Rheumatoid Arthritis: Ayral X

Raissouni N, Gossec L, Ayral X, Dougados M. · Rheumatology Department B, Cochin Teaching Hospital, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75679 Paris cedex 14, France. · Joint Bone Spine. · Pubmed #15797490 No free full text.

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common of all chronic inflammatory joint diseases. Treatment should be initiated early, if possible within the first six months after symptom onset, and should be selected according to the potential for disease progression. Early initiation of combination drug therapy may improve quality of life and long-term outcomes. We used data from a comprehensive literature review to develop a diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for incipient undifferentiated inflammatory joint disease.

Maheu E, Ayral X, Dougados M. · Department of Rheumatology, Cochin Hospital, Université René Descartes, Paris, France. · Int J Clin Pract. · Pubmed #12510956 No free full text.

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to review the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with the hyaluronan preparation 500-730 kDa (Hyalgan). Reviewing the results of 24 clinical trials, it can be concluded that 3-5 weekly injections of Hyalgan significantly improve the pain and functional status of patients with OA. Although the onset of improvement is delayed by 3-4 weeks, the effect can last at least six months and up to one year after treatment cessation. The benefits of Hyalgan compared with intra-articular corticosteroids are also addressed. The potential for Hyalgan to have a structure-modifying action by retarding stuctural progression in OA of the knee is considered. However, further studies of Hyalgan in OA in other joints, and in damaged joints in rheumatoid arthritis, are needed.

Lequerré T, Bansard C, Vittecoq O, Derambure C, Hiron M, Daveau M, Tron F, Ayral X, Biga N, Auquit-Auckbur I, Chiocchia G, Le Loët X, Salier JP. · Department of Rheumatology, Rouen University Hospital and Inserm 905 & Institut Fédératif de Recherche Multidisciplinaire sur les Peptides 23, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Rouen, 76031 Rouen Cedex, France. · Arthritis Res Ther. · Pubmed #19563633 links to  free full text

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease and its underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Because previous microarray studies have only focused on long-standing (LS) RA compared to osteoarthritis, we aimed to compare the molecular profiles of early and LS RA versus control synovia. METHODS: Synovial biopsies were obtained by arthroscopy from 15 patients (4 early untreated RA, 4 treated LS RA and 7 controls, who had traumatic or mechanical lesions). Extracted mRNAs were used for large-scale gene-expression profiling. The different gene-expression combinations identified by comparison of profiles of early, LS RA and healthy synovia were linked to the biological processes involved in each situation. RESULTS: Three combinations of 719, 116 and 52 transcripts discriminated, respectively, early from LS RA, and early or LS RA from healthy synovia. We identified several gene clusters and distinct molecular signatures specifically expressed during early or LS RA, thereby suggesting the involvement of different pathophysiological mechanisms during the course of RA. CONCLUSIONS: Early and LS RA have distinct molecular signatures with different biological processes participating at different times during the course of the disease. These results suggest that better knowledge of the main biological processes involved at a given RA stage might help to choose the most appropriate treatment.

Soubrier M, Zerkak D, Gossec L, Ayral X, Roux C, Dougados M. · Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital G. Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #16622906 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To determine in clinical practice which clinical status variables for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are most closely associated with a change in disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. METHODS: A prospective monocenter study was conducted in 204 consecutive patients with RA. Rheumatologists recorded patient characteristics, treatments, and disease activity data [tender and swollen joint count (28), morning stiffness, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain (0-100 mm), patient global assessment and physician global assessment, Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)]. The rheumatologists decided whether or not to initiate or change treatment but were not informed that their decisions were part of the investigation. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate which study variables best predict change in therapy. ROC analysis was used to obtain the cutoff value of the different composite indices (DAS28(ESR), DAS28(CRP), SDAI) for treatment change, as well as sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: The variables that were predictive for a change in treatment were (in descending order): swollen joint count, morning stiffness, CRP, tender joint count, and patient global assessment. Composite index values associated with a decision to modify DMARD therapy were: DAS28(ESR) 4.2 (sensitivity 87%, specificity 70%); DAS28(CRP) 3.6 (sensitivity 86%, specificity 78%); and SDAI 15 (sensitivity 90%, specificity 86%). The discriminative ability of SDAI was better than that of DAS28(CRP) or DAS28(ESR). CONCLUSION: In our study, swollen joint count was the variable with the greatest weight, which explains the observed better performance of SDAI.

d'Agostino MA, Ayral X, Baron G, Ravaud P, Breban M, Dougados M. · Cochin Hospital, and Université René Descartes, Paris, France. · Arthritis Rheum. · Pubmed #15818652 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of ultrasonography (US) on local corticosteroid (CS) injections of painful ankle, hindfoot, and midfoot in chronic inflammatory diseases. METHODS: Consecutive patients with chronic rheumatic diseases admitted to the hospital for local CS injections of painful ankle, hindfoot, or midfoot were enrolled in this study. Clinical and radiographic evaluation was performed by the physician in charge of CS injections, and US examination was performed by an independent examiner blinded to the clinical and radiologic findings. According to a randomized weekly-periods design, the physician planned CS injections either aware (G1 group) or unaware (G2 group) of US results. In the latter case, he was nonetheless informed of US results after he had performed the injections. Impact of this information on the treatment planning was assessed in all cases. Prognostic impact of US was also evaluated by comparing the change in global assessment of efficacy of CS injections, in activity of the disease, and in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) subscales after 1 and 3 months, between G1 and G2 groups. RESULTS: The knowledge of US findings led the physician to change his decision of local CS injections in 56 (82%) of 68 patients studied. Among 1,131 assessed sites, by clinical, radiographic, and US evaluation, injection was cancelled in 37 (15%) of 242 proposed sites, whereas it was decided in 74 (8%) additional sites. After 1 month, there was an improvement in G1 as compared with G2 groups. The mean +/- SD change in WOMAC physical function subscale was 15.6 +/- 17.5 in G1 versus 8 +/- 13 in G2 (P = 0.0305). After 3 months, only the global assessment of efficacy of CS injections was statistically greater in G1 than in G2 group (P = 0.0170). CONCLUSION: US frequently led the physician to change his diagnosis of inflammatory lesions in painful foot, and consequently his planning of CS injections. Moreover, US could improve the response to local treatment.

Devauchelle V, Marion S, Cagnard N, Mistou S, Falgarone G, Breban M, Letourneur F, Pitaval A, Alibert O, Lucchesi C, Anract P, Hamadouche M, Ayral X, Dougados M, Gidrol X, Fournier C, Chiocchia G. · Institut Cochin, Paris, France. · Genes Immun. · Pubmed #15496955 No free full text.

Abstract: This study was undertaken to evaluate the possibility to obtain a molecular signature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) comparatively osteoarthritis (OA), and to lay the bases to develop new diagnostic tools and identify new targets. Microarray technology was used for such an analysis. The gene expression profiles of synovial tissues from patients with confirmed RA, and patients with OA were established and compared. A set of 63 genes was selected, based, more specifically, on their overexpression or underexpression in RA samples compared to OA. Results for six of these genes have been verified by quantitative PCR using both samples identical to those used in the microarray experiments and entirely separate samples. Expression profile of the 48 known genes allowed the correct classification of additional RA and OA patients. Furthermore, the distinct expression of three of the selected genes was also studied by quantitative RT-PCR in cultured synovial cells. Detailed analysis of the expression profile of the selected genes provided evidence for dysregulated biological pathways, pointed out to chromosomal location and revealed novel genes potentially involved in RA. It is proposed that such an approach allows valuable diagnosis/prognostics tools in RA to be established and potential targets for combating the disease to be identified.