Clinical rheumatology
-
Clinical rheumatology · Jun 2019
Serum interleukin-21 positivity could indicate the current activity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a monocentric prospective study.
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a pleotropic cytokine that plays an important role in the regulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. In the present study, we investigated whether serum IL-21 positivity is associated with disease activity in patients with all variants of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Sixty patients with AAV from a monocentric prospective cohort were enrolled from November 2016 to May 2018 in this study. ⋯ No difference in serum IL-21 positivity was observed among patients with AAV, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy controls. Among patients with serum IL-21 positivity, serum IL-21 became negative at initial visit following the decrease in BVAS. Serum IL-21 positivity might be a useful biomarker to indicate the disease activity of AAV.
-
Clinical rheumatology · May 2019
Magnetic resonance imaging of patellofemoral osteoarthritis: intertester reliability and associations with knee pain and function.
We examined the intertester reliability of patellofemoral compartment (PFC) osteoarthritis (OA) severity using magnetic resonance images (MRI) and a modified Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) system. Second, we determined if these grades were associated with clinical tests of PFC involvement or self-reported pain/difficulty with stair climbing. Third, we assessed the association between PFC OA severity and knee pain or disability, after accounting for potential confounders including tibiofemoral OA severity. ⋯ MRI-based measures of PFC OA were highly reliable indicating that musculoskeletal radiologists can reliably grade the PFCs of subjects using MRI. The extent of PFC OA is not associated with either clinical tests of PFC involvement or activities associated with PFC pain in persons with moderate to severe symptomatic tibiofemoral and PFC OA.
-
Biologics have improved the treatment of rheumatic diseases, resulting in better outcomes. However, their high cost limits access for many patients in both North America and Latin America. Following patent expiration for biologicals, the availability of biosimilars, which typically are less expensive due to lower development costs, provides additional treatment options for patients with rheumatic diseases. The availability of biosimilars in North American and Latin American countries is evolving, with differing regulations and clinical indications. ⋯ • Biologics have improved the treatment of rheumatic diseases. • Their high cost limits access for many patients in both North America and Latin America. • Biosimilars typically are less expensive, providing additional treatment options for patients with rheumatic diseases. • PANLAR presents its consensus on biosimilars in rheumatology.
-
Clinical rheumatology · May 2019
Multicenter Study Observational StudyPredictors of abatacept retention over 2 years in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the real-world ACTION study.
Evaluate abatacept retention over 2 years in the AbataCepT In rOutiNe clinical practice (ACTION) study. ⋯ Abatacept initiation as earlier vs later line of therapy in RA may achieve higher 2-year retention rates. RF and anti-CCP seropositivity could predict increased abatacept retention, irrespective of treatment line.
-
Clinical rheumatology · Apr 2019
Risk factors for progression and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: single center study with a large sample of Chinese population.
Factors associated with progression and survivals in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) have not been described in a large center China cohort. ⋯ In RA-ILD patients, anti-CCP antibody high titer positive and DLCO% < 45% are risk factors for ILD progression. Advanced age and extensive lung involvement on HRCT, rather than the baseline UIP pattern, independently predict mortality after controlling for potentially influential variables. Furthermore, cyclophosphamide treatment helps to improve the prognosis in real-world experience.