Autoimmunity News

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 Elevated CRP May Predict Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in RA Patients
New research augments the growing body of evidence suggesting that the inflammation of RA causes premature atherosclerosis... Goodson NJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2293-2299.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 Abatacept Reduces Disease Activity and Improves Function in RA Patients Who Failed MTX
Results of a 12-month study show that the first in a class of agents designed to block a costimulatory pathway required for optimum activation of T cells may play an important role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly among patients unresponsive to methotrexate (MTX)... Kremer JM, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2263-2271.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005 Neuropsychiatric Syndromes in SLE Patients Are Complex and Underdiagnosed
Though neuropsychiatric (NP) syndromes, regardless of etiology, are common among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a new study suggests that lupus patients with a history of NP syndromes report more severe anxiety and depression as well as cognitive dysfunction, pointing to the need for earlier diagnosis of these nonspecific symptoms...J Rheumatol. 2005;32:1459-1466.

Friday, August 05, 2005 RA Patients With High BMI Have Lower Mortality
In a finding that runs contrary to the recognized relationship between increased weight and mortality, a new study has found that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with a high body mass index had a lower risk of death than their leaner counterparts... Escalante A, Haas RW, del Rincón I. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1624-1629.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005 Etanercept Does Not Increase Risk of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in RA Patients
Unlike cyclosporine, etanercept does not appear to increase risk of skin cancer in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients... Lebwohl M, et al. Arch Dermatol. 2005;141:861-864.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Is There a Phthalate Connection?
Murine studies suggest that exposure to phthalates may increase susceptibility to SLE and possibly other autoimmune disorders... Lim S-Y and Ghosh SK. J Autoimmun. 2005;25:33-45

Thursday, July 21, 2005 Swedish Study Clarifies Connection Between TB, RA, and Use of TNF-α Inhibitors
Irrespective of whether TNF-α inhibitors were administered, Swedish patients with RA were at an increased risk of TB, and TB risk is further heightened by use of biologic agents... Askling J, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:1986-1992

Tuesday, July 19, 2005 Acupuncture Provides Short-Term Benefits in Knee OA
Acupuncture improves pain and functioning in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), but only in the short term... Witt C, et al. Lancet. 2005;366:136-143.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 EMEA Recommends HumiraR as First Line for Moderate-to-Severe RA
Abbott Laboratories announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended approval of HumiraR (adalimumab) for first-line treatment of moderate-to-severe early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 The Immune Response Corporation Identifies Reduced FOXP3 Levels in MS Patients
An ongoing clinical trial conducted by The Immune Response Corporation (IRC) of Carlsbad, California, and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland has demonstrated that the investigational T-cell receptor (TCR) peptide vaccine NeuroVax^TM  significantly increases levels of FOXP3, a transcription factor necessary for regulatory T-cell (Treg cells) development.