Objectives - We aimed to evaluate nerve conduction studies and gastrocnemius H reflex responses in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and compared to the healthy adult subjects. Materials and methods - Twenty-six RA patients and twenty-two healthy adult subjects were included in the study. The nerve conduction study (NCS) findings and bilateral gastrocnemius H reflex responses were evaluated in all the groups. Age, gender, subcutaneous nodules, joint deformities, laboratory parameters, duration of disease, anti-rheumatic drug and steroid usage were recorded. Activity of disease was assessed using a 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28).The functional status was measured using the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), pain intensity measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). Results - The rate of electroneuromyographic (ENMG) abnormalities was 73% in RA patients. The most common diagnosis was carpal tunnel syndrome (61.4%). There were no significant correlations between ENMG findings and clinical and laboratory features evaluated. Right H reflex latencies were statistically longer in RA patients (p=0.03). According to calculated cut-off levels, there were more subjects with longer H reflex latencies in RA patients. Conclusions - In this study, entrapment neuropathies were found common as independent identity from duration and severity of disease in RA patients. For H reflex latencies, cut-off values were longer in RA patients. It may provide information about the early neuropathic involvement of long peripheral nerves in RA patients. But this findings are needed to be supported by larger population study.

[In the European Union, the lowest incidence of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis has been reported in the Mediterranean area. However, for a long time only a few nutrients’ effects have been studied on BMD. Of these, the favourable effects of wine, fermented cheese and fruit and vegetable consumption have been demonstrated in the alleviation of both osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. A number of promising studies are being conducted with analogues of antioxidant components of the mediterranean diet. Some of these components decrease the levels of pathological factors, such as interleukin-1, -6, -17, TNF-α, JAK2/STAT3, which are the targets of a number of efficient drugs. These findings demonstrate the significance of diet in the development of musculoskeletal diseases. In our review article, we present the above mentioned data, illustrated by some of our own recipes.]

[Definitive autoimmune-inflammatory rheumatic diseases are often preceded by undifferentiated clinical syndromes including undifferentiated polyarthritis (UDP), undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) and early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These are considered as distinct clinical entities. However, due to extensive overlapping patterns in clinical picture and treatment, these diseases may be commonly termed as ”early arthritis”. The optimal follow-up of such patients may only be carried out at specialized early arthritis clinics. Effective patient care should include the early use of prognostic indicators, as well as flexible pharmacological therapy.]

[We conducted the first Hungarian open-label study using infliximab (Remicade) in 62 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The mean disease duration was 8.7 years. Patients receiving methotrexate for at least 3 months with active RA were included in the study. All patients received concomittant methotrexate treatment. Results indicated a 61%, 35% and 18% improvement in ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70, respectively. In most patients, dramatic improvement was seen as soon as after the first or second infusion.]

[INTRODUCTION - The lethal septic infection was studied in a randomized (non-selected) autopsy population of 234 in-patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The patients died at the National Institute of Rheumatology between 1970 and 1999. PATIENTS AND METHOD - The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of lethal septic infection with or without purulent arthritis in rheumatoid arthritis; the relationship between purulent arthritis and lethal septic infection; the clinically missed diagnosis of lethal septic infection and purulent arthritis; the influence of the main complications and associated diseases on lethal septic infection with and without purulent arthritis; the pathogens in lethal septic infection; and the clinico-laboratory parameters associated with lethal septic infection in rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS - Lethal septic infection was found in 31 (13.24%) of 234 rheumatoid arthritis patients. Purulent arthritis complicated lethal septic infection in 15 (6.4%) of 31 patients. There was a significant association between lethal septic infection and purulent arthritis. Sepsis was detected clinically in 17 of 31 lethal cases and purulent arthritis was detected 9 of 15 septic infection complicated with suppurative articular processes. The coexistent complications (systemic vasculitis, AA amyloidosis), and associated diseases (tuberculosis with or without miliary dissemination, malignant tumors, diabetes mellitus) did not influence the prevalence of septic infection. The most frequent pathogenic agents were: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella species, Streptococcus species. The patients with septic infection had significantly lower levels of beta-globulin, and higher values of Waaler-Rose or latex fixation test in comparison to patients without septic infection or without complications. CONCLUSION - Lethal septic infection may exist in rheumatoid arthritis without the classical clinical symptoms of sepsis, and clinically latent suppurative processes may be found at autopsy. The missed clinical diagnosis of a fatal complication is explained by the weak immune response and atypical clinical symptoms of elderly patients mainly treated with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs.]