Role of joint damage, malalignment and inflammation in articular tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis

2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2020-218744
Author(s):  
Irina Gessl ◽  
Mihaela Popescu ◽  
Victoria Schimpl ◽  
Gabriela Supp ◽  
Thomas Deimel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Joint Space ◽  
Early Arthritis ◽  
Damage Score ◽  
Established Disease ◽  
Active Inflammation

ObjectivesTo determine whether clinical tenderness can be considered a sign of inflammatory joint activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to assess other possible factors associated with tenderness.MethodsPatients diagnosed with RA, PsA and OA underwent clinical and ultrasound examination of wrists and finger joints. Radiographs of the hands were scored for erosions, joint space narrowing (JSN), osteophytes and malalignment. A binary damage score (positive if ≥1 erosion, JSN and/or presence of malalignment) was calculated. Differences in grey scale signs of synovitis and power Doppler (PD) between tender non-swollen (TNS) versus non-tender non-swollen (NTNS) joints were calculated. Disease duration was assessed,<2 years was regarded as early and >5 years as long-standing arthritis.ResultsIn total, 34 patients (9 early and 14 long-standing) from patients with RA, 31 patients (7 early and 15 long-standing) with PsA and 30 with OA were included. We found equal frequencies of PD signal between TNS and NTNS joints in RA (p=0.18), PsA (p=0.59) or OA (p=0.96). However, PD had a significant association with tenderness in early arthritis both in RA (p=0.02) and in PsA (p=0.02). The radiographic damage score showed significant association with tenderness in RA (p<0.01), PsA (p<0.01) and OA (p=0.04).ConclusionTenderness might not always be a sign of active inflammation in RA, PsA and OA. While tenderness in early arthritis may be more related to inflammation, established disease is better explained by joint damage and malalignment.

Differential diagnosis between rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis: the value of ultrasound findings at metacarpophalangeal joints level

2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 1111-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwin Gutierrez ◽  
Emilio Filippucci ◽  
Fausto Salaffi ◽  
Luca Di Geso ◽  
Walter Grassi
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Synovial Fluid ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Extensor Tendon ◽  
Synovial Hypertrophy ◽  
Ultrasound Findings

ObjectiveTo investigate the potential of ultrasound (US) in the differential diagnosis between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints level.Methods18 RA patients and 20 PsA patients with clinical involvement of MCP joints were included. All US examinations were performed by two rheumatologists investigating: presence of joint cavity widening (JCW), synovial fluid and/or synovial hypertrophy, peritenon extensor tendon inflammation (PTI) and intra-articular or peri-tendinous power Doppler (PD) signal.ResultsA total of 83 MCP joints in 18 RA patients were assessed. In all of these the authors found different degrees of JCW. 15 of 83 (18%) MCP joints showed synovial fluid, whereas 68 of 83 (82%) MCP joints showed synovial hypertrophy. In 72 of 83 (86.7%) MCP joints intra-articular PD was detected. No PTI pattern was found in these patients.In PsA patients, a total of 82 MCP joints in 20 patients were assessed. 54 of 82 (65.8%) MCP joints showed PTI pattern (p = 0.001). In 50 of these 54 (92.5%) MCP joints extra-articular PD signal was detected (p = 0.001). 28 of 82 (34.1%) MCP joints showed different degrees of JCW. 6 of 28 (21.4%) MCP joints presented synovial fluid, whereas 22 of 28 (78.5%) MCP joints showed synovial hypertrophy. In 8 of 82 (9.7%) MCP joints the JCW and PTI patterns were found contemporaneously.ConclusionsPreliminary results demonstrate that PTI pattern is a higher characteristic of PsA, which suggests a potential role of US in the differential diagnosis between RA and PsA at MCP joints level.

scholarly journals Validity and Responsiveness of Combined Inflammation and Combined Joint Damage Scores Based on the OMERACT Rheumatoid Arthritis MRI Scoring System (RAMRIS)

