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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
27989011 Temporomandibular joint findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondyl 2017 Nov AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. METHODS: The present study consisted of 79 individuals with various rheumatic disease (study group: 39 with RA, 17 with AS, 23 with pSS) and 79 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (control group). Subjective symptoms of the TMJ were recorded by means of a questionnaire. And stomatognathic examination was then performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of subjective symptoms in patients with rheumatic disease (73.4%) were significantly higher than that of the controls (22.8%; P<.05). The most common objective symptoms were pain during lateral TMJ palpation (29.1% of patients overall, 8.9% of controls) and mandibular movements (19% of patients overall, 2.5% of controls), and muscle pain during palpation (38% of patients overall, 3.8% of controls). They were significantly higher in all of the rheumatic patients than the controls (P<.05). There was not a statistically-significant difference in the values for mandibular movements between the study and control groups (P>.05, Mann-Whitney U test). CONCLUSIONS: TMJ symptoms were observed to be higher in the patients with RA, AS and pSS than the control group. Dentists and rheumatologists should be aware of TMJ symptoms in patients with rheumatic diseases.
28339358 Effectiveness and healthcare costs among stabilised rheumatoid arthritis patients with dos 2017 Sep OBJECTIVES: We assessed the level of maintained effectiveness and associated healthcare costs in stabilised rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who reduced doses of adalimumab or etanercept. METHODS: Eligible patients were identified from a U.S. commercial insurance database using the following criteria: adults with ≥2 RA diagnoses; effectively treated on standard dose of adalimumab or etanercept for a 6-month baseline period; and ≥3 months of dose reduction within a 6-month assessment period following the index date (date of the first reduced dose). Effectiveness was estimated using a validated claims-based algorithm. Multivariate regression models were used to assess maintained effectiveness and healthcare costs in the short-term (months 7-12) and long-term (months 13-24) following the index date, while adjusting for baseline characteristics. Cost per patient maintaining effective treatment (CPME) was calculated as the average total healthcare costs divided by the proportion of patients with maintained effectiveness. RESULTS: Both groups (etanercept=375; adalimumab=610) had 70% females and a mean age of 48 years. Adjusted rates of maintained effectiveness for etanercept vs. adalimumab were 57.5% vs. 64.7% (p=0.028) in the short-term and 44.3% vs. 51.9% (p=0.047) in the long-term. Adjusted healthcare costs were similar for etanercept- and adalimumab-treated patients (short-term: $15,043 vs. $15,041; long-term: $31,461 vs. $30,449). The CPME was $2,915 higher with etanercept-treated patients in short-term and $12,349 higher in long-term compared with adalimumab-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among stabilised RA patients who reduced biologic dosing, a greater proportion of adalimumab-treated patients maintained effectiveness than etanercept-treated patients. Adalimumab was associated with a lower total CPME than etanercept.
28549731 Clinical and sonographic biomarkers of structural damage progression in RA patients in cli 2017 Dec OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical and sonographic biomarkers predicting structural damage progression at 12 months of follow-up as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in clinical remission. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included patients with RA in clinical remission, defined as 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) <2.6 for >6 months. Ultrasound scans of both hands and knees and MRI of the dominant hand were performed at baseline and at 12 months. RESULTS: Out of 55 patients, 42 completed the follow-up. Among them, 78% were female, aged (median) 54 years; disease duration was 93 months. In total, 12 (28%) patients were taking oral prednisone, 34 (81%) conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), and 20 (47%) biological therapies. At baseline, 45% fulfilled criteria previously defined for ultrasound-defined active synovitis (UdAS) [PD (power Doppler) signal + synovial hyperplasia ≥2]. Multivariate analysis showed significant associations between baseline MRI erosion score, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, prednisone treatment, absence of biologic and csDMARDs, UdAS, and MRI erosion score progression after 12 months. In an exploratory analysis, serum levels of calprotectin correlated significantly with bone edema progression. CONCLUSIONS: We identified clinical and sonographic markers of structural damage progression after 12 months follow-up in patients with RA in clinical remission. Meeting the criteria of ultrasound active synovitis, defined as simultaneous relevant synovial hyperplasia and PD, was associated with erosion progression after 12 months. Calprotectin was associated with bone edema, in an exploratory analysis.
