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The article discusses the seroconversion of rheumatoid factor (RF) before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). It highlights the detection of RA autoantibodies, including RF and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, before the onset of RA in patients with ILD. The study found a significant increase in RF levels in patients with ILD preceding RA, suggesting a potential link between ILD and the development of RA. The research emphasizes the importance of monitoring RF levels in patients with ILD to predict the risk of developing RA. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To establish predictive models for mortality in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis–associated interstitial lung disease (PM/DM‐ILD) using a combination of initial serum biomarker levels. Methods: The Multicenter Retrospective Cohort of Japanese Patients with Myositis‐Associated ILD (JAMI) database of 497 incident cases of PM/DM‐ILD was used as a derivation cohort, and 111 cases were additionally collected as a validation cohort. Risk factors predictive of all‐cause mortality were identified by univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses using candidate serum biomarkers as explanatory variables. The predictive models for mortality were generated in patients with and those without anti–melanoma differentiation–associated gene 5 (MDA‐5) antibody, using a combination of risk factors. Cumulative survival rates were assessed using Kaplan‐Meier analysis, and were compared between subgroups using the Breslow test. Results: In the derivation cohort, C‐reactive protein (CRP) and Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL‐6) levels were identified as independent risk factors for mortality in both anti–MDA‐5–positive and anti–MDA‐5–negative patients. We then developed a prediction model based on anti–MDA‐5 antibody status, CRP level, and KL‐6 level, termed the "MCK model," to identify patients at low (<15%), moderate (15–50%), or high (≥50%) risk of mortality, based on the number of risk factors. The MCK model successfully differentiated cumulative survival rates in anti–MDA‐5–positive patients (P < 0.01 for low versus moderate risk and P = 0.03 for moderate versus high risk) and in anti–MDA‐5–negative patients (P < 0.001 for low versus moderate risk). The utility of the MCK model was replicated in the validation cohort. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that an evidence‐based risk prediction model using CRP and KL‐6 levels combined with anti–MDA‐5 antibody status might be useful for predicting prognosis in patients with PM/DM‐ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is considered a serum biomarker of various forms of interstitial lung disease (ILD). In this study, we examined the utility of SP-D as a predictive biomarker for mortality in patients with ILD associated with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) using large-scale multicentre cohort data. Methods: We enrolled 381 patients with incident PM/DM-associated ILD in a multicentre retrospective cohort based on the availability of serum SP-D at the baseline. Demographic and clinical characteristics as well as the presence of autoantibodies to melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and aminoacyl tRNA synthetase were measured at the time of diagnosis, and follow-up survival data were collected prospectively. Results: Seventy-eight patients died during the median observation period of 18 months, and the majority of patients died of ILD. The SP-D levels at baseline were significantly lower (P = 0.02) in a non-survivor subset than in a survivor subset among the entire enrolled patients. However, the SP-D levels were higher in the non-survivor subset than in the survivor subset based on the stratification by anti-MDA5-positive, anti-ARS-positive and, double-negativity, although there was an only statistically significant difference (P = 0.01) in the double-negative group. Surprisingly, the SP-D levels were within the upper limit of normal, 110 ng/mL, in 54 (87%) of 62 anti-MDA5-positive patients who died. In the double-negative group, the mortality rates were significantly higher (P = 0.002) in a subset with SP-D ≥127.6 ng/mL, the cut-off value for mortality calculated by the receiver operating characteristic curve, than the other subset. All of patients with SP-D <127.6 ng/mL survived. Conclusion: Serum SP-D levels behave differently among patients with stratified by anti-MDA5 antibody, anti-ARS antibody and both negativity in PM/DM-associated ILD. Its use in clinical practice should be applied with caution on the basis of the presence or absence of anti-MDA5 antibody or anti-ARS antibody. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To identify initial predictors of poor survival in patients with PM/DM-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods. We established a multicentre retrospective cohort of incident cases of PM/DM-associated ILD from 44 institutions across Japan (Multicentre Retrospective Cohort of Japanese Patients with Myositis-associated ILD, JAMI). Inclusion criteria were an onset age ≽16 years; PM/DM or clinically amyopathic DM according to the published criteria; imaging evidence of ILD; and availability of serum samples for assays of autoantibodies such as anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 and anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. We collected demographic data and clinical characteristics recorded at the time of diagnosis, as well as follow-up survival data. Predictors of ILD-related mortality were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results. JAMI enrolled a cohort of 497 patients with PM (15%), classic DM (32%) and clinically amyopathic DM (53%). During the observation period (median 20 months), 76 died of respiratory insufficiency directly related to ILD. Univariate analysis revealed several initial parameters associated with ILD mortality, including demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging and autoantibody variables. We used multivariate analysis with a stepwise selection of parameters to generate an appropriate predictive model, and identified the following independent risk factors for ILD mortality: age at onset ≽60 years [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.3, 95% CI: 2.4, 7.5], CRP ≽1 mg/dl (HR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.8), peripheral capillary oxygen saturation <95% (HR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.4) and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody (HR = 7.5, 95% CI: 2.8, 20.2). Conclusion. We established a large cohort of incident cases of PM/DM-associated ILD, and successfully identified independent predictors of short-term ILD mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To investigate the clinical effectiveness of tocilizumab (TCZ), a monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor, in preventing relapse in patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). Methods. This retrospective study included clinical data from 40 patients who underwent regular follow-up at our institution in June 2013. Among these patients, 10 received TCZ. The relapse-free rate was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results. The age at disease onset (median, interquartile range [IQR]) was 39 (29-52) years. The duration of disease in June 2013 (median, IQR) was 86 (41-193) months. A total of 87 relapses were documented in 27 patients. Ten patients with refractory or relapsing disease received 8 mg/kg of TCZ every 2-4 weeks. After 6 months of TCZ treatment, the median levels of C-reactive protein significantly decreased from 6.3 to 0.01 mg/dl ( p < 0.01). Among these 10 patients, 11 relapses were observed before TCZ treatment, and none were observed after the treatment. The relapse-free rate of the 10 patients after starting TCZ was significantly higher than that of all 40 patients after the initial treatments (100% and 67% at 12 months, respectively; p = 0.03). Conclusions. TCZ effectively prevented relapses of AOSD, and it resolved the disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify the efficacy and safety of intravenous abatacept for glandular and extraglandular involvements in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)., Materials and Methods: We performed an open-label, prospective, 1-year, observational multicenter study (ROSE and ROSE II trials). The primary endpoint was the remission rate as measured by SDAI at 52 weeks. The secondary endpoints included the changes in the Saxon's test, Schirmer's test, ESSDAI and ESSPRI. Adverse events and adherence rates were also analyzed., Results: 68 patients (36 in ROSE and 32 in ROSE II, all women) were enrolled. SDAI decreased significantly from 23.6 ± 13.2 at baseline to 9.9 ± 9.5 at 52 weeks. Patients with SDAI remission increased from 0 (0 weeks) to 19 patients (27.9%) at 52 weeks. Saliva volume increased significantly at 24 weeks. Tear volume increased significantly at 52 weeks. Both ESSDAI and ESSPRI were significantly decreased at 12 weeks, and these responses were maintained up to 52 weeks. The rate of adherence to abatacept over the 52-week period was 83.8%. Twenty-two adverse events occurred in 15 patients., Conclusion: Abatacept ameliorated both glandular and extraglandular involvements, as well as the systemic disease activities and patient-reported outcomes based on composite measures, in SS associated with RA., (© Japan College of Rheumatology 2022. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Objectives: Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a rare but important comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our objective was to investigate the association between NTM-PD and RA, especially regarding the immunosuppressive treatment of RA such as biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)., Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-centre cohort study. All RA patients regularly followed up at our rheumatology division in December 2012 were included in the study, and followed for 5 years., Results: At baseline, 26 of 1639 RA patients had NTM-PD. During the observation period, 14 were newly diagnosed with NTM-PD. For new diagnosis of NTM-PD, bDMARD use at baseline was not a significant risk factor. Among the 40 patients with NTM-PD, 16 were treated with a total of 27 bDMARDs after NTM-PD diagnosis. They did not present with a greater exacerbation of NTM-PD than those not treated with bDMARDs (25 vs. 17%, p = .52). A total of 55 patients died, but nobody died of NTM-PD. NTM-PD was not associated with worse mortality in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 0.6-6.4; p = .26)., Conclusions: Biological DMARD was not associated with worse prognosis of NTM-PD. Careful use of bDMARDs could be tolerated in RA patients with NTM-PD., (© Japan College of Rheumatology 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)