Socioeconomic factors and COVID-19 mortality in immune-mediated rheumatic diseases patients: regional analysis from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has become a major international issue, not only from a medical point of view, but also social, economic and political. Most of the available information comes from the United States, Europe, and China, where the population and the socioeconomic status are very different from Latin American countries. This study evaluates the effect of regional socioeconomic characteristics on mortality due SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRD) from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil.

Challenges in implementing treat-to-target in rheumatoid arthritis: a perspective from Brazilian rheumatologists.

Background: Patient management in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has evolved to a "treat-to-target" (T2T) approach, which entails intensive treatment and regular follow-up with the goal of achieving low levels of disease activity or clinical remission. Even though a T2T approach is endorsed by professional organizations and yields superior outcomes, its implementation remains incomplete. EVEREST (EleVatE care in RhEumatoid arthritiS with Treat-to-target) is a quality-improvement initiative designed to improve the widespread implementation of a personalized T2T strategy and enable patients with RA to reach their full potential for remission.

Exploring the association of serum prolactin with serum glucose levels and clinical findings in a cohort of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: In the context of rheumatoid arthritis and its systemic inflammatory implications, there is an increasing interest in investigating the role of prolactin in the clinical and metabolic aspects of the disease. This study aimed to explore the potential links between serum prolactin levels, serum glucose levels, and the clinical manifestations of arthritis.

Methods: This exploratory, cross-sectional, observational study focused on women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

Predictors of serious infections in rheumatoid arthritis-a prospective Brazilian cohort.

Background: Infections increase mortality and morbidity and often limit immunosuppressive treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: To analyze the occurrence of serious infections and the associated factors in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients under real-life conditions.

Methods: We analyzed data from the REAL, a prospective observational study, that evaluated Brazilian RA patients, with clinical and laboratory data collected over a year.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Experiences and Preferences in Accessing Healthcare Across Five Countries.

Introduction: The global coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created many challenges in healthcare provision. This study aimed to evaluate the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The RA Narrative COVID-19 survey was conducted online among people with RA who resided in Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, and the US from August to September 2021.

Factors Associated With Mortality in Patients With Immune-Mediated Rheumatic Diseases and COVID-19 From Latin America: Data From Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil.

Objective: To describe characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil, and to assess factors associated with mortality in this population.

Methods: Data from 3 national registries, SAR-COVID (Argentina), CMR-COVID (Mexico), and ReumaCoV-Brasil (Brazil), were combined. Adult patients with IMIDs and SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited.

New insights at the interface between leprosy and immune-mediated rheumatic diseases.

Leprosy is an infectious and contagious disease of slow evolution, triggered by . Arthritis is its third most common manifestation, after cutaneous and peripheral nerve involvement. Since musculoskeletal symptoms may be the initial presentation of the disease, it is important for health professionals to recognize its rheumatic manifestations for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, especially in endemic areas.

Timeline kinetics of protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 upon primary vaccination and humoral response to variants after booster dose.

New variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged, imposing the need for periodic booster doses. However, whether booster doses should be applied to the entire population or groups, and the booster doses interval, remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated humoral reactivity kinetics from before the first dose to 180 days after the third booster dose in different schedules in a well-controlled health worker cohort.

Elevated serum IL-6 levels predict treatment interruption in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis: a 6-year real-world cohort study.

Background: Real-world, primary data on the treatment of psoriasis are scarce, especially concerning the role of soluble biomarkers as outcome predictors.

Objective: The authors evaluated the utility of Th1/Th17 serum cytokines along with clinical characteristics as predictors of drug survival in the treatment of psoriasis.

Methods: The authors consecutively included participants with moderate to severe psoriasis who were followed up for 6 years.

Extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis remain a major challenge: data from a large, multi-centric cohort.

Introduction: Although Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) extra-articular manifestations (ExtRA) occurrence has been decreasing over time, they are still a major mortality risk factor for patients.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of ExtRA in a large cohort, and its association with demographic and clinical variables.

Method: Cross-sectional and observational study, based on a multi-centric database from a prospective cohort, in which 11 public rheumatology centres enrolled RA patients (1987 ARA or 2010 ACR-EULAR).

Czech dysplasia mimicking rheumatoid arthritis: Case series and literature review.

Objective: This study reported a family with most members affected by Czech dysplasia. We examined the patients' clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics and evaluated their functional capacity using the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index.

