Correspondence on "Efficacy of a tight-control and treat-to-target strategy in axial spondyloarthritis: results of the open-label, pragmatic, cluster-randomised TICOSPA trial" by Molto et al
In this study which was the first ever to use a T2T strategy in axSpA, a main outcome parameter was used that had never been used before: the percentage of patients with a ≥30% improvement on the ‘Assessment of spondyloarthritis international society (ASAS)-Health Index (ASAS-HI), and other conventional efficacy outcomes were also recorded.1 As recently explained, one important reasons to use the ASAS HI in TICOSPA as primary endpoint was to avoid circular reasoning, for example, using the same items for inclusion and outcome.2 The aim of this correspondence is not to discuss the strategy used in the trial since t...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - November 10, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Kiltz, U., Braun, J. Tags: ARD Correspondence Source Type: research
Correspondence on "Safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: results from the EULAR Coronavirus Vaccine (COVAX) physician-reported registry" by Machado et al
We read with great interest the article by Machado et al who describe safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease.1 The authors observed that vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is well tolerated with rare report of I-RMD flare and very rare reports of serious adverse events. We observed that the authors included only 27 patients with autoinflammatory diseases. We thus propose to complete their observation with the result of our study about 190 patients with autoinflammatory disease (AID). A web survey assessing adverse effects after COVID-19 vaccination was sent on 7–30 June ...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - November 10, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Bourguiba, R., Delplanque, M., Savey, L., Hentgen, V., Grateau, G., Georgin-lavialle, S., French national reference Center for autoinflammatory diseases and AA amyloidosis (CEREMAIA) Tags: ARD, COVID-19 Correspondence Source Type: research
Correction: Risk of major adverse cardiovascular and venous thromboembolism events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis exposed to JAK inhibitors versus adalimumab: a nationwide cohort study
Hoisnard L, Pina Vegas L, Dray-Spira R, et al. Risk of major adverse cardiovascular and venous thromboembolism events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis exposed to JAK inhibitors versus adalimumab: a nationwide cohort study. Ann Rheum Dis 2023;82:182-8. doi:10.1136/ard-2022-222824 In discussion on page 187, the following sentence does not contain the final results: "Our results for subgroups of patients with at least one cardiovascular risk who were 50 years old or older and 65 years old or older were not significant for risk of both MACEs and VTEs with a JAKi compared with the TNFi adalimumab: HRw 2.1 (0.6 to 7.8) and ...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Tags: ARD Correction Source Type: research
Correspondence on 'Clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a series of 17 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus under long-term treatment with hydroxychloroquine
The SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic deeply affected all Brazilian regions. Brazil has seen approximately 12 million cases of COVID-19 and over 294 042 deaths to date (21 March 2021) (https://COVID-19.saude.gov.br/), and the end of the pandemic cannot yet be predicted. The COVID-19 pandemic scenario represents a source of concern for the management of patients with chronic diseases and comorbidities, including autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).1 The new viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 seems to lead to the onset or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases in genetically predisposed p...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Martelli Junior, H., Marques, N. P., Marques, N. C. T., Gomes de Lucena, E., Martelli, D. R. B., Oliveira, E. A. Tags: ARD, COVID-19 Correspondence Source Type: research
Correspondence on 'Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory joint diseases and in the general population: a nationwide Swedish cohort study
We read with interest the article by Bower et al detailing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality and morbidity among patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs).1 Though Bower et al reported that the risks of severe COVID-19-related outcomes among patients with RD, such as increased risk of hospitalisation and death, were largely proportionate to those in the general population and explained by comorbidities, risks of severe COVID-19-related outcomes were still increased among patients with RD.1 Indeed, in a separate cohort of inpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus and concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection, almost o...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Wee, L. E., Conceicao, E. P., Tan, J. Y., Thumboo, J., Venkatachalam, I. Tags: ARD, COVID-19 Correspondence Source Type: research
Correspondence on 'Efficacy of a tight-control and treat-to-target strategy in axial spondyloarthritis: results of the open-label, pragmatic, cluster-randomised TICOSPA trial
We have read with great interest the work of Anna Molto et al studying on comparing the benefits of TICOSPA (a tight control/treat-to-target strategy (TC/T2T) in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)) trial with those of usual care (UC).1 They concluded that TC/T2T approach was not significantly superior to UC for the primary outcome, while it might be beneficial in axSpA and had a favourable outcome from a societal health economic perspective. However, we believe that some concerns should be discussed in this important study. First of all, although the primary endpoint Assessmnet of SpondyloArthritis international Society Healt...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Wang, W., Lee, Y.-H., Wei, J. C. C. Tags: ARD Correspondence Source Type: research
Detection of crystals in joint fluid aspirates with polychromatic polarisation microscopy
The gold-standard technique to diagnose gout and pseudogout is detection of crystals in joint fluid aspirates under compensated polarised light microscopy (CPLM). Detecting monosodium urate (MSU) and calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals is diagnostic of gout and pseudogout, respectively1 2 The crystals are identified and differentiated from one another using the CPLM by assessment of their (A) colour, (B) shape and (C) birefringence.1 2 However, this method has limitations including possible low sensitivity in detecting rare and small crystals and differentiating them from contaminants, and it can be unreliable.1 2 Also, C...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Jum'ah, H., Shribak, M., Keikhosravi, A., Li, B., Liu, Y., Obaidat, D., Eliceiri, K. W., Loeffler, A., Ayub, S. Tags: ARD Letter Source Type: research
