Impact of musculoskeletal joint complaints on quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Musculoskeletal joint complaints (MSCs) are the most common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to investigate the effect of MSC on the health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with IBD.

Design: A survey-based cross-sectional study among adult Dutch IBD patients.

A trial-based economic evaluation of the CaFaSpA referral strategy for axial spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To assess the cost-utility from healthcare and societal perspectives of the digital CaFaSpA referral strategy (CS) for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in primary care patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Method: A cluster randomized controlled trial was performed in the Netherlands. General practice units were randomized into CS or usual care (UC).

Genome-wide Association Study of Methotrexate-Induced Liver Injury in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Hepatotoxicity is a serious adverse drug reaction related to methotrexate (MTX). However, the cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is still unclear and unpredictable. Genetic risk factors may predispose for MTX-DILI.

Increase in axial spondyloarthritis diagnoses after the introduction of the ASAS criteria: a systematic review.

To explore the proportion of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) diagnoses within all newly referred patients visiting rheumatology outpatient clinics. And more specifically, to analyze whether there is an effect of the introduction of the ASAS and CASPAR classification criteria for axSpA and PsA. We systematically searched Embase, Medline Ovid, Cochrane Central and Web of Science from database inception to November 2022.

Dilemma of belimumab therapy (dis)continuation during pregnancy: Results of a retrospective study in eudravigilance.

Introduction: The first biologic authorized for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) up to this date, belimumab, is currently not recommended for use during pregnancy due to lack of data. Provided that the health of the child begins with the health of the mother, pregnant patients face the dilemma of cessation or continuation of belimumab. If belimumab is stopped, there will be a risk of SLE flare and its consequences for the mother and the foetus.

Impact of triage by a rheumatologist on appropriateness of referrals from primary to secondary care: a cluster randomized trial.

Objective: The quality of referrals is often criticized, and the effectiveness of improvement efforts remains uncertain. We assessed the impact of a rheumatologist triaging patients in primary care on the appropriateness of referrals to secondary care, healthcare utilization, and patient experience and outcomes.

Method: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with patients experiencing musculoskeletal complaints.

A systematic review on time trend incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in outpatient rheumatology clinics.

Objectives: To classify patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in an earlier stage of the disease, the ACR/EULAR classification criteria were updated in 2010. These criteria might have led to an increased incidence of RA in the rheumatology clinic. Since a higher incidence increases the socio-economic burden of RA, it is worthwhile to evaluate whether there is a time effect.

Does prednisone use in pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis induce insulin resistance in the offspring?

Objectives: The use of long-term corticosteroids during pregnancy has been growing over the past decades. Corticosteroids can be given when an auto-inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is too active. Several studies have shown that long-term corticosteroids use in pregnancy is associated with maternal and fetal adverse outcomes, like preeclampsia, shorter gestational age, lower birth weight, and rapid catch-up growth.

Reported congenital malformations after exposure to non-tumour necrosis factor inhibitor biologics: A retrospective comparative study in EudraVigilance.

Aims: To evaluate the number and nature of reported congenital malformations (CMs) after intrauterine exposure to non-tumour necrosis factor inhibitor biologics (non-TNFi biologics) compared to certolizumab pegol (CZP).

Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted in the EudraVigilance (EV) database. A safe biologic (CZP) was considered as the reference group.

Impact of psoriasis remains important in psoriatic arthritis patients with low musculoskeletal disease activity.

Objectives: Achieving low disease activity (LDA) is important in patients with psoriatic arthritis. It is of value to know if health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients who reached musculoskeletal low disease activity can be further improved by additionally achieving remission of their psoriasis. So, the aim of this study was to assess HRQoL in patients with active psoriasis who reached disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA) LDA after one year of follow-up.

Meta-Analyses on the Effects of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs on the Most Relevant Patient-Reported Outcome Domains in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Whereas in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis much evidence exists on the effects of current pharmacologic treatment on clinical outcomes, little is known about the effects on patient-reported outcomes. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on the patient-relevant domains of pain, fatigue, activity limitation, overall emotional and physical health impact, and work/school/housework ability and productivity.

Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials wherein registered DMARDs were compared with placebo or methotrexate and reported the effects on patient-reported outcomes included in the International Consortium of Health Outcomes Measurement standard set for inflammatory arthritis.

A Practical Guide for Assessment of Skin Burden in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatologists play a pivotal role in the management of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Due to time constraints during clinic visits, the skin may not receive the attention needed for optimal patient outcome. Therefore, the aim of this study was to select a set of core questions that can help rheumatologists in daily rheumatology clinical practice to identify patients with PsA with a high skin burden.

