Outcomes of COVID-19 re-infections: a single-center cohort of 167 patients with systemic rheumatic diseases.

Data on COVID-19 re-infections in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs) are lacking. We aimed to describe the course and outcomes of COVID-19 re-infections in these patients versus controls. In this single-center retrospective study, we included 167 consecutive SRD patients with at least one COVID-19 re-infection (mean age 47.

7-year follow-up atherosclerotic plaque progression in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome versus diabetes mellitus and healthy controls.

Objectives: Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) carry a substantial burden of cardiovascular disease and subclinical atherosclerosis. We aimed to assess a 7-year follow-up atherosclerotic plaque progression in APS patients vs diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy controls (HC).

Methods: Eighty-six patients with thrombotic APS, 86 with DM and 86 HC (all age- and sex-matched) who underwent a baseline ultrasound of carotid and femoral arteries were invited for a 7-year follow-up ultrasonography examination.

Glucocorticoid discontinuation rate and risk factors for relapses in a contemporary cohort of patients with giant cell arteritis.

The rates of relapses and therapy discontinuation in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in the modern therapeutic era have not been defined. We aimed to evaluate the glucocorticoid (GC) discontinuation rate and the factors associated with relapses in a contemporary GCA cohort. Patient and treatment data were collected cross-sectionally at first evaluation and 2 years later (second evaluation), in a multicenter, prospective GCA cohort.

Diurnal production of cortisol and prediction of treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis: a 6-month, real-life prospective cohort study.

Objectives: A reduced adrenal reserve-associated cortisol production relative to the enhanced needs of chronic inflammation () has been observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the possible clinical value of diurnal cortisol measurements in active RA on treatment response prediction.

Methods: Diurnal cortisol production (measured at: 08-12:00/18:00-22:00) was assessed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 28 consecutive patients with moderately/highly active RA, as well as 3 and 6 months after treatment initiation or/escalation.

Omicron variant dominance and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are key determinants for a milder course of COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine whether the introduction of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and the dominance of the omicron variant had a significant impact on the outcome of COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SAIRDs).

Methods: Using data entered to the Greek Rheumatology Society COVID-19 registry, we investigated the incidence of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, during the successive periods of the pandemic according to the prevalent strain (wild-type, Alpha, Delta, Omicron) in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Variables independently associated with hospitalization and death were explored using multivariate regression analyses, while Kaplan-Meier curves were used to depict survival data.

Higher frequency but similar recurrence rate of uveitis episodes in axial spondylarthritis compared to psoriatic arthritis. A multicentre retrospective study.

Background/objective: Data on risk factors predicting uveitis development in spondyloarthritis (SpA) is scarce. Our aim was to examine associations between demographic, clinical and/or laboratory characteristics of SpA with the occurrence and the course of uveitis, including ocular damage and recurrence rate.

Methods: Characteristics (at disease diagnosis and ever-present) from axSpA and Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients followed in 3 tertiary rheumatology-clinics were retrospectively recorded.

Arterial stiffness tested by pulse wave velocity and augmentation index for cardiovascular risk stratification in antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Arterial stiffness (ArS) has emerged as a predictor of future cardiovascular events in the general population. We aimed to assess ArS in patients with thrombotic APS versus diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy controls (HC) and identify predictors of increased ArS in APS.

Effect of body mass index on treatment response of biologic/targeted-synthetic DMARDs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis. A systematic review.

Background: Overweight and/or obese patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) have higher disease activity and lower chances of achieving and/or maintaining the treatment targets. Weight/obesity also appears to negatively affect the response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in IA patients, including rheumatoid arthritis -RA, psoriatic arthritis -PsA, axial spondyloarthritis -AxSpA. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) for the effect of weight/body-mass-index (BMI) in the efficacy of all approved biologic (b) and targeted-synthetic (ts) DMARDs for the treatment of IA.

Patterns and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a prospective cohort of 1,697 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for serious infections. Pneumococcal vaccination is among the most important preventive measures, however, vaccine uptake is suboptimal. We explored the rate and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a contemporary RA cohort.

