Faculty of Medicine

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://repository.ukim.mk/handle/20.500.12188/14

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 19

Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Sensitivity and specificity of anti-cyclic citrullinate peptide antibody and Igm rheumatoid factor in serologic diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
(Македонско лекарско друштво = Macedonian medical association, 2011)
Велкоска-Накова, Валентина
;
Марина, Нада
;
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Rheumatoid arthritis and the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17
(Pensoft Publishers, 2023-02-28)
Selimov, Pavel
;
Karalilova, Rositsa
;
;
Delcheva, Ginka
;
Stankova, Teodora
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory joint disease. Various proinflammatory cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of this chronic disorder. It is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, such as rheumatoid factor and antibodies against citrullinated peptides. The present study focuses on investigation of possible association between the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 17 and anti-CCP, anti-MCV, and anti-CarP antibodies seropositivity in RA patients.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH INTERLEUKIN-6 INHIBITOR
(Macedonian Medical Association/De Gruyter, 2022)
Lindita Xhemaili Jakupi
;
;
Mimoza Nikolovska Kotevska
;
;
Arton Jakupi
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-me-diated systemic inflammatory disease characterized by chronic synovial inflammation and hyperplasia, which cause joint erosion and damage along with systemic manifestations. Proinflammatory pathways result in localized joint and systemic inflammation with cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), as well as downstream signalling pathways. One function of IL-6 is to drive production of the acute-phase reactant C-reactive pro-tein (CRP) following an inflammatory event. C-reactive protein is not only a marker of inflamma-tion or infection, but it is also an immune regulator. C-reactive protein level is a component of several com-posite disease activity measures. Higher CRP levels are associated with greater RA disease activity, radiogra-phic progression and joint destruction. Yet, the usefulness of CRP testing as a routine measure of RA disease activity is not universal due to the sub-stantial proportion of treated patients who experience flares in their RA but still have normal CRP levels. There may be challenges in assessing remission with 28-joint Disease Activity Score -CRP (DAS28-CRP) when patients are treated with IL-6 inhibitors and other drugs that directly affect CRP levels because a reduction in CRP may not reflect disease activity decrease. The case that we present is a patient with seropositive RA in whom we tried all available RA treatment modalities including IL-6 inhibitor and two other biologicals, and despite the fact that we achieved low disease activity and sometimes even remission of the underlying disease, radiographic progression and sub-jective complaints of the patient continued.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Satisfaction Level of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Enrolled in the Treatment with Subcutaneous Tocilizumab. Journal of Autoimmune Diseases and Rheumatology
(Karachi: Synergy Publishers, 2020)
Filip Guchev
;
;
D. Antova
;
B. Osmani
;
M. Nikolovska Kotevska
Background: The introduction of biological-Disease Modifying Agents (bDMARDs) has allowed serious improvement in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by providing a better quality of life (QoL). Such improvements have been shown in patients using subcutaneous form of Tocilizumab SC (TCZ-SC), a humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-6 receptor. Objective: To assess the subcutaneous treatment satisfaction level and to evaluate the epidemiological profile of RA patients treated with TCZ-SC in North Macedonian Patients with RA. Methods: An observational study was conducted at the University Rheumatology Clinic in Skopje between October 1st and December 15th 2018, including 48 patients who have received TCZ-SC. In order to obtain patient’s satisfaction level and to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of the patients, a standardized questionnaire was developed. Results: The mean age of the patient’s cohort was 50.9 years and 88.5% of the patients were females. More than half of the patients (58%) had high disease activity with mean disease duration of 5.35 years. Eighty three percent of the patients were entitled to receive subcutaneous TCZ because of the insufficient efficacy of previous treatment, All patients enrolled in the treatment with TCZ-SC, reported to be satisfied or very satisfied with the subcutaneous application of TCZ. They were also very satisfied with the previous education and the opportunity to receive the treatment at home. Conclusions: Tocilizumab as an efficient and well tolerated bDMARD is becoming a standard of care in the treatment of patients suffering from RA, offering unprecedented benefits for QoL improvement and satisfying the patients’ needs for modern and effective treatment.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
SECONDARY SJOGREN’S SYNDROME IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
(Институт за јавно здравје на Република Северна Македонија, 2022)