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1222-1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Sundin ◽  
Mikkel Østergaard ◽  
Daniel Glinatsi ◽  
Anna-Birgitte Aga ◽  
Kim Hørslev-Petersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Bone Marrow Edema ◽  
Joint Space Narrowing ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Joint Space ◽  
Damage Score ◽  
Derivation Cohort ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Objective.The RAMRIS [Outcome Measures in Rheumatology rheumatoid arthritis (RA) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Scoring system] is used in clinical RA trials. We have investigated methods to combine the RAMRIS features into valid and responsive scores for inflammation and joint damage.Methods.We used data from 3 large randomized early RA trials to assess 5 methods to develop a combined score for inflammation based on RAMRIS bone marrow edema, synovitis, and tenosynovitis scores, and a combined joint damage score based on erosions and joint space narrowing. Methods included unweighted summation, normalized summation, and 3 different variants of weighted summation of the RAMRIS features. We used a derivation cohort to calculate summation weights to maximize the responsiveness of the combined score. Construct validity of the combined scores was examined by assessing correlations to imaging, clinical, and biochemical measures. Responsiveness was tested by calculating the standardized response mean (SRM) and the relative efficiency of each score in a validation cohort.Results.Patient characteristics, as well as baseline and followup RAMRIS scores, were comparable between cohorts. All combined scores were significantly correlated to other imaging, clinical, and biochemical measures. Inflammation scores combined by normalized and weighted summation had significantly higher responsiveness in comparison to unweighted summation, with SRM (95% CI) for unweighted summation 0.62 (0.51–0.73), normalized summation 0.73 (0.63–0.83), and weighted summation 0.74 (0.64–0.84). For the damage score, there was a trend toward higher responsiveness for weighted summation.Conclusion.Combined MRI scores calculated by normalized or weighted summation of individual MRI pathologies were valid and responsive.

scholarly journals Ultrasound in clinically suspect arthralgia: the role of power Doppler to predict rheumatoid arthritis development

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Molina Collada ◽  
Katerine López Gloria ◽  
Isabel Castrejón ◽  
Juan Carlos Nieto-González ◽  
Javier Rivera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Independent Predictive Factor ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Rheumatoid Arthritis Development ◽  
Previous Diagnosis ◽  
The Us ◽  
Active Inflammation

Abstract Objective To determine the usefulness of power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US) to predict rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development in patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA). Methods Retrospective analysis of a US unit cohort over a 1-year period. Patients with CSA and no previous diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis (IA) were included for analysis. All underwent bilateral US examination of the hands and/or feet according to the EULAR guidelines. Active US inflammation was defined as PD synovitis and/or tenosynovitis ≥1 at any location. RA diagnosis according to clinician criteria 6 months after the US examination was checked. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to investigate possible predictive factors of RA development. Results A total of 110 CSA patients (80 females, mean age 53.6 years) were included for analysis. After 6 months of follow-up, 14 (12.7%) developed RA and 34 (30.9%) IA. US active inflammation was present in 38 (34.5%) patients (28.2% showed PD synovitis and 18.2% PD tenosynovitis). Multivariate analysis showed that ACPA (OR 1.0003; 95% CI 1.002–1.006) and ESR (OR 1.054; 95% CI 1.016–1.094) were significantly associated with the detection of US active inflammation at baseline. Only PD tenosynovitis was found to be an independent predictive factor of an evolution towards RA (OR 6.982; 95% CI 1.106–44.057) and IA (OR 5.360; 95% CI 1.012–28.390). Conclusion US is able to detect features of subclinical inflammation in CSA patients, especially in those with higher ESR and ACPA values. Only PD tenosynovitis at baseline US assessment was found to be an independent predictor of RA and IA development in CSA patients.

Predictive role of ultrasound remission for progressive ultrasonography-detected structural damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

2021 ◽  
pp. jim-2021-001885
Author(s):  
Feifei Liu ◽  
Wenxue Li ◽  
Jiaan Zhu ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
Wenting Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Clinical Remission ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Bone Erosion ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Predictive Role ◽  
Low Sensitivity

