Development and internal-external cross-validation of a patient-reported definition for acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis.

Objective: To develop and validate a patient-reported definition of acute calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis in people with crystal-proven CPP deposition (CPPD) disease.

Methods: Consecutive patients with crystal-proven CPPD disease from seven centres across four countries were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. In each centre, patient-reported outcomes on the features of acute CPP crystal arthritis were collected.

Preclinical gout is common in the patient with stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease. Relevance of musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Background: One in 10 patients with hyperuricemia may develop gout over time, with urate deposition sometimes asymptomatic. Recent reviews and guidelines support ultrasound (US) to assess asymptomatic hyperuricemic (AH) patients to detect gout lesions, showing double contour (DC) and tophus the highest specificities and positive predictive values. Hyperuricemia and gout are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60, and both are associated with worse prognosis, although treatment of AH in CKD is not yet recommended in all guidelines.

Toward Telemonitoring in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Protocol for a Mixed Attention Model Study.

Background: Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are chronic diseases that may alternate between asymptomatic periods and flares. These conditions require complex treatments and close monitoring by rheumatologists to mitigate their effects and improve the patient's quality of life. Often, delays in outpatient consultations or the patient's difficulties in keeping appointments make such close follow-up challenging.

Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of suspected primary Sjögren's syndrome and concordance with salivary gland biopsy: a Spanish single-center study.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the utility of major salivary gland ultrasonography for diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and to assess its concordance with minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB).

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 72 patients with suspected pSS was performed. Demographic, clinical, and serological data were collected.

Monitoring chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases mixing virtual and face-to-face assessments-Results of the digireuma study.

Mobile health technology holds great promise for the clinical management of patients with chronic disease. However, evidence on the implementation of projects involving digital health solutions in rheumatology is scarce. We aimed to study the feasibility of a hybrid (virtual and face-to-face) monitoring strategy for personalized care in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Effectiveness and safety of anakinra in gouty arthritis: A case series and review of the literature.

Background: Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and colchicine are the first-line agents, although they are contraindicated in many patients. Blockade of IL-1 with anakinra can be an alternative.

Perceived quality in patients with gout treated in a rheumatology clinic with a clinical nurse specialist.

Introduction: Gout is a crystal arthropathy that is associated with significant loss of quality of life. A treat-to-target approach and proactive monitoring yield superior outcomes to standard care. The Clinical Nurse Specialist enhances follow-up and adherence to treatment in patients with gout, improving their perceived healthcare quality.

Perceived Quality in Patients With Gout Treated in a Rheumatology Clinic With a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Introduction: Gout is a crystal arthropathy that is associated with significant loss of quality of life. A treat-to-target approach and proactive monitoring yield superior outcomes to standard care. The Clinical Nurse Specialist enhances follow-up and adherence to treatment in patients with gout, improving their perceived healthcare quality.

Endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atheromatosis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To assess subclinical vascular features in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) via carotid ultrasound, and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), as measures of cardiovascular risk (CVR).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 70 patients diagnosed with SSc (diffuse or limited forms), on whom a vascular study protocol was performed to assess angiodynamic parameters measured by FMD in brachial artery and carotid ultrasound lesions: carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid atheroma plaques (AP). Classical CVR factors were also assessed, as well as main features of SSc regarding skin and organic involvement, laboratory parameters, presence of autoantibodies and specific treatments.

A treat-to-target approach for gout confers renoprotective effect in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 3.

The aim of this study was to assess changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in gouty patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using a "treat-to-target" (T2T) approach in gout. This multicenter observational retrospective study included patients diagnosed with gout and CKD stage 3 taking xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) (allopurinol or febuxostat) for at least 12 months. All patients were treated using a T2T strategy according to national gout guidelines to achieve the target levels of serum uric acid (sUA; < 5-6 mg/dl) within 6 months of the first visit.

Outcome and predicting factors of single and multiple intra-articular corticosteroid injections in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of IA CS (IAC) therapy in single and multiple joints in children with JIA and to seek for predictors of synovitis flare.

Methods: The clinical charts of patients who received their first IAC injection between January 2002 and December 2008 were reviewed. The CS used was triamcinolone hexacetonide for large joints and methylprednisolone acetate for small or difficult to access joints.