We present a case of giant cell arteritis (GCA) R788 nmr in a 72-year-old female patient admitted to our department with

a 4-month history of FUO, weight loss and fatigue, without specific symptoms or signs. Laboratory investigations suggested acute phase response, with a pronounced erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high CRP level and microcytic anemia. A thorough diagnostic evaluation was performed to exclude an unknown primary tumor, which was initially suspected due to a positive family history of cancer. Surprisingly, PET/CT revealed large vessel vasculitis affecting the ascending, descending and abdominal aorta, as well as subclavian, proximal brachial and carotid arteries bilaterally. Biopsy of the superficial temporal artery confirmed the diagnosis of GCA. Treatment with methylprednisolone and azathioprine led to resolution of clinical symptoms and normalization of laboratory parameters. In addition to the use of PET/CT in the evaluation

of FUO, its value as a method complementary to temporal artery biopsy is also discussed.”
“Chemokines promote leukocyte traffic into the Pitavastatin site of inflammation. Serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were evaluated in 48 treated women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mild-to-moderate disease severity. The results were compared between the whole SLE group and the control (29 women). The relationships between chemokines, their concentrations, and peripheral blood leukocyte count and between the chemokines and individual leukocyte else populations (polymorphonuclear leukocytes-PMNs, lymphocytes-Ls, monocytes-Ms, eosinophils)

counts were determined. The relationships between the analyzed chemokines were also determined in the control. SLE subjects had significantly higher MCP-1, SDF-1, IP-10, and lower IL-8 concentrations compared to the control. Moderate, positive correlations between MCP-1/SDF-1, SDF-1/IP-10 and a negative correlation between MCP-1/IL8 were observed in the patient group. Moderate, negative correlations were found between SDF-1/total leukocyte count, SDF-1/absolute number of PMNs as well as between IP-10/total leukocyte count, IP-10/absolute PMNs, Ls, and Ms counts in peripheral blood of SLE group. We suggest that the obtained results and correlations observed between the examined parameters might be used to monitor SLE course and progression. However, further randomized clinical studies should be carried out on in untreated and treated patients with SLE.”
“Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Abnormalities in coagulation have been linked with CVD in general and RA population.