Pulmonary Progressive Fibrosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Primary Sjogren Syndrome: Similarities and Differences.

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) has been associated with a worse prognosis, even when interstitial lung disease (ILD) is related to rheumatic diseases. Since many differences are detectable among rheumatic diseases in prevalence and features of ILD, we aimed to investigate features of PPF in different rheumatic diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). In an Italian multicentre cross-sectional study, consecutive pSS or RA patients with a diagnosis of ILD from at least two years were enrolled.

Fibrosing Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multicentre Italian Study.

Background: The INBUILD study demonstrated the efficacy of nintedanib in the treatment of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease different to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related ILD. Nevertheless, the prevalence of RA-ILD patients that may potentially benefit from nintedanib remains unknown.

Objectives And Methods: The aim of the present multicentre study was to investigate the prevalence and possible associated factors of fibrosing progressive patterns in a cross-sectional cohort of RA-ILD patients.

Clinical and Serological Characteristics of a Monocentric Cohort of Patients Affected by Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features (IPAF).

Introduction: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are diseases characterised by excessive deposition of collagen matrices in the pulmonary interstitium. Some of them are considered idiopathic (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis - IPF), others are related to known pathologies such as connective tissue diseases (CTDs-ILD). Patient affected by ILD and features referable to CTD, not satisfying CTD criteria, are called Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) patients.

Progression and prognosis of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features: a longitudinal, prospective, multi-centre study.

Objectives: To evaluate the rate of progression towards specific autoimmune diseases (SADs) of a prospective, multi-centre cohort of patients classifiable as interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF).

Methods: IPAF patients were enrolled based on specific research criteria, and jointly followed by rheumatologists and pulmonologists for at least one year with clinical check-ups, serological exams including autoimmunity, capillaroscopy and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Diagnostic assessment was repeated at least once a year, or earlier when deemed useful.

Development and implementation of the AIDA International Registry for patients with Behçet's disease.

Purpose of the present paper is to point out the design, development and deployment of the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) International Registry dedicated to pediatric and adult patients with Behçet's disease (BD). The Registry is a clinical physician-driven non-population- and electronic-based instrument implemented for the retrospective and prospective collection of real-life data about demographics, clinical, therapeutic, laboratory, instrumental and socioeconomic information from BD patients; the Registry is based on the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) tool, which is thought to collect standardised information for clinical real-life research, and has been realised to change over time according to future scientific acquisitions and potentially communicate with other existing and future Registries dedicated to BD. Starting from January 31st, 2021, to February 7th, 2022, 110 centres from 23 countries in 4 continents have been involved.

Baseline characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus patients included in the Lupus Italian Registry of the Italian Society for Rheumatology.

Objective: To report baseline data of SLE patients enrolled in the Lupus Italian Registry (LIRE).

Methods: Patients affected by SLE aged ≥ 16 years were consecutively recruited in a multicenter prospective study comparing two cohorts: patients starting biologic immunosuppressants (BC) and patients starting non-biologic immunosuppresants (NBC).

Results: 308 patients were enrolled, 179 in NBC and 129 in BC.

A Multimodal Eye Assessment in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients -Psoriasis: Evidence for a Potential Association with Systemic Inflammation.

Background: Ocular involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) patients is mainly associated with uveitis but there remains a paucity of data on dry eye and retinal abnormalities. We aimed to analyze dry eye and subclinical retinal abnormalities in a cohort of PsA patients sine-psoriasis (PsO).

Methods: PsA patients sine-PsO were enrolled.

Enteropathic spondyloarthritis: Results from a large nationwide database analysis.

Introduction: Spondyloarthrits (SpA) share clinical, genetic and immunological features with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), and enteropathic SpA (eSpA) represent the clinical evidence of the association between gut and joint diseases. This cross-sectional study aimed to report data of eSpA patients collected from the first Italian database.

Patients And Methods: A specific web-based interface has been created to insert and collect the main clinical, serologic and imaging data from patients with eSpA, as well as disease activity, comorbidities and treatment, in a real-life scenario.

Use of synthetic and biological DMARDs in patients with enteropathic spondyloarthritis: a combined gastro-rheumatological approach.

Objectives: The aim of this 2-year prospective study was to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic effect of a combined gastro-rheumatological approach in enteropathic spondyloarthritis (eSpA) patients.

Methods: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with joint pain were referred by IBD-dedicated gastroenterologists to a dedicated rheumatologist. At baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 24 months, the following parameters were recorded: clinical and biochemical variables, SpA and IBD activity scores, treatment (conventional synthetic; csDMARDs, biologics; bDMARDs).

Challenges in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a heterogeneous clinical response to the different treatments. Some patients are difficult to treat and do not reach the treatment targets as clinical remission or low disease activity. Known negative prognostic factors, such as the presence of auto-antiantibodies and joint erosion, the presence of a genetic profile, comorbidities and extra-articular manifestations, pregnancy or a pregnancy wish may concur to the treatment failure.

Take a look at the eyes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A novel point of view.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a connective tissue disease that involves multiple organs. Ocular structures and visual pathways can be affected in SLE because of disease-related eye involvement or drug toxicity. All the part of the eye may be interested with an external, anterior involvement, responsible of the dry eye disease, or posterior (retina) and neuro-ophtalmic manifestations.

Evidence for the Detection of Subclinical Retinal Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Sjögren Syndrome: A Potential Association with Therapies.

Background: Retinal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren syndrome (SS) may be subclinical and thus underdiagnosed.

Objectives: We aimed at evaluating morphological and functional visual abnormalities in a cohort of SLE and SS patients in the absence of an overt clinical visual impairment. We also investigated potential associations between retinal disorders and disease activity, organ involvement, and treatment with steroid and/or hydroxychloroquine.