[Rheumatoid arthritis is frequently associated with secondary osteopenia or osteoporosis. Gene polymorphisms, such as the BsmI polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor gene are likely to be be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. However, very little information is available on the role of the BsmI polymorphism in rheumatoid arthritis or in arthritisassociated metabolic bone disorders. Here the authors review international data on vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and their relationship with bone metabolism.The authors emphasize that more detailed research is needed to clarify the relationship between these polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis.]

[The present review is compiled of two parts, the first part aims to summarize the induction immunosuppressive therapy, the second part delineates the outcome and complications of ANCA-associated vasculitis. ANCA-associated vasculitis is a systemic disease, accompanied with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and severe, often life-threatening extrarenal complications. By early diagnosis and immediate initiation of immunosuppressive therapy both patient and renal outcome have been substantially improved. The major aims of modern therapeutic protocols are, besides improving survival, to decrease immunosuppressive drug toxicity and avoid infections. Immunosuppression is based on the combination of large dose of corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide, which is advisable to supplement by plasma exchange. The B-cell depleting anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab, which has already been available in Hungary, has been proved to be similarly effective in newly diagnosed ANCA-vasculitis, and even more effective in a relapsing disease, compared to cyclophosphamide. Amongst rituximab’s further indications in this disease is the preservation of young women’s fertility, and it also has priority in some other special cases. Early diagnosis and prompt immunosuppressive treatment have resulted that ANCAvasculitis became a treatable disease with reasonably good clinical outcome, yet both the disease and the immunosuppressive medications frequently cause complications, which necessitate continuous alertness of the attending nephrologists.]

[The research of pathomechanism of rheumatoid arthritis resulted in remarkable pragmatic results beyond the important theoretical knowledge. These observations led to the development of new effective agents, which were named as biological therapy and introduced in clinical praxis. The key factor of pathomechanism of rheumatoid arthritis is the proinflammatoric citokin TNF-α. It can be found on the top of the inflammation cascade where regulates many other inflammatory mediators and also plays an important role in the defence against infections and tumours. The author describes the TNF-α blocking agents used in clinical practice, their chemical and pharmacological feature, as well as their mode of action and the consequence of inhibition of TNF-α. He reviews the main results of the major clinical tests with infliximab, etanercet, and adalimumab. The results of these clinical studies demonstrate that the TNF-α blocking therapy gives clinical improvement in case of therapy resistant patients, decreases the number of swollen and tender joints, the pain, ESR and CRP, decreases the radiological progression, furthermore improves the quality of life. There are also some data about the favourable impacts observed during the early arthritis treatment. The TNF-α blocking therapy can be used effectively and safely in rheumatoid arthritis. In most cases the infusion reaction and the injection site reaction are not reasons for withdrawal from the study. The sideeffects, however, developed in increasing numbers during widespread applications. Among these the most important ones are the opportunist infection and the tuberculosis. In addition the sporadic occurrence of lupus-like symptoms, demyelinating disease, and aplastic anemia were reported. The fundamental requirements of the safety of the biological therapy are the professional indication and the careful monitoring during the treatment, the principle of which has been already prepared by the Professional College of the Rheumatology and Physiotherapy based on the international experience.]

[The diseases of connective tissue and musculoskeletal system frequently associated with typical eye disorders. These can either be mild, recovering fully after treatment or more serious with persisting symptoms and destructive changes resulting in permanent loss of sight Eye symptoms can occur in the following diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, neonatal onset multisystem disease, ankylosing spondylitis, seronegative spondarthrities, Reiter’s syndrome, Behçet’s syndrome, Lyme disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener’s granulomatosis, giant cell arteritis, erythema nodosum, relapsing polychondritis, sarcoidosis, Marfan’s syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta.]

[The use of biological therapeutic agents increases the risk of certain infectious diseases. The greatest hazards are the reactivation of tuberculosis or hepatitis B infection and the development of sepsis. The degree of risk is comparable to that experienced with the use of routine DMARD therapy: in case of an adequate choice of treatment the risk is equal to or slightly higher than that of conventional treatment. However, this hazard is definitely smaller than that associated with the use of corticosteroids at doses necessary to reach the required immunosuppressive effect. This article provides a brief summary of potential infectious illnesses on the basis of the literature.]