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Cutaneous disease is one of the most frequent manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), being classified as LE-specific and LE-nonspecific. LE-specific skin lesions are divided into acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE), subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) and chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE). The association with systemic involvement varies between each clinical subtype, with non-specific lesions being more frequent associated with active SLE than cutaneous specific lesions. The treatment consists of topical agents (glucocorticoids, topical calcineurin inhibitors) as well as systemic therapies (glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, quinacrine, methotrexate, retinoids, dapsone, mycophenolate mofetil or even biologics). In the presence of strictly cutaneous involvement, periodic patient follow-up and monitoring for the progression to systemic disease remains an important mission for the dermatologist and the rheumatologist.

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.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is the hallmark of autoimmune diseases, being characterized by multiple organ involvements and immune abnormalities, amongst which the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies with or without specific clinical manifestations (vascular thromboses and pregnancy morbidities) has a significant impact on the disease course, both short and long term, causing the accumulation of irreversible damage. This study evaluates the aforementioned impact, highlighting the importance of very early screening for these antibodies.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occur frequently in women of fertile age. In the pathogenesis of SLE, estrogen plays an important role, hormonal changes such as pregnancy and the postpartum increase the risk of disease flares. Also, pregnancy in SLE patients carries a higher fetal risk compared with healthy women. Pregnancy outcome may be optimized by careful planning of the pregnancy and close follow-up of the mother and of the fetus. SLE is associated with high maternal and fetal risk especially when non-diagnosed before planning a pregnancy. Herein we present two cases of SLE manifested by preeclampsia and acute renal insufficiency during labor and postpartum period, with a difficult diagnosis after a few months of a worsening clinical situation.

Introduction. The low overall prevalence of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the low proportion of male patients have resulted in a scarcity of studies assessing sex differences in SSc patients, and contradictory results have often been observed. Material and method. We performed a retrospective observational study using data extract from the EULAR scleroderma trials and research (EUSTAR) cohort 096 . We looked at sex influence on disease characteristics at baseline and then focused on patients with at least 2 years of follow-up to estimate the effects of sex on disease progression and survival. Results. 173 patients with SSc were available for the baseline analyses. In the longitudinal analysis after a mean follow-up of 3.5(±0.65) years, male sex was associated with a higher risk of scleroderma renal crisis (OR:9.45 (1.49 to 59.69); p = 0.004), digital contractures (OR:8.2 (3.1 to 21.9); p < 0.001), arrhythmias (OR: 3.37 (1.36 to 8.34); p = 0.006), pulmonary fibrosis (OR: 3.56, (1.51 to 8.41); p = 0.003), pulmonary hypertension (OR: 3.01 (1.19 to 7.59); p = 0.016), severe vascular involvement (OR:2.86, (1.22 to 6.73); p = 0.013) and low ventricular ejection fraction (OR: 2.84, (1.2 to 6.73); p = 0.014). Males had significantly reduced survival time after diagnosis (p = 0.004). The most frequent causes of death were scleroderma renal crisis in males and pulmonary hypertension in females. Conclusions. Although more common in women, SSc appears as strikingly more severe in men. Our results demonstrate a higher risk of severe organ involvement and poor prognosis in men. These results raise the point of including sex in the management and the decision-making process.

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.

Availability of biosimilar medicines is rapidly increasing, potentially leading to a wider prescription and a support for healthcare system costs. Despite efforts of patient and physician educational initiatives there still remains a reluctance in prescribing or administering this type of products. A multi-centric survey was conducted on 336 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or lupus (SLE) on biologic treatment. Half of the patients stated never hearing of biosimilars and one third feared adverse events (infections, cancer). Another 20% felt insecure on drug tolerability or efficacy. However, the majority declared relying on their rheumatologist if prescribing a biosimilar. Lack of patient information should be accurately addressed by health organizations so that the choice of treatment is done knowingly.

The usefulness of capillaroscopy in the follow-up of scleroderma patients and the possible prognostic role for the appearance of visceral involvement is suggested by many authors but still under debate.The aim of this study was to assess the role of monitoring capillaroscopic abnormalities (qualitative and semiquantitative) in relation with parameters of interstitial lung involvement and pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH). A strong correlation was identified between initial capillaroscopy scores and FVC (r=-.47, p=0.002), DLCO (r=- .51, p< 0.001) and sPAP (r=0.34, p1) was asociated with worsening of FVC (r=0.32,p

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies, which deposit within tissues and fix complement leading to systemic inflammation (1). Is a heterogeneous disease with a continuum of disease activity. Some patients can have predominant skin and joint involvement, whereas others can present with organ-threatening diseases such as nephritis, cardiac involvement or even neurologic manifestations. Relatives of patients with SLE appear to be at higher risk of SLE and other autoimmune diseases, but estimates of individual familial risks are largely unavailable or unreliable (2,3).

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.

