The association between lymphopenia and serious infection risk in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between occurrence of serious infection (SI) and lymphocyte counts in patients with RA using data from a single centre.

Methods: We used routinely captured data from a single tertiary rheumatology centre to explore the relationship between lymphopenia and SI risk. Adult RA patients were included over a 5-year follow-up period.

Biologic prescribing decisions following serious infection: results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register-Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objectives: To establish whether the decision to stop, continue or switch TNF inhibitor (TNFi) therapy to a biologic drug with an alternative mode of action following a serious infection (SI) impacts upon the risk of recurrent SI in patients with RA.

Methods: Patients recruited to the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register-RA with at least one episode of SI while on TNFi were included. The biologic treatment decision following SI was considered.

Recurrent serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register.

Objectives: To establish the rate of recurrent infection in RA patients recruited to the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register - Rheumatoid Arthritis. Secondary objectives were to establish whether the organ class of index infection predicted future serious infection (SI).

Methods: Using data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register - Rheumatoid Arthritis, a prospective observational cohort, we identified patients with at least one episode of SI.

A large two-centre study in to rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and infection burden in rheumatoid arthritis in the UK.

Background: Infections are a common complication of RA with associated morbidity and mortality. The aetiology of increased risk is complex and multifactorial. Despite this, strategies to mitigate against risk of infection including vaccination are not always addressed in primary or secondary care with wide variation in practice from multiple small single centre audits.