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ChatGPT4’s Proficiency in Addressing Patients’ Questions on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Blinded Comparative Study with Specialists Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-22 Dan Xu, Jinxia Zhao, Rui Liu, Yijun Dai, Kai Sun, Priscilla Wong, Samuel Lee Shang Ming, Koh Li Wearn, Jiangyuan Wang, Shasha Xie, Lin Zeng, Rong Mu, Chuanhui Xu
Objectives The efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots like ChatGPT4 in specialized medical consultations, particularly in rheumatology, remains underexplored. This study compares the proficiency of ChatGPT4’ responses with practicing rheumatologists to inquiries from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods In this cross-sectional study, we curated 95 frequently asked
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Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor-Positron Emission Tomography in Aortitis: Fibroblast pathology in active inflammation and remission Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-19 M Röhrich, J J Rosales, J Hoppner, P Kvacskay, N Blank, L Loi, D Paech, M Schreckenberger, F Giesel, H U Kauczor, H M Lorenz, U Haberkorn, W Merkt
Objectives Epigenetically modified fibroblasts contribute to chronicity in inflammatory diseases. Reasons for the relapsing character of large vessel vasculitis (LVV) remain obscure, including the role of fibroblasts, in part due to limited access to biopsies of involved tissue.68Ga FAPI-46 (FAPI)-PET/CT detects activated fibroblasts in vivo. In this exploratory pilot study, we tested the detection
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Longitudinal study of patients with anti-SAE antibody positive dermatomyositis: a multicenter cohort study in China Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-18 Yingfang Zhang, Lei Liu, Xinwang Duan, Hui Pi, Lili Jiang, Jiang Li, Guochun Wang, Xiaoming Shu
Objectives To describe the longitudinal study and long-term prognosis of multicentre large inception cohort of patients with anti-SAE positive DM. Methods We retrospectively recruited patients with anti-SAE+DM in four tertiary referral centers from China between March 2005 and December 2022. Long-term survival analysis was performed in the enrolled patients. The Myositis Damage Index (MDI) and Cutaneous
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Risk of chronic kidney disease in 260 patients with lupus nephritis—analysis of a nationwide multicentre cohort with up to 35 years of follow-up Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-18 Filipa Farinha, Sofia Barreira, Maura Couto, Margarida Cunha, Diogo Fonseca, Raquel Freitas, Luís Inês, Mariana Luís, Carla Macieira, Ana R Prata, Joana Rodrigues, Bernardo Santos, Rita Torres, Ruth J Pepper, Anisur Rahman, Maria J Santos
Objectives To compare proliferative (PLN) and membranous (MLN) lupus nephritis (LN) regarding clinical and laboratory presentation and long-term outcomes; To investigate predictors of progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods Multicentre observational study, with retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort, using data from the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Registry—Reuma.pt. Patients
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Prevalence and progression of arterial calcifications on computed tomography in humans with knee osteoarthritis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-18 Pim A de Jong, Netanja I Harlianto, Wouter Foppen, Nağme Ö Renkli, Wilko Spiering, Harrie Weinans, Willem PThM Mali, Simon C Mastbergen, Mylène P Jansen
Objectives Ectopic bone deposition plays an important role in osteoarthritis (OA) and in arterial wall disease. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and progression of arterial calcifications on whole-body computed tomography (CT) in persons with knee OA. Methods We included 118 (36 male) participants who satisfied the clinical American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for knee OA
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The clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization in IgG4-related disease: a claims-based analysis of commercially insured adults in the United States Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-18 Zachary S Wallace, Gandarvaka Miles, Ekaterina Smolkina, Natalia Petruski-Ivleva, Duane Madziva, Krishan Guzzo, Claire Cook, Xiaoqing Fu, Yuqing Zhang, John H Stone, Hyon K Choi
Objectives IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) can affect nearly any organ and is often treated with glucocorticoids, which contribute to organ damage and toxicity. Comorbidities and healthcare utilization in IgG4-RD are poorly understood. Methods We conducted a cohort study using claims data from a United States managed care organization. Incident IgG4-RD cases were identified using a validated algorithm;
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Prognostic factors for colchicine prophylaxis-related adverse events when initiating allopurinol for gout: retrospective cohort study Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-18 Ram Bajpai, Richard Partington, Sara Muller, Harry Forrester, Christian D Mallen, Lorna Clarson, Nishita Padmanabhan, Rebecca Whittle, Edward Roddy
Objectives Colchicine is commonly used to prevent flares when starting urate-lowering therapy for gout. Patients with gout are frequently concurrently prescribed other medications (such as statins) that may interact with colchicine, increasing the risk of adverse events. The aim of this study was to describe potential prognostic factors for adverse events in patients prescribed colchicine when initiating
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Effectiveness of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse in patients with severe microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-12 Satoshi Omura, Takashi Kida, Hisashi Noma, Hironori Inoue, Hideaki Sofue, Aki Sakashita, Masatoshi Kadoya, Daiki Nakagomi, Yoshiyuki Abe, Naoho Takizawa, Atsushi Nomura, Yuji Kukida, Naoya Kondo, Yasuhiko Yamano, Takuya Yanagida, Koji Endo, Shintaro Hirata, Kiyoshi Matsui, Tohru Takeuchi, Kunihiro Ichinose, Masaru Kato, Ryo Yanai, Yusuke Matsuo, Yasuhiro Shimojima, Ryo Nishioka, Ryota Okazaki, Tomoaki
Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two different intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) pulse doses in patients with severe microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Methods We emulated a target trial using observational data from the nationwide registry in Japan. Patients with severe glomerulonephritis or diffuse alveolar haemorrhage were selected
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Short-term effectiveness of guselkumab in psoriatic arthritis patients and suggestive features of axial involvement: results from a real-life multicentre cohort Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-09 Piero Ruscitti, Ilenia Pantano, Giulia Cataldi, Martina Gentile, Francesco Arrigoni, Luca Riccio, Sabrina Marrone, Daniele Mauro, Francesco Ursini, Maria Esposito, Antonio Barile, Maria Concetta Fargnoli, Roberto Giacomelli, Francesco Ciccia, Paola Cipriani
Objective To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of guselkumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and suggestive features of axial involvement in a prospective “real-life” multicentre cohort. Methods Between June 2022 and June 2023, PsA patients with axial involvement were evaluated if treated at least for 4 months with guselkumab. The effectiveness was evaluated by BASDAI, ASDAS, DAPSA,
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Deep Learning Enables Automatic Detection of Joint Damage Progression in Rheumatoid Arthritis—Model Development and External Validation Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-08 Mikko S Venäläinen, Alexander Biehl, Milja Holstila, Laura Kuusalo, Laura L Elo
Objectives Although deep learning has demonstrated substantial potential in automatic quantification of joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), evidence for detecting longitudinal changes at an individual patient level is lacking. Here, we introduce and externally validate our automated RA scoring algorithm (AuRA), and demonstrate its utility for monitoring radiographic progression in a real-world
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A direct comparison in diagnostic performance of CDUS, FDG-PET/CT and MRI in patients suspected of giant cell arteritis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-08 Marieke van Nieuwland, Edgar M Colin, Marloes Vermeer, Nils R L Wagenaar, Onno D Vijlbrief, Jordy K van Zandwijk, Riemer H J A Slart, Hendrik Koffijberg, Erik Groot Jebbink, Kornelis S M van der Geest, Elisabeth Brouwer, Dennis Boumans, Celina Alves
Objectives This study directly compares diagnostic performance of Colour Duplex Ultrasound (CDUS), Fluor-18-deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in patients suspected of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Methods Patients with suspected GCA were included in a nested-case control pilot study. CDUS, whole body FDG-PET/CT and cranial
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Hydroxychloroquine-induced pigmentation in rheumatic diseases: prevalence, clinical features and influencing factors Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-08 Zi-Jing Yin, Pin Li, Juan Yu, Dachen Zuo, Hongtao Fan, Fayou Li, Juan Wang, Fei Gao, Weiqin Zhao, Shuya Wang, Sha Ma, Jing Wang
Objective To describe the clinical features of Chinese patients with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-induced pigmentation and analyze the potential risk factors associated with HCQ-induced pigmentation. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted over a duration of 7 months, during which patients who had received HCQ treatment for >6 months were included. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire
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Patients with neuropsychiatric involvement systemic lupus erythematosus experience poorer health-related quality of life and more fatigue than systemic lupus erythematosus patients with no neuropsychiatric involvement, irrespective of neuropsychiatric activity Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-05 Dionysis Nikolopoulos, Nursen Cetrez, Julius Lindblom, Leonardo Palazzo, Yvonne Enman, Ioannis Parodis
Objectives Substantial proportions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) report poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our objective was to investigate the impact of neuropsychiatric involvement (NP) in SLE on patient-reported outcomes. Methods We analysed data from four phase III trials (BLISS-52, BLISS-76, BLISS-SC, EMBRACE; N = 2968). The neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) group comprised
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Responsiveness and sensitivity of PROMs to change in disease activity status in early and established rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-04 Agnes E M Looijen, Elise van Mulligen, Harald E Vonkeman, Annette H M van der Helm-van Mil, Pascal H P de Jong
Objectives To determine whether patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) capturing activity limitations, health impact, pain, fatigue and work ability are responsive and sensitive to changes in disease activity status in patients with early and established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods All early RA patients (n = 557) from the tREACH-trial and established RA patients (n = 188) from the TARA-trial
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Long-term clinical outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis that was treated-to-target in the BeSt and IMPROVED studies Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-02 Sascha L Heckert, Johanna M Maassen, Isabell Nevins, Paul Baudoin, Gerda M Steup-Beekman, Tom W J Huizinga, Sytske Anne Bergstra, Cornelia F Allaart
Objectives To assess disease outcomes after 20 and 12 years of patients with rheumatoid (RA) or undifferentiated arthritis (UA), treated-to-target in the BeSt and IMPROVED trials. Methods In BeSt (inclusion 2000–2002, duration 10 years), 508 patients with early RA were randomized to: 1. sequential monotherapy, 2. step-up combination therapy, 3. initial csDMARD combination therapy, 4. initial bDMARD/csDMARD
