Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · May 2020
EULAR definition of "arthralgia suspicious for progression to rheumatoid arthritis" in a large cohort of patients included in a program for rapid diagnosis: role of auto-antibodies and ultrasound.
To evaluate the performance of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) definition of arthralgias suspicious for progression to RA in patients with hand arthralgias and to estimate the added value of both auto-antibodies and ultrasound (US) with power Doppler (PD). ⋯ EULAR definition of arthralgia suspicious for progression to RA had an acceptable performance to predict the future development of RA and improves adding information of both RF, ACPA and US with PD data.Key Points• Clinically suspect arthralgia may trigger rheumatologists to monitor patients closely for an early diagnosis.• EULAR definition of arthralgia suspicious for progression to RA predicts future development of arthritis.• Auto-antibodies and ultrasound improve EULAR definition of arthralgia suspicious for progression to RA.
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Clinical rheumatology · May 2020
Low pelvic incidence is associated with Andersson lesions in ankylosing spondylitis patients with kyphosis.
This study was to investigate the role of pelvic incidence (PI) in the development of Andersson lesions (ALs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with kyphosis and to evaluate the difference in sagittal spinopelvic parameters between inflammatory ALs and mechanical ALs. ⋯ These data suggest that low PI is closely associated with ALs in AS patients with kyphosis and that it might be a possible risk factor for the development of ALs. Moreover, both inflammatory and mechanical ALs patients had similarly low PI.Key Points• Low PI was closely associated with ALs in AS patients with kyphosis and might be a possible risk factor for development of ALs.• Either inflammatory or mechanical ALs patients had similar low PI.
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Clinical rheumatology · May 2020
A retrospective study on the predictive implications of clinical characteristics and therapeutic management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is associated with significant morbidity and is a critical cause of mortality in patients with RA. ⋯ Advanced age, male, short duration of RA, RF positive, elevated LDH, and no medication are closely correlated with RA-ILD. No correlation was found between traditional DMARDs and ILD development. DLCO% < 45% and UIP possible pattern are predictive factors for ILD progression. No correlation was found between traditional DMARDs and ILD progression. Advanced age and extensive lung involvement on HRCT independently predict mortality; cyclophosphamide treatment helps to improve the prognosis of RA-ILD.Key Points• We designed this study to investigate the predictive and prognostic factors for RA-ILD and to explore the potential role of DMARDs in the evolution of RA-ILD from the development to progression and death.• Patients without ILD at RA diagnosis were enrolled and followed up retrospectively.• Our results showed that no correlation was found between traditional DMARDs and the development and progression of ILD, and regular treatment may improve the development of RA-ILD.• Our results revealed that clinical variables appeared predictive implications for the diagnosis of ILD and physiological and radiological variables appeared predictive implications for the prognosis of ILD, which can provide reference to rheumatologists and help to improve poor prognosis of RA-ILD.
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Clinical rheumatology · May 2020
Characteristics of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome associated interstitial lung disease and relevant features of disease progression.
To investigate characteristics of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) and relevant features of ILD progression. ⋯ Patients with pSS-ILD were characterized by more frequent fever, xerophthalmia, and elevated IgG levels, while male, older age at disease onset, and less frequent anti-Ro52 antibody were related with CT-UIP pattern. ESR and CT-UIP pattern were potential predictors for ILD progression.Key Points• pSS-ILD patients are characterized by more frequent fever, xerophthalmia and elevated IgG.• Anti-Ro52 antibody is less frequent in patients with CT-UIP pattern compared to non-UIP patterns.• ESR and CT-UIP pattern are associated with pSS-ILD progression.