[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.

[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 In 5 patients the drug was withdrawn.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.

[Effects of alfacalcidol on mineral density of bone tissue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Vliianie al'fakal'tsidola na mineral'nuiu plotnost' kostnoi tkani u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom.

The analysis of antiosteoporotic efficacy of alphacalcidol was made in 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 30 RA patients received alphacalcidol in a dose 0.75-1.0 mcg/day for 12 months. 20 control RA patients did not receive the drug. Mineral density of the bone tissue (MD) of the proximal femur and low back spine was studied using double x-ray absorptiometry at the start of the treatment and 12 months after it. It was established that alphacalcidol stabilizes MD of the neck of the femur and low spine. A significant MD increase was observed in those areas of the proximal femur where cortical bone tissue prevails.

[Bone mineral density in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Mineral'naia plotnost' kostnoi tkani u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom.

AIM: To examine the prevalence of osteoporosis (OPO) and osteopenia (OPE) in female patients with rheumatic arthritis (RA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 female patients with proved diagnosis of RA aged 34-64 years: 30 premenopausal women (median age 41.5 years, disease duration 9.5 years) and 30 postmenopausal women (median age 56.2 years, disease duration 10.2 years). Both groups have not undergone any glucocorticoid or antiosteoporotic therapy. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with a Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) in the lumbar spine, proximal segments of the femur, forearm. RESULTS: In the group of premenopausal patients with RA the rate of OPE was 63% for forearm, 60% for femoral neck, 33% for lumbar spine. In postmenopausal women 53, 50 and 50%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis in RA is of a generalized character and can be encountered in peripheral skeleton more often than in the axial one. It is possible to estimate the BMD of one section by means of the BMD indicator of another section.