As of September 20, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 228,206,384 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with over 4.5 million deaths worldwide.1 International responses by healthcare providers (HCPs), medical and pharmacologic researchers, and public health workers identified risk factors for serious illness and developed novel therapies and vaccines in real time, even as new

OBJECTIVE Early diagnosis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) is key to achieving effective treatment and improved prognosis. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to major changes in clinical practice on a global scale. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatological clinical practices and autoimmunity testing demands. METHODS Data regarding first

We agree strongly with Kremer et al that "metrics are essential for evaluating disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)."1 Nonetheless, data reported from the Corrona and the Brigham and Women's Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study (BRASS) registries for Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) are quite similar to those reported

OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine whether specific respiratory tract diseases are associated with increased rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk. METHODS This case-control study within the Mass General Brigham Biobank matched newly diagnosed RA cases to three controls on age, sex, and electronic health record history. We identified RA using a validated algorithm and confirmed by medical record review. Respiratory

In the current SARS Cov-2 pandemic context, vaccination using mRNA Covid-19 vaccine has started in France in December 2020. Based on the risk for severe COVID-19, patients suffering from autoimmune diseases (AID) and receiving -or about to receive- steroids or immunosuppressive drugs have been prioritized for vaccination (1).

OBJECTIVE This work aims to evaluate the long-term safety of rituximab (RTX) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) to determine the safety and the efficacy of long-term treatment with B cell depleting therapy in pSS patients with active systemic disease. METHODS An historical cohort study, enrolling 35 pSS patients treated with RTX, between 2008 and 2019, in a single Rheumatologic Unit was performed

We thank Sauret et al1 for their interest in our systematic literature review that explored potential diagnostic confusion between giant cell arteritis (GCA) and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was a particularly important consideration during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when community testing for SARS-CoV-2 was limited and diagnostic tests for GCA were restricted or unavailable

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have come to experience a tremendous increase in therapeutic options with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).1 After decades of dissatisfying drug therapy results with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) only, the introduction of the first tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in the late 1990s has revolutionized RA treatment.2.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created multiple uncertainties regarding rheumatic diseases or their treatment and susceptibility or severity of the viral disease.

We read with great interest the article by Mehta et al about the similarities and discriminators between giant cell arteritis (GCA) and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).1 Viruses have been suspected to be implicated in the pathogenesis of GCA, especially the varicella zoster virus,2 but a clear association has not been confirmed.3.

We examined the association between schizophrenia genetic susceptibility loci and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) features in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) participants.

To determine the indication and risk of 30-day rehospitalization after hip or knee replacement among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) by Medicare and non-Medicare status.

We read with interest the comment of Dr. Kawada1 on our article that showed an inverse association between current smoking status and primary (p-) Sjögren syndrome (SS), and no association between obesity and pSS.2.

To evaluate the effect of baricitinib on inhibiting radiographic progression of structural joint damage over 5 years in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory arthritis predominantly affecting the spine. IgG4-related disease (IgG4RD) rarely affects patients with other rheumatic diseases. We describe a report of IgG4RD developing in a patient with AS.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting domains beyond the musculoskeletal system, and may lead to disability and impaired quality of life. It is associated with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and increased risk of cardiovascular events.

I read the paper by Servioli et al1 conducting a 1:3 case-control study to evaluate the association between smoking status and primary (p-) Sjögren syndrome (SS). ORs (95% CIs) of current and former smokers compared to never smokers for pSS were 0.34 (0.14-0.85) and 1.27 (0.80-2.03), respectively. In contrast, there was no significant association of smoking status with antinuclear antibody, anti-SSA

Active tuberculosis (TB) in patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) agents usually results from the reactivation of a latent infection.1,2 A 46-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis in Disease Activity Score in 28 joints remission who was taking etanercept (ETN) was admitted in our hospital due to a 4-month history of progressive hypoesthesia and paresthesia, initially on her

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the mainstay of treatment for patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).1 Despite their efficacy, GCs are associated with well-known adverse events and a substantial proportion of patients with PMR do not respond adequately, or are refractory, to initial GC treatment. GC-sparing agents in PMR are limited to methotrexate (MTX).1.

