Factors Associated With Mortality in Patients With Immune-Mediated Rheumatic Diseases and COVID-19 From Latin America: Data From Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil.

Objective: To describe characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil, and to assess factors associated with mortality in this population.

Methods: Data from 3 national registries, SAR-COVID (Argentina), CMR-COVID (Mexico), and ReumaCoV-Brasil (Brazil), were combined. Adult patients with IMIDs and SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited.

Qualitative validation of audiovisual educational material for use on rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Medication compliance is critical to achieve therapeutic efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; however, among other factors, low patient-health literacy plays a negative role. Therefore, the development and validation of audiovisual educational material with the participation of health specialists and patients could lead to an improved level of compliance with treatment, while favoring its acceptance. To design and validate audiovisual educational material generated by a multidisciplinary and participative group of patients and health specialists.

Severe osteoporosis: Principles for pharmacological therapy in Mexico.

Background: This article presents evidence and recommendations regarding the efficacy and safety of the approved and available therapies in Mexico to treat severe or established osteoporosis with the aim of developing a position regarding therapeutics in this stage of the disease, according to the descriptive cards of the National Drug Formulary of the National General Health Council of Mexico.

Methods: We performed a systematic and narrative review of the evidence of teriparatide and denosumab, from their pharmacological profile, effectiveness, and safety derived from clinical trials, as well as an analysis of the general recommendations of the national and international clinical practice guidelines.

Results: The evidence establishes that teriparatide and denosumab belong to different therapeutic classes, with biologically opposed mechanisms of action and indications of use, which are clearly differentiated in their respective national codes, therefore these drugs cannot be substitutable or interchangeable in severe osteoporosis therapy.

Peripheral blood leptin and resistin levels as clinical activity biomarkers in Mexican Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.

Objective: To evaluate the association between the clinical activity of RA patients and serum adipocytokines (Leptin, Adiponectin and Resistin) and inflammatory cytokines.

Methods: All RA patients fulfilled ACR 1987 criteria and were treated with DMARDs. Adipocytokine and inflammatory cytokine levels were evaluated using ELISA.

Leptin and adiponectin as predictors of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To assess whether baseline levels of leptin and adiponectin predict disease activity or response to treatment in patients with RA at 6 months, 1 and 2 years of follow-up.

Methods: A consecutive cohort of patients, classified according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR RA criteria, was evaluated at baseline, 6 months, 1 and 2 years. All were treated with steroids and/or DMARDs.