Can ultrasound-detected subclinical synovitis be an indicator of flare recurrence in juvenile idiopathic arthritis remission patients on tapered TNFi?

Objectives: Subclinical synovitis is often detected by musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients in clinical remission. The main objective of this prospective, observational, longitudinal, multicentre study was to evaluate the predictive value of MSUS-detected subclinical synovitis in relation to flares at 12 months following TNFi tapering in a JIA population in stable clinical remission.

Methods: We included 56 JIA patients in stable remission undergoing TNFi therapy tapered at baseline and in some cases at 6 months.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva in Spain: epidemiological, clinical, and genetic aspects.

We aimed to investigate the epidemiological determinants, clinical features, and genetic pattern of FOP in our country by evaluating the entire population of patients identified according to a combination of methods. To achieve this, 24 individuals were confirmed as FOP cases, 17 of whom were alive at the end of 2011 (point prevalence=0.36 × 10(-6)).

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy with acro-osteolysis in a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is an entity characterized by a triad of periostitis of long bones, clubbing and arthritis. Radiologically there are two patterns, one characterized by new bone formation which predominates in patients with pulmonary disease, and another by acro-osteolysis that is most frequently associated with congenital heart disease. We report the case of a 30-year-old man diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension for two years, developing hypertrophic osteoarthropathy with a mixed radiological pattern.

Long-term experience of bosentan for treating ulcers and healed ulcers in systemic sclerosis patients.

Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of bosentan in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who develop ulcers and healed ulcers. We also wanted to analyse the effect of bosentan on other skin and general outcome measurements.

Methods: In the present prospective, observational, non-controlled study, we followed all patients with SSc who started treatment with bosentan for ischaemic ulcers and healed ulcers from January 2003 to June 2006 in our centre.

[Selective deficiency of IgA in autoimmune diseases].

A selective IgA deficiency (SD IgA) appears in a 0.15% of the population, being more frequent in autoimmune diseases. We present here eight patients presenting this association who were diagnosed at the Rheumatology Department during a period of eight years.