Increased serum N(super)G-hydroxy-L-arginine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus as an index of an increased nitric oxide synthase activity
Article Abstract:
Measuring blood levels of N(super)G-hydroxy-L-arginine (L-NHA) may be a more accurate indicator of disease activity in patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis than measuring nitric oxide. L-NHA is a metabolite produced during the synthesis of nitric oxide and it is not affected by diet as nitric oxide is. A study of 33 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 25 with systemic lupus erythematosus and 29 healthy volunteers found that L-NHA levels were higher in patients with high disease activity compared to those with low activity. Nitric oxide levels did not vary with disease activity.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1997
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Do sex hormones modulate the synovial macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis?
Article Abstract:
Sex hormones seem to affect the function of immune cells called macrophages. This could explain why women are more often affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than men. Women produce greater levels of antibodies against foreign proteins and also have a greater T-cell response compared to men. Analysis of joint fluid from RA patients reveals low levels of male hormones and higher levels of female hormones. Receptors for these hormones have also been found on immune cells in the fluid. Male hormones seem to inhibit the immune response whereas female hormones seem to stimulate it.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1997
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Relations between steroid hormones and cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
Article Abstract:
The effect of steroid hormones on the immune system appears to explain some features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There are two types of lymphocytes: Th1 and Th2. Th1 lymphocytes are involved in cell-mediated immune responses and Th2 lymphocytes are involved in antibody production. RA is characterized by Th1 activation and SLE by Th2 activation. Pregnancy suppresses Th1 activation, which would improve RA symptoms but cause SLE to flare up. Hormone changes also explain why post-menopausal women are more likely to have RA than SLE.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1998
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- Abstracts: Immunological comparison of patients with rheumatoid arthritis with and without nephropathy. Determination of IgA- and IgM-rheumatoid factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with and without nephropathy
- Abstracts: Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid factor in women: evidence for secular decline. Genetics of osteoarthritis
- Abstracts: Should we look for osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Bone mineral density in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with infliximab
- Abstracts: Contractile proteins in human fetoplacental vessels. Serum from women with preeclampsia partially corrects the abnormal in vitro prostacyclin secretion of preeclamptic villous cytotrophoblasts but not that of prostaglandin E2 or endothelin-1
- Abstracts: Levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in pregnant women and subsequent breast cancer risk. Beyond the twinning effect: invited commentary on "Levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in pregnant women and subsequent breast cancer risk." (response to article in this issue, p. 719)