Methods: The method used was case series description and literature review.

Compared efficacy of rituximab, abatacept, and tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to methotrexate or TNF inhibitors agents: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Our aim was to compare the efficacy of rituximab, tocilizumab, and abatacept in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to treatments with MTX or TNFi agents.

Methods: We searched 6 databases until January 2023 for phase 2-4 RCTs evaluating patients with RA refractory to MTX or TNFi therapy treated with rituximab, abatacept, and tocilizumab (intervention arm) compared to controls. Study data were independently assessed by two investigators.

Neuroimaging assessment of pediatric cerebral changes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection and perinatal neurologic outcomes are still not fully understood. However, there is recent evidence of white matter disease and impaired neurodevelopment in newborns following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. These appear to occur as a consequence of both direct viral effects and a systemic inflammatory response, with glial cell/myelin involvement and regional hypoxia/microvascular dysfunction.

High prevalence of mental disorder symptoms among medical and other health specialties residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic put healthcare professionals, including residents (postgraduate trainees of health professions), under intense physical and psychological stress, hence at risk for mental disorders. We evaluated the prevalence of mental disorders among healthcare residents during the pandemic.

Methods: From July to September 2020, residents in medicine and other healthcare specialties in Brazil were recruited.

Panoramic snapshot of serum soluble mediator interplay in pregnant women with convalescent COVID-19: an exploratory study.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy can induce changes in the maternal immune response, with effects on pregnancy outcome and offspring. This is a cross-sectional observational study designed to characterize the immunological status of pregnant women with convalescent COVID-19 at distinct pregnancy trimesters. The study focused on providing a clear snapshot of the interplay among serum soluble mediators.

Decreasing delays in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Brazil: a nationwide multicenter observational study.

Background: Management delays imply worse outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and, therefore, should be minimized. We evaluated changes in diagnostic and treatment delays regarding RA in the last decades in Brazil.

Methods: Adults fulfilling the ACR/EULAR (2010) criteria for RA were assessed.

Unbalanced networks and disturbed kinetics of serum soluble mediators associated with distinct disease outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients.

The present study applied distinct models of descriptive analysis to explore the integrative networks and the kinetic timeline of serum soluble mediators to select a set of systemic biomarkers applicable for the clinical management of COVID-19 patients. For this purpose, a total of 246 participants (82 COVID-19 and 164 healthy controls - HC) were enrolled in a prospective observational study. Serum soluble mediators were quantified by high-throughput microbeads array on hospital admission (D0) and at consecutive timepoints (D1-6 and D7-20).

COVID-19 was not associated or trigger disease activity in spondylarthritis patients: ReumaCoV-Brasil cross-sectional data.

Objectives: To evaluate the disease activity before and after COVID-19 and risk factors associated with outcomes, including hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation (MV) and death in patients with spondylarthritis (SpA).

Methods: ReumaCoV Brazil is a multicenter prospective cohort of immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRD) patients with COVID-19 (case group), compared to a control group of IMRD patients without COVID-19. SpA patients enrolled were grouped as axial SpA (axSpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and enteropathic arthritis, according to usual classification criteria.

Chronic kidney disease in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a frequent manifestation of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) with a potential risk for kidney failure and poor outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate stages III, IV, and V of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and investigate risk factors for CKD in cSLE patients.

Methods: We performed a nationwide observational cohort study in 27 pediatric rheumatology centers, including medical charts of 1528 cSLE patients.

Factors associated with poor outcomes in SLE patients with COVID-19: Data from .

Objectives: To evaluate factors associated with COVID-19 severity outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data of a prospective, multi-stage cohort study-"The ReumaCoV Brazil"-designed to monitor patients with immune-mediated rheumatologic disease (IMRD) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. SLE adult patients with COVID-19 were compared with those without COVID-19.

The disruption of elective procedures due to COVID-19 in Brazil in 2020.

Elective procedures were temporarily suspended several times over the course of the pandemic of COVID-19. Monthly data from the Unified Health System (SUS) were used for the period between January 2008 and December 2020 and the interrupted time series method was used to estimate the effect of the pandemic on the number of elective surgeries and elective procedures that were not performed. Considering a 9-month period, a reduction of 46% in the number of elective procedures carried out in the SUS could be attributed to COVID-19, corresponding to about 828,429 elective procedures cancelled, ranging from 549,921 to 1,106,936.