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Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been resulting in increased hospital occupancy rates. Rheumatic patients cannot still reach to hospitals, or they hesitate about going to a hospital even they are able to reach. We aimed to show the effect of the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the treatment of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis. Methods: Patients were divided into three groups as follows: pre-pandemic (Pre-p: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within 6 months before March 11, 2020); post-pandemic A (Post-p A: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within the first 6 months after March 11, 2020); post-pandemic B (Post-p B: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within the second 6 months). Results: The number of rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Post-p A and B groups decreased by 51% and 48%, respectively, as compared to the Pre-p group similar rates of reduction were also determined in the number of spondyloarthritis patients. The rates of tofacitinib and abatacept use increased in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Post-p period. Conclusion: The number of rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis patients starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for the first time decreased during the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been resulting in increased hospital occupancy rates. Rheumatic patients cannot still reach to hospitals, or they hesitate about going to a hospital even they are able to reach. We aimed to show the effect of the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the treatment of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis. Methods: Patients were divided into three groups as follows: pre-pandemic (Pre-p: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within 6 months before March 11, 2020); post-pandemic A (Post-p A: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within the first 6 months after March 11, 2020); post-pandemic B (Post-p B: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within the second 6 months). Results: The number of rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Post-p A and B groups decreased by 51% and 48%, respectively, as compared to the Pre-p group similar rates of reduction were also determined in the number of spondyloarthritis patients. The rates of tofacitinib and abatacept use increased in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Post-p period. Conclusion: The number of rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis patients starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for the first time decreased during the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory disease. Most of the identified disease-causing mutations are located on exon 10. As the number of studies about the effect of the exonal location of the mutation and its phenotypic expression is limited, we aimed to investigate whether the exonic location of the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) mutation has an effect on the clinical manifestation in patients with FMF. Methods: Study population was derived from the main FMF registry that included 2246 patients from 15 different rheumatology clinics. We categorized the mutations according to their exon locations and retrieved the clinical and demographic information from the database. Results: Patients having the MEFV mutations on exon 2 or 10 (n:1526) were divided into three sub- groups according to the location of the MEFV mutations: Group 1 (exon 2 mutations), Group 2 (exon 10 mutations), and Group 3 (both exon 2 and exon 10 mutations). Group 2 patients were of a signifi- cantly younger age at onset, and erysipel-like erythema, arthritis, amyloidosis, and a family history of FMF were more common in this group. Conclusion: Patients with FMF and exon 10 mutations show more severe clinical symptoms and out- come. Exon 2 mutations tend to have a better outcome.

Background/aim: to evaluate treatment adherence and predictors of drug discontinuation among patients with inflammatory arthritis receiving bDMARDs within the first 100 days after the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: a total of 1871 patients recorded in TReasure registry for whom advanced therapy was prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA) within the 3 months (6-9 months for rituximab) before the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated, and 1394 (74.5%) responded to the phone survey. Patients' data regarding demographic, clinical characteristics and disease activity before the pandemic were recorded. The patients were inquired about the diagnosis of COVID-19, the rate of continuation on bDMARDs, the reasons for treatment discontinuation, if any, and the current general disease activity (visual analog scale, [VAS]). Results: a total of 1394 patients (493 RA [47.3% on anti-TNF] patients and 901 SpA [90.0% on anti-TNF] patients) were included in the study. Overall, 2.8% of the patients had symptoms suggesting COVID-19, and 2 (0.15%) patients had PCR-confirmed COVID-19. Overall, 18.1% of all patients (13.8% of the RA and 20.5% of the SpA; p = 0.003) discontinued their bDMARDs. In the SpA group, the patients who discontinued bDMARDs were younger (40 [21-73] vs. 44 years [20-79]; p = 0.005) and had higher general disease activity; however, no difference was relevant for RA patients. Conclusion: although the COVID-19 was quite uncommon in the first 100 days of the pandemic, nearly one-fifth of the patients discontinued bDMARDs within this period. The long-term effects of the pandemic should be monitored., Hacettepe Rheumatology Society

SOY, MEHMET/0000-0003-1710-7018; Tonuk, Sukru Burak/0000-0003-0290-9341 WOS: 000383531000007 PubMed: 25196858 Aim: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory form of arthritis typically associated with psoriasis and/or psoriatic nail disease. Adipocytokines were once thought to influence development of (only) insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. However, it is now clear that adipocytokines play important roles in development of the inflammation associated with either autoimmune or auto-inflammatory disorders. In the present study, we measured changes in the serum levels of adiponectin, resistin and visfatin, and the associations of such changes with the extent of disease activity and insulin resistance in PsA patients. Material and methods: A total of 67 subjects (28 with PsA and 39 healthy controls) without hypertension or diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels, and the extent of insulin resistance (assayed using the homeostasis model [HOMA-IR]), were measured in all subjects. Assessment of PsA disease activity was done with the Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA). Results: Psoriatic arthritis patients had considerably higher serum levels of adiponectin, resistin and visfatin than did healthy controls (all P < 0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, the following variables may contribute to complex pathogenesis of PsA: adiponectin (P = 0.001, OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.6-6.0), resistin (P = 006, OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.2-2.9) and visfatin (P = 0.031, OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.1-13.9). In contrast, we have not detected any correlation between DAPSA and adipocytokine serum levels (P > 0.05). Conclusion: There is no correlation between adipocytokines and disease activity. Although serum adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels are higher in patients with PsA, pathophysiological significance of the result has to be evaluated with more extensive studies. Scientific Research Project Unit of Abant Izzet Baysal UniversityAbant Izzet Baysal University [2012.08.03.566] The technical assistance of Sengul Gunduz is greatly appreciated. This research has been supported by Scientific Research Project Unit of Abant Izzet Baysal University (Project Number: 2012.08.03.566). The English in this document has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English. For a certificate, please see: http://www.textcheck.com/certificate/PhFsI7.