian patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other rheumatic diseases.

Objectives: Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies (anti-CarP) are reported to be associated with increased disease activity and with more severe joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The present study investigated the presence of anti-CarP in various rheumatic diseases, and their specific clinical significance in RA, in Belgian rheumatology patients.Method: We tested sera from 254 RA patients, 56 healthy controls, and 153 patients with different rheumatic conditions: juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), axial spondyloarthritis, systemic sclerosis, and Sjögren's syndrome (SS). An in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies against carbamylated foetal calf serum.Results: Anti-CarP were detected in 88 RA patients (34.6%), of whom 82% were also positive for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) and 81% were also rheumatoid factor (RF) positive. Of note, 11 anti-CarP single-positive patients were detected (4.3%). The previously reported association with joint erosions was not detected. However, in ACPA- and RF-negative RA patients, the presence of anti-CarP was associated with higher disease activity and disability. Fifteen per cent of JIA patients and 30% of SS patients also tested positive for anti-CarP and their antibody levels did not differ significantly from those of anti-CarP-positive RA patients. Anti-CarP levels were, however, significantly higher in ACPA- or RF-positive patients.Conclusion: Anti-CarP antibodies were detected in the sera of a cohort of Belgian RA patients. Moreover, they were also detected in primary SS patients and in JIA patients. In the seronegative subset of RA patients, anti-CarP antibodies showed prognostic value.

Rituximab treatment induces the expression of genes involved in healing processes in the rheumatoid arthritis synovium.

OBJECTIVE: Rituximab displays therapeutic benefits in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) resistant to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockade. However, the precise role of B cells in the pathogenesis of RA is still unknown. We undertook this study to investigate the global molecular effects of rituximab in synovial biopsy samples obtained from anti-TNF-resistant RA patients before and after administration of the drug. METHODS: Paired synovial biopsy samples were obtained from the affected knee of anti-TNF-resistant RA patients before (time 0) and 12 weeks after (time 12) initiation of rituximab therapy. Total RNA was extracted, labeled according to standard Affymetrix procedures, and hybridized on GeneChip HGU133 Plus 2.0 slides. Immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction experiments were performed to confirm the differential expression of selected transcripts. RESULTS: According to Student's paired t-tests, 549 of 54,675 investigated probe sets were differentially expressed between time 0 and time 12. Pathway analysis revealed that genes down-regulated between time 0 and time 12 were significantly enriched in immunoglobulin genes and genes involved in chemotaxis, leukocyte activation, and immune responses (Gene Ontology annotations). In contrast, genes up-regulated between time 0 and time 12 were significantly enriched in transcripts involved in cell development (Gene Ontology annotation) and wound healing (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis). At baseline, higher synovial expression of immunoglobulin genes was associated with response to therapy. CONCLUSION: Rituximab displays unique effects on global gene expression profiles in the synovial tissue of RA patients. These observations open new perspectives in the understanding of the biologic effects of the drug and in the selection of patients likely to benefit from this therapy.