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Prodromal symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in a primary care database: variation by ethnicity and socioeconomic status Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-02 Alexander d’Elia, Aliaksandra Baranskaya, Shamil Haroon, Ben Hammond, Nicola J Adderley, Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar, Joht Singh Chandan, Marie Falahee, Karim Raza
Objectives To assess whether prodromal symptoms of RA, as recorded in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum (CPRD) database of English primary care records, differ by ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Methods A cross-sectional study to determine the coding of common symptoms (≥0.1% in the sample) in the 24 months preceding RA diagnosis in CPRD Aurum, recorded between 1 January 2004 and 1
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Description of a novel splice site variant in UBA1 gene causing VEXAS syndrome Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-29 Daniela Ospina Cardona, Ignasi Rodriguez-Pinto, Sonia Iosim, Nuria Bonet, Anna Mensa-Vilaro, Mei-Kay Wong, Gary Ho, Marc Tormo, Jordi Yagüe, Wonwoo Shon, Daniel Wallace, Ferran Casals, David B Beck, Rachel Abuav, Juan I Arostegui
Objective The vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic (VEXAS) syndrome is a complex immune disorder consequence of somatic UBA1 variants. Most reported pathogenic UBA1 variants are missense or splice site mutations directly impairing the translational start site at p. Met41, with recent studies showing that these variants are frequent causes of recurrent inflammation in older individuals
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Dual MPO/PR3 ANCA positivity and vasculitis: insights from a 7-cases study and an AI-powered literature review Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-29 Eléonore Bettacchioli, Jean-Baptiste Foulquier, Baptiste Chevet, Emilie Cornec-Le Gall, Catherine Hanrotel, Luca Lanfranco, Claire de Moreuil, Yannick Lambert, Maryvonne Dueymes, Nathan Foulquier, Divi Cornec
Objectives Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are rare conditions characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration in small blood vessels, leading to tissue necrosis. While most patients with AAV present antibodies against either myeloperoxidase (MPO) or proteinase 3 (PR3), rare cases of dual positivity for both antibodies (DP-ANCA) have been reported, and their
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Efficacy of methylprednisolone in very early systemic sclerosis: results of the “Hit hard and early’’ randomized controlled trial Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-29 Brigit E Kersten, Jacqueline M J Lemmers, Amber Vanhaecke, Arthiha Velauthapillai, Wieneke M T van den Hombergh, Frank H J van den Hoogen, Cornelia H M van den Ende, Vanessa Smith, Madelon C Vonk
Objective We hypothesized that glucocorticoids would induce remission in very early Systemic Sclerosis patients by inhibition of inflammation driving the disease. We examined the efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone in very early Systemic Sclerosis. Methods In this trial adults with puffy fingers for less than three years, specific auto-antibodies and meeting the Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic
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Frequency and implications of malnutrition in systemic sclerosis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-29 Jessica L Fairley, Dylan Hansen, Alannah Quinlivan, Susanna Proudman, Joanne Sahhar, Gene-Siew Ngian, Jennifer Walker, Lauren V Host, Kathleen Morrisroe, Wendy Stevens, Laura Ross, Mandana Nikpour
Objectives To quantify the frequency and impact of malnutrition in systemic sclerosis (SSc), as diagnosed by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, based on weight loss, body mass index (BMI) and muscle atrophy. Methods Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study participants meeting ACR/EULAR criteria for SSc with ≥1 concurrent weight and height measurement were included. Chi-squared
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Systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by a distinct peripheral T helper cell profile Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-29 Theodoros-Ioannis Papadimitriou, Jacqueline M J Lemmers, Arjan P M van Caam, Jacqueline Vos, Elly Vitters, Lizan Stinessen, Sander I van Leuven, Marije Koenders, Peter M van der Kraan, Hans J P M Koenen, Ruben Smeets, Robin Nijveldt, Madelon C Vonk, R M Thurlings
Objectives Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by multiple clinical manifestations. Vasculopathy is a main disease hallmark and ranges in severity from an exacerbated Raynaud phenomenon to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The potential involvement of immune system in SSc associated vascular abnormalities is not clear. Here, we set out to study SSc-related immune parameters and determine
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Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in systemic lupus erythematosus: systematic review and meta-analysis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-29 Ivet Etchegaray-Morales, Claudia Mendoza-Pinto, Pamela Munguía-Realpozo, Juan Carlos Solis-Poblano, Socorro Méndez-Martínez, Jorge Ayón-Aguilar, Carlos Abud-Mendoza, Mario García-Carrasco, Ricard Cervera
Objective To investigate the risk of DM and evaluate the impact of SLE therapies on the risk of developing DM in patients with SLE. Methods Electronic database searches of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were performed from inception to February 2023. Cohort and cross-sectional studies that analyzed the risk of DM in patients with SLE were included. The associations between diabetes