28685724 Role of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Inflammatory Arthritis. 2017 Jul 20 OBJECTIVE: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a well-established imaging modality which has been put into clinical use in recent years with the development of second-generation contrast agent and imaging devices, and its applications in the assessment of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, have provoked abundant discussion and researches among radiologists and rheumatologists. To summarize the achievements of clinical studies on CEUS in the application of arthritis, and to keep up with the latest progresses of the imaging technique, we reviewed the literature in recent years, hoping to establish the role of CEUS in joint diseases. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and EMBASE. STUDY SELECTION: We searched the database with the conditions "contrast-enhanced ultrasound AND arthritis" with the time limitation of recent 10 years. Clinical studies applying CEUS in inflammatory arthritis and review articles about development of CEUS in joint diseases in English were selected. RESULTS: As it is proved by most studies in recent years, by delineating microvasculature within the inflamed joints, CEUS can indicate early arthritis with high sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, the imaging of CEUS has been proved to be consistent with histopathological changes of inflammatory arthritis. Quantitative analysis of CEUS permits further evaluation of disease activity. CEUS also plays a significant role in the therapeutic monitoring of the disease, which has been backed up by a number of studies. CONCLUSIONS: CEUS may be a new choice for the rheumatologists to evaluate inflammatory arthritis, because of its low price, ability to provide dynamic pictures, and high sensitivity to angiogenesis. It can also be applied in disease classification and therapeutic monitoring. More studies about CEUS need to be done to set up the diagnostic standards.
28821941 Rheumatologic care of nursing home residents with rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison of th 2017 Dec The purpose of this study was to investigate health care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before and after admission to nursing homes. Data of a German health insurance fund from persons with diagnostic codes of RA, aged ≥65 years, admitted to a nursing home between 2010 and 2014 and continuously insured 1 year before and after admission were used. The proportion of patients with ≥1 rheumatologist visit and ≥1 prescription of biologic or conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs or csDMARDs), glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the year before and after admission were calculated. Predictors of rheumatologic care after admission were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Of 75,697 nursing home residents, 2485 (3.3%) had RA (90.5% female, mean age 83.8). Treatment by rheumatologists and prescription of antirheumatic drugs decreased significantly in the year after admission (rheumatologic visits: 17.6 to 9.1%, bDMARDs: 2.1 to 1.5%, csDMARDs: 22.5 to 16.5%, glucocorticoids: 46.5 to 43.1%, NSAIDs: 47.4 to 38.5%). 60.2% of patients in rheumatologic care received csDMARDs compared with 14.5% without rheumatologic care. Rheumatologic care before admission to a nursing home strongly predicted rheumatologic care thereafter (OR 33.8, 95%-CI 23.2-49.2). Younger age and lower care level (reflecting need of help) were also associated with a higher chance of rheumatologic care. Rheumatologic care is already infrequent in old patients with RA and further decreases after admission to a nursing home. Patients without rheumatologic care are at high risk of insufficient treatment for their RA. Admission to a nursing home further increases this risk.
27686101 The role of female hormonal factors in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. 2017 Aug 1 RA is the most common chronic systemic autoimmune disease, with a higher prevalence in women, suggesting female hormonal factors play a role in the development of the disease. However, many controversies still exist. The aim of this review was to appraise data from recent research concerning female hormonal factors and their association with RA disease development. The study of female hormonal factors is challenging because serum levels may differ throughout a woman's lifetime and interact with various environmental, immunological, genetic and endocrine factors influencing the development of autoimmunity. As some female hormonal factors may be potentially modifiable, understanding their impact on RA development is clinically relevant and may result in specific preventive interventions in high-risk populations.
