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Objective: To assess the incidence of serious infection (SI) and associated factors in a large juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) retrospective cohort. Methods: All patients in the Spanish Rheumatology Society Lupus Registry (RELESSER) who meet >= 4 ACR-97 SLE criteria and disease onset = 6, 5.8%). Incidence rate was 3.7 (95%CI: 3.2-4.2) SI per 100 patient years. Respiratory location and bacterial infections were the most frequent. Higher number of SLE classification criteria, SLICC/ACR DI score and immunosuppressants use were associated to the presence of SI. Associated factors to shorter time to first infection were higher number of SLE criteria, splenectomy and immunosuppressants use. Conclusions: The risk of SI in jSLE patients is significant and higher than aSLE. It is associated to higher number of SLE criteria, damage accrual, some immunosuppressants and splenectomy. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Purpose We assessed the efficacy and safety of biologic therapy in severe and refractory Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis (PUK). Design Open-label multicenter study of biologic-treated patients with severe PUK refractory to conventional immunosuppressive drugs. Subjects We studied 34 patients (44 affected eyes) (24 women/10 men; mean age, 55.26±17.4 years). PUK was associated with a well-defined condition in 29 of them (rheumatoid arthritis [n = 20], psoriatic arthritis [n = 2], inflammatory bowel disease [n = 2], Behcet disease [n = 1], granulomatosis with polyangiitis [n = 1], microscopic polyangiitis [n = 1], systemic lupus erythematosus [n = 1] and axial spondyloarthritis [n = 1]). Besides topical and oral systemic glucocorticoids, patients had received: methylprednisolone pulses [n = 9], and conventional immunosuppressive drugs, mainly methotrexate [n = 18], and leflunomide [n = 7]. Eleven patients had required ocular surgery prior to biologic therapy. Methods Following biologic therapy, baseline main outcomes were compared with those found at 1st week, 1st and 6th months and 1st year. Main outcome measures Efficacy and safety of biologic therapy. Efficacy was analyzed by the assessment of corneal inflammation (corneal thinning, central keratolysis and ocular perforation); other causes of ocular surface inflammation (scleritis, episcleritis); intraocular inflammation (uveitis); visual acuity and glucocorticoid sparing effect. Results The first biologic agents used were anti-TNFα drugs (n = 25); adalimumab (n = 16), infliximab (n = 8), etanercept (n = 1), and non-TNFα agents (n = 9); rituximab (n = 7), tocilizumab (n = 1) belimumab (n = 1) and abatacept (n = 1). During the follow-up, switching to a second biologic agent was required in 12 of the 25 (48%) patients treated with anti-TNFα drugs. However, no switching was required in those undergoing biologic therapy different from anti-TNFα agents. The main outcome variables showed a rapid and maintained improvement after a mean follow-up of 23.7 ± 20 months. Major adverse effects were tachyphylaxis, relapsing respiratory infections, supraventricular tachycardia, pulmonary tuberculosis and death, one each. Conclusions Biologic therapy is effective and relatively safe in patients with severe and refractory PUK. Non-anti-TNFα agents appear to be effective in these patients.

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the joints that has been associated with variation in the peripheral blood methylome. In this study, we aim to identify epigenetic variation that is associated with the response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapy. & nbsp; Methods Peripheral blood genome-wide DNA methylation profiles were analyzed in a discovery cohort of 62 RA patients at baseline and at week 12 of TNFi therapy. DNA methylation of individual CpG sites and enrichment of biological pathways were evaluated for their association with drug response. Using a novel cell deconvolution approach, altered DNA methylation associated with TNFi response was also tested in the six main immune cell types in blood. Validation of the results was performed in an independent longitudinal cohort of 60 RA patients. & nbsp; Findings Treatment with TNFi was associated with significant longitudinal peripheral blood methylation changes in biological pathways related to RA (FDR < 0.05). 139 biological functions were modified by therapy, with methylation levels changing systematically towards a signature similar to that of healthy controls. Differences in the methylation profile of T cell activation and differentiation, GTPase-mediated signaling, and actin filament organization pathways were associated with the clinical response to therapy. Cell type deconvolution analysis identified CpG sites in CD4 +T, NK, neutrophils and monocytes that were significantly associated with the response to TNFi. & nbsp; Interpretation Our results show that treatment with TNFi restores homeostatic blood methylation in RA. The clinical response to TNFi is associated to methylation variation in specific biological pathways, and it involves cells from both the innate and adaptive immune systems.& nbsp; & nbsp; Copyright (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Superscript/Subscript Available