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Title: Sarcopenia assessed by DXA and hand-grip dynamometer: a potential marker of damage, disability and myokines imbalance in inflammatory myopathies Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Margherita Giannini, Anne-Laure Charles, Charles Evrard, Julien Blaess, Maude Bouchard-Marmen, Léa Debrut, Simone Perniola, Gilles Laverny, Rose-Marie Javier, Anne Charloux, Bernard Geny, Alain Meyer
Objectives To assess the ability of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and hand-grip dynamometer to measure damage in inflammatory myopathies (IM). Methods . Forty adult IM patients with a disease duration ≥12 months, low or no disease activity for ≥6 months, were prospectively enrolled. Thirty healthy age and sex-matched volunteers were enrolled as controls. Whole-body DXA and hand-grip dynamometer
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Rheumatoid arthritis patients’ perspective on the use of prediction models in clinical decision-making Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Marianne A Messelink, Sina Fadaei, Lise M Verhoef, Paco Welsing, Nienke C Nijhof, Heleen Westland
Objectives A rapidly expanding number of prediction models is being developed aiming to improve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis and treatment. However, few are actually implemented in clinical practice. This study explores factors influencing the acceptance of prediction models in clinical decision-making by RA patients. Methods A qualitative study design was used with thematic analysis of semi-structured
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Pharmacological interventions for early-stage frozen shoulder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Juan Enrique Berner, Marios Nicolaides, Stephen Ali, Georgios Pafitanis, Jane Preece, Sally Hopewell, Jagdeep Nanchahal
Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological interventions for treating early-stage, pain predominant, adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder. Methods We performed a systematic review in accordance with PRSIMA guidelines. Searches were conducted on PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials on the 24th of February 2022. Outcomes were shoulder pain, shoulder
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Histopathological comparison of Sjögren-related features between paired labial and parotid salivary gland biopsies of sicca patients Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Uzma Nakshbandi, Martha S van Ginkel, Gwenny M P J Verstappen, Fred K L Spijkervet, Suzanne Arends, Erlin A Haacke, Silvia C Liefers, Arjan Vissink, Hendrika Bootsma, Frans G M Kroese, Bert van der Vegt
Objectives To compare focus score (FS) and other histopathological features between paired labial and parotid salivary gland biopsies in a diagnostic cohort of suspected Sjögren’s disease (SjD) patients. Methods Labial and parotid salivary gland biopsies were simultaneously obtained from patients with sicca complaints, suspected of having SjD. Biopsies were formalin fixed and paraffin embedded. Sections
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Prevalence, characteristics, and outcome of subclinical vasculitis in polymyalgia rheumatica: a retrospective cohort study Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Lien Moreel, Lennert Boeckxstaens, Albrecht Betrains, Timo Smans, Geert Molenberghs, Koen Van Laere, Ellen De Langhe, Steven Vanderschueren, Daniel Blockmans
Objectives Two recent meta-analyses reported subclinical vasculitis in 22–23% of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and outcome of subclinical vasculitis among our PMR patients. Methods Consecutive patients with GCA/PMR spectrum disease with isolated PMR symptoms who underwent FDG PET imaging between 2003–2020 and who were followed for
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The worldwide prevalence of psoriatic arthritis—a systematic review and meta-analysis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Stephanie Lembke, Gary J Macfarlane, Gareth T Jones
Objectives Previous attempts to pool prevalence studies in PsA have failed to take account of important methodological differences between studies which may have created biased estimates. The aim of this review is to estimate the prevalence of PsA within the adult general population worldwide, considering potential differences between population-based and health administrative studies separately. Methods
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Capi-score: a quantitative algorithm for identifying disease patterns in nailfold videocapillaroscopy Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 B C Gracia Tello, L Sáez Comet, G Lledó, M Freire Dapena, M A Mesa, M Martín-Cascón, A Guillén del Castillo, E Martínez Robles, C P Simeón-Aznar, J A Todolí Parra, D C Varela, G Maldonado Vélez, A Marín Ballvé, J Aramburu Llorente, L Pérez Abad, E Ramos Ibáñez
Objectives The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) supports the use of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) to identify disease patterns (DPs) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP). Recently, EULAR proposed an easy-to-manage procedure, a so-called Fast Track algorithm, to differentiate SSc from non-SSc patterns in NVC specimens. However, subjectivity
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Effects of interleukin-6 signal inhibition on Treg subpopulations and association of Tregs with clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Hiroto Yoshida, Mayu Magi, Hiroya Tamai, Jun Kikuchi, Keiko Yoshimoto, Kotaro Otomo, Yoshihiro Matsumoto, Mariko Noguchi-Sasaki, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Yuko Kaneko
Objectives Anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies are clinically efficacious in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with an associated increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs); however, the role of functional Treg subsets has yet to be clarified. This study aimed to evaluate how functional Treg subsets are altered by IL-6 receptor blockade and to analyze the relationship between these Treg subsets and
