The third dose of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine is efficacious and safe for systemic lupus erythematosus patients receiving belimumab.

Introduction: Over 95% of healthy subjects develop anti-COVID IgG antibodies after receiving two doses of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. In comparison, 20%-30% of SLE patients do not seroconvert following 1-2 doses of COVID vaccines, potentially due to immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to assess immunogenicity and safety of BNT vaccine in SLE patients treated with Belimumab and especially the yield of a booster third dose in this population.

Tumor-like Lesions in Patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Case Series.

Background: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare small vessel vasculitis. It usually involves the respiratory tract and kidney. Rarely, tumor-resembling inflammatory changes ensue.

A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Injections of Tocilizumab in Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Tocilizumab is an interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist used treat moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Both intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) routes are approved for the treatment of adults with RA.

Objectives: To evaluate SC tocilizumab in a real-life clinical setting.

The impact of tocilizumab on anxiety and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are extremely prevalent among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we assessed the impact of treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 antagonist, upon anxiety and depressive symptoms in a cohort of RA patients.

Materials And Methods: Study participants were adults diagnosed with RA who received a weekly subcutaneous injection of tocilizumab for 24 weeks.

Acute onset of psoriatic spondyloarthritis as a new manifestation of post-streptococcal reactive arthritis: a case series.

Streptococcus is well associated with a myriad of inflammatory diseases. Among others, this bacterium is linked to the triggering of psoriasis and to post-streptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA), an arthritis which is typically confined to peripheral joints. Three patients who developed acute psoriatic spondyloarthritis (SpA) following a recent streptococcal infection are described in this article.

Efficacy and survival of golimumab with and without methotrexate in patients with psoriatic arthritis: A retrospective study from daily clinical practice.

Golimumab is a recombinant human monoclonal antibody targeted against tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Golimumab is effective in the management of patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and survival of golimumab monotherapy versus co-administration with methotrexate (MTX) in patients with PsA in the clinical practice.

The diagnostic value of 14-3-3η protein levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

14-3-3η may represent a useful diagnostic biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We assessed the prevalence and serum levels of 14-3-3η in patients with RA and in patients with other rheumatic diseases. Serum levels of 14-3-3η were measured in 96 patients with RA, in 101 patients with other rheumatic diseases, and in 66 healthy subjects.

Anakinra in idiopathic recurrent pericarditis refractory to immunosuppressive therapy; a preliminary experience in seven patients.

Background: Approximately 5% of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis (IRP) patients are refractory or intolerant to NSAIDs, Colchicine and corticosteroids. The empiric treatment approach for these patients includes immunosuppression with Azathioprine (AZA) or immunomodulation with intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIG). We assessed the efficacy and safety of long-term Anakinra treatment in refractory IRP patients after failure of prior immunosuppressive therapy and/or failure of IVIG.

Decrease in 14-3-3η protein levels is correlated with improvement in disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Tofacitinib.

14-3-3η protein is a proinflammatory mediator that may represent a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We assessed the correlation between changes in serum 14-3-3η levels and changes in clinical disease activity measures in RA patients treated with Tofacitinib (TOF). Paired serum samples from 35 patients with RA were obtained at baseline and 5 months after the initiation of treatment with TOF.

Effect of Tocilizumab on Fatigue and Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Chronic fatigue is common among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), affecting quality of life. Osteoporosis is a prevalent co-morbidity in RA patients.

Objectives: To assess the effect of long-term treatment with tocilizumab on fatigue and bone mineral density (BMD) in RA patients with inadequate response to synthetic or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

The prevalence and clinical effect of immunogenicity of TNF-α blockers in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of immunogenicity of TNF-α blockers in axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients and to assess the effect of immunogenicity on drug levels and clinical response.

Methpds: Patients with axial SpA treated with either infliximab (INF), adalimumab (ADA) or etanercept (ETN) were recruited to our observational cross-sectional study. Demographic and clinical data were collected and disease activity scores were assessed.

Extrapyramidal signs in neurosarcoidosis versus multiple sclerosis: Is TNF alpha the link?

Specific inflammatory pathways and specifically Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) have been associated with the neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). TNFα is also known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and TNF blockers can ameliorate the disease. In contrast, multiple sclerosis (MS) is clearly exacerbated by anti- TNF-α medications.

Hydroxychloroquine desensitization, an effective method to overcome hypersensitivity-a multicenter experience.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is widely used to treat autoimmune/rheumatic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The immune modulation effects of HCQ have been highlighted as beneficial for maintaining remission of SLE as well as ameliorating skin, joint and other manifestations. Moreover, HCQ exposure for prolonged periods as well as during pregnancy is considered safe, therefore it is recommended for the vast majority of SLE patients.

Prevalence of anti-DFS70 antibodies in patients with and without systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Objectives: Autoantibodies to the dense fine speckled 70 (DFS70) antigen are common among antinuclear antibodies (ANA) positive healthy individuals (HI). We assessed the prevalence of anti-DFS70 antibodies in patients with and without ANA-associated rheumatic diseases (AARDs) by two methods: chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA) and an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay based on immunoadsorption for DFS70.

Methods: Fifty-one ANA-positive sera samples from patients with confirmed clinical diagnosis of AARD, 92 samples from HI and 85 samples submitted to a reference laboratory for routine ANA testing were evaluated for the presence of anti-DFS70 antibodies.

Anti-BLyS Treatment of 36 Israeli Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

Background: Anti-BLyS treatment with the human belimumab monoclonal antibody was shown to be a safe and effective therapeutic modality in lupus patients with active disease (i.e., without significant neurological/renal involvement) despite standard treatment.

Does parvovirus infection have a role in systemic lupus erythematosus?

We sought to evaluate a possible link between parvovirus B19 infection and the clinical and laboratory expression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE patients were examined to evaluate their clinical status and disease activity. A complete Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score was obtained for each patient.

A novel bedside test for ACPA: the CCPoint test is moving the laboratory to the rheumatologist's office.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune destructive joint disease affecting 1 % of the general population. In recent years, the benefits of identifying RA at an early stage and initiating therapy before joint damage occurs have been acknowledged. An elevated anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) level serves as a marker for the early diagnosis of RA.

Rhupus; unusual presentations.

Background: The coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) named Rhupus is an unusual clinical condition. Previous reports mentioned that Rhupus patients have prominent RA-associated clinical manifestations and only mild organic damage related to SLE. Progressive or life-threatening manifestations are rare in Rhupus patients.

Olfactory impairment in patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome and systemic sclerosis.

Patients with autoimmune diseases often present with olfactory impairment. The aim of the study was to assess the olfactory functions of female patients with fibromyalgia (FM) compared with patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and with healthy female controls. Olfactory functions were assessed in 24 patients with FM, 20 patients with SSc and 21 age-matched healthy controls.

Tocilizumab-induced neutropenia in rheumatoid arthritis patients with previous history of neutropenia: case series and review of literature.

One of the adverse events of tocilizumab (TCZ) is a transient, dose-dependent neutropenia. The recommendations of the Summary of Product Characteristics state that this neutropenia should be managed according to the absolute neutrophil count (ANC). However, the approach to a patient who had a history of neutropenia induced by previous DMARDs and developed TCZ-induced neutropenia remains unclear.