Efficacy and safety of half-dose rituximab in the treatment of 23 cases with lupus nephritis / 中华内科杂志

The study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of 23 cases of lupus nephritis and explore the prospect of half-dose rituximab in lupus nephritis treatment. Twenty-three patients with lupus nephritis hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from May 2013 to December 2021 were selected. Eighteen patients received rituximab 375 mg/m 2 on the first and 14th days, 5 patients received 500 mg of rituximab on the first and 14th days, and rituximab was used as needed 6 months later. Methylprednisolone (80-120 mg) was given together with rituximab. Afterward, 1 mg/kg prednisone was used for 4 weeks, which was progressively tapered to maintenance doses or discontinued. B lymphocyte level, renal function, 24-h urine protein level, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI2K) score before and after treatment were recorded. The efficacy and adverse reactions were analyzed. The results showed that 11 patients suffered from renal insufficiency [creatinine (162.7±58.6) μmol/L ] at baseline, while the creatinine level of 9 patients returned to normal 12 months after the treatment [ (66.3±10.1)μmol/L ]. Normal renal function of the other 12 patients was maintained during treatment. After 12 months, the 24-h urine protein level decreased from 4.00 (2.00,6.80) g in the baseline period to 0.10 (0.08,0.40) g. SLEDAI2K score decreased from 22 (18,26) in the baseline period to 3 (0,6) 12 months after the treatment. The B lymphocyte level reached 0.00 (0.00,0.01)% at 3 months. Of 23 patients, 13 patients achieved complete remission, and 7 patients achieved partial remission after 6 months of rituximab treatment. Five patients experienced adverse reactions related to rituximab, including 1 case of transfusion reaction, 1 case of perioral herpes with pulmonary infection, and 3 cases of decreased IgG levels. Therefore, rituximab regimen used in this study can be an effective treatment strategy for lupus nephritis.

Multivariate analysis of long-term outcomes of storage symptom improvement in elderly patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia after GreenLight laser vaporization / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between preoperative urodynamic parameters and the improvement of overactive bladder (OAB)symptoms after GreenLight laser vaporization,and to explore prognostic factors for improvement of OAB symptoms in the elderly.Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 100 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)patients undergoing GreenLight laser vaporization at the Department of Urology of Beijing Hospital from July 2015 to March 2017.All patients completed a preoperative urodynamic examination and received GreenLight laser vaporization.Clinical data including age,prostate-specific antigen (PSA),prostate volume,international prognostic scoring system(IPSS),overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS),quality of life(QOL)and urodynamic parameters were collected.The related factors for improvement of OAB symptoms after GreenLight laser vaporization were analyzed by a binary Logistic regression analysis.Results All patients underwent surgery successfully and completed a 12-month follow-up.Both urinary storage and voiding symptoms improved at 3 and 12 months after GreenLight laser vaporization(P＜0.05).The scores of IPSS,IPSS storage (IPSS-S),IPSS voiding (IPSS-V),OABSS and QOL and nighttime voiding frequency decreased and urinary storage and voiding symptoms improved at 3 and 12 months after GreenLight laser vaporization,compared with pre-surgery data(P＜0.05).The success rates of storage symptom improvement at 3 and 12 months after GreenLight laser vaporization were 62.0 ％ (62/100) and 68.0 ％ (68/100) evaluated by IPSS-S and 68.0 ％ (68/100) and 75.0％ (75/100)by OABSS,respectively.Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that age,detrusor contractility,residual urine volume and nighttime voiding frequency were independent influencing factors for prognosis(OR =35.714,0.352,0.110 and 0.040,P =0.000,0.027,0.018 and 0.002).Conclusions GreenLight laser vaporization is an effective method in treating BPH with OAB.Age is an independent unfavorable factor and the residual urine volume,nighttime voiding frequency and detrusor contraction are independent influencing factors for prognosis.Enough attention should be paid to these related parameters before surgery.

The safety and efficacy of golimumab in treatment of 25 patients with active ankylosingspondylitis / 中华内科杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of golimumab in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The subjects were randomized to receive either golimumab 50mg subcutaneously or placebo every 4 weeks. Patients in both groups received golimumab 50mg from week 24 to week 48. The primary endpoint was the proportion of at least 20% improvement in the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS20) at week 14. The secondary endpoints included at least 40% improvement in the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS40), ASAS partial-remission, Bath AS functional index, Bath AS disease activity index, Bath AS metrology index, enthesitis index and Jenkins sleep evaluation questionnaire. Results A total of 25 subjects were included in this study, 13 with golimumab and 12 with placebo. At Week 14, 6(46.2%) subjects achieved ASAS20 in golimumab group and 2(16.7%) in placebo group. Significant improvements of other efficacy endpoints were also found in golimumab group. Golimumab was safe and well to lerated. Most of the adverse events were slightly impaired liver function, where as elevated aspartate aminotransferase and/or alanine aminotransferase returned to normal without drug with drawal.Conclusion Golimumab improves AS activity, clinical symptoms and sleep disturbance in patients with active AS with good safety and tolerability.