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Neuropsychiatric symptoms in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: mixed methods analysis of patient-derived attributional evidence in the international INSPIRE project Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Melanie Sloan, Thomas A Pollak, Efthalia Massou, Guy Leschziner, Laura Andreoli, Rupert Harwood, Michael Bosley, Mervi Pitkanen, Wendy Diment, Alessandra Bortoluzzi, Michael S Zandi, Mandeep Ubhi, Caroline Gordon, David Jayne, Felix Naughton, Colette Barrere, Chris Wincup, James Brimicombe, James A Bourgeois, David D’Cruz
Objective Attribution of neuropsychiatric symptoms in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) relies heavily on clinician assessment. Limited clinic time, variable knowledge, and symptom under-reporting contributes to discordance between clinician assessments and patient symptoms. We obtained attributional data directly from patients and clinicians in order to estimate and compare potential levels of direct
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Unveiling the distinctive ossification patterns of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and ankylosing spondylitis using computed tomography three-dimensional reconstruction Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Simin Liao, Liuquan Cheng, Zheng Zhao, Xiaojian Ji, Jianglin Zhang, Jian Zhu, Feng Huang
Objective To quantitatively analyze the morphological characteristics of osteophytes in DISH and syndesmophytes in AS, and summarize different ossification patterns to help identify the two diseases. Associated factors for new bone formation would be investigated. Methods Fifty patients with DISH and 50 age-, sex-, CT examination site- matched patients with AS were enrolled. Radiographic and clinical
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Improvement of high-density lipoprotein atheroprotective properties in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus after belimumab treatment Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Anastasia-Georgia Dedemadi, Christina Gkolfinopoulou, Dimitra Nikoleri, Myrto Nikoloudaki, Hanna Ruhanen, Minna Holopainen, Reijo Kakela, Georgia Christopoulou, Stavros Bournazos, Pantelis Constantoulakis, Prodromos Sidiropoulos, George Bertsias, Angeliki Chroni
Objective Chronic inflammatory diseases, like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), carry an increased risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events, accompanied by impairment of atheroprotective properties of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). In SLE, serum BAFF (B cell-activating factor), a cytokine implicated in disease progression, has been correlated with subclinical atherosclerosis. We investigated
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Tocilizumab discontinuation after remission achievement in patients with adult-onset Still’s disease Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Hiroya Tamai, Yasushi Kondo, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Yuko Kaneko
Objectives Tocilizumab, an IL-6 inhibitor, has been proven effective in patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). This study aimed to clarify whether tocilizumab can be discontinued after achieving remission and to identify factors relevant to its successful discontinuation. Methods Consecutive patients with AOSD diagnosed according to Yamaguchi's criteria from April 2012 to July 2022, who
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Incidence of systemic vasculitides after Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: A population-based cohort study in Korea Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Minkyung Han, Jang Woo Ha, Inkyung Jung, Chi Young Kim, Sung Soo Ahn
Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly prevalent disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality globally, and is reported to be associated with the onset of autoimmunity. This study investigated the association between TB and the incidence of systemic vasculitides (SV). Methods Data were obtained from the South Korean National Claims database to identify patients with TB and controls
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Impact of body composition on clinical outcomes in patients with active radiographic axial spondyloarthritis under biological therapy Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Valeria Rios Rodriguez, Murat Torgutalp, Fabian Proft, Judith Rademacher, Mikhail Protopopov, Laura Spiller, Hildrun Haibel, Joachim Sieper, Denis Poddubnyy
Objective To assess the association of body composition, evaluated by bioimpedance analysis (BIA), with disease activity, physical function, and mobility in patients with axSpA undergoing bDMARD treatment for one year. Methods Patients with AS (radiographic axSpA) were enrolled in an extension of the German Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort (GESPIC). Patients were required to be candidates for bDMARD
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The clinical relevance of WDFY4 in autoimmune diseases in diverse ancestral populations Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-19 Xia Lyu, Janine A Lamb, Hector Chinoy
WD repeat- and FYVE domain-containing protein 4 (WDFY4), coded by a gene on 10q11.23, is a member of the BEACH (Beige and Chediak-Higashi) domain-containing family. Genome-wide association studies identified WDFY4 variants as a risk factor for SLE in Asian and European populations. WDFY4 variants are also associated with RA and primary biliary cholangitis, in different ancestry populations. The WDFY4
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Frequency and characteristics of severe relapse in giant cell arteritis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-18 Nicolas Lozachmeur, Anael Dumont, Samuel Deshayes, Jonathan Boutemy, Gwénola Maigné, Nicolas M Silva, Alexandre Nguyen, Sophie Gallou, Rémi Philip, Achille Aouba, Hubert de Boysson