Efficiency of tofacitinib in refractory interstitial lung disease among anti-MDA5 positive juvenile dermatomyositis patients
As one of the most prevalent inflammatory myopathy disease in childhood, the patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) suffer from a great heterogeneity in clinical manifestations.1 Among them, anti-MDA5 presented with a a greater risk with interstitial lung disease (ILD), which may lead to poor prognosis. In clinical practice, some patients are refractory to immunosuppressive treatments. JAK inhibitors (JAKi) can regulate JAK-STAT pathway and decrease the interferon-induced STAT1 phosphorylation, and has been applied into both adult DM and patients with JDM.2–5 Here, we share the experience of JAKi therapy in nin...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Xue, Y., Zhang, J., Deng, J., Kuang, W., Wang, J., Tan, X., Li, C., Li, S., Li, C. Tags: ARD Letter Source Type: research
Sustained responses after anti-CD38 treatment with daratumumab in two patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus
We recently reported the successful treatment of two systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with daratumumab, a CD38-targeting human monoclonal antibody, demonstrating a clinically relevant depletion of plasma cells (PCs) with marked reduction of anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies over a follow-up period of 12 months.1 Here, we report 3-year follow-up data of both patients. In patient 1, a 51-year-old woman suffering from lupus-nephritis WHO class-III/V, proteinuria further declined from 1197 mg/g creatinine at 12 months to 467 mg/g at the last follow-up, with creatinine levels remaining within normal limits ...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Alexander, T., Ostendorf, L., Biesen, R., Schneider, U., Burmester, G. R., Hiepe, F. Tags: ARD Letter Source Type: research
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Women with Lupus Nephritis in Pregnancy Therapeutic Challenge (SWITCH): The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics experience
One-third of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop lupus nephritis (LN), and most receive mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), which is teratogenic and needs to be switched to a pregnancy-compatible drug before conception.1 2 Azathioprine (AZA) is the immunosuppressive of choice in SLE pregnancies, but best practice guidelines in rheumatology provide recommendations on neither pharmacogenetic testing (for thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) and nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15) genes) nor therapeutic drug monitoring,2 3 likely due to lack of data in rheumatic diseases and limited indirect evidence in other populations (e...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Lee, J.-Y. E., Mendel, A., Askanase, A., Bae, S.-C., Buyon, J. P., Clarke, A. E., Costedoat-Chalumeau, N., Fortin, P. R., Gladman, D. D., Ramsey-Goldman, R., Hanly, J. G., Inanc, M., Isenberg, D. A., Mak, A., Mosca, M., Petri, M., Rahman, A., Sanchez-Guer Tags: ARD Letter Source Type: research
Clinical image: atypical calcification of dorsal spine
A previously healthy 46-year-old man presented with constant and awakening dorsal pain and fever for 5 days. There was no other pain, digestive disorder or sign of infection preceding the symptoms. Clinical examination revealed stiffness and pain on mobilisation of the dorsal spine in all planes. Temperature was of 38.7°C and no other sign of infectious disease was present. Standard laboratory examinations showed an elevation of serum C reactive protein level at 81 mg/L (normal rate <5 mg/L). Procalcitonin serum level was normal and repeated blood cultures were negative. Thoracic spine X-rays showed T7–T8 disc...
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Gouze, H., Carlier, R., Breban, M., Felter, A. Tags: ARD, Images in rheumatology Source Type: research
Major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality with opioids versus NSAIDs initiation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Conclusion
Opioids had similar MACE risk compared with NSAIDs in patients with RA with increased all-cause mortality and likely VTE, which suggests that opioids are not safer than NSAIDs, as clinicians have perceived. (Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases)
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Ozen, G., Pedro, S., Michaud, K. Tags: ARD, Epidemiology Source Type: research
Ablation of integrin-mediated cell-collagen communication alleviates fibrosis
Conclusions
The data provide evidence for a crucial role of collagen-binding integrins in fibroblast force generation and differentiation in vitro and for matrix deposition and tissue remodelling in vivo. Targeting fibroblast–collagen interactions might represent a promising therapeutic approach to regulate connective tissue deposition in fibrotic diseases. (Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases)
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Sawant, M., Wang, F., Koester, J., Niehoff, A., Nava, M. M., Lundgren-Akerlund, E., Gullberg, D., Leitinger, B., Wickström, S., Eckes, B., Krieg, T. Tags: ARD, Miscellaneous Source Type: research
Cartilage-specific Sirt6 deficiency represses IGF-1 and enhances osteoarthritis severity in mice
Conclusions
SIRT6 deficiency increases post-traumatic and age-associated OA severity in vivo. SIRT6 profoundly regulated the pro-anabolic and pro-survival IGF-1/Akt signalling pathway and suggests that preserving the SIRT6/IGF-1/Akt axis may be necessary to protect cartilage from injury-associated or age-associated OA. Targeted therapies aimed at increasing SIRT6 function could represent a novel strategy to slow or stop OA. (Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases)
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Collins, J. A., Kim, C. J., Coleman, A., Little, A., Perez, M. M., Clarke, E. J., Diekman, B., Peffers, M. J., Chubinskaya, S., Tomlinson, R. E., Freeman, T. A., Loeser, R. F. Tags: Open access, ARD, Osteoarthritis Source Type: research
Multimodal repertoire analysis unveils B cell biology in immune-mediated diseases
Conclusions
Our multimodal repertoire analysis enabled us the system-level understanding of B cell abnormality in diseases. (Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases)
Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases - October 12, 2023 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Ota, M., Nakano, M., Nagafuchi, Y., Kobayashi, S., Hatano, H., Yoshida, R., Akutsu, Y., Itamiya, T., Ban, N., Tsuchida, Y., Shoda, H., Yamamoto, K., Ishigaki, K., Okamura, T., Fujio, K. Tags: ARD, Autoimmunity Source Type: research