We thank Dr. Maguire et al1 for their interest in and appreciation of our study from the Corrona Psoriatic Arthritis/ Spondyloarthritis Registry comparing patient characteristics and disease burden between men and women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).2 Dr. Maguire and colleagues raised a number of interesting questions around the causal relationship between the higher prevalence of depression

We read with interest the recent article from Mease et al1 regarding the analysis of men and women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) captured in the Corrona Psoriatic Arthritis/ Spondyloarthritis Registry. Dedicated comparative analysis in large, well-characterized cohorts such as this are crucial to identifying the variation of axSpA between males and females.

To describe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and pregnancy outcomes in patients with rheumatic disease who were pregnant at the time of infection.

The patient experience of gout flares is multidimensional with several contributing factors, including pain intensity, duration and frequency. There is currently no consistent method for reporting gout flare burden in long-term studies. This study aimed to determine which factors contribute to patient perceptions of treatment efficacy in long-term studies of gout flare prevention.

Determine the relationship of patellofemoral osteoarthritis (OA) to changes in performancebased function over 7 years.

Frailty is associated with mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but how best to measure frailty is unclear. We aimed to compare two frailty metrics, the self-reported FRAIL scale (FS) and the Fried phenotype (FP), in SLE to evaluate differences between frail and nonfrail women and whether frailty is associated with self-reported disability.

In the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the systematic evaluation of disease activity is of paramount importance. It is the cornerstone of the "treat-to-target" approach, aiming at disease remission and optimization of quality of life.1 In times of increasing delivery of remote care, accelerated due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the role of patients in the monitoring

Our aim was to study the importance of baseline Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking and alcohol consumption (AC) for disease activity (DA) over one year in early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), stratified by sex.

Rituximab (RTX) is the only biologic approved to date for the treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).1,2,3 The Canadian Vasculitis Research Network (CanVasc) has recommended RTX as first-line therapy for remission induction,4 and recently, as the preferred maintenance agent in severe granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)

To investigate concurrent validity and discrimination of the Disease Activity Psoriatic Arthritis score (DAPSA), Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) in peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) in clinical practice.

To evaluate ES for quantification of spinal mobility in patients with axSpA.

To examine the association between ultrasound (US)-detected knee inflammation and intermittent and constant pain experiences in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

The concept of spondyloarthritis (SpA) encompasses a series of entities that share clinical and imaging characteristics and a common genetic basis. These diseases can affect 0.20 to 1.6% of the general population, limiting functioning and affecting the quality of life of patients. Considering the patient perspective in the management of the disease and ensuring patients are sufficiently prepared to

To examine the efficacy and safety of interleukin-6 inhibition by tocilizumab in difficult-to-treat real-world patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that affects almost one-third of patients with psoriasis. PsA is a relatively common inflammatory condition in rheumatology clinics. In fact, a recent epidemiological study raised the prevalence of PsA to almost 0.6% in the general population in Spain.1.

In this issue of The Journal of Rheumatology, Colantonio, et al 1 conducted a case-cohort study from the REGARDS study to evaluate whether the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and sudden cardiac death, and between SUA and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events, is confounded by SLC2A9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Incident CHD events were the composites of nonfatal myocardial

To investigate the prevalence and 4-year incidence of acute anterior uveitis (AAU), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and psoriasis, and to explore associations of newly developed extra-skeletal manifestations (ESMs) with clinical disease outcome in a large cohort of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients.

Van Neck-Odelberg disease (VND) is a rare benign pediatric skeletal abnormality characterized by hyperostosis of the ischiopubic synchondrosis (IPS) and clinical symptoms.1,2,3 IPS is a strip of cartilaginous tissue between the superomedial pubic and posterolateral ischial ossification centers, which develops into the inferior pubic rami and ischial tuberosity, respectively.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) affects about 0.8% of the general population. Together with psoriasis is termed psoriatic disease. Comorbidities play an important role in the clinical expression and treatment of psoriatic disease. Ageing adds another level of complexity, partly because age directly accrues increasing risk of comorbidities, but also due to its complex interactions with several factors such

Describe anxiety and depressive symptoms in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) using Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures and evaluate potential correlations with disease manifestations.

