Factors associated with severity and mortality of COVID-19 in patients with connective tissue diseases and rheumatoid arthritis: A nation-wide, population-based analysis of the French national medico-administrative SNDS database.

Objectives: To investigate the risk and predictors of severity and mortality of COVID-19 infection in patients with Connective Tissue Diseases (CTDs).

Methods: Using the French nationwide claims and hospitalization database, we assembled a nation-wide exhaustive cohort of adult CTD patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, Sjögren's disease, inflammatory myopathies, systemic sclerosis. We analyzed the rates of hospitalization, severe inpatient stays (intensive care unit [ICU] admissions or in-hospital mortality), and in-hospital mortality with COVID-19 from January 1st to December 31st, 2020.

The pipeline of immunomodulatory therapies in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: A systematic review of clinical trials.

Introduction: The objective of this systematic review was to provide an overview of current developments and potentially available therapeutic options for polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), in the coming years.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of 17 national and international clinical trial databases for all disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for PMR and GCA that are already marketed, in clinical development or withdrawn. The search was performed on January 2024, with the keywords "polymyalgia rheumatica" and "giant cell arteritis".

Assessment and personalised advice for fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus using an innovative digital tool: the Lupus Expert system for the Assessment of Fatigue (LEAF) study.

Background: Fatigue is reported as the most prevalent symptom by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Fatigue management is complex due to its multifactorial nature. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of an innovative digital tool to manage fatigue in SLE, in a completely automated manner.

Alteration of innate lymphoid cell homeostasis mainly concerns salivary glands in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a cell population implicated in the pathogenesis of various chronic inflammatory diseases, but little is known about their role in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of ILC subsets in peripheral blood (PB) and their quantity and location in minor salivary glands (MSGs) in pSS.

Methods: The frequency of ILC subsets was analysed in the PB of patients with pSS and healthy controls (HCs) by flow cytometry.

Association Between Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Gene Overexpression and Risk of Lymphoma in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Objective: We undertook this study to analyze whole blood gene expression and to investigate the role of B cell genes in primary Sjögren's syndrome-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma (primary SS-NHL).

Methods: Peripheral whole blood samples were collected from 345 well-phenotyped patients with primary SS enrolled in the prospective Assessment of Systemic Signs and Evolution in Sjögren's Syndrome (ASSESS) cohort. Transcriptomic analysis was performed using human Clariom S Arrays (Affymetrix).

Fatigue in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Update on Its Impact, Determinants and Therapeutic Management.

Fatigue is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon which is often neglected by clinicians. The aim of this review was to analyze the impact, determinants and management of fatigue in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms in SLE, reported by 67% to 90% of patients.

Digital health, big data and smart technologies for the care of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases: Where do we stand?

The past decade has seen tremendous development in digital health, including in innovative new technologies such as Electronic Health Records, telemedicine, virtual visits, wearable technology and sophisticated analytical tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for the deep-integration of big data. In the field of rare connective tissue diseases (rCTDs), these opportunities include increased access to scarce and remote expertise, improved patient monitoring, increased participation and therapeutic adherence, better patient outcomes and patient empowerment. In this review, we discuss opportunities and key-barriers to improve application of digital health technologies in the field of autoimmune diseases.

Cluster analysis reveals three main patterns of beliefs and intention with respect to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Introduction: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to understand the underlying behavioural determinants of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs). We aimed to analyse patterns of beliefs and intention regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in AIIRD patients, as a mean of identifying pragmatic actions that could be taken to increase vaccine coverage in this population.

Methods: Data relating to 1258 AIIRD patients were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, to identify variables associated independently with willingness to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.