Objective The main study objective was to determine how giant cell arteritis (GCA) is diagnosed in our clinical practice and whether the EULAR recommendations have influenced the diagnostic procedures used. Methods ARTEritis of the Rheumatology Spanish Society -Sociedad Española de Reumatología (ARTESER) is a multicentre observational retrospective study conducted in 26 hospitals with support from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology. All patients diagnosed with GCA between 1 June 2013 and 29 March 2019 were included. The gold standard for the diagnosis of GCA was the judgement of the physician in charge, according to clinical criteria, supported by data available from laboratory tests, imaging studies (ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI/CT angiography) and temporal artery biopsy (TAB) when available. Results We included 1675 patients with GCA (mean age±SD (76.9±8.1) years, 1178women (70.3%)). Of these, 776 patients had a positive TAB (46.3%), 503 (30.0%) positive ultrasound, 245 positive PET (14.6%) and 64 positive MRI/CT angiography (3.8%). These percentages changed substantially over the study. From 2013 to 2019, the use of ultrasound in diagnosis grew from 25.8% to 52.9% and PET from 12.3% to 19.6%, while use of TAB decreased from 50.3% to 33.3%. Conclusions Biopsy was the most widely used diagnostic test for confirming GCA, but use of imaging as a diagnostic tool has grown in recent years. Following publication of the 2018 EULAR recommendations, ultrasound has displaced biopsy as the first-line diagnostic test; TAB was performed in a third and PET in a fifth of cases. Funding: Roche contributes to the financial support of this study. Acknowledgements: To the Spanish Society of Rheumatology that has promoted and provided coverage for this study. To Roche for its financial contribution that made this epidemiological study possible

Objective To investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics and prognosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adult onset Still's disease (AOSD). Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients with AOSD diagnosed during a 33-year period in 2 referral tertiary care hospitals, selecting for analysis those who presented PAH confirmed as by right heart catheterization. A systematic review of the literature (PubMed 1990 to July 2018) was also performed, in order to determine the prognosis and the most appropriate treatment strategy for this complication. Results The overall prevalence of PAH in our AOSD population was 4.8% (2/41). Including our 2 cases, 20 well-documented patients have been reported. PAH may complicate AOSD at any time during its course, and usually occurs in patients who have persistent and severe disease, with a considerable frequency (35%) of previous or concomitant severe clinical complications. In all cases, the etiology of pulmonary hypertension was a group 1 PAH based on the 2015 ESC/ERS guidelines. Most patients in this series had advanced WHO functional classes III-IV at the time of PAH diagnosis, reflecting an important diagnostic delay. Thirty-three percent of patients had a poor outcome despite the therapy, with a mortality rate that reached 22%. The therapeutic strategy that achieved the best results was the use of glucocorticoids, immunosuppression and PAH-specific vasodilator therapy. Conclusion HAP is an under-recognized complication of AOSD that should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of those patients who experience dyspnea on exertion or a decrease in exercise tolerance

Background Blocking of the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) activity is a successful therapeutic approach for 50–60% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. However, there are yet no biomarkers to stratify patients for anti-TNF therapy. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic-citrullinated antibodies (anti-CCP) have been evaluated as biomarkers of response but the results have shown limited consistency. Anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) and anti-peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 (anti-PAD4) antibodies have been much less studied. Despite being linked to common immune processes, the interaction between these markers has not been evaluated yet. Our aim was to analyze the interaction between these four antibodies in relation to the response to anti-TNF therapy. Methods For this objective, a prospective cohort of n = 80 RA patients starting anti-TNF therapy was recruited. Serum determinations at baseline were performed for RF, anti-CCP, anti-CarP and anti-PAD4 antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The clinical response to anti-TNF therapy was determined at week 12 using the change in DAS28 score. Association was performed using multivariate linear regression adjusting for baseline DAS28, sex and age. Results The interaction between pairs of antibodies was tested by the addition of an interaction term. We found two highly significant antibody interactions associated with treatment response: anti-CarP with anti-PAD4 (p = 0.0062), and anti-CCP with RF (p = 0.00068). The latter antibody interaction was replicated in an independent retrospective cohort of RA patients (n = 199, p = 0.04). Conclusions The results of this study suggest that antibody interaction effects are important factors in the response to anti-TNF therapy in RA., This project was supported by UCB Pharma. The funders had no role in the study design, data analysis, data interpretation or writing the manuscript.

