Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · Feb 2017
Review Case ReportsNeuromyotonia as an unusual neurological complication of primary Sjögren's syndrome: case report and literature review.
Primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of exocrine glands such as the lachrymal and salivary glands, leading to xerophthalmia and xerostomia. Neurological manifestations are sometimes found in patients with PSS. A variety of neurological complications has been reported in patients with PSS, and both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) can be involved in PSS. ⋯ Neuromyotonia is a rare disorder caused by the hyperexcitability of peripheral nerves, causing spontaneous and continuous muscle contraction. We provide an overview of the literature relating to neurological involvement in PSS, and the etiology of acquired NMT. We also discuss the existence of contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2) antibodies in NMT patients.
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Clinical rheumatology · Feb 2017
Meta AnalysisInterleukin 12B gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis: a data synthesis.
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of two common interleukin 12B (IL-12B) polymorphisms (rs3212227 and rs6887695) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility through meta-analyses. A systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases was conducted on articles published before 28 February 2016. ⋯ The pooled results demonstrated that IL-12B rs3212227 (homozygote model: OR = 0.96, 95 % CI = 0.81-1.15; heterozygote model: OR = 1.07, 95 % CI = 0.93-1.23; dominant model: OR = 1.05, 95 % CI = 0.91-1.20; recessive model: OR = 0.93, 95 % CI = 0.79-1.10) and rs6887695 (homozygote model: OR = 1.01, 95 % CI = 0.84-1.21; heterozygote model: OR = 1.14, 95 % CI = 0.86-1.51; dominant model: OR = 1.14, 95 % CI = 0.87-1.48; recessive model: OR = 1.01, 95 % CI = 0.85-1.21) polymorphisms may not be associated with RA risk. Our meta-analyses demonstrated that IL-12B rs3212227 and rs6887695 polymorphisms do not confer susceptibility to RA.
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Clinical rheumatology · Feb 2017
Multicenter Study Observational StudyTreatment with ustekinumab in a Spanish cohort of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in daily clinical practice.
After approval of the use of ustekinumab for treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis, patients with psoriatic arthritis have treated with this drug in daily clinical practice. The aims of this study were to describe baseline characteristics and evolution of a cohort of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treated with ustekinumab and to compare differences between patients who discontinued treatment and those who maintained. A retrospective multicenter observational study including patients who had received ustekinumab for a minimum of 3 months from 2009 to 2015 was performed. ⋯ The main indication was dermatological (72.4% of cases), and treatment with ustekinumab was maintained in most patients (62.1% of cases) with low discontinuation by side effects and rheumatological lack of efficacy. Discontinuation of ustekinumab was correlated with more number of obese patients, less presence of plaque psoriasis and more number of previous biological therapies. Ustekinumab demonstrated efficacy and safety in the management of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in daily clinical practice in our cohort of patients.
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Clinical rheumatology · Feb 2017
Observational StudyUse and effectiveness of tocilizumab among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an observational study from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for rheumatoid arthritis.
The aims of the present study are to describe the characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients selected for tocilizumab (TCZ), compare the "real-world" effectiveness of TCZ and tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) when used as a first biologic and assess the influence of past biologic exposure/concurrent methotrexate (MTX) therapy on post-TCZ treatment outcomes. The British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR-RA) is a prospective cohort study following RA patients starting biologics in the UK. This includes patients starting TCZ as first or subsequent biologic, alongside biologic-naïve patients starting TNFi. ⋯ Concurrent MTX use was not associated with treatment response in either first- or subsequent-line TCZ users. TCZ has been primarily used as subsequent-line biologic in the UK. When used as first line, the response appears similar to that observed in patients starting TNFi, suggesting that clinical response alone should not decide between initial biologic therapies.
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Clinical rheumatology · Feb 2017
The additional benefit of ultrasonography to 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria when diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis in the absence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies.
The aim of this study was to assess the benefit of ultrasonography (US) contributing to 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), when anti-citrullinated protein (CCP) antibody and radiographic erosions are absent. Ninety-four patients suffering from arthritis of at least one joint in hands, symptom duration of less than 2 years, normal radiographs at baseline, and negative anti-CCP had 22 joint US assessments and were followed prospectively for at least 12 months. Sensitivity and specificity for final RA diagnosis based on 1987 RA criteria were determined for ultrasound variables. ⋯ The area under curve (AUC) values of GS and power Doppler (PD) were comparable, higher than bone erosion. However, regression analysis demonstrated that only PD involvement of joints, especially wrists, provided independently predictive data, with improved AUC values from 0.738 to 0.872 combined with 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria. PD scanning of hand joints, especially wrists, may provide independently assistance to 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria in the early diagnosis of RA in those patients who are negative for anti-CCP antibody.