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Increased Recovery Time and Decreased LPS Administration to Study the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Mechanisms in Limited Inflammatory Responses
Published on: March 29, 2017
A handful of inflammation
Thorben Witte1, Fredrik Albach1, David Simon1,2,3,4,5
1Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease typically affecting the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints as well as larger joints like the wrists, shoulders or knees. We present a case of a 49-year-old woman with symmetrical pain not only in her knees, shoulders, wrists, and MCP and PIP joints but also in her distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. She has elevated levels of rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibodies and a highly active arthritis on magnetic resonance imaging of her right hand in the wrist, MCP, PIP, and 3 out of 4 DIP joints. In summary, we diagnosed a seropositive rheumatoid arthritis affecting all but 1 joint of her hand. This case highlights the very rare (less than 0.2%) affection of 3 out of 4 DIP joints in rheumatoid arthritis.
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