Epidemiology of RMD Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG [Abstract] Objective. Axial osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of back and neck pain, however, few studies have examined its prevalence. The aim was to estimate the prevalence and the characteristics of symptomatic axial OA in Spain. Methods. EPISER2016 is a cross-sectional multicenter population-based study of people aged 40 years or older. Subjects were randomly selected using multistage stratified cluster sampling. Participants were contacted by telephone to complete rheumatic disease screening questionnaires. Two phenotypes were analyzed, patients with Non-exclusive axial OA (NEA-OA) and Exclusive axial OA (EA-OA). To calculate the prevalence and its 95% confidence interval (CI), the sample design was considered and weighting was calculated according to age, sex and geographic origin. Results. Prevalence of NEA-OA by clinical or clinical-radiographic criteria was 19.17% (95% CI: 17.82–20.59). The frequency of NEA-OA increased with age (being 3.6 times more likely in patients aged 80 s or more than in those between 40 and 49 years) and body mass index. It was significantly more frequent in women, as well as in the center of Spain. It was less frequent in those with a higher level of education. Lumbar OA was more frequent than cervical OA. This difference grew with increasing age and was not associated with gender. It was also greater in overweight and obese subjects. Conclusions. This is the first study on the prevalence of axial OA phenotypes in Europe describing the associated socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle variables. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. EPISER2016 was supported by Celgene, Gebro Pharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme in Spain, Pfizer, and Sanofi-Aventis, none of whom had any role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, or writing of this manuscript. MS was financed via the Rio Hortega Contract—Health Research Fund (CM17/00101), the Sanitary Research Fund integrated in the National Plan of Scientific Program, Technological Development and Innovation 2013–2016 and funded by the ISCIII-Subdirectorate General Evaluation and Promotion of Research-European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "A way of making Europe"

Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory chronic diseases (IMIDs) can be challenged as diagnostic test reliability could be impaired by immunosuppression. We retrospectively analyzed the Quantiferon Gold-Test in-Tube (QFT-G-IT) results of all patients with IMIDs seen at the Department of Internal Medicine of Son Llatzer Hospital, Palma de Mallorca (Spain), looking for the factors related to QFT-G-IT indeterminate results. During the study period (2008–2015), 520 patients met the inclusion criteria. Factors associated with indeterminate QFT-G-IT results in a univariate analysis were inflammatory bowel disease, disease activity, lymphopenia, and medium-to-high doses of corticosteroids. In a subsequent multivariate analysis, only lymphopenia (defined as

Objective To assess the efficacy of abatacept (ABA) in RA patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) (RA-ILD). Methods This was an observational, multicentre study of RA-ILD patients treated with at least one dose of ABA. ILD was diagnosed by high-resolution CT (HRCT). We analysed the following variables at baseline (ABA initiation), 12 months and at the end of the follow-up: Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) scale (1-point change), forced vital capacity (FVC) or diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (improvement or worsening ≥10%), HRCT, DAS on 28 joints evaluated using the ESR (DAS28ESR) and CS-sparing effect. Results We studied 263 RA-ILD patients [150 women/113 men; mean (s.d.) age 64.6 (10) years]. At baseline, they had a median duration of ILD of 1 (interquartile range 0.25–3.44) years, moderate or severe degree of dyspnoea (MMRC grade 2, 3 or 4) (40.3%), FVC (% of the predicted) mean (s.d.) 85.9 (21.8)%, DLCO (% of the predicted) 65.7 (18.3) and DAS28ESR 4.5 (1.5). The ILD patterns were: usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (40.3%), non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) (31.9%) and others (27.8%). ABA was prescribed at standard dose, i.v. (25.5%) or s.c. (74.5%). After a median follow-up of 12 (6–36) months the following variables did not show worsening: dyspnoea (MMRC) (91.9%); FVC (87.7%); DLCO (90.6%); and chest HRCT (76.6%). A significant improvement of DAS28ESR from 4.5 (1.5) to 3.1 (1.3) at the end of follow-up (P Conclusion ABA may be an effective and safe treatment for patients with RA-ILD.

