Protein losing enteropathy associated with collagen diseases

Article Abstract:

Protein-losing enteropathy is a disease of the intestine in which proteins from blood leak into the digestive tract. This results in low blood levels of protein with subsequent edema (fluid accumulation), because proteins are important in helping to balance water levels inside cells and in spaces surrounding cells. Protein-losing enteropathy is rarely associated with collagen diseases. This report describes four cases encountered within one institution and suggests that this complication of collagen diseases may be more common than previously thought. The patients were women aged 16 to 47. Two had Sjogren's syndrome (one with systemic lupus erythematosus), while the other two had joint pain, edema, and other symptoms such as fever or muscle weakness. The intestinal disorders were not associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, nor had the patients any history of inflammatory bowel diseases. In two patients, deposits of a component of complement (a protein system important for fighting bacteria and other disease-associated entities) were found on the walls of intestinal blood vessels. The report suggests that increased permeability of microscopic blood vessels contributed to protein loss from blood and may have been caused by aberrations in immune function associated with collagen diseases. Patients improved following treatment with 60 milligrams per day of prednisone, a steroid. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects

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Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor exacerbates collagen induced arthritis in mice

Article Abstract:

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) may speed up and increase the severity of progression in inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CSFs are a type of protein believed to organize and sustain blood cells such as macrophages and granulocytes. They may also contribute to inflammatory reactions in the development of RA. In a group of mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), those injected with GM-CSF had a higher incidence and severity of the disease.

Health aspects, Development and progression, Rheumatoid arthritis, Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor

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Arthritis in mice induced by a single immunisation with collagen

Article Abstract:

Single injections of collagen appear to be effective in producing a slowly progressing mild form of arthritis in mice. This mouse model could be used for testing treatments to be used in the early stages of arthritis. Single collagen injections produced joint inflammation four to five weeks later in 100% of the mice tested. Disease progress was mild. Blood levels of IgG antibodies to collagen increased moderately. Other features of this mouse model were similar to the model using two injections.

Models, Physiological aspects, Arthritis, Collagen

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