rheumatoid nodule/nicotine

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases are considered to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Tobacco smoking has been linked to the development of rheumatic diseases, namely systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, and has been shown to interact with genetic factors to

OBJECTIVE To examine whether smoking is a risk factor for rheumatoid nodules in early rheumatoid arthritis, and if so to determine the quantitative effect of smoking. METHODS From a cohort (n = 1589) in a structured programme for follow up of newly diagnosed cases of rheumatoid arthritis (symptoms

Anthony Caplan first described rheumatoid lung nodules associated with pneumoconiosis in coal-miners (Caplan, 1953). Intraparenchymal lung nodules were later described in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who were never exposed to coal dust and/or without pneumoconiosis. Rheumatoid lung nodules are

Gender and environmental factors are known to influence the clinical heterogeneity and outcome of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some variables have been suggested to be associated with the severity of the disease, which can be of great value in the correct management of RA patients. The purpose of this

BACKGROUND Although pericarditis is the most commonly recognized cardiac lesion in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), this disease affects all the three cardiac layers. OBJECTIVE To study valvular lesions in RA, trying to correlate them with other clinical variables, auto antibodies and functional

BACKGROUND Extra-articular manifestations are found in up to 50% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of pulmonary changes on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with RA and their association with demographic, clinical, serological and

OBJECTIVE To examine the association of smoking with clinical and serological features in African Americans with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to explore whether this association is dependent on the presence of the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE). METHODS In African Americans with

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic immune mediated inflammatory disease of unknown origin, which is predominantly affecting the joints. Antibodies against citrullinated peptides are a rather specific immunological hallmark of this heterogeneous entity. Furthermore, certain sequences of the