[Resumen] Introducción. La Sociedad Española de Reumatología elaboró en el año 2000 el estudio EPISER2000 para conocer la prevalencia de la artrosis y otras enfermedades reumáticas en España. Los cambios sociodemográficos y en los hábitos de vida ocurridos en los últimos años en España justifican actualizar los datos de las enfermedades reumáticas (EPISER2016). Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia de artrosis sintomática de columna cervical, columna lumbar, cadera, rodilla y mano, en población adulta en España. Material y métodos. Estudio transversal de base poblacional. Se realizó un muestreo aleatorizado polietápico estratificado y por conglomerados. Los participantes fueron contactados por teléfono para cumplimentar un cuestionario de cribado de artrosis. El reumatólogo confirmaba o descartaba el diagnóstico. Se utilizaron los criterios-clínicos-ACR para diagnosticar artrosis de manos y los criterios clínico-radiológicos-ACR para diagnosticar la artrosis de rodilla y cadera. Resultados. La prevalencia de artrosis en España en una o más de las localizaciones estudiadas fue de 29,35%. La prevalencia de artrosis-cervical fue del 10,10% y de artrosis-lumbar del 15,52%. Ambas son más frecuentes en mujeres y a mayor edad, así como en personas con niveles de estudios bajos y obesidad. La prevalencia de artrosis de cadera fue del 5,13% y la de artrosis de rodilla del 13,83%; estas se asocian con el sexo femenino, sobrepeso y obesidad, menor frecuencia en nivel de estudios alto y con la edad. La prevalencia de la artrosis de mano fue del 7,73%. Es más frecuente en mujeres, obesas, con bajo nivel de estudios y mayor edad. Conclusiones. El estudio EPISER2016 es el primero que analiza la prevalencia de artrosis sintomática en 5 localizaciones (columna cervical, lumbar, rodilla, cadera y manos) en España. La artrosis de la columna lumbar es la más prevalente. [Abstract] Introduction. The Spanish Society of Rheumatology carried out the EPISER2000 study in 2000 to determine the prevalence of osteoarthritis and other rheumatic diseases in the Spanish population. Recent sociodemographic changes and lifestyle habits in Spain justified updating the epidemiological data on osteoarthritis and other rheumatic diseases (EPISER2016-study). Objective. To estimate the prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, hip, knee and hand in the adult population in Spain. Material and methods. Cross-sectional population-based study. A multistage and stratified random cluster sampling was carried out. The participants were contacted by telephone to complete an osteoarthritis screening questionnaire. A rheumatologist confirmed or discarded the diagnosis. The ACR-clinical-criteria were used to diagnose hand-osteoarthritis and the ACR-clinical-radiological criteria to diagnose knee- and hip-osteoarthritis. To estimate the prevalence and its 95% confidence interval, weights were calculated according to the probability of selection in each of the sampling stages. Results. The prevalence of osteoarthritis in Spain in one or more of the locations studied was 29.35%. The prevalence of cervical-osteoarthritis was 10.10% and of lumbar-osteoarthritis 15.52%. Both are more frequent in women and at older ages, as well as in people with low levels of education and obesity. The prevalence of hip-osteoarthritis was 5.13%, that of knee-osteoarthritis 13.83%, these are associated with female sex, overweight and obesity. The prevalence of hand osteoarthritis was 7.73%. It is more frequent in women, who are obese, with a low educational level and who are older. Conclusion. The EPISER2016 study is the first to analyse the prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis in 5 locations (cervical, lumbar, knee, hip and hands) in Spain. Lumbar spine osteoarthritis is the most prevalent.

The prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) differs depending on the population studied. The main objective of the EPISER2016 study was to estimate the prevalence of FM in adults in Spain. The secondary objective was to evaluate the association with sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics and smoking.This is a population-based cross-sectional multicentre study. The random selection was based on multistage stratified cluster sampling. The final sample comprised 4916 persons aged ≥20 years. Participants were contacted by telephone for completion of a screening survey. Investigating rheumatologists evaluated positive results (review of medical records and/or telephone interview, with medical visit if needed) to confirm the diagnosis. Prevalence and 95% confidence interval were calculated, taking into account the sample design. Weighing was applied based on age, sex, and geographic origin. Predictive models were constructed to analyse which sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle variables in the call centre questionnaire were associated with the presence of FM.602 subjects (12.25%) had a positive screening result for FM, of which 24 were missing (3.99%). A total of 141 cases of FM were recorded. The estimated prevalence was 2.45% (95% CI, 2.06-2.90). Female sex was the variable most associated with FM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 10.156 (95% CI, 5.068-20.352). Peak prevalence was at 60-69 years (p=0.009, OR=6.962). FM was 68% more frequent in obese individuals (OR, 1.689; 95% CI, 1.036-2.755).The prevalence of FM in adults in Spain barely changed between 2000 and 2016 and it is similar to that observed in Europe as a whole.

Objective To evaluate the responsiveness in terms of correlation of the Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index (HUPI) comparatively to the traditional composite indices used to assess disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare the performance of HUPI-based response criteria with that of the EULAR response criteria. Methods Secondary data analysis from the following studies: ACT-RAY (clinical trial), PROAR (early RA cohort) and EMECAR (pre-biologic era long term RA cohort). Responsiveness was evaluated by: 1) comparing change from baseline (Delta) of HUPI with Delta in other scores by calculating correlation coefficients; 2) calculating standardised effect sizes. The accuracy of response by HUPI and by EULAR criteria was analyzed using linear regressions in which the dependent variable was change in global assessment by physician (Delta GDA-Phy). Results Delta HUPI correlation with change in all other indices ranged from 0.387 to 0.791); HUPI's standardized effect size was larger than those from the other indices in each database used. In ACT-RAY, depending on visit, between 65 and 80% of patients were equally classified by HUPI and EULAR response criteria. However, HUPI criteria were slightly more stringent, with higher percentage of patients classified as non-responder, especially at early visits. HUPI response criteria showed a slightly higher accuracy than EULAR response criteria when using Delta GDA-Phy as gold standard. Conclusion HUPI shows good responsiveness in terms of correlation in each studied scenario (clinical trial, early RA cohort, and established RA cohort). Response criteria by HUPI seem more stringent than EULAR's., Our study was supported by grants RD16/0012/0011 and PI14/00442 from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Instituto de Salud Carlos III; Spain) and cofunded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). Data from ACT-RAY clinical trial were kindly provided by Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. No financial support was received from Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Data from EMECAR and PROAR cohorts were provided by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology. No financial support was received from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology. None of these institutions played any role in the analysis or interpretation of data, nor were they involved in the writing of the manuscript. Roche and Sociedad Espanola de Reumatologia were involved in the collection of data from ACT-RAY, and EMECAR and PROAR, respectively. However, these funders had no role in study design, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Aim: To describe the methodology of the EPISER 2016 (study of the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in adult population in Spain), as well its strengths and limitations. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome (SS), osteoarthritis (knee, hip, hands, and cervical and lumbar spine), fibromyalgia, gout and clinical osteoporotic fracture. Material and method: Population-based, multicenter, cross-sectional study, with the participation of 45 municipalities in the 17 Spanish autonomous communities. The reference population will consist of adults aged 20 years and over residing in Spain. A computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) system will be used for data collection. Diagnostic suspicions and diagnoses received by the participants will be studied by rheumatologists in the referral hospitals in the selected municipalities. Statistical analysis: the prevalence of the rheumatic diseases will be calculated using estimators and their 95% confidence intervals. Weights will be calculated in each of the sampling stages in accordance with the probability of selection. The distribution of the population in Spain will be obtained from the Spanish Statistics Institute. Conclusions: Sociodemographic and lifestyle changes over the last 16 years justify EPISER 2016. This study will provide current data about the prevalences of RA, AS, PsA, SLE, SS, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and clinical osteoporotic fracture. The results will allow comparisons with studies from other countries and EPISER 2000. (C) 2017 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. and Sociedad Espanola de Reumatologia y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatologia. All rights reserved.