Paternal inflammatory arthritis is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage: results of a large multicentre study (iFAME-Fertility).

Objectives: Paternal preconception health is recognized as an important contributor to pregnancy outcomes. Nonetheless, pregnancy outcomes of partners of men with inflammatory arthritis (IA) have never been studied. Our objective was to describe the pregnancy outcomes of partners of men diagnosed with IA.

Diagnostic Performance and Clinical Utility of Referral Rules to Identify Primary Care Patients at Risk of an Inflammatory Rheumatic Disease.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of the Rotterdam Early Arthritis Cohort (REACH) and the Clinical Arthritis Rule (CARE) referral rules in an independent population of unselected patients from primary care.

Methods: This study consisted of adults who were suspected of the need for referral to a rheumatologist by their general practitioner. Diagnostic accuracy measures and a net benefit approach were used to compare both rules to usual care for recognizing inflammatory arthritis and inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs).

Impaired fertility in men diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis: results of a large multicentre study (iFAME-Fertility).

Objectives: The impact of inflammatory arthritis (IA) on male fertility remains unexplored. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of IA on several male fertility outcomes; fertility rate (number of biological children per man), family planning, childlessness and fertility problems.

Methods: We performed a multicentre cross-sectional study (iFAME-Fertility).

The likelihood of attaining and maintaining DMARD-free remission for various (rheumatoid) arthritis phenotypes.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare DMARD-free remission rates (DFRs) and sustained DFRs (SDFRs), defined as, respectively, DFR for ≥6 months and ≥1 year, after 2 and 5 years, between three clinical arthritis phenotypes: undifferentiated arthritis (UA), autoantibody-negative (RA-) and autoantibody-positive RA (RA+).

Methods: All UA (n = 130), RA- (n = 176) and RA+ (n = 331) patients from the tREACH trial, a stratified single-blinded trial with a treat-to-target approach, were included in the study. (S)DFR comparisons between phenotypes after 2 and 5 years were performed with logistic regression.

The burden of psoriasis in patients with early psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: Psoriasis impacts health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in PsA patients. However, this is not adequately measured with a general HRQoL questionnaire. The aim of this study was to quantify the degree of psoriasis evolution in PsA patients over the first year of follow-up and to evaluate whether the impact of psoriasis on HRQoL can be adequately measured with a dermatology-specific HRQoL questionnaire.

Epigenome wide association study of response to methotrexate in early rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Aim: To identify differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and regions (DMRs) that predict response to Methotrexate (MTX) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Materials And Methods: DNA from baseline peripheral blood mononuclear cells was extracted from 72 RA patients. DNA methylation, quantified using the Infinium MethylationEPIC, was assessed in relation to response to MTX (combination) therapy over the first 3 months.

Modern treatment approach results in low disease activity in 90% of pregnant rheumatoid arthritis patients: the PreCARA study.

Objectives: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), high disease activity impairs fertility outcomes and increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of a modern treatment approach, including treat-to-target (T2T) and the prescription of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, in patients with RA with a wish to conceive or who are pregnant.

Methods: Patients were derived from the Preconception Counseling in Active RA (PreCARA) cohort.

The number of risk factors for persistent disease determines the clinical course of early arthritis.

Objectives: Management of early arthritis is based upon early recognition of individuals at high risk of developing persistent arthritis. Therefore, this study investigates whether the number of risk factors for persistent disease or treatment determines the clinical course of early arthritis by comparing the chance at (sustained) DMARD-free remission ((S)DFR) after 2 years follow-up.

Methods: Data from the tREACH trial, a stratified single-blinded multicentre strategy trial with a treat-to-target approach were used.

Complex Machine-Learning Algorithms and Multivariable Logistic Regression on Par in the Prediction of Insufficient Clinical Response to Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The goals of this study were to examine whether machine-learning algorithms outperform multivariable logistic regression in the prediction of insufficient response to methotrexate (MTX); secondly, to examine which features are essential for correct prediction; and finally, to investigate whether the best performing model specifically identifies insufficient responders to MTX (combination) therapy. The prediction of insufficient response (3-month Disease Activity Score 28-Erythrocyte-sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) > 3.2) was assessed using logistic regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), random forest, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost).

Factors that influence biological survival in rheumatoid arthritis: results of a real-world academic cohort from the Netherlands.

We aim to explore real-world biological survival stratified for discontinuation reason and determine its influenceability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Data from the local pharmacy database and patient records of a university hospital in the Netherlands were used. RA patients who started a biological between 2000 and 2020 were included.