Factors that predict development of chronic kidney disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving biologic DMARDs and mortality rates.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the choice of biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/ts-DMARDs), factors associated with the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and mortality in RA patients with CKD receiving b/ts-DMARDs.

Methods: Two thousand one hundred forty-one RA (79.4% female) patients were included in the analysis from the HUR-BIO prospective registry.

Pulmonary hypertension in Behçet's disease: echocardiographic screening and multidisciplinary approach.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence and causes of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in Behçet's disease (BD). This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and causes of PH in BD.

Methods: In this descriptive study, we screened 154 patients with BD for PH using transthoracic echocardiography between February 2017 and October 2017.

Hematologic Malignancy Risk in Inflammatory Arthritis Patients Treated with TNF Inhibitors: The Real-Life Data from the HUR-BIO Registry.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the incidence of hematologic malignancy (HM) among inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) compared with the general Turkish population.

Methods: HUR-BIO (Hacettepe University Rheumatology Biologic Registry) is a single-center biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) registry since 2005. Patients with IA, including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, or psoriatic arthritis who had at least one visit after the TNFi were screened from 2005 to November 2021.

The impact of antiphospholipid antibodies in Takayasu arteritis.

Background: The significance of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) is controversial in Takayasu arteritis (TA). This study was conducted to explore the frequency of aPL and their association with disease-related complications in TA.

Methods: : This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the presence of anti-cardiolipin (aCL), anti-beta 2 glycoprotein- 1(aβ2G1) antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant (LA) in TA patients.

Association between oxygen delivery and digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis.

Objective: Tissue hypoxia due to microvasculopathy is the main cause of digital ulcers (DUs) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Reduced oxygen delivery (DO2) to the tissues may also contribute to the development of DU. This study was conducted to investigate the association between DO2 and DUs in patients with SSc.

Anxiety levels before biologic initiation and changes with treatment in patients with psoriatic arthritis: HUR-BIO biologic registry results.

Objectives: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory musculoskeletal disease related to several comorbidities. Anxiety is an important comorbidity in PsA and the data is scarce. We aimed to understand the rates before biologic agents and change in anxiety with the treatment.

The frequency of Achilles and plantar calcaneal spurs in gout patients.

Background/aim: Gout may cause various radiographic abnormalities such as cartilage loss, spurs, sclerosis, and periostal new bone formation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of Achilles and plantar spurs and related factors in gout patients.

Matherial And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of gout patients, treated at Hacettepe University hospitals between 2014 and 2019.

Investigation of Intestinal Protozoon Prevalence in Immunocompromised Patients at a University Hospital.

Objective: Immunocompromised patients are at a greater risk of developing intestinal parasite infections. In this study, we examined the presence of and other intestinal protozoa in stool samples of immunosuppressed patients.

Methods: A total of 100 stool samples were obtained from patients receiving chemotherapy because of solid organ tumour with haematological malignancies and those receiving immunosuppressive treatment because of rheumatic diseases, organ transplant patients and patients receiving treatment for HIV-related infections.

Is the impact of biologic agents in enteropathic spondylitis different from other spondylitis? Real life data from the HUR-BIO Registry.

Objectives: To compare enteropathic spondylitis (ES) with psoriatic spondylitis (PS) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), in patients on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) treatment.

Methods: Patients who were enrolled in the HUR-BIO registry were included. ES patients were considered as the main study group; AS and PS patients were included as the control groups.

Preferences of inflammatory arthritis patients for biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the first 100 days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background/aim: To evaluate treatment adherence and predictors of drug discontinuation among patients with inflammatory arthritis receiving bDMARDs within the first 100 days after the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1871 patients recorded in TReasure registry for whom advanced therapy was prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA) within the 3 months (6–9 months for rituximab) before the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated, and 1394 (74.5%) responded to the phone survey.

Evaluating skeletal muscle mass with ultrasound in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have an increased risk for loss of skeletal muscle mass. Ultrasonography (US) is a safe and promising method to evaluate muscle mass. In this study, we aimed to assess the frequency and clinical associations of low muscle mass status in patients with SSc, investigate the correlations between muscle mass sonographically measured regional muscle thicknesses (MTs), and explore the utility of US in predicting low muscle mass.

Efficacy, retention, and safety of tofacitinib in real-life: Hur-bio monocentric experience.

Background/aim: To assess the real-life efficacy, retention rate, and safety data of tofacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed all patients registered in the HURBİO database who received at least 1 dose of tofacitinib. Patients who received at least one dose were included in retention analysis; patients with at least 1 control visit were included in efficacy and safety analysis.

Pregnancy outcomes in partners of male ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor-α biologics: real-life results from a single-centre cross-sectional study.

Most patients with inflammatory arthritis are at their reproductive ages. Use of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents, one of the important treatment options for inflammatory arthritis, can cause foetal morbidity and mortality. While most studies on the effects of anti-TNF-α agents on pregnancy outcomes are about maternal exposure, the number of studies on the risks related to paternal exposure is insufficient.

Anti-interleukin-6 (tocilizumab) therapy in Takayasu's arteritis: a real life experience.

Background: Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and anti-interleukin-6 (anti-IL-6) therapies are increasingly being used in Takayasu's arteritis (TA) patients who are unresponsive to corticosteroids ± conventional immunosuppressive agents. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of anti-IL-6 (tocilizumab) therapy in refractory TA patients in real life.

Methods: Fifteen TA patients (86.

The investigation of Strongyloides stercoralis seroprevalence in immunosupressed patients in Turkey.

Background/aim: In immunosuppressed patients, strongyloidiasis can be lifethreatening because of hyperinfection or dissemination. Therefore, diagnosis of S. stercoralis is important in immunosuppressed patients with chronic strongyloidiasis.

Methodology of a new inflammatory arthritis registry: TReasure.

Background/aim: The TReasure registry, created in 2017, is an observational multicenter cohort that includes inflammatory arthritis patients. This article reviews the methodology and objectives of the TReasure registry established to collect data from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients.

Methodology: Fifteen rheumatology centers in Turkey will contribute data to the TReasure database.

Alteration of the microRNA expression profile in familial Mediterranean fever patients.

Objectives: Phenotypic heterogeneity in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) disease indicated that FMF is not a simple monogenic disease. Therefore it has been suggested that epigenetic factors can be one of the reason for the variations. We undertook this study to test potential involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of FMF.

The clinical features and outcomes of Turkish patients with IgG4-related disease:a single-center experience.

Background/aim: Since the majority of the IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) patients in the literature are from the Far East and the United States, there is a lack of large series from other parts of the world. We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and outcome of Turkish IgG4-RD patients from a tertiary center. Materials and methods: Fifty-two patients classified as having definite IgG4-RD according to comprehensive diagnostic criteria were included in the study.

Comparing polyarteritis nodosa in children and adults: a single center study.

Objective: Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotizing vasculitis of medium/small arteries. We aimed to examine the characteristics of adult- and childhood-onset PAN.

Methods: Fifteen pediatric (˂ 18 years) and 22 adult PAN patients who fulfilled the Ankara 2008 and American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria, respectively, were included in the study.

MEFV mutation frequency and effect on disease severity in ankylosing spondylitis.

Background/aim: To define the frequency of familial Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV) mutations in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and describe different clinical aspects of MEFV mutation carrier and noncarrier AS patients.

Materials And Methods: In 112 AS patients, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) scores were calculated. The frequencies of 12 different MEFV mutations were studied by multiplex polymerase chain reaction/reverse hybridization method and were compared to those of previously studied healthy controls for 5 common MEFV mutations.