Outcomes of Filipinos with inflammatory rheumatic diseases developing COVID-19 prior to vaccinations and new variants: a historical perspective.

We described the profile and outcome of Filipino patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) who developed COVID-19 (IRD-C19) during the onset of the pandemic, prior to vaccinations and variants. We obtained de-identified data of Filipino patients with IRD-C19 from the Global Rheumatology Alliance registry from March 2020 to August 2021. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses were applied.

2018 update of the APLAR recommendations for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: To update recommendations based on current best evidence concerning the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), focusing particularly on the role of targeted therapies, to inform clinicians on new developments that will impact their current practice.

Materials And Methods: A search of relevant literature from 2014 to 2016 concerning targeted therapies in RA was conducted. The RA Update Working Group evaluated the evidence and proposed updated recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach, to describe the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations.

A Review on the Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors on Structural Progression in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Introduction: Considering the progressive nature of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), it is important to determine whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitors have an effect on early inflammatory and structural lesions detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A search of MEDLINE/PubMed for full-text, English-language articles on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, or infliximab published since January 2007 was conducted in February 2018 and again in December 2018. The collected articles reported on inflammatory or fatty lesion progression in the spine or sacroiliac joint (SIJ), determined using MRI, in a population that included at least 40% of patients with early axSpA, defined as non-radiographic axSpA.

Tuberculosis and viral hepatitis infection in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America: impact of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors in clinical practice.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors are increasingly becoming the standard of care for treating a number of inflammatory diseases. However, treatment with TNF-α inhibitors carries an inherent risk of compromising the immune system, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infections and malignancies. This increased risk of infection is of particular concern in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America where tuberculosis (TB) and viral hepatitis are endemic.

Effectiveness and tolerability of transdermal buprenorphine patches: a multicenter, prospective, open-label study in Asian patients with moderate to severe chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Background: We examined the effectiveness and tolerability of transdermal buprenorphine (TDB) treatment in real-world setting in Asian patients with musculoskeletal pain.

Methods: This was an open-label study conducted in Hong Kong, Korea, and the Philippines between June 2013 and April 2015. Eligible patients fulfilled the following criteria: 18 to 80 years of age; clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, or joint/muscle pain; chronic non-malignant pain of moderate to severe intensity (Box-Scale-11 [BS-11] pain score ≥ 4), not adequately controlled with non-opioid analgesics and requiring an opioid for adequate analgesia; and no prior history of opioid treatment.

Survey of rheumatologists on the use of the Philippine Guidelines on the Screening for Tuberculosis prior to use of Biologic Agents.

Background: The use of biologic agents has become an important option in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, these drugs have been associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. Local guidelines for TB screening prior to the use of biologic agents were developed to address this issue.

APLAR rheumatoid arthritis treatment recommendations.

Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects approximately 1% of the world's population. There are a wide number of guidelines and recommendations available to support the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; however, the evidence used for these guidelines is predominantly based on studies in Caucasian subjects and may not be relevant for rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology established a Steering Committee in 2013 to address this issue.

Flourine-18 flourodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography as a non-invasive test of disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis--a report of four cases.

Background: Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a rare disease affecting the large arteries, particularly the aorta. Standard test to demonstrate abnormal vascular anatomy is angiography. This invasive procedure is limited in differentiating inflammatory and fibrotic lesions.

Alpha-actinin is a cross-reactive renal target for pathogenic anti-DNA antibodies.

Anti-DNA Abs commonly found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are thought to play an important pathogenic role in lupus nephritis. Anti-DNA Abs may contribute to renal disease by cross-reactivity with renal Ags, the identity of which remain elusive. To identify a target Ag for pathogenic anti-DNA Abs, we performed Western blotting and immunoprecipitations of mesangial cell lysates from the lupus-prone MRL-lpr/lpr mouse and a nonautoimmune BALB/c mouse with the pathogenic anti-DNA Ab R4A.