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Long-term followup of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with total lymphoid irradiation
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Long-term followup of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with total lymphoid irradiation

A TANAY, E. H FIELD, R. T HOPPE and S STROBER
Arthritis and rheumatism, Vol.30(1), pp.1-10
1987
DOI: 10.1002/art.1780300101
PMID: 2949753
url
https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1780300101View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Total lymphoid irradiation was administered to 32 patients with intractable rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty-four patients showed at least a 25% improvement in 3 of 4 disease activity parameters, which persisted during the followup period of up to 48 months. Eight of the 32 patients required adjunctive immunosuppressive drug therapy to maintain improvement. Four patients died after total lymphoid irradiation; the causes of death were acute myocardial infarction (1 patient), pulmonary embolism (1 patient), and rheumatoid lung disease complicated by respiratory infection (2 patients). After therapy, patients exhibited a prolonged reduction in the number and function of circulating T helper cells.
Inflammatory joint diseases Biological and medical sciences Medical sciences Diseases of the osteoarticular system

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