Subcutaneous abatacept versus intravenous abatacept: a phase IIIb noninferiority study in patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous (IV) abatacept. METHODS: In this phase IIIb double-blind, double-dummy, 6-month study, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inadequate responses to methotrexate were randomized to receive 125 mg SC abatacept on days 1 and 8 and weekly thereafter (plus an IV loading dose [∼10 mg/kg] on day 1) or IV abatacept (∼10 mg/kg) on days 1, 15, and 29 and every 4 weeks thereafter. The primary end point for determining the noninferiority of SC abatacept to IV abatacept was the proportion of patients in each group meeting the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (achieving an ACR20 response) at month 6. Other efficacy end points, immunogenicity, and safety were also assessed. RESULTS: Of 1,457 patients, 693 of 736 (94.2%) treated with SC abatacept and 676 of 721 (93.8%) treated with IV abatacept completed 6 months. At month 6, 76.0% (95% confidence interval 72.9, 79.2) of SC abatacept-treated patients versus 75.8% (95% confidence interval 72.6, 79.0) of IV abatacept-treated patients achieved an ACR20 response (estimated difference between groups 0.3% [95% confidence interval -4.2, 4.8]), confirming noninferiority of SC abatacept to IV abatacept. Onset and magnitude of ACR responses and disease activity and physical function improvements were comparable between the SC and IV abatacept-treated groups. The proportions of adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs over 6 months were 67.0% and 4.2%, respectively, in the SC abatacept-treated group and 65.2% and 4.9%, respectively, in the IV abatacept-treated group, with comparable frequencies of serious infections, malignancies, and autoimmune events between groups. SC injection site reactions (mostly mild) occurred in 19 SC abatacept (IV placebo)-treated patients (2.6%) and 18 IV abatacept (SC placebo)-treated patients (2.5%). Abatacept-induced antibodies occurred in 1.1% of SC abatacept-treated patients and 2.3% of IV abatacept-treated patients. CONCLUSION: SC abatacept provides efficacy and safety comparable with that of IV abatacept, with low immunogenicity and high retention rates, consistent with the established IV abatacept profile. Rates of injection site reactions were low. SC abatacept will provide additional treatment options, such as an alternative route of administration, for patients with RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts produce a soluble form of the interleukin-7 receptor in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines.

We previously demonstrated that baseline synovial overexpression of the interleukin-7 receptor α-chain (IL-7R) is associated with poor response to tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockade in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We found that IL-7R gene expression is induced in fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS) by the addition of TNF-α, IL-1ß and combinations of TNF-α+ IL-1ß or TNF-α+ IL-17, thereby suggesting that these cytokines play a role in the resistance to TNF blockade in RA. Because FLS and CD4 T cells also produce a soluble form of IL-7R (sIL-7R), resulting from an alternative splicing of the full-length transcript, we wondered whether expression of sIL-7R is similarly regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also investigated whether sIL-7R is detectable in the serum of RA patients and associated with response to TNF blockade. RA FLS were cultured in the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines and sIL-7R concentrations were measured in culture supernatants. Similarly, sIL-7R titres were measured in sera obtained from healthy individuals, early untreated RA patients with active disease and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD)-resistant RA patients prior to initiation of TNF-blockade. Baseline serum sIL-7R titres were correlated with validated clinical measurements of disease activity. We found that exposure of RA FLS to pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß and combinations of TNF-α and IL-1ß or TNF-α and IL-17) induces sIL-7R secretion. Activated CD4 T cells also produce sIL-7R. sIL-7R serum levels are higher in RA patients as compared to controls. In DMARD-resistant patients, high sIL-7R serum concentrations are strongly associated with poor response to TNF-blockade. In conclusion, sIL-7R is induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines in RA FLS. sIL-7R could qualify as a new biomarker of response to therapy in RA.

Sustained disease remission and inhibition of radiographic progression in methotrexate-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis and poor prognostic factors treated with abatacept: 2-year outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of abatacept plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone in early erosive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The AGREE was a 2-year phase IIIb multinational study in early (≤ 2 years) RA. During the double-blind period (year 1), patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive abatacept+methotrexate or methotrexate alone; all patients received open-label abatacept+methotrexate during year 2. Clinical outcomes assessed included 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) defined remission, low disease activity score (LDAS), American College of Rheumatology (ACR) responses and physical function. Radiographic outcomes were assessed using the Genant-modified Sharp total score (TS). Safety was monitored throughout. RESULTS: Of the 459 patients completing year 1, 433 patients (94.3%) completed year 2. DAS28-defined remission, LDAS, ACR and physical function were sustained through year 2 in the original abatacept+methotrexate group, with 55.2% in remission at 2 years. Upon introduction of abatacept in the methotrexate-alone group, additional patients achieved DAS28-defined remission (44.5% vs 26.9%), LDAS (60.4% vs 43.2%) and improved ACR 70 (49.8% vs 31.7%) for year 2 versus year 1. Less radiographic progression was observed at 2 years in the original abatacept+methotrexate group than the methotrexate-alone group (change in TS 0.84 vs 1.75, p<0.001). No new safety issues were seen. Similar rates of serious adverse events, serious infections and autoimmune events were observed in years 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS: The AGREE trial was the first to examine the impact of T-cell co-stimulation modulation with abatacept in patients with early erosive RA. Early treatment with abatacept+methotrexate resulted in greater sustainable clinical, functional and radiographic benefits than methotrexate alone, with acceptable safety and tolerability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00122382.