Filip Guchev
;
;
;
Snezhana Perchinkova-Mishevska
;
Natali Jordanovska-Gucheva
Secondary Sjogren’s syndrome (sSS) is a connective tissue disease characterized by xeropthalmia and xerostomia, associated with another autoimmune disease. The prevalence of sSS in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is different in different countries, but is assumed at 10% of all RA patients and 20% of these have sub-clinical manifestations. This is a large subpopulation of patients with RA, especially taking into account that the clinical implications of their coexistence are not well explored. Aims: To analyze the effects of sSS on RA, the association between this syndrome and disease activity and disease evolution, presence of serological and immunological markers, disease duration and quality of life in patients with RA. Material and methods: We examined 42 patients, at the age of 18 to 70 years, diagnosed according to the criteria for classification and diagnosis by EULAR (2010). Twenty patients were diagnosed with RA and sSS, and 22 patients with RA without sSS. The groups were comparable regarding age, sex and disease duration. We analyzed the incidence of sSS, association with age, sex, demographic data, disease duration, extraarticular manifestations, and serologic tests (positive RF, anti-CCP) were also made. Disease activity was assessed by disease activity score (DAS28) and quality of life by the health assessment questionnairedisability index (HAQ-DI). The number of tender and swollen joints was assessed, as well as pain level by using the visual analogue scale (VAS), sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP, and immunological tests (SSA, SSB, antidsDNA, ANA, antiU1snRNP) were also made. Results: In the analyzed patients there was no statistically significant difference in ESR, CRP, DAS28, HAQ-DI, seropositivity of RF and anti-CCP and the presence of antidsDNA, ANA or antiU1snRNP and disease duration. Patients in the RA group had more tender, swollen joints and VAS. There was a statistically significant difference in SSA and SSB levels. There was no significant difference in the treatment of patients from both groups. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in the level of disease activity and quality of life in patients with RA compared to sSS group.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
C-REACTIVE PROTEIN - THE MOST USEFUL REACTANT OF ACUTE PHASE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
(Macedonian Association of Anatomists, 2023)
;
;
Ljindita Djemaili Jakupi
;
Ana Vasilevska
;
Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the most useful biochemical marker of the acute phase reactants for the evaluation of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sixty patients with RA were included, 27 of whom were treated with non-steroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and methotrexate (MTH). The control group consisted of 33 patients treated only with NSAIDs due to irregular control. In the first group, disease activity was evaluated at four-week intervals and in the control group at threeweek intervals, following the scores of the articular indices, complete blood count (CBC), elevated sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in every patient. In the first group of patients, decreased activity of RA was found in every subsequent control, with a consecutive decrease in the mean values of the scores of the articular indices and statistically significant differences in the four-time intervals. Considering laboratory parameters, there were statistically significant differences in the mean values of haemoglobin (Hb), erythrocytes (Er), platelets (Plt), and ESR (p=0.0462, p=0.0076, p= 0.0058, p= 0.0003). The mean values of CRP did not show statistically significant differences, but the number of patients who were CRP negative increased (the standard deviation also increased). In the group of patients treated only with NSAIDs, there were statistically significant differences in the mean values of the scores of the articular indices, with increases in every subsequent control (in favor ofdisease progression). There were no statistically significant differences considering CBC, ESR, and CRP (in favor of a permanently active disease). CRP is the most useful marker in the prospective evaluation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
PREVALENCE OF VERTEBRAL FRACTURES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
(Македонско лекарско друшство = Macedonian Medical Association, 2020-03)
;
Mishevska Perchinkova, Snezhana
;
;
Karadzova-Stojanoska, Anzelika
;
Osmani, Bashkim
Introduction. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory arthritis that affects 0.5 to 1% of the general population. The risk of vertebral fractures and hip fractures is much higher in patients with RA than in those with primary osteoporosis (OP). This is due to the severity and activity of the disease in patients with RA, low BMI (body mass index), age, glucocorticoid (GK) use, and the duration of the disease. Aim. To evaluate the prevalence of vertebral fracture in postmenopausal patients with rheumatoid arthritis on glucocorticoid therapy and their association with risk factors. Methods. 92 patients were analyzed, all of whom were recorded for osteoporosis evaluation with a dualenergy x-ray absorptiometry -DXA scan, with built-in software for assessment of VF, VFA (Vertebral Fractures Assessments). Results. The prevalence of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal patients with RA is 63%. In 58 patients, the vertebral fractures are reduced by 2 degrees (height is reduced by 25 to 40%) 58.6%, mild fracture (loss of vertebral height from 20 to 25%) with 31.1% and severe fracture (height reduced by more than 40%) with 10.3%. In patients due to GC therapy, VF are more frequent, smoking is one of the most significant risk factors, while an increased BMI reduces the risk of developing these fractures. Conclusion. In all patients with RA, especially those on chronic therapy with GC, it is necessary to evaluate osteoporosis and determine the bone density of the vertebral bodies by means of VFA, to enable early, timely detection and prevention of vertebral and nonvertebrale fractures
