1.
The effect of methotrexate on improving serological abnormalities of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Miyawaki, S, Nishiyama, S, Aita, T, Yoshinaga, Y
Modern rheumatology. 2013;(4):659-66
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This was an open-labeled, prospective, control study to determine the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) for improving serological abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS Thirty patients with a low serum complement and/or high anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody levels during a prednisolone taper received MTX orally at a dose of 7.5 mg/week over 12-18 months (MTX group). Eighteen SLE patients were selected as controls (control group). At the time of entrance into the study, all patients were receiving <15 mg/day of prednisolone. The C3, C4, and immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, and IgM levels were measured using a turbidimetric immunoassay. The anti-dsDNA antibody level was measured using the Farr assay. RESULTS Significant increases in C3 and C4 levels and significant decreases in anti-dsDNA antibody, IgG, IgA, and IgM levels from baseline were observed for 3-18 months after the trial in the MTX group but not in the control group. At the end of the study, C3 and/or C4 levels in 96.7% of the MTX patients and 33.3% of the control patients were normalized or elevated (p = 0.0001), and anti-dsDNA antibody levels were normalized or lowered in 24 of the 26 MTX patients (92.3%) and in 50.0% of the control patients (p = 0.0022). In addition, a significant reduction in SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score and a prednisolone-sparing effect were observed for the MTX group but not the control group. A significant increase in mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells, which is indicative of an anti-folic-acid metabolic disorder induced by MTX, was observed only for patients in the MTX group. Five patients (16.7%) discontinued MTX treatment because of disease flare, and another three (10.0%) discontinued due to treatment side effects. CONCLUSION MTX appears to be effective for improving serological abnormalities frequently observed before disease flares in SLE patients on a prednisolone taper.
2.
Supplementation with antioxidant vitamins prevents oxidative modification of DNA in lymphocytes of HIV-infected patients.
Jaruga, P, Jaruga, B, Gackowski, D, Olczak, A, Halota, W, Pawlowska, M, Olinski, R
Free radical biology & medicine. 2002;(5):414-20
Abstract
There is evidence suggesting that patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are under chronic oxidative stress. In the present study, the level of oxidatively modified bases in lymphocyte DNA and some other parameters of oxidative stress were measured in HIV-infected patients (n = 30), as well as in control groups (10 healthy volunteers and 15 HIV-seronegative injected drug users). Additional experiments were conducted using lymphocyte DNA samples from asymptomatic seropositive, HIV-infected patients who were supplemented with antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E or received placebo. Significant increases in the amount of the modified DNA bases were observed in HIV-infected patients when compared with the control group. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was higher and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) were lower in the group of HIV-infected patients in comparison to the control group. Vitamin supplementation resulted in the significant decrease in the levels of all modified DNA bases when compared to the patients who received placebo. The reduction of TBARS and the restoration of the activity of the enzymes were also observed. Our data suggest that people infected with HIV can benefit from treatment with antioxidant vitamins.