Rheumatology

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OBJECTIVES: Several IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) phenotypes have been proposed and the first set of classification criteria have been recently created. Our objectives were to assess the phenotype distribution and the performance of the classification criteria in Spanish patients as genetic and geographical differences may exist. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional multicentre study (Registro Español de Enfermedad Relacionada con la IgG4, REERIGG4) with nine participating centres from Spain...

OBJECTIVE: To identify biomarkers of treatment change and radiographic progression in patients with RA under remission. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RA patients in remission (DAS28-ESR <2.6) were selected and followed up for 5 years. An MRI of the dominant hand and an US assessment of knees/hands and serum levels of inflammation/angiogenesis biomarkers were performed at baseline and at 12th month. Synovial biopsies were obtained in patients with Power Doppler signal...

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OBJECTIVE: SSc and localized sclerosis (LoS) are considered clinically distinct entities. We describe herein the coexistence of SSc and LoS by both a systematic literature review and an observational cohort study of unselected SSc patients. METHODS: Original studies documenting the coexistence of SSc and LoS were identified in three electronic databases by means of a systematic literature search according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines...

OBJECTIVES: We wanted to estimate the magnitude of the risk from all-cause, cause-specific and sex-specific mortality in patients with SLE and relative risks compared with matched controls and to evaluate the influence of exposure to medication on risk of mortality in SLE. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, Hospital Episode Statistics and national death certificates (from 1987 to 2012). Each SLE patient (n = 4343) was matched with up to six controls (n = 21 780) by age and sex...

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is an auto-inflammatory disorder affecting the skeleton of children and adolescents. Whole-body MRI (WBMRI) is key in the diagnosis and follow-up of CRMO. Imaging protocols should include sagittal short Tau inversion recovery of the spine, imaging of the hands and feet, and T1 images for distinguishing normal bone marrow. CRMO lesions can be metaphyseal, epiphyseal and physeal-potentially causing growth disturbance and deformity. Spinal lesions are common, important and can cause vertebral collapse...

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RA is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the small joints of the hands and feet, and results in a mean reduction in life expectancy of 3-10 years. RA is a multigene disorder with a substantial genetic component and a heritability estimate of 60%. Large-scale Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and meta-analyses have revealed common disease-associated variants in the population that may contribute cumulatively to RA pathogenesis. This review identifies the most significant genetic variants associated with RA susceptibility to date, with particular focus on the contribution of the HLA class II genes across different ethnic groups...

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OBJECTIVES: To estimate the overall risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among patients newly diagnosed with RA compared with the general population without RA; and to estimate the risk trends of VTE, PE and DVT after RA diagnosis up to 5 years compared with the general population. METHODS: Using previously validated RA case definition, we conducted a matched cohort study using the population-based administrative health database from the province of British Columbia, Canada...

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OBJECTIVES: Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is a poorly understood non-stroke central neurological manifestation in anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that plays an important role in neural plasticity and could potentially be a biomarker of CD in primary APS (PAPS). The aim of the study is to assess CD in PAPS patients and to evaluate its association with clinical data, anti-phospholipid antibodies and serum BDNF levels. METHODS: This cross-sectional study compared 44 PAPS patients and 20 healthy controls matched for age, gender and education...