Objectives To assess the frequency and characteristics of severe relapse in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a real-life setting. Methods In a monocentric database of 530 patients, we retrospectively analysed patients who experienced at least one relapse and distinguished severe from nonsevere relapses. Severe relapse was defined by the occurrence of an ischaemic event (ophthalmologic, neurologic
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Effectiveness of a novel digital patient education programme to support self-management of early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-18 Line R Knudsen, Mwidimi Ndosi, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge, Kirsten Lomborg, Lene Dreyer, Sidsel Aaboe, Marie B Kjær, Lis Sørensen, Lena Volsmann, Heidi M Christensen, Annette de Thurah
Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel digital patient education (PE) programme in improving self-management in patients newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods This was a parallel, open-label, two arms, randomised controlled trial with superiority design. Patients from five rheumatology clinics were randomised into digital PE (intervention) or face-to-face PE (control)
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16s RNA-based metagenomics reveal previously unreported gut microbiota associated with reactive arthritis and undifferentiated peripheral spondyloarthritis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-15 Sakir Ahmed, Soumendu Mahapatra, Rasmita Mishra, Krushna Chandra Murmu, Prasanta Padhan, Punit Prasad, Ramnath Misra
Objectives Reactive arthritis (ReA) provides a unique opportunity to comprehend how a mucosal infection leads to inflammatory arthritis at a distant site without the apparent invasion of the pathogen. Unfortunately, conventional stool cultures after ReA provide limited information, and there is a dearth of metagenomic studies in ReA. The objective of this study was to identify gut microbiota associated
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Thorough assessment of the effectiveness of belimumab in a large Spanish multicenter cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus patients Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-14 Irene Altabás-González, José María Pego-Reigosa, Coral Mouriño, Norman Jiménez, Andrea Hernández-Martín, Ivette Casafont-Solé, Judit Font Urguelles, José Andrés Román-Ivorra, Marta de la Rubia Navarro, María Galindo-Izquierdo, Tarek Carlos Salman-Monte, Javier Narváez, Paola Vidal-Montal, María Jesús García-Villanueva, Sandra Garrote-Corral, María Ángeles Blázquez-Cañamero, Carlos Marras, María Piqueras-García
Objectives To provide an overview on the current use of belimumab (BLM) in SLE patients in clinical practice and to examine its efficacy in terms of standardized outcomes, drug survival, as well as patient and safety profiles. Methods A longitudinal retrospective multicentre cohort including SLE patients treated with BLM at 18 Spanish centers. Data was collected upon initiation of BLM, at 6 and 12
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Enhancing current guidance for psoriatic arthritis and its comorbidities: recommendations from an expert consensus panel Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Laura C Coates, Marwan Bukhari, Antoni Chan, Ernest Choy, James Galloway, Nicola Gullick, Alison Kent, Laura Savage, Stefan Siebert, William Tillett, Natasha Wood, Philip G Conaghan
Objectives Existing guidelines for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) cover many aspects of management. Some gaps remain relating to routine practice application. An expert group aimed to enhance current guidance and develop recommendations for clinical practice that are complementary to existing guidelines. Methods A steering committee comprising experienced, research-active clinicians in rheumatology, dermatology
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Can complement activation be the missing link in antiphospholipid syndrome? Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Veronica Venturelli, Beatrice Maranini, Ibrahim Tohidi-Esfahani, David A Isenberg, Hannah Cohen, Maria Efthymiou
APS is an autoimmune disorder with life-threatening complications that, despite therapeutic advantages, remains associated with thrombotic recurrences and treatment failure. The role of complement activation in APS pathogenesis is increasingly recognised, specifically in obstetric APS. However, its exact role in thrombotic APS and on the severity of the disease is not yet fully elucidated. Further
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Flare prediction after tapering the dose of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: A nationwide cohort study Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Jina Yeo, Ju Yeon Kim, Jin Kyun Park, Kichul Shin, Eun Young Lee, Tae-Hwan Kim, Jun Won Park
Objectives To develop a model for predicting flares after tapering the dose of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods Data were obtained from the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics and Targeted Therapy Registry. In total, 526 patients who received the standard-dose TNFi for at least 1 year and tapered their dose were included in the
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Hydroxychloroquine in lupus or rheumatoid arthritis pregnancy and risk of major congenital malformations: a population-based cohort study Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Ngoc V Nguyen, Elisabet Svenungsson, Annica Dominicus, Maria Altman, Karin Hellgren, Julia F Simard, Elizabeth V Arkema
Objectives To assess the infant risk of major congenital malformations (MCM) associated with first-trimester exposure to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) among mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods This population-based cohort study utilised Swedish nationwide registers and included all singleton births (2006–2021) among individuals with prevalent SLE or RA in
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Patient and health professional views on risk-stratified monitoring of immune-suppressing treatment in adults with inflammatory diseases Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Amy Fuller, Jennie Hancox, Hywel C Williams, Tim Card, Maarten W Taal, Guruprasad P Aithal, Christopher P Fox, Christian D Mallen, James R Maxwell, Sarah Bingham, Kavita Vedhara, Abhishek Abhishek