28516868 Predicting responses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis to disease-modifying agents usi 2017 Sep OBJECTIVES: The optimal treatment for active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unresolved, particularly in early RA. We used data from an observational cohort to develop the simple predictor algorithm and evaluated its application in two completed clinical trials in early and established RA. We assessed whether using a simple algorithm can identify patients who have persisting active disease despite treatment with disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs). We also examined if patients who have lower likelihoods of persisting active RA are likely to benefit from intensive treatment. METHODS: We developed a simple predictive score for persisting disease activity using conventional clinical assessments in an observational cohort of patients with early RA (ERAN). It was tested in two trials in early (CARDERA) and established (TACIT) RA. Persistent disease activity was defined as disease activity score for 28 joints (DAS28) >3.2 at both 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Regression modelling identified three main predictors of persisting active disease in ERAN; tender joint counts, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) scores and ESR. We dichotomised these predictors (≥6 tender joint counts, ≥1.0 HAQ ≥20 mm/h ESR) in a four-point prediction score. This simple prediction score predicted persisting active disease in the ERAN cohort and both CARDERA and TACIT trials. Patients with high scores were more likely to have persistently active disease at 6 and 12 months. The relationship was weaker in TACIT because no patients were without any predictive factors. CONCLUSIONS: Combining tender joint counts, ESR and HAQ in a simple predictive score prospectively identifies patients with higher risks of persistent disease activity over the next 12 months. More patients with all three risk factors had persistent active disease than those with none or one risk factor.
28505163 Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies are the strongest predictor of clinically relevant r 2017 OBJECTIVES: To determine prognostic factors of clinically relevant radiographic progression (CRRP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) achieving remission or low disease activity (LDA) in clinical practice. METHODS: Using data from a nationwide, multicenter, prospective study in Japan, we evaluated 198 biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD)-naïve RA patients who were in remission or had LDA at study entry after being treated with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs). CRRP was defined as the yearly progression of modified total Sharp score (mTSS) >3.0 U. We performed a multiple logistic regression analysis to explore the factors to predict CRRP at 1 year. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to estimate the performance of relevant variables for predicting CRRP. RESULTS: The mean Disease Activity Score in 28 joints-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) was 2.32 ± 0.58 at study entry. During the 1-year observation, remission or LDA persisted in 72% of the patients. CRRP was observed in 7.6% of the patients. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent variables to predict the development of CRRP were: anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) positivity at baseline (OR = 15.2, 95%CI 2.64-299), time-integrated DAS28-ESR during the 1 year post-baseline (7.85-unit increase, OR = 1.83, 95%CI 1.03-3.45), and the mTSS at baseline (13-unit increase, OR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.06-1.42). CONCLUSIONS: ACPA positivity was the strongest independent predictor of CRRP in patients with RA in remission or LDA. Physicians should recognize ACPA as a poor-prognosis factor regarding the radiographic outcome of RA, even among patients showing a clinically favorable response to DMARDs.
29356462 A randomized multicenter clinical trial of (99) Tc-methylene diphosphonate in treatment of 2018 Jan AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of technetium-99 conjugated with methylene diphosphonate ((99) Tc-MDP, Yunke Pharmaceutical industry) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 120 patients with active RA were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (receiving oral meloxicam tablets); Group B (receiving intravenous drip of (99) TC-MDP); Group C (receiving combination treatment of intravenous drip of (99) Tc-MDP and oral meloxicam tablets). The main clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 14 days of therapy. RESULTS: After 14 days of treatment, American College of Rheumatology 20 response was 15.62%, 34.04% and 48.78% in the three groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse events in three groups were 3.13%, 8.51% and 9.76% respectly, and has no significant difference. In addition, biochemical markers of bone metabolism including bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), all improved in the three groups, although more significant in Group B than Group A, and more significant in the combination group than monotherapy groups. CONCLUSION: (99) Tc-MDP has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of active RA patients; the benefit was more remarkable when (99) Tc-MDP was combined with NSAIDs. (99) Tc-MDP may also have potential to improve bone metabolism.
