Ultrasound intima media thickness cut-off values for cranial and extracranial arteries in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis.

Objective: To determine the optimal ultrasound (US) cut-off values for cranial and extracranial arteries intima media thickness (IMT) to discriminate between patients with and without giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Retrospective observational study including patients referred to an US fast-track clinic. All patients underwent bilateral US examination of the cranial and extracranial arteries including the IMT measurement.

To what extent is foot pain related to biomechanical changes and ultrasound-detected abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis?

Objectives: To investigate the presence of biomechanical abnormalities and ultrasound (US)-detected inflammation and damage in low disease or remission status rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with foot complaints.

Methods: We recruited 136 subjects with foot complaints. Sixty-two were biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-treated RA patients presenting Disease Activity Score-determined remission or low disease activity while the remaining 74 were gender matched controls without rheumatic or musculoskeletal disorders.

Structural damage in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison between tendon damage evaluated by ultrasound and radiographic damage.

Objective: To compare structural damage assessed by conventional radiography and tendon damage assessed by musculoskeletal US (MSUS) at wrist and ankle in RA patients.

Methods: We evaluated 72 consecutive patients [56 (77.8%) females] with RA.

Ultrasound-detected activity in rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate therapy: Which joints and tendons should be assessed to predict unstable remission?

The aim of the study was to investigate the predictive value of different reduced joint ultrasound (US) assessments of synovitis and tenosynovitis in relation to unstable remission in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on methotrexate therapy. Forty-seven RA patients (38 women, 9 men), being treated with methotrexate (MTX), in clinical remission as judged by their consultant rheumatologist were evaluated for disease activity according to the Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28 at baseline and 6 months. Sustained remission and unstable remission were defined according to the baseline and 6-month DAS28 and changes in RA therapy during the follow-up.

Comparison between full and tapered dosages of biologic therapies in psoriatic arthritis patients: clinical and ultrasound assessment.

The primary objective of this study was to describe and compare clinical and musculoskeletal (MS) ultrasound (US) features between psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients treated with full and tapered dosage of biologic (b) disease-modified antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The secondary objective was to compare clinical and MSUS features between PsA patients treated with bDMARDs with and without concomitant synthetic (s) DMARDs. We evaluated 102 patients with PsA treated with bDMARDs.

Patient self-assessment and physician's assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity: which is more realistic in remission status? A comparison with ultrasonography.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare disease activity assessed by the patient, the physician and musculoskeletal US in patients with RA in clinical remission.

Methods: We evaluated 69 patients with RA in clinical remission according to their attending rheumatologist. Tenderness and swelling in 28 joints were blindly assessed by patients and physicians.

Ultrasound joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis in clinical remission: how many and which joints should be assessed?

Objective: To investigate the sensitivity for detecting subclinical synovitis of different reduced joint ultrasound (US) assessment models as compared with a comprehensive US assessment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in clinical remission.

Methods: Sixty-seven RA patients (50 women, 17 men) in clinical remission as judged by their consultant rheumatologist and treated with methotrexate were prospectively recruited. Patients were evaluated for disease activity according to the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) and the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) by the same investigator.

Association between anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and ischemic heart disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease that may not always be related to the presence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine if anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with RA.

Methods: Anti-CCP antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the earliest serum sample available from 937 patients with a diagnosis of RA.

Anti-Sa sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis contain at least 2 different subpopulations of anti-Sa antibodies.

Objective: Anti-Sa antibodies have been described to be a highly specific marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We demonstrate the existence of 2 different subsets of anti-Sa antibodies, only one of which is specific for RA. Our objective was to purify the Sa antigen, and to achieve partial characterization of these proteins.

Treatment options for juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory chronic disease characterized by the presence of activated helper T-cells that induce a B-cell response, resulting in the secretion of pathogenic autoantibodies and the formation of immune complexes. SLE in children is a disease of low prevalence with a wide range of clinical manifestations, which means that the number of randomized controlled studies are few and usually involve a small number of patients. In recent years, new therapeutic agents have appeared and the role of older treatments has been clarified.