Multinational evidence-based recommendations on how to investigate and follow-up undifferentiated peripheral inflammatory arthritis: integrating systematic literature research and expert opinion of a broad international panel of rheumatologists in the 3E Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based recommendations on how to investigate and follow-up undifferentiated peripheral inflammatory arthritis (UPIA). METHODS: 697 rheumatologists from 17 countries participated in the 3E (Evidence, Expertise, Exchange) Initiative of 2008-9 consisting of three separate rounds of discussions and modified Delphi votes. In the first round 10 clinical questions were selected. A bibliographic team systematically searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library and ACR/EULAR 2007-2008 meeting abstracts. Relevant articles were reviewed for quality assessment, data extraction and synthesis. In the second round each country elaborated a set of national recommendations. Finally, multinational recommendations were formulated and agreement among the participants and the potential impact on their clinical practice was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 39,756 references were identified, of which 250 were systematically reviewed. Ten multinational key recommendations about the investigation and follow-up of UPIA were formulated. One recommendation addressed differential diagnosis and investigations prior to establishing the operational diagnosis of UPIA, seven recommendations related to the diagnostic and prognostic value of clinical and laboratory assessments in established UPIA (history and physical examination, acute phase reactants, autoantibodies, radiographs, MRI and ultrasound, genetic markers and synovial biopsy), one recommendation highlighted predictors of persistence (chronicity) and the final recommendation addressed monitoring of clinical disease activity in UPIA. CONCLUSIONS: Ten recommendations on how to investigate and follow-up UPIA in the clinical setting were developed. They are evidence-based and supported by a large panel of rheumatologists, thus enhancing their validity and practical use.

Diagnostic performance of sacroiliac joint MRI and added value of spine MRI to detect active spondyloarthritis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic performance of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the incremental value of spine MRI to "predict" clinical disease activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adult patients with known axSpA according to the SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria, radiological arm. MRI disease activity was scored semi-quantitatively for SIJ and total spine MRI in each patient. Two cut-off levels (≥ 1.3 and ≥ 2.1) for ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) were considered for clinical disease activity categorization. MRI scores were first evaluated individually. Then, SIJ score was combined with the score from a spine segment (lumbar, cervical, thoracic or total spine) to build a bi-parametric model using a classification tree. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the classification performance according to disease activity category of these models. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (30 men, 14 women; mean age, 37 years±10 [SD] [range: 17-64 years]) with a mean disease duration of 5 years±8 (SD) (range: 0-35 years) were included. Thirty-six patients (36/44; 82%) had ASDAS-CRP≥1.3 and 27 patients (27/44; 61%) had ASDAS-CRP≥2.1. The most frequently involved spinal segment was mid-thoracic (T7-T8). The SIJ MRI score was an informative model to identify active axSpA (AUC≥0.7, regardless of the cut-off level on ASDAS-CRP). Performance of bi-parametric models based on "SIJ+thoracic spine" (for detecting patients with ASDAS-CRP≥1.3) or "SIJ+total spine" (for detecting patients with ASDAS-CRP≥2.1) outperformed that of the individual SIJ score (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of MRI of the SIJ and spine allows to accurately discriminate between active and inactive axSpA, outperforming SIJ MRI alone.

In vivo induction of interleukin 10 by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody or bacterial lipopolysaccharide: differential modulation by cyclosporin A.

We investigated the in vivo effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) on the production of interleukin (IL) 10, a cytokine with major immunosuppressive properties. To elicit IL-10 production in vivo, BALB/c mice were injected either with the anti-mouse CD3 145-2C11 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (25 micrograms) or with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (20 micrograms). A systemic release of IL-10 was observed in both models, IL-10 serum levels reaching 1.60 +/- 0.32 U/ml (mean +/- SEM) and 0.67 +/- 0.09 U/ml 6 h after injection of 145-2C11 mAb and LPS, respectively. Experiments in nude mice indicated that T cells are involved in the induction of IL-10 by anti-CD3 mAb, but not by LPS. Pretreatment with CsA (total dose: 50 mg/kg) before injection of 145-2C11 mAb completely prevented the release of IL-10 in serum as well as IL-10 mRNA accumulation in spleen cells. In contrast, CsA markedly enhanced LPS-induced IL-10 release (IL-10 serum levels at 6 h: 8.31 +/- 0.43 vs. 0.71 +/- 0.15 U/ml in mice pretreated with CsA vehicle-control, p < 0.001), as well as IL-10 mRNA accumulation in spleen. We conclude that CsA differentially affects IL-10 production in vivo depending on the nature of the eliciting agent. This observation might be relevant to clinical settings, especially in organ transplantation.

Patient-reported outcomes improve with etanercept plus methotrexate in active early rheumatoid arthritis and the improvement is strongly associated with remission: the COMET trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of etanercept (ETN) 50 mg once weekly plus methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX alone on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and the relationship between remission and PRO improvement. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomised clinical trial (COMET), PROs included: the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), EuroQoL health status, fatigue and pain visual analogue scales, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Medical Outcomes Short-Form-36. Mean changes from baseline were analysed by analysis of covariance using the last observation carried forward method. Results from week 52 are presented. RESULTS: Most PROs demonstrated significantly greater improvements with ETN+MTX than MTX alone, including physical functioning, pain, fatigue and overall health status. A significantly greater improvement in HAQ score was observed in the ETN+MTX than the MTX group (-1.02 vs -0.72; p<0.001) and a greater proportion reached the minimal clinically important difference of 0.22 (88% vs 78%; p<0.006). The relationship between PRO score and clinical status indicated that improvement was greatest among patients achieving remission. CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with ETN+MTX leads to significantly greater improvements in multiple dimensions of PROs than MTX alone. The close relationship between disease activity and PRO improvement suggests that early treatment, with remission as a goal, should maximise the chance of restoring normal functioning and HRQoL.

Impact of T-cell costimulation modulation in patients with undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis or very early rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical and imaging study of abatacept (the ADJUST trial).

BACKGROUND: Several agents provide treatment for established rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but a crucial therapeutic goal is to delay/prevent progression of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) or very early RA. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of T-cell costimulation modulation in patients with UA or very early RA. METHODS: In this double-blind, phase II, placebocontrolled, 2-year study, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP)2-positive patients with UA (not fulfilling the ACR criteria for RA) and clinical synovitis of two or more joints were randomised to abatacept ( approximately 10 mg/kg) or placebo for 6 months; the study drug was then terminated. The primary end point was development of RA (by ACR criteria) at year 1. Patients were monitored by radiography, MRI, CCP2, rheumatoid factor and 28 joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) over 2 years. RESULTS: At year 1, 12/26 (46%) abatacept-treated versus 16/24 (67%) placebo-treated patients developed RA (difference (95% CI) -20.5% (-47.4% to 7.8%)). Adjusted mean changes from baseline to year 1 in Genant-modified Sharp radiographic scores for abatacepttreated versus placebo-treated patients, respectively, were 0 versus 1.1 for total score, and 0 versus 0.9 for erosion score. Mean changes from baseline to year 1 in MRI erosion, osteitis and synovitis scores were 0, 0.2 and 0.2, respectively, versus 5.0, 6.7 and 2.3 in the abatacept versus placebo groups. Safety was comparable between groups; serious adverse events occurred in one patient (3.6%) in each group. CONCLUSION: Abatacept delayed progression of UA/very early RA in some patients. An impact on radiographic and MRI inhibition was seen, which was maintained for 6 months after treatment stopped. This suggests that it is possible to alter the progression of RA by modulating T-cell responses at a very early stage of disease. Trial registration number NCT00124449.

Detection, identification and in vivo treatment responsiveness of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-activated cell populations in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) target cells positive for phosphorylated (P)-SMAD1/5, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium. METHODS: Synovial biopsies were obtained by needle arthroscopy. Anti-P-SMAD1/5 antibodies were used for Western blot (WB) on protein extracts from RA and normal synovium and for immunostaining of synovial biopsy sections. Positive cells were further identified by double staining for CD3, CD20, CD68, CD138, CD90, alpha smooth muscle actin (SMA), endoglin (CD105) and von Willebrand factor (VWF). In sections from early patients with RA taken before and under antirheumatic treatment, the degree of inflammation and activation of the BMP pathway were quantified. RESULTS: P-SMAD1/5 protein was detected by WB in RA and to a lesser extent in normal synovium. Different P-SMAD1/5 positive cell populations were identified in RA synovium, mainly in perivascular and sublining cells. P-SMAD1/5 positive perivascular cells were alphaSMA positive and located around VWF positive endothelial cells. Some CD90 positive synovial fibroblasts were P-SMAD1/5 positive, as was part of the CD68 positive synovial cells but other cells of the haematopoietic lineage showed no SMAD1/5 phosphorylation. Treatment resulted in an absolute but not relative decrease in BMP activation in the synovium. CONCLUSION: BMP-activated cells belong to distinct stromal compartments in RA synovium and some of them express markers associated with the mesenchymal progenitor cell lineage. Antirheumatic treatment effectively downregulates synovial inflammation, but BMP activation in the synovium does persist albeit reduced.

The 6-month safety and efficacy of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent a washout after anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy or were directly switched to abatacept: the ARRIVE trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had failed anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy and were switched to abatacept directly or after completing washout. METHODS: In this international, 6-month, open-label trial, patients had active RA, an inadequate response to anti-TNF therapy for 3 months or longer and a disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28 (C-reactive protein; CRP) of 5.1 or greater. "Washout" patients discontinued anti-TNF therapy 2 months or longer pre-screening; "direct-switch" patients began abatacept ( approximately 10 mg/kg) at their next scheduled anti-TNF therapy dose. RESULTS: 1046 patients were treated (449 washout, 597 direct-switch; baseline characteristics were similar between groups). At 6 months, adverse events (AE; 78.0% vs 79.2%), serious AE (11.1% vs 9.9%) and discontinuations due to AE (3.8% vs 4.0%) and serious AE (2.0% vs 1.3%) were comparable in washout versus direct-switch patients. There were no opportunistic infections. At 6 months, in washout versus direct-switch patients, similar clinically meaningful improvements were seen in DAS28 (CRP) (> or =1.2 unit improvement, 59.5% vs 53.6%, respectively; low disease activity state, 22.5% vs 22.3%; DAS28-defined remission, 12.0% vs 13.7%), physical function (health assessment questionnaire disability index > or =0.22 improvement; 46.3% vs 47.1%) and health-related quality of life (mean change in short-form 36 scores: physical component summary, 5.5 vs 6.1; mental component summary, 4.8 vs 5.4). CONCLUSION: Abatacept demonstrated acceptable safety and tolerability and clinically meaningful efficacy over 6 months in patients with inadequate response to anti-TNF therapy. Results were comparable with or without a washout, supporting direct switching from anti-TNF therapy to abatacept as an option in clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00124982.