27468889 Evaluating the consequences of rheumatoid arthritis. 2017 Jul Patients and non-patients tend to attach different utility values to the state of suffering from specific illnesses. This observation naturally leads to the question whose utility values should be used as the basis in cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). Intuitively, one would presume that patients are better informed about the consequences of their illness, and public authorities should, therefore, use the patients' utility values in CEA. Contrary to this presumption, it has been argued that society at large should determine which values are to be used and not the patients because, in the end, it is societal resources that are to be allocated. Against this background, we use data from a discrete choice experiment (DCE) that was completed by patients of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and non-patients to explore the discrepancies between the two groups' utility estimates for typical consequences of RA. Our results indicate that both groups attach remarkably similar part-worth utilities to the symptoms pain, fatigue, and functional limitations. However, non-patients significantly undervalue the ability to work when compared to patients.
28987543 Ankle Evaluation in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis by Ultrasound: A Cross-Sectional Study. 2017 Dec Ankle joint evaluation is underestimated in many clinical and sonographic scores used for evaluation and follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Agreement on examination parameters is poor among sonographic scores that include the ankle joint. More effort is needed to detect the value of ankle joint examination in RA and assessment of ultrasonographic signs according to frequency, disease duration and activity. The objective of this study was to use ultrasound (US) to detect ankle involvement in active RA and to compare findings with disease duration, disease activity and assessment of ankle bone erosion. A total of 63 RA patients with active disease and 20 controls were included in the study. The tibiotalar and talonavicular joints were examined by US for synovitis and/or effusion in gray-scale and power Doppler modes. The anterior, lateral and posterior ankle tendons were examined for tenosynovitis and tendinosis. Mean age was 35.1 ± 8.3 y, mean disease duration was 22.7 ± 9.6 mo and the mean 28-joint Disease Activity Score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 3.05 ± 0.66. Ankle involvement was seen in 28 patients (44.4%). The most frequent pathologies detected were tenosynovitis (30.2%), followed by synovitis (18.3%), erosion (8.7%) and tendinosis (4%). The earliest sonographic signs were tenosynovitis, followed by synovitis, erosion and tendinosis. The right ankle exhibited greater involvement than the left ankle, which was significant with respect to erosions (p = 0.009). The most common tendon affected by tenosynovitis was the tibialis anterior (22.2%), followed by the tibialis posterior (20.6%). Tenosynovitis, especially of the tibialis anterior and posterior, tibiotalar synovitis and erosions should be considered in future US ankle scores for the assessment of RA.
28105670 The role of shame in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. 2017 Jun OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of shame and its relationship to depression in schizophrenia. It was predicted that individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia would exhibit higher levels of shame due to the stigma associated with their diagnosis, independently of depression levels, compared with psychiatric and medical control groups. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design with three groups: individuals with a diagnosis of (1) schizophrenia, (2) depression, and (3) rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Sixty individuals participated in the study (20 per group). Groups were compared on questionnaires assessing external shame, trait shame and guilt, and depression. RESULTS: The pattern of group differences depended on the type of shame measure used. Both the schizophrenia and depression groups exhibited higher levels of external shame, or seeing others as shaming, than the medical group. For individuals with schizophrenia, seeing others as shaming was associated with higher levels of depression, a relationship not found in either control group. They also showed lower levels of trait guilt and shame (at trend level), compared with both control groups. No difference was found between the groups on depression, suggesting that the observed differences were not attributable to differences in levels of depression. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of shame in schizophrenia, especially the link between seeing other people as shaming and depression, which was unique to this group. These results suggest that stigma associated with a diagnosis of mental illness, and schizophrenia in particular, has negative emotional consequences that may impede recovery, and should be addressed by psychological and social interventions. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Clinical implications Individuals with a diagnosis of mental illness (schizophrenia or depression) are more likely to experience others as shaming than those diagnosed with a physical illness, irrespective of current levels of depression and proneness to shame. There is a specific association between external shame and depression in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, suggesting the need for interventions levelled both at the individual's illness appraisals, and at social stigma relating to schizophrenia. Limitations of the study The participant numbers were low in each group. The three groups could not be matched on all variables. No additional internalized-stigma measure was used.