To determine the incidence and risk factors of first cardiovascular event (CVE) in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD).Analysis of data after 2.5 years of follow-up from the prospective study CARMA project, that includes patients with CIRD [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)] and matched individuals without CIRD from 67 hospitals in Spain. CVE cumulative incidence per 1000 patients was calculated after 2.5 years from the start of the project. Weibull proportional hazard model was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the risk factors.2595 (89.1%) patients completed the 2.5 years of follow-up visit. Cumulative incidence of CVE in patients with CIRD was 15.30 cases per 1000 patients (95% CI: 12.93-17.67), being higher in the subgroup with AS; 22.03 (95% CI: 11.01-33.04). Patients with AS (HR: 4.11; 95% CI: 1.07-15.79), those with older age (HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05-1.13), systolic hypertension (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00-1.04) and long duration of the disease (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03-1.12) were at higher risk of first CVE during the 2.5 years of follow-up. In contrast, female gender was a protective factor (HR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.18-1.00).Among CIRD patients prospectively followed-up at rheumatology outpatient clinics, those with AS show higher risk of first CVE. Besides cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, being a man and older as well as having a long disease duration increase the risk of CVE in patients with CIRD.

Treatment compliance with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) is essential to achieve the therapeutic goals in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, despite the need for good compliance, there is evidence that patients with RA frequently fail to use DMARD for the control of RA. Thus, the main objective of the OBSERVAR study is to evaluate the reasons for the lack of therapeutic adherence to synthetic DMARD in these patients.A Delphi process involving 18 randomly selected Spanish rheumatologists determined the level of agreement with 66 causes of noncompliance selected from the literature in relation to synthetic DMARD in RA.The reasons for noncompliance were consistent in 75.7%, although 3 reasons (4.5%) were highly consistent: 1) not knowing what to do in the case of an adverse event with DMARD; 2) not having undergone adherence screening by health personnel for early detection of "noncompliant patients"; and 3) not having undergone interventions or strategies that improve adherence.In order to improve adherence to RA treatment with synthetic DMARD, the patient should be adequately informed of each new treatment introduced, the patient's compliance profile should be incorporated into the clinical routine and the patient's motivation for therapeutic compliance be reinforced through the methods available to us.

Quantiferon-TB-Gold in Tube(®) test (QFT-G-IT) may have advantages if combined with TST when screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) prior to initiating anti-TNF therapy in an area of intermediate tuberculosis incidence such as Spain. In a small-scale prospective study, we evaluate the use of QFT-G-IT in combination with the screening recommended in Spain (Tuberculin-Skin Test, TST retest, clinical data, and Chest X-Ray (CXR)) for LTBI in patients considered as candidates for anti-TNFα treatment.From June 2008 to October 2010, 123 patients from a 300-bed hospital in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) were included in the study. The majority of patients were under immunosuppressive therapy. A positive TST and TST booster were found in 22 and 17 patients, respectively. Thus 39 (31.7%) of the 123 patients had a positive TST. QFT-G-IT was positive in 16 patients (13.6%), indeterminate in 4 (3.2%), and negative in 103 (83.7%). One of the two tests was positive and LTBI was diagnosed in 34.1% of patients. The agreement between TST and QFT-G-IT among vaccinated patients was low and not statistically significant (Kappa=0.15) and was almost perfect among non-BCG vaccinated patients (K=0.81). TST positive responses were significantly related to BCG-vaccination (p0.05) and QFT-G-IT positive response rates were related to older age (p0.05).QFT-G-IT may have advantages when combined with TST in immunosuppressed patients especially in older patients with a negative TST; in BCG vaccinated patients with a positive TST, QFT-G-IT could avoid unnecessary treatments and toxicities related to a false-positive TST result.

