1-year results of treatment with rituximab in polymyalgia rheumatica: an extension study of a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Rituximab was effective for patients with polymyalgia rheumatica in the 21-week BRIDGE-PMR randomised controlled trial. Here, we aimed to assess rates of glucocorticoid-free remission up to 1 year after infusion in an extension of this trial.

Methods: BRIDGE-PMR was a randomised controlled proof-of-concept trial that enrolled participants with polymyalgia rheumatica according to 2012 European League Against Rheumatism-American College of Rheumatology classification criteria at the Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, Netherlands.

(Dis)agreement of polymyalgia rheumatica relapse criteria, and prediction of relapse in a retrospective cohort.

Background: To develop and assess a prediction model for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) relapse within the first year of glucocorticoid (GC) treatment.

Methods: A retrospective PMR cohort (clinical diagnosis) from a rheumatology department was used. All visits > 30 days after starting GC treatment and with > 2.

PolyMyalgia Rheumatica treatment with Methotrexate in Optimal Dose in an Early disease phase (PMR MODE): study protocol for a multicenter double-blind placebo controlled trial.

Background: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease affecting people older than 50, resulting in pain and stiffness of the neck, shoulder, and pelvic girdle. To date, glucocorticoids (GC) remain the cornerstone of treatment, but these have several drawbacks. Firstly, a large proportion of patients do not achieve GC-free remission within either the first (over 70%) or second year of treatment (over 50%).

Atorvastatin is unlikely to prevent rheumatoid arthritis in high risk individuals: results from the prematurely stopped STAtins to Prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis (STAPRA) trial.

Objectives: Persons at high risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) might benefit from a low-risk pharmacological intervention aimed at primary prevention. Previous studies demonstrated disease-modifying effects of statins in patients with RA as well as an association between statin use and a decreased risk of RA development. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated whether atorvastatin could prevent arthritis development in high-risk individuals.

Effect of add-on methotrexate in polymyalgia rheumatica patients flaring on glucocorticoids tapering: a retrospective study.

Guidelines on management of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) recommend early introduction of methotrexate (MTX), especially in patients with worse prognosis, although evidence on clinical efficacy of MTX in PMR is limited. Our objective was to assess MTX efficacy in real-world PMR care. Retrospective data of newly diagnosed PMR patients who started MTX were compared to control patients in whom MTX was not started at the first flare.

Polymyalgia rheumatica patients with and without elevated baseline acute phase reactants: distinct subgroups of polymyalgia rheumatica?

Objectives: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease characterised by pain and stiffness of neck, shoulder- and hipgirdle, typically with elevated acute phase reactants (APR). However, patients may present with normal APR. Our aim was to explore whether normal APR were due to 1) 'caught early in the disease', 2) misdiagnosis, or 3) a distinct subset of PMR with different clinical presentation and prognosis.

RT-CGM in adults with type 1 diabetes improves both glycaemic and patient-reported outcomes, but independent of each other.

Aims: To examine in adults with type 1 diabetes (a) the effect of initiation of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) on glycaemic and patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and (b) factors related to clinically relevant improvements and sustained device use.

Methods: 60 persons initiating RT-CGM completed questionnaires at device start and six months later. Demographics and clinical characteristics including (dis)continuation up until July 31st 2018 were obtained from medical records.

Use of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Patients with Severe Localized Scleroderma Resistant or Intolerant to Methotrexate.

To assess the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in patients with localized scleroderma (LoS) resistant or intolerant to previous treatment with methotrexate (MTX). A case series of patients with LoS treated with MMF. Outcome was assessed through clinical examination.

A missed diagnosis of acromegaly during a female-to-male gender transition.

We present a case of a 46-year-old transgender male who, during his female-to-male transition, presented with a pituitary apoplexy at the emergency department of a general hospital in the Netherlands. During admission, it turned out that he also suffered from acromegaly due to a growth hormone secreting pituitary adenoma for which he was successfully treated at our university hospital. Previously, his complaints typical of acromegaly were dismissed as attributable to the gender transition.

Low-flow mediated constriction is endothelium-dependent: effects of exercise training after radial artery catheterization.

Background: Radial artery catheterization is associated with endothelial denudation and impaired vasodilator function, while postcatheterization exercise training may enhance artery function. The impact of catheterization and subsequent exercise training on low-flow mediated vasoconstriction (L-FMC) has not previously been studied. The aim of this study was to examine whether radial artery L-FMC is impaired by catheterization and consequent endothelial denudation.