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711 results on '"Carrara G."'

1. Contourite depositional systems offshore Madeira Island: Decoding the deepwater circulation since the Late Cretaceous to the Quaternary in the NE-Central Atlantic

Author: Roque, C., Hernández-Molina, J., Brito, P., Madureira, P., Quartau, R., Magalhães, V., and Carrara, G.
Published: 2023
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2. OP0309 THE GIANT CELL ARTERITIS (GCA) ULTRASOUND SCORE (OGUS) AT DIAGNOSIS AND AFTER INITIAL TREATMENT PREDICTS FUTURE RELAPSES IN GCA PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTRE STUDY

Author: Monti, S., primary, Ponte, C., additional, Schaefer, V. S., additional, Rozza, D., additional, Franchi, G., additional, Milanesi, A., additional, Khmelinskii, N., additional, Petzinna, S. M., additional, Carrara, G., additional, Nicola, C. DI, additional, Dejaco, C., additional, and Luqmani, R., additional
Published: 2024
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3. Management of pregnancy in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: maternal disease course, gestational and neonatal outcomes and use of medications in the prospective Italian P-RHEUM.it study

Author: Andreoli, L, Gerardi, M, Gerosa, M, Rozza, D, Crisafulli, F, Erra, R, Lini, D, Trespidi, L, Padovan, M, Ruffilli, F, Serale, F, Cuomo, G, Raffeiner, B, Semeraro, P, Tani, C, Chimenti, M, Conigliaro, P, Hoxha, A, Nalli, C, Fredi, M, Lazzaroni, M, Filippini, M, Taglietti, M, Franceschini, F, Zatti, S, Loardi, C, Orabona, R, Ramazzotto, F, Zanardini, C, Fontana, G, Gozzoli, G, Barison, C, Bizioli, P, Caporali, R, Carrea, G, Ossola, M, Maranini, B, Silvagni, E, Govoni, M, Morano, D, Verteramo, R, Doria, A, Del Ross, T, Favaro, M, Calligaro, A, Tonello, M, Larosa, M, Zen, M, Zambon, A, Mosca, M, Zucchi, D, Elefante, E, Gori, S, Iannone, F, Anelli, M, Lavista, M, Abbruzzese, A, Fasano, C, D'Angelo, S, Cutro, M, Picerno, V, Carbone, T, Padula, A, Rovere-Querini, P, Canti, V, De Lorenzo, R, Cavallo, L, Ramoni, V, Montecucco, C, Codullo, V, Milanesi, A, Pazzola, G, Comitini, G, Marvisi, C, Salvarani, C, Epis, O, Benedetti, S, Di Raimondo, G, Gagliardi, C, Lomater, C, Crepaldi, G, Bellis, E, Bellisai, F, Garcia Gonzalez, E, Pata, A, Zerbinati, M, Urban, M, Mattioli, I, Iuliano, A, Sebastiani, G, Brucato, A, Bizzi, E, Cutolo, M, Santo, L, Tonetta, S, Landolfi, G, Carrara, G, Bortoluzzi, A, Scirè, C, Tincani, A, Andreoli, Laura, Gerardi, Maria Chiara, Gerosa, Maria, Rozza, Davide, Crisafulli, Francesca, Erra, Roberta, Lini, Daniele, Trespidi, Laura, Padovan, Melissa, Ruffilli, Francesca, Serale, Francesca, Cuomo, Giovanna, Raffeiner, Bernd, Semeraro, Paolo, Tani, Chiara, Chimenti, Maria Sole, Conigliaro, Paola, Hoxha, Ariela, Nalli, Cecilia, Fredi, Micaela, Lazzaroni, Maria Grazia, Filippini, Matteo, Taglietti, Marco, Franceschini, Franco, Zatti, Sonia, Loardi, Chiara, Orabona, Rossana, Ramazzotto, Francesca, Zanardini, Cristina, Fontana, Giulia, Gozzoli, Giorgia, Barison, Claudia, Bizioli, Paola, Caporali, Roberto Felice, Carrea, Giulia, Ossola, Manuela Wally, Maranini, Beatrice, Silvagni, Ettore, Govoni, Marcello, Morano, Danila, Verteramo, Rosita, Doria, Andrea, Del Ross, Teresa, Favaro, Maria, Calligaro, Antonia, Tonello, Marta, Larosa, Maddalena, Zen, Margherita, Zambon, Alessandra, Mosca, Marta, Zucchi, Dina, Elefante, Elena, Gori, Sabrina, Iannone, Florenzo, Anelli, Maria Grazia, Lavista, Marlea, Abbruzzese, Anna, Fasano, Carlo Giuseppe, D'Angelo, Salvatore, Cutro, Maria Stefania, Picerno, Valentina, Carbone, Teresa, Padula, Angela Anna, Rovere-Querini, Patrizia, Canti, Valentina, De Lorenzo, Rebecca, Cavallo, Ludovica, Ramoni, Véronique, Montecucco, Carlomaurizio, Codullo, Veronica, Milanesi, Alessandra, Pazzola, Giulia, Comitini, Giuseppina, Marvisi, Chiara, Salvarani, Carlo, Epis, Oscar Massimiliano, Benedetti, Sara, Di Raimondo, Giuseppina, Gagliardi, Clizia, Lomater, Claudia, Crepaldi, Gloria, Bellis, Elisa, Bellisai, Francesca, Garcia Gonzalez, Estrella, Pata, Anna Paola, Zerbinati, Martina, Urban, Maria Letizia, Mattioli, Irene, Iuliano, Annamaria, Sebastiani, Giandomenico, Brucato, Antonio Luca, Bizzi, Emanuele, Cutolo, Maurizio, Santo, Leonardo, Tonetta, Sara, Landolfi, Gianpiero, Carrara, Greta, Bortoluzzi, Alessandra, Scirè, Carlo Alberto, Tincani, Angela, Andreoli, L, Gerardi, M, Gerosa, M, Rozza, D, Crisafulli, F, Erra, R, Lini, D, Trespidi, L, Padovan, M, Ruffilli, F, Serale, F, Cuomo, G, Raffeiner, B, Semeraro, P, Tani, C, Chimenti, M, Conigliaro, P, Hoxha, A, Nalli, C, Fredi, M, Lazzaroni, M, Filippini, M, Taglietti, M, Franceschini, F, Zatti, S, Loardi, C, Orabona, R, Ramazzotto, F, Zanardini, C, Fontana, G, Gozzoli, G, Barison, C, Bizioli, P, Caporali, R, Carrea, G, Ossola, M, Maranini, B, Silvagni, E, Govoni, M, Morano, D, Verteramo, R, Doria, A, Del Ross, T, Favaro, M, Calligaro, A, Tonello, M, Larosa, M, Zen, M, Zambon, A, Mosca, M, Zucchi, D, Elefante, E, Gori, S, Iannone, F, Anelli, M, Lavista, M, Abbruzzese, A, Fasano, C, D'Angelo, S, Cutro, M, Picerno, V, Carbone, T, Padula, A, Rovere-Querini, P, Canti, V, De Lorenzo, R, Cavallo, L, Ramoni, V, Montecucco, C, Codullo, V, Milanesi, A, Pazzola, G, Comitini, G, Marvisi, C, Salvarani, C, Epis, O, Benedetti, S, Di Raimondo, G, Gagliardi, C, Lomater, C, Crepaldi, G, Bellis, E, Bellisai, F, Garcia Gonzalez, E, Pata, A, Zerbinati, M, Urban, M, Mattioli, I, Iuliano, A, Sebastiani, G, Brucato, A, Bizzi, E, Cutolo, M, Santo, L, Tonetta, S, Landolfi, G, Carrara, G, Bortoluzzi, A, Scirè, C, Tincani, A, Andreoli, Laura, Gerardi, Maria Chiara, Gerosa, Maria, Rozza, Davide, Crisafulli, Francesca, Erra, Roberta, Lini, Daniele, Trespidi, Laura, Padovan, Melissa, Ruffilli, Francesca, Serale, Francesca, Cuomo, Giovanna, Raffeiner, Bernd, Semeraro, Paolo, Tani, Chiara, Chimenti, Maria Sole, Conigliaro, Paola, Hoxha, Ariela, Nalli, Cecilia, Fredi, Micaela, Lazzaroni, Maria Grazia, Filippini, Matteo, Taglietti, Marco, Franceschini, Franco, Zatti, Sonia, Loardi, Chiara, Orabona, Rossana, Ramazzotto, Francesca, Zanardini, Cristina, Fontana, Giulia, Gozzoli, Giorgia, Barison, Claudia, Bizioli, Paola, Caporali, Roberto Felice, Carrea, Giulia, Ossola, Manuela Wally, Maranini, Beatrice, Silvagni, Ettore, Govoni, Marcello, Morano, Danila, Verteramo, Rosita, Doria, Andrea, Del Ross, Teresa, Favaro, Maria, Calligaro, Antonia, Tonello, Marta, Larosa, Maddalena, Zen, Margherita, Zambon, Alessandra, Mosca, Marta, Zucchi, Dina, Elefante, Elena, Gori, Sabrina, Iannone, Florenzo, Anelli, Maria Grazia, Lavista, Marlea, Abbruzzese, Anna, Fasano, Carlo Giuseppe, D'Angelo, Salvatore, Cutro, Maria Stefania, Picerno, Valentina, Carbone, Teresa, Padula, Angela Anna, Rovere-Querini, Patrizia, Canti, Valentina, De Lorenzo, Rebecca, Cavallo, Ludovica, Ramoni, Véronique, Montecucco, Carlomaurizio, Codullo, Veronica, Milanesi, Alessandra, Pazzola, Giulia, Comitini, Giuseppina, Marvisi, Chiara, Salvarani, Carlo, Epis, Oscar Massimiliano, Benedetti, Sara, Di Raimondo, Giuseppina, Gagliardi, Clizia, Lomater, Claudia, Crepaldi, Gloria, Bellis, Elisa, Bellisai, Francesca, Garcia Gonzalez, Estrella, Pata, Anna Paola, Zerbinati, Martina, Urban, Maria Letizia, Mattioli, Irene, Iuliano, Annamaria, Sebastiani, Giandomenico, Brucato, Antonio Luca, Bizzi, Emanuele, Cutolo, Maurizio, Santo, Leonardo, Tonetta, Sara, Landolfi, Gianpiero, Carrara, Greta, Bortoluzzi, Alessandra, Scirè, Carlo Alberto, and Tincani, Angela
Abstract: Objectives To investigate pregnancy outcomes in women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) in the Italian prospective cohort study P-RHEUM.it. Methods Pregnant women with different ARD were enrolled for up to 20 gestational weeks in 29 Rheumatology Centres for 5 years (2018-2023). Maternal and infant information were collected in a web-based database. Results We analysed 866 pregnancies in 851 patients (systemic lupus erythematosus was the most represented disease, 19.6%). Maternal disease flares were observed in 135 (15.6%) pregnancies. 53 (6.1%) pregnancies were induced by assisted reproduction techniques, 61 (7%) ended in miscarriage and 11 (1.3%) underwent elective termination. Obstetrical complications occurred in 261 (30.1%) pregnancies, including 2.3% pre-eclampsia. Two cases of congenital heart block were observed out of 157 pregnancies (1.3%) with anti-Ro/SSA. Regarding treatments, 244 (28.2%) pregnancies were treated with glucocorticoids, 388 (44.8%) with hydroxychloroquine, 85 (9.8%) with conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and 122 (14.1%) with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Live births were 794 (91.7%), mostly at term (84.9%); four perinatal deaths (0.5%) occurred. Among 790 newborns, 31 (3.9%) were small-for-gestational-age and 169 (21.4%) had perinatal complications. Exclusive maternal breast feeding was received by 404 (46.7%) neonates. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was compiled by 414 women (52.4%); 89 (21.5%) scored positive for emotional distress. Conclusions Multiple factors including preconception counselling and treat-to-target with pregnancy-compatible medications may have contributed to mitigate disease-related risk factors, yielding limited disease flares, good pregnancy outcomes and frequency of complications which were similar to the Italian general obstetric population. Disease-specific issues need to be further addressed to plan preventative measures.
Published: 2024

4. Impact of Risk Factors on COVID-19 Outcomes in Unvaccinated People With Rheumatic Diseases: A Comparative Analysis of Pandemic Epochs Using the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry

Author: Yazdany, J, Ware, A, Wallace, Z, Bhana, S, Grainger, R, Hachulla, E, Richez, C, Cacoub, P, Hausmann, J, Liew, J, Sirotich, E, Jacobsohn, L, Strangfeld, A, Mateus, E, Hyrich, K, Gossec, L, Carmona, L, Lawson-Tovey, S, Kearsley-Fleet, L, Schaefer, M, Ribeiro, S, Al-Emadi, S, Hasseli, R, Müller-Ladner, U, Specker, C, Schulze-Koops, H, Bernardes, M, Fraga, V, Rodrigues, A, Sparks, J, Ljung, L, Di Giuseppe, D, Tidblad, L, Wise, L, Duarte-García, A, Ugarte-Gil, M, Colunga-Pedraza, I, Martínez-Martínez, M, Alpizar-Rodriguez, D, Xavier, R, Isnardi, C, Pera, M, Pons-Estel, G, Izadi, Z, Gianfrancesco, M, Carrara, G, Scirè, C, Zanetti, A, Machado, P, Wallace, ZS, Hausmann, JS, Liew, JW, Mateus, EF, Hyrich, KL, Ribeiro, SLE, Fraga, VM, Rodrigues, AM, Sparks, JA, Ugarte-Gil, MF, Colunga-Pedraza, IJ, Martínez-Martínez, MU, Xavier, RM, Isnardi, CA, Gianfrancesco, MA, Scirè, CA, Machado, PM, Yazdany, J, Ware, A, Wallace, Z, Bhana, S, Grainger, R, Hachulla, E, Richez, C, Cacoub, P, Hausmann, J, Liew, J, Sirotich, E, Jacobsohn, L, Strangfeld, A, Mateus, E, Hyrich, K, Gossec, L, Carmona, L, Lawson-Tovey, S, Kearsley-Fleet, L, Schaefer, M, Ribeiro, S, Al-Emadi, S, Hasseli, R, Müller-Ladner, U, Specker, C, Schulze-Koops, H, Bernardes, M, Fraga, V, Rodrigues, A, Sparks, J, Ljung, L, Di Giuseppe, D, Tidblad, L, Wise, L, Duarte-García, A, Ugarte-Gil, M, Colunga-Pedraza, I, Martínez-Martínez, M, Alpizar-Rodriguez, D, Xavier, R, Isnardi, C, Pera, M, Pons-Estel, G, Izadi, Z, Gianfrancesco, M, Carrara, G, Scirè, C, Zanetti, A, Machado, P, Wallace, ZS, Hausmann, JS, Liew, JW, Mateus, EF, Hyrich, KL, Ribeiro, SLE, Fraga, VM, Rodrigues, AM, Sparks, JA, Ugarte-Gil, MF, Colunga-Pedraza, IJ, Martínez-Martínez, MU, Xavier, RM, Isnardi, CA, Gianfrancesco, MA, Scirè, CA, and Machado, PM
Abstract: Objective: Approximately one third of individuals worldwide have not received a COVID-19 vaccine. Although studies have investigated risk factors linked to severe COVID-19 among unvaccinated people with rheumatic diseases (RDs), we know less about whether these factors changed as the pandemic progressed. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated individuals in different pandemic epochs corresponding to major variants of concern. Methods: Patients with RDs and COVID-19 were entered into the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry between March 2020 and June 2022. An ordinal logistic regression model (not hospitalized, hospitalized, and death) was used with date of COVID-19 diagnosis, age, sex, race and/or ethnicity, comorbidities, RD activity, medications, and the human development index (HDI) as covariates. The main analysis included all unvaccinated patients across COVID-19 pandemic epochs; subanalyses stratified patients according to RD types. Results: Among 19,256 unvaccinated people with RDs and COVID-19, those who were older, male, had more comorbidities, used glucocorticoids, had higher disease activity, or lived in lower HDI regions had worse outcomes across epochs. For those with rheumatoid arthritis, sulfasalazine and B-cell–depleting therapy were associated with worse outcomes, and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors were associated with improved outcomes. In those with connective tissue disease or vasculitis, B-cell–depleting therapy was associated with worse outcomes. Conclusion: Risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes were similar throughout pandemic epochs in unvaccinated people with RDs. Ongoing efforts, including vaccination, are needed to reduce COVID-19 severity in this population, particularly in those with medical and social vulnerabilities identified in this study.
Published: 2024

5. Predictors of disease activity in gout: a 12-month analysis of the ATTACk (Achieving improvement in the management of crystal-induced arthritis) multicentre cohort study

Author: Lorenzin, M, Ughi, N, Ariani, A, Raffeiner, B, Frallonardo, P, Hoxha, A, Ortolan, A, Favero, M, Parisi, S, Bortoluzzi, A, Ceccarelli, F, Lucchetti, R, Furini, F, Del Ross, T, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Doria, A, Ramonda, R, Lorenzin M., Ughi N., Ariani A., Raffeiner B., Frallonardo P., Hoxha A., Ortolan A., Favero M., Parisi S., Bortoluzzi A., Ceccarelli F., Lucchetti R., Furini F., Del Ross T., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Doria A., Ramonda R., Lorenzin, M, Ughi, N, Ariani, A, Raffeiner, B, Frallonardo, P, Hoxha, A, Ortolan, A, Favero, M, Parisi, S, Bortoluzzi, A, Ceccarelli, F, Lucchetti, R, Furini, F, Del Ross, T, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Doria, A, Ramonda, R, Lorenzin M., Ughi N., Ariani A., Raffeiner B., Frallonardo P., Hoxha A., Ortolan A., Favero M., Parisi S., Bortoluzzi A., Ceccarelli F., Lucchetti R., Furini F., Del Ross T., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Doria A., and Ramonda R.
Abstract: Objective Gout treatment is largely suboptimal in clinical practice. We aimed to assess the predictors of disease-activity at 12 months in a real-life setting. Methods Consecutive patients referred to Rheumatology Units for suspected acute crystal-induced arthritis were enrolled in a multicentre-cohort study. Only patients with clinical diagnosis of gout were eligible. Disease-activity was evaluated by the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) on a visual analogue scale (VAS, 0=unsatisfactory, 100=satisfactory) at 0 (T0) and 12 months (T12), and the composite score called Gout Activity Score (GAS) calculated on the number of arthritic attacks (flare count), serum uric acid (sUA), cumulative number of tophi, VAS (T12), PtGA (T12). Multivariate linear regression model was performed to assess predictors of gout disease-activity at T12 with PASS and GAS as outcomes. Results: 201 patients had gout (diagnosis on synovial fluid in 45%, tophi in 26%, mean sUA 7.4±1.9 mg/L, 85% with urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in progress/initiated at T0); mean age 63±13 years, 88% men, median (interquartile range) disease duration 2.9 years (0.7-9.4). Follow-up visits were performed in 113 (56%) patients at T12. Mean PASS observed at T0 and at T12 were 38±27 and 74±23, respectively, whereas GAS at T12 was 10±8. A significant association was observed between the presence of tophi and PASS at T12 (-15.3, 95% CI -25.5, -5.2; p=0.003) and GAS at T12 (+4.0, 95% CI 0.6,7.4; p=0.02), adjusted for age, sex, disease duration, sUA <6 mg/dL, tender joint count, PASS at T0, ULT). CONCLUSIONS:The baseline presence of tophi may predict high disease-activity at T12, thus worsening GAS and patients’ pain perception.
Published: 2023

6. Similarities and differences between younger and older disease onset patients with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus

Author: Prevete, I, Iuliano, A, Cauli, A, Piga, M, Iannone, F, Coladonato, L, Bortoluzzi, A, Silvagni, E, Tani, C, Elefante, E, Doria, A, Iaccarino, L, Franceschini, F, Fredi, M, Conti, F, Spinelli, F, Frediani, B, Garcia, E, Scire, C, Zanetti, A, Rozza, D, Carrara, G, Sebastiani, G, Prevete I., Iuliano A., Cauli A., Piga M., Iannone F., Coladonato L., Bortoluzzi A., Silvagni E., Tani C., Elefante E., Doria A., Iaccarino L., Franceschini F., Fredi M., Conti F., Spinelli F. R., Frediani B., Garcia E. G., Scire C. A., Zanetti A., Rozza D., Carrara G., Sebastiani G. D., Prevete, I, Iuliano, A, Cauli, A, Piga, M, Iannone, F, Coladonato, L, Bortoluzzi, A, Silvagni, E, Tani, C, Elefante, E, Doria, A, Iaccarino, L, Franceschini, F, Fredi, M, Conti, F, Spinelli, F, Frediani, B, Garcia, E, Scire, C, Zanetti, A, Rozza, D, Carrara, G, Sebastiani, G, Prevete I., Iuliano A., Cauli A., Piga M., Iannone F., Coladonato L., Bortoluzzi A., Silvagni E., Tani C., Elefante E., Doria A., Iaccarino L., Franceschini F., Fredi M., Conti F., Spinelli F. R., Frediani B., Garcia E. G., Scire C. A., Zanetti A., Rozza D., Carrara G., and Sebastiani G. D.
Abstract: Objective Several studies show that age at onset has an impact on the clinical-serological presentation, comorbidities and disease course of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We evaluated whether, in patients with recent onset SLE, the age at onset correlates with clinical-serological manifestations and with comorbidities. Methods We analysed 171 patients with a SLE diagnosis obtained within 12 months of diagnosis enrolled in the Early Lupus project. Based on the age of onset of the first disease symptom, they were stratified into 2 groups: early onset (18–45 years) and late onset (>45 years). The analysis was replicated by stratifying patients based on age at diagnosis (fulfillment of ACR classification criteria). Each comparison was made at baseline and at 36 months of follow-up. Results Baseline: patients with late onset displayed comorbidities (hypertension, dyslipidaemia and osteoporosis) more frequently than early onset group. 11.4% of late onset patients had a malignancy in medical history, not recorded in the early onset cohort. The two groups differed neither in organ involvement (domain BILAG) nor in disease activity (ECLAM). Patients with early onset showed a disease with signs of higher serologic activity (higher frequency of anti-dsDNA positivity and lower mean C3 and C4 levels) and had malar rash more frequently than the late onset group (36.2% vs. 18.2%, p=0.042). Similar results were obtained by stratifying patients by age of diagnosis (18-45 years and >45 years), except for the higher frequency of discoid rash in the group with age at diagnosis >45 years (18% vs. 6.6%, p=0.045). 36 months: the 2 groups of patients independently of the stratification applied did not differ in the accumulation of damage, but showed a different pattern of 8 organ involvement. Musculoskeletal involvement was more frequent both in the late onset group (18.6% vs. 7.3%, p=0.043) and in the group with age at diagnosis >45 years (20.4% vs. 5.9%, p
Published: 2023

7. Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma: clinical and serological features and relationship with other cutaneous subsets in a large series of patients from the national registry 'SPRING' of the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: De Angelis, R, Ferri, C, Giuggioli, D, Bajocchi, G, Dagna, L, Bellando-Randone, S, Zanframundo, G, Foti, R, Cacciapaglia, F, Cuomo, G, Ariani, A, Rosato, E, Lepri, G, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Zanatta, E, Bosello, S, Cavazzana, I, Ingegnoli, F, De Santis, M, Murdaca, G, Abignano, G, Romeo, N, Della Rossa, A, Caminiti, M, Iuliano, A, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Bagnato, G, Lubrano, E, De Andres, I, Giollo, A, Saracco, M, Agnes, C, Cipolletta, E, Lumetti, F, Spinella, A, Magnani, L, Campochiaro, C, De Luca, G, Codullo, V, Visalli, E, Di Vico, C, Gigante, A, Pellagrino, G, Pigatto, E, Lazzaroni, M, Franceschini, F, Generali, E, Mennillo, G, Barsotti, S, Mariano, G, Furini, F, Vultaggio, L, Parisi, S, Peroni, C, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Scire, C, Bianchi, G, Fusaro, E, Sebastiani, G, Govoni, M, D'Angelo, S, Cozzi, F, Guiducci, S, Doria, A, Salvarani, C, Iannone, F, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Giorgio, A, Alessia, B, Francesca, C, Renato, C, Dall'Ara, F, Angelo, D, Marica, D, Gianluca, S, Rossella, T, De Angelis R., Ferri C., Giuggioli D., Bajocchi G., Dagna L., Bellando-Randone S., Zanframundo G., Foti R., Cacciapaglia F., Cuomo G., Ariani A., Rosato E., Lepri G., Girelli F., Riccieri V., Zanatta E., Bosello S. L., Cavazzana I., Ingegnoli F., De Santis M., Murdaca G., Abignano G., Romeo N., Della Rossa A., Caminiti M., Iuliano A. M., Ciano G., Beretta L., Bagnato G., Lubrano E., De Andres I., Giollo A., Saracco M., Agnes C., Cipolletta E., Lumetti F., Spinella A., Magnani L., Campochiaro C., De Luca G., Codullo V., Visalli E., Di Vico C., Gigante A., Pellagrino G., Pigatto E., Lazzaroni M. -G., Franceschini F., Generali E., Mennillo G., Barsotti S., Mariano G. P., Furini F., Vultaggio L., Parisi S., Peroni C. L., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Scire C. A., Bianchi G., Fusaro E., Sebastiani G. D., Govoni M., D'Angelo S., Cozzi F., Guiducci S., Doria A., Salvarani C., Iannone F., Matucci-Cerinic M., Giorgio A., Alessia B., Francesca C., Renato C., Dall'Ara F., Angelo D. C., Marica D., Gianluca S., Rossella T., De Angelis, R, Ferri, C, Giuggioli, D, Bajocchi, G, Dagna, L, Bellando-Randone, S, Zanframundo, G, Foti, R, Cacciapaglia, F, Cuomo, G, Ariani, A, Rosato, E, Lepri, G, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Zanatta, E, Bosello, S, Cavazzana, I, Ingegnoli, F, De Santis, M, Murdaca, G, Abignano, G, Romeo, N, Della Rossa, A, Caminiti, M, Iuliano, A, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Bagnato, G, Lubrano, E, De Andres, I, Giollo, A, Saracco, M, Agnes, C, Cipolletta, E, Lumetti, F, Spinella, A, Magnani, L, Campochiaro, C, De Luca, G, Codullo, V, Visalli, E, Di Vico, C, Gigante, A, Pellagrino, G, Pigatto, E, Lazzaroni, M, Franceschini, F, Generali, E, Mennillo, G, Barsotti, S, Mariano, G, Furini, F, Vultaggio, L, Parisi, S, Peroni, C, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Scire, C, Bianchi, G, Fusaro, E, Sebastiani, G, Govoni, M, D'Angelo, S, Cozzi, F, Guiducci, S, Doria, A, Salvarani, C, Iannone, F, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Giorgio, A, Alessia, B, Francesca, C, Renato, C, Dall'Ara, F, Angelo, D, Marica, D, Gianluca, S, Rossella, T, De Angelis R., Ferri C., Giuggioli D., Bajocchi G., Dagna L., Bellando-Randone S., Zanframundo G., Foti R., Cacciapaglia F., Cuomo G., Ariani A., Rosato E., Lepri G., Girelli F., Riccieri V., Zanatta E., Bosello S. L., Cavazzana I., Ingegnoli F., De Santis M., Murdaca G., Abignano G., Romeo N., Della Rossa A., Caminiti M., Iuliano A. M., Ciano G., Beretta L., Bagnato G., Lubrano E., De Andres I., Giollo A., Saracco M., Agnes C., Cipolletta E., Lumetti F., Spinella A., Magnani L., Campochiaro C., De Luca G., Codullo V., Visalli E., Di Vico C., Gigante A., Pellagrino G., Pigatto E., Lazzaroni M. -G., Franceschini F., Generali E., Mennillo G., Barsotti S., Mariano G. P., Furini F., Vultaggio L., Parisi S., Peroni C. L., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Scire C. A., Bianchi G., Fusaro E., Sebastiani G. D., Govoni M., D'Angelo S., Cozzi F., Guiducci S., Doria A., Salvarani C., Iannone F., Matucci-Cerinic M., Giorgio A., Alessia B., Francesca C., Renato C., Dall'Ara F., Angelo D. C., Marica D., Gianluca S., and Rossella T.
Abstract: Objective To describe demographic, clinical and laboratory features of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc) in a large multicentre systemic sclerosis (SSc) cohort. Methods Data involving 1808 SSc patients from Italian Systemic sclerosis PRogression INvestiGation registry were collected. The ssSSc was defined by the absence of any cutaneous sclerosis and/or puffy fingers. Clinical and serological features of ssSSc were compared with limited cutaneous (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) subsets. Results Among patients with SSc, only 61 (3.4%) were classified as having ssSSc (F/M=19/1). Time from Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) onset to diagnosis was longer in ssSSc (3 years, IQR 1-16.5) than lcSSc (2 years, IQR 0-7), and dcSSc (1 year, IQR 0-3) (p<0.001). Clinical ssSSc phenotype was comparable to lcSSc, except for digital pitting scars (DPS) (19.7% vs 42%, p=0.01), but significantly milder than dcSSc, particularly for digital ulcers (DU) (6.6% vs 35.7%, p<0.001), oesophagus (46.2% vs 63.5%, p=0.009), lung (mean diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide 72.2±19.6 vs 62.4±22.8, p=0.009; mean forced vital capacity 105.6±21.7 vs 89.2±20.9, p<0.001) and major videocapillaroscopic alterations (late pattern 8.6% vs 47.6%, p<0.001). Moreover, in ssSSc the percentages of anticentromere and antitopoisomerase were comparable to lcSSc (40% and 18.3% vs 36.7% and 26.6%), but divergent respect to dcSSc (8.6% and 67.4%, p<0.001). Conclusion The ssSSc is a quite rare disease variant characterised by clinico-serological features comparable to lcSSc, but significantly different from dcSSc. Overall, longer RP duration, low percentages of DPS and peripheral microvascular abnormalities, and increased anti-centromere seropositivity distinguish ssSSc. Further investigations based on national registries might provide useful insights on the actual relevance of the ssSSc within the scleroderma spectrum.
Published: 2023

8. Reliability assessment of ultrasound muscle echogenicity in patients with rheumatic diseases: Results of a multicenter international web-based study

Author: Di Matteo, A, Moscioni, E, Lommano, M, Cipolletta, E, Smerilli, G, Farah, S, Airoldi, C, Aydin, S, Becciolini, A, Bonfiglioli, K, Carotti, M, Carrara, G, Cazenave, T, Corradini, D, Cosatti, M, de Agustin, J, Destro Castaniti, G, Di Carlo, M, Di Donato, E, Di Geso, L, Elliott, A, Fodor, D, Francioso, F, Gabba, A, Hernandez-Diaz, C, Horvath, R, Hurnakova, J, Jesus, D, Marin, J, Martire, M, Mashadi Mirza, R, Massarotti, M, Musca, A, Nair, J, Okano, T, Papalopoulos, I, Rosa, J, Rosemffet, M, Rovisco, J, Rozza, D, Salaffi, F, Scioscia, C, Scire, C, Tamas, M, Tanimura, S, Ventura-Rios, L, Villota-Eraso, C, Villota, O, Voulgari, P, Vreju, F, Vukatana, G, Hereter, J, Zanetti, A, Grassi, W, Filippucci, E, Di Matteo A., Moscioni E., Lommano M. G., Cipolletta E., Smerilli G., Farah S., Airoldi C., Aydin S. Z., Becciolini A., Bonfiglioli K., Carotti M., Carrara G., Cazenave T., Corradini D., Cosatti M. A., de Agustin J. J., Destro Castaniti G. M., Di Carlo M., Di Donato E., Di Geso L., Elliott A., Fodor D., Francioso F., Gabba A., Hernandez-Diaz C., Horvath R., Hurnakova J., Jesus D., Marin J., Martire M. V., Mashadi Mirza R., Massarotti M., Musca A. A., Nair J., Okano T., Papalopoulos I., Rosa J., Rosemffet M., Rovisco J., Rozza D., Salaffi F., Scioscia C., Scire C. A., Tamas M. -M., Tanimura S., Ventura-Rios L., Villota-Eraso C., Villota O., Voulgari P. V., Vreju F. A., Vukatana G., Hereter J. Z., Zanetti A., Grassi W., Filippucci E., Di Matteo, A, Moscioni, E, Lommano, M, Cipolletta, E, Smerilli, G, Farah, S, Airoldi, C, Aydin, S, Becciolini, A, Bonfiglioli, K, Carotti, M, Carrara, G, Cazenave, T, Corradini, D, Cosatti, M, de Agustin, J, Destro Castaniti, G, Di Carlo, M, Di Donato, E, Di Geso, L, Elliott, A, Fodor, D, Francioso, F, Gabba, A, Hernandez-Diaz, C, Horvath, R, Hurnakova, J, Jesus, D, Marin, J, Martire, M, Mashadi Mirza, R, Massarotti, M, Musca, A, Nair, J, Okano, T, Papalopoulos, I, Rosa, J, Rosemffet, M, Rovisco, J, Rozza, D, Salaffi, F, Scioscia, C, Scire, C, Tamas, M, Tanimura, S, Ventura-Rios, L, Villota-Eraso, C, Villota, O, Voulgari, P, Vreju, F, Vukatana, G, Hereter, J, Zanetti, A, Grassi, W, Filippucci, E, Di Matteo A., Moscioni E., Lommano M. G., Cipolletta E., Smerilli G., Farah S., Airoldi C., Aydin S. Z., Becciolini A., Bonfiglioli K., Carotti M., Carrara G., Cazenave T., Corradini D., Cosatti M. A., de Agustin J. J., Destro Castaniti G. M., Di Carlo M., Di Donato E., Di Geso L., Elliott A., Fodor D., Francioso F., Gabba A., Hernandez-Diaz C., Horvath R., Hurnakova J., Jesus D., Marin J., Martire M. V., Mashadi Mirza R., Massarotti M., Musca A. A., Nair J., Okano T., Papalopoulos I., Rosa J., Rosemffet M., Rovisco J., Rozza D., Salaffi F., Scioscia C., Scire C. A., Tamas M. -M., Tanimura S., Ventura-Rios L., Villota-Eraso C., Villota O., Voulgari P. V., Vreju F. A., Vukatana G., Hereter J. Z., Zanetti A., Grassi W., and Filippucci E.
Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the inter/intra-reliability of ultrasound (US) muscle echogenicity in patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods: Forty-two rheumatologists and 2 radiologists from 13 countries were asked to assess US muscle echogenicity of quadriceps muscle in 80 static images and 20 clips from 64 patients with different rheumatic diseases and 8 healthy subjects. Two visual scales were evaluated, a visual semi-quantitative scale (0–3) and a continuous quantitative measurement (“VAS echogenicity,” 0–100). The same assessment was repeated to calculate intra-observer reliability. US muscle echogenicity was also calculated by an independent research assistant using a software for the analysis of scientific images (ImageJ). Inter and intra reliabilities were assessed by means of prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted Kappa (PABAK), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and correlations through Kendall’s Tau and Pearson’s Rho coefficients. Results: The semi-quantitative scale showed a moderate inter-reliability [PABAK = 0.58 (0.57–0.59)] and a substantial intra-reliability [PABAK = 0.71 (0.68–0.73)]. The lowest inter and intra-reliability results were obtained for the intermediate grades (i.e., grade 1 and 2) of the semi-quantitative scale. “VAS echogenicity” showed a high reliability both in the inter-observer [ICC = 0.80 (0.75–0.85)] and intra-observer [ICC = 0.88 (0.88–0.89)] evaluations. A substantial association was found between the participants assessment of the semi-quantitative scale and “VAS echogenicity” [ICC = 0.52 (0.50–0.54)]. The correlation between these two visual scales and ImageJ analysis was high (tau = 0.76 and rho = 0.89, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this large, multicenter study highlighted the overall good inter and intra-reliability of the US assessment of muscle echogenicity in patients with different rheumatic diseases.
Published: 2023

9. Musculoskeletal ultrasound may narrow the gap between patients and physicians in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity

Author: Floris, A, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Bellis, E, Cauli, A, Iagnocco, A, Scire, C, Piga, M, Batticciotto, A, Bortoluzzi, A, Gabba, A, Gattamelata, A, Adinolfi, A, Raffeiner, B, Vinghitti, C, Mastaglio, C, Scioscia, C, Russi, D, Luccioli, F, Cavatorta, F, Ceccarelli, F, Sakellariou, G, Filippou, G, Cagnotto, G, Farina, I, Menza, L, Idolazzi, L, Canzoni, M, Massarotti, M, Focherini, M, Caprioli, M, Gutierrez, M, Draghessi, A, Muratore, M, De Lucia, O, Rossini, P, Macchioni, P, Ramonda, R, Rossi, S, Parisi, S, Sabatino, V, Picerno, V, Floris A., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Bellis E., Cauli A., Iagnocco A., Scire C. A., Piga M., Batticciotto A., Bortoluzzi A., Gabba A., Gattamelata A., Adinolfi A., Raffeiner B., Vinghitti C., Mastaglio C., Scioscia C., Russi D., Luccioli F., Cavatorta F., Ceccarelli F., Sakellariou G., Filippou G., Cagnotto G., Farina I., Menza L., Idolazzi L., Canzoni M., Massarotti M., Focherini M., Caprioli M., Gutierrez M., Draghessi A., Muratore M., De Lucia O., Rossini P., MacChioni P., Ramonda R., Rossi S., Parisi S., Sabatino V. D., Picerno V., Floris, A, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Bellis, E, Cauli, A, Iagnocco, A, Scire, C, Piga, M, Batticciotto, A, Bortoluzzi, A, Gabba, A, Gattamelata, A, Adinolfi, A, Raffeiner, B, Vinghitti, C, Mastaglio, C, Scioscia, C, Russi, D, Luccioli, F, Cavatorta, F, Ceccarelli, F, Sakellariou, G, Filippou, G, Cagnotto, G, Farina, I, Menza, L, Idolazzi, L, Canzoni, M, Massarotti, M, Focherini, M, Caprioli, M, Gutierrez, M, Draghessi, A, Muratore, M, De Lucia, O, Rossini, P, Macchioni, P, Ramonda, R, Rossi, S, Parisi, S, Sabatino, V, Picerno, V, Floris A., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Bellis E., Cauli A., Iagnocco A., Scire C. A., Piga M., Batticciotto A., Bortoluzzi A., Gabba A., Gattamelata A., Adinolfi A., Raffeiner B., Vinghitti C., Mastaglio C., Scioscia C., Russi D., Luccioli F., Cavatorta F., Ceccarelli F., Sakellariou G., Filippou G., Cagnotto G., Farina I., Menza L., Idolazzi L., Canzoni M., Massarotti M., Focherini M., Caprioli M., Gutierrez M., Draghessi A., Muratore M., De Lucia O., Rossini P., MacChioni P., Ramonda R., Rossi S., Parisi S., Sabatino V. D., and Picerno V.
Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the association between patient-physician discordance in the assessment of disease activity and residual US synovitis/tenosynovitis in a cohort of patients with RA in clinical remission. Methods: A post hoc analysis of the STARTER study, promoted by the Musculoskeletal-US (MSUS) Study Group of the Italian Society for Rheumatology, was performed using data from 361 consecutive patients with RA in clinical remission. The global assessment of disease activity by each patient (PGA) and evaluator/physician (EGA) was recorded on a 100-mm visual analogue scale. The PGA-EGA discordance was classified as positive (PGA>EGA) or negative (PGA
Published: 2023

10. Relationship between the prevalence of subclinical tenosynovitis and treatment in patients with RA in clinical remission: STARTER study

Author: Parisi, S, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Iagnocco, A, Filippou, G, Batticciotto, A, Floris, A, Bortoluzzi, A, Gabba, A, Gattamelata, A, Adinolfi, A, Raffeiner, B, Venditti, C, Mastaglio, C, Scioscia, C, Rossi, D, Bellis, E, Luccioli, F, Cavatorta, F, Ceccarelli, F, Sakellariou, G, Cagnotto, G, Farina, I, Menza, L, Idolazzi, L, Canzoni, M, Massarotti, M, Focherini, M, Caprioli, M, Gutierrez, M, Draghessi, A, Piga, M, Muratore, M, De Lucia, O, Rossini, P, Macchioni, P, Ramonda, R, Rossi, S, Di Sabatino, V, Picerno, V, Parisi S., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Iagnocco A., Filippou G., Batticciotto A., Floris A., Bortoluzzi A., Gabba A., Gattamelata A., Adinolfi A., Raffeiner B., Venditti C., Mastaglio C., Scioscia C., Rossi D., Bellis E., Luccioli F., Cavatorta F. P., Ceccarelli F., Sakellariou G., Cagnotto G., Farina I., Menza L., Idolazzi L., Canzoni M., Massarotti M., Focherini M. C., Caprioli M., Gutierrez M., Draghessi A., Piga M., Muratore M., De Lucia O., Rossini P., MacChioni P., Ramonda R., Rossi S., Di Sabatino V., Picerno V., Parisi, S, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Iagnocco, A, Filippou, G, Batticciotto, A, Floris, A, Bortoluzzi, A, Gabba, A, Gattamelata, A, Adinolfi, A, Raffeiner, B, Venditti, C, Mastaglio, C, Scioscia, C, Rossi, D, Bellis, E, Luccioli, F, Cavatorta, F, Ceccarelli, F, Sakellariou, G, Cagnotto, G, Farina, I, Menza, L, Idolazzi, L, Canzoni, M, Massarotti, M, Focherini, M, Caprioli, M, Gutierrez, M, Draghessi, A, Piga, M, Muratore, M, De Lucia, O, Rossini, P, Macchioni, P, Ramonda, R, Rossi, S, Di Sabatino, V, Picerno, V, Parisi S., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Iagnocco A., Filippou G., Batticciotto A., Floris A., Bortoluzzi A., Gabba A., Gattamelata A., Adinolfi A., Raffeiner B., Venditti C., Mastaglio C., Scioscia C., Rossi D., Bellis E., Luccioli F., Cavatorta F. P., Ceccarelli F., Sakellariou G., Cagnotto G., Farina I., Menza L., Idolazzi L., Canzoni M., Massarotti M., Focherini M. C., Caprioli M., Gutierrez M., Draghessi A., Piga M., Muratore M., De Lucia O., Rossini P., MacChioni P., Ramonda R., Rossi S., Di Sabatino V., and Picerno V.
Abstract: Objective: This study is a sub-analysis from the patient cohort of the STARTER (Sonographic Tenosynovitis Assessment in RheumaToid arthritis patiEnts in Remission) study. The aim was to evaluate differences in ultrasound-detected joint and/or tendon involvement between patients receiving therapies based on a combination of conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) and biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) and those who were treated with either csDMARDs or bDMARDs in monotherapy. Material and methods: Four hundred and twenty-seven consecutive patients with a diagnosis of RA were recruited between October 2013 and June 2014. They were divided into three subgroups based on their therapy at baseline: patients with bDMARD in monotherapy, patients with csDMARD in monotherapy and patients in combination therapy (csDMARD + bDMARD). At baseline, 6 months and 12 months, a clinical examination (28 joint count) and an ultrasound evaluation were performed in each patient. A score of grey-scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) synovitis and tenosynovitis was calculated based on the OMERACT scoring systems. Results: Two hundred and fifty-six patients completed the observation period: 48 patients from the bDMARD group (18.75%), 152 patients from the csDMARD group (59.38%) and 56 patients from csDMARD + bDMARD group (21.88%). The analysis showed that GS tenosynovitis and PD tenosynovitis are better controlled in combination therapy than they are ith csDMARD alone (P=0.025 and P=0.047, respectively); for PD synovitis, there was a better response in those who were treated with the combination therapy when compared with the patients receiving csDMARD (P=0.01) or bDMARD (P=0.02) alone. Conclusions: The analysis showed a lower prevalence of subclinical inflammatory manifestations detected with ultrasound imaging in those patients treated with the combination therapy than in those in monotherapy.
Published: 2023

