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Patients with immune-mediated rheumatic disease-related calcinosis comprise a subgroup at risk of encountering a more severe clinical outcome. Early assessment is pivotal for preventing overall disease progression, as calcinosis is commonly overlooked until several years into the disease and is considered as a 'non-lethal' manifestation. This single-center retrospective study explored the prevalence, clinical associations, and impact on survival of subcutaneous calcinosis in 86 patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRD). Calcinosis predominantly appeared in individuals with longstanding disease, particularly systemic sclerosis (SSc), constituting 74% of cases. Smaller calcinosis lesions (≤1 cm) were associated with interstitial lung disease, musculoskeletal involvement, and digital ulcerations, while larger lesions (≥4 cm) were associated with malignancy, severe peripheral artery disease, and systemic arterial hypertension. The SSc calcinosis subgroup exhibited a higher mean adjusted European Scleroderma Study Group Activity Index score than those without. However, survival rates did not significantly differ between the two groups. Diltiazem was the most commonly used treatment, and while bisphosphonates reduced complications related to calcinosis, complete resolution was not achieved. The findings underscore current limitations in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating calcinosis, emphasizing the need for further research and improved therapeutic strategies to improve patient care and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate sexual function in a cohort of men with rheumatic disease compared to healthy controls. Patients and methods. The study included 60 patients (ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, gout, psoriatic arthritis) and 60 healthy age-matched controls. Sexual function of patients and controls was evaluated by the Sexual Health Inventory for Men and a detailed questionnaire. Results. The mean age of study group was 45,26 (7.8) years. In 90% of the cases sexual life changed after diagnosis: only 1.67% described their sexual life as being very satisfying, while 21.67% as being satisfying, 68.33% as not satisfying and 8.33% as absent. 40% of the patients had diminished libido, significantly lower compared to the study group (p = 0.043). Most patients presented with mild erectile dysfunction (60%), while most of the systemic sclerosis patients presented with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction scores were significantly lower compared to controls (0.009). 55% of the patients reported no influence of the treatment on their sexual life, 38% of the patients reported that specific treatment improved their sexual life.There was no statistical difference between SHIM scores of patients using biological therapies and other drugs. Conclusions. This work suggests that men with rheumatic conditions have a worse sexual function in comparison with healthy control. However, specific disease parameters or treatments were not linked to sexual dysfunction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune rheumatic disorders have a multifactorial determinism, caused by various environmental factors acting on the individual's genetic susceptibility, destabilizing the systems which regulate the immune response. Epidemiological and genetic investigations are very important to demonstrate the contribution of genetic factors to the development of these autoimmune diseases. The contribution of genetic factors in causing autoimmune diseases has been demonstrated by familial aggregation. Moreover, it was also quantified by determining heritability, expressing the proportion of genetic factors in the etiology. It is now clear that common genes underlie multiple autoimmune disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]