JAK inhibitors, cardiovascular and thromboembolic events: what we know and what we would like to know.

JAK inhibitors (JAKinibs) have been approved for several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and non-radiographic axSpA. Although they have been proved to be very effective, some safety concerns have emerged. These mainly pertain to their profile regarding major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) as well as to thromboembolic events (VTEs).

Choosing the Appropriate Target for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis: TNFα, IL-17, IL-23 or JAK Inhibitors?

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a highly heterogenous disease. Apart from arthritis and psoriasis, other manifestations can also occur, including enthesitis, dactylitis, axial-, nail-, eye- and bowel- involvement. Comorbidities are also frequent in the setting of PsA, with cardiovascular disease and mental-health disorders being the most frequent.

Normal C-reactive protein in active psoriatic arthritis: results from real-world clinical practice.

Background: The value of normal C-reactive protein (CRP) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is debatable.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that CRP is frequently normal in contemporary real-world PsA patients, despite active disease.

Design: In this cross-sectional study, patients were divided into two groups: CRP ⩽ 0.

Depression and anxiety in a real-world psoriatic arthritis longitudinal study: should we focus more on patients' perception?

Objectives: Longitudinal studies using validated tools to evaluate depression and anxiety in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are lacking. We aimed to estimate their course in PsA and to examine possible associations with disease-related parameters and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Methods: PsA patients attending two outpatient rheumatology clinics were consecutively enrolled (January 2019-June 2021, n=128).

The second decade of anti-TNF-a therapy in clinical practice: new lessons and future directions in the COVID-19 era.

Since the late 1990s, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors (anti-TNFs) have revolutionized the therapy of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) affecting the gut, joints, skin and eyes. Although the therapeutic armamentarium in IMIDs is being constantly expanded, anti-TNFs remain the cornerstone of their treatment. During the second decade of their application in clinical practice, a large body of additional knowledge has accumulated regarding various aspects of anti-TNF-α therapy, whereas new indications have been added.

Cranial giant cell arteritis mimickers: A masquerade to unveil.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large-vessel vasculitis that affects cranial and extra-cranial arteries. Extra-cranial GCA presents mainly with non-specific symptoms and the differential diagnosis is very broad, while the cranial form has more typical clinical picture and physicians have a lower threshold for diagnosis and treatment. Although temporal artery biopsy (TAB) has an established role, ultrasound (US) is being increasingly used as the first-line imaging modality in suspected GCA.

Atherosclerosis progression in antiphospholipid syndrome is comparable to diabetes mellitus: a 3 year prospective study.

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune thrombophilia leading to life-threatening cardiovascular events. Cross-sectional data support that APS is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis, but this has not been confirmed in prospective studies. We aimed to compare the rate of atherosclerosis progression over a 3 year period between patients with APS, diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy controls (HCs).

Better outcomes of COVID-19 in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated patients with systemic rheumatic diseases.

Objective: Τo report outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 in comparison with COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs).

Methods: Patients with SRD with COVID-19 (vaccinated and unvaccinated) were included by their rheumatologists in a registry operated by the Greek Rheumatology Society in a voluntarily basis. Type, date and doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were recorded, and demographics, type of SRD, concurrent treatment, comorbidities and COVID-19 outcomes (hospitalisation, need for oxygen supplementation and death) were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.

COVID-19 vaccine safety and nocebo-prone associated hesitancy in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To describe the rate and type of adverse effects (AEs) and the frequency of disease flares after COVID-19 vaccination and to assess the reasons for vaccination hesitancy (non-vaccination) in SRD patients.

Methods: Telephone interviews were conducted of SRD patients consecutively enrolled (15/06/2021-1/7/2021). Participants were asked about the type of AEs and disease flare after vaccination.

Axial psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: same or different? A real-world study with emphasis on comorbidities.

Objectives: Axial involvement affects 25-70% of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, depending on the criteria used for its definition. Efforts are underway to clarify the similarities and differences between axial-PsA and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We aimed to compare, in a real-world setting, axial-PsA and AS, in terms of demographic, radiologic and clinical (musculoskeletal and extra-articular) characteristics, with a focus on comorbidities.