Ferritin in Adult-Onset Still's Disease: Just a Useful Innocent Bystander?

Background. Adult-Onset Still's Disease (AOSD) is an immune-mediated systemic disease with quotidian-spiking fever, rash, and inflammatory arthritis. Hyperferritinemia is a prominent feature, often used for screening. Methods. The key terms “ferritin” and “hyperferritinemia” were used to search PubMed and Medline and were cross-referenced with “Still's Disease.” Results. Hyperferritinemia, although nonspecific, is particularly prevalent in AOSD. While most clinicians associate ferritin with iron metabolism, this is mostly true for the H isoform and not for the L isoform that tends to increase dramatically in hyperferritenemia. In these situations, hyperferritinemia is not associated with iron metabolism and may even mask an underlying iron deficiency. We review, in systematic fashion, the current basic science and clinical literature regarding the regulation of ferritin and its use in the diagnosis and management of AOSD. Conclusion. Serum hyperferritinemia in AOSD has been described for 2 decades, although its mechanism has not yet been completely elucidated. Regulation by proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, IL-18, MCSF, and INF-α provides a link to the disease pathogenesis and may explain rapid resolution of hyperferritinemia after targeted treatment and inhibition of key cytokines

Biological targets in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a comprehensive review of current and in-development biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs

Enhanced understanding of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathophysiology and the role of cytokines has enabled the development of innovative biological agents in the last 10 years that target specific parts of the immune response. Failure to achieve adequate response with traditional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and increasing evidence of ongoing radiographic deterioration of the affected joints despite seemingly clinical response were essential stimuli for the development of biologics. The current and upcoming biological agents are primarily aimed at neutralizing circulating and cell-bound pro-inflammatory cytokines, interfering in the interaction of antigen-presenting and T-lymphocytes, eliminating circulating B-lymphocytes or by interfering with the intracellular signaling mechanisms of immuno-competent cells that lead to inflammation. These agents have improved the currently available treatments due to greater efficacy, fast action and greater tolerability. However, use of these agents has also been associated with significant, although rare, adverse events and considerable cost. Therefore, these agents should be used with caution by experienced clinicians. The present work aims to provide a global and updated review of the current and in-development biological DMARDs for the treatment of RA

Efficacy and safety of canakinumab in patients with Still's disease: exposure-response analysis of pooled systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis data by age groups

OBJECTIVES: To describe the efficacy, safety, and exposure-response relationship of canakinumab in a subgroup of patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) aged ≥16 years, representative of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) patients, and to compare this subgroup with those of children and young adolescents with SJIA by pooling clinical data collected during the development programme of canakinumab. METHODS: Safety and efficacy data on canakinumab-treated patients were pooled from 4 SJIA studies (NCT00426218, NCT00886769, NCT00889863, and NCT00891046). In the majority of patients, canakinumab was administered at 4 mg/kg every 4 weeks. Efficacy parameters (adapted American College of Rheumatology [aACR] paediatric and juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA] ACR responses), quality of life, C-reactive protein levels, safety, and exposure-response relationship were assessed over 12 weeks in 3 age groups (children 2-<12, young adolescents 12-<16 and older adolescents and young adults ≥16 years). RESULTS: Efficacy outcomes were analysed in 216 children, 56 young adolescents and 29 older adolescents and young adults. Efficacy parameters across 3 age groups were largely comparable. At Day 15, at least 50% of patients from each age group exhibited aACR ≥70 and ACR responses. The safety profile of canakinumab was similar across age groups. One death was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Pooled analyses from SJIA studies indicate that older adolescents and young adults SJIA patients show similar efficacy, safety, and exposure-response relationship on a weight-based dosing regimen as observed in children and adolescent SJIA patients. These analyses suggest that canakinumab may be an effective therapy in young adults with Still's disease

The Dicta-Sign Wiki: Enabling Web Communication for the Deaf

International audienceThe paper provides a report on the user-centred showcase prototypes of the DICTA-SIGN project (http://www.dictasign.eu/), an FP7-ICT project which ended in January 2012. DICTA-SIGN researched ways to enable communication between Deaf individuals through the development of human-computer interfaces (HCI) for Deaf users, by means of Sign Language. Emphasis is placed on the Sign-Wiki prototype that demonstrates the potential of sign languages to participate in contemporary Web 2.0 applications where user contributions are editable by an entire community and sign language users can benefit from collaborative editing facilities