Glucocorticoid discontinuation rate and risk factors for relapses in a contemporary cohort of patients with giant cell arteritis.

The rates of relapses and therapy discontinuation in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in the modern therapeutic era have not been defined. We aimed to evaluate the glucocorticoid (GC) discontinuation rate and the factors associated with relapses in a contemporary GCA cohort. Patient and treatment data were collected cross-sectionally at first evaluation and 2 years later (second evaluation), in a multicenter, prospective GCA cohort.

Patterns and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a prospective cohort of 1,697 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for serious infections. Pneumococcal vaccination is among the most important preventive measures, however, vaccine uptake is suboptimal. We explored the rate and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a contemporary RA cohort.

Septic Arthritis Complicating a Gout Flare: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature.

Objective: To highlight potential pitfalls in diagnosis and management of patients with concomitant gout and septic arthritis.

Methods: Presentation of two patients with concomitant gout and septic arthritis, the latter caused by and , in one patient each. We also reviewed the English language literature on PubMed for similar cases.

Diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular risk management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an international audit.

Aim: The objective was to examine the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and its risk factors among patients with RA with diabetes mellitus (RA-DM) and patients with RA without diabetes mellitus (RAwoDM), and to evaluate lipid and blood pressure (BP) goal attainment in RA-DM and RAwoDM in primary and secondary prevention.

Methods: The cohort was derived from the Survey of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis from 53 centres/19 countries/3 continents during 2014-2019. We evaluated the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among RA-DM and RAwoDM.

An international audit of the management of dyslipidaemia and hypertension in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from 19 countries.

Aims: To assess differences in estimated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from different world regions and to evaluate the management and goal attainment of lipids and blood pressure (BP).

Methods And Results: The survey of CVD risk factors in patients with RA was conducted in 14 503 patients from 19 countries during 2014-19. The treatment goal for BP was <140/90 mmHg.

Incidence, risk factors and validation of the RABBIT score for serious infections in a cohort of 1557 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Predicting serious infections (SI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is crucial for the implementation of appropriate preventive measures. Here we aimed to identify risk factors for SI and to validate the RA Observation of Biologic Therapy (RABBIT) risk score in real-life settings.

Methods: A multi-centre, prospective, RA cohort study in Greece.

Periaortitis and diffuse subendocardial vasculitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus - Lupus flare or a coexisting disease?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Periaortitis is a rare disorder which may manifest isolated or in association with other autoimmune diseases, including SLE. Another rare, yet severe cardiovascular manifestation of lupus is diffuse subendocardial vasculitis (DSV), which should be suspected in patients presenting with myocardial hypokinesis, impaired ejection fraction and normal coronary angiography.

Real Life Efficacy and Safety of Secukinumab in Biologic-Experienced Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis.

Real world evidence data regarding secukinumab (SEC) use in biologic-experienced patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are scarce. To assess the real life survival, safety and efficacy of SEC in biologic-experienced patients with PsA. All biologic-experienced PsA patients treated with SEC in 2 University Rheumatology Units were included (3/2016-12/2018).

Conversion and Reversion Rates of Tuberculosis Screening Assays in Patients With Rheumatic Diseases and Negative Baseline Screening Under Long-Term Biologic Treatment.

Background: To determine the conversion and reversion rates of tuberculosis (TB) screening tests (Tuberculin Skin Test-TST, Interferon Gamma Release Assay-IGRA: T-SPOT.TB) during biologic treatment in patients with rheumatic diseases and negative baseline screening.

Methods: This was a long-term, longitudinal cohort study of 50 patients with rheumatic diseases and negative baseline TB screening (TST: < 5 mm, negative T-SPOT.

Targeted Biologic Therapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Emerging Pathways and Drug Pipeline.

Following the approval of belimumab, the first drug to be approved for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in over 50 years, advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease have led to a remarkable number of clinical trials for investigational drugs, each with a unique mechanism of action. These include, but are not limited to, antibodies targeting B or T cells or their interaction, dendritic cells, interferon, and other cytokines. Frustratingly, this boost of studies has not been accompanied by a corresponding success and subsequent approval of novel agents, for reasons only partly attributed to the efficacy of the drugs per se.