11. COVID-19 prognosis in systemic lupus erythematosus compared with rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis: Results from the CONTROL-19 Study by the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: Scirocco, C, Ferrigno, S, Andreoli, L, Fredi, M, Lomater, C, Moroni, L, Mosca, M, Raffeiner, B, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Scire, C, Sebastiani, G, Scirocco C., Ferrigno S., Andreoli L., Fredi M., Lomater C., Moroni L., Mosca M., Raffeiner B., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Scire C. A., Sebastiani G. D., Scirocco, C, Ferrigno, S, Andreoli, L, Fredi, M, Lomater, C, Moroni, L, Mosca, M, Raffeiner, B, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Scire, C, Sebastiani, G, Scirocco C., Ferrigno S., Andreoli L., Fredi M., Lomater C., Moroni L., Mosca M., Raffeiner B., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Scire C. A., and Sebastiani G. D.
Abstract: Introduction Data concerning SARS-CoV-2 in patients affected by SLE are contradicting. The aim of this study was to investigate disease-related differences in COVID-19 prognosis of patients affected by rheumatic diseases before vaccination; we tested the hypothesis that patients with SLE may have a different outcome compared with those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SPA). Methods We analysed data from the national CONTROL-19 Database with a retrospective, observational design, including rheumatic patients affected by COVID-19. The principal outcome measure was hospitalisation with death or mechanical ventilation. Differences between SLE, RA and SPA were analysed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Results We included 103 patients with SLE (88.2% female, mean age 48.9 years, 50.4% active disease), 524 patients with RA (74.4% female, mean age 60.6 years, 59.7% active disease) and 486 patients with SPA (58.1% female, mean age 53.2 years, 58% active disease). Outcome prevalence was not different between patients with SLE and those with RA (SLE 24.5%, RA 25.6%), while patients with SPA showed a more favourable outcome compared with those with SLE (SPA 15.9%); data from the multivariable analysis confirmed this result. In SLE, age >65 years (OR 17.3, CI 5.51 to 63.16, p<0.001), hypertension (OR 6.2, CI 2.37 to 17.04, p<0.001) and prednisone (PDN) use (OR 3.8, CI 1.43 to 11.39, p=0.01) were associated with severe outcomes, whereas hydroxychloroquine use was found to be protective (OR 0.3, CI 0.14 to 0.91, p=0.03). Conclusion Our data suggest that patients with SLE and RA do not show a different COVID-19 outcome, while patients with SPA have a more favourable disease course compared with those with SLE. Risk of hospitalisation with ventilation or death was associated with age >65 years, hypertension and PDN use in patients with SLE.
Published: 2023

12. Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma: clinical and serological features and relationship with other cutaneous subsets in a large series of patients from the national registry 'SPRING' of the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: De Angelis R., Ferri C., Giuggioli D., Bajocchi G., Dagna L., Bellando-Randone S., Zanframundo G., Foti R., Cacciapaglia F., Cuomo G., Ariani A., Rosato E., Lepri G., Girelli F., Riccieri V., Zanatta E., Bosello S. L., Cavazzana I., Ingegnoli F., De Santis M., Murdaca G., Abignano G., Romeo N., Della Rossa A., Caminiti M., Iuliano A. M., Ciano G., Beretta L., Bagnato G., Lubrano E., De Andres I., Giollo A., Saracco M., Agnes C., Cipolletta E., Lumetti F., Spinella A., Magnani L., Campochiaro C., De Luca G., Codullo V., Visalli E., Di Vico C., Gigante A., Pellagrino G., Pigatto E., Lazzaroni M. -G., Franceschini F., Generali E., Mennillo G., Barsotti S., Mariano G. P., Furini F., Vultaggio L., Parisi S., Peroni C. L., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Scire C. A., Bianchi G., Fusaro E., Sebastiani G. D., Govoni M., D'Angelo S., Cozzi F., Guiducci S., Doria A., Salvarani C., Iannone F., Matucci-Cerinic M., Giorgio A., Alessia B., Francesca C., Renato C., Dall'Ara F., Angelo D. C., Marica D., Gianluca S., Rossella T., De Angelis, R, Ferri, C, Giuggioli, D, Bajocchi, G, Dagna, L, Bellando-Randone, S, Zanframundo, G, Foti, R, Cacciapaglia, F, Cuomo, G, Ariani, A, Rosato, E, Lepri, G, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Zanatta, E, Bosello, S, Cavazzana, I, Ingegnoli, F, De Santis, M, Murdaca, G, Abignano, G, Romeo, N, Della Rossa, A, Caminiti, M, Iuliano, A, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Bagnato, G, Lubrano, E, De Andres, I, Giollo, A, Saracco, M, Agnes, C, Cipolletta, E, Lumetti, F, Spinella, A, Magnani, L, Campochiaro, C, De Luca, G, Codullo, V, Visalli, E, Di Vico, C, Gigante, A, Pellagrino, G, Pigatto, E, Lazzaroni, M, Franceschini, F, Generali, E, Mennillo, G, Barsotti, S, Mariano, G, Furini, F, Vultaggio, L, Parisi, S, Peroni, C, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Scire, C, Bianchi, G, Fusaro, E, Sebastiani, G, Govoni, M, D'Angelo, S, Cozzi, F, Guiducci, S, Doria, A, Salvarani, C, Iannone, F, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Giorgio, A, Alessia, B, Francesca, C, Renato, C, Dall'Ara, F, Angelo, D, Marica, D, Gianluca, S, Rossella, T, De Angelis, R., Ferri, C., Giuggioli, D., Bajocchi, G., Dagna, L., Bellando-Randone, S., Zanframundo, G., Foti, R., Cacciapaglia, F., Cuomo, G., Ariani, A., Rosato, E., Lepri, G., Girelli, F., Riccieri, V., Zanatta, E., Bosello, S. L., Cavazzana, I., Ingegnoli, F., De Santis, M., Murdaca, G., Abignano, G., Romeo, N., Della Rossa, A., Caminiti, M., Iuliano, A. M., Ciano, G., Beretta, L., Bagnato, G., Lubrano, E., De Andres, I., Giollo, A., Saracco, M., Agnes, C., Cipolletta, E., Lumetti, F., Spinella, A., Magnani, L., Campochiaro, C., De Luca, G., Codullo, V., Visalli, E., Di Vico, C., Gigante, A., Pellagrino, G., Pigatto, E., Lazzaroni, M. -G., Franceschini, F., Generali, E., Mennillo, G., Barsotti, S., Mariano, G. P., Furini, F., Vultaggio, L., Parisi, S., Peroni, C. L., Rozza, D., Zanetti, A., Carrara, G., Landolfi, G., Scire, C. A., Bianchi, G., Fusaro, E., Sebastiani, G. D., Govoni, M., D'Angelo, S., Cozzi, F., Guiducci, S., Doria, A., Salvarani, C., Iannone, F., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Giorgio, A., Alessia, B., Francesca, C., Renato, C., Dall'Ara, F., Angelo, D. C., Marica, D., Gianluca, S., and Rossella, T.
Subjects: Scleroderma, Systemic, Settore MED/16 - REUMATOLOGIA, Epidemiology, Immunology, Systemic, Autoimmunity, Autoimmune Disease, Autoimmune Diseases, Scleroderma, Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Seasons, Human
Abstract: ObjectiveTo describe demographic, clinical and laboratory features of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc) in a large multicentre systemic sclerosis (SSc) cohort.MethodsData involving 1808 SSc patients from Italian Systemic sclerosis PRogression INvestiGation registry were collected. The ssSSc was defined by the absence of any cutaneous sclerosis and/or puffy fingers. Clinical and serological features of ssSSc were compared with limited cutaneous (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) subsets.ResultsAmong patients with SSc, only 61 (3.4%) were classified as having ssSSc (F/M=19/1). Time from Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) onset to diagnosis was longer in ssSSc (3 years, IQR 1–16.5) than lcSSc (2 years, IQR 0–7), and dcSSc (1 year, IQR 0–3) (pConclusionThe ssSSc is a quite rare disease variant characterised by clinico-serological features comparable to lcSSc, but significantly different from dcSSc. Overall, longer RP duration, low percentages of DPS and peripheral microvascular abnormalities, and increased anti-centromere seropositivity distinguish ssSSc. Further investigations based on national registries might provide useful insights on the actual relevance of the ssSSc within the scleroderma spectrum.
Published: 2023

13. Musculoskeletal ultrasound may narrow the gap between patients and physicians in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity

Author: Floris A., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Bellis E., Cauli A., Iagnocco A., Scire C. A., Piga M., Batticciotto A., Bortoluzzi A., Gabba A., Gattamelata A., Adinolfi A., Raffeiner B., Vinghitti C., Mastaglio C., Scioscia C., Russi D., Luccioli F., Cavatorta F., Ceccarelli F., Sakellariou G., Filippou G., Cagnotto G., Farina I., Menza L., Idolazzi L., Canzoni M., Massarotti M., Focherini M., Caprioli M., Gutierrez M., Draghessi A., Muratore M., De Lucia O., Rossini P., MacChioni P., Ramonda R., Rossi S., Parisi S., Sabatino V. D., Picerno V., Floris, A, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Bellis, E, Cauli, A, Iagnocco, A, Scire, C, Piga, M, Batticciotto, A, Bortoluzzi, A, Gabba, A, Gattamelata, A, Adinolfi, A, Raffeiner, B, Vinghitti, C, Mastaglio, C, Scioscia, C, Russi, D, Luccioli, F, Cavatorta, F, Ceccarelli, F, Sakellariou, G, Filippou, G, Cagnotto, G, Farina, I, Menza, L, Idolazzi, L, Canzoni, M, Massarotti, M, Focherini, M, Caprioli, M, Gutierrez, M, Draghessi, A, Muratore, M, De Lucia, O, Rossini, P, Macchioni, P, Ramonda, R, Rossi, S, Parisi, S, Sabatino, V, and Picerno, V
Subjects: rheumatoid arthritis, remission, Rheumatology, patient–physician discordance, patient global assessment, Pharmacology (medical), patient-physician discordance, ultrasonography, RA
Abstract: Objectives To investigate the association between patient–physician discordance in the assessment of disease activity and residual US synovitis/tenosynovitis in a cohort of patients with RA in clinical remission. Methods A post hoc analysis of the STARTER study, promoted by the Musculoskeletal-US (MSUS) Study Group of the Italian Society for Rheumatology, was performed using data from 361 consecutive patients with RA in clinical remission. The global assessment of disease activity by each patient (PGA) and evaluator/physician (EGA) was recorded on a 100-mm visual analogue scale. The PGA-EGA discordance was classified as positive (PGA>EGA) or negative (PGA Results The mean (s.d.) PGA and EGA scores were 6.1 (7.1) and 8.8 (12) mm, respectively, with a median (IQR) absolute difference of 4 (0–10) mm. Positive and negative discordances were recorded in 39 (10.8%) and 65(18.0%) patients, respectively. The GS-S (adjOR 1.099) and PD-S (adjOR 1.167) scores were associated with positive discordance (P Conclusions Patient–physician discordance is associated with the lack of US remission in patients with RA and may represent a further indication for MSUS.
Published: 2022

14. Adherence of Italian rheumatologists to the EULAR recommendations and outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis patients after starting conventional DMARDs: Methotrexate in Italian patients wiTh Rheumatoid Arthritis (the MITRA study). A cohort study of the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: Fornaro, M, Benaglio, F, Montecucco, C, Raffeiner, B, Di Franco, M, Iannuccelli, C, Conigliaro, P, Lomater, C, Govoni, M, Silvagni, E, Zanetti, A, Parisi, S, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Caporali, R, Iannone, F, Fornaro M., Benaglio F., Montecucco C., Raffeiner B., Di Franco M., Iannuccelli C., Conigliaro P., Lomater C., Govoni M., Silvagni E., Zanetti A., Parisi S., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Caporali R., Iannone F., Fornaro, M, Benaglio, F, Montecucco, C, Raffeiner, B, Di Franco, M, Iannuccelli, C, Conigliaro, P, Lomater, C, Govoni, M, Silvagni, E, Zanetti, A, Parisi, S, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Caporali, R, Iannone, F, Fornaro M., Benaglio F., Montecucco C., Raffeiner B., Di Franco M., Iannuccelli C., Conigliaro P., Lomater C., Govoni M., Silvagni E., Zanetti A., Parisi S., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Caporali R., and Iannone F.
Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to assess the real-life adherence of Italian rheumatologist to the 2013 EULAR recommendations and treatment outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who started a conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (csDMARD). Methods The MITRA study is an Italian multicentre observational cohort focused on treatment naïve RA patients with early diagnosis recruited in an 18-month period starting from 2015. The data related to treatment with csDMARDs during the following 12 months follow-up were presented in this paper. Results Two-hundred and fifty-nine RA patients from MITRA cohort who had a follow-up visit and started a csDMARD were included in the prospective analysis. Methotrexate was started as first conventional DMARD in 224 (86.4%) patients. During the first year after starting conventional DMARDs, 175 (67.6%) RA patients reached the pre-specified target, which was DAS28 remission (<2.6) for 112 (43.2%) patients and LDA (<3.2) for 63 (24.3%) patients. Factors that negatively impacted the target achievement were fibromyalgia (HR: 0.2 [0.05-0.81]), HAQ-DI (HR: 0.72 [0.56-0.93]) and ESR (HR: 0.99 [0.99-1]). Globally, 33 (12.7%) patients started a biologic DMARD, while 61 out of 84 (72.6%) patients who had never reached the target remained on conventional DMARD. One-hundred and ninety-three adverse events (AEs) were recorded, the majority classified as mild (91 cases, 51%). Conclusion A high proportion of RA patients achieved the target during the first-year follow-up. However, a considerable portion of RA patients did not start a biological drug although the target was never reached. AEs remain frequent with conventional DMARDs, but the majority were mild.
Published: 2022

15. Glucocorticoid tapering and associated outcome in patients with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus: the real-world GULP prospective observational study

Author: Floris, A, Chessa, E, Sebastiani, G, Prevete, I, Iannone, F, Coladonato, L, Govoni, M, Bortoluzzi, A, Mosca, M, Tani, C, Doria, A, Iaccarino, L, Franceschini, F, Fredi, M, Conti, F, Spinelli, F, Bellisai, F, D'Alessandro, R, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Cauli, A, Piga, M, Floris A., Chessa E., Sebastiani G. D., Prevete I., Iannone F., Coladonato L., Govoni M., Bortoluzzi A., Mosca M., Tani C., Doria A., Iaccarino L., Franceschini F., Fredi M., Conti F., Spinelli F. R., Bellisai F., D'Alessandro R., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Cauli A., Piga M., Floris, A, Chessa, E, Sebastiani, G, Prevete, I, Iannone, F, Coladonato, L, Govoni, M, Bortoluzzi, A, Mosca, M, Tani, C, Doria, A, Iaccarino, L, Franceschini, F, Fredi, M, Conti, F, Spinelli, F, Bellisai, F, D'Alessandro, R, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Cauli, A, Piga, M, Floris A., Chessa E., Sebastiani G. D., Prevete I., Iannone F., Coladonato L., Govoni M., Bortoluzzi A., Mosca M., Tani C., Doria A., Iaccarino L., Franceschini F., Fredi M., Conti F., Spinelli F. R., Bellisai F., D'Alessandro R., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Cauli A., and Piga M.
Abstract: Objective A subanalysis of the multicentre Early Lupus inception cohort was performed to investigate the real-world Glucocorticoids (GCs) Use in newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Patients (GULP). Methods Patients starting prednisone (PDN) ≥5 mg/day and concomitant hydroxychloroquine or immunosuppressant within 12 months of SLE classification were enrolled. Core set variables were recorded at baseline and every 6 months, including changes in PDN dose, European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics damage index. Regression models analysed predictors of tapering PDN<5 mg/day at any time and outcomes associated with different patterns of GCs tapering. Results The GULP study included 127 patients with SLE; 73 (57.5%) tapered and maintained PDN <5 mg/ day, and 17 (13.4%) discontinued PDN within a 2-year follow-up. Renal involvement (HR: 0.41; p=0.009) and lower C3 serum levels (HR: 1.04; p=0.025) predicted a lack of PDN tapering below 5 mg/day. High ECLAM scores were associated with a greater probability of increasing PDN dose (OR: 1.6; p=0.004), independently of daily intake. Disease relapse rate did not statistically differ (p=0.706) between patients tapering PDN <5 mg/day (42/99, 42.4%) and those tapering PDN without dropping below 5 mg/day (13/28, 46.4%). Every month on PDN <5 mg/day associated with lower damage accrual (IRR: 0.96; p=0.007), whereas never tapering PDN <5 mg/day associated with a higher risk of developing GC-related damage (OR 5.9; p=0.014). Conclusion Tapering PDN <5 mg/day was achieved and maintained in half of newly diagnosed patients with SLE and may represent a good balance between the need to prevent damage accrual and the risk of disease relapse.
Published: 2022

16. Impact of disease duration and gender on the sensitivity and specificity of 2015 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for gout. Cross-sectional results from an Italian multicentric study on the management of crystal-induced arthritis (ATTACk)

Author: Lorenzin, M, Ughi, N, Ariani, A, Raffeiner, B, Ceccarelli, F, Lucchetti, R, Bortoluzzi, A, Cimmino, M, Di Matteo, A, Frallonardo, P, Hoxha, A, Ortolan, A, Favero, M, Parisi, S, Furini, F, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Doria, A, Ramonda, R, Lorenzin M., Ughi N., Ariani A., Raffeiner B., Ceccarelli F., Lucchetti R., Bortoluzzi A., Cimmino M. A., Di Matteo A., Frallonardo P., Hoxha A., Ortolan A., Favero M., Parisi S., Furini F., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Doria A., Ramonda R., Lorenzin, M, Ughi, N, Ariani, A, Raffeiner, B, Ceccarelli, F, Lucchetti, R, Bortoluzzi, A, Cimmino, M, Di Matteo, A, Frallonardo, P, Hoxha, A, Ortolan, A, Favero, M, Parisi, S, Furini, F, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Doria, A, Ramonda, R, Lorenzin M., Ughi N., Ariani A., Raffeiner B., Ceccarelli F., Lucchetti R., Bortoluzzi A., Cimmino M. A., Di Matteo A., Frallonardo P., Hoxha A., Ortolan A., Favero M., Parisi S., Furini F., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Doria A., and Ramonda R.
Abstract: Objective We aimed to assess the performance of the 2015 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) gout classification criteria in an Italian cohort of patients with crystal-induced arthritis stratified by disease duration and gender in a real-life setting. Methods Consecutive patients referred to Rheumatology Units for suspected acute crystal-induced arthritis were enrolled in a multicentre cohort study by the Italian Society of Rheumatology which was designed to improve the management of crystal-induced arthritis (ATTACk). To test the performance of the criteria (sensitivity and specificity), the presence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in synovial fluid (SF) was used as gold standard. Subgroup analyses by gender and disease duration were performed. Results Two hundred and seventy-seven patients were enrolled. SF analysis was available in 137 (49%) patients. Complete SF analysis and ACR/EULAR scores were obtained in 44% of patients. MSU crystals were found in 66% of patients. The sensitivity and the specificity of all criteria sets were 78% (95%CI, 67–86) and 98% (95%CI, 87–100), respectively; only clinical criteria yielded 70% (95%CI, 59–80) sensitivity and 93% (95%CI, 80-98) specificity, respectively. In early-stage disease (<2 years), the sensitivity dropped to 58% (95%CI, 39-75), while the specificity was 100% (95%CI, 85–100). Conclusion The ACR/EULAR criteria showed good performance in patients presenting with acute arthritis; changes were observed when a subset of criteria were used, especially in early-stage disease.
Published: 2022

17. Do we need Early Arthritis Clinics to counteract the excess of mortality in rheumatoid arthritis?

Author: Sakellariou, G, Carrara, G, Zanetti, A, Scire, C, Bugatti, S, Montecucco, C, Sakellariou G., Carrara G., Zanetti A., Scire C. A., Bugatti S., Montecucco C., Sakellariou, G, Carrara, G, Zanetti, A, Scire, C, Bugatti, S, Montecucco, C, Sakellariou G., Carrara G., Zanetti A., Scire C. A., Bugatti S., and Montecucco C.
Published: 2022

18. Reliability assessment of the definition of ultrasound enthesitis in SpA: results of a large, multicentre, international, web-based study

Author: Di Matteo, A, Cipolletta, E, Castaniti, G, Smerilli, G, Airoldi, C, Aydin, S, Becciolini, A, Bonfiglioli, K, Bruns, A, Carrara, G, Cazenave, T, Ciapetti, A, Cosatti, M, de Agustin, J, Di Carlo, M, Di Donato, E, Di Geso, L, Duran, E, Elliott, A, Estrach, C, Farisogullari, B, Fiorenza, A, Fodor, D, Gabba, A, Hernandez-Diaz, C, Huang, F, Hurnakova, J, Li, L, Jesus, D, Karadag, O, Martire, M, Massarotti, M, Michelena, X, Musca, A, Nair, J, Okano, T, Papalopoulos, I, Rosemffet, M, Rovisco, J, Rozza, D, Salaffi, F, Satulu, I, Scioscia, C, Scire, C, Sun, F, Tamas, M, Tanimura, S, Ventura-Rios, L, Voulgari, P, Vreju, F, Vukatana, G, Wong, E, Yang, J, Hereter, J, Zanetti, A, Grassi, W, Filippucci, E, Di Matteo A., Cipolletta E., Castaniti G. M. D., Smerilli G., Airoldi C., Aydin S. Z., Becciolini A., Bonfiglioli K., Bruns A., Carrara G., Cazenave T., Ciapetti A., Cosatti M. A., de Agustin J. J., Di Carlo M., Di Donato E., Di Geso L., Duran E., Elliott A., Estrach C., Farisogullari B., Fiorenza A., Fodor D., Gabba A., Hernandez-Diaz C., Huang F., Hurnakova J., Li L., Jesus D., Karadag O., Martire M. V., Massarotti M., Michelena X., Musca A. A., Nair J., Okano T., Papalopoulos I., Rosemffet M., Rovisco J., Rozza D., Salaffi F., Satulu I., Scioscia C., Scire C. A., Sun F., Tamas M. -M., Tanimura S., Ventura-Rios L., Voulgari P. V., Vreju F. A., Vukatana G., Wong E., Yang J., Hereter J. Z., Zanetti A., Grassi W., Filippucci E., Di Matteo, A, Cipolletta, E, Castaniti, G, Smerilli, G, Airoldi, C, Aydin, S, Becciolini, A, Bonfiglioli, K, Bruns, A, Carrara, G, Cazenave, T, Ciapetti, A, Cosatti, M, de Agustin, J, Di Carlo, M, Di Donato, E, Di Geso, L, Duran, E, Elliott, A, Estrach, C, Farisogullari, B, Fiorenza, A, Fodor, D, Gabba, A, Hernandez-Diaz, C, Huang, F, Hurnakova, J, Li, L, Jesus, D, Karadag, O, Martire, M, Massarotti, M, Michelena, X, Musca, A, Nair, J, Okano, T, Papalopoulos, I, Rosemffet, M, Rovisco, J, Rozza, D, Salaffi, F, Satulu, I, Scioscia, C, Scire, C, Sun, F, Tamas, M, Tanimura, S, Ventura-Rios, L, Voulgari, P, Vreju, F, Vukatana, G, Wong, E, Yang, J, Hereter, J, Zanetti, A, Grassi, W, Filippucci, E, Di Matteo A., Cipolletta E., Castaniti G. M. D., Smerilli G., Airoldi C., Aydin S. Z., Becciolini A., Bonfiglioli K., Bruns A., Carrara G., Cazenave T., Ciapetti A., Cosatti M. A., de Agustin J. J., Di Carlo M., Di Donato E., Di Geso L., Duran E., Elliott A., Estrach C., Farisogullari B., Fiorenza A., Fodor D., Gabba A., Hernandez-Diaz C., Huang F., Hurnakova J., Li L., Jesus D., Karadag O., Martire M. V., Massarotti M., Michelena X., Musca A. A., Nair J., Okano T., Papalopoulos I., Rosemffet M., Rovisco J., Rozza D., Salaffi F., Satulu I., Scioscia C., Scire C. A., Sun F., Tamas M. -M., Tanimura S., Ventura-Rios L., Voulgari P. V., Vreju F. A., Vukatana G., Wong E., Yang J., Hereter J. Z., Zanetti A., Grassi W., and Filippucci E.
Abstract: Objectives. To investigate the reliability of the OMERACT US Task Force definition of US enthesitis in SpA. Methods. In this web exercise, based on the evaluation of 101 images and 39 clips of the main entheses of the lower limbs, the elementary components included in the OMERACT definition of US enthesitis in SpA (hypoechoic areas, entheseal thickening, power Doppler signal at the enthesis, enthesophytes/calcifications, bone erosions) were assessed by 47 rheumatologists from 37 rheumatology centres in 15 countries. Inter- and intra-observer reliability of the US components of enthesitis was calculated using Light’s kappa, Cohen’s kappa, Prevalence And Bias Adjusted Kappa (PABAK) and their 95% CIs. Results. Bone erosions and power Doppler signal at the enthesis showed the highest overall inter-reliability [Light’s kappa: 0.77 (0.76–0.78), 0.72 (0.71–0.73), respectively; PABAK: 0.86 (0.86–0.87), 0.73 (0.73–0.74), respectively], followed by enthesophytes/calcifications [Light’s kappa: 0.65 (0.64–0.65), PABAK: 0.67 (0.67–0.68)]. This was moderate for entheseal thickening [Light’s kappa: 0.41 (0.41–0.42), PABAK: 0.41 (0.40–0.42)], and fair for hypoechoic areas [Light’s kappa: 0.37 (0.36–0.38); PABAK: 0.37 (0.37–0.38)]. A similar trend was observed in the intra-reliability exercise, although this was characterized by an overall higher degree of reliability for all US elementary components compared with the inter-observer evaluation. Conclusions. The results of this multicentre, international, web-based study show a good reliability of the OMERACT US definition of bone erosions, power Doppler signal at the enthesis and enthesophytes/calcifications. The low reliability of entheseal thickening and hypoechoic areas raises questions about the opportunity to revise the definition of these two major components for the US diagnosis of enthesitis.
Published: 2022

19. Geographical heterogeneity of clinical and serological phenotypes of systemic sclerosis observed at tertiary referral centres. The experience of the Italian SIR-SPRING registry and review of the world literature

Author: Ferri, C, De Angelis, R, Giuggioli, D, Bajocchi, G, Dagna, L, Zanframundo, G, Foti, R, Cacciapaglia, F, Cuomo, G, Ariani, A, Rosato, E, Guiducci, S, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Zanatta, E, Bosello, S, Cavazzana, I, Ingegnoli, F, De Santis, M, Murdaca, G, Abignano, G, Romeo, N, Della Rossa, A, Caminiti, M, Iuliano, A, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Bagnato, G, Lubrano, E, De Andres, I, Giollo, A, Saracco, M, Agnes, C, Lumetti, F, Spinella, A, Magnani, L, Campochiaro, C, De Luca, G, Codullo, V, Visalli, E, Masini, F, Gigante, A, Bellando-Randone, S, Pellegrino, G, Pigatto, E, Lazzaroni, M, Franceschini, F, Generali, E, Mennillo, G, Barsotti, S, Mariano, G, Calabrese, F, Furini, F, Vultaggio, L, Parisi, S, Peroni, C, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Scire, C, Bianchi, G, Fusaro, E, Sebastiani, G, Govoni, M, D'Angelo, S, Cozzi, F, Doria, A, Iannone, F, Salvarani, C, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Ferri C., De Angelis R., Giuggioli D., Bajocchi G., Dagna L., Zanframundo G., Foti R., Cacciapaglia F., Cuomo G., Ariani A., Rosato E., Guiducci S., Girelli F., Riccieri V., Zanatta E., Bosello S., Cavazzana I., Ingegnoli F., De Santis M., Murdaca G., Abignano G., Romeo N., Della Rossa A., Caminiti M., Iuliano A., Ciano G., Beretta L., Bagnato G., Lubrano E., De Andres I., Giollo A., Saracco M., Agnes C., Lumetti F., Spinella A., Magnani L., Campochiaro C., De Luca G., Codullo V., Visalli E., Masini F., Gigante A., Bellando-Randone S., Pellegrino G., Pigatto E., Lazzaroni M. G., Franceschini F., Generali E., Mennillo G., Barsotti S., Mariano G. P., Calabrese F., Furini F., Vultaggio L., Parisi S., Peroni C. L., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Scire C. A., Bianchi G., Fusaro E., Sebastiani G. D., Govoni M., D'Angelo S., Cozzi F., Doria A., Iannone F., Salvarani C., Matucci-Cerinic M., Ferri, C, De Angelis, R, Giuggioli, D, Bajocchi, G, Dagna, L, Zanframundo, G, Foti, R, Cacciapaglia, F, Cuomo, G, Ariani, A, Rosato, E, Guiducci, S, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Zanatta, E, Bosello, S, Cavazzana, I, Ingegnoli, F, De Santis, M, Murdaca, G, Abignano, G, Romeo, N, Della Rossa, A, Caminiti, M, Iuliano, A, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Bagnato, G, Lubrano, E, De Andres, I, Giollo, A, Saracco, M, Agnes, C, Lumetti, F, Spinella, A, Magnani, L, Campochiaro, C, De Luca, G, Codullo, V, Visalli, E, Masini, F, Gigante, A, Bellando-Randone, S, Pellegrino, G, Pigatto, E, Lazzaroni, M, Franceschini, F, Generali, E, Mennillo, G, Barsotti, S, Mariano, G, Calabrese, F, Furini, F, Vultaggio, L, Parisi, S, Peroni, C, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Scire, C, Bianchi, G, Fusaro, E, Sebastiani, G, Govoni, M, D'Angelo, S, Cozzi, F, Doria, A, Iannone, F, Salvarani, C, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Ferri C., De Angelis R., Giuggioli D., Bajocchi G., Dagna L., Zanframundo G., Foti R., Cacciapaglia F., Cuomo G., Ariani A., Rosato E., Guiducci S., Girelli F., Riccieri V., Zanatta E., Bosello S., Cavazzana I., Ingegnoli F., De Santis M., Murdaca G., Abignano G., Romeo N., Della Rossa A., Caminiti M., Iuliano A., Ciano G., Beretta L., Bagnato G., Lubrano E., De Andres I., Giollo A., Saracco M., Agnes C., Lumetti F., Spinella A., Magnani L., Campochiaro C., De Luca G., Codullo V., Visalli E., Masini F., Gigante A., Bellando-Randone S., Pellegrino G., Pigatto E., Lazzaroni M. G., Franceschini F., Generali E., Mennillo G., Barsotti S., Mariano G. P., Calabrese F., Furini F., Vultaggio L., Parisi S., Peroni C. L., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Scire C. A., Bianchi G., Fusaro E., Sebastiani G. D., Govoni M., D'Angelo S., Cozzi F., Doria A., Iannone F., Salvarani C., and Matucci-Cerinic M.
Abstract: Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by a complex etiopathogenesis encompassing both host genetic and environmental -infectious/toxic- factors responsible for altered fibrogenesis and diffuse microangiopathy. A wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes may be observed in patients' populations from different geographical areas. We investigated the prevalence of specific clinical and serological phenotypes in patients with definite SSc enrolled at tertiary referral centres in different Italian geographical macro-areas. The observed findings were compared with those reported in the world literature. Materials and methods: The clinical features of 1538 patients (161 M, 10.5%; mean age 59.8 ± 26.9 yrs.; mean disease duration 8.9 ± 7.7 yrs) with definite SSc recruited in 38 tertiary referral centres of the SPRING (Systemic sclerosis Progression INvestiGation Group) registry promoted by Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) were obtained and clustered according to Italian geographical macroareas. Results: Patients living in Southern Italy were characterized by more severe clinical and/or serological SSc phenotypes compared to those in Northern and Central Italy; namely, they show increased percentages of diffuse cutaneous SSc, digital ulcers, sicca syndrome, muscle involvement, arthritis, cardiopulmonary symptoms, interstitial lung involvement at HRCT, as well increased prevalence of serum anti-Scl70 autoantibodies. In the same SSc population immunusppressive drugs were frequently employed. The review of the literature underlined the geographical heterogeneity of SSc phenotypes, even if the observed findings are scarcely comparable due to the variability of methodological approaches. Conclusion: The phenotypical differences among SSc patients' subgroups from Italian macro-areas might be correlated to genetic/environmental co-factors, and possibly to a not equally distributed national network of information and healthcare facilities.
Published: 2022

20. Increased COVID-19 mortality in patients with rheumatic diseases: results from the CONTROL-19 study by the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Rozza, D, Chighizola, C, Alunno, A, Andreoli, L, Caporali, R, Gerli, R, Sebastiani, G, Valesini, G, Sinigaglia, L, Raffeiner, B, Lomater, C, Caprioli, M, Fredi, M, Romeo, N, Cuomo, G, Vadacca, M, Scire, C, Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Rozza D., Chighizola C. B., Alunno A., Andreoli L., Caporali R., Gerli R., Sebastiani G. D., Valesini G., Sinigaglia L., Raffeiner B., Lomater C., Caprioli M., Fredi M., Romeo N., Cuomo G., Vadacca M., Scire C. A., Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Rozza, D, Chighizola, C, Alunno, A, Andreoli, L, Caporali, R, Gerli, R, Sebastiani, G, Valesini, G, Sinigaglia, L, Raffeiner, B, Lomater, C, Caprioli, M, Fredi, M, Romeo, N, Cuomo, G, Vadacca, M, Scire, C, Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Rozza D., Chighizola C. B., Alunno A., Andreoli L., Caporali R., Gerli R., Sebastiani G. D., Valesini G., Sinigaglia L., Raffeiner B., Lomater C., Caprioli M., Fredi M., Romeo N., Cuomo G., Vadacca M., and Scire C. A.
Abstract: Objective To investigate differences in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality between patients with rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) and the general population in Italy. Methods We analysed the data from the national surveillance study promoted by the Italian Society for Rheumatology (CONTROL-19 database) including patients with RMD and COVID-19 between 26 March 2020 and 29 November 2020, compared with official data from the Italian population (within the same period) adjusted for age, sex and geographic location. The main outcome of the analyses was mortality. The relationship between RMD and mortality was analysed using adjusted logistic models and sensitivity analyses were conducted to support the robustness of our results. Results We included 668 RMD patients (62.7% with inflammatory arthritis, 28.6% with systemic autoimmune diseases), who had a mean age of 58.4 years and of which 66% were female. Compared to the general population, the RMD population showed an increased risk of death (OR 3.10 (95% CI 2.29–4.12)), independently from the differences in age and sex distribution. Even after considering the potential influence of surveillance bias, the OR was 2.08 (95% CI: 1.55–2.73). Such excess of risk was more evident in the subgroup of younger patients, and more consistent in women. Subjects with systemic autoimmune diseases showed a higher risk of death than patients with any other RMDs. Conclusions Patients with RMD and COVID-19 infection evidenced a significant increase in mortality during the first pandemic phases in Italy. These findings support the need for strong SARS-CoV-2 prevention in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Published: 2022

21. Influence of initial glucocorticoid co-medication on mortality and hospitalization in early inflammatory arthritis: an investigation by record linkage of clinical and administrative databases

Author: Sakellariou, G, Scire, C, Rumi, F, Carrara, G, Zanetti, A, Cerra, C, Migliazza, S, Bugatti, S, Montecucco, C, Sakellariou G., Scire C. A., Rumi F., Carrara G., Zanetti A., Cerra C., Migliazza S., Bugatti S., Montecucco C., Sakellariou, G, Scire, C, Rumi, F, Carrara, G, Zanetti, A, Cerra, C, Migliazza, S, Bugatti, S, Montecucco, C, Sakellariou G., Scire C. A., Rumi F., Carrara G., Zanetti A., Cerra C., Migliazza S., Bugatti S., and Montecucco C.
Abstract: Background: While low-dose oral glucocorticoids (GCs) are recommended in the management of early arthritis, their impact on mortality is unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of GCs on mortality in patients with early arthritis, by linking clinical and administrative databases. Methods: The study included patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or undifferentiated arthritis (2005–2010), who received DMARDs (MTX in RA or UA with poor prognosis, hydroxychloroquine in UA) and were alive at the second year of follow-up. Low-dose GCs could be prescribed. Clinical and administrative data were linked from Administrative Health Databases (AHD) of the corresponding province, which provided us with information on drug delivery, comorbidities, hospitalization, and mortality. The effect of GCs in the first year was defined using a dichotomous variable or a 3-level categorization (not delivered, ≤7.5 mg/day, or >7.5 mg/day of prednisone) on all-cause mortality, assessed with Cox regression, either crude or adjusted for age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) or single comorbidities, ACPA, HAQ, and MTX in the first year. A secondary analysis of the effect of GCs on related hospitalizations (for cardiovascular events, diabetes, serious infections, osteoporotic fractures) was also carried. Results: Four hundred forty-nine patients were enrolled (mean age 58.59, RA 65.03%) of which 51 (11.36%) died during the study. The median (IQR) follow-up was equal to 103.91 (88.03–126.71) months. Treatments with GCs were formally prescribed to 198 patients (44.10%) at ≤7.5 mg/day, although by the end of the study such treatments were received by 257 patients (57.24%); 88 patients (19.6%) were treated with GCs at >7.5 mg/day. In adjusted analyses, the GC delivery (HR, 95% CI 1.35 (0.74, 2.47)) did not significantly predict mortality — both at a low (HR, 95% CI 1.41 (0.73, 2.71)) and at a high (HR, 95% CI 1.23 (0.52, 2.92)) dosage. When “all-cause hospital
Published: 2022

22. Sex-related Differences in Systemic Sclerosis: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study From the National Registry of the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: De Angelis, R, Giuggioli, D, Bajocchi, G, Dagna, L, Zanframundo, G, Foti, R, Cacciapaglia, F, Cuomo, G, Ariani, A, Rosato, E, Guiducci, S, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Zanatta, E, Bosello, S, Cavazzana, I, Ingegnoli, F, Santis, M, Murdaca, G, Abignano, G, Romeo, N, Della Rossa, A, Caminiti, M, Iuliano, A, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Bagnato, G, Lubrano, E, De Andres, I, Giollo, A, Saracco, M, Agnes, C, Lumetti, F, Spinella, A, Magnani, L, Campochiaro, C, De Luca, G, Codullo, V, Visalli, E, Masini, F, Gigante, A, Bellando-Randone, S, Pellegrino, G, Pigatto, E, Dall'Ara, F, Lazzaroni, M, Generali, E, Mennillo, G, Barsotti, S, Mariano, G, Calabrese, F, Furini, F, Vultaggio, L, Parisi, S, Peroni, C, Risa, A, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Scire, C, Bianchi, G, Fusaro, E, Sebastiani, G, Govoni, M, D'Angelo, S, Cozzi, F, Doria, A, Iannone, F, Salvarani, C, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Ferri, C, De Angelis R., Giuggioli D., Bajocchi G., Dagna L., Zanframundo G., Foti R., Cacciapaglia F., Cuomo G., Ariani A., Rosato E., Guiducci S., Girelli F., Riccieri V., Zanatta E., Bosello S., Cavazzana I., Ingegnoli F., Santis M., Murdaca G., Abignano G., Romeo N., Della Rossa A., Caminiti M., Iuliano A., Ciano G., Beretta L., Bagnato G., Lubrano E., De Andres I., Giollo A., Saracco M., Agnes C., Lumetti F., Spinella A., Magnani L., Campochiaro C., De Luca G., Codullo V., Visalli E., Masini F., Gigante A., Bellando-Randone S., Pellegrino G., Pigatto E., Dall'Ara F., Lazzaroni M. G., Generali E., Mennillo G., Barsotti S., Mariano G. P., Calabrese F., Furini F., Vultaggio L., Parisi S., Peroni C. L., Risa A. M., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Scire C. A., Bianchi G., Fusaro E., Sebastiani G. D., Govoni M., D'Angelo S., Cozzi F., Doria A., Iannone F., Salvarani C., Matucci-Cerinic M., Ferri C., De Angelis, R, Giuggioli, D, Bajocchi, G, Dagna, L, Zanframundo, G, Foti, R, Cacciapaglia, F, Cuomo, G, Ariani, A, Rosato, E, Guiducci, S, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Zanatta, E, Bosello, S, Cavazzana, I, Ingegnoli, F, Santis, M, Murdaca, G, Abignano, G, Romeo, N, Della Rossa, A, Caminiti, M, Iuliano, A, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Bagnato, G, Lubrano, E, De Andres, I, Giollo, A, Saracco, M, Agnes, C, Lumetti, F, Spinella, A, Magnani, L, Campochiaro, C, De Luca, G, Codullo, V, Visalli, E, Masini, F, Gigante, A, Bellando-Randone, S, Pellegrino, G, Pigatto, E, Dall'Ara, F, Lazzaroni, M, Generali, E, Mennillo, G, Barsotti, S, Mariano, G, Calabrese, F, Furini, F, Vultaggio, L, Parisi, S, Peroni, C, Risa, A, Rozza, D, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Landolfi, G, Scire, C, Bianchi, G, Fusaro, E, Sebastiani, G, Govoni, M, D'Angelo, S, Cozzi, F, Doria, A, Iannone, F, Salvarani, C, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Ferri, C, De Angelis R., Giuggioli D., Bajocchi G., Dagna L., Zanframundo G., Foti R., Cacciapaglia F., Cuomo G., Ariani A., Rosato E., Guiducci S., Girelli F., Riccieri V., Zanatta E., Bosello S., Cavazzana I., Ingegnoli F., Santis M., Murdaca G., Abignano G., Romeo N., Della Rossa A., Caminiti M., Iuliano A., Ciano G., Beretta L., Bagnato G., Lubrano E., De Andres I., Giollo A., Saracco M., Agnes C., Lumetti F., Spinella A., Magnani L., Campochiaro C., De Luca G., Codullo V., Visalli E., Masini F., Gigante A., Bellando-Randone S., Pellegrino G., Pigatto E., Dall'Ara F., Lazzaroni M. G., Generali E., Mennillo G., Barsotti S., Mariano G. P., Calabrese F., Furini F., Vultaggio L., Parisi S., Peroni C. L., Risa A. M., Rozza D., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Landolfi G., Scire C. A., Bianchi G., Fusaro E., Sebastiani G. D., Govoni M., D'Angelo S., Cozzi F., Doria A., Iannone F., Salvarani C., Matucci-Cerinic M., and Ferri C.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: There is still a great deal to learn about the influence of sex in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this respect, national registries provide large and homogeneous patient cohorts for analytical studies. We therefore investigated a wide-ranging and well-characterized SSc series with the aim of identifying sex differences in disease expression, with a special focus on demographic, clinical, and serological characteristics. METHODS: A multicenter SSc cohort of 2281 patients, including 247 men, was recruited in the Italian Systemic sclerosis PRogression INvestiGation (SPRING) registry. Demographic data, disease manifestations, serological profile, and internal organ involvement were compared. RESULTS: The overall female/male ratio was 8.2:1. Female/male ratios for limited cutaneous SSc, diffuse cutaneous SSc, and SSc sine scleroderma subsets were 8.7:1, 4.9:1, and 10.7:1, respectively. A shorter time from onset of Raynaud phenomenon to SSc diagnosis, an increased prevalence of the diffuse cutaneous subset, renal crisis, and digital ulcers were found in males, whereas a significantly higher percentage of sicca syndrome, serum antinuclear antibodies, antiextractable nuclear antigens, anti-La/SSB, and anticentromere protein B was detected in the female group. Males exhibited lower left ventricular ejection fraction, as well as higher prevalence of conduction blocks, arrhythmias, ground glass, and honeycombing. Moreover, forced vital capacity and total lung capacity were medially lower in men than in women. Finally, males were more frequently treated with immunosuppressive drugs. CONCLUSION: Our study further supports the presence of several sex-related differences in patients with SSc. These differences were pronounced in the severity of cutaneous, peripheral vascular, and cardiopulmonary involvement for male patients, whereas an increased prevalence of sicca syndrome and a specific autoantibody profile characterized the female sex.
Published: 2022

