Senescent cells in giant cell arteritis display an inflammatory phenotype participating in tissue injury via IL-6-dependent pathways.

Objectives: Age is the strongest risk factor of giant cell arteritis (GCA), implying a possible pathogenetic role of cellular senescence. To address this question, we applied an established senescence specific multimarker algorithm in temporal artery biopsies (TABs) of GCA patients.

Methods: 75(+) TABs from GCA patients, 22(-) TABs from polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patients and 10(-) TABs from non-GCA/non-PMR patients were retrospectively retrieved and analysed.

Patterns and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a prospective cohort of 1,697 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for serious infections. Pneumococcal vaccination is among the most important preventive measures, however, vaccine uptake is suboptimal. We explored the rate and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a contemporary RA cohort.

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: clinical features, treatment modalities, relapse rate in Greek patients and a review of the literature.

Objectives: Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is mostly idiopathic (iRPF); however, it can be secondary to drugs, malignancies, infections, or, as recently recognised, can be part of the IgG4-related diseases. The aim of our study was i) to describe the presenting clinical/laboratory/imaging features and treatment modalities used in patients with iRPF and ii) to evaluate factors potentially associated with disease relapse.

Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with iRPF and followed in four tertiary medical units in Athens, Greece from 2000 to 2018 were retrospectively evaluated.

COVID-19 infection among autoimmune rheumatic disease patients: Data from an observational study and literature review.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with autoimmune/auto-inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AARD) under immunomodulatory treatment has been a focus of interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this observational study, demographic data, disease related features and comorbidities, COVID-19 manifestations and outcome as well as antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 were recorded among 77 consecutive patients with underlying AARD infected by SARS-CoV-2. Analysis of data was performed using univariate and multivariate models.

Incidence, risk factors and validation of the RABBIT score for serious infections in a cohort of 1557 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Predicting serious infections (SI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is crucial for the implementation of appropriate preventive measures. Here we aimed to identify risk factors for SI and to validate the RA Observation of Biologic Therapy (RABBIT) risk score in real-life settings.

Methods: A multi-centre, prospective, RA cohort study in Greece.

Treatment patterns and achievement of the treat-to-target goals in a real-life rheumatoid arthritis patient cohort: data from 1317 patients.

Background: Data regarding the real-life predictors of low disease activity (LDA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are limited. Our aim was to evaluate the rate and predictors of LDA and treatment patterns in RA.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, RA cohort study where patients were evaluated in two different time points approximately 12 months apart.

Five-year prospective multi-center cohort study of patients with giant cell arteritis in Greece.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common systemic vasculitis in the aged population associated with significant morbidity due to the long term administration of corticosteroids and the presence of various comorbidities. Data regarding its current treatment modalities, comorbidities, morbidity and mortality in Greece are limited. In this multi-center, prospective study that begun at the end of 2015 patients with newly diagnosed GCA according to the modified 1990 ACR criteria, as well as individuals with established or relapsing disease have been included.

Comparative Analysis and Predictors of 10-year Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors Drug Survival in Patients with Spondyloarthritis: First-year Response Predicts Longterm Drug Persistence.

Objective: To evaluate the 10-year drug survival of the first tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) administered to patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) overall and comparatively between SpA subsets, and to identify predictors of drug retention.

Methods: Patients with SpA in the Hellenic Registry of Biologic Therapies, a prospective multicenter observational cohort, starting their first TNFi between 2004-2014 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used.

Low disease activity-irrespective of serologic status at baseline-associated with reduction of corticosteroid dose and number of flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with belimumab: A real-life observational study.

Background: Low disease activity is a validated target of current systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of belimumab to achieve low disease activity states in real-life settings.

Methods: Multicentre prospective observational study of consecutive SLE patients receiving belimumab for at least 3 months, due to active disease refractory to at least one conventional immunosuppressant.

Multicenter Cross-sectional Study of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Greece: Results from a cohort of 2.491 patients.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the current disease characteristics, treatment and comorbidities of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Greece.

Methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional study with a 9-month recruitment period between 2015 and 2016. Demographics, disease characteristics, treatment and comorbidities were collected via a web-based platform.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging pattern at the time of diagnosis of treatment naïve patients with connective tissue diseases.

Background-aim: Cardiac involvement at diagnosis of connective tissue disease (CTD) has been described by echocardiography. We hypothesized that cardio-vascular magnetic resonance (CMR) detects occult lesions at CTD diagnosis.

Patients-methods: CMR was performed early after diagnosis in 78 treatment-naïve CTDs (aged 43±11, 59F/19M) without cardiac involvement [5 Takayasu arteritis (TA), 4 Churg Strauss syndrome (CSS), 5 Wegener granulomatosis (WG), 16 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 12 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 8 mixed connective tissue diseases (MCTD), 12 ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 3 polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), 8 systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 5 dermatomyositis (DM)].

Innate immunity alterations in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias and rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung diseases.

Background: This is a prospective cohort study elucidating innate immunity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), rheumatoid arthritis-associated usual interstitial pneumonia (RA-UIP) and RA-associated non specific interstitial pneumonia (RA-NSIP).

Methods: 23 IPF subjects, 9 COP subjects, 5 RA-UIP subjects, 8 RA-NSIP subjects were enrolled. 10 subjects were excluded.

Comparative effectiveness and survival of infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept for rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Hellenic Registry of Biologics: Low rates of remission and 5-year drug survival.

Objective: To compare effectiveness, drug survival, and safety between infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept, in a nationwide cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study of 1208 active RA patients. Effectiveness, drug survival, and serious adverse events during entire follow-up (median 2.

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for pregnancy-associated dermatomyositis.

Pregnancy-associated dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare disorder, until recently treated only with corticosteroids due to the toxicity of other immunosuppressive agents for the fetus. We present a pregnant woman with DM treated successfully with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and medium dose corticosteroids. A 42-year-old woman presented with a rash, muscle weakness and increased muscle enzymes on the 15th week of her first pregnancy.

Adalimumab is effective and well tolerated in treating patients with ankylosing spondylitis who have advanced spinal fusion.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in treating patients with AS and advanced structural damage.

Methods: Patients with active AS [Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) > or =4] received 40 mg of adalimumab every other week plus their standard anti-rheumatic therapies in this 12-week, open-label study. Investigators documented the presence or absence of advanced ankylosis based on previous radiographs.

Chest CT findings in patients with inflammatory myopathy and Jo1 antibodies.

Thoracic high-resolution computed tomography scans (HRCT) of 17 patients with inflammatory muscle disorders (IMD) and positive Jo1 antibodies were retrospectively reviewed regarding presence, extension, and distribution of pathological findings. Abnormal findings were found in 14 (82.3%) patients.

Shared epitopes and rheumatoid arthritis: disease associations in Greece and meta-analysis of Mediterranean European populations.

Objectives: To assess the strength of the associations between HLA shared epitopes (SE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility, articular disease severity, and extra-articular features in Mediterranean European populations.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-four Greek RA patients and 103 controls were evaluated. Data were then included in a meta-analysis of 9 studies of Mediterranean European populations (959 RA patients and 1,405 controls).