Long-term Treatment with Anti-platelet Agents for Collagen-induced Arthritis Improves Radiological Findings

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the long-term effect of anti-platelet treatment on the radiological progression of collagen-induced arthritis in rats. METHODS: Female Lewis rats with collagen-induced arthritis were divided into three experimental groups: saline, aspirin monotherapy (n = 12), and aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy (n = 12). Drugs were administered daily and continued up to 70 days after the induction of arthritis. The clinical arthritis index (weight, morphology score, and paw thickness) and radiological scores were evaluated. RESULTS: The clinical arthritis index peaked on day 20, while the radiological scores peaked on day 35. No intergroup difference was observed in the clinical arthritis index throughout the experiment. The aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy group had a significantly higher mean radiological score than the other groups (p = 0.045) on day 35. Further treatments resulted in significantly improved radiological findings in the aspirin monotherapy and aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy groups on day 70 but no significant improvement in the saline group. CONCLUSION: Anti-platelet agent treatment improved radiological findings on day 70. These observations emphasize the importance of a future long-term study of the effects of anti-platelet agent treatment on arthritis.

A Case of Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a Patient of Behcet's Disease

Behcet's disease (BD) is a multi-systemic inflammatory disease of unknown origin that affects nearly all organs including the nervous system. Although the neurological involvement is less frequent than other major presentations, it is important because it can produce severe disabilities. Peripheral nervous system manifestations are relatively rare in BD. Although few cases of peripheral neuropathy or myopathy have been reported in BD, they are cases of multiple neuropathies, sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy autonomic dysfunction. Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), also known as an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, is an acute demyelinating polyradiculopathy of uncertain etiology. No case of GBS associated with BD in Korea has been reported. Herein we report on a patient of BD who suffered from weakness of extremities and was diagnosed as GBS.