title: Trends of inflammatory markers and cytokines after one month of phototherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate changes in the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α in patients with rheumatoid arthritis submitted to phototherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an open label study, enrolling ten patients. The phototherapy scheme within a range of 425 to 650 nm, 11.33 Joules/cm2, 30 cm above the chest was as follows: a) 45-min daily sessions from Monday to Friday for 2 to 3 months; b) three, 45- min weekly sessions for 1 to 2 months; c) twice weekly 45-min sessions for 1 to 2 months, and d) one weekly session for 1 to 2 months until completion. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor were measured in peripheral blood and tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-10 in leukocytes by quantitative real-time Reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction. In all the patients the next indexes: Karnofsky scale, Rheumatoid Arthritis-specific quality of life instrument, Steinbrocker Functional Capacity Rating and the Visual Analog Scale were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor declined notoriously after the indicated sessions. In gene expression, there was a tendency in tumor necrosis factor-α to decrease after 1 month, from 24.5±11.4 to 18±9.2 relative units, without reaching a significant statistical difference. The four tested indexes showed improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phototherapy appears to be a plausible complementary option to reduce the inflammatory component in rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Perinatal Hospital "Mónica Pretelini Sáenz", Health Institute of the State of Mexico.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meneses Calderón
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Perinatal Hospital "Mónica Pretelini Sáenz", Health Institute of the State of Mexico.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Perinatal Hospital "Mónica Pretelini Sáenz", Health Institute of the State of Mexico.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aburto Huacuz
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Research Center, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico.
authors.forename: Arely Sarai
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alonso Barreto
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Research Center, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Carmen Colín Ferreyra
authors.affiliation: Asociación Científica Latina, Ciprés Grupo Médico Toluca, Mexico. mezh_74@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mendieta Zerón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508585:IL1B protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C439524:TNF protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor