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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a joint destructive disorder with great morbidity. Unraveling genetic determinants causing the disease would pave the road towards early detection and precise medicine. Interleukin 37 (IL-37), a natural inhibitor of innate immunity, was shown to be a key modulator in RA. Plasma levels were deregulated and correlated with disease activity. Therefore, we hypothesized the IL-37 gene variants could influence the clinical characteristics of RA patients. Objective: This is a pilot study to assess the association of rs3811047 variant of IL-37 gene with RA development and disease activity in an Egyptian population. Methods: A total of 100 individuals (50 RA patients and 50 healthy individuals) were enrolled in the study. Disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28) was estimated for RA patients. Genotyping was performed using Real-Time PCR technology. Results: There was no statistically significant association between genotype frequencies of rs3811047 and RA risk. However, there was a significant relationship between the studied single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and disease activity. Patients carrying the GG genotype had higher DAS28 score than patients with AA or AG genotypes (p = .041). Conclusion: IL-37 gene rs3811047 SNP was associated with more severe RA disease activity in the current population. Larger epidemiological study is warranted to validate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: No universal consensus about optimal modality for treating the recalcitrant multiple common warts (RMCW). Objective: To evaluate the immunological mechanisms and clinical therapeutic effect of using of intralesional purified protein derivative (PPD) in the treatment of RMCW. Methods: The study included 40 patients with RMCW. They were randomly assigned to 2 groups: first group (20 patients) received intralesional PPD antigen, and second group (20 patients) received intralesional saline as a control group. In both groups, injections were made into single lesions, or largest wart in case of multiple lesions, at weekly intervals, until complete clearance or for a maximum of six treatments. Blood serum was taken at pre-study and at week 6 to measure IL-12 level. Results: A significant difference was found between the therapeutic responses of RMCW to PPD antigen and saline control group ( p < 0.001). In the PPD group, complete response was achieved in 75% after 5.8 ± 0.7 sessions' patients presenting with RMCW. There was a statistically significant increase in IL-12 of PPD group versus saline group. No recurrence was observed in the PPD group. Conclusion: Intralesional immunotherapy by PPD antigen is an effective and a safe treatment for RMCW in previously immunized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]