Development of START, a novel multimedia-based symptom appraisal tool for autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Objectives: To facilitate earlier diagnosis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs), we aimed to 1) develop START, a novel multimedia-based symptom appraisal tool for ARDs and 2) pilot test START among established ARD cases and non-ARD controls.

Methods: We developed START using a social cognitive theory-based theoretical framework and consensus-based lists of ARDs and manifestations from our previous work. START was revised through reviews by an expert panel of rheumatologists and cognitive debriefing interviews (CDIs) with patients newly referred for assessment of ARDs.

Biomarkers in the evaluation of cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is a multisystemic disease for which the heart can be affected leading to cardiac complications and mortality. Up to 80% of patients with systemic sclerosis have cardiac involvement with varying levels of severity. Several molecules have been identified that can be used as markers of cardiac involvement.

Post-mRNA vaccine flares in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases: Results from the COronavirus National Vaccine registry for ImmuNe diseases SINGapore (CONVIN-SING).

Background: Studies of flares of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination are limited by small sample size, short follow up or at risk of selection bias.

Methods: A national retrospective cohort study of consecutive AIIRD patients ≥12 years old, across 8 hospitals who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Patients were included from the date of 1st vaccine dose and censored at the time of flare or on the date of the clinic visit at least 3 months from cohort entry, whichever came first.

Nailfold capillaroscopy for the early diagnosis of the scleroderma spectrum of diseases in patients without Raynaud's phenomenon.

Background: The utility of nailfold capillaroscopy in the evaluation of patients without Raynaud's phenomenon is unclear.

Objective: This study aims to compare the utility of nailfold capillaroscopy for the early diagnosis of the scleroderma-spectrum of diseases in patients who present with Raynaud's phenomenon, undifferentiated non-Raynaud's phenomenon features and positive systemic sclerosis-associated antibodies without scleroderma-spectrum of disease features.

Methods: Eligible patients were divided into three referral criteria groups: (I) Raynaud's phenomenon; (II) Undifferentiated non-Raynaud's phenomenon features and (III) Positive systemic sclerosis-associated autoantibodies without features to suggest scleroderma-spectrum of diseases.