Task shifting in the care for patients with hand osteoarthritis. Protocol for a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Background: Current health policy states that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) should mainly be managed in primary health care. Still, research shows that patients with hand OA have poor access to recommended treatment in primary care, and in Norway, they are increasingly referred to rheumatologist consultations in specialist care. In this randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, we will test if a new model, where patients referred to consultation in specialist health care receive their first consultation by an occupational therapy (OT) specialist, is as safe and effective as the traditional model, where they receive their first consultation by a rheumatologist.

Increased proportion of comorbidities but no deterioration of sexual quality of life during a 5-year follow-up in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in the biologic treatment era.

Objective: To explore patient perception of sexual quality of life (SQOL), an important category of QOL, in male and female patients with axial SpA (axSpA) after a 5 year follow-up.

Methods: A broad spectrum of demographic, disease-related, treatment and SQOL data was collected at baseline and at the 5 year follow-up. SQOL was assessed by the SQOL-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaire.

No deterioration in health-related quality of life in patients with axial spondyloarthritis followed for 5 years in ordinary outpatient clinics in the biological treatment era.

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) causes pain, fatigue, stiffness, loss of physical function and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Aims: The study aimed to explore the changes in HRQOL over 5 years in patients with ax-SpA and to identify baseline predictors associated with changes in HRQOL assessed using three HRQOL measures.

Methods: Demographic, disease, medication and HRQOL data were collected at baseline and at 5-year follow-up.

Sexual Quality of Life in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis in the Biologic Treatment Era.

Objective: To examine the relationship between demographics, disease-related variables, treatment, and sexual quality of life (SQOL) in men and women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: AxSpA patients were consecutively recruited from 2 rheumatology outpatient clinics in southern Norway. A broad spectrum of demographics, disease, treatment, and QOL data were systematically collected.

The relationship between demographic- and disease-related variables and health-related quality of life in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine causing pain, stiffness, loss in physical function, and fatigue. Therefore, the physical and psychological burden of having this chronic disease can reduce the quality of life. We aimed to explore the relationship between demographic- and disease-related variables and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with ax-SpA.

Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes in Patients Diagnosed with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis in the First Years of the Biologic Treatment Era: A 10-year Prospective Observational Study.

Objective: To study short-term and longterm clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the first decade of the biologic treatment era.

Methods: Patients with early RA diagnosed at a rheumatology outpatient clinic were consecutively enrolled between 1999 and 2001. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, disease activity, patient-reported outcomes, and treatments.

Generalized bone loss in early rheumatoid arthritis patients followed for ten years in the biologic treatment era.

Background: Osteoporosis is a well-known extra articular manifestation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Biologic disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has been shown to be superior to synthetic DMARDs to reduce bone destruction including generalized bone loss in RA. Our aim was to study short- and long term changes in hip and spine bone mineral density (BMD) in early RA patients treated during the first decade with available biologic DMARDs.

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in an unselected, mixed connective tissue disease cohort: results of a nationwide, Norwegian cross-sectional multicentre study and review of current literature.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the overall prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in an unselected MCTD cohort and review the current knowledge with a systematic database search.

Methods: A nationwide multicentre cohort of 147 adult MCTD patients were initially screened for PH by echocardiography, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and then followed up for a mean of 5.6 years.

Beneficial effect of interleukin 1 inhibition with anakinra in adult-onset Still's disease. An open, randomized, multicenter study.

Objective: To study the efficacy of anakinra versus disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) in refractory adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).

Methods: In a 24-week study, 22 patients with AOSD taking prednisolone ≥ 10 mg/day received anakinra (n = 12) or DMARD (n = 10). The primary endpoint was achievement of remission.

Prevalence and severity of interstitial lung disease in mixed connective tissue disease: a nationwide, cross-sectional study.

Background: Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an immune-mediated, systemic disorder of unknown cause.

Objective: To assess the prevalence, pattern and severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in a cross-sectional study of the nationwide, Norwegian MCTD cohort.

Methods: 126 patients with MCTD were systematically examined for ILD by high-resolution CT (HRCT), pulmonary function tests (PFT), 6 min walk test (6MWT) and by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification of dyspnoea.

Clinical importance of positive test results for lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies.

Objectives: To assess the performance of 4 clotting assays for lupus anticoagulant (LA) detection, to determine the prevalence of LA and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), and to correlate LA and aCL prevalence with systemic disease and thrombosis.

Patients And Methods: We studied 664 consecutive patients at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, who were referred for laboratory testing because of a clinical suspicion of LA or thrombophilia between June 25, 1990, and July 1, 1991.

Results: Of 664 patients tested for LA, 584 also were tested for aCL.

Glucocorticoid therapy in giant cell arteritis: duration and adverse outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the course of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy and associated adverse events in a population-based cohort of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: We identified 125 Olmsted County residents with GCA diagnosed between 1950 and 1991 and obtained followup information on the 120 patients who were diagnosed antemortem and agreed to participate in this study. Clinical variables, GC doses, and GC adverse events on each patient were recorded.