23. Persistence of bDMARD therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis after first-line TNF-inhibitor failure: the RECORD study of the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: Carrara, G, Argnani, L, Zanetti, A, Zabotti, A, Silvagni, E, Sebastiani, G, Sebastiani, M, Scire, C, Carrara G., Argnani L., Zanetti A., Zabotti A., Silvagni E., Sebastiani G. D., Sebastiani M., Scire C. A., Carrara, G, Argnani, L, Zanetti, A, Zabotti, A, Silvagni, E, Sebastiani, G, Sebastiani, M, Scire, C, Carrara G., Argnani L., Zanetti A., Zabotti A., Silvagni E., Sebastiani G. D., Sebastiani M., and Scire C. A.
Abstract: Objective: The optimal choice of a second biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) after failure with first line tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) represents a critical therapeutic challenge. This study aims to evaluate the persistence with treatment using second line bDMARDs with different mechanisms of action in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with inadequate response to first line TNFi. Method: A retrospective cohort study on administrative healthcare databases was conducted. We analysed the relationship between different bDMARDs and persistence with treatment in RA patients who started second line bDMARD therapy according to two different strategies: cycling (second TNFi) or switching [change in mechanism of action: abatacept (ABA), tocilizumab (TCZ), and rituximab (RTX)] with or without concomitant conventional synthetic (cs) DMARDs. Results: The cohort comprised 1434 patients. The mean age was 53.8 years and 1142 (79.6%) were women. Among second line bDMARDs, 969 patients (67.6%) started TNFi, 204 (14.2%) ABA, 145 (10.1%) RTX, and 116 (8.1%) TCZ. A bDMARD was prescribed as monotherapy in 359 patients (25.0%). The switching strategy showed a lower overall discontinuation rate [hazard ratio (HR) 0.72], while switching compared to cycling showed significantly better survival for ABA (HR 0.61) and RTX (HR 0.76), but no significant difference for TCZ (HR 0.82). A lower impact of better drug survival in the switching strategy occurred in patients with concurrent methotrexate. Conclusions: Among RA patients failing a first TNFi, switching is associated with marginally better persistence, in particular for ABA and RTX, with only marginal differences in patients on concurrent csDMARDs.
Published: 2022

24. OP0153 DEVELOPMENT OF A PROVISIONAL SELF-REPORTED DEFINITION FOR ACUTE CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE CRYSTAL ARTHRITIS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A MULTICENTRE STUDY

Author: Cipolletta, E., primary, Andrés, M., additional, Ottaviani, S., additional, Pascart, T., additional, Calabuig, I., additional, Gomez-Sabater, S., additional, Caño-Alameda, R., additional, Leger, B., additional, Pacaud, A., additional, Moscioni, E., additional, Muto, P., additional, Caira, V., additional, Bruno, C., additional, Rozza, D., additional, Carrara, G., additional, Zanetti, A., additional, Abhishek, A., additional, and Filippucci, E., additional
Published: 2023
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25. Psychiatric hospitalization among offenders: a retrospective study in the acute psychiatric ward in Monza, Italy

Author: Provenzi, M., primary, Affaticati, L. M., additional, Carrara, G., additional, Di Forti, C. L., additional, Viganò, D., additional, and Clerici, M., additional
Published: 2023
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26. Effect of a quality improvement program on compliance to the sepsis bundle in non-ICU patients: a multicenter prospective before and after cohort study

Author: Monti, G, Rezoagli, E, Calini, A, Nova, A, Marchesi, S, Nattino, G, Carrara, G, Morra, S, Cortellaro, F, Savioli, M, Capra Marzani, F, Tresoldi, M, Villa, P, Greco, S, Bonfanti, P, Spitoni, M, Vesconi, S, Caironi, P, Fumagalli, R, Monti, Gianpaola, Rezoagli, Emanuele, Calini, Angelo, Nova, Alice, Marchesi, Silvia, Nattino, Giovanni, Carrara, Greta, Morra, Sergio, Cortellaro, Francesca, Savioli, Monica, Capra Marzani, Federico, Tresoldi, Moreno, Villa, Paolo, Greco, Stefano, Bonfanti, Paolo, Spitoni, Maria Grazia, Vesconi, Sergio, Caironi, Pietro, Fumagalli, Roberto, Monti, G, Rezoagli, E, Calini, A, Nova, A, Marchesi, S, Nattino, G, Carrara, G, Morra, S, Cortellaro, F, Savioli, M, Capra Marzani, F, Tresoldi, M, Villa, P, Greco, S, Bonfanti, P, Spitoni, M, Vesconi, S, Caironi, P, Fumagalli, R, Monti, Gianpaola, Rezoagli, Emanuele, Calini, Angelo, Nova, Alice, Marchesi, Silvia, Nattino, Giovanni, Carrara, Greta, Morra, Sergio, Cortellaro, Francesca, Savioli, Monica, Capra Marzani, Federico, Tresoldi, Moreno, Villa, Paolo, Greco, Stefano, Bonfanti, Paolo, Spitoni, Maria Grazia, Vesconi, Sergio, Caironi, Pietro, and Fumagalli, Roberto
Abstract: Objective: Sepsis and septic shock are major challenges and economic burdens to healthcare, impacting millions of people globally and representing significant causes of mortality. Recently, a large number of quality improvement programs focused on sepsis resuscitation bundles have been instituted worldwide. These educational initiatives have been shown to be associated with improvements in clinical outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a multi-faceted quality implementing program (QIP) on the compliance of a “simplified 1-h bundle” (Sepsis 6) and hospital mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock patients out of the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Emergency departments (EDs) and medical wards (MWs) of 12 academic and non-academic hospitals in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy) were involved in a multi-faceted QIP, which included educational and organizational interventions. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock according to the Sepsis-2 criteria were enrolled in two different periods: from May 2011 to November 2011 (before-QIP cohort) and from August 2012 to June 2013 (after-QIP cohort). Measurements and main results: The effect of QIP on bundle compliance and hospital mortality was evaluated in a before–after analysis. We enrolled 467 patients in the before-QIP group and 656 in the after-QIP group. At the time of enrollment, septic shock was diagnosed in 50% of patients, similarly between the two periods. In the after-QIP group, we observed increased compliance to the “simplified rapid (1 h) intervention bundle” (the Sepsis 6 bundle – S6) at three time-points evaluated (1 h, 13.7 to 18.7%, p = 0.018, 3 h, 37.1 to 48.0%, p = 0.013, overall study period, 46.2 to 57.9%, p < 0.001). We then analyzed compliance with S6 and hospital mortality in the before- and after-QIP periods, stratifying the two patients’ cohorts by admission characteristics. Adherence to the S6 bundle was increased in patients with severe sepsis in the
Published: 2023

27. Cost-Effectiveness of the Early Arthritis Clinic Organizational Model

Author: Zanetti, A, Sakellariou, G, Zambon, A, Carrara, G, Argnani, L, Mantovani, L, Cortesi, P, Bugatti, S, Montecucco, C, Scire', C, Mantovani, LG, Cortesi, PA, Scire', CA, Zanetti, A, Sakellariou, G, Zambon, A, Carrara, G, Argnani, L, Mantovani, L, Cortesi, P, Bugatti, S, Montecucco, C, Scire', C, Mantovani, LG, Cortesi, PA, and Scire', CA
Abstract: Objective: Early diagnosis and tight control improve outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, whether establishing an early arthritis clinic (EAC) is sustainable for national health systems is not known. This analysis aimed to compare effectiveness and costs of an EAC compared to patients followed by the current standard of care. Methods: A retrospective study on administrative health databases of patients with a new diagnosis of RA was conducted: 430 patients followed in an EAC were enrolled, and 4 non-EAC controls were randomly matched for each. During 2 years of follow-up, the mean health care costs (outpatient, inpatient, pharmaceutical, and global) and 3 effectiveness measures (number and length of hospitalization and quality of care) of the EAC and non-EAC were estimated. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated as well as the cost-effectiveness acceptability curve. Results: The cohorts included patients with a mean age of 55.4 years, and 1,506 patients (70%) were female. The mean pharmaceutical (2,602 versus 1,945 euros) and outpatient (2,447 versus 1,778 euros) costs were higher in the EAC cohort. Conversely, a higher rate of non-EAC patients had a low adherence to quality-of-care indicators. The expected number of hospitalizations and the length of stay were statistically significantly higher in the non-EAC versus EAC. Conclusion: Despite an expected increase in outpatient costs (visits and diagnostic tests) and pharmaceutical costs, the reduction in terms of number and length of hospitalizations and the higher adherence to international quality-of-care guidelines support the effectiveness of the EAC model.
Published: 2023

28. Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma: clinical and serological features and relationship with other cutaneous subsets in a large series of patients from the national registry 'SPRING' of the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: De Angelis, R., Ferri, C., Giuggioli, D., Bajocchi, G., Dagna, L., Bellando-Randone, S., Zanframundo, G., Foti, Roberta, Cacciapaglia, F., Cuomo, G., Ariani, A., Rosato, E., Lepri, G., Girelli, F., Riccieri, V., Zanatta, E., Bosello, Silvia Laura, Cavazzana, I., Ingegnoli, F., De Santis, M., Murdaca, G., Abignano, G., Romeo, N., Della Rossa, A., Caminiti, M., Iuliano, A. M., Ciano, G., Beretta, Carlo Luigi, Bagnato, G., Lubrano, E., De Andres, I., Giollo, A., Saracco, M., Agnes, C., Cipolletta, Eleonora, Lumetti, F., Spinella, A., Magnani, L., Campochiaro, C., De Luca, G., Codullo, V., Visalli, E., Di Vico, C., Gigante, A., Pellagrino, G., Pigatto, E., Lazzaroni, M. -G., Franceschini, F., Generali, E., Mennillo, G., Barsotti, S., Mariano, G. P., Furini, F., Vultaggio, L., Parisi, S., Peroni, C. L., Rozza, D., Zanetti, Maria Assunta, Carrara, Giancarlo, Landolfi, G., Scire, C. A., Bianchi, G., Fusaro, Enrica Maria, Sebastiani, Gian Domenico, Govoni, M., D'Angelo, S., Cozzi, F., Guiducci, S., Doria, A., Salvarani, C., Iannone, F., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Giorgio, A., Alessia, B., Francesca, C., Renato, C., Dall'Ara, F., Angelo, D. C., Marica, D., Gianluca, S., Rossella, T., Foti R., Bosello S. L. (ORCID:0000-0002-4837-447X), Beretta L. (ORCID:0000-0001-9924-2066), Cipolletta E., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Fusaro E., Sebastiani G. D., De Angelis, R., Ferri, C., Giuggioli, D., Bajocchi, G., Dagna, L., Bellando-Randone, S., Zanframundo, G., Foti, Roberta, Cacciapaglia, F., Cuomo, G., Ariani, A., Rosato, E., Lepri, G., Girelli, F., Riccieri, V., Zanatta, E., Bosello, Silvia Laura, Cavazzana, I., Ingegnoli, F., De Santis, M., Murdaca, G., Abignano, G., Romeo, N., Della Rossa, A., Caminiti, M., Iuliano, A. M., Ciano, G., Beretta, Carlo Luigi, Bagnato, G., Lubrano, E., De Andres, I., Giollo, A., Saracco, M., Agnes, C., Cipolletta, Eleonora, Lumetti, F., Spinella, A., Magnani, L., Campochiaro, C., De Luca, G., Codullo, V., Visalli, E., Di Vico, C., Gigante, A., Pellagrino, G., Pigatto, E., Lazzaroni, M. -G., Franceschini, F., Generali, E., Mennillo, G., Barsotti, S., Mariano, G. P., Furini, F., Vultaggio, L., Parisi, S., Peroni, C. L., Rozza, D., Zanetti, Maria Assunta, Carrara, Giancarlo, Landolfi, G., Scire, C. A., Bianchi, G., Fusaro, Enrica Maria, Sebastiani, Gian Domenico, Govoni, M., D'Angelo, S., Cozzi, F., Guiducci, S., Doria, A., Salvarani, C., Iannone, F., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Giorgio, A., Alessia, B., Francesca, C., Renato, C., Dall'Ara, F., Angelo, D. C., Marica, D., Gianluca, S., Rossella, T., Foti R., Bosello S. L. (ORCID:0000-0002-4837-447X), Beretta L. (ORCID:0000-0001-9924-2066), Cipolletta E., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Fusaro E., and Sebastiani G. D.
Abstract: Objective To describe demographic, clinical and laboratory features of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc) in a large multicentre systemic sclerosis (SSc) cohort. Methods Data involving 1808 SSc patients from Italian Systemic sclerosis PRogression INvestiGation registry were collected. The ssSSc was defined by the absence of any cutaneous sclerosis and/or puffy fingers. Clinical and serological features of ssSSc were compared with limited cutaneous (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) subsets. Results Among patients with SSc, only 61 (3.4%) were classified as having ssSSc (F/M=19/1). Time from Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) onset to diagnosis was longer in ssSSc (3 years, IQR 1-16.5) than lcSSc (2 years, IQR 0-7), and dcSSc (1 year, IQR 0-3) (p<0.001). Clinical ssSSc phenotype was comparable to lcSSc, except for digital pitting scars (DPS) (19.7% vs 42%, p=0.01), but significantly milder than dcSSc, particularly for digital ulcers (DU) (6.6% vs 35.7%, p<0.001), oesophagus (46.2% vs 63.5%, p=0.009), lung (mean diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide 72.2±19.6 vs 62.4±22.8, p=0.009; mean forced vital capacity 105.6±21.7 vs 89.2±20.9, p<0.001) and major videocapillaroscopic alterations (late pattern 8.6% vs 47.6%, p<0.001). Moreover, in ssSSc the percentages of anticentromere and antitopoisomerase were comparable to lcSSc (40% and 18.3% vs 36.7% and 26.6%), but divergent respect to dcSSc (8.6% and 67.4%, p<0.001). Conclusion The ssSSc is a quite rare disease variant characterised by clinico-serological features comparable to lcSSc, but significantly different from dcSSc. Overall, longer RP duration, low percentages of DPS and peripheral microvascular abnormalities, and increased anti-centromere seropositivity distinguish ssSSc. Further investigations based on national registries might provide useful insights on the actual relevance of the ssSSc within the scleroderma spectrum.
Published: 2023

29. Emergency hernia repair in the elderly: multivariate analysis of morbidity and mortality from an Italian registry

Author: Ceresoli, M, Carissimi, F, Nigro, A, Fransvea, P, Lepre, L, Braga, M, Costa, G, Agresta, F., Alemanno, G., Anania, G., Antropoli, M., Argenio, G., Atzeni, J., Avenia, N., Azzinnaro, A., Baldazzi, G., Balducci, G., Barbera, G., Bellanova, G., Bergamini, C., Bersigotti, L., Bianchi, Pp., Bombardini, C., Borzellino, G., Bozzo, S., Brachini, G., Buonanno, Gm., Canini, T., Cardella, S., Carrara, G., Cassini, D., Castriconi, M., Ceccarelli, G., Celi, D., Ceresoli, M., Chiappetta, M., Chiarugi, M., Cillara, N., Cimino, F., Cobuccio, L., Cocorullo, G., Colangelo, E., Costa, G., Crucitti, A., Dallacaneva, P., De Luca, M., de Manzoni Garberini, A., De Nisco, C., De Prizio, M., De Sol, A., Dibella, A., Falcioni, T., Falco, N., Farina, C., Finotti, E., Fontana, T., Francioni, G., Fransvea, P., Frezza, B., Garbarino, G., Garulli, G., Genna, M., Giannessi, S., Gioffrè, A., Giordano, A., Gozzo, D., Grimaldi, S., Gulotta, G., Iacopini, V., Iarussi, T., Laracca, G., Laterza, E., Leonardi, A., Lepre, L., Lorenzon, L., Luridiana, G., Malagnino, A., Mar, G., Marini, P., Marzaioli, R., Massa, G., Mecarelli, V., Mercantini, P., Mingoli, A., Nigri, G., Occhionorelli, S., Paderno, N., Palini, Gm., Paradies, D., Paroli, M., Perrone, F., Petrucciani, N., Petruzzelli, L., Pezzolla, A., Piazza, D., Piazza, V., Piccoli, M., Pisanu, A., Podda, M., Poillucci, G., Porfidia, R., Rossi, G., Ruscelli, P., Spagnoli, A., Sulis, R., Tartaglia, D., Tranà, C., Travaglino, A., Tomaiuolo, P., Valeri, A., Vasquez, G., Zago, M., E. Zanoni., Ceresoli M., Carissimi F., Nigro A., Fransvea P., Lepre L., Braga M., Costa G., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Balducci G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P.P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G.M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Chiappetta M., Chiarugi M., Cillara N., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., DallaCaneva P., Luca M., de Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Frezza B., Garbarino G., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laracca G., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lorenzon L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Massa G., Mecarelli V., Mercantini P., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G.M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petrucciani N., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Pisanu A., Podda M., Poillucci G., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., Zanoni E., Ceresoli, M, Carissimi, F, Nigro, A, Fransvea, P, Lepre, L, Braga, M, Costa, G, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Balducci, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Chiappetta, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, Dallacaneva, P, Luca, M, de Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Frezza, B, Garbarino, G, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laracca, G, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lorenzon, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mercantini, P, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petrucciani, N, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Pisanu, A, Podda, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, and Zanoni, E
Subjects: medicine.medical_specialty, medicine.medical_treatment, Settore MED/18 - CHIRURGIA GENERALE, NO, Postoperative complications, Elderly, Laparotomy, medicine, Hernia, Incarcerated hernia, business.industry, Explorative laparotomy, Groin hernia · Incarcerated hernia · Elderly · Postoperative complications · Emergency surgery · Charlson’s comorbidity index, medicine.disease, Hernia repair, Comorbidity, Surgery, Groin hernia, Inguinal hernia, Charlson’s comorbidity index, Emergency surgery, business, Watchful waiting, Abdominal surgery
Abstract: Purpose The incidence of inguinal hernia is higher in elderly because of aging-related diseases like prostatism, bronchitis, collagen laxity. A conservative management is common in elderly to reduce surgery-related risks, however watchful waiting can expose to obstruction and strangulation. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of emergency surgery in a large series of elderly with complicated groin hernia and to identify the independent risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality. The predictive performance of prognostic risk scores has been also assessed. Methods This is a prospective observational study carried out between January 2017 and June 2018 in elderly patients who underwent emergency surgery for complicated hernia in 38 Italian hospitals. Pre-operative, surgical and postoperative data were recorded for each patient. ASA score, Charlson’s comorbidity index, P-POSSUM and CR-POSSUM were assessed. Results 259 patients were recruited, mean age was 80 years. A direct repair without mesh was performed in 62 (23.9%) patients. Explorative laparotomy was performed in 56 (21.6%) patients and bowel resection was necessary in 44 (17%). Mortality occurred in seven (2.8%) patients. Fifty-five (21.2%) patients developed complications, 12 of whom had a major one. At univariate and multivariate analyses, Charlson’s comorbidity index ≥ 6, altered mental status, and need for laparotomy were associated with major complications and mortality Conclusion Emergency surgery for complicated hernia is burdened by high morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Preoperative comorbidity played a pivotal role in predicting complications and mortality and therefore Charlson’s comorbidity index could be adopted to select patients for elective operation
Published: 2022