Objective To explore the acceptability of an individualised risk-stratified approach to monitoring for target-organ toxicity in adult patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases established on immune-suppressing treatment(s). Methods Adults (≥18 years) taking immune-suppressing treatment(s) for at-least six months, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) with experience of either prescribing and/or
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Machine learning-driven immunophenotypic stratification of mixed connective tissue disease corroborating the clinical heterogeneity Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Shinji Izuka, Toshihiko Komai, Takahiro Itamiya, Mineto Ota, Yasuo Nagafuchi, Hirofumi Shoda, Kosuke Matsuki, Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Tomohisa Okamura, Keishi Fujio
Objectives To stratify patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) based on their immunophenotype. Methods We analyzed the immunophenotype and transcriptome of 24 immune cell subsets from patients with MCTD, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM), and systemic sclerosis (SSc) from our functional genome database, ImmuNexUT (https://www.immunexut.org/). MCTD
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Assessing the sensitivity and specificity of myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies: a sub-study from the MyoCite cohort Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Aravinthan Loganathan, Latika Gupta, Alex Rudge, Hui Lu, Elizabeth Bowler, Fionnuala McMorrow, R Naveen, Anamika K Anuja, Vikas Agarwal, Neil McHugh, Sarah Tansley
Objectives Myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies are important biomarkers in routine clinical use. We assessed local testing performance for myositis autoantibodies by comparing line immunoassay (LIA) to protein radio-immunoprecipitation and identifying clinical characteristics associated with each myositis autoantibody in the MyoCite cohort. Methods Serum samples from patients within the
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Uptake and safety of pneumococcal vaccination in adults with immune mediated inflammatory diseases: a UK wide observational study Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Georgina Nakafero, Matthew J Grainge, Tim Card, Christian D Mallen, Jonathan S Nguyen Van-Tam, Abhishek Abhishek
Objective The uptake and safety of pneumococcal vaccination in people with immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) is poorly understood. We investigated the UK wide pneumococcal vaccine uptake in adults with IMIDs and explored the association between vaccination and IMID flare. Methods Adults with IMIDs diagnosed on or before 01/09/2018, prescribed steroid-sparing drugs within the last 12 months
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Predictors and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension complicating interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Kathleen Morrisroe, Dylan Hansen, Wendy Stevens, Laura Ross, Joanne Sahhar, Gene-Siew Ngian, Catherine Hill, Lauren Host, Jennifer Walker, Susanna Proudman, Mandana Nikpour
Objective To identify those with concurrent pulmonary hypertension (PH) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and determine their disease severity, therapeutic approach, and survival. Methods Consecutive SSc patients enrolled in the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study (ASCS) who were diagnosed on right heart catherisation with pulmonary hypertension were included. Logistic
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Transcriptomic profiling of osteoarthritis synovial macrophages reveals a tolerized phenotype compounded by a weak corticosteroid response Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-11 Cheng Wang, Ruben De Francesco, Lieke A Lamers, Sybren Rinzema, Siebren Frölich, Peter L E M van Lent, Colin Logie, Martijn H J van den Bosch
Objectives It is well-known that long-term osteoarthritis prognosis is not improved by corticosteroid treatments. Here we investigate what could underlie this phenomenon by measuring the short term corticosteroid response of OA-Mf. Methods We determined the genome-wide transcriptomic response to corticosteroids of end-stage osteoarthritic joint synovial macrophages (OA-Mf). This was compared with LPS-tolerized
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Biomarker analysis from the phase 2b randomized placebo-controlled trial of riociguat in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-09 Dinesh Khanna, Frank Kramer, Josef Höfler, Mercedeh Ghadessi, Peter Sandner, Yannick Allanore, Christopher P Denton, Masataka Kuwana, Marco Matucci-Cerinic, Janet E Pope, Tatsuya Atsumi, Radim Bečvář, László Czirják, Ellen De Langhe, Eric Hachulla, Tomonori Ishii, Osamu Ishikawa, Sindhu R Johnson, Valeria Riccieri, Elena Schiopu, Richard M Silver, Vanessa Smith, Chiara Stagnaro, Virginia Steen, Wendy
Objective To examine disease and target engagement biomarkers in the RISE-SSc trial of riociguat in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and their potential to predict the response to treatment. Methods Patients were randomized to riociguat (n = 60) or placebo (n = 61) for 52 weeks. Skin biopsies and plasma/serum samples were obtained at baseline and week 14. Plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate
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Characteristics associated with patient-reported treatment success in psoriatic arthritis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-09 Christeen Samuel, Amanda Finney, Thomas Grader-Beck, Uzma Haque, John Miller, Suzanne M Grieb, Laura Prichett, Ana-Maria Orbai
Objectives To determine characteristics associated with patient-reported treatment success in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods Rheumatologist-diagnosed PsA patients fulfilling the CASPAR classification were recruited from a single center. PsA outcome measures included: 66/68 swollen/tender joint counts, Leeds/SPARCC dactylitis/enthesitis indices, psoriasis body surface area (BSA), and patient-reported