Clinical efficacy and safety of abatacept in methotrexate-naive patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and poor prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of abatacept in methotrexate-naive patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and poor prognostic factors. METHODS: In this double-blind, phase IIIb study, patients with RA for 2 years or less were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to receive abatacept (approximately 10 mg/kg) plus methotrexate, or placebo plus methotrexate. Patients were methotrexate-naive and seropositive for rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (CCP) type 2 or both and had radiographic evidence of joint erosions. The co-primary endpoints were the proportion of patients achieving disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28)-defined remission (C-reactive protein) and joint damage progression (Genant-modified Sharp total score; TS) at year 1. Safety was monitored throughout. RESULTS: At baseline, patients had a mean DAS28 of 6.3, a mean TS of 7.1 and mean disease duration of 6.5 months; 96.5% and 89.0% of patients were RF or anti-CCP2 seropositive, respectively. At year 1, a significantly greater proportion of abatacept plus methotrexate-treated patients achieved remission (41.4% vs 23.3%; p<0.001) and there was significantly less radiographic progression (mean change in TS 0.63 vs 1.06; p = 0.040) versus methotrexate alone. Over 1 year, the frequency of adverse events (84.8% vs 83.4%), serious adverse events (7.8% vs 7.9%), serious infections (2.0% vs 2.0%), autoimmune disorders (2.3% vs 2.0%) and malignancies (0.4% vs 0%) was comparable for abatacept plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone. CONCLUSIONS: In a methotrexate-naive population with early RA and poor prognostic factors, the combination of abatacept and methotrexate provided significantly better clinical and radiographic efficacy compared with methotrexate alone and had a comparable, favourable safety profile.

Healthcare consumption and direct costs of rheumatoid arthritis in Belgium.

The aim of this study was to compare the socioeconomic consequences of early and late rheumatoid arthritis in Belgium and to assess the patient out-of-pocket contributions. This multicentre longitudinal study in Belgium evaluated patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Early disease was defined as diagnosis since less than 1 year. At baseline sociodemographic and disease characteristics were assessed and during the following year patients recorded all healthcare- and non-healthcare-related direct costs and out-of-pocket contributions. The study included 48 patients with early and 85 patients with late rheumatoid arthritis. Mean disease duration was 0.5 vs 12.5 years in patients with early and late rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. The disease activity score (DAS28) was comparable between both groups (4.1 vs 4.5, p = 0.14), but physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire, HAQ) was more impaired in patients with long-standing disease (1.0 vs 1.7, p < 0.001). Work disability had increased from 2% in patients with early to 18% in patients with late disease. The annual societal direct costs per patient were 3055 Euros (median: 1518 Euros) opposed to 9946 Euros (median: 4017 Euros) for early and late rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. The higher direct cost for patients with long-standing disease was seen for all categories, but especially for physiotherapy and need for devices and adaptations. Patients with early as well as late disease contribute out of pocket about one-third to the direct healthcare costs. Within each group, HAQ was a strong determinant of costs. In Belgium, patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis are nine times more likely to be work disabled than patients with less than 1 year disease duration and have a threefold increase in costs. Differences in healthcare consumption between patients could be mainly explained by differences in physical function (HAQ).

Spontaneous and cycloheximide-induced interleukin-10 mRNA expression in human mononuclear cells.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is known to be spontaneously produced by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In order to define the cell type in which IL-10 gene is spontaneously expressed we used the reverse polymerase chain reaction for IL-10 mRNA expression, which was also used to study the effects of cycloheximide (CHX). First, we found that IL-10 mRNA is spontaneously expressed in monocytes and B cells but not T cells from healthy donors, and second, we demonstrated that CHX superinduces IL-10 mRNA in monocytes and B cells. Experiments including nuclear run-on analyses established that the effects of CHX on IL-10 gene expression involve both gene transcription and mRNA stabilization.

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplants for autoimmune disease--feasibility and transplant-related mortality. Autoimmune Disease and Lymphoma Working Parties of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the European League Against Rheumatism and the International Stem Cell Project for Autoimmune Disease.