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF ANTI-CCP ASSAY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
(Macedonian Association of Anatomists and Morphologists, 2021-12)
;
;
;
Krstevska Balkanov, Svetlana
Introduction: The purpose of this research was to compare the diagnostic values of laboratory variables, to present quantitative evaluations of the diagnostic test with reference value for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP2) antibodies, rheumatoid factor (RF), Creactive protein (CRP), and DAS 28 index in early diagnosis of untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Material and methods: Using the ELISA method of DIA-STAT™ Anti CCP (Axis-Shield Diagnostics), sera of 70 participants were examined (35 untreated patients with RA and 35 subjects from the healthy control group). RF and CRP were determined with the agglutination test (Latex test) in the same participants. At the same time, we determined the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value for positive and negative test and accuracy. Results: Presence of anti-CCP 2 antibodies was 65.71%, 23/35 patients, while RF was present in 17/35 (48.57%). Twelve patients were anti-CCP2 and RF positive, 11 were antiCCP2 positive, but RF negative. Five patients were anti-CCP2 negative and RF positive. In the healthy control group, one patient was anti-CCP2 positive, while 2 patients were RF positive. Conclusion: Anti-CCP2 antibodies have higher sensitivity and specificity than RF in early RA
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
RADIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF JOINT DAMAGE IN EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS TREATED WITH METHOTREXATE
(Macedonian Association of Anatomists, 2021-03)
;
;
;
In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), progression of the radiographic damage of hand and feet joints is a significant and objective variable for evaluation of disease activity as well as measurement of treatment outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the RA activity with radiographic evaluation of hand joints in patients with early RA treated with Methotrexate by using acute phase reactants, as rheumathoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and DAS28 index of disease activity. We tested 70 participants (35 control patients, 35 untreated RA patients). Patients were treated with Methotrexate at an average dose of 10 mg once weekly. For clinical evaluation of disease activity radiographic index (RI), sedimentation, CRP and RF in certain time intervals (0-time, after 6, 9 and 12 months) were analyzed in every patient. RI showed an increased radiographic progression of hand joint damage in time intervals between 0-time and 9 months (p=0,0167) and between 0-time and 12 months (p=0.0089). The statistical analysis showed statistically significant differences among mean values of ESR in the four-time intervals (p=0.00002).
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
ASPECTS OF NEPHROTOXICITY OF THE MOST USED NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
(Македонско лекарско друштво = Macedonian medical association, 2021-02)
;
;
;
;
Krstevska Balkanov, Svetlana
Introduction. Microalbuminuria is used as a marker for glomerular damage and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) as an indicator of proximal tubular damage. Aim. The aim of the study was to quantify the toxicity of these drugs by measuring the enzyme excretion that correlates with the degree of damage of the tubular epithelium. It was also our aim to determine the effects of the initial therapy with Etoricoxib and Diclofenac on glomerular and tubular integrity in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. By using the colorimetric method for determination of NAG, as well as the immunoturbidimetric method for detection of microalbuminuria, tests were performed in 70 participants (35 RA patients treated only with Etoricoxib, 35 RA patients with Diclofenac) in four-time intervals within the course of eight weeks. Results. There was a moderate correlation between NAG and microalbuminuria (r=0.21) in the group of patients treated with Etoricoxib, while there was a statistically significant correlation (r=0.28) in the group treated with Diclofenac. NAG enzymuria, in volume, by the number of participants in whom it was registerred and the time of its occurrence was much faster during the use of Diclofenac compared to Etoricoxib. Conclusion. Diclofenac is a potent NAG-inductor and gives a larger tubular enzymuria in comparison with Etoricoxib.

Faculty of Medicine

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results