Lipid profiles in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Cardiovascular events are the main cause of the increased risk of death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Death rates associated with cardiovascular diseases in RA are 50% higher in comparison with the general population. In the last decade several new technologies and new strategy in the treatment of RA were introduced but the risk of cardiovascular incidents remained unchanged. Various alterations of the lipid profile, observed in RA patients during the treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the subject of several and often contraversal studies. In this review we present and analyzed the results of current research on the lipid profile in RA patients treated with the synthetic and biologic DMARDs. The role of the lipid profile alterations in the pathogenesis of accelerated atherosclerosis in RA has been discussed

Histopathological features of bone marrow in patients with arthritis and T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) lymphocytosis

Patient 1 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and T-LGL leukemia. Staining for CD57 demonstrates intrasinusoidal linear arrays and interstitial clusters of T cells (EnVision stain, ×100). Granzyme B highlights cytotoxic granules in these cells (EnVision stain, ×200). Patient 10 with polyclonal T-LGL lymphocytosis. Staining for CD8 shows dispersed T cells (EnVision stain, ×200). Patient 9 with unclassified arthritis, T-LGL leukemia, and and gene rearrangements. CD3 staining shows interstitial and nodular infiltration of T cells (EnVision stain, ×100). Patient 9. The lymphoid nodule contains few CD20B cells (EnVision stain, ×200). Patient 7 with RA and T-LGL leukemia. A decreased count of granulocytic precursors (myeloperoxydase) is shown (EnVision stain, ×200). IGKV, immunoglobulin kappa variable; IGLV, immunoglobulin lambda variable<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Characteristics of T-cell large granular lymphocyte proliferations associated with neutropenia and inflammatory arthropathy"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/10/3/R55</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008;10(3):R55-R55.</p><p>Published online 12 May 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2483444.</p><p></p

Ethidium bromide-stained polyacrylamide gel showing polymerase chain reaction products derived from gene rearrangements in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) proliferations

Polyclonal expansion of T-LGLs in patient 10. Lane 1: gene rearrangement–negative, polyclonal smear (tube A); lane 2: gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear (tube B); lane 3: gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear (tube C); lane 4: standard 50 base pairs (bp); lane 5: gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear (tube A); lane 6: gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear (tube B); and lane 7: gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear. Monoclonal expansion in polyclonal background in patient 7. Lane 1: gene rearrangement: monoclonal product 180 bp (i) in tube A; lane 2: gene rearrangement: monoclonal product 210 bp (ii) in polyclonal background (tube B); lane 3: gene rearrangement: monoclonal product 160 bp (iii); lane 4: (tube A) gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear; lane 5: standard 50 bp; lane 6: (tube B) gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear; and lane 7: (tube C) gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear. Monoclonal gene rearrangements in patient 1 with T-LGL leukemia. Lane 1: gene rearrangement-negative (tube A); lane 2: gene rearrangement-positive, monoclonal product 250 bp (iv) in tube B; lane 3: (tube C): gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear; lane 4: standard 50 bp; lane 5: gene rearrangement-positive, monoclonal product 230 bp (v) in tube A; lane 6: gene rearrangement-positive, monoclonal product 180 bp (vi) in tube B; and lane 7: gene rearrangement-negative, polyclonal smear. TCR, T-cell receptor.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Characteristics of T-cell large granular lymphocyte proliferations associated with neutropenia and inflammatory arthropathy"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/10/3/R55</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008;10(3):R55-R55.</p><p>Published online 12 May 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2483444.</p><p></p