Regarding the persistence of subclinical synovitis, the concept of ultrasound remission has been proposed in addition to clinical remission. However, there have been no studies that explored the different time points of ultrasound remission to predict non-progressive structural damage. Given this, the aim of our study is to explore whether early ultrasound remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has predictive value for non-progressive structural damage in the subsequent 12 months. Sixty-one patients with RA were prospectively studied. Synovial hypertrophy, power Doppler (PD) signal, and bone erosions of bilateral wrists, metacarpophalangeal joints I–V, and proximal interphalangeal joints II–III were assessed by ultrasonography at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Ultrasound remission was defined as no PD signal. Clinical remission was defined as Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints <2.6. Ultrasonography-detected joint damage progression was defined as increase in bone erosion score of ≥1 in the subsequent 12 months. Baseline ultrasonographic factors were not significantly correlated with progressive ultrasonography-detected joint damage in patients with RA at 12 months (all p>0.05). Ultrasound remission at 3 and 6 months was significantly correlated with non-progressive ultrasonography-detected structural damage at 12 months (p=0.006 and p=0.004), with relatively low sensitivity and high specificity. Clinical remission at 3 months was significantly correlated with non-progression of ultrasonography-detected structural damage at 12 months (p=0.029), with relatively low sensitivity and moderate specificity. Ultrasound remission at 3 and 6 months has high specificity in predicting non-progressive structural damage in patients with RA at 12 months; however, the sensitivity is limited.

scholarly journals Correspondence on ‘Role of joint damage, malalignment and inflammation in articular tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis’

2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2021-220511
Author(s):  
Quirine A Dumoulin ◽  
Xanthe M E Matthijssen ◽  
Fenne Wouters ◽  
Doortje I Krijbolder ◽  
Ellis Niemantsverdriet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Joint Damage

scholarly journals FRI0499 ACROMEGALY ARTROPATHY: IS THERE SOMETHING MORE BEHIND THE PAIN? A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY TO EVALUATE RHEUMATIC DISEASE IN GROWTH HORMONE SECRETING TUMOR PATIENTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 848.1-848
Author(s):  
M. Scarati ◽  
S. Parisi ◽  
N. Prencipe ◽  
M. C. Ditto ◽  
E. Ghigo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Rheumatic Disease ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Connective Tissue Diseases ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Joint Space ◽  
Tumor Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

Background:Acromegaly is a rare disease with a remarkable impact on patients, both in terms of life expectancy and quality of life. Osteo-articular complications are one of the most frequently reported bothers. The “acromegaly artropathy” characterizes more than 70% of patients at diagnosis. Artropathy affects both spine and peripheral joints. A recent prospective study documented progression of acromegalic arthropathy identified as a worsening of osteophytes and joint space narrowing in 72–74% of patients despite long-term biochemical control. In addiction the Literature has occasionally reported cases of simultaneous presence of rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, undifferentiated connective tissue diseases) and acromegaly and in all these cases the treatment has been delayed, because of wrong symptoms attribution to acromegaly artropathy.Objectives:The primary goal of the study is to better characterize joint pain in acromegaly patients and to evaluate the prevalence of rheumatic disease in growth hormone (GH) secreting pituitary tumor patients.Methods:We enrolled 20 acromegaly subjects (AS) and 20 control subjects (CS). In each subject immunological pattern (rheumatoid factor – RF; antinuclear antibodies - ANA, ENA; anti-citrullinated protein antibodies - ACPA; erythrocyte sedimentation rate – ESR) has been evaluated; they, also, underwent bilateral joint ultrasound of hands and wrists and nail capillaroscopy. The Chi square test and the Fisher’s exact test were used to evaluate the association between binary variables, while the Spearman’s test to evaluate the correlation of continuous ones. A multiple or logistic regression model was calculated in order to define the association between the capillaroscopic alterations and other detected variables.Results:Articular pain emerged as significantly more frequent in AS (p = 0.0269). No statistically significant differences are detected regarding immunological pattern. ANA and ENA screening resulted positive in 10% in AS and in 5% in CS. No IgA ACPA were detected in AS or CS, while IgG ACPA were positive only in one AS subject. No significant differences were detected between IgM and IgG RFin the two groups (AS 5% and CS 0%). Three fold higher IgG FR in AS compared to CS were detected. ESR levels were significantly higher than CS (p = 0.0405), as well as increased power doppler (PWD) articular uptake (AS 30% vs CS 5% p 0.081). The capillaroscopic evaluation showed a significant difference in almost each parameter that has been evaluated (logistic regression: number of enlargement p 0.004, hemorragies p 0.01 and capillaries p 0.001), showing a moderate-severe microangiopathy in AS. Interestingly, analyzing only the acromegaly cohort, we noticed higher GH levels at the enrollment in patients which developed capillary enlargements (GH: 0.95 ng/ml IQ 0,6-1,6) compared to other ones (GH: 0.55 ng/ml IQ 0.4-0.7; p = 0.08) and a significant lower number of hemorrhages (p = 0.02) in patients treated with GH antagonist pegvisomant.Conclusion:Our results demonstrated that joint damage in acromegaly does not seem to have an autoimmune etiology. Therefore, articular damage is mechanical and increased ESR and PWD alterations seems to confirm the presence of an inflammatory component. In addition, acromegaly is characterized by a microvascular pattern of moderate-severe microangiopathy, without correlation to IGF-I, but GH levels. Although requiring further confirmatory studies, our preliminary results seem to indicate how the capillaroscopic examination could be useful to detect earlier microangiopathy and to identify patients with a greater risk of macroangiopathy development..References:[1]Claessen KMJA et al. Bone and joint disorders in acromegaly. Neuroendocrinology. 2016;103(1):86-95.[2]Örük G et al. Is every joint symptom related to acromegaly? Endocrine. 2013 Apr;43(2):404-11.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals POS0677 THE ROLE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND IN PREDICTING THE RESPONSE TO JAK INHIBITORS: RESULTS FROM A LARGE MONOCENTRIC COHORT