28160426 Short-course tocilizumab increases risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with 2017 Jul AIM: To investigate the impact of short-course tocilizumab (TCZ) on hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: RA patients with moderate to high disease activity, with at least one feature of poor prognosis and inadequate response to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) were recruited. Three consecutive doses of intravenous TCZ were given combined with csDMARDs. Liver function and HBV infection status were evaluated at baseline, weeks 4, 8 and 12. RESULTS: Sixty-three RA patients who were qualified for statistics were classified as chronic HBV infection (n = 7), resolved HBV infection (n = 41) and non-HBV infection (n = 15). Three patients with chronic HBV infection and without antiviral prophylaxis developed HBV reactivation after 1-3 doses of TCZ. They were asymptomatic of hepatitis B with normal aminotransferases and the HBV-DNA of three patients with HBV reactivation became undetectable after therapeutic antiviral therapy. No HBV reactivation developed in patients with resolved HBV infection. Aminotransferases elevated in 22% of all patients, but became elevated ≥ 2-fold of normal range in only two patients: one was treated with adefovir before TCZ for active hepatitis B and the other had resolved HBV infection, with aminotransferases returning to normal 4 weeks later. Thirty-two patients with resolved HBV infection had positive anti-HBs (≥ 10 IU/L) which is a protective antibody. The anti-HBs titer reduced significantly at week 4 and week 8 after the first dose of TCZ compared to baseline (P < 0.05) and even reduced to negative in six (19%). The anti-HBs did not return to positive in three patients during follow-up of 12-36 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective clinical observation preliminarily indicated three-dose TCZ combined with csDMARDs might increase the risk of HBV reactivation in RA patients with chronic HBV infection, but in this study patients remained asymptomatic and had a benign outcome after antiviral treatment. To identify the exact risk of TCZ on HBV infection and the prognosis of TCZ-related HBV reactivation, further studies with larger sample sizes and fewer confounding factors are needed.
28814431 Calprotectin as a marker of inflammation in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. 2017 Dec OBJECTIVES: Calprotectin is an inflammatory marker of interest in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated whether the level of calprotectin was associated with disease activity, and if it was predictive of treatment response and radiographic progression in patients with early RA. METHODS: Plasma from disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naïve patients with RA fulfilling 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria with symptom duration <2 years was analysed for calprotectin at baseline, and after 1, 3 and 12 months. All patients received treat-to-target therapy, as part of a randomised controlled strategy trial (ARCTIC). The association between calprotectin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP) and measures of disease activity were assessed by correlations. We used likelihood ratios and logistic regression models to assess the predictive value of the baseline inflammatory markers for treatment response and radiographic damage. RESULTS: 215 patients were included: 61% female, 82% anti-citrullinated peptide antibody positive, mean (SD) age 50.9 (13.7) years and median (25, 75 percentile) symptom duration 5.8 (2.8, 10.5) months. Calprotectin was significantly correlated with Clinical Disease Activity Index (r=0.32), ESR (r=0.50) and ultrasonography power Doppler (r=0.42) before treatment onset. After 12 months of treatment, calprotectin, but not ESR and CRP, was significantly correlated with power Doppler (r=0.27). Baseline levels of calprotectin, ESR and CRP were not predictive of treatment response, but high levels of calprotectin were associated with radiographic progression in multivariate models. CONCLUSIONS: Calprotectin was correlated with inflammation assessed by ultrasound before and during DMARD treatment, and was also associated with radiographic progression. The data support that calprotectin may be of interest as an inflammatory marker when assessing disease activity in different stages of RA. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01205854; Post-results.
