ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the changes in body weight and bone mineral density in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with AS (25 males and 6 females) who fulfilled the Modified New York Criteria for AS were included in this retrospective study. All patients had active disease that eventually required anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Each patient received anti-TNF-alpha treatment (etanercept 25 mg twice weekly or adalimumab 40 mg twice monthly) for more than 2 years. Body weight, disease activity as Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lumbar bone mineral density (LBMD), and femoral bone mineral density (FBMD) were measured at baseline and at 1 and 2 years after initiating anti-TNF-alpha treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in mean body weight at 1 year (1.1 +/- 3.8 kg) and at 2 years (1.7 +/- 4.8 kg) compared with baseline. The gains in mean BMD of the lumbar spine were significant at 1 year (0.4 +/- 0.4) and 2 years (0.5 +/- 0.7) compared with baseline. Mean BMD of the femur was also increased at 1 year (0.08 +/- 0.7) and 2 years (0.1 +/- 0.8) compared with baseline, but these differences were not statistically significant. There were significant decreases in BASDAI at 1 year (-3.3 +/- 2.8) and at 2 years (-3.6 +/- 2.8) compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant increases in body weight, lumbar BMD, and BASDAI at 1 year and 2 years in patients with ankylosing spondylitis after receiving anti-TNF-alpha treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Baths , Blood Sedimentation , Body Weight , Bone Density , C-Reactive Protein , Cachexia , Femur , Necrosis , Retrospective Studies , Spine , Spondylitis , Spondylitis, Ankylosing , AdalimumabABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the changes in body weight and bone mineral density in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with AS (25 males and 6 females) who fulfilled the Modified New York Criteria for AS were included in this retrospective study. All patients had active disease that eventually required anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Each patient received anti-TNF-alpha treatment (etanercept 25 mg twice weekly or adalimumab 40 mg twice monthly) for more than 2 years. Body weight, disease activity as Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lumbar bone mineral density (LBMD), and femoral bone mineral density (FBMD) were measured at baseline and at 1 and 2 years after initiating anti-TNF-alpha treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in mean body weight at 1 year (1.1 +/- 3.8 kg) and at 2 years (1.7 +/- 4.8 kg) compared with baseline. The gains in mean BMD of the lumbar spine were significant at 1 year (0.4 +/- 0.4) and 2 years (0.5 +/- 0.7) compared with baseline. Mean BMD of the femur was also increased at 1 year (0.08 +/- 0.7) and 2 years (0.1 +/- 0.8) compared with baseline, but these differences were not statistically significant. There were significant decreases in BASDAI at 1 year (-3.3 +/- 2.8) and at 2 years (-3.6 +/- 2.8) compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant increases in body weight, lumbar BMD, and BASDAI at 1 year and 2 years in patients with ankylosing spondylitis after receiving anti-TNF-alpha treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Baths , Blood Sedimentation , Body Weight , Bone Density , C-Reactive Protein , Cachexia , Femur , Necrosis , Retrospective Studies , Spine , Spondylitis , Spondylitis, Ankylosing , AdalimumabABSTRACT
Streptococcal myositis is an extremely uncommon infectious disease that is caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS). A GAS infection spreads rapidly and diffusely through the muscle, resulting in edema and necrosis. This can lead to streptococcal toxic shock syndrome with an extremely hig mortality. We report a 42 year-old female patient with Streptococcal myositis accompanying with systemic lupus erythematosus who initially presented with fever, severe pain, and tenderness on the calf without any prodromal symptom of myositis. Despite the aggressive management, her general symptoms were aggravated and she died 7 days later as result of the toxic shock syndrome.