Publications by authors named "Francisca Sivera"
Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting multiple systems and classified under connective tissue disorders. Ocular involvement occurs in up to 30% of SLE cases, with the cornea being particularly susceptible to thinning due to immune-complex deposits and its predominantly type I collagen composition. This corneal thinning is clinically significant in glaucoma, where patients with reduced central corneal thickness (CCT) may have up to a threefold increased risk of developing glaucoma, as well as in refractive surgery.
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- The study aimed to analyze the disease, demographic, and imaging characteristics linked to different types of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, focusing on recurrent acute CPP crystal arthritis, chronic CPP crystal inflammatory arthritis, and crowned dens syndrome (CDS).
- Researchers utilized data from an international cohort of 618 individuals to investigate the phenotypic traits of each type of CPPD and performed multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between risk factors and inflammatory phenotypes.
- Key findings indicated that longer disease duration correlated with recurrent acute arthritis, while chronic arthritis was linked to specific joint issues and less associated with metabolic risks, and CDS was more common in males with greater joint involvement. *
Crystallization of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) leads to painful gouty arthritis. Despite extensive research it is still unknown how this pathological biomineralization occurs, which hampers its prevention. Here we show how inflammatory MSU crystals form after a non-inflammatory amorphous precursor (AMSU) that nucleates heterogeneously on collagen fibrils from damaged articular cartilage of gout patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex and heterogeneous inflammatory disease. Secukinumab, a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD), has extensive clinical evidence of efficacy and safety in the treatment of PsA but data in clinical practice are still limited. This study aims to provide real-world evidence on secukinumab use, effectiveness, and persistence in PsA.
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- Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease is common but previously lacked validated classification criteria, which have now been developed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and EULAR.
- A multinational group established these criteria by generating lists of candidate items, refining definitions, and validating the framework through patient profiles and statistical analysis.
- The new criteria allow for CPPD classification based on specific symptoms, testing results, and a scoring system, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity in identifying the disease.
Article Synopsis
- Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease lacks established classification criteria, prompting the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and EULAR to create the first validated criteria for symptomatic cases.
- A multinational team developed these criteria by analyzing patient profiles, defining candidate items, and employing decision-making methods to establish a scoring system for classification.
- The new criteria showed high sensitivity (92.2% in one cohort; 99.2% in another) and specificity (87.9% and 92.5%, respectively), making them effective tools for diagnosing CPPD disease and advancing research.
Background: Secukinumab is a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) that has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA, i.e., ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axSpA) across various clinical trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Postgraduate rheumatology training programmes are already established at a national level in most European countries. However, previous work has highlighted a substantial level of heterogeneity in the organisation and, in part, content of programmes.
Objective: To define competences and standards of knowledge, skills and professional behaviours required for the training of rheumatologists.
Objectives: Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the only biologic therapy approved for giant cell arteritis (GCA). There is general agreement on the initial/maintenance dose, duration of TCZ therapy is not well established. In GiACTA trial, after one year on TCZ, most patients had GCA relapse after withdrawal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGout is characterized by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposits in and within joints. These deposits result from persistent hyperuricaemia and most typically lead to recurrent acute inflammatory episodes (gout flares). Even though some aspects of gout are well characterized, uncertainties remain; this upcoming decade should provide further insights into many of these uncertainties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Visual involvement is the most feared complication of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Information on the efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) for this complication is scarce and controversial.
Objective: We assessed a wide series of GCA treated with TCZ, to evaluate its role in the prevention of new visual complications and its efficacy when this manifestation was already present before the initiation of TCZ.
Objectives: To analyse current status, control and impact of RA on patients' lives as well as the management of RA symptoms.
Methods: A structured anonymous online questionnaire was designed and sent to patients with RA, aged 18 years or above living in Spain. Participants were invited though different strategies: 1) ConArtritis and related patients associations; 2) Patients participating in the platform www.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of biologic therapy (BT) in patients with neurobehçet's disease (NBD) who did not respond to glucocorticoids and conventional immunosuppressive drugs.
- Conducted as a national, multicenter, open-label study, it involved 41 patients and focused on clinical remission, glucocorticoid reduction, and lab parameter improvements as outcomes.
- Results showed that after six months, over half of the patients achieved complete remission, there was a significant reduction in prednisone dosage, and 90.2% maintained at least partial remission after an average follow-up of nearly 58 months, highlighting BT's effectiveness and moderate safety despite some adverse events.
Background: Dietary supplements are frequently used for the treatment of several medical conditions, both prescribed by physicians or self administered. However, evidence of benefit and safety of these supplements is usually limited or absent.
Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of dietary supplementation for people with chronic gout.
Objectives: To describe the methods of the Spanish Registry of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) (Myo-Spain), as well as its strengths and limitations. The main objective of the project is to analyse the evolution and clinical management of a cohort of patients with IIM.
Methods: Observational, longitudinal, ambispective and multicentre study of a cohort of patients with IIM seen in rheumatology units in Spain.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of gout in Spain.
Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based study of people aged 20 years or older. First, randomly selected individuals were contacted by telephone and rheumatic disease screening questionnaires were conducted.
Objective: About half of the rheumatology trainees do not use a portfolio. This project was established to reach consensus about the content of a EULAR portfolio for Rheumatology training and subsequently develop portfolio assessment forms.
Methods: After establishing a portfolio working group (WG), including nine rheumatologists and one educationalist, a systematic literature review (SLR) on the content and structure of portfolios for postgraduate learning was conducted (November 2018).
Objective: Classification criteria for calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease will facilitate clinical research on this common crystalline arthritis. Our objective was to report on the first 2 phases of a 4-phase process for developing CPPD classification criteria.
Methods: CPPD classification criteria development is overseen by a 12-member steering committee.
Objectives: To describe the methods of the Spanish Registry of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) (Myo-Spain), as well as its strengths and limitations. The main objective of the project is to analyse the evolution and clinical management of a cohort of patients with IIM.
Methods: Observational, longitudinal, ambispective and multicentre study of a cohort of patients with IIM seen in rheumatology units in Spain.
Tocilizumab in refractory giant cell arteritis. Monotherapy versus combined therapy with conventional immunosuppressive drugs. Observational multicenter study of 134 patients.
Semin Arthritis Rheum
April 2021
Article Synopsis
Objectives: To analyse current status, control and impact of RA on patients' lives as well as the management of RA symptoms.
Methods: A structured anonymous online questionnaire was designed and sent to patients with RA, aged 18 years or above living in Spain. Participants were invited though different strategies: 1) ConArtritis and related patients associations; 2) Patients participating in the platform www.