[Use of anti-B-cell therapy in case of antisynthetase syndrome as the severest subtype of polymyositis/dermatomyositis].

Antisynthetase syndrome encompassing a symptom complex with severe interstitial lung disease is the severest subtype of polymyositis and dermatomyositis. The characteristic feature of antisynthetase syndrome is the insufficient efficiency of traditional therapy with glucocorticosteroids and cytostatics, which determines the prognosis of the disease and the need for new therapeutic approaches to treating these patients.

[Use of monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (remicade) in rheumatoid arthritis: preliminary results]. / Primenenie monoklonal'nykh antitel k faktoru nekroza opukholi (remikeid) pri revmatoidnom artrite: predvaritel'nye rezul'taty.

AIM: To study effectiveness and tolerance of monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (the drug remicade) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Remicade treatment results are considered for 25 RA patients receiving methotrexate the activity of which was inadequate for these patients. Remicade was infused intravenously in a dose 200 mg 4 times for 22 weeks. RESULTS: Remicade produced positive clinical and laboratory effects as early as the first infusion. The response was observed during 22 weeks of the treatment in 17 of 25 patients. Remicade tolerance was good. One patient failed the treatment because of development of collapse. CONCLUSION: Pilot results of remicade trial point to its high therapeutic potential and perspectives in rheumatology.

[Dynamic changes in synovitis activity after intra-articular administration of xefocam in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (according to clinical and device examinations)]. / Dinamika aktivnosti sinovita posle vnutrisustavnogo vvedeniia ksefokama bol'nym revmatoidnym artritom (dannye klinicheskogo i instrumental'nykh metodov issledovaniia).

AIM: To assess efficacy of intraarticular administration of lornoxicam (xefocam) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Xefocam was injected into the knee joints of 58 patients with RA once a week for 3 weeks in a dose 8 mg. The treatment efficacy was evaluated by changes in the severity of arthralgias, pain in the joints at palpation, circumference of the knee joints at the level of the upper edge of the patella, ultrasound and thermography of the knee joints. RESULTS: Xefocam relieved arthralgia (in 44 patients at least by 30%), pain in the joints at palpation and joint circumference. Ultrasound investigation registered a significant thinning of the synovial membrane and amount of exudates. CONCLUSION: If local steroid therapy is not definitely indicated, intraarticular administration of xefocam can be effectively used for suppression of moderate inflammation in the joints in RA patients.

[Nimesil effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Effektivnost' nimesila pri revmatoidnom artrite.

Clinical efficiency and safety of nimesil were studied in the multicenter open clinical trial of 52 patients with verified rheumatoid arthritis. Nimesil was given for 12 weeks in a daily dose 200-400 mg in addition to basic therapy. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment and after its end. The treatment produced a significant positive response of the articular syndrome. Marked improvement was registered in 11 (23.4%) patients, improvement--in 33 (79.2%) patients. Side effects were reversible and occurred in 8 (15.3%) patients. In 5 patients the drug was withdrawn. The conclusion is made on high efficiency and good tolerance of nimesil in rheumatoid arthritis patients.