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Biomedical subjects

E Zachariae

Publications and source records attributed to E Zachariae.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Systemic scleroderma and scleroderma-like disease after silicone implants].

Systemic sclerosis or clinical patterns indistinguishable from systemic sclerosis have previously been demonstrated in workers in the polyvinylchloride industry and in mine-workers exposed to silica dust. In recent years, an increasing number of cases of systemic sclerosis, localized scleroderma, and scleroderma-like disease have been diagnosed in women after implantation of silicone gel prosthesis either following operations for breast cancer or cosmetic augmentation mammoplasty. We present two cases of systemic sclerosis or scleroderma-like disease appearing after silicone implants. Together with the already reported cases these results should lead to reduced use of silicone for cosmetic augmentation mammoplasty and a search for another material for patients operated on for breast cancer. The cases described, together with the reports concerning industrially provoked scleroderma, are of interest for the continued efforts to clarify the pathogenesis of scleroderma. Other types of exposure than those described here may also be of interest, i.e. occupational exposure to silicone spray.

Female↗

The effect of second-line antirheumatic drugs on interleukin-8 mRNA synthesis and protein secretion in human endothelial cells.

Interactions between interleukin 8 (IL-8) and endothelial cells play an important role in the emigration of mononuclear cells from the blood into areas of inflammation. We examined the ability of specific second-line antirheumatic drugs to regulate (IL-8) gene expression and protein secretion in interleukin 1 (IL-1) stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The drugs sodium aurothiomalate, D-penicillamine and sulphasalazine were all able to modulate IL-8 mRNA synthesis in and protein secretion from endothelial cells. A bimodal effect was observed: at low concentrations IL-8 was suppressed, whereas higher concentrations resulted in an increased IL-8 production. In endothelial cells, treatment with hydrocortisone led to a linear suppression of IL-8 production in concentrations ranging from 0.5 micrograms/ml up to 500 micrograms/ml. Sulphapyridine, auranofin, hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate, had no effect on IL-8 secretion in endothelial cells. By contrast, 5-aminosalicylic acid induced a threefold increase in the IL-8 release. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells it was only possible to suppress the IL-8 production by hydrocortisone treatment. These results indicate that suppression of IL-8 production in endothelial cells could be an important factor in the mode of action for a number of second-line antirheumatic drugs.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: relation to liver fibrosis and arthritis.

Levels of serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen were measured in 170 patients with psoriasis (49% with coexistent psoriatic arthritis) who had liver biopsies performed during or before treatment with methotrexate or, in some cases, with retinoids. Psoriasis patients with fibrosis or cirrhosis in their liver biopsy specimens had a significantly higher mean serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen than did patients without fibrosis and without arthritis. Only 4% of patients without cirrhosis or fibrosis and no arthritis had an elevated serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen. In contrast, 38% of patients with psoriatic arthritis had an increased aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in the absence of detectable liver fibrosis. It is concluded that the number of liver biopsies performed on methotrexate-treated psoriasis patients with or without arthritis may be reduced to a minimum as long as serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen is normal. Increased serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in the absence of arthritis is a strong indicator of liver fibrogenesis and suggests the need for liver biopsy to monitor possible methotrexate-induced toxicity. In patients with psoriatic arthritis an increased aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen may be related to the joint disease. Patients with psoriatic arthritis and increased levels of aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen should therefore follow the established guidelines for the use of methotrexate in psoriasis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Cyclosporin A treatment of systemic sclerosis.

Ten patients with severe progressive systemic sclerosis were treated with cyclosporin A at dosages of 1.5-7.5 mg/kg per day:two patients showed a marked improvement with softening of the involved skin; in one patient there was healing of persistent digital ulcers; one patient showed initial improvement followed by a marked exacerbation; one patient was slightly improved; two patients were unchanged. The clinical results correlated well with levels of serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen. In the eight patients completing treatment, side-effects such as slight tremor and a transient increase in the serum creatinine and blood pressure were either absent or reverted to normal when the dosage was decreased, except one case who had to be treated with anti-hypertensive drugs.

Adult↗

Methotrexate treatment of psoriatic arthritis.

A prospective study was carried out over 12 months involving twenty-eight patients with psoriatic arthritis. Almost all patients improved dramatically with regard to both pain and function. Clinical assessment including evaluation of number of swollen joints, joint tenderness score, and morning stiffness was performed by external observer without any knowledge of previous evaluation data. These data together with patients' assessment of pain and assessment of general condition, consumption of analgetics, and sedimentation rate improved significantly after three and six or twelve months. Apart from transient increases in serum transaminases no other abnormalities developed during the study.

Adult↗

Benoxaprofen in treatment of systemic sclerosis.

Ten patients with systemic sclerosis were treated with benoxaprofen, a potent lipoxygenase inhibitor, for a period of 6 months. In an attempt to evaluate the efficacy a number of physical disease parameters were followed during the trial. None of these parameters revealed any significant differences. There was, however, a trend for a change towards normalisation of a defect monocyte chemotaxis. In view of the slow and progressive nature of systemic sclerosis the present study leaves undetermined whether benoxaprofen exerts a beneficial effect on systemic sclerosis.

Adult↗

Factor VIII inhibitor treatment with high doses of F VIII.

A hemophilic patient with F VIII inhibitor was treated with intermittent F VIII infusions of 40 - 50 units per kg bodyweight per week. Although the inhibitor declined during treatment, an anamnestic response was recorded on two occasions. A continuous high dose F VIII regimen of 200 units per kg per day resulted in reduction of the inhibitor concentration to less than 1 unit per ml. No anamnestic response was seen after a later exposure to intensive F VIII therapy.

Antibodies↗

Methotrexate in psoriatic arthritis: a retrospective study.

The response of psoriatic arthritis to methotrexate was evaluated retrospectively in 59 consecutive patients. Initially almost all received 15 mg weekly. When clinical improvement occurred, the dose was gradually reduced. In 7 patients methotrexate had to be discontinued within a year due to adverse reactions. The remaining 52 patients were treated from 1 to 11 years, median 3 years. Among these a modest improvement was seen in 21, while in 22 the signs of inflammatory joint disease almost disappeared. The favourable response was related to the short duration of arthritis, but unrelated to the severity of the disease.

Adolescent↗

Clinical evaluation of ketoprofen (19.583 R.P.) in rheumatoid arthritis. Double-blind cross-over comparison with indomethacin.

In a double-blind cross-over trial the clinical efficacy of ketoprofen (19.583 R.P., Orudis, Profenid N.D.), in comparison with that of indomethacin was investigated in 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The two drugs were each given in a dosage of 150 mg daily for a period of 14 days. The clinical effects of ketoprofen and indomethacin were equal (p less than 0.90), but several side-effects appeared less often and to a milder degree during ketoprofen treatment. The study indicates that ketoprofen may prove to be a valuable drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗

Reiter's disease and the histocompatibility antigen, HL-A 27.

HL-A27 were found in 31 of 48 patients with Reiter's disease (65%) as compared with 8% of 2 103 health controls. It is suggested that HL-A27 is closely related to the inheritance of a special immune response leading to an increased susceptibility to a special type of reactive arthritis which Reiter's disease has in common with ankylosing spondylitis and a certain type of psoriatic arthritis.

Arthritis, Infectious↗