J Rheumatol
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To assess the diagnostic value for axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) of unilateral sacroiliitis in scintigraphy in daily clinical practice. ⋯ Scintigraphy of the sacroiliac joints is of limited value for the diagnosis of axial SpA. Unilateral compared to bilateral sacroiliitis is slightly superior, but is associated with a low sensitivity.
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To perform a Cochrane systematic review of benefit (American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement criteria; ACR50) and safety (adverse events and withdrawals) of golimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ At the approved dosage, in patients with active RA taking background MTX, golimumab is significantly more beneficial than placebo. The short-term safety profile is reasonable. Longterm surveillance studies are needed for safety assessment.
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To compare anti-PM/Scl autoantibody-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (anti-ARS) autoantibody-associated ILD. ⋯ Anti-PM/Scl and anti-ARS antibodies are associated with similar clinical manifestations, with the exception only of more overt myositis in the latter, therefore challenging the clinical specificity of the antisynthetase syndrome.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy and safety of retreatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with previous inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors: results from the SUNRISE trial.
To assess the efficacy and safety of 1 versus 2 courses of rituximab over 48 weeks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Two courses of rituximab about 6 months apart resulted in improved and sustained efficacy at 1 year, compared with 1 course, with a similar safety profile.
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Cardiopulmonary complications are common in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We assessed cardiac involvement in patients with SSc using echocardiography and investigated the association of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) with echocardiographic measures of myocardial function in sera of patients with SSc who had no symptoms of heart failure. ⋯ Depressed cardiac function is common, even in asymptomatic patients with SSc. NT-proBNP and ADMA are significantly correlated with echocardiographic abnormalities, providing a potent link for cardiac function, neuroendocrine derangement, and endothelial dysfunction in patients with SSc who have cardiac disease.