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Anti-histone and anti-nucleosome rather than anti-dsDNA antibodies associate with IFN-induced biomarkers in Sudanese and Swedish Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-09 Sahwa Elbagir, NasrEldeen A Mohammed, Vilija Oke, Anders Larsson, Jan Nilsson, Amir Elshafie, Elnour M Elagib, Musa A M Nur, Iva Gunnarsson, Elisabet Svenungsson, Johan Rönnelid
Objectives In SLE, anti-dsDNA can co-occur with autoantibodies against other chromatin components, like histones and nucleosomes. These antibodies induce type-1 interferon production, a hallmark of SLE. We measured antinuclear antibody (ANA) sub-specificities and investigated their associations to inflammatory biomarkers including interferon-regulated chemokines. Methods We included 93 Sudanese and
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A patient centered assessment of the 2016 ACR-EULAR Myositis Response Criteria: evaluating the meaningfulness of response Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-09 Didem Saygin, Anjana Chandrasekhara Pillai, Siamak Moghadam-Kia, Chester V Oddis, Dianxu Ren, Catherine Najem, Harman Dhatt, Rohit Aggarwal
Objectives The ACR-EULAR Myositis Response Criteria (Total Improvement Score [TIS]) is a composite measure calculated using changes in myositis core set measures. It is unclear if achieving improvement per TIS reflects improvement in any symptoms of myositis patients. In this study, we examined the association between achieving TIS improvement and patient-centered outcome measures (PCOMs). Methods
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Rheumatoid arthritis and risk of osteoarticular infection and death following Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: A nationwide cohort study Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-09 Sabine S Dieperink, Mette Nørgaard, Frank Mehnert, Louise B Oestergaard, Thomas Benfield, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Andreas Petersen, Bente Glintborg, Merete L Hetland
Objectives Osteoarticular infection (OAI) is a feared complication of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) and is associated with poor outcomes. We aimed to explore risk of OAI and death following SAB in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify risk factors for OAI in patients with RA. Methods Danish nationwide cohort study of all patients with microbiologically verified
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Identification of early risk factors for anti-citrullinated-protein-antibody positive rheumatoid arthritis—a prospective cohort study Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Alexandra Cîrciumaru, Yogan Kisten, Monika Hansson, Linda Mathsson-Alm, Vijay Joshua, Heidi Wähämaa, Malena Loberg Haarhaus, Joakim Lindqvist, Leonid Padyukov, Sergiu-Bogdan Catrina, Guozhong Fei, Nancy Vivar, Hamed Rezaei, Erik af Klint, Aleksandra Antovic, Bence Réthi, Anca I Catrina, Aase Hensvold
Objective Individuals positive for anti-cyclic-peptide-antibodies (anti-CCP) and musculoskeletal complaints (MSK-C) are at risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we aimed to investigate factors involved in arthritis progression. Methods Anti-CCP2-positive individuals with MSK-C referred to a rheumatologist were recruited. Individuals lacked arthritis at clinical and ultrasound
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Cancer risk with tocilizumab/sarilumab, abatacept, and rituximab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a Danish cohort study Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Rasmus Westermann, René Lindholm Cordtz, Kirsten Duch, Lene Mellemkjaer, Merete Lund Hetland, Bergur Magnussen, Lene Dreyer
Objectives To investigate cancer risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with tocilizumab/sarilumab, abatacept, or rituximab compared with those who received tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and compared with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARD) naïve RA patients. Methods Nationwide registry-based cohort study of RA patients initiating treatment with tocilizumab/sarilumab
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Osteoporosis is associated with anti-topoisomerase I positivity and glucocorticoids use in patients with systemic sclerosis Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-06 Charles Midol, Edgar Wiebe, Elise Siegert, Dörte Huscher, Hélène Béhal, David Launay, Eric Hachulla, Eric L Matteson, Frank Buttgereit, Vincent Sobanski
Objectives Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are at increased risk for osteoporosis (OP) and associated fragility fractures. This study aimed to identify underlying risk factors for these conditions in patients with SSc. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on a large prospective cohort of patients with SSc using retrospectively collected bone health data. OP was defined as the presence
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Macrophage activation syndrome in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis on anti-interleukin-1 or -6 therapy Rheumatology (IF 5.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-05 Kadir Ulu, Emil Aliyev, Elif Kılıç Könte, Ayşe Tanatar, Şeyma Türkmen, Şeyda Doğantan, Zehra Kızıldağ, Belde Kasap Demir, Deniz Gezgin Yıldırım, Gülçin Otar Yener, Kübra Öztürk, Özge Baba, Ceyhun Açarı, Gülşah Kılbaş, Sema Nur Taşkın, Fatih Haşlak, Şengül Çağlayan, Esra Bağlan, Hatice Adıgüzel Dundar, Özge Başaran, Kenan Barut, Şerife Gül Karadağ, Taner Coşkuner, Hafize Emine Sönmez, Selçuk Yüksel
Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of anti-interleukin (IL)-1/-6 biologics on systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA)-associated macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Methods Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of patients followed up with a diagnosis of sJIA-associated MAS assessed from sixteen pediatric rheumatology centers across the country. The clinical