IL-23A, IL-23R, IL-17A and IL-17R polymorphisms in different psoriatic arthritis clinical manifestations in the northern Italian population.

To investigate the genetic variability of IL-17A, IL17-RA, IL-23A and IL-23R genes on an in-depth phenotypically characterized northern Italian Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) case-control cohort, in search for associations specific to different PsA clinical sub-phenotypes. We examined 118 patients with PsA according to CASPAR criteria (mean age 57 ± 13, female 38.4 %, mean disease duration 13.

Adalimumab in psoriatic arthritis.

Open prospective studies and randomized controlled trials (RCT) have shown the short-term efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis. ADA effectively treated all varied musculoskeletal manifestations characteristic of PsA, including peripheral arthritis, spinal disease, enthesitis, and dactylitis. ADA significantly inhibited structural changes on radiographs, lessened disability, and improved quality of life in patients with active PsA.

Brief report: successful pregnancies but a higher risk of preterm births in patients with systemic sclerosis: an Italian multicenter study.

Objective: To assess fetal and maternal outcomes in women with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Prospectively collected data on 99 women with SSc from 25 Italian centers were analyzed retrospectively. Women with SSc were observed during 109 pregnancies (from 2000 to 2011), and outcomes were compared to those in the general obstetric population (total of 3,939 deliveries).

Twelve-month azathioprine as maintenance therapy in early diffuse systemic sclerosis patients treated for 1-year with low dose cyclophosphamide pulse therapy.

Objective: To investigate the role of azathioprine in maintaining improvement after 1-year low-dose IV pulse CYC therapy in patients with early diffuse Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc).

Methods: Thirteen patients with early dcSSc who had completed a year of treatment with low-dose IV pulse CYC underwent AZA treatment (100 mg/day) in a prospective 1-year study. Modified Rodnan skin score (mRss), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), forced vital capacity (FVC), and diffusing lung capacity for CO (DLCO) were assessed as outcome measures.

[HAQ-DI Italian version in systemic sclerosis].

Objective: To investigate the Italian version of HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index) in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: 121 SSc patients, satisfying ACR criteria for the classification of this disease and consecutively admitted to a tertiary Unit, were invited to participate to the study. The Italian version of HAQ-DI, as validated in rheumatoid arthritis, was administered to each of them.

Low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide in systemic sclerosis: an open prospective efficacy study in patients with early diffuse disease.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a treatment with low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC) and low-dose prednisone in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).

Methods: Patients with dcSSc and a disease duration <24 months consecutively admitted to a tertiary centre underwent a prospective 1-year study. They were treated with i.