International journal of rheumatic diseases
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Application of a real-time pain monitoring system in Korean fibromyalgia patients: A pilot study.
Chronic pain is a debilitating condition which should be managed with integrated multidisciplinary approaches. To this end, accurate pain assessment should be the first step, and self-reporting pain assessment systems using smartphones or wearable devices are being introduced. The aim of the study was to evaluate the utility and efficacy of a real-time pain monitoring system using a wearable device, referred to as the Pain Assessment and Analysis System (PAAS), in patients with fibromyalgia, which is characterized by widespread chronic pain. ⋯ The proposed real-time pain monitoring system can be utilized for pain assessment in Korean fibromyalgia patients. Moreover, the system accurately reflects pain status and may help to alleviate pain.