International journal of rheumatic diseases
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To investigate the utility of fluorine-18-labelled deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in routine clinical practice to diagnose and monitor disease activity and treatment response in large vessel vasculitis in a South Australian cohort. ⋯ Fluorine-18-labelled deoxyglucose positron emission tomography has a role in the diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis, particularly in patients with a high suspicion of active large vessel vasculitis who do not meet the ACR criteria. FDG-PET may have a role in monitoring disease activity in selected patients with large vessel vasculitis especially in identifying occult sites of large vessel inflammation or to titrate prednisolone therapy.
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Kawasaki disease (KD) is emerging as the most common medium vessel vasculitis in children. Recurrence of KD (0.8%-3.0%) is unusual and not commonly reported. ⋯ Recurrences in KD are unusual. Over a period of 24 years the recurrence rate in our cohort of children with KD was 0.98%. Further, children with recurrences tended to have milder and incomplete form of the disease.
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We report tofacitinib efficacy and safety in Asia-Pacific patients who participated in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical development program. ⋯ In Asia-Pacific patients, tofacitinib improved signs/symptoms over 24 months. Safety over 92 months was generally consistent with global tofacitinib studies; however, infection IRs were higher in Asia-Pacific patients.
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Multicenter Study
Pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus based on a CSTAR-PAH study: Baseline characteristics and risk factors.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a complex and devastating complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We sought to describe the baseline characteristics of right heart catheterization (RHC)-confirmed SLE-associated PAH and identify risk factors for PAH in SLE patients. ⋯ Overall, we recommend performing early screening using TTE in SLE patients with serositis, anti-RNP antibodies, or a DLCO/%Pred <70%, even for patients in a relatively stable condition according to SLE disease activity index.
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Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have a role in the diagnostic workup of ANCA-associated vasculitis. However, the clinical significance of positive ANCA in the absence of vasculitis is yet to be determined. Therefore, we sought to investigate the clinical spectrum and rate of patients with a positive ANCA without evidence of vasculitis. ⋯ A significant proportion of patients with a positive C-ANCA/PR3 or P-ANCA/MPO do not have evidence of vasculitis, particularly those with low-medium ELISA antibody titers. Using a higher threshold of ANCA titers may be required to improve specificity.