Calcinosis in Rheumatic Disease Is Still an Unmet Need: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Patients with immune-mediated rheumatic disease-related calcinosis comprise a subgroup at risk of encountering a more severe clinical outcome. Early assessment is pivotal for preventing overall disease progression, as calcinosis is commonly overlooked until several years into the disease and is considered as a 'non-lethal' manifestation. This single-center retrospective study explored the prevalence, clinical associations, and impact on survival of subcutaneous calcinosis in 86 patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRD).

Do We Have Good Activity Indices in Systemic Sclerosis?

Background: No fully validated index is available for assessing overall disease activity in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Objectives: To estimate the effect of disease activity as measured by different disease activity indices on the risk of subsequent organ damage.

Methods: The European Systemic sclerosis study group activity index (EScSG AI), the European Scleroderma Trials and Research Group Activity Index (r-EUSTAR AI), 12 point activity index proposed by Minier (12point AI) were calculated for 91 patients; the CRISS (The Composite Response Index for Systemic Sclerosis) for patients included after 2016.

Low vitamin D status in systemic sclerosis and the impact on disease phenotype.

Objective: Vitamin D has pleiotropic effects including immunomodulatory, cardioprotective, and antifibrotic properties and is thus able to modulate the three main links in scleroderma pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of vitamin D in patients with systemic sclerosis and to analyze the associations between the concentration of vitamin D and the features of systemic sclerosis.

Material And Methods: Fifty-one consecutive patients were evaluated for visceral involvement, immunological profile, activity, severity scores, and quality of life.

Clinical Phenotype of Endothelial Dysfunction in Romanian Scleroderma Patients.

Objective: To identify the particularities of the clinical phenotype of endothelial dysfunction in a lot of Romanian patients from a reference center and compare it to data reported by international registries.

Material And Methods: 51 patients were included in a cross-sectional study. The patients were evaluated for the pattern of disease, main visceral involvement, serum markers of disease.

Clinical Phenotype of Endothelial Dysfunction in a Lot of Romanian Scleroderma Patients.

Objectives: to identify the particularities of the clinical phenotype of endothelial dysfunction in a lot of Romanian patients from a reference center and compare it to data reported by international registries.

Materials And Methods: 51 patients were included in a cross sectional study. The patients were evaluated for the pattern of disease, main visceral involvement, serum markers of disease.

Monitoring drug and antidrug levels: a rational approach in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologic agents who experience inadequate response while being on a stable biologic treatment.

Clinical response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with biologic agents can be influenced by their pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity. The present study evaluated the concordance between serum drug and antidrug levels as well as the clinical response in RA patients treated with biological agents who experience their first disease exacerbation while being on a stable biologic treatment. 154 RA patients treated with rituximab (RTX), infliximab (IFX), adalimumab (ADL), or etanercept (ETN) were included.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies--activity markers in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Immunological abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) imply several antibodies, among which anti-cyclic cytrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) have the highest sensitivity and specificity. Their diagnostic and prognostic value in RA is well known, although their value as markers of the disease activity has not been established yet.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between anti-CCP antibodies and RA activity which eventually leads to the best treatment of choice.