Complement System
23 Complement System John P. Atkinson Key Points The complement system is activated in the joints in rheumatoid arthritis and in vessel walls in vasculitis. Autoantibodies may activate the complement…
Mononuclear Phagocytes in Rheumatic Diseases
10 Mononuclear Phagocytes in Rheumatic Diseases Siamon Gordon Key Points Macrophages play an important role in tissue homeostasis and in cellular and humoral innate and adaptive immunity. Macrophages, dendritic cells,…
Heritable Diseases of Connective Tissue
105 Heritable Diseases of Connective Tissue Deborah Krakow Key Points Heritable disorders of connective tissues are a diverse group of disorders and can be associated with extreme variation in height…
Cell-Targeted Biologics and Targets: Rituximab, Abatacept, and Other Biologics
64 Cell-Targeted Biologics and Targets Rituximab, Abatacept, and Other Biologics Peter C. Taylor Key Points Rituximab is an effective biologic therapy across the spectrum of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-but with greatest…
Cell Survival and Death in Rheumatic Diseases
27 Cell Survival and Death in Rheumatic Diseases Keith B. Elkon Key Points Cells die in different ways with the morphologic appearance of apoptosis, autophagy, or necrosis. Apoptosis proceeds through…
Neutrophils
11 Neutrophils Jose U. Scher, Steven B. Abramson, Michael H. Pillinger Key Points Neutrophils are myeloid-lineage cells characterized by the presence of granules containing enzymes and other potentially toxic agents…
Clinical Features and Treatment of Gout
95 Clinical Features and Treatment of Gout Christopher M. Burns, Robert L. Wortmann Key Points Hyperuricemia is defined as a serum urate level greater than 6.8 mg/dL. Acute gout can be…
Amyloidosis
116 Amyloidosis David C. Seldin, Martha Skinner Key Points Amyloidosis is the term for systemic disease in which aggregated proteins form extracellular fibrils in tissues of the body, eventually leading…
Glucocorticoid Therapy
60 Glucocorticoid Therapy Johannes W.G. Jacobs, Johannes W.J. Bijlsma Key Points Mode of action of glucocorticoids is genomic (via glucocorticoid receptor) and, in high dosages, also nongenomic. Glucocorticoids differ considerably…