28853191 A national survey of nurse training: Confidence and competence in educating patients comme 2017 Sep INTRODUCTION: Methotrexate is routinely used to treat active disease in inflammatory arthritis. There have previously been patient safety concerns associated with methotrexate usage in practice. Most patients commencing methotrexate treatment are seen by the rheumatology nurse, to receive education (often referred to as drug counselling) on this agent prior to starting treatment. Yet, there are no recommended criteria regarding education or experience to ensure minimum competence of the rheumatology nurse. The objectives of the present survey were, firstly, to identify the relevant training experience of rheumatology nurses who provide methotrexate education and, secondly, to explore their confidence and competence in undertaking this role. METHOD: A national electronic survey of rheumatology nurses, identified via the Royal College of Nursing Rheumatology Forum, national meetings and personal contacts, in order to access nurses who counsel patients on methotrexate, was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 104 nurses completed the survey. Reported training was highly variable, ranging from very little to having undertaken MSc courses. Knowledge of the drug was rated as the most important requirement. Confidence was largely very good and was reported to develop with experience, with 80% of participants reporting being confident after 1 year in the role. A small number of participants (four) indicated that they were 'not at all confident'. Aspects of competence and knowledge were assessed using questions on clinical situations; knowledge appeared to be good, with the exception of a question on shingles. Confidence correlated with knowledge (r = 0.21; p = 0.05), amount of training (r = 0.24; p = 0.03) and most strongly with time in the role (r = 0.74; p = 0.00001). The amount of training correlated with confidence but not with knowledge. All participants used written information, often using more than one source, with 87% of participants favouring the Arthritis Research UK information leaflet on methotrexate. CONCLUSIONS: There was a wide variety of training for this role. Confidence seemed to come with experience, training and knowledge, and took many months to develop. A training package in this area may be helpful. Reassuringly, confidence and knowledge were related.
28880691 Changes in serum interleukin-6 levels as possible predictor of efficacy of tocilizumab tre 2018 Jul OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the association between the change in serum IL-6 during the clinical course of tocilizumab (TCZ) therapy and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity or occurrence of adverse events. METHODS: General laboratory data including serum IL-6 levels and physical findings were obtained every 4 weeks, and, in addition, at the time when any adverse events occurred. RESULTS: The proportion achieving Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission at 52 weeks was significantly lower in 20 patients with serum IL-6 ≥ 30 pg/ml at 12 weeks than 24 patients with serum IL-6 < 30 pg/ml. In 17 patients with serum IL-6 ≥ 30 pg/ml at 24 weeks, the proportion achieving CDAI remission was also significantly lower than 27 patients with serum IL-6 < 30 pg/ml then. In these 17 patients, Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28-ESR and CDAI at 52 weeks were significantly higher than those with serum IL-6 < 30 pg/ml. Age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression analysis showed logIL-6 at 12 weeks to be a predictive factor for DAS28-ESR remission at 52 weeks. CONCLUSION: Serum IL-6 levels from 12 to 24 weeks after TCZ initiation better reflect the efficacy of TCZ at 52 weeks.
28265846 The Multifunctional Role of the Chemokine System in Arthritogenic Processes. 2017 Mar PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The involvement of chemokines and their receptors in the genesis and perpetuation of rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and osteoarthritis has been clearly recognized for a long time. Nevertheless, the complexity of their contribution to these diseases is now becoming evident and this review focuses on published evidence on their mechanism of action. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies performed on patients and in vivo models have identified a number of chemokine-mediated pathways involved in various aspects of arthritogenic processes. Chemokines promote leukocyte infiltration and activation, angiogenesis, osteoclast differentiation, and synoviocyte proliferation and activation and participate to the generation of pain by regulating the release of neurotransmitters. A number of chemokines are expressed in a timely controlled fashion in the joint during arthropathies, regulating all the aspects of inflammation as well as the equilibrium between damage and repair and between relief and pain. Thus, the targeting of specific chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions is considered a promising tool for therapeutic intervention.
