Ocular Behçet Disease-Clinical Manifestations, Treatments and Outcomes According to Age at Disease Onset.

Behçet disease (BD) is a multisystemic disease that commonly involves the eyes. Although it affects patients in all age groups, data on ocular disease by age of onset are limited. This retrospective, multicenter study aimed to compare epidemiology, systemic and ocular manifestations, treatments and outcomes between three age groups: juvenile (<18 years), adult (18-39 years) and late (≥40 years) disease onset.

Retinal vascular occlusions in ocular Behçet disease - a comparative analysis.

Purpose: The literature on retinal vascular occlusions in Behçet disease (BD) patients is limited. The aim of this study is to thoroughly investigate retinal vascular occlusions among ocular BD patients.

Methods: Retrospective, multicentre case-control study.

Role of ultrasound for assessment of psoriatic arthritis patients with fibromyalgia.

Objective: To investigate whether ultrasonography (US), as an objective imaging modality, can optimise the evaluation of disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with concomitant fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Methods: The study population included 156 consecutive PsA patients who were recruited prospectively and fulfilled the ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis criteria. The patients underwent complete clinical evaluation including assessment of fulfilment of the 2016 fibromyalgia classification criteria.

The Effect of Tocilizumab on Inflammatory Markers in Patients Hospitalized with Serious Infections. Case Series and Review of Literature.

Background: The human anti-IL-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab (TCZ) has been approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). It is observed that CRP levels drop quickly after starting TCZ treatment. This may lead to misinterpretation of laboratory results when accessing the patient with infectious disease while on TCZ.

Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and radiography of the finger joints in psoriatic arthritis patients.

Objectives: To report the discrepancies and agreements between US, MRI and radiography of the hand in PsA, and to compare the sensitivity and specificity of US and radiography to MRI as the gold standard imaging study in PsA.

Methods: All of the 100 prospectively recruited consecutive PsA patients underwent clinical assessment and concomitant radiographic, US and MRI studies of the MCP, PIP and DIP joints of one hand. Synovitis, flexor tenosynovitis, extensor paratenonitis, erosions and bone proliferations were identified and scored.

Prevalence of Nonradiographic Sacroiliitis in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: A Real-life Observational Study.

Objective: To establish the prevalence of nonradiographic sacroiliitis within a real-life sample of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), using pelvic radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sacroiliac joints (SIJs).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 107 consecutive adults with PsA (Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis criteria). Participants completed clinical and laboratory evaluation, pelvic radiographs scored for radiographic sacroiliitis according to the modified New York (mNY) criteria, and noncontrast MRI of SIJs, scored by the Berlin score and categorized into active sacroiliitis using the 2016 Assessment of Spondyloarthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria and the presence of structural sacroiliitis.

Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study With Application of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Classification Criteria.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of sacroiliitis, the radiographic hallmark of inflammatory spondyloarthropathy, among patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), using the current Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria and magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: Patients experiencing FMS (American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria) were interviewed regarding the presence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) features and underwent HLA-B27 testing, C-reactive protein (CRP) level measurement, and magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the sacroiliac joints. FMS severity was assessed by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the Short Form 36 health survey.

Induced Sputum Analysis in Subjects With Systemic Sclerosis.

Background: Induced sputum is a noninvasive tool, aimed at collecting cellular and soluble materials from lung airways. Induced sputum sampling analysis has been validated in chronic obstructive lung diseases as well as in various diffuse interstitial lung disorders. Our objective was to evaluate the utility of induced sputum speciments of cellular and soluble materials noninvasively sampled from the lung airways of subjects with systemic sclerosis compared with healthy controls and determine possible correlation with disease manifestations.

Immunogenicity and safety of vaccination against seasonal 2012 influenza virus among patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of vaccination against seasonal influenza in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis (Pso) patients.

Methods: Patients with PsA or Pso and healthy controls were vaccinated with the Sanofi Pasteur vaