Humoral and T Cell Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and T cell response after a two-dose regimen of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this observational study, patients with RA who are ≥18 years of age and vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 according to the Argentine National Health Ministry's vaccination strategy were included. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies (ELISA-COVIDAR test), neutralizing activity (cytotoxicity in VERO cells), and specific T cell response (IFN-γ ELISpot Assay) were assessed after the first and second dose.

Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Third Vaccine in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Had No Seroconversion After Primary 2-Dose Regimen With Inactivated or Vector-Based Vaccines.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the immune response after a third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with undetectable antibody titers after the primary regimen of 2 doses.

Methods: Patients with RA with no seroconversion after 2 doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and who received a third dose of either an mRNA or vector-based vaccine were included. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, neutralizing activity, and T cell responses were assessed after the third dose.

Simplified Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (SASDAS) Versus ASDAS: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the Simplified Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (SASDAS) against the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) for measuring and categorizing disease activity using data from the EMBARK trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01258738), a randomized controlled trial of etanercept (ETN) for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Patients with early active axSpA received ETN 50 mg once weekly (n = 106) or placebo (PBO; n = 109) for 12 weeks in a double-blind manner; they then received open-label ETN for 92 weeks.

An Argentinean cohort of patients with rheumatic and immune-mediated diseases vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2: the SAR-CoVAC Registry-protocol and preliminary data.

Background/objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with rheumatic and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) in Argentina: the SAR-CoVAC registry.

Methods: SAR-CoVAC is a national, multicenter, and observational registry. Adult patients with rheumatic or IMIDs vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 were consecutively included between June 1 and September 17, 2021.

Adherence to treatment with tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in daily clinical practice.

Objectives: To evaluate the adherence to treatment with Tofacitinib in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) using two versions of the self-questionnaire Compliance Questionnaire Rheumatology, CQR19 and CQR5, to determine the variables associated with adherence to Tofacitinib and to compare the performance of both questionnaires.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. We included patients ≥18 years old, with RA (ACR/EULAR criteria 2010) under treatment with Tofacitinib.

Peripheral arthritis and higher disease activity lead to more functional impairment in axial spondyloarthritis: Longitudinal analysis from ESPAXIA.

Objetive: The aim of this study was to investigate whether peripheral arthritis together with disease activity independently contribute to functional impairment over time in patients with axSpA and to evaluate if there are contextual factors modifying this relationship.

Material And Methods: Patients with axial spondyloarthritis from the ESPAXIA cohort were followed-up annually over a mean of 3.7 years.

Adherence to Treatment with Tofacitinib in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Daily Clinical Practice.

Objectives: To evaluate the adherence to treatment with tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using two versions of the self-questionnaire Compliance Questionnaire Rheumatology, CQR19 and CQR5, to determine the variables associated with adherence to tofacitinib and to compare the performance of both questionnaires.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. We included patients ≥18years old, with RA (ACR/EULAR criteria 2010) under treatment with tofacitinib.

Depression Is a Major Determinant of Functional Capacity in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Argentinean patients and its association with sociodemographic and clinical factors.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of consecutive adults with RA. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, RA disease activity, and current treatment were assessed.

A useful tool to assess quality of LIFE in rheumatoid arthritis patients that does not require a license: QOL-RA II.

To validate the Quality of Life-Rheumatoid Arthritis Scale II (QOL-RA II) in an Argentinean cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients ≥ 18 years old, with a diagnosis of RA according to ACR-EULAR 2010 criteria, were included in a cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, RA characteristics, disease activity, and current treatment were registered.

Definition and construct validation of clinically relevant cutoffs on the Flare Assessment in Rheumatoid Arthritis (FLARE-RA) questionnaire.

Objective: The Flare Assessment in Rheumatoid Arthritis (FLARE-RA) questionnaire was devised for the detection of flares in patients with RA. We aimed to define construct validity and cut-off(s) for the FLARE-RA questionnaire.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included adult patients with prevalent RA (2010 ACR/EULAR criteria) attending outpatient rheumatology clinics in France (n = 138), Denmark (n = 253), USA (n = 75), and Argentina (n = 105).

Tuberculin test conversion in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis receiving biological therapy.

Objective: The blockade of inflammatory mediators produced by biological therapies is associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections, as for example Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT). Given the endemic situation of tuberculosis (TB) in some countries and immunosuppression/anergy of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, we wonder whether it is necessary to monitor the MT infection after starting the biological treatment. To evaluate the frequency of the tuberculin skin test (TST) conversion and its association with an active TB infection and other disease variables.

Validation and cultural adaptation of the qualisex questionnaire in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in Argentina.

The Qualisex questionnaire was developed and validated to assess sexuality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. To the best of our knowledge, there is no instrument to evaluate sexuality in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). For this reason, the objective of this study was to validate and adapt the Qualisex questionnaire in axSpA and evaluate the impact of the disease on patients' sexuality.

The -2518 A/G polymorphism in the monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 gene (MCP-1) is associated with an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Argentine patients.

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of nucleotide transition (G/A) in position -2518 of the MCP-1 gene related to the susceptibility of developing RA. Two hundred twenty-three consecutive RA patients according to 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria were included; 120 healthy subjects were used as controls. MCP-1 -2518 A/G polymorphism (AG + GG) was present in 162 (72.

Mortality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Argentina.

Some reports describe an increased mortality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) compared to the general population. The aims of this study were to evaluate the cumulative survival in patients with AS and to establish possible factors associated with mortality. In cross-sectional retrospective study, AS patients were included according to 1984 modified NY criteria, in the 2000-2010 period, the prevalence of mortality was determined by review of medical records, telephone contact, family reports, and death certificates, and it was compared with mortality in Argentina's general population.

Clinical and immunogenetic characterization in psoriatic arthritis patients.

In psoriatic arthritis (PsA), genetic factors play a substantial role in disease susceptibility as well as in its expression. This study aims to determine the distribution of class I and class II HLA antigens in PsA patients and secondly to analyze the influence of genetic factors in the clinical expression of the disease. Consecutive PsA patients (CASPAR criteria) with less than 1 year of disease duration were included.

Fatigue assessment and its impact in the quality of life of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The most frequently reported symptoms by patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are pain, stiffness, and fatigue. Previous studies have estimated a 63% prevalence of fatigue in AS, with a low correlation of fatigue with pain and functional capacity. The objective of this study is to assess fatigue prevalence in AS patients and establish the main associated factors.

Adherence to treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

This study aims to determine the level of adherence to treatment in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and to identify possible factors associated to lack of adherence. We included consecutive AS patients (NY modified criteria). Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected.

A simplified version of Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

This study aimed to develop a simplified version of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS). The study included consecutive patients with ankylosing spondylitis according to modified New York and/or Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis 2009 criteria. Sociodemographic data and characteristics of the disease (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL)) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were collected.

Prevalence of periprosthetic osteolysis after total hip replacement in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Unlabelled: Periprosthetic osteolysis (PO) is a frequent complication in patients with joint implants. There are no data regarding the prevalence of PO in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and osteoarthritis (OA).

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of PO in patients with RA, JCA, AS, and OA, who have undergone total hip replacement (THR), and to identify factors associated with its development.