Journal of Rheumatology

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease with the potential to affect multiple organ systems and to lead to significant morbidity and mortality. SLE disproportionately affects women and racial or ethnic minority populations, and health disparities have been described for SLE incidence, prevalence, outcomes, and mortality.1 .

Acute guttate psoriasis (AGP) is considered an uncommon variant of psoriasis (PsO), characterized as a widespread eruption of erythematous, psoriasiform papules, and plaques on the trunk, extremities, and scalp. Predisposing factors include a family history of PsO, variation in the main PsO susceptibility gene HLA-Cw*0602 , and previous infection with viruses or acute β-hemolytic Streptococcus A program focused on controversies and recent advances in understanding AGP was presented at the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) 2022 annual meeting...

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies suggested that distinct phenotypes of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) could be determined by presence or absence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), reflecting predominant vasculitic or eosinophilic processes, respectively. This study explored whether ANCA-based clusters or other clusters can be identified in EGPA. METHODS: This study used standardized data of 15 European centers for patients with EGPA fulfilling widely accepted classification criteria...

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), understand patients' perspectives regarding their risk of COVID-19 infection, and evaluate the standard of virtual care offered during the early phases of the pandemic. METHODS: An online survey was conducted between June and September 2021 in PsA patients who had consented to email contact. The survey was completed by 152/193 (79%) patients who had consented to the study...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative prevalence of 8 rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) across racial/ethnic groups within the Patient-Centered Research Network (PCORnet). METHODS: Electronic health records from participating PCORnet institutions and systems from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018 were used to identify adult patients with ≥2 diagnosis codes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), osteoporosis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), giant cell arteritis (GCA), and Takayasu's arteritis (TAK)...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can increase the risk of disease flare, which in turn increases adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal adverse pregnancy outcomes include hypertensive disorders, increased cesarean deliveries, and death, whereas fetal adverse outcomes include fetal loss and death, preterm delivery, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).1 .

OBJECTIVE: Long diagnostic delay remains an unsolved problem in many autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). One of the major contributing factors is poor symptom appraisal and the resulting delayed help-seeking by patients themselves. We thus aimed to understand the experience of symptom appraisal and help-seeking among patients with ARDs in a multi-ethnic urban Asian population and to explore its influencing factors. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 33 patients with ARDs were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim...

Rheumatologists are responsible for conducting research on, managing, and treating major autoimmune diseases (AIDs) such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, and psoriasis. AIDs afflict up to 23.5 million people in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the experiences of dermatologists and rheumatologists in the early recognition of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to identify potential improvements to the current shared-care model. METHODS: A 24-question survey addressing referral strategies was constructed within GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis) and sent to all members (n=927). Questions addressed the use of screening tools, frequency of PsA in patients with psoriasis, therapeutic decision making, and suggestions for earlier PsA recognition and current unmet needs...

Systemic multiple aneurysms are rare findings in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).1 A 66-year-old woman presented with generalized, subcutaneous nodules and a right leg ulcer of 1-month duration.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVE: Oral Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) represent an effective strategy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. A previous study supported that tofacitinib (TOF) is associated with higher incidence of cardiovascular (CV) and neoplastic events compared to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Given the apparent discrepancy between these data and real-world experience, we aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of the available JAKis in a multicenter cohort. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients with RA who ever received 1 JAKi (TOF, baricitinib [BAR], upadactinib [UPA], filgotinib [FIL]) from 4 tertiary care centers in Milan, Italy...

In recent years, a number of studies have examined risk factors for development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among patients with PsO. Most recently, 5 studies have examined the effect of biologic therapy on the development of PsA. However, the results have been mixed, with 3 studies suggesting a lower risk for PsA among those using a biologic therapy and 2 suggesting a higher risk for PsA. At the 2022 Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) meeting, Drs. Enrique Soriano and Alexis Ogdie conducted a debate to discuss the arguments for and against the use of biologic therapies in PsO for the purpose of preventing PsA...

Various inflammatory rheumatic diseases (RDs) are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular (CV) disease. Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been reported in inflammatory arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and spondyloarthritis) and connective tissue disease (including vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis [SSc]).

Given the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on patients with psoriatic disease (PsD), a session was devoted at the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) 2022 annual meeting to discussing the current understanding of the risk of severe COVID-19 in patients with PsD. The effects of PsD and its treatment on prevention and treatment of COVID-19 with vaccinations, antiviral drugs, and monoclonal antibodies were discussed. The session concluded with a presentation on the perspectives of patient research partners about their experiences with COVID-19...

At the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) 2022 annual meeting, the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) met to present updates on several projects. These included the GRAPPA-Industry biomarker projects, Axial Psoriatic Arthritis Molecular and Clinical Characterisation Study, Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis Cohort (AXIS) study, and the Health Initiatives in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Consortium European States (HIPPOCRATES). The meeting concluded with a discussion on pathways to further academia-industry collaboration...

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) leadership congregated for a strategic planning meeting before the 2022 GRAPPA annual meeting in New York, USA. Meeting aims were to review GRAPPA's performance in relation to its 2016 goals and identify successes and areas for further improvement, identify key GRAPPA priorities and activities for the next 5 years, and explore committee structures to best support these aims.

Recent basic science advances in psoriatic disease (PsD) were presented and discussed at the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) 2022 annual meeting. Topics included clinical applications of biomarkers, what the future of biomarkers for PsD may hold, the challenges of developing biomarker research to the point of clinical utility, advances in total-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging, and emerging concepts from single-cell studies in PsD.