Nailfold videocapillaroscopy findings correlate with lung outcomes in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies-related interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a diverse group of muscle diseases often complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD), which significantly impacts morbidity and mortality. Krebs von den Lungen-6 (sKL-6) has been proposed as a biomarker for ILD severity. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) detects microvascular changes, but its diagnostic and prognostic value in IIM remains unclear.

Immunogenicity to Herpes Zoster recombinant subunit vaccine in immune-mediated rheumatic patients under treatment with JAK inhibitors.

Objectives: Patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRDs) face an elevated risk of varicella-zoster virus infection (VZV), and herpes zoster (HZ). Treatment with immunosuppressors further increases the risk. A new recently approved adjuvant recombinant inactive vaccine, offers safe protection against HZ.

Digital Health and Self-Management in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: A Missed Opportunity?

Purpose Of Review: This paper explored the potential of digital health in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), with a focus on self-management. Digital self-management technology includes tailored treatment plans, symptom tracking, educational resources, enhanced communication, and support for long-term planning.

Recent Findings: After arguing the importance of digital health in IIMs management, from diagnosis until treatment, our literature review revealed a notable gap in research focusing on the efficacy of digital self-management interventions for individuals with IIMs, with no randomised controlled trials or observational studies addressing this topic.

The diagnosis and management of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-related interstitial lung disease: British Society for Rheumatology guideline scope.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a significant complication of many systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), although the clinical presentation, severity and outlook may vary widely between individuals. Despite the prevalence, there are no specific guidelines addressing the issue of screening, diagnosis and management of ILD across this diverse group. Guidelines from the ACR and EULAR are expected, but there is a need for UK-specific guidelines that consider the framework of the UK National Health Service, local licensing and funding strategies.

KL6 and IL-18 levels are negatively correlated with respiratory function tests and ILD extent assessed on HRCT in patients with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Serum biomarkers have been suggested as indicators for pulmonary damage with clinical value in the diagnosis and prognosis of SSc-ILD.

Objectives: To investigate the role of serum biomarkers (Krebs von den Lungen-6 KL-6, IL-18 and IL-18BP) as a potential biomarker reflecting the severity of SSc-ILD as assessed through high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFT), including forced vital capacity (%FVC) and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (%DLCO).

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS): a 20-year follow-up study.

Introduction: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by a chronic grade of inflammation. Cardiovascular events represent the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases; however, the significance and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with pSS remain unclear.

Objective: To determine the clinical significance of cardiovascular disease in pSS and analyze the risk of cardiovascular disease according to glandular/extraglandular involvement and positivity to anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB autoantibodies.

Clinical phenotype in scleroderma patients based on autoantibodies.

Objective: We aimed to characterize the clinical phenotype of patients with SSc based on autoantibodies (topoisomerase antibody (Scl-70), ACA and ANA).

Methods: We included patients with SSc who fulfilled the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria, with disease duration ≤15 years. Six groups of patients were defined: ACA-lcSSC, Scl-70-lcSSc, ANA-lcSSc, Scl-70-dcSSc, ANA-dcSSc and ACA-dcSSc patients.

Factors Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Uveitis Related to Spondyloarthritis: Development of an Outcome Score (SpA-U).

Background: Evaluating the efficacy and refractoriness to treatment and determining factors associated with adverse outcomes in uveitis associated with spondylarthritis (SpA) are complicated by the lack of validated outcome measures.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to develop an outcome score SpA-U in patients with uveitis associated with SpA and to determine factors associated with adverse outcomes in patients with uveitis under systemic treatment.

Methods: The outcome score SpA-U was defined by best-corrected visual acuity, anterior chamber inflammation, macular edema and inflammation of posterior chamber, global assessment, and refractoriness to treatment.

Atypical Debut of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis as Acute Tonsilitis and Strawberry Gum: A Case Report.

Background: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis characterized by necrosis, granulomatous inflammation, and vasculitis. It is characterized by the triad of the upper and lower respiratory system, lung, and kidney disease. Although it is usually a multisystemic disease, limited forms have also been described, and otolaryngological involvement is the first manifestation in up to 80-95% of the cases.

Immune responses to mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Background: Patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRDs) are commonly treated with immunosuppressors and prone to infections. Recently introduced mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have demonstrated extraordinary efficacy across all ages. Immunosuppressed patients were excluded from phase III trials with SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines.

Polyautoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematosus: secondary Sjogren syndrome.

Background: Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. It can be associated with other connective tissue diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objective: This study aimed to determine the incidence of secondary SS (sSS) in patients diagnosed with SLE (SLE-SS) and compare the clinical and serological features of SLE-SS to SLE only.

Biological agents for rheumatic diseases in the outbreak of COVID-19: friend or foe?

Background: The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has raised concerns in the rheumatology community about the management of immunosuppressed patients diagnosed with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. It is not clear whether the use of biological agents may suppose a risk or protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, it has been suggested that severe respiratory forms of COVID-19 occur as a result of exacerbated inflammation status and cytokine production. This prompted the use of interleukin 6 (IL-6) (tocilizumab and sarilumab) and IL-1 inhibitors (anakinra) in severe COVID-19 disease and more recently JAK1/2 inhibitor (baricitinib).