28236221 Safety and efficacy of ocrelizumab in rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate res 2017 Jul We conducted this systematic reviews and meta-analysis to investigate the safety and efficacy of ocrelizumab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who exhibited resistance or intolerance to methotrexate or biological therapy. We performed a web-based literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Scopus, Embase, and Web of science for studies that compared ocrelizumab plus methotrexate versus methotrexate plus placebo in RA patients. Data were extracted from eligible studies and pooled as risk ratios (RR), using RevMan software. Pooling data from four RCTs (2230 patients) showed that ocrelizumab plus methotrexate were superior to methotrexate plus placebo at 24 weeks in terms of improvement on the American college of rheumatology (ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70) criteria (p < 0.00001), disease activity score 28-ESR (RR = 3.77, 95% CI [2.47, 5.74], p < 0.00001), and Sharp/van der Heijde radiological score (RR = 1.63, 95% CI [1.43, 1.85], p < 0.00001). These effects were consistent among all ocrelizumab doses. The rates of serious adverse events were comparable between the ocrelizumab and placebo containing groups (RR = 1, 95% CI [0.78, 1.28], p = 0.98). However, infusion related reactions were significantly higher in ocrelizumab group (RR = 2.13, 95% CI [1.69, 2.68], p < 0.00001), compared to placebo group. The combination of ocrelizumab plus methotrexate was superior to methotrexate plus placebo on all clinical and radiographic improvement scales. The incidence of adverse events, including serious adverse events, was comparable between both groups. Future trials should investigate the efficacy of ocrelizumab alone and develop strategies to alleviate its related infusion reactions.
28470440 [Fifteen years of the histopathological synovitis score : Review and further developments 2017 Aug The histopathological synovitis score evaluates in a graded approach, as is largely usual for diagnostic histopathological scores, the immunological and inflammatory changes caused by synovitis. A synovitis score of between 1 and ≤ 4 is classified as low-grade (osteoarthritis-related synovitis, post-traumatic synovitis, meniscopathy-related synovitis and synovitis in hemochromatosis). Synovitis scores of between ≥ 5 and 9 are classified as high-grade synovitis (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Lyme's arthritis, post-infection/reactive arthritis and peripheral arthritis in Bechterew disease); sensitivity is 61.7% and sensitivity 96.1%. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis (AUC: 0.8-0.9), diagnostic value is good. National and international acceptance of the synovitis score has grown since the first publication in 2002 and a related follow-up publication in 2006. PubMed data analysis (as of 11.01.2017) yielded the following citation values according to "cited by PubMed Central articles" for two publications relating to the synovitis score: there were 29 cited-by-PubMed articles for DOI: 10.1078/0344-0338-5710261 , and 44 cited-in-PubMed articles for the second publication, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2006.02508 . This makes a total of 73 PubMed citations over a period of 15 years, thereby evidencing the score's international acceptance. Immunohistochemical determination of a number of CD antigens relevant to inflammation has been proposed to further specify the synovitis score for the purposes of risk stratification of high-grade synovitis (e.g., risk of progression and sensitivity to biological agents).
29224946 Revision Arthroplasty of the Wrist in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Mean Follow-Up 6 2018 May PURPOSE: Management of failed total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) can be challenging; surgical treatment options include salvage arthrodesis, revision arthroplasty, and resection arthroplasty. There are few studies regarding salvage arthrodesis, and revision arthroplasty has been infrequently investigated. The aim of the study was to report the outcome after revision arthroplasty of the wrist. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 16 revision TWAs was evaluated between 2003 and 2016. Data were collected before surgery and 1 and 5 years after surgery. The indication for revision arthroplasty was failed TWA. The primary end point was implant survival. Secondary outcome measures included visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, range of motion, handgrip strength, and functional scoring with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH). RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 6.6 years. Synthetic bone graft was used in 9 cases, allograft corticocancellous bone graft in 1 case, and cement in 6 cases. Of the 16 revision TWAs, 4 were re-revised, 1 because of infection, and 3 cases underwent total wrist arthrodesis. In the non-re-revised cases, range of motion and grip strength was preserved compared with preoperative results. The VAS pain score in activity improved, but not significantly, at 1 (median, 1; range, 0-4.5) and 5 years after surgery (median, 0) compared with before surgery (median, 5). The COPM performance and satisfaction as well as PRWE scores improved significantly at 1 year (median COPM performance, 4.8; COPM satisfaction, 5.6; and PRWE, 24) and improved, but not significantly, at the 5-year follow (median COPM performance, 4.8; COPM satisfaction, 5.0; and PRWE, 37) in the non-re-revised cases. CONCLUSIONS: Revision arthroplasty of the wrist is a valid motion-preserving option to wrist arthrodesis in the management of failed TWA. However, the outcome is uncertain and as many as 25% require additional surgery. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.