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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease characterized by joint destruction, deformity, lower functionality, and decrease in life expectancy. Wingless signaling pathway (Wnt) has been recently involved in bone homeostasis. Studies suggest that overexpression of the pathway inhibitors, like the Dickkopf 1 protein (DKK1), has been implicated in bone destruction. The objective of this study is to compare circulating levels of DKK1 in different groups of patients with disease activity (remission, low, moderate, high activity,) and functionality status. Three hundred seventy-nine patients with RA were evaluated between March 2015 and November 2016. Disease activity was evaluated by disease activity score 28 with C-reactive protein (DAS28CPR), simplified and clinical disease activity scores (SDAI, CDAI), routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID3), functional status using Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MD-HAQ), and the Steinbrocker functional classification. DKK1 levels were measured by ELISA. The mean age was 60.7 ± 13.9 years. Disease duration was 13.2 ± 10.9 years. Higher levels of DKK1 were not associated with disease activity by CDAI (p = 0.70), SDAI (p = 0.84), DAS28CRP (p = 0.80), or RAPID3 (p = 0.70). Interestingly higher levels of DKK1 were significantly associated to lower functional status evaluating by the Steinbrocker classification (p = 0,013), severe disability by MD-HAQ (p = 0,004), and variables associated with joint destruction like osteoporosis, higher titles of rheumatoid factor, smoking, and increased hospital admissions related to RA. Higher levels of DKK1 were found in patients with lower functional status. This association was not found in patients with greater disease activity by CDAI, SDAI, DAS28, and RAPID3. This could be explained by more structural damage; DKK1 could be used as a biomarker of joint destruction in RA.

The objective of this study is to correlate the patient-driven tool Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID-3) with other common tools used in daily practice to measure disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).One hundred nineteen RA patients according to 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria who consecutively attended a RA outpatient clinic between August and December 2015 were evaluated. Data was stored in an electronic form that included demographic information, comorbidities, concomitant medication, and laboratory results. The disease activity was determined by tender and swollen joint count, pain and disease activity visual analog scales (VAS), disease activity score 28 (DAS28), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), and multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ). Correlations between RAPID-3 and other disease activity tools were assessed. Mean age was 61 ± 13.8 years with a median disease duration of 14 years (IQR 5–21), 77% were females. Median scores were MDHAQ 0.5 (IQR 0.1–1.2), DAS 28 3.8 (IQR 2.7–5.1), and RAPID-3 12.3 (IQR 6–19). A strong correlation was obtained between RAPID-3 and DAS 28 (r 0.719, p

Background Methotrexate (MTX) as monotherapy or in combination, is the most commonly Disease-Modifying-AntiRheumatic-Drug (DMARDs) used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). About 40% of patients do not respond to treatment or have adverse effects. The genetic variability could be responsible for this phenomenon. Different studies suggest associations between polymorphisms in the enzymes involved in the metabolic pathway of MTX with alterations in the efficacy and toxicity. Objectives Determine the polymorphisms of the enzymes involved in MTX metabolism in a group of Colombian patients. Methods 400 patients with RA over 18 years old, diagnosed according to the ACR/EULAR classification criteria, who consecutively attended an outpatient RA clinic between March 2015 and December 2016 were included. MTX efficacy was defined by DAS28 score ≥3.2, liver toxicity by elevation of transaminases above three times the normal value, Haematological toxicity by: leukocytes 1.5. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) studied were MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, ATIC C347G, RFC1 G80A, FPGS-AG and DHFR-CT and were identified by the technique of polymerase chain reaction in real time (RT-PCR). Results The mean age of patients was 60.7±13.9 years, the duration of the disease was 13.2±10.9 years and 76% were women. A significant increase in the frequency of MTHFR C677T and A1298C SNPs (p=0.05 and p=0.048) were found in the responding patients compared to non-responders. The DHFR-CT and the ATIC C347G SNPs were significantly increased in patients with any toxicity to MTX (p=0.0095 and p=0.005 respectively). We did not find a significant difference between the polymorphisms studied with any specific toxicity. Conclusions The Colombian population has similar statistical data compared to the global studies regarding the association of SPNs with the efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate, however the polymorphisms associated with inefficiency in the literature are not replicated in our data. These SNPs could be established as biomarkers to the methotrexate response in terms of efficacy and toxicity in our Colombian population with RA. Reference [1] Fan H, Li Y, Zhang L, Li W. Lack of association between MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and outcome of methotrexate treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Rheum Dis2017;20(5):526–40. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background. Clinical, laboratory, and radiologic parameters are used for diagnosis and classification of spondyloarthritis (SpA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sacroiliac (SI) joints is being increasingly used to detect early sacroiliitis. We decided to evaluate the interobserver agreement in MRI findings of SI joints of SpA patients between a local radiologist, a rheumatologist, and an expert radiologist in musculoskeletal diseases. Methods. 66 MRI images of the SI joints of patients with established diagnosis of SpA were evaluated. Agreement was expressed in Cohen’s kappa. Results. Interobserver agreement between a local radiologist and an expert radiologist was fair (κ=0.37). Only acute findings showed a moderate agreement (κ=0.45), while chronic findings revealed 76.5% of disagreement (κ=0.31). A fair agreement was observed in acute findings (κ=0.38) as well as chronic findings (κ=0.38) between a local radiologist and a rheumatologist. There was a substantial agreement between an expert radiologist and a rheumatologist (κ=0.73). In acute findings, a 100% agreement was achieved. Also chronic and acute plus chronic findings showed high levels of agreement (κ=0.73 and 0.62, resp.). Conclusions. Our study shows that rheumatologists may have similar MRI interpretations of SI joints in SpA patients as an expert radiologist.