This ongoing multicentre prospective phase I/II trial enrolled 74 consecutive patients from 22 centres worldwide with severe autoimmune disease, 35 with rheumatological disorders, 31 with neurological, five with haematological and three with vasculitides. They were treated with autologous peripheral blood or bone marrow transplants according to predetermined criteria. Two patients died after mobilisation before transplant. Seventy-two patients were given 73 transplants, seven bone marrow, and 66 mobilised peripheral blood stem cell transplants. The graft was manipulated to remove T and/or B cells in 43 cases. All 73 transplants engrafted. Five patients died of transplant-related complications: two from bleeding, three from infections. Two patients died of progressive disease. The transplant-related mortality at 1 year of 9% (1-17%; 95% CI) is comparable to the transplant-related mortality of 6% (3-9%; 95% CI) in patients transplanted during the same period in Europe for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in sensitive relapse (P = 0.39). Sixty patients are evaluable for response, 40 patients (65%) showed some improvement in their disease. Haematopoietic stem cell transplants are feasible for patients with severe refractory autoimmune disease. Transplant-related mortality is comparable to results in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in responsive relapse. Two-thirds of the patients show at least some response. These preliminary data are promising. Although associated with considerable risk, randomised trials comparing autologous stem cell transplants to conventional therapy are warranted.

Methotrexate inhibits LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor production in vivo.

We investigated the effects of methotrexate (MTX) on the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in vivo. Administration of low doses of MTX (450 mug/kg once a week for 4 weeks) in Balb/c mice resulted in a significant inhibition of the systemic release of TNF and NO upon LPS challenge, whereas the production of IL-10 remained unchanged. These anti-inflammatory effects of MTX were exerted at the macrophage level since peritoneal macrophages from mice, injected for 4 weeks with MTX produced lower levels of TNF than cells from control mice upon LPS stimulation ex vivo. In parallel, we found that MTX-treated mice were less susceptible to a lethal challenge with LPS and D-galactosamine. MTX did not inhibit TNF release after injection of Concanavalin A (ConA) or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), indicating that MTX does not inhibit TNF production at the T cell level. We conclude that repeated administration of a low dose of MTX in mice is associated with a decreased production of TNF by macrophages upon LPS activation.

Cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis after low dose methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a possible manifestation of methotrexate hypersensitivity.

Large haemorrhagic and necrotic cutaneous lesions developed after two low dose (5 mg) methotrexate injections in a patient suffering from long standing rheumatoid arthritis. Differential clinical diagnosis included factitia dermatitis, infectious processes, pyoderma gangrenosum, rheumatoid neutrophilic dermatitis, necrotizing arteritis and vasculitis. Histological and direct immunofluorescent examinations of skin biopsies supported the diagnosis of leucocytoclastic vasculitis. We discuss the respective roles of methotrexate and rheumatoid arthritis in the outbreak of leucocytoclastic vasculitis. Hypersensitivity is strongly suspected.

[Validation and clinical and epidemiological use of a serologic test recommended in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection]. / Validation et usage clinique et épidémiologique d'un test sérologique commercialsié dans le diagnostic de l'infection à Helicobacter pylori.

A commercial serologic test using purified antigens of Helicobacter pylori has been evaluated in the diagnosis of this infection. In a series of 250 patients undergoing endoscopy with antral biopsies for cytology, histology and culture, serology was positive in 68 of 71 patients with a positive culture (sensitivity: 96%) and negative in 67 of 69 patients with a normal mucosa and no microorganisms on biopsy (specificity: 97%). In the entire series, serology was positive in 33 patients with no infection on biopsies (13%). In a group of 205 blood donors, we confirmed an increasing prevalence with age, ranging from 13% in subjects less than 30 years old to 38% in subjects more than 60 years old.

Primary biliary cirrhosis and bone changes.

Two cases of primary biliary cirrhosis with bone lesions are reported. In one case radiographic findings in the hands and right shoulder are found to be characteristic of primary biliary cirrhosis rather than other concomitant diseases present in the patient which are also susceptible to produce bone lesions. The second case is an example of less specific bone changes which may be attributed to primary biliary cirrhosis or other rheumatoid disease.