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 583-583
Author(s):  
C. Garufi ◽  
F. Ceccarelli ◽  
F. R. Spinelli ◽  
S. Mancuso ◽  
C. Pirone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Jak Inhibitors ◽  
Inflammatory Score ◽  
Inflammatory Status

Background:In the management of chronic arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Ultrasound (US) assessment can provide relevant information about the joint inflammatory status in the diagnostic phase and even more in the monitoring of disease activity and structural damage1,2.Objectives:In this longitudinal study, we aimed to assesse the role of US in predicting the efficacy of JAK-inhibitors (JAKi) in RA patients.Methods:We enrolled RA patients starting baricitinib or tofacitinib. All patients were evaluated at baseline and after 4, 12, 24, 48 weeks. Disease activity was calculated by DAS28CRP. US examination in 22 joints (I–V MCPs and PIPs, wrists) aimed at evaluating inflammatory features (synovial effusion and hypertrophy, power Doppler-PD), through a semi-quantitative scale (0-3). The total US (0-198) and PD (0-66) scores were calculated. We scanned bilateral flexor (I–V fingers of hands) and extensor compartments (1-6) tendons: tenosynovitis was scored as absent/present (0/1), resulting in a total score (0-22).Results:We studied 102 patients (M/F 15/87; median age 59.2 years, IQR 17.75; median disease duration 144 months, IQR 126), 61 treated with baricitinib and 41 with tofacitinib. At baseline, the median total US score was 18 (IQR 19) and the median PD score 2 (4). We observed a significant reduction in both total and PD US scores at all time-points (p<0.0001) (Figure 1). At baseline, 75.4% of patients showed tenosynovitis involving at least one tendon, with a median score of 2 (IQR 3.5) significantly decreasing after 24 weeks (p=0.02). Multivariate analysis, adjusted for baseline DAS28CRP and other concomitant treatments (including glucocorticoids and methotrexate treatment), confirmed the independent association between baseline US (PD and tenosynovitis) scores and the reduction of disease activity at follow-up evaluations.Conclusion:The present study confirmed the early efficacy of JAKi in RA patients by using US evaluation. Furthermore, power doppler and tenosynovitis scores could play a predictive role in response to treatment.References:[1]MUELLER RB, HASLER C, POPP F, et al. Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Analysis of Real-World Data from the St. Gallen and Aarau Cohorts. J Clin Med. 2019;8(10):1548.[2]COLEBATCH AN, EDWARDS CJ, ØSTERGAARD M, et al. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging of the joints in the clinical management of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013;72(6):804-14.Figure 1.Ultrasound inflammatory score (a) and Ultrasound Power Doppler (PD) score (b) at baseline and follow-up.Table 1.Baseline characteristics of 414 RA patients.WEEKS04122448US inflammatory score18 (19)11 (15.5)9.5 (11.7)7.5 (8)6 (11)US PD score2 (4)0 (2)0 (1)0 (1)0 (0.7)Disclosure of Interests:Cristina Garufi: None declared, Fulvia Ceccarelli: None declared, Francesca Romana Spinelli Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Consultant of: Gilead/Galapagos, Eli Lilly, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Silvia Mancuso: None declared, Carmelo Pirone: None declared, Fabrizio Conti Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Pfizer, Consultant of: Gilead/Galapagos

scholarly journals POS1405 OPTICAL SPECTRAL TRANSMISSION (HANDSCAN) IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: FIRST DATA ON DIAGNOSTIC VALUE AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH CLINICAL AND ULTRASOUND DISEASE ACTIVITY MARKERS

