Long term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with high doses of intravenous immunoglobulins: effects on disease activity and serum cytokines

Article Abstract:

Intravenous administration of immunoglobulins (IVIg) may relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Researchers studied the effect of IVIg on 10 RA patients who had failed to respond to previous treatment with slow acting antirheumatic drugs. Patients received 400 mg/kg of IVIg three days in a row, and then once a month for the next 12 months. Patients showed an improvement in function and relief of symptoms after six months of therapy. Several laboratory values, measured throughout the 12 months, did not improve and some became worse. The level of tumor necrosis factor alpha decreased shortly after IVIg. The blood concentration of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) dropped after eight months of treatment. IVIg may be an alternative maintenance treatment for RA.

Health aspects, Drug therapy, Rheumatoid arthritis, Immunoglobulins

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Increased allergen-specific, steroid-sensitive gamma-delta T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with asthma

Article Abstract:

Levels of allergen-specific gamma-delta T cells that are susceptible to steroid treatment may be elevated in the lung fluid of asthma patients. Researchers analyzed the gamma-delta T cells in the lung and bronchial fluid of 12 patients with asthma. Levels of these T cells were increased in the untreated asthma patients as compared to healthy persons or to patients with other lung diseases. These T cells may cause sensitivity to IgE-complexed allergens resulting in asthmatic inflammation of airways. The gamma-delta T cells were killed by corticosteroid treatment. The understanding of the specific effects and safety of asthma drugs may be increased by these findings.

Measurement

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Defective expression of Fas messenger RNA and Fas receptor on pulmonary T cells from patients with asthma

Article Abstract:

A lack of Fas protein and its receptor on T cells of asthma patients may explain why inflammation persists in these patients. Normally, an inflammatory response must be turned off once the foreign body has been eliminated. This is accomplished partly by the Fas protein, which after binding to its receptor, causes the T cells to die through a natural process called apoptosis. Researchers analyzed T cells in lung fluid from 10 asthma patients and 10 healthy individuals. Levels of Fas protein and its receptor were much lower in the asthma patients compared to the other group.

Inflammation, Inflammation mediators

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