An analysis of abnormal magnetic resonance imaging of sacroiliac joints in patients misdiagnosed as spondyloarthritis / 中华内科杂志

Objective To study the imaging features of sacroiliac joints(SIJ) in patients who were misdiagnosed as spondyloarthritis(SpA).Methods A total of 34 patients with chief complaint of back pain and misdiagnosed as SpA from January 2007 to April 2013 in Department of Rheumatology Chinese PLA General Hospital were enrolled.The imaging,clinical manifestations,laboratory examinations data were analyzed.Result The main reason for misdiagnosis as SpA was because of sacroiliitis presenting on imaging.The final diagnoses included 24 patients as SIJ infection,4 patients as neoplastic diseases,2 patients as metabolic bone diseases,2 patients as sacroiliac joint degeneration,1 patient as gout of sacroiliac joint,1 patient as diffuse idiopathic bone hypertrophy.For patients with infection,there were 10 patients receiving X-ray and 22 patients receiving CT of SIJ.However,5 and 7 patients had negative results respectively.These patients with infection had abnormalities in MRI including all with bone marrow edema,21 patients with erosion of bone and joint,22 patients with muscle involved.As to the patients with malignancies,SIJ CT scan appeared normal.Bone marrow edema and erosion in MRI were found in all neoplasm patients expect one as ependymoma.Adjacent muscles were involved in the patient with Ewing's sarcoma.Either X-ray or CT in other patients demonstrated obvious abnormalities,but only mild erosion of bone was found in MRI.Conclusion Bone marrow edema of SIJ in MRI represented not only in patients with SpA.Rheumatologists should analyze the clinical manifestations and laboratory examinations comprehensively in order to avoid the misdiagnoses.

IgG4-related disease:a retrospective analysis of 20 cases / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To understand the features of immunoglobulin G4-related diseases and to improve its diagnosis and treatment.Methods The clinical data of 20 cases discharged from our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Results Twenty cases with IgG4 related diseases were reviewed retrospectively.IgG4-related diseasesis more prevalent in male than in female (14∶6),and the mean age was 58 years.Pancreas and bile ducts were the most commonly affected organs,2 and more than 2 organs were involved in 17 patients.All patients had significantly elevated serum immunoglobulin G4.Histopathological findings included diffuse tissue fibrosis with extensive lymphoplasmacytes infiltration.On immunohistochemical staining,the ratio of IgG4-positive plasma cells to IgG-positive plasma cells was higher than 40％.One patient deceased and one patient was left untreated,other patients responded well to the treatment.Conclusion There is no characteristic clinical symptoms for IgG4-related diseases,and serum immunoglobulin G4 is the essential diagnostic method in suspected cases.IgG4-related diseases can be well controlled with prompt use of glucocorticosteroid.

Arthritis, fever, and wheeze / 中华风湿病学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic and differential diagnostic points in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated with fever and pulmonary diseases. MethodsFull clinical analysis was performed for a 55-year old patient with arthritis, fever, and wheeze. ResultsThe clinical pictures of the patient were consistent with those of RA. Computed tomography(CT) revealed interstitial lung diseases and intrapulmonary cavities. Antifungal agents were given experimentally, and the intrapulmonary cavities disappeared finally, thus the patient was diagnosed as RA, concurrently complicated with interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fungal infection. ConclusionThe possibility of pulmonary fungal infection should be considered in RA patients who presented with fever and intrapulmonary cavities.

Clinical efficacy of loading dose infliximab in the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis and clinical response predicting factor analysis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy profile of loading dose of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibody infliximab in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and investigate the parameters that could be used as predicting factors for clinical response to infliximab in AS.Methods This was an open-labeled.mutticenter trial.Subiects eligible for this study were adults with a diagnosis of definite AS.Active disease was a Bath AS disease activity index(BASDAI)≥4 and spinal pain VAS≥4.Infliximab 5 md/kg was infused at weeks 0,2,6.All patients were followed for up to 10 weeks.Logistic regression likelihood ratio tests (univariate and multivariate) were performed to investigate which of the following parameters assessed before treatment were associated with ASAS 20,ASAS 40 and BASDAI 50 response:sex.age.disease duration,HLA-B27,BASDAI,spinal inflammatory (questions 5 and 6 of the BASDAI),spinal pain,night pain,patient global assessment,Bath AS functional index (BASFI),BASMI,enthesis index (EI),presence of peripheral arthritis,chest expansion,ESR,CRP,Bath AS radiology index (BASRI).Results Sixty-three patients (79% were males.90% were HLA-B27 postivie with a median age of 32 years and the median disease duration was 10 years) completed the treatment.The proportion of ASAS 20 responders.ASAS 40 responders and BASDAI 50 at week 10 was 84%,75%,70%,respectively.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed none of the 17 parameters evaluated at week 0 including ESR/CRP,disease duration were predictive for improvement.Conclnsion In this study,a loading regimen of infliximab has demonstrated consistent efficacy and none of the demographic parameters and baseline AS activity parameters are predictors for maior clinical response to infliximab in active AS.