Initial radiation exposure levels X (0) at 1 m from the navel of thyroid cancer patients were measured for 165 individuals at the time of ingestion. Some 61 patients had previously signed informed consent so only those patients could be assayed with regard to body parameters. While the activity was in the stomach, resultant X (0) values were seen to be linearly correlated with the total (131)I activity (A) given orally. Yet large differences in X (0) were seen; e.g., at A = 7.4 GBq, variations of a factor of four were found between the largest and smallest exposure rates. Correlation analyses were performed between normalized rate X (0)A-1 and several patient physical parameters. These included age, sex, height, weight, and BMI (body mass index). Only weight and BMI had significant linear correlation (p < 0.05) with normalized exposure rate. In the former case, the correlation coefficient ρ (weight) was -0.296 (p = 0.02). Using BMI as the independent variable, ρ (BMI) was -0.386 (p = 0.0021). With further analysis of the BMI variation, 95% confidence intervals could be determined at various BMI levels. For example, at 28 kg m(-2), the normalized rate varied between 0.039 and 0.0446 μGy h(-1) MBq(-1)-approximately a ±6.5% variation on the mean value of 0.0419 μGy h(-1) MBq(-1) at this BMI. Given such clinical information, differences in normalized exposure rate can be reduced to values on the order of ±10% or less for BMI values over the clinically relevant interval 20 to 40 kg m(-2).

Objective To investigate the validity, reproducibility, and responsiveness of a simplified power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) assessment of joint inflammation compared with a comprehensive 44-joint PDUS assessment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who started therapy with a biologic agent. Methods A total of 160 patients with active RA who started a biologic agent were prospectively recruited in 18 Spanish centers. The patients underwent clinical and laboratory assessment and blinded PDUS examination at baseline and 6 months. A PDUS examination of 128 synovial sites in 44 joints was performed. US synovitis and PD signal were semiquantitatively graded from 1 to 3 in all synovial sites. US count and index for synovitis and PD signal were obtained. PDUS intraobserver and interobserver reliability were evaluated. A process of data reduction based on the frequency of involvement of synovial sites by both synovitis and PD signal was conducted. Construct and discriminant validity of a simplified PDUS assessment was investigated. Results A PDUS simplified assessment including 24 synovial sites from 12 joints detected 100% of patients with synovitis and 91% of patients with PD signal. There was a highly significant correlation between the 44-joint count and index for synovitis and PD signal and the 12-joint count and index for synovitis and PD signal at baseline and 6 months (r = 0.84–0.90, P < 0.0005). The smallest detectable difference was lower than the mean change in simplified PDUS variables. Conclusion A 12-joint PDUS assessment of RA joint inflammation may be a valid, feasible method for multicenter monitoring of therapeutic response to biologic agents.

Objective.To determine the prevalence of and independent factors associated with joint involvement in a large population of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).Methods.This study was cross-sectional, based on data collected on patients included in the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) registry. We queried this database to extract data regarding global evaluation of patients with SSc and the presence of any clinical articular involvement: synovitis (tender and swollen joints), tendon friction rubs (rubbing sensation detected as the tendon was moved), and joint contracture (stiffness of the joints that decreased their range of motion). Overall joint involvement was defined by the occurrence of synovitis and/or joint contracture and/or tendon friction rubs.Results.We recruited 7286 patients with SSc; their mean age was 56 ± 14 years, disease duration 10 ± 9 years, and 4210 (58%) had a limited cutaneous disease subset. Frequencies of synovitis, tendon friction rubs, and joint contractures were 16%, 11%, and 31%, respectively. Synovitis, tendon friction rubs, and joint contracture were more prevalent in patients with the diffuse cutaneous subset and were associated together and with severe vascular, muscular, renal, and interstitial lung involvement. Moreover, synovitis had the highest strength of association with elevated acute-phase reactants taken as the dependent variable.Conclusion.Our results highlight the striking level of articular involvement in SSc, as evaluated by systematic examination in a large cohort of patients with SSc. Our data also show that synovitis, joint contracture, and tendon friction rubs are associated with a more severe disease and with systemic inflammation.

