Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center
Treatment with rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20+ B cells, could adversely affect immunization responses by dampening the antibody response from new vaccination or reducing pre-formed antibody from prior vaccination. However, little systematic investigation of immunization responses has been undertaken. Here, two studies concurrently published in Arthritis & Rheumatism explore responses after influenza vaccination (van [...]
Measuring the amount of polyglutamated methotrexate within red blood cells has been proposed as an objective method of tracking medication response and predicting drug toxicity. However, there are only limited data evaluating this method. Here, Stamp et al (Arthritis Rheum 2010; 62(2)): 359) cross-sectionally explore the associations of RBC polyglutamated methotrexate levels with disease activity [...]
Injections of platelet-rich plasma are becoming increasingly applied in clinical practice for a number of indications, yet little high-quality systematic study of efficacy has been conducted. Platelets are a source of growth factors involved in tissue repair, supporting their application in injuries and wound healing. Here, de Vos et al (JAMA 2010; 303(2): 144) report [...]
On January 8, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved tocilizumab (to be marketed under the trade name of Actemra) for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who have had inadequate clinical responses to treatment with TNF inhibitors. Tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the receptor for IL-6, [...]
Rheumatoid arthritis disease activity tends to improve during pregnancy, even when disease modifying agents are stopped. However, a minority of women with rheumatoid arthritis will continue to have active disease during pregnancy, and may require additional immunosuppression. Prior studies have yielded conflicting reports on the influence of active disease during pregnancy. Here, de Man et [...]
