Publication
Increased prevalence of allergic sensitisation in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with anti-TNFalpha
| dc.contributor.author | Machado, P | |
| dc.contributor.author | Santos, A | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pereira, C | |
| dc.contributor.author | Loureiro, C | |
| dc.contributor.author | Silva, J | |
| dc.contributor.author | Chieira, C | |
| dc.contributor.author | Malcata, AB | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2009-06-08T15:18:42Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2009-06-08T15:18:42Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2009 | |
| dc.description.abstract | INTRODUCTION: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) has emerged as a therapeutic target in chronic inflammatory disorders characterised by a Th1 type immune response, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The presence of allergic disease in these patients could be influenced both by the presence of RA and anti-TNFalpha therapy. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of sensitisation to airborne allergens and allergic disease in RA patients, with and without anti-TNFalpha treatment. METHODS: RA patients with (N=20) and without (N=20) anti-TNFalpha therapy (groups T and R) were enrolled. Healthy controls (N=60, group C) were randomly selected from the general population. All participants answered a standardised questionnaire to assess the prevalence of allergic disease and had skin prick tests (SPT) with a standard panel of airborne allergen extracts. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the prevalence of positive SPT between groups T and R (70% vs 35%, p=0.027) and groups T and C (70% vs 36.7%, p=0.009), but not between groups R and C. The prevalence of allergic disease was similar in the three groups. Groups T and R had similar gender and age distribution, disease duration, disease activity score (DAS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: Increased prevalence of sensitisation to airborne allergens in RA patients treated with anti-TNFalpha was found. The clinical impact of the positive SPT following anti-TNFalpha initiation has now to be assessed. | en |
| dc.identifier.citation | Joint Bone Spine. 2009 May 19 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.4/518 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | en |
| dc.publisher | Elsevier | en |
| dc.rights.uri | openAccess | en |
| dc.subject | Artrite Reumatóide | en |
| dc.title | Increased prevalence of allergic sensitisation in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with anti-TNFalpha | en |
| dc.type | journal article | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| rcaap.type | article | en |