Physical Function of RA patients Tapering Treatment-A Post Hoc Analysis of the Randomized Controlled RETRO Trial.

Several studies have shown that tapering or stopping disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in sustained remission is feasible. However, tapering/stopping bears the risk of decline in physical function as some patients may relapse and face increased disease activity. Here, we analyzed the impact of tapering or stopping DMARD treatment on the physical function of RA patients.

Validation of a proxy-reported SARC-F questionnaire for current and retrospective screening of sarcopenia-related functional impairments.

Background: The strength, assistance walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, and falls (SARC-F) questionnaire is a well-established instrument for screening of sarcopenia and sarcopenia-related functional impairments. As it is based on self-reporting, its use precludes patients who are unable to answer the questionnaire as a consequence of severe acute diseases or cognitive impairment. Therefore, we aimed to validate a proxy-reported version of the SARC-F for both ad-hoc as well as retrospective screening for severe sarcopenia-related functional impairments.

Systemic lupus erythematosus and neutropaenia: a hallmark of haematological manifestations.

Objective: Systemic lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by its phenotypic heterogeneity. Neutropaenia is a frequent event in SLE occurring in 20%-40% of patients depending on the threshold value of neutrophil count. On a daily basis, the management of neutropaenia in SLE is difficult with several possible causes.

Predictors of fatigue and severe fatigue in a large international cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and a systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Fatigue is reported in up to 90% of patients with SLE. This study was conducted to identify the determinants associated with fatigue in a large cohort of patients with SLE, as well as to provide a systematic review of the literature.

Methods: Patients from the Lupus BioBank of the upper Rhein, a large German-French cohort of SLE patients, were included in the FATILUP study if they fulfilled the 1997 ACR criteria for SLE and had Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions scores collected.

Timing of onset affects arthritis presentation pattern in antisyntethase syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate if the timing of appearance with respect to disease onset may influence the arthritis presentation pattern in antisynthetase syndrome (ASSD).

Methods: The patients were selected from a retrospective large international cohort of ASSD patients regularly followed-up in centres referring to AENEAS collaborative group. Patients were eligible if they had an antisynthetase antibody testing positive in at least two determinations along with arthritis occurring either at ASSD onset (Group 1) or during the course of the disease (Group 2).

Clinical manifestations but not cytokine profiles differentiate adult-onset Still's disease and sepsis.

Objective: To analyze clinical manifestations, serum ferritin, and serum cytokine levels in patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) or bacterial sepsis and to evaluate their potential use for differential diagnosis.

Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients with the first flare of AOSD and 6 patients with an established diagnosis of AOSD under immunosuppressive therapy were compared with 14 patients with bacterial sepsis. Clinical manifestations were scored in a Pouchot AOSD activity score including elevated serum ferritin levels to obtain a modified Pouchot score.