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Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by skin fibrosis, vasculopathy, and dysimmunity. Data regarding osteitis in SSc are scarce. Methods: We performed a nationwide multicenter, retrospective, case–control study including patients with SSc, according to the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology classification, with a diagnosis of osteitis. The objectives of the study were to describe, to characterize, and to identify associated factors for osteitis in patients with SSc. Results: Forty‐eight patients were included. Twenty‐six patients (54.1%) had osteitis beneath digital tip ulcers. Physical symptoms included pain (36 of 48, 75%), erythema (35 of 48, 73%), and local warmth (35 of 48, 73%). Thirty‐one (65%) patients had median (interquartile range) C‐reactive protein levels >2 mg/liter of 8 (2.7–44.3) mg/liter. On radiography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging, osteitis was characterized by swelling or abscess of soft tissues, with acro‐osteolysis or lysis in 28 patients (58%). Microbiological sampling was performed in 45 (94%) patients. Most pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (43.8%), anaerobes and Enterobacteriaceae (29.1%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.4%). Management comprised antibiotics in 37 (77.1%) patients and/or surgery in 26 (54.2%). Fluoroquinolones were used in 22 (45.8%) patients, and amoxicillin plus β‐lactamase inhibitor in 7 (14.6%). Six (12.6%) patients relapsed, 6 (12.6%) patients had osteitis recurrence, 15 (32%) sequelae, and 2 patients had septic shock and died. Conclusion: This study confirmed digital tip ulcers as an associated factor for osteitis and revealed a high rate of functional sequelae. Antimicrobial therapy with oral fluoroquinolone or intravenous amoxicillin and β‐lactamase inhibitor are used as first‐line antibiotic therapy in SSc patients with osteitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare condition characterized by recurrent inflammation of cartilaginous tissue and systemic manifestations. Data on this disease remain scarce. This study was undertaken to describe patient characteristics and disease evolution, identify prognostic factors, and define different clinical phenotypes of RP. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 142 patients with RP who were seen between 2000 and 2012 in a single center. Results Of the 142 patients, 86 (61%) were women. The mean ± SD age at first symptoms was 43.5 ± 15 years. Patients had the following chondritis types: auricular (89%; n = 127), nasal (63%; n = 89), laryngeal (43%; n = 61), tracheobronchial (22%; n = 32), and/orcostochondritis (40%; n = 57). The main other manifestations were articular (69%; n = 98), ophthalmologic (56%; n = 80), audiovestibular (34%; n = 48), cardiac (27%; n = 38), and cutaneous (28%; n = 40). At a mean ± SD followup of 13 ± 9 years, the 5- and 10-year survival rates were 95 ± 2% and 91 ± 3%, respectively. Factors associated with death on multivariable analysis were male sex ( P = 0.01), cardiac abnormalities ( P = 0.03), and concomitant myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) ( P = 0.004) or another hematologic malignancy ( P = 0.01). Cluster analysis revealed that separating patients into 3 groups was clinically relevant, thereby separating patients with associated MDS, those with tracheobronchial involvement, and those without the 2 features in terms of clinical characteristics, therapeutic management, and prognosis. Conclusion This large series of patients with definite RP revealed an improvement in survival as compared with previous studies. Factors associated with death were male sex, cardiac involvement, and concomitant hematologic malignancy. We identified 3 distinct phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this issue of Arthritis Care & Research, the authors of Patient-Perception of Disease-Related Symptoms and Complications in Relapsing Polychondritis report for the first time the patient's view over the disease (1). Thanks go to them for this important step forward. The method used however, carries some limitations, as indicated very honestly by the authors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Conclusions Trial Registration Hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES) are a heterogenous group of eosinophilic disorders. To date, only retrospective studies of limited sample‐size and/or follow‐up duration are available.The COHESion study is a national prospective multicenter multidisciplinary cohort recruiting both adults or children with the spectrum of eosinophilic disorders (including reactive HE/HES [HE/HES‐R], idiopathic HES [HES‐I], lymphocytic HES [HES‐L], neoplastic HE/HES [HE/HES‐N], HE of unknown significance [HE‐US], as well as IgG4‐related disease [IgG4RD] or ANCA‐negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis [EGPA] overlaps). Patients are followed‐up yearly. All data about final diagnosis, organ involvement assessments, and outcome profiles in HES‐I were captured and analyzed centrally by HES expert centers.From May 2019 to November 2023, 779 patients were included. For this preliminary analysis, 550 cases were available for centralized review (mean ± SD age: 56 ± 18 years, 42% of female patients). The final diagnoses were HES‐I (47%), HE/HES‐R (16%), HE‐US (15%), HE/HES‐N (7%), HE/HES‐L (6%), IgG4RD (2%), and ANCA‐negative EGPA (7%). In the 258 HES‐I patients, outcome profiles were classified as follows: 16.3% had a “single‐flare” without further relapse, 28.3% had a “relapsing–remitting” disease when there was at least a 6‐month period free of symptoms between two flares, 46.1% had a “persistent disease” requiring continuous treatment to avoid relapses (9.3% remained unclassified because of insufficient follow‐up).The COHESion cohort is the first nationwide prospective multicenter study collecting data on the full spectrum of HE/HES disorders. This preliminary analysis confirms that idiopathic HES patients have various outcome profiles, suggesting different underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and the need of patient‐specific management.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT 04018118 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response from the author of the article related to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) associated with relapsing polychondritis (RP) that was published in the previous issue of the periodical is presented.