title: Decrease in articular hypoxia and synovial blood flow at early time points following infliximab and etanercept treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An important feature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is hypoxia-driven synovial angiogenesis, but the relationship between change in vascularity, as measured by power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS), and oxygen tensions is unaddressed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint PDUS was assessed in 23 patients with RA, alongside arthroscopic synovitis and oxygen tension measurements, at baseline and 4 weeks after anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-TNF reduced PDUS scores, which were negatively correlated with rise in oxygen tensions. The latter was related to good EULAR response at week 52.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-TNF results in rapid reduction in synovial blood flow, with a corresponding rise in oxygen tension most marked in EULAR good responders.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Research Group, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Histopathology Department, Imperial College Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donatien
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Research Group, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filer
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, University of Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: C Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Winlove
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Iain B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: McInnes
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Research Group, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, UK. peter.taylor@kennedy.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept