zigimond

C F S  - Information International     
 

Rheumatic  Diseases 

go to front page


 

Rheumatic Diseases - Autoimmune Diseases

The diseases referred to as "rheumatic" or  "autoimmune" are an almost identical group  (there are a few exeptions).  "Autoimmune" refers to the mechanism behind the diseases (the body "attacking" itself), and the term "rheumatic" to the organ system involved (joints, muscles and connective tissue).  A complete list of autoimmune diseases, presented by Intellihealth (Johns Hopkins Health Information, USA),  list, autoimmun, 1999.  FM is listed at the end of this list.  Some rheumatic diseases have increased hyaluronic acid, but FM does not,  Bliddal et al., 2001.

Autoimmune diseases pose a great threat to womens lives,  autoimmune, killers, 2000. The gender difference with autoimmune diseases has attracted great attention,  2002 here.

Efforts to study muscle diseases by means of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have been reviewed,  Argov et al., 2000.

The search for a cause of arthritis includes studies of virus,  Laine et al., 2000.
 

Pain

A review on treatment of pain in rheumatic diseases coveres fibromyalgia,  Serebro, 1998.  This article,  PAIN study, 1999, compares tolerability of the most common painkillers.
 

Somatization Disorder

The current debate over 'somatization disorders' has also hit the rheumatic diseases,  Functional Somatic Syndromes in Rheumatic Disorders,   - A Patient's Response, and the reply by the author,  Letter - in reply.

A 'bio-psycho-social' model is being developed,  Ferrari, 2000, including studies of stress,  Herrmann et al., 2000.
 

Genetics

The genetics underlying the rheumatic diseases has been in focus for decades,  Suchiya & Tokunaga, 1999.  The present scientific understanding of virus and genes interacting, can be viewed from this editorial on endogenous retroviruses,  ERV, editorial, 1999.
 

Intestinal Barrier

Many Autoimmune diseases have intestinal complications. In Lancet 2000, researchers report on a novel molecule zonulin responsible for the intestinal barrier,  press, Zonulin, 2000.
 

Hepatitis C

Evidence of a possible causative role of Hepatitis C in autoimmune diseases, Ferri & Zignego, 2000.
 

Molecular Mimicry

One particular theory on the cause of autoimmune diseases, alive for 3 decades, is the theory on molecular mimicry which was strengthened with news from Johns Hopkins on the link between infections (in this case Salmonella) and autoimmune diseases,  press, Salmonella, 2000.
 

Systemic Lupus (SLE)

Recent research suggests a great overlap of SLE with FM,  Grafe et al., 1999  and  Taylor et al., 2000,  and a smaller overlap with Raynaud's phenomenon,  Grassi et al., 1998.  A 2002-paper focuses on the differenes between SLE and FM,  Blumenthal, 2002 (link).

At the scientific meeting Nov 1999, the American College of Rheumatology presented these papers  Neuropsychic SLE  and here   SLE Treatment.  Oct. 2000, Dr. Fauci, a leading specialist, wrote:  Inhibition of IL-10 as a Therapeutic Strategy.

A new test for Lupus was announced Aug. 2000  here.
 

Vasculitis

Among the rheumatic symptoms, which both CFS and FM patients may have, is vasculitis (inflammation of the veins). The diagnosis of vasculitis,  Kyndt et al., 1999.  Cerebral vasculitis is a specific diagnosis, one which is difficult to make,  cerebral, vasculitis, 2001.

The classification systems applied to the vasculitides have been the object of discussion,  vasculitis, 1997,  vasculitis, 1998, and  vasculitis, 1999.
 

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia Rheumatica,  Nishikai, 1999, also belongs to the diseases in this group.  This study is on the outcome,  Bahlas et al., 1998.  The possible difference in CD8+ between this disease and that of temporal arteritis,  Elling et al., 1998.

Horton's arteritis,  Ponte & Cafagna, 1997.
 

Wegener's Granulomatosis

Wegener's Granulomatosis,  Pillinger & Staud, 1998 is described in a patient treated with PTU for thyroiditis.  There is a seasonal variation in the debut of Wegener's,  Raynauld et al., 1993.  A summary on the treatment of Wegener's,  Rose et al., 2000.

 
 
Index     Welcome     CFS case def.     Prevalence     Prognosis     Brain Inflam     Post-Polio     Hypotheses
This  website is 100% non-commercial and independent of  associations and  public authorities.
The site is owned and run by  Mette Marie Andersen, MD