Autoimmune Medical News for September 2007

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September 2007

Pulmonary hypertension associated with sarcoidosis. Pulmonary involvement is common in sarcoidosis, an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder that is characterized by non-caseating granulomas in tissue. Sarcoid patients with advanced pulmonary disease, especially end-stage pulmonary fibrosis, risk developing pulmonary hypertension. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007, 9(Suppl 2):S8. (Also see: Sarcoidosis )

Vasculitis: mechanisms involved and clinical manifestations. There is evidence, albeit limited, suggesting that ET-1 plays a role in some clinical manifestations of vasculitis. Potentially, endothelin receptor antagonism may have a place in the treatment of specific vascular manifestations of vasculitis as an adjunct to standard therapy with corticosteroids and immunosuppressant agents. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007, 9(Suppl 2):S9. (Also see: Vasculitis )

Scientists Closer to Cracking the Autoimmune Mystery. "Almost every autoimmune disease, with the exception of rheumatoid arthritis, seems to be going up," says immunologist Noel Rose, director of the Johns Hopkins Autoimmune Diseases Research Center. But whether that's because of an increase in disease or better recognition of cases is not certain. MedIndia.com. 09/06/07. (Also see: Autoimmunity and Causes of Scleroderma )

Gold Therapy in Women Planning Pregnancy: Outcomes in One Center. Our clinic experience and the published literature support the current practice that in patients with RA, gold may still be considered a treatment option in women planning pregnancy. J Rheumatol 2007;34:1827-31. (Also see: Pregnancy and Scleroderma, and RA )

Genes Boost Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus. Two genes boost the risk of painful rheumatoid arthritis, and one of them also increases the odds for lupus, according to two new reports. WashingtonPost.com. 09/05/07. (Also see: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus )

Renal manifestations in rheumatic diseases. The differential diagnosis of renal abnormalities in a rheumatic patient should include drug induced renal impairment as well as infection. PubMed Internist (Berl). 2007 Aug;48(8):779-85. (Also see: Renal Involvement )

Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) and Uric Acid (UA) in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents. This study in overweight children and adolescents demonstrated a relationship between the severity of sleep apnea and increased levels of serum UA, independent of abdominal adiposity. In view of the known associations between UA and cardiovascular risk, this finding may contribute to the mechanisms linking SDB with cardiovascular morbidity. Chest. 2007; 132:76-80. (Also see: Sleep and Scleroderma )

Macrophages In The Spleen Regulate The Immune Response And Immune Tolerance. This is the first study demonstrating that macrophages in the marginal zone of the spleen regulate not only efficient clearance of dying cells, but also the selective engulfment of dying cells by dendritic cells. Science Daliy. 07/30/07. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Dendritic cells and Autoimmunity )

E. coli Bacteria Linked To Crohn's Disease. The study found an increased level of E. coli bacteria in more inflamed areas of the small intestines instead of MAP, a bacterium related to tubercle bacillus that has been more commonly associated with Crohn's. Medical News Today. 08/10/07. (Also see: Crohn's Disease )