To describe the differential characteristics by gender and time since disease onset in patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) attending the Spanish rheumatology clinics, including those on the "Spanish Registry of spondyloarthritis" (REGISPONSER), as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic implications that this entails.This is a transversal and observational study of 1514 patients with AS selected from 2367 spondyloarthritis cases included in REGISPONSER. For each patient, the demographics, epidemiology, geriatric, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and therapeutic aspects were were evaluated and comprehensively recorded under the aegis of REGISPONSER, constituting the Minimum Basic identifying data for the disease. Physical function was assessed by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Clinical activity was evaluated using erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Each patient underwent pelvic anteroposterior, anteroposterior and lateral lumbar spine as well as lateral cervical spine x rays; they were scored according to the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Radiographic Index, which measures structural damage.Of the 1514 patients screened, 1131 (74.7%) were men. We found significant differences in age at onset of symptoms as well as in the day of inclusion, between the two groups, being lower in men. We also obtained differences in the duration of the disease, which was lower in women. As for the existence of a history of AS among first-degree relatives, family forms were more common among women. The mean BASDAI score was also higher in women, regardless of time since onset of disease. In contrast, the improvement of pain with the use of NSAID's and radiological severity were higher in men, both reaching statistical significance.Among the Spanish AS patients, there are some differences in the clinical manifestations, even when the time since onset of disease was controlled; we also found radiological differences by gender; men showing more structural damage, while women were more active. These data suggest that the phenotype of AS differs between genders. This can influence the subsequent diagnostic approach and therapeutic decisions.

Objective. To determine the prevalence of and independent factors associated with joint involvement in a large population of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods. This study was cross-sectional, based on data collected on patients included in the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) registry. We queried this database to extract data regarding global evaluation of patients with SSc and the presence of any clinical articular involvement: synovitis (tender and swollen joints), tendon friction rubs (rubbing sensation detected as the tendon was moved), and joint contracture (stiffness of the joints that decreased their range of motion). Overall joint involvement was defined by the occurrence of synovitis and/or joint contracture and/or tendon friction rubs. Results. We recruited 7286 patients with SSc; their mean age was 56 ± 14 years, disease duration 10 ± 9 years, and 4210 (58%) had a limited cutaneous disease subset. Frequencies of synovitis, tendon friction rubs, and joint contractures were 16%, 11%, and 31%, respectively. Synovitis, tendon friction rubs, and joint contracture were more prevalent in patients with the diffuse cutaneous subset and were associated together and with severe vascular, muscular, renal, and interstitial lung involvement. Moreover, synovitis had the highest strength of association with elevated acute-phase reactants taken as the dependent variable. Conclusion. Our results highlight the striking level of articular involvement in SSc, as evaluated by systematic examination in a large cohort of patients with SSc. Our data also show that synovitis, joint contracture, and tendon friction rubs are associated with amore severe disease and with systemic inflammation. The Journal of Rheumatology Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved.

Complete heart block (CHB) is a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mainly seen during an acute flare-up of the disease or after high-dose long-term treatment with antimalarial drugs, although anti-Ro and anti-RNP antibodies have also been implied by some authors. A 40-y-old woman developed CHB in the context of an acute flare-up of SLE, first diagnosed three years ago, having recently commenced hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) treatment. Anti-Ro and anti-RNP antibodies were also positive. No features of myocarditis were found. A temporary pacemaker was required and complete resolution was achieved on steroid therapy with withdrawal of antimalarial therapy. The characteristics of previous cases are well publicised and discussion focuses on the possible aetiology and pathogenesis of the present case.

Lipoma arborescens is a rare intraarticular lesion characterized by diffuse replacement of the subsynovial tissue by mature fat cells, producing villous transformation of the synovium. The etiology of this benign condition is unknown. The most typical site of involvement is the knee, most notably at the suprapatellar pouch, although other joints can be affected. Symptoms consist of gradual joint swelling, variable pain, motion range restriction, and intermittent joint effusions or bleeding. We report a case of lipoma arborescens and discuss the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of this disorder based on a literature review. Although it is rare, lipoma arborescens should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic joint swelling or hemarthrosis.