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 985.1-985
Author(s):  
K. Triantafyllias ◽  
S. Liverakos ◽  
C. Noack ◽  
A. Schwarting
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Spectral Transmission ◽  
Grey Scale ◽  
Assessment Of Disease Activity

Background:Valid assessment of disease activity leads to improvement of long-term outcomes in patients with inflammatory arthritis (1). Optical spectral transmission (OST) is a modern diagnostic tool able to assess the blood-specific absorption of light transmitted through a tissue, promising quantification of inflammation in the finger and wrist joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (commercial device: HandScan – Demcon/Hemics, The Netherlands) (2). Even though an increasing number of studies have evaluated diagnostic value of this new technology in RA patients (2,3), no data exist regarding psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Objectives:To examine for the first time the diagnostic value of OST in detecting inflammation in patients with PsA and to evaluate its relationship with disease activity markers and various epidemiological and anthropometric patient characteristics.Methods:OST-Measurements were performed in a group of PsA patients and a group of healthy controls. The difference between OST in the two groups was statistically examined and relationships of OST with clinical (tender / swollen joint counts, disease activity on a visual analogue scale) and serological disease activity markers were evaluated. Moreover, joint ultrasound (US) examinations were performed in a subgroup of PsA patients and OST associations with a Power Doppler- and a Grey Scale-US score were examined. Finally, relationships of OST with various anthropometric and epidemiologic parameters (BMI, hand-size, gender, age) were assessed.Results:We recruited 49 PsA patients [65.3% female; mean age 53.3 years (± 11.8 SD)] and 114 control subjects [77.2% female; mean age 46 years (± 12.8 SD)]. OST was statistically significantly higher in the patient group, compared to the control group [14.95 (12.04 - 17.18, IQR) vs. 10.31 (7.84 – 13.79, IQR); p<0.001]. OST correlated moderately-strongly with both examined US scores (Power Doppler-score: r = 0.5; p = 0.026 and Grey Scale-score: r = 0.52; p = 0.028). Moreover, OST showed a moderate, statistically significant association with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0,298; p = 0,037). Finally, males had significantly higher OST values than females and OST associated moderately-weakly with body mass index (BMI) in the control group (rho = 0.24; p< 0.001).Conclusion:This is the first report of a possible diagnostic value of OST in patients with PsA. OST correlated with ultrasound and serological activity markers and may thus prove to be a useful tool of disease activity assessment, next to well established diagnostic modalities, such as the joint US. Correlations of OST with patient characteristics implicate the need to take also anthropometric and epidemiological patient characteristics into account when interprenting OST results in order to avoid confounding.References:[1]Katchamart W, et al. Systematic monitoring of disease activity using an outcome measure improves outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 2010;37:1411–1415.[2]Triantafyllias, et al. Diagnostic value of optical spectral transmission in rheumatoid arthritis: associations with clinical characteristics and comparison with joint ultrasonography. J Rheumatol 2020 1;47(9):1314-1322.[3]Onna M Van, et al. Assessment of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using optical spectral transmission measurements, a non-invasive imaging technique. Ann Rheum Dis 2016;75:511–518.Disclosure of Interests:Konstantinos Triantafyllias Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Novartis, Janssen, Chugai, Stefanie Liverakos: None declared, Claudia Noack: None declared, Andreas Schwarting: None declared

scholarly journals Role of Biological Response Modifiers in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis - A Review

1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-65
Author(s):  
Md Azizul Haque ◽  
ARM Saifuddin Ekram ◽  
Quazi Tarikul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Biological Response ◽  
The Past ◽  
Conventional Dmards

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease with the potential to cause substantial joint damage and disability. During the past 10 years, improved understanding of the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis has led to several key changes in the approach to therapy. Most important of that is the development of some biological agents interfering with the activity of several important cytokines. Infliximab, etanarcept, and adalimumab are TNF blockers, anakinra is IL-1 receptor antagonist, and rituximab is anti CD-20 monoclonal antibody. These newer agents proved to be useful for alleviating symptoms and slowing the disease progression in the patients with RA who have failed to respond to conventional DMARDs.   doi: 10.3329/taj.v18i1.3309 TAJ 2005; 18(1): 60-65

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