Lupus nephritis is one of the most important organ involvement in patients diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). It requires aggressive and prolonged immunosuppression in order to induce and maintain remission. There is always a risk of adverse events. It is presented the case of a young woman diagnosed with SLE and active lupus nephritis with acute renal failure, who developed persistent hyponatremia after immunosuppression with Cyclophosphamide was started. The case emphases both the need for synthetic immunosuppression as well as the adverse events that may occur during treatment. Close monitoring of the clinical and biological parameters during immunosuppressive therapy is essential as even one minimally modified parameter may prove important in the evolution of the case. Measures to prevent one side effect do not prevent the developing of other.

Introduction. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) represent a group of conditions evolving with necrotizing inflammation in small and medium-sized blood vessels. AAV are composed of GPA (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, former Wegener’s granulomatosis), MPA (microscopic polyangiitis) and EGPA (eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, former Churg-Strauss syndrome). AAV receive immunosuppressive therapy associated with a high risk of complications. Objective. The aim of this study was to characterize a single center cohort of AAV patients regarding clinical, biological and therapeutic features. Method. We realized a cross-sectional study by consequently enrolling all the patients registered with AAV diagnosis between 2009 and 2017 in Department of Rheumatology of “Sfânta Maria” Hospital. Demographic, diseaserelated and therapeutic-related parameters were collected. The data was extracted from the clinical files. Results. The study sample included 26 cases, 15 females and 11 males: 20 patients GPA, 4 MPA and 2 cases EGPA. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was around 48 but 12 patients presented delays between age at the onset and age at the time of diagnosis (the mean delay was 2 years). The most frequent clinical manifestation identified where pulmonary, musculoskeletal and renal. 15 patients had a diagnostic biopsy performed. ANCA detection revealed 16 cases of c-ANCA and 7 cases of p-ANCA and 11 patients presented other positive serology. A combination of glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide was used in most of the cases for remission-induction treatment and the same scheme was used for relapse cases. For maintenance phase a combination of glucocorticoids and azathioprine was preferred. 13 patients (50%) developed treatment related complications. Conclusion. Most of the patients were diagnosed with GPA (20) and the least were diagnosed with EGPA (2). Biopsy was performed in 15 cases and it was mostly nasal. For remission-induction prevailed the combination of glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide. Most treatment related complications were due to glucocorticoids administration. Osteoporosis was predominant.

Background. Behçet’s disease is a rare type of vasculitis. Validated activity and damage scores were developed for vasculitis patients in order to allow a better way to evaluate disease activity and decide treatment plans. Objective. The main objective was to compare two vasculitis activity scores applied to a group of patients diagnosed with Behçet’s disease and establish correlations between them, damage and the need for immunosuppressive therapy. The secondary objective was to evaluate the connection between damage progression, classical immunosuppressant therapy and long-term cortisone use. Methods. A study was performed on a cohort of patients diagnosed with Behçet’s disease according The International Criteria for Behçet‘s Disease (ICBD) under surveillance in one Rheumatology Centre, from a non-endemic area. Vasculitis activity and damage scores were calculated for each patient. Results. 20 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 35.7 years ± 10.5 years standard deviation(SD), 14 (70%) under the age of 40, with a male predominance 60%(12 patients). All patients presented active disease at the time of the diagnosis. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between BVAS v3 and BDCAF was strong r = 0.862 and statistically significant p < 0.001. The outcome analysis after remission was calculated and rank correlation coefficient between VDI, and both BVASv3 and BDCAF was moderate (VDI-BVASv3 r = 0.747, p < 0.001, VDI - BDCAF r = 0.795, p < 0.001). As for immunosuppression induction decision and activity scores, the correlation coefficient was moderate (r = 0.734 for BVASv3, r = 0.647 for BDCAF) with p < 0.001. There was a moderate correlation between immunosuppressive treatment and VDI (r = 0.700, p < 0.001). The cause of damage (i.e. vasculitis vs. treatment) is not taken into consideration when we calculate VDI. Data analysis showed the presence of mild correlation and no statistical impact between cyclophosphamide treatment duration and damage calculated as VDI (r = 0.474, p = 0.36). In contrast, when rank correlation coefficient between cortisone therapy and VDI was calculated, a moderate statistical impact was observed (r = 0.609, p < 0.001). Conclusions. An objective assessment of disease’s activity can be obtained using disease activity indexes. A moderate to strong correlation was obtained between activity indexes, immunosuppressive treatment initiation and damage progression. Comparing the two activity indexes, it resulted that: BVASv3 correlates stronger with the need for immunosuppressive treatment and both of them are equally able to anticipate damage. Damage progression was correlated stronger with long-term cortisone use, rather than immunosuppressive therapy.

We are presenting the case of a 51 years old female diagnosed with Neuro-Behçet’s disease, undergoing immunosuppression and corticoid therapy in the present. The onset was with recurrent oral ulcerations. Neurological manifestations progressed rapidly from paresthesia in the upper and lower limbs to corset-like hypoesthesia of the abdominal wall and sphincterian incontinence. MRI of the spinal cord showed Transverse Myelitis.