Annals of the rheumatic diseases
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The new Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria classify axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) into human leucocyte antigen-B27 and/or imaging-based arms. To aid implementation, ASAS has proposed a definition of a positive MRI for active sacroiliitis. ⋯ Both arms of the ASAS criteria have good diagnostic utility in early SpA, although they are of limited value for the prediction of radiographic progression. This may be due to the definition of a positive MRI for sacroiliitis that lacks specificity at baseline.
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Multicenter Study
Efficacy of rituximab in primary Sjogren's syndrome with peripheral nervous system involvement: results from the AIR registry.
To evaluate rituximab (RTX) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) with peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement. ⋯ RTX seems effective in cryoglobulinaemia or vasculitis-related PNS involvement in pSS.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in biological-naive, rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in biological-naive, active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients despite methotrexate treatment. ⋯ Ofatumumab significantly improved all clinical outcomes in biological-naive, active RA patients with no detectable immunogenicity at week 24. No unexpected safety findings were identified. Trial Registry clinical trials.gov registration number NCT00611455.
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In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sustained CD40L expression by T cells and platelets activates a variety of cells via its receptor CD40 contributing to disease pathogenesis. Although CD40 has recently been identified in genome-wide association study as a novel rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility gene such an association has not been documented for SLE. ⋯ CD40 has been identified as a new susceptibility locus in Greek and Turkish patients with SLE. The rs4810485 minor allele T is under-represented in SLE and correlates with reduced CD40 expression in peripheral blood monocytes and B cells, with potential implications for the regulation of aberrant immune responses in the disease.
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To examine the risk of serious infection conveyed by tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Reasons for the decline in infection rates observed at the group level were identified. The results enable expected infection rates to be calculated in individual patients based on their risk profiles.