Clin Exp Rheumatol
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Although the osteoarthritis (OA) burden is well-recognised, the benefit of currently available OA pharmacological therapy is not clear. This study aimed to assess whether the impact of OA pain on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work, and healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) differed by both pain severity and prescription medication status. ⋯ Persons with moderate to severe OA pain treated with available prescription medications have poor health status and HRQoL and increased HRU compared to those not receiving prescription medications.
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To evaluate the autoantibody profile in eosinophilic granulomatosis and polyangiitis (EGPA) patients. ⋯ Alpha-enolase may be a target of autoimmunity in EGPA patients and shows usually negative ANCA IFT results.
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Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is considered the most frequent and serious pulmonary complication in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), with the majority of the studies indicating a prevalence of about 20%, and resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Although ILD was historically described as a late manifestation of pSS, more recently, a high variability of the time of onset of pSS-ILD has been observed and from 10 to 51% of patients can develop ILD years before the onset of pSS. Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia is highly typical for SS, but it occurs only in a few cases, while the most common ILD pattern is nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, followed by usual interstitial pneumonia and organising pneumonia. ⋯ A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of pSS should facilitate the development of new therapies. Recently, a trial showed the efficacy of the antifibrotic drug nintedanib in slowing progression of various interstitial lung diseases, including patients with connective tissue diseases. The aims of this review are to describe clinical features, imaging, pathology, together with diagnostic criteria, prognosis and management of pSS-ILD patients.
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related to SARS-CoV-2 is likely due to a cytokine storm characterised by a major release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6). Blocking excessive IL-6 production might be the key to the COVID-19-ARDS treatment. Beneficial effects of IL-6 blockade using a humanised anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab (TCZ) were previously reported in patients with COVID-19 related ARDS. The aim of the study was to study the variation over time of several biomarkers, demonstrated to be predictors of poor prognostic, in subjects successfully treated with TCZ for severe COVID-19. ⋯ In patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome, treatment with TCZ resulted in favourable evolution in 75% of the cases. Biomarkers of inflammation (CRP, ferritin, fibrinogen) decreased dramatically as early as the 4th day after TCZ injection. Lymphopenia, a predictor of poor prognostic, was reversed 6 days after TCZ injection.
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Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a leading cause of mortality in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD). Lung transplantation has become a viable option for patients with end-stage CTD-ILD. However, patients with CTD are often considered suboptimal candidates for lung transplantation because of concerns of worse outcomes. We assessed post-transplant survival of patients with CTD-ILD compared to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). ⋯ Long-term post-transplant survival in Northern Spanish patients with CTD-ILD is reduced compared with IPF.