30. Influence of initial glucocorticoid co-medication on mortality and hospitalization in early inflammatory arthritis: an investigation by record linkage of clinical and administrative databases

Author: Sakellariou G., Scire C. A., Rumi F., Carrara G., Zanetti A., Cerra C., Migliazza S., Bugatti S., Montecucco C., Sakellariou, G, Scire, C, Rumi, F, Carrara, G, Zanetti, A, Cerra, C, Migliazza, S, Bugatti, S, and Montecucco, C
Subjects: Administrative Healthcare Database, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Hospitalization, Glucocorticoid, Early arthriti, Antirheumatic Agents, Humans, Prednisone, Mortality, Middle Aged, Glucocorticoids, Rheumatoid arthriti
Abstract: Background While low-dose oral glucocorticoids (GCs) are recommended in the management of early arthritis, their impact on mortality is unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of GCs on mortality in patients with early arthritis, by linking clinical and administrative databases. Methods The study included patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or undifferentiated arthritis (2005–2010), who received DMARDs (MTX in RA or UA with poor prognosis, hydroxychloroquine in UA) and were alive at the second year of follow-up. Low-dose GCs could be prescribed. Clinical and administrative data were linked from Administrative Health Databases (AHD) of the corresponding province, which provided us with information on drug delivery, comorbidities, hospitalization, and mortality. The effect of GCs in the first year was defined using a dichotomous variable or a 3-level categorization (not delivered, ≤7.5 mg/day, or >7.5 mg/day of prednisone) on all-cause mortality, assessed with Cox regression, either crude or adjusted for age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) or single comorbidities, ACPA, HAQ, and MTX in the first year. A secondary analysis of the effect of GCs on related hospitalizations (for cardiovascular events, diabetes, serious infections, osteoporotic fractures) was also carried. Results Four hundred forty-nine patients were enrolled (mean age 58.59, RA 65.03%) of which 51 (11.36%) died during the study. The median (IQR) follow-up was equal to 103.91 (88.03–126.71) months. Treatments with GCs were formally prescribed to 198 patients (44.10%) at ≤7.5 mg/day, although by the end of the study such treatments were received by 257 patients (57.24%); 88 patients (19.6%) were treated with GCs at >7.5 mg/day. In adjusted analyses, the GC delivery (HR, 95% CI 1.35 (0.74, 2.47)) did not significantly predict mortality — both at a low (HR, 95% CI 1.41 (0.73, 2.71)) and at a high (HR, 95% CI 1.23 (0.52, 2.92)) dosage. When “all-cause hospitalization” was used as an outcome, the analysis did not show a difference between patients receiving GC and patients not receiving GC. Conclusion In patients with early inflammatory arthritis, the initial GC dose was higher than that prescribed by rheumatologists; however, on background treatment with DMARDs, GC treatments did not seem to increase mortality and hospitalizations.
Published: 2022

31. Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) treatment: an Italian nationwide propensity score-matched cohort study investigating laparoscopic vs open approach

Author: Costa, Gianluca, Fransvea, Pietro, Lepre, Luca, Liotta, Gianluca, Mazzoni, Gianluca, Biloslavo, Alan, Bianchi, Valentina, Occhionorelli, Savino, Costa, Alessandro, Sganga, Gabriele, FACS on behalf of the IGo-GIPS study group (Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Altieri, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Badessi, G, Baldazzi, G, Bergamini, C, Biloslavo, A, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Brisinda, G, Buonanno, Gm, Canini, T, Capolupo, Gt, Carannante, F, Cardella, S, Caricato, M, Carrara, G, Cascone, Ca, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Catarci, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cimino, F, Cirocchi, R, Cobuccio, L, Coccolini, C, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Colozzi, S, Cortese, F, Costa, A, Costa, G, Cozza, V, Crucitti, A, Cucinotta, E, D’Alessio, R, Dalla Caneva, P, De Manzini, N, de Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, De Stefano, M, Dibella, A, Di Cosimi, C, Di Grezia, M, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Fico, V, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Fransvea, P, Frezza, B, Garbarino, Gm, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffrè, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Kurihara, H, La Greca, A, Laracca, Gg, Laterza, E, La Vaccara, V, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Liotta, G, Luridiana, G, Magalini, S, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Mariani, D, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Macianà, G, Mazzoni, G, Mecarelli, V, Mercantini, P, Mingoli, A, Mirco, P, Montuori, M, Nigro, C, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, Gm, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Pepe, G, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Pignata, G, Pinotti, E, Pisanu, A, Podda, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Puccioni, C, Rocca, A, Rondelli, F, Rossi, G, Sacchi, M, Sapienza, P, Sganga, G, Spagnoli, A, Spinoglio, G, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Tranà, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Tomassini, F, Tropeano, G, Valeri, A, Zago, M, and Zanoni, E. ).
Subjects: Surgical treatment, Laparoscopic approach, Perforated peptic ulcer
Published: 2023

32. PO.6.133 Dynamical trajectory of glucocorticoid tapering and discontinuation in real-world patients with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus: the gulp study

Author: Piga, M, primary, Chessa, E, additional, Floris, A, additional, Sebastiani, GD, additional, Prevete, I, additional, Iannone, F, additional, Coladonato, L, additional, Govoni, M, additional, Bortoluzzi, A, additional, Mosca, M, additional, Tani, C, additional, Doria, A, additional, Iaccarino, L, additional, Franceschini, F, additional, Fredi, M, additional, Conti, F, additional, Spinelli, FR, additional, Bellisai, F, additional, D’Alessandro, R, additional, Zanetti, A, additional, Carrara, G, additional, Scirè, CA, additional, and Cauli, A, additional
Published: 2022
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33. Risk factors for postoperative morbidity following appendectomy in the elderly: a nationwide prospective cohort study

Author: Poillucci, Gaetano, Podda, Mauro, Pisanu, Adolfo, Mortola, Lorenzo, Dalla Caneva, Patrizia, Massa, Giulia, Costa, Gianluca, Savastano, Riccardo, Cillara, Nicola, Collaborative Study Group endorsed by SICUT ACOI SICG SICE and Italian Chapter of WSES, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Balducci, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, Pp, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, Gm, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Costa, G, Crucitti, A, Dalla Caneva, P, De Luca, M, De Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Fransvea, P, Frezza, B, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffrè, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Lorenzon, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, Gm, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Pisanu, A, Podda, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Tranà, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, Zanoni, E., Poillucci G., Podda M., Pisanu A., Mortola L., Dalla Caneva P., Massa G., Costa G., Savastano R., Cillara N., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Balducci G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P.P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G.M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Ceresoli M., Chiarugi M., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., De Luca M., De Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Fransvea P., Frezza B., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lepre L., Lorenzon L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Mecarelli V., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G.M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., Zanoni E., Poillucci, G, Podda, M, Pisanu, A, Mortola, L, Dalla Caneva, P, Massa, G, Costa, G, Savastano, R, Cillara, N, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Balducci, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, De Luca, M, De Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Fransvea, P, Frezza, B, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Lorenzon, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Mecarelli, V, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, and Zanoni, E
Subjects: medicine.medical_specialty, Multivariate analysis, Sports medicine, Settore MED/18 - CHIRURGIA GENERALE, Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine, Acute appendicitis, Appendectomy, Elderly, Frail patients, Postoperative complications, NO, 03 medical and health sciences, chemistry.chemical_compound, 0302 clinical medicine, Risk Factors, Acute appendicitis, Appendectomy, Elderly, Frail patients, Postoperative complications, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Frail patient, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, In patient, Prospective Studies, Prospective cohort study, Aged, Retrospective Studies, 030222 orthopedics, Creatinine, business.industry, Postoperative complication, 030208 emergency & critical care medicine, Perioperative, Length of Stay, Appendicitis, chemistry, Emergency Medicine, Laparoscopy, Surgery, Acute appendiciti, Morbidity, Risk assessment, business
Abstract: Background: A limited number of studies investigating perioperative risk factors associated with emergency appendectomy in elderly patients have been published to date. Whether older age may be associated with poorer outcomes following appendectomy is still a matter of debate. The primary aim of this study was to determine the predictors of postoperative morbidity following appendectomy in patients aged ≥ 65years. Methods: Data regarding all elderly patients who underwent emergency appendectomy from January 2017 to June 2018 admitted 36 Italian surgical departments were prospectively collected and analyzed. Baseline demographics and perioperative variables were evaluated. Uni- and multivariate analyses adjusted for differences between groups were carried out to determine possible predictors of adverse outcomes after appendectomy. Results: Between January 2017 and June 2018, 135 patients aged ≥ 65years with a diagnosis of AA met the study inclusion criteria. Twenty-six patients (19.3%) were diagnosed with some type of postoperative complication. Decreasing the preoperative hemoglobin level showed a statistically significant association with postoperative complications (OR 0.77, CI 0.61–0.97, P = 0.03). Preoperative creatinine level (P = 0.02, OR 2.04, CI 1.12–3.72), and open appendectomy (P = 0.03, OR 2.67, CI 1.11–6.38) were significantly associated with postoperative morbidity. After adjustment, the only independent predictor of postoperative morbidity was preoperative creatinine level (P = 0.04, OR 2.01, CI 1.05–3.89). Conclusions: In elderly patients with AA, perioperative risk assessment in the emergency setting must be as accurate as possible to identify modifiable risk factors that can be addressed before surgery, such as preoperative hemoglobin and creatinine levels.
Published: 2019

34. Improved Pregnancy Outcome in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Followed an Ideal Clinical Pathway

Author: Bortoluzzi, A, Andreoli, L, Carrara, G, Ramoni, V, Rumi, F, Padovan, M, Govoni, M, Tincani, A, Scire, C, Bortoluzzi A., Andreoli L., Carrara G., Ramoni V., Rumi F., Padovan M., Govoni M., Tincani A., Scire C. A., Bortoluzzi, A, Andreoli, L, Carrara, G, Ramoni, V, Rumi, F, Padovan, M, Govoni, M, Tincani, A, Scire, C, Bortoluzzi A., Andreoli L., Carrara G., Ramoni V., Rumi F., Padovan M., Govoni M., Tincani A., and Scire C. A.
Abstract: Objective: To assess the effect of optimal management of pregnancy on a composite outcome of miscarriage and complicated birth among women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Data were extracted from health care databases of the Lombardy Region, Italy (2004–2013) as a part of the Record-Linkage on Rheumatic Diseases Study. Analyses included women with RA identified through a copayment exemption code (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 714.0) and controls from the general population, ages 18–50 years. Seven health care quality indicators (HCQI) were constructed and summarized in 3 pathway indicators: diagnostic, therapeutic, and prenatal follow-up. Complicated birth or miscarriage were used to identify the adverse pregnancy outcome (APO). The relationship between HCQI and APO was analyzed using logistic models, and the results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: Data from the study cohort included the first pregnancy observed in 443 patients with RA compared with 6,097 women belonging to the general population. In the RA population, patients who followed the 3 pathway indicators had a reduced risk of overall APO, with an OR of 0.60 (95% CI 0.39–0.94), and reduced risk of miscarriage/perinatal death, with an OR of 0.40 (95% CI 0.24–0.69), compared to those who did not follow the pathway indicators. Compared with the general population, patients with RA who met all HCQI during pregnancy displayed a risk of APO with an OR of 0.92 (95% CI 0.61–1.38) and miscarriage/perinatal death with an OR of 0.77 (95% CI 0.47–1.29). Conclusion: The adherence to an ideal clinical pathway of pregnancy management in women with RA restored the risk of APO to that expected for the general population.
Published: 2021

35. Risk factors for postoperative morbidity following appendectomy in the elderly: a nationwide prospective cohort study

Author: Poillucci, G, Podda, M, Pisanu, A, Mortola, L, Dalla Caneva, P, Massa, G, Costa, G, Savastano, R, Cillara, N, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Balducci, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, De Luca, M, De Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Fransvea, P, Frezza, B, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Lorenzon, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Mecarelli, V, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, Zanoni, E, Poillucci G., Podda M., Pisanu A., Mortola L., Dalla Caneva P., Massa G., Costa G., Savastano R., Cillara N., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Balducci G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P. P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G. M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Ceresoli M., Chiarugi M., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., De Luca M., De Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Fransvea P., Frezza B., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lepre L., Lorenzon L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Mecarelli V., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G. M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., Zanoni E., Poillucci, G, Podda, M, Pisanu, A, Mortola, L, Dalla Caneva, P, Massa, G, Costa, G, Savastano, R, Cillara, N, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Balducci, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, De Luca, M, De Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Fransvea, P, Frezza, B, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Lorenzon, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Mecarelli, V, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, Zanoni, E, Poillucci G., Podda M., Pisanu A., Mortola L., Dalla Caneva P., Massa G., Costa G., Savastano R., Cillara N., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Balducci G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P. P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G. M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Ceresoli M., Chiarugi M., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., De Luca M., De Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Fransvea P., Frezza B., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lepre L., Lorenzon L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Mecarelli V., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G. M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., and Zanoni E.
Abstract: Background: A limited number of studies investigating perioperative risk factors associated with emergency appendectomy in elderly patients have been published to date. Whether older age may be associated with poorer outcomes following appendectomy is still a matter of debate. The primary aim of this study was to determine the predictors of postoperative morbidity following appendectomy in patients aged ≥ 65 years. Methods: Data regarding all elderly patients who underwent emergency appendectomy from January 2017 to June 2018 admitted 36 Italian surgical departments were prospectively collected and analyzed. Baseline demographics and perioperative variables were evaluated. Uni- and multivariate analyses adjusted for differences between groups were carried out to determine possible predictors of adverse outcomes after appendectomy. Results: Between January 2017 and June 2018, 135 patients aged ≥ 65 years with a diagnosis of AA met the study inclusion criteria. Twenty-six patients (19.3%) were diagnosed with some type of postoperative complication. Decreasing the preoperative hemoglobin level showed a statistically significant association with postoperative complications (OR 0.77, CI 0.61–0.97, P = 0.03). Preoperative creatinine level (P = 0.02, OR 2.04, CI 1.12–3.72), and open appendectomy (P = 0.03, OR 2.67, CI 1.11–6.38) were significantly associated with postoperative morbidity. After adjustment, the only independent predictor of postoperative morbidity was preoperative creatinine level (P = 0.04, OR 2.01, CI 1.05–3.89). Conclusions: In elderly patients with AA, perioperative risk assessment in the emergency setting must be as accurate as possible to identify modifiable risk factors that can be addressed before surgery, such as preoperative hemoglobin and creatinine levels.
Published: 2021

36. The Italian Society for Rheumatology clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia Best practices based on current scientific evidence

Author: Ariani, A, Bazzichi, L, Sarzi-Puttini, P, Salaffi, F, Manara, M, Prevete, I, Bortoluzzi, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Ughi, N, Parisi, S, Ariani A., Bazzichi L., Sarzi-Puttini P., Salaffi F., Manara M., Prevete I., Bortoluzzi A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Ughi N., Parisi S., Ariani, A, Bazzichi, L, Sarzi-Puttini, P, Salaffi, F, Manara, M, Prevete, I, Bortoluzzi, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Ughi, N, Parisi, S, Ariani A., Bazzichi L., Sarzi-Puttini P., Salaffi F., Manara M., Prevete I., Bortoluzzi A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Ughi N., and Parisi S.
Abstract: Fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is defined as a central sensitization syndrome characterized by the dysfunction of neurocircuits detecting, transmitting and processing nociceptive stimuli; the prevalent manifestation is musculoskeletal pain. In addition to pain, there are multiple accompanying symptoms, in common with other algo-dysfunctional syndromes, which are reflected in a broad spectrum of somatic, neurocognitive and neuro-vegetative manifestations. An evidence-based approach is essential in FMS management, in order to improve patient health and to reduce its social burden. Since in the last ten years new international guidelines for clinical practice (Clinical Practice Guidelines or CPGs) concerning FMS diagnosis and pharmacological/ non-pharmacological management have been published, the Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) has decided to adapt them to the Italian national setting. The framework of the Guidelines International Network Adaptation Working Group was adopted to identify, appraise (AGREE II), synthesize, and customize the most recent CPGs on FMS to the needs of the Italian healthcare context. A working group of rheumatologists from SIR epidemiology unit and FMS experts identified relevant clinical questions to guide the systematic review of the literature. The target audience of these CPGs included physicians and healthcare professionals who manage FMS. The adapted recommendations were finally assessed by an external multidisciplinary panel. From the systematic search in databases (Pubmed/Medline, Embase) and grey literature, 6 CPGs were selected and appraised by two independent raters. The combination of the scientific evidence underlying the original CPGs with expert opinion lead to the development of 17 recommendations. The quality of evidence for each recommendation was reported and their potential impact on clinical practice was assessed. These SIR recommendations are expected to be a valuable aid in the diagnosis and treatment
Published: 2021

37. Baseline characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus patients included in the Lupus Italian Registry of the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: Sebastiani, G, Spinelli, F, Bartoloni, E, Bortoluzzi, A, Bozzolo, E, Canofari, C, Canti, V, Conigliaro, P, Ditto, M, Emmi, G, Franceschini, F, Frassi, M, Iaccarino, L, Iuliano, A, Manfredi, A, Pacucci, V, Parisi, S, Pazzola, G, Perricone, R, Prevete, I, Ramirez, G, Scarpato, S, Scirocco, C, Silvagni, E, Zen, M, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Conti, F, Doria, A, Sebastiani G. D., Spinelli F. R., Bartoloni E., Bortoluzzi A., Bozzolo E., Canofari C., Canti V., Conigliaro P., Ditto M. C., Emmi G., Franceschini F., Frassi M., Iaccarino L., Iuliano A., Manfredi A., Pacucci V., Parisi S., Pazzola G., Perricone R., Prevete I., Ramirez G. A., Scarpato S., Scirocco C., Silvagni E., Zen M., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Conti F., Doria A., Sebastiani, G, Spinelli, F, Bartoloni, E, Bortoluzzi, A, Bozzolo, E, Canofari, C, Canti, V, Conigliaro, P, Ditto, M, Emmi, G, Franceschini, F, Frassi, M, Iaccarino, L, Iuliano, A, Manfredi, A, Pacucci, V, Parisi, S, Pazzola, G, Perricone, R, Prevete, I, Ramirez, G, Scarpato, S, Scirocco, C, Silvagni, E, Zen, M, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scire, C, Conti, F, Doria, A, Sebastiani G. D., Spinelli F. R., Bartoloni E., Bortoluzzi A., Bozzolo E., Canofari C., Canti V., Conigliaro P., Ditto M. C., Emmi G., Franceschini F., Frassi M., Iaccarino L., Iuliano A., Manfredi A., Pacucci V., Parisi S., Pazzola G., Perricone R., Prevete I., Ramirez G. A., Scarpato S., Scirocco C., Silvagni E., Zen M., Zanetti A., Carrara G., Scire C. A., Conti F., and Doria A.
Abstract: Objective: To report baseline data of SLE patients enrolled in the Lupus Italian Registry (LIRE). Methods: Patients affected by SLE aged ≥ 16 years were consecutively recruited in a multicenter prospective study comparing two cohorts: patients starting biologic immunosuppressants (BC) and patients starting non-biologic immunosuppresants (NBC). Results: 308 patients were enrolled, 179 in NBC and 129 in BC. Mean age at disease onset and at diagnosis was significantly higher in NBC (p = 0.023, p = 0.045, respectively). Disease duration was longer in BC (p = 0.022). Patients in BC presented arthritis more frequently (p = 0.024), those in NBC nephropathy (p = 0.03). Quality of life was worse in BC (p = 0.031). Anti-dsDNA, low C3, were significantly more frequent in BC (p < 0.001, p = 0.009, respectively). Mycophenolate, methotrexate and azathioprine were the drugs more frequently prescribed in NBC, Belimumab and Rituximab in BC. Conclusion: The predominant organ involvement was different in the two cohorts: kidney involvement predominated in NBC, joint involvement in BC. Despite the younger age at disease onset, patients of the BC had a longer disease duration and more frequently had taken a cumulative prednisone dosage greater than 10 g. Even the pattern of clinical manifestations inducing to prescribe biological rather than conventional immunosuppressants was quite different. Keywords: Autoantibody(ies), autoimmune disease, belimumab, cohort studies, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, rituximab, systemic lupus erythematosus.
Published: 2021

38. Non-adherence and discontinuation rate for oral and parenteral methotrexate: A retrospective-cohort study in 8,952 patients with psoriatic arthritis