Thalidomide successfully maintains remission in ankylosing spondylitis after discontinuing etanercept treatment / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To determine whether thalidomide can maintain remission after discontinuing the treatment of etanercept in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods One hundred and five patients with active AS treated with etanercept 50 rag/week for 12 weeks and attained an ASAS20 response at week 12. They were randomly assigned to receive thalidomide 150mg/night, sulfasalazine (SASP) 2.0 g/d, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory durgs (NSAIDs) only. All patients were followed monthly for BASDAI, BASFI, PGA and spinal pain VAS. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate the probability of a relapse. Results One hundred patients completed the follow-up. Thirty patients were treated with thalidomide, 33 patients with SASP and 37 patients with NSAIDs only. The mean follow-up time was 5.1 months and the longest time was 12 months. At the end of the follow-up, the percentage of patients who maintained remission in the thalidomide group was 40%, much higher than SASP group (15%) and NSAIDs group 11% (P=0.0265 and 0.0053 respectively). No difference was found between the remission rate of SASP and NSAIDs only group (P=0.5881). Conclusion Thalidomide can successfully maintain remission of AS after discontinue etanercept treatment.

Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with a recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor-Fc fusion protein: a multicenter, randomized, double blind, controlled trial / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of a recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor: Fc fusion protein in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods This was a multicenter,randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in the first 6 weeks and then followed by an open-labeled trial in the next 6 weeks. One hundred and forty-three patients of active AS were randomly assigned to receive 25 mg twice-weekly subcutaneous injections of rhTNFR:Fc or placebo for 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was proportion of ASAS20 responders at week 6. The secondary endpoints were the proportion of subjects achieving a BASDAI 20%, BASDAI 50% and BASDAI 70% improvement at week 6. Other secondary endpoints, related to reducing signs and symptoms of AS and improving range of motion and physical function, were evaluated.Results Treatment with rhTNFR:Fc resulted in significant improvement. At 6 weeks, 68% of the 71 patients in the rhTNFR: Fc group had a treatment response, as compared with 28% of those in the placebo group(P＜0.01). Improvements over base-line values for other measures of disease activity were significantly greater in the rhTNFR:Fc group, rhTNFR:Fc was well tolerated, The most frequently treatment related adverse event was injection site reaction. Conclusion rhTNFR:Fc has demonstrated consistent evidence of efficacy and is well tolerated in the treatment of active AS.

Retrospective study of 159 patients with Takayasu′s arteritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of Takayasu′s arteritis (TA) and the difference between male and female patients. Method The clinical features of 159 patients with TA were retrospectively analyzed. Results In our series of patients, the ratio of male and female was 1:3.1. The average age of male and female patients at onset of first symptom was (32?13) years and (24?9) years respectively (P

Clinical analysis on progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To improve the understanding of progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPD). Methods The clinical and roentgeno graphic features of two patients with PPD diagnosed in our department were analysed, and the related literature was reviewed. Results The patients first experienced the osseous swelling in phalangeal joints of both hands in childhood, and progressively almost all joints were involved. The spine was also involved. By analyzing the clinical information of 53 cases, it was found that PPD involved both male and female similarly. The ages at onset of first symptoms, were from 1 to 10 years, and in seventy seven percent of patients the ages were 3 years to 5 years. Clinical features included progressive involvement of the major joints, including small joints of the hands, hips, knees, ankles, wrists and shoulders. Premature osteoarthritis developed in early adult life, and it was the major reason of disability. 38% of patients were short in stature. The roentgenographic features consisted of generalized platyspondyla with irregular delineation of the endplates of the vertebral bodies, varying degrees of epiphyseal involvement with enlargement of the large joints, metacarpal heads and phalanges, secondary degenerative arthritis with periarticular osteoporosis. The symptoms of PPD were similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but differed from it by the Absence of synovitis and other inflammatory changes, and radiographically by the Absence of destructive changes and the presence of dysplastic bone changes. There was no specific treatment for cure. Conclusion PPD is a rare autosomal recessive skeletal disorder associated with WISP3 gene mutations. Its clinical features and typical roentgenographic features are helpful to the diagnosis.