To examine Canadian pediatric rheumatology workforce and care processes.

Rituximab (RTX) is effective in induction and maintenance of remission in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). However, uncertainty remains regarding the optimal maintenance dosing regimen. This work evaluates the relationship between variability in RTX dosing and pharmacological response in AAV.

This study analyzes the clinical features of Chinese patients with relapsing polychondritis (RP).

Autoantibodies against proteins encoded by human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) have been reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but their relevance, if any, has remained unresolved. We revisited this question and tested if such autoantibodies may react with citrullinated epitopes on the envelope (Env) protein of HERV-K.

In this issue of The Journal of Rheumatology, Concha, et al 1 describe the effects of the implementation, in 2010, of a national, legally mandated universal access program (Explicit Health Guarantees [GES]) for guaranteed juvenile idiopathic arthritis ( JIA) diagnosis and treatment in Chile. The GES program guarantees that evaluation by a specialist takes place less than 30 days after referral from

To describe the treatment response and persistence to biologic DMARD (bDMARD) therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a real-world Australian cohort.

Advances in the field of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and the methodology to develop core sets made the ASAS group decide to update the ASAS-OMERACT core set. An important aspect was to ensure it will be applicable to the entire spectrum of axSpA. The first step was to define the most relevant disease domains.

The objectives of this study were to determine whether patients with oligoarticular presentation differ from those with polyarticular presentation and identify potential predictors for evolution of oligoarthritis to polyarthritis in patients with PsA.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can reactivate among rheumatology patients initiating tocilizumab or tofacitinib. HBV screening is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), and the Canadian Rheumatology Association but is not explicitly recommended by the American College of Rheumatology.

To compare potential risk factors for the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

To compare clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) across 4 Canadian cohorts.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has affected the world, importantly, from a health perspective. Initial concern about all rheumatology patients being at risk has given way to a more nuanced view of the risks.1.

To identify clinical factors, including esophageal dilation on chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), that are associated with pulmonary function decline in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

To investigate the association between Raynaud phenomenon (RP) and coronary microvascular dysfunction, we measured myocardial flow reserve (MFR) using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in primary and secondary RP patients and controls.

Although there are different tools to evaluate axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), they are hardly used in clinical routine due to time constraints. The Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) is a composite measure feasible to be used as a sole metric in busy clinics. We aimed to test its measurement properties in patients with axial SpA in a real clinical setting.

To examine the association between PsA and all-cause mortality from a populationbased large database.

Many drugs have been implicated as a cause of vasculitis. Although the overall prevalence of drug-induced vasculitis has not been established at a population level, certain medications carry a high risk, such as the 6.5% incidence with propylthiouracil.1.

A cohort study conducted by Lee, et al published in The Journal of Rheumatology revealed that the hazard of overall cancer was higher in patients aged 41-55 with gout than the control group in Korea (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.224, 95% CI 1.073-1.398).1 Their findings are compatible with 1 study in Korea reporting that the hazard of overall cancer was higher in patients aged ≥ 20 years with gout than the

SARS-CoV-2 has been described to cause "COVID [coronavirus disease] toes," a chilblains-like syndrome.1,2,3 A 33-year-old White woman was evaluated in the hospital for painful new-onset blue and purple nodules on the tips of 3 fingers and 2 toes, 7 days after receiving the Moderna SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Figure 1).

To assess the spectrum and long-term outcome of patients with noninfectious aortitis.

The Māori and Pacific (Polynesian) population of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) has a high prevalence of gout. Our aim was to identify potentially functional missense genetic variants in candidate inflammatory genes amplified in frequency that may underlie the increased prevalence of gout in Polynesian populations.