[Septic musculoskeletal complications under immunomodulating treatment].

Infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Among these, musculoskeletal infections represent a relevant proportion as patients with rheumatoid arthritis face an increased risk of developing septic arthritis and prosthesis infections. The causes are multifactorial.

Real-world experience with filgotinib for rheumatoid arthritis in Germany : A retrospective chart review.

Background: Real-world data for filgotinib, a Janus kinase (JAK)1 inhibitor, are limited in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objectives: To explore real-world filgotinib use in patients with RA in Germany.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective chart review included patients aged ≥ 18 years with confirmed moderate to severe RA who initiated filgotinib before December 1, 2021, with ≥ 6 months of medical records available prior to filgotinib initiation or after initial diagnosis.

Impact of DMARD treatment and systemic inflammation on all-cause mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial lung disease: a cohort study from the German RABBIT register.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of disease activity and treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on all-cause mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and prevalent interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).

Methods: Patients with RA-ILD were selected from the biologics register Rheumatoid Arthritis: Observation of Biologic Therapy (RABBIT). Using time-varying Cox regression, the association between clinical measures and mortality was investigated.

[Infection prophylaxis in rheumatic diseases].

Infections affect morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases in an important way. Risk of infection is influenced generally by age and existing comorbidities as well as especially by activity of the rheumatic disease and immunosuppressive treatment. Correspondingly best possible reduction of disease activity and elimination or at least successful treatment of comorbidities are able to reduce infection risk.

[Rheumatic diseases and vaccination].

Recommendations for vaccination of patients with rheumatic Diseases. Patients with rheumatic diseases are particularly at risk from infections. Vaccinations are suitable to reduce this risk.

New insights into the prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression in rheumatoid arthritis - Implications from the prospective multicenter VADERA II study.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using two previously validated questionnaires in a large patient sample, and to evaluate depressive symptoms in the context of clinical characteristics (e.g. remission of disease) and patient-reported impact of disease.

Tuberculosis and Takayasu arteritis: case-based review.

This report presents a case of co-occurrence of Takayasu arteritis (TA) and multiorgan tuberculosis (TB) in a 20-year-old female and provides a review of 18 previously reported cases of co-occurring TA and TB. All patients were between 9 and 24 years of age. Most reports describe a concomitant diagnosis of active TB and TA.

Spine Fractures in Ankylosing Diseases: Recommendations of the Spine Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma (DGOU).

Study Design: Review of literature and case series.

Objectives: Update and review of current treatment concepts for spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spinal disorders.

Methods: Case presentation and description of a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for unstable spinal injuries with an underlying ankylosing spinal disorder (ASD) of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine.

Decreased IgG4 ACPA levels in responders and increased CD1c classical dendritic cells in non-responders of patients with rheumatoid arthritis under therapy.

The treatment options for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis expanded over the last years. However, reliable biomarkers to guide therapy decisions are still warranted. Therefore, we here evaluated the value of antibodies against citrullinated peptide antigens (ACPA) IgG subclasses and peripheral blood antigen presenting cells as biomarkers to monitor and predict therapy response of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Selective blood sampling for FGF-23 in tumor-induced osteomalacia.

Unlabelled: Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is caused by the hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23). It is mainly produced in the tissue of mesenchymal tumors. Patients with TIO frequently suffer from a chronic decompensated pain syndrome and/or muscle weakness with postural deformity.

Validation of Standardized Questionnaires Evaluating Symptoms of Depression in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Approaches to Screening for a Frequent Yet Underrated Challenge.

Objective: To validate standard self-report questionnaires for depression screening in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare these measures to one another and to the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), a standardized structured interview.

Methods: In 9 clinical centers across Germany, depressive symptomatology was assessed in 262 adult RA patients at baseline (T0) and at 12 ± 2 weeks followup (T1) using the World Health Organization 5-Item Well-Being Index (WHO-5), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). The construct validity of these depression questionnaires (using convergent and discriminant validity) was evaluated using Spearman's correlations at both time points.

The presence of FCGR2B promoter or transmembrane region variant alleles leads to reduced serum IL-6 levels in rheumatoid arthritis.

The inhibitory FcγRIIB plays an important role for the peripheral B cell tolerance and plasma cell homeostasis, and any malfunctioning is predicted to result in humoral autoimmunity. An association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and FCGR2B promoter and TM region variant alleles, both of which result in a reduced functionality, is only insufficiently elucidated. We here set out to investigate the impact of these variants on disease progression in European RA patients.

Bone resorption correlates with the frequency of CD5⁺ B cells in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The prevention of bone resorption and subsequent joint destruction is one of the main challenges in the treatment of patients suffering from RA. Various mechanisms have previously been described that contribute to bone resorption in tightly defined cohorts. Here we analysed a cross-sectional cohort of RA patients and searched for humoral and cellular markers in the peripheral blood associated with bone resorption.

Soluble and transmembrane TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis differentially activate the classical and noncanonical NF-kappa B pathway.

TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis, TWEAK, is a typical member of the TNF ligand family. Thus, it is initially expressed as a type II transmembrane protein from which a soluble variant can be released by proteolytic processing. In this study, we show that membrane TWEAK is superior to soluble variant of TWEAK (sTWEAK) with respect to the activation of the classical NF-kappaB pathway, whereas both TWEAK variants are potent inducers of TNFR-associated factor-2 depletion, NF-kappaB-inducing kinase accumulation and p100 processing, hallmarks of activation of the noncanonical NF-kappaB pathway.

Membrane tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces p100 processing via TNF receptor-2 (TNFR2).

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) elicits its biological activities by stimulation of two receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, both belonging to the TNF receptor superfamily. Whereas TNFR1-mediated signal transduction has been intensively studied and is understood in detail, especially with respect to activation of the classical NFkappaB pathway, cell death induction, and MAP kinase signaling, TNFR2-associated signal transduction is poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate in various tumor cell lines and primary T-cells that TNFR2, but not TNFR1, induces activation of the alternative NFkappaB pathway.

Sustained Remission After Combination Therapy with Rituximab and Etanercept in Two Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis After TNF Failure: Case Report.

Objectives: Approximately up to 40% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fail to respond to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, lose response over time or are unable to tolerate treatment.

Materials And Methodology: We report two female patients suffering from active, refractory rheumatoid arthritis despite TNF blocking agents who have been treated with rituximab added to ongoing therapy with etanercept.

Results: Combination therapy was tolerated without any acute side effects.

Frequency of regulatory T cells is not affected by transient B cell depletion using anti-CD20 antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Transient B cell depletion with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab has shown favourable clinical responses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recently a characteristic regeneration pattern of B cell subpopulations has been reported. However, little is known about the impact of B-cell depletion on peripheral T cells in particular regulatory T cells.

Psoriatic arthritis: therapeutic principles.

From the dermatologic point of view, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was seen for a long time as a rare complication of psoriasis. Recent studies, however, reveal a high prevalence of PsA among patients with psoriasis, and the impact of PsA due to chronic inflammation of peripheral joints, axial joints, and periarticular structures leading to radiologic progression, functional impairment, and reduction in quality of life is well recognized. Substantial improvement in understanding immunopathology of PsA has led to a variety of new therapeutic options.

[Adamantiades-Behçet's disease. Clinical review].

Behçet's disease is a chronic relapsing systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology, affecting predominantly oral and genital mucocutaneous tissues and also the eyes. The disease is spread worldwide with a higher prevalence rate in countries along the ancient Silk Route, but it is rare (1-10/100,000) in Central and Northern Europe. Genetic, environmental, immunologic, inflammatory and rheologic factors are involved in the pathogenesis and the course of the disease.