Author: Generali, E, Carrara, G, Bortoluzzi, A, De Santis, M, Ceribelli, A, Scire, C, Selmi, C, Generali E., Carrara G., Bortoluzzi A., De Santis M., Ceribelli A., Scire C. A., Selmi C., Generali, E, Carrara, G, Bortoluzzi, A, De Santis, M, Ceribelli, A, Scire, C, Selmi, C, Generali E., Carrara G., Bortoluzzi A., De Santis M., Ceribelli A., Scire C. A., and Selmi C.
Abstract: Background and aims: Treatment options for PsA, following non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), include conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDS), particularly methotrexate (MTX). The present study was performed to determine the non-adherence and discontinuation rates of different methotrexate (MTX) formulations in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Approach and results: We performed a retrospective-cohort study on patients with PsA identified by disease-specific code in the administrative-health-databases of a Northern Italian region (Lombardy) between 2004 and 2015. Subjects were defined as non-adherent if less than 80% of the prescribed MTX dose was taken based on the time between each prescription. Discontinuation rates were calculated using the time between the first and the last MTX prescription over an observation period of 120 months. Among 8952 patients with PsA, 33% were treated with MTX (mean dosage 10 mg/week ± 2.5 mg standard deviation), more frequently (59%) in its parenteral formulation at a 10 mg weekly dosage (35%). Oral glucocorticoids were prescribed to 21% of patients, while non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to 45%. Approximately 37% of patients with PsA were defined as non-adherent to MTX, with the oral formulation associated with an increased risk of non-adherence (hazard ratio 2.08, 95% confidence interval 1.84–2.35, p < 0.001) compared with parenteral 10–15 mg weekly doses. Oral MTX was discontinued in 52% of cases without a significantly increased risk of discontinuation compared to parenteral formulations which, at higher dosages, had a more favorable retention rate. Conclusion: Oral MTX formulation is associated with a 2-fold risk of non-adherence compared to MTX parenteral route in PsA.
Published: 2021

39. OMERACT definition and reliability assessment of chronic ultrasound lesions of the axillary artery in giant cell arteritis

Author: Schafer, V, Chrysidis, S, Schmidt, W, Duftner, C, Iagnocco, A, Bruyn, G, Carrara, G, De Miguel, E, Diamantopoulos, A, Nielsen, B, Fredberg, U, Hartung, W, Hanova, P, Hansen, I, Hocevar, A, Juche, A, Kermani, T, Lorenzen, T, Macchioni, P, Milchert, M, Dohn, U, Mukhtyar, C, Monti, S, Ponte, C, Seitz, L, Scire, C, Terslev, L, Dasgupta, B, Keen, H, Pineda, C, Dejaco, C, Schafer V. S., Chrysidis S., Schmidt W. A., Duftner C., Iagnocco A., Bruyn G. A., Carrara G., De Miguel E., Diamantopoulos A. P., Nielsen B. D., Fredberg U., Hartung W., Hanova P., Hansen I. T., Hocevar A., Juche A., Kermani T. A., Lorenzen T., Macchioni P., Milchert M., Dohn U. M., Mukhtyar C., Monti S., Ponte C., Seitz L., Scire C. A., Terslev L., Dasgupta B., Keen H. I., Pineda C., Dejaco C., Schafer, V, Chrysidis, S, Schmidt, W, Duftner, C, Iagnocco, A, Bruyn, G, Carrara, G, De Miguel, E, Diamantopoulos, A, Nielsen, B, Fredberg, U, Hartung, W, Hanova, P, Hansen, I, Hocevar, A, Juche, A, Kermani, T, Lorenzen, T, Macchioni, P, Milchert, M, Dohn, U, Mukhtyar, C, Monti, S, Ponte, C, Seitz, L, Scire, C, Terslev, L, Dasgupta, B, Keen, H, Pineda, C, Dejaco, C, Schafer V. S., Chrysidis S., Schmidt W. A., Duftner C., Iagnocco A., Bruyn G. A., Carrara G., De Miguel E., Diamantopoulos A. P., Nielsen B. D., Fredberg U., Hartung W., Hanova P., Hansen I. T., Hocevar A., Juche A., Kermani T. A., Lorenzen T., Macchioni P., Milchert M., Dohn U. M., Mukhtyar C., Monti S., Ponte C., Seitz L., Scire C. A., Terslev L., Dasgupta B., Keen H. I., Pineda C., and Dejaco C.
Abstract: Objectives: To define chronic ultrasound lesions of the axillary artery (AA) in long-standing giant cell arteritis (GCA) and to evaluate the reliability of the new ultrasound definition in a web-based exercise. Methods: A structured Delphi, involving an expert panel of the Large Vessel Vasculitis subgroup of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Ultrasound Working Group was carried out. The reliability of the new definition was tested in a 2-round web-based exercise involving 23 experts and using 50 still images each from AA of long-standing and acute GCA patients, as well as 50 images from healthy individuals. Results: The final OMERACT ultrasound definition of chronic changes was based on measurement and appearance of the intima-media complex. The overall reliability of the new definition for chronic ultrasound changes in longstanding GCA of the AA was good to excellent with Light's kappa values of 0.79-0.80 for inter-reader reliability and mean Light's-kappa of 0.88 for intra-reader reliability. The mean inter-rater and intra-rater agreements were 86-87% and 92%, respectively. Good reliabilities were observed comparing the vessels with longstanding versus acute GCA with a mean agreement and kappa values of 81% and 0.63, respectively. Conclusion: The new OMERACT ultrasound definition for chronic vasculitis of the AA in GCA revealed a good to excellent inter- and intra-reader reliability in a web-based exercise of experts.
Published: 2021

40. Death and Transfiguration of a Triple Junction in the South Atlantic

Author: Ligi, M., Bonatti, E., Bortoluzzi, G., Carrara, G., Fabretti, P., Penitenti, D., Gilod, D., Peyve, A. A., Skolotnev, S., and Turko, N.
Published: 1997

41. The use of emergency laparoscopy for acute abdomen in the elderly: the FRAILESEL Italian Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Author: Costa, G, Fransvea, P, Podda, M, Pisanu, A, Carrano, F, Iossa, A, Balducci, G, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, Dalla Caneva, P, De Luca, M, de Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Frezza, B, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, Zanoni, E, Costa G., Fransvea P., Podda M., Pisanu A., Carrano F. M., Iossa A., Balducci G., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P. P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G. M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Ceresoli M., Chiarugi M., Cillara N., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., Dalla Caneva P., De Luca M., de Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Frezza B., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lepre L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Massa G., Mecarelli V., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G. M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Poillucci G., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., Zanoni E., Costa, G, Fransvea, P, Podda, M, Pisanu, A, Carrano, F, Iossa, A, Balducci, G, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, Dalla Caneva, P, De Luca, M, de Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Frezza, B, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, Zanoni, E, Costa G., Fransvea P., Podda M., Pisanu A., Carrano F. M., Iossa A., Balducci G., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P. P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G. M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Ceresoli M., Chiarugi M., Cillara N., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., Dalla Caneva P., De Luca M., de Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Frezza B., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lepre L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Massa G., Mecarelli V., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G. M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Poillucci G., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., and Zanoni E.
Abstract: As the world population is aging rapidly, emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen in the elderly represents a global issue, both in developed and developing countries. Data regarding all the elderly patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery from January 2017 to December 2017 at 36 Italian surgical departments were analyzed with the aim to appraise the contemporary reality regarding the use of emergency laparoscopy for acute abdomen in the elderly. 1993 patients were enrolled. 1369 (68.7%) patients were operated with an open technique; whereas, 624 (31.3%) underwent a laparoscopic operation. The postoperative morbidity rate was 32.6%, with a statically significant difference between the open and the laparoscopic groups (36.2% versus 22.1%, p < 0.001). The reported mortality rate was 8.8%, with a statistically significant difference between the open and the laparoscopic groups (11.2% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001). Our results demonstrated that patients in the ASA II (58.1%), ASA III (68.7%) and ASA IV (88.5%) groups were operated with the traditional open technique in most of the cases. Only a small percentage of patients underwent laparoscopy for perforated gastro-duodenal ulcer repair (18.9%), adhesiolyses with/without small bowel resection (12.2%), and large bowel resection (10.7%). Conversion to open technique was associated with a higher mortality rate (11.1% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001) and overall morbidity (38.9% versus 22.1%, p = 0.001) compared with patients who did not undergo conversion. High creatinine (p < 0.001) and glycaemia (p = 0.006) levels, low hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001), oral anticoagulation therapy (p = 0.001), acute respiratory failure (p < 0.001), presence of malignancy (p = 0.001), SIRS (p < 0.001) and open surgical approach (p < 0.001) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Regardless of technical progress, elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery are at very high risk for in-hos
Published: 2020

42. Systemic sclerosis Progression INvestiGation (SPRING) Italian registry: demographic and clinico-serological features of scleroderma spectrum

Author: Ferri, C, Giuggioli, D, Guiducci, S, Lumetti, F, Bajocchi, G, Magnani, L, Codullo, V, Ariani, A, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Pellegrino, G, Bosello, S, Foti, R, Visalli, E, Amato, G, Benenati, A, Cuomo, G, Iannone, F, Cacciapaglia, F, De Angelis, R, Ingegnoli, F, Talotta, R, Campochiaro, C, Dagna, L, De Luca, G, Bellando-Randone, S, Spinella, A, Murdaca, G, Romeo, N, De Santis, M, Generali, E, Barsotti, S, Della Rossa, A, Cavazzana, I, Dall'Ara, F, Lazzaroni, M, Cozzi, F, Doria, A, Pigatto, E, Zanatta, E, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Abignano, G, D'Angelo, S, Mennillo, G, Bagnato, G, Calabrese, F, Caminiti, M, Pagano Mariano, G, Battaglia, E, Lubrano, E, Zanframundo, G, Iuliano, A, Furini, F, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Rumi, F, Scirè, C, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Ferri C, Giuggioli D, Guiducci S, Lumetti F, Bajocchi G, Magnani L, Codullo V, Ariani A, Girelli F, Riccieri V, Pellegrino G, Bosello S, Foti R, Visalli E, Amato G, Benenati A, Cuomo G, Iannone F, Cacciapaglia F, De Angelis R, Ingegnoli F, Talotta R, Campochiaro C, Dagna L, De Luca G, Bellando-Randone S, Spinella A, Murdaca G, Romeo N, De Santis M, Generali E, Barsotti S, Della Rossa A, Cavazzana I, Dall'Ara F, Lazzaroni MG, Cozzi F, Doria A, Pigatto E, Zanatta E, Ciano G, Beretta L, Abignano G, D'Angelo S, Mennillo G, Bagnato G, Calabrese F, Caminiti M, Pagano Mariano G, Battaglia E, Lubrano E, Zanframundo G, Iuliano A, Furini F, Zanetti A, Carrara G, Rumi F, Scirè CA, Matucci-Cerinic M, Ferri, C, Giuggioli, D, Guiducci, S, Lumetti, F, Bajocchi, G, Magnani, L, Codullo, V, Ariani, A, Girelli, F, Riccieri, V, Pellegrino, G, Bosello, S, Foti, R, Visalli, E, Amato, G, Benenati, A, Cuomo, G, Iannone, F, Cacciapaglia, F, De Angelis, R, Ingegnoli, F, Talotta, R, Campochiaro, C, Dagna, L, De Luca, G, Bellando-Randone, S, Spinella, A, Murdaca, G, Romeo, N, De Santis, M, Generali, E, Barsotti, S, Della Rossa, A, Cavazzana, I, Dall'Ara, F, Lazzaroni, M, Cozzi, F, Doria, A, Pigatto, E, Zanatta, E, Ciano, G, Beretta, L, Abignano, G, D'Angelo, S, Mennillo, G, Bagnato, G, Calabrese, F, Caminiti, M, Pagano Mariano, G, Battaglia, E, Lubrano, E, Zanframundo, G, Iuliano, A, Furini, F, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Rumi, F, Scirè, C, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Ferri C, Giuggioli D, Guiducci S, Lumetti F, Bajocchi G, Magnani L, Codullo V, Ariani A, Girelli F, Riccieri V, Pellegrino G, Bosello S, Foti R, Visalli E, Amato G, Benenati A, Cuomo G, Iannone F, Cacciapaglia F, De Angelis R, Ingegnoli F, Talotta R, Campochiaro C, Dagna L, De Luca G, Bellando-Randone S, Spinella A, Murdaca G, Romeo N, De Santis M, Generali E, Barsotti S, Della Rossa A, Cavazzana I, Dall'Ara F, Lazzaroni MG, Cozzi F, Doria A, Pigatto E, Zanatta E, Ciano G, Beretta L, Abignano G, D'Angelo S, Mennillo G, Bagnato G, Calabrese F, Caminiti M, Pagano Mariano G, Battaglia E, Lubrano E, Zanframundo G, Iuliano A, Furini F, Zanetti A, Carrara G, Rumi F, Scirè CA, and Matucci-Cerinic M
Abstract: Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe multiple-organ disease characterised by unpredictable clinical course, inadequate response to treatment, and poor prognosis. National SSc registries may provide large and representative patients cohorts required for descriptive and prognostic studies. Therefore, the Italian Society for Rheumatology promoted the registry SPRING (Systemic sclerosis Progression INvestiGation). Methods: The SPRING is a multi-centre rheumatological cohort study encompassing the wide scleroderma spectrum, namely the primary Raynaud's phenomenon (pRP), suspected secondary RP, Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (VEDOSS), and definite SSc. Here we describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of a population of 2,028 Italian patients at the initial phase of enrolment, mainly focusing on the cohort of 1,538 patients with definite SSc. Results: Definite SSc showed a significantly higher prevalence of digital ulcers, capillaroscopic 'late' pattern, oesophageal and cardio-pulmonary involvement compared to VEDOSS, as expected on the basis of the followed classification criteria. The in-depth analysis of definite SSc revealed that male gender, diffuse cutaneous subset, and anti-Scl70 seropositivity were significantly associated with increased prevalence of the most harmful disease manifestations. Similarly, patients with very short RP duration (≤1 year) at SSc diagnosis showed a statistically increased prevalence of unfavourable clinico-serological features. Conclusions: Nationwide registries with suitable subsetting of patients and follow-up studies since the prodromal phase of the disease may give us valuable insights into the SSc natural history and main prognostic factors.
Published: 2020

43. Risk factors of damage in early diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus: results of the Italian multicentre Early Lupus Project inception cohort

Author: Piga, M, Floris, A, Sebastiani, G, Prevete, I, Iannone, F, Coladonato, L, Govoni, M, Bortoluzzi, A, Mosca, M, Tani, C, Doria, A, Iaccarino, L, Franceschini, F, Fredi, M, Conti, F, Spinelli, F, Galeazzi, M, Bellisai, F, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scirè, C, Mathieu, A, Piga M, Floris A, Sebastiani GD, Prevete I, Iannone F, Coladonato L, Govoni M, Bortoluzzi A, Mosca M, Tani C, Doria A, Iaccarino L, Franceschini F, Fredi M, Conti F, Spinelli FR8, Galeazzi M, Bellisai F, Zanetti A, Carrara G, Scirè CA, Mathieu A, Piga, M, Floris, A, Sebastiani, G, Prevete, I, Iannone, F, Coladonato, L, Govoni, M, Bortoluzzi, A, Mosca, M, Tani, C, Doria, A, Iaccarino, L, Franceschini, F, Fredi, M, Conti, F, Spinelli, F, Galeazzi, M, Bellisai, F, Zanetti, A, Carrara, G, Scirè, C, Mathieu, A, Piga M, Floris A, Sebastiani GD, Prevete I, Iannone F, Coladonato L, Govoni M, Bortoluzzi A, Mosca M, Tani C, Doria A, Iaccarino L, Franceschini F, Fredi M, Conti F, Spinelli FR8, Galeazzi M, Bellisai F, Zanetti A, Carrara G, Scirè CA, and Mathieu A
Abstract: Objective: To investigate risk factors for damage development in a prospective inception cohort of early diagnosed SLE patients. Methods: The Early Lupus Project recruited an inception cohort of patients within 12 months of SLE classification (1997 ACR criteria). At enrolment and every 6 months thereafter, the SLICC/ACR Damage Index was recorded. The contribution of baseline and time-varying covariates to the development of damage, defined as any SLICC/ACR Damage Index increase from 0 to ≥1, was assessed using univariate analysis. Forward-backward Cox regression models were fitted with covariates with P < 0.05 to identify factors independently associated with the risk of damage development. Results: Overall, 230 patients with a mean (s.d.) age of 36.5 (14.4) years were eligible for this study; the mean number of visits per patient was 5.3 (2.7). There were 51 (22.2%) patients with SLICC/ACR Damage Index ≥1 after 12 months, 59 (25.6%) after 24 months and 67 (29.1%) after 36 months. Dyslipidaemia [P = 0.001; hazard ratio (HR) 2.9; 95% CI 1.5, 5.6], older age (P = 0.001; HR 3.0; 95% CI 1.6, 5.5), number of organs/systems involved (P = 0.002; HR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1, 1.8) and cardiorespiratory involvement (P = 0.041; HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0, 3.7) were independently associated with an increased risk of developing damage. Risk profiles for damage development differed for glucocorticoid-related and-unrelated damage. HCQ use (P = 0.005; HR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2, 0.8) reduced the risk of glucocorticoid-unrelated damage. Conclusion: We identified risk factors of damage development, but little effect of glucocorticoids, in this early SLE cohort. Addressing modifiable risk factors from the time of SLE diagnosis might improve patient outcomes.
Published: 2020

44. A seasonal pattern in the onset of polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Author: Hysa, E, Sobrero, A, Camellino, D, Rumi, F, Carrara, G, Cutolo, M, Scire, C, Cimmino, M, Hysa E., Sobrero A., Camellino D., Rumi F., Carrara G., Cutolo M., Scire C. A., Cimmino M. A., Hysa, E, Sobrero, A, Camellino, D, Rumi, F, Carrara, G, Cutolo, M, Scire, C, Cimmino, M, Hysa E., Sobrero A., Camellino D., Rumi F., Carrara G., Cutolo M., Scire C. A., and Cimmino M. A.
Abstract: Objectives: Studies on the seasonality of onset of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) have shown conflicting results. The aim of this systematic literature review and meta-analysis is to determine from aggregated data whether there is a seasonal distribution for these diseases. Methods: A literature search was performed using Pubmed Central and Embase scientific databases. The incidences per 6-month periods, season or month of onset, that were reported in the studies were summarised in tables considering the two diseases as separate conditions or together. The Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) for the cold period versus the warm period was pooled across studies by random effects meta-analysis weighed by inverse variance. Funnel plots and Egger test were used to explore possible publication biases. A sensitivity analysis was performed to weigh articles with a disproportionate number of patients compared to the rest. Results: In the scientific literature 22 suitable papers were found: 6 on PMR with 803 patients, 11 on GCA with 2,807 patients, and 5 studies considering both diseases with 19,613 patients. There was considerable heterogeneity amongst studies regarding their quality, the classification criteria used, and the definition of onset of symptoms. No seasonal aggregation was found for GCA and PMR. The pooled IRR estimate of the meta-analysis (1.13[0.89,1.36]) showed a non-significant, higher frequency of diseases onset in the warm season. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis did not confirm a seasonal onset for PMR and GCA.
Published: 2020

45. Emergency hernia repair in the elderly: multivariate analysis of morbidity and mortality from an Italian registry

Author: Ceresoli, M, Carissimi, F, Nigro, A, Fransvea, P, Lepre, L, Braga, M, Costa, G, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Balducci, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Chiappetta, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, Dallacaneva, P, Luca, M, de Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Frezza, B, Garbarino, G, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laracca, G, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lorenzon, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mercantini, P, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petrucciani, N, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Pisanu, A, Podda, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, Zanoni, E, Ceresoli M., Carissimi F., Nigro A., Fransvea P., Lepre L., Braga M., Costa G., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Balducci G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P. P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G. M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Chiappetta M., Chiarugi M., Cillara N., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., DallaCaneva P., Luca M., de Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Frezza B., Garbarino G., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laracca G., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lorenzon L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Massa G., Mecarelli V., Mercantini P., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G. M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petrucciani N., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Pisanu A., Podda M., Poillucci G., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., Zanoni E., Ceresoli, M, Carissimi, F, Nigro, A, Fransvea, P, Lepre, L, Braga, M, Costa, G, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Balducci, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Chiappetta, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, Dallacaneva, P, Luca, M, de Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Frezza, B, Garbarino, G, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laracca, G, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lorenzon, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mercantini, P, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petrucciani, N, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Pisanu, A, Podda, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, Zanoni, E, Ceresoli M., Carissimi F., Nigro A., Fransvea P., Lepre L., Braga M., Costa G., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Balducci G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P. P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G. M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Chiappetta M., Chiarugi M., Cillara N., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., DallaCaneva P., Luca M., de Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Frezza B., Garbarino G., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laracca G., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lorenzon L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Massa G., Mecarelli V., Mercantini P., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G. M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petrucciani N., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Pisanu A., Podda M., Poillucci G., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., and Zanoni E.
Abstract: Purpose: The incidence of inguinal hernia is higher in elderly because of aging-related diseases like prostatism, bronchitis, collagen laxity. A conservative management is common in elderly to reduce surgery-related risks, however watchful waiting can expose to obstruction and strangulation. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of emergency surgery in a large series of elderly with complicated groin hernia and to identify the independent risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality. The predictive performance of prognostic risk scores has been also assessed. Methods: This is a prospective observational study carried out between January 2017 and June 2018 in elderly patients who underwent emergency surgery for complicated hernia in 38 Italian hospitals. Pre-operative, surgical and postoperative data were recorded for each patient. ASA score, Charlson’s comorbidity index, P-POSSUM and CR-POSSUM were assessed. Results: 259 patients were recruited, mean age was 80 years. A direct repair without mesh was performed in 62 (23.9%) patients. Explorative laparotomy was performed in 56 (21.6%) patients and bowel resection was necessary in 44 (17%). Mortality occurred in seven (2.8%) patients. Fifty-five (21.2%) patients developed complications, 12 of whom had a major one. At univariate and multivariate analyses, Charlson’s comorbidity index ≥ 6, altered mental status, and need for laparotomy were associated with major complications and mortality Conclusion: Emergency surgery for complicated hernia is burdened by high morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Preoperative comorbidity played a pivotal role in predicting complications and mortality and therefore Charlson’s comorbidity index could be adopted to select patients for elective operation.
Published: 2020

46. The use of emergency laparoscopy for acute abdomen in the elderly: the FRAILESEL Italian Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Author: Costa, Gianluca, Fransvea, Pietro, Podda, Mauro, Pisanu, Adolfo, Carrano, Francesco Maria, Iossa, Angelo, Balducci, Genoveffa, Agresta, Ferdinando Collaborative Study Group: Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Balducci, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, Pp, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, Gm, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Costa, G, Crucitti, A, Dalla Caneva, P, De Luca, M, De Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Fransvea, P, Frezza, B, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffrè, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Lorenzon, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, Gm, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Pisanu, A, Podda, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Tranà, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, Zanoni, E., Costa G., Fransvea P., Podda M., Pisanu A., Carrano F.M., Iossa A., Balducci G., Agresta F., Alemanno G., Anania G., Antropoli M., Argenio G., Atzeni J., Avenia N., Azzinnaro A., Baldazzi G., Barbera G., Bellanova G., Bergamini C., Bersigotti L., Bianchi P.P., Bombardini C., Borzellino G., Bozzo S., Brachini G., Buonanno G.M., Canini T., Cardella S., Carrara G., Cassini D., Castriconi M., Ceccarelli G., Celi D., Ceresoli M., Chiarugi M., Cillara N., Cimino F., Cobuccio L., Cocorullo G., Colangelo E., Crucitti A., Dalla Caneva P., De Luca M., de Manzoni Garberini A., De Nisco C., De Prizio M., De Sol A., Dibella A., Falcioni T., Falco N., Farina C., Finotti E., Fontana T., Francioni G., Frezza B., Garulli G., Genna M., Giannessi S., Gioffre A., Giordano A., Gozzo D., Grimaldi S., Gulotta G., Iacopini V., Iarussi T., Laterza E., Leonardi A., Lepre L., Luridiana G., Malagnino A., Mar G., Marini P., Marzaioli R., Massa G., Mecarelli V., Mingoli A., Nigri G., Occhionorelli S., Paderno N., Palini G.M., Paradies D., Paroli M., Perrone F., Petruzzelli L., Pezzolla A., Piazza D., Piazza V., Piccoli M., Poillucci G., Porfidia R., Rossi G., Ruscelli P., Spagnoli A., Sulis R., Tartaglia D., Trana C., Travaglino A., Tomaiuolo P., Valeri A., Vasquez G., Zago M., Zanoni E., Costa, G, Fransvea, P, Podda, M, Pisanu, A, Carrano, F, Iossa, A, Balducci, G, Agresta, F, Alemanno, G, Anania, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Barbera, G, Bellanova, G, Bergamini, C, Bersigotti, L, Bianchi, P, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, G, Canini, T, Cardella, S, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Crucitti, A, Dalla Caneva, P, De Luca, M, de Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Frezza, B, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffre, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mingoli, A, Nigri, G, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, G, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Piccoli, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rossi, G, Ruscelli, P, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Trana, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Vasquez, G, Zago, M, and Zanoni, E
Subjects: Male, Settore MED/18 - CHIRURGIA GENERALE, Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal, Cohort Studies, 0302 clinical medicine, Postoperative Complications, Elderly, Abdomen, 80 and over, Medicine, Prospective Studies, Prospective cohort study, Laparoscopy, Abdomen, Acute, Aged, 80 and over, medicine.diagnostic_test, Mortality rate, Age Factors, Prognosis, Multicenter study, Italy, Acute abdomen, 030220 oncology & carcinogenesis, Emergency surgery, 030211 gastroenterology & hepatology, Female, medicine.symptom, Cohort study, Risk, Gastrointestinal, medicine.medical_specialty, Acute, Malignancy, NO, 03 medical and health sciences, Humans, Aged, business.industry, acute abdomen, elderly, emergency surgery, laparoscopy, multicenter study, Endoscopy, medicine.disease, Surgery, Emergencies, Morbidity, business, Procedures and Techniques Utilization, Abdominal surgery
Abstract: As the world population is aging rapidly, emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen in the elderly represents a global issue, both in developed and developing countries. Data regarding all the elderly patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery from January 2017 to December 2017 at 36 Italian surgical departments were analyzed with the aim to appraise the contemporary reality regarding the use of emergency laparoscopy for acute abdomen in the elderly. 1993 patients were enrolled. 1369 (68.7%) patients were operated with an open technique; whereas, 624 (31.3%) underwent a laparoscopic operation. The postoperative morbidity rate was 32.6%, with a statically significant difference between the open and the laparoscopic groups (36.2% versus 22.1%, p < 0.001). The reported mortality rate was 8.8%, with a statistically significant difference between the open and the laparoscopic groups (11.2% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001). Our results demonstrated that patients in the ASA II (58.1%), ASA III (68.7%) and ASA IV (88.5%) groups were operated with the traditional open technique in most of the cases. Only a small percentage of patients underwent laparoscopy for perforated gastro-duodenal ulcer repair (18.9%), adhesiolyses with/without small bowel resection (12.2%), and large bowel resection (10.7%). Conversion to open technique was associated with a higher mortality rate (11.1% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001) and overall morbidity (38.9% versus 22.1%, p = 0.001) compared with patients who did not undergo conversion. High creatinine (p < 0.001) and glycaemia (p = 0.006) levels, low hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001), oral anticoagulation therapy (p = 0.001), acute respiratory failure (p < 0.001), presence of malignancy (p = 0.001), SIRS (p < 0.001) and open surgical approach (p < 0.001) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Regardless of technical progress, elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery are at very high risk for in-hospital complications. A detailed analysis of complications and mortality in the present study showed that almost 9% of elderly patients died after surgery for acute abdomen, and over 32% developed complications.
Published: 2020

47. Sex-related Differences in Systemic Sclerosis: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study From the National Registry of the Italian Society for Rheumatology

Author: de Angelis, R., Giuggioli, D., Bajocchi, G., Dagna, L., Zanframundo, G., Foti, R., Cacciapaglia, F., Cuomo, G., Ariani, A., Rosato, E., Guiducci, S., Girelli, F., Riccieri, V., Zanatta, E., Bosello, Silvia Laura, Cavazzana, I., Ingegnoli, F., de Santis, M., Murdaca, G., Abignano, G., Romeo, N., Rossa, A. D., Caminiti, M., Iuliano, A., Ciano, G., Beretta, L., Bagnato, G., Lubrano, E., de Andres, I., Giollo, A., Saracco, M., Agnes, C., Lumetti, F., Spinella, A., Magnani, L., Campochiaro, C., de Luca, G., Codullo, V., Visalli, E., Masini, F., Gigante, A., Bellando-Randone, S., Pellegrino, G., Pigatto, E., Dall'Ara, F., Lazzaroni, M. G., Generali, E., Mennillo, G., Barsotti, S., Mariano, G. P., Calabrese, F., Furini, F., Vultaggio, L., Parisi, S., Peroni, C. L., Risa, A. M., Rozza, D., Zanetti, A., Carrara, G., Landolfi, G., Scire, C. A., Bianchi, G., Fusaro, E., Sebastiani, Gian Domenico, Govoni, M., D'Angelo, S., Cozzi, F., Doria, A., Iannone, F., Salvarani, C., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Ferri, C., Bosello S. (ORCID:0000-0002-4837-447X), Sebastiani G. D., de Angelis, R., Giuggioli, D., Bajocchi, G., Dagna, L., Zanframundo, G., Foti, R., Cacciapaglia, F., Cuomo, G., Ariani, A., Rosato, E., Guiducci, S., Girelli, F., Riccieri, V., Zanatta, E., Bosello, Silvia Laura, Cavazzana, I., Ingegnoli, F., de Santis, M., Murdaca, G., Abignano, G., Romeo, N., Rossa, A. D., Caminiti, M., Iuliano, A., Ciano, G., Beretta, L., Bagnato, G., Lubrano, E., de Andres, I., Giollo, A., Saracco, M., Agnes, C., Lumetti, F., Spinella, A., Magnani, L., Campochiaro, C., de Luca, G., Codullo, V., Visalli, E., Masini, F., Gigante, A., Bellando-Randone, S., Pellegrino, G., Pigatto, E., Dall'Ara, F., Lazzaroni, M. G., Generali, E., Mennillo, G., Barsotti, S., Mariano, G. P., Calabrese, F., Furini, F., Vultaggio, L., Parisi, S., Peroni, C. L., Risa, A. M., Rozza, D., Zanetti, A., Carrara, G., Landolfi, G., Scire, C. A., Bianchi, G., Fusaro, E., Sebastiani, Gian Domenico, Govoni, M., D'Angelo, S., Cozzi, F., Doria, A., Iannone, F., Salvarani, C., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Ferri, C., Bosello S. (ORCID:0000-0002-4837-447X), and Sebastiani G. D.
Abstract: Objective. There is still a great deal to learn about the influence of sex in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this respect, national registries provide large and homogeneous patient cohorts for analytical studies. We therefore investigated a wide-ranging and well-characterized SSc series with the aim of identifying sex differences in disease expression, with a special focus on demographic, clinical, and serological characteristics. Methods. A multicenter SSc cohort of 2281 patients, including 247 men, was recruited in the Italian Systemic sclerosis PRogression INvestiGation (SPRING) registry. Demographic data, disease manifestations, serological profile, and internal organ involvement were compared. Results. The overall female/male ratio was 8.2:1. Female/male ratios for limited cutaneous SSc, diffuse cutaneous SSc, and SSc sine scleroderma subsets were 8.7:1, 4.9:1, and 10.7:1, respectively. A shorter time from onset of Raynaud phenomenon to SSc diagnosis, an increased prevalence of the diffuse cutaneous subset, renal crisis, and digital ulcers were found in males, whereas a significantly higher percentage of sicca syndrome, serum antinuclear antibodies, antiextractable nuclear antigens, anti-La/SSB, and anticentromere protein B was detected in the female group. Males exhibited lower left ventricular ejection fraction, as well as higher prevalence of conduction blocks, arrhythmias, ground glass, and honeycombing. Moreover, forced vital capacity and total lung capacity were medially lower in men than in women. Finally, males were more frequently treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Conclusion. Our study further supports the presence of several sex-related differences in patients with SSc. These differences were pronounced in the severity of cutaneous, peripheral vascular, and cardiopulmonary involvement for male patients, whereas an increased prevalence of sicca syndrome and a specific autoantibody profile characterized the female sex.
Published: 2022

48. Geographical heterogeneity of clinical and serological phenotypes of systemic sclerosis observed at tertiary referral centres. The experience of the Italian SIR-SPRING registry and review of the world literature

Author: Ferri, C., De Angelis, R., Giuggioli, D., Bajocchi, G., Dagna, L., Zanframundo, G., Foti, R., Cacciapaglia, F., Cuomo, G., Ariani, A., Rosato, E., Guiducci, S., Girelli, F., Riccieri, V., Zanatta, E., Bosello, Silvia Laura, Cavazzana, I., Ingegnoli, F., De Santis, M., Murdaca, G., Abignano, G., Romeo, N., Della Rossa, A., Caminiti, M., Iuliano, A., Ciano, G., Beretta, L., Bagnato, G., Lubrano, E., De Andres, I., Giollo, A., Saracco, M., Agnes, C., Lumetti, F., Spinella, A., Magnani, L., Campochiaro, C., De Luca, G., Codullo, V., Visalli, E., Masini, F., Gigante, A., Bellando-Randone, S., Pellegrino, G., Pigatto, E., Lazzaroni, M. G., Franceschini, F., Generali, E., Mennillo, G., Barsotti, S., Mariano, G. P., Calabrese, F., Furini, F., Vultaggio, L., Parisi, S., Peroni, C. L., Rozza, D., Zanetti, A., Carrara, G., Landolfi, G., Scire, C. A., Bianchi, G., Fusaro, E., Sebastiani, Gian Domenico, Govoni, M., D'Angelo, S., Cozzi, F., Doria, A., Iannone, F., Salvarani, C., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Bosello S. (ORCID:0000-0002-4837-447X), Sebastiani G. D., Ferri, C., De Angelis, R., Giuggioli, D., Bajocchi, G., Dagna, L., Zanframundo, G., Foti, R., Cacciapaglia, F., Cuomo, G., Ariani, A., Rosato, E., Guiducci, S., Girelli, F., Riccieri, V., Zanatta, E., Bosello, Silvia Laura, Cavazzana, I., Ingegnoli, F., De Santis, M., Murdaca, G., Abignano, G., Romeo, N., Della Rossa, A., Caminiti, M., Iuliano, A., Ciano, G., Beretta, L., Bagnato, G., Lubrano, E., De Andres, I., Giollo, A., Saracco, M., Agnes, C., Lumetti, F., Spinella, A., Magnani, L., Campochiaro, C., De Luca, G., Codullo, V., Visalli, E., Masini, F., Gigante, A., Bellando-Randone, S., Pellegrino, G., Pigatto, E., Lazzaroni, M. G., Franceschini, F., Generali, E., Mennillo, G., Barsotti, S., Mariano, G. P., Calabrese, F., Furini, F., Vultaggio, L., Parisi, S., Peroni, C. L., Rozza, D., Zanetti, A., Carrara, G., Landolfi, G., Scire, C. A., Bianchi, G., Fusaro, E., Sebastiani, Gian Domenico, Govoni, M., D'Angelo, S., Cozzi, F., Doria, A., Iannone, F., Salvarani, C., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Bosello S. (ORCID:0000-0002-4837-447X), and Sebastiani G. D.
Abstract: Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by a complex etiopathogenesis encompassing both host genetic and environmental -infectious/toxic- factors responsible for altered fibrogenesis and diffuse microangiopathy. A wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes may be observed in patients' populations from different geographical areas. We investigated the prevalence of specific clinical and serological phenotypes in patients with definite SSc enrolled at tertiary referral centres in different Italian geographical macro-areas. The observed findings were compared with those reported in the world literature. Materials and methods: The clinical features of 1538 patients (161 M, 10.5%; mean age 59.8 ± 26.9 yrs.; mean disease duration 8.9 ± 7.7 yrs) with definite SSc recruited in 38 tertiary referral centres of the SPRING (Systemic sclerosis Progression INvestiGation Group) registry promoted by Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) were obtained and clustered according to Italian geographical macroareas. Results: Patients living in Southern Italy were characterized by more severe clinical and/or serological SSc phenotypes compared to those in Northern and Central Italy; namely, they show increased percentages of diffuse cutaneous SSc, digital ulcers, sicca syndrome, muscle involvement, arthritis, cardiopulmonary symptoms, interstitial lung involvement at HRCT, as well increased prevalence of serum anti-Scl70 autoantibodies. In the same SSc population immunusppressive drugs were frequently employed. The review of the literature underlined the geographical heterogeneity of SSc phenotypes, even if the observed findings are scarcely comparable due to the variability of methodological approaches. Conclusion: The phenotypical differences among SSc patients' subgroups from Italian macro-areas might be correlated to genetic/environmental co-factors, and possibly to a not equally distributed national network of information and healthcare facilities.
Published: 2022

49. OP0125 THE MANAGEMENT OF PREGNANCY IN AUTOIMMUNE RHEUMATIC DISEASES: ANALYSIS OF 758 PREGNANCIES FROM THE PROSPECTIVE NATIONWIDE P-RHEUM.IT STUDY (THE ITALIAN REGISTRY OF PREGNANCY IN THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES)

Author: Andreoli, L., primary, Gerardi, M. C., additional, Crisafulli, F., additional, Zanetti, A., additional, Rozza, D., additional, Gerosa, M., additional, Lini, D., additional, Filippini, M., additional, Fredi, M., additional, Nalli, C., additional, Lazzaroni, M. G., additional, Taglietti, M., additional, Franceschini, F., additional, Caporali, R., additional, Trespidi, L., additional, Erra, R., additional, Mosca, M., additional, Tani, C., additional, Zucchi, D., additional, Melissa, P., additional, Ruffilli, F., additional, Maranini, B., additional, Rovere-Querini, P., additional, Canti, V., additional, De Lorenzo, R., additional, Cutro, M. S., additional, Picerno, V., additional, Montecucco, C., additional, Ramoni, V., additional, Anelli, M. G., additional, Abbruzzese, A., additional, Serale, F., additional, Romeo, N., additional, Chimenti, M. S., additional, Cuomo, G., additional, Larosa, M., additional, Pata, A. P., additional, Iuliano, A., additional, Crepaldi, G., additional, Brucato, A., additional, Landolfi, G., additional, Carrara, G., additional, Bortoluzzi, A., additional, Scirè, C. A., additional, and Tincani, A., additional
Published: 2022
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50. Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), and Frailty: Is There any Room for Good Outcome in the Elderly Undergoing Emergency Surgery?

Author: Fransvea, P., Costa, G., Lepre, L., Capolupo, G. T., Carannante, F., Puccioni, C., Costa, A., La Greca, A., Giovinazzo, F., Agresta F, Sganga on behalf of the IGo-GIPS study group (G., Alemanno, G, Antropoli, M, Argenio, G, Atzeni, J, Avenia, N, Azzinnaro, A, Baldazzi, G, Barbera, G, Bergamini, C, Bombardini, C, Borzellino, G, Bozzo, S, Brachini, G, Buonanno, Gm, Canini, T, Capolupo, Gt, Carannante, F, Cardella, S, Caricato, M, Carrara, G, Cassini, D, Castriconi, M, Ceccarelli, G, Celi, D, Ceresoli, M, Chiarugi, M, Cillara, N, Cimino, F, Cobuccio, L, Cocorullo, G, Colangelo, E, Costa, G, Crucitti, A, Cucinotta, E, D’Alessio, R, Dalla Caneva, P, de Manzoni Garberini, A, De Nisco, C, De Prizio, M, De Sol, A, Dibella, A, Falcioni, T, Falco, N, Farina, C, Finotti, E, Fontana, T, Francioni, G, Fransvea, P, Frezza, B, Garbarino, Gm, Garulli, G, Genna, M, Giannessi, S, Gioffrè, A, Giordano, A, Gozzo, D, Grimaldi, S, Gulotta, G, Iacopini, V, Iarussi, T, Kurihara, H, Laracca, Gg, Laterza, E, Leonardi, A, Lepre, L, Luridiana, G, Malagnino, A, Mar, G, Marini, P, Mariani, D, Marzaioli, R, Massa, G, Mecarelli, V, Mercantini, P, Mingoli, A, Miranda, G, Montuori, M, Occhionorelli, S, Paderno, N, Palini, Gm, Paradies, D, Paroli, M, Perrone, F, Petruzzelli, L, Pezzolla, A, Piazza, D, Piazza, V, Pignata, G, Pinotti, E, Pisanu, A, Podda, M, Poillucci, G, Porfidia, R, Rocca, A, Rondelli, F, Rossi, G, Spagnoli, A, Sulis, R, Tartaglia, D, Tranà, C, Travaglino, A, Tomaiuolo, P, Valeri, A, Zago, M, and Zanoni, E. ).
Subjects: acute care surgery, SIRS, elderly, frailty, metabolic syndrome
Abstract: Patients with MetS or SIRS experience higher rates of mortality and morbidity, across both cardiac and noncardiac surgery. Frailty assessment has acquired increasing importance in recent years as it predisposes elderly patients to a worse outcome. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of MetS, SIRS, and with or without frailty on elderly patients undergoing emergency surgical procedures.We analyzed data of all patients with nonmalignant diseases requiring an emergency surgical procedure from January 2017 to December 2020. The occurrence of MetS was identified using modified definition criteria used by the NCEP-ATP III Expert Panel: obesity, hypertension, diabetes, or if medication for high triglycerides or for low HDL cholesterol was taken. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was evaluated according to the original consensus study (Sepsis-1). The frailty profile was investigated by the 5-modified Frailty Index (5-mFI) and the Emergency Surgery Frailty Index (EmSFI). Postoperative complications have been reported and categorized according to the Clavien-Dindo (C-D) classification system. Morbidity and mortality have been mainly considered as the 30-day standard period definition.Of the 2,318 patients included in this study, 1,010 (43.6%) fulfilled the criteria for MetS (MetsG group). Both 5-Items score and EmsFI showed greater fragility in patients with MetS. All patients with MetS showed more frequently a CACI index greater than 6. The occurrence of SIRS was higher in MetSG. LOS was longer in patients with MetS (MetSG 11.4 ± 12 days vs.Impact of MetS and SIRS on elderly surgical patient outcomes has yet to be fully elucidated. The present study showed a 43.6% incidence of MetS in the elderly population. In conclusion, age per se should be not considered anymore as the main variable to estimate patient outcomes, while MetS and Frailty should have always a pivotal role.
Published: 2022

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