Autoimmune Medical News for June 2008

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June 2008

The Development of Inflammatory Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Following Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT). Immunologic manipulation during the SCT process raises the question of whether there is an increased propensity to develop autoimmune disease posttransplant. (PubMed) Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2008 May 31. (Also see: Arthritis and Stem Cell Transplants ).

Is lipstick associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) ? There was a trend of greater risk with earlier age of initiation of lipstick use and with increased frequency of use. Biologic effects of chemicals present in lipsticks absorbed across the buccal mucosa and confounding from unmeasured lifestyle factors could be the explanation of this association. (SpringerLink) Clinical Rheumatology. June 4, 2008. (Also see: Lupus )

Behçet disease associated with myelodysplastic syndrome. We suggest that patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and trisomy 8 might be prone to have Behçet disease. Furthermore, more intestinal ulcers but with less eye lesions and arthritis have been noted in patients of Behçet disease with myelodysplastic syndrome than in those without myelodysplastic syndrome. (PubMed) Lin YC J Clin Rheumatol 2008 Jun;14(3):169-74. (Also see: Behcet's ).

Behcet's disease (BD) associated with bone marrow failure (BMF) in Korean patients: clinical characteristics and the association of intestinal ulceration and trisomy 8. In four patients with refractory BD associated with BMF, successful treatment of BMF by haematopoietic stem cell transplantation resulted in clinical remission of BD. Our study indicates that intestinal ulceration is a characteristic finding in BD associated with BMF. It also suggests that cytogenetic aberration, especially trisomy 8, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of BD associated with BMF. (PubMed) Ahn JK Rheumatology (Oxford) 2008 Jun 11. (Also see: Behcet's ).

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in the investigation of intestinal Behcet's syndrome. WCE technique may guide treatment and provide a better understanding of intestinal pathology in BS. S. S. Hamdulay. Rheumatology Advance Access. June 11, 2008. (Also see: Behcet's and GI Tests ).

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in polymyositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM): Longitudinal evaluation by pulmonary function and radiology. ILD associated with PM/DM is in most cases mild, chronic, and has a nonprogressive course during immunosuppressive treatment. Myositis patients with ILD need careful evaluation of clinical features as well as Pulmonary function test and radiologic features during followup. (Wiley Interscience) Arthritis Care & Research 25 April 2008 (Also see: DM/PM and Pulmonary Fibrosis ).

Spontaneous recovery of dermatomyositis and unspecified myositis in three adult patients. Spontaneous long lasting remission can occur in a small proportion of patients with subacute onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. In some patients, immunosuppressive treatment with the risk of serious side effects can perhaps be omitted. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2008. (Also see: Dermatomyositis )

The case for autoimmunity in the etiology of schizophrenia. The literature on autoimmunity as a possible mechanism in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia can be conflicting, but there is a substantial amount of circumstantial, although not conclusive, evidence of immune dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia. (PubMed) Goldsmith CA. Pharmacotherapy 2008 Jun 28(6):730-41. (Also see: Autoimmunity )

Interferon: a new therapeutic option in refractory juvenile Behçet's disease (BD) with central nervous system involvement. Recombinant human IFN- 2a (rhIFN-2a)was effective and well tolerated in these juvenile patients with severe neurological BD. J. B. Kuemmerle-Deschner. Rheumatology Advance Access. May 20, 2008 (Also see: Behcet's )

Changing patterns of medication use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Medicaid population. The utilization of DMARDs increased in TennCare patients with RA, and by 2004, use of biologics was substantial. C. G. Grijalva. Rheumatology Advance Access. May 22, 2008 (Also see: Rheumatoid Arthritis ).

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) delay the occurrence of renal involvement and are associated with a decreased risk of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—results from LUMINA (LIX): a multiethnic US cohort. ACE inhibitor use delays the development of renal involvement and associates with a decreased risk of disease activity in SLE. S. Durán-Barragán. Rheumatology Advance Access. May 29, 2008 (Also see: Systemic Lupus )

Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI): a simple tool for assessing cardiovascular risk in patients with systemic vasculitis. There is an increased prevalence of an abnormal ABPI in patients with systemic vasculitides implying an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. S. R. Sangle. Rheumatology Advance Access. May 22, 2008. (Also see: Vasculitis )

Coronary Calcium in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Is Associated with Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors, But Not with Disease Activity. Age, body mass index, and diabetes mellitus are more important associates of coronary calcium in SLE than inflammatory markers and SLE clinical activity. J Rheumatol First Release May 15 2008. (Also see: SLE )

Triple therapy in early active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, single-blind, controlled trial comparing step-up and parallel treatment strategies. Highly effective control of disease activity can be achieved using conventional DMARDs as part of an intensive disease management strategy. Within this setting, step-up therapy is at least as effective as parallel triple therapy. (Wiley Interscience) Arthritis & Rheumatism, 25 Apr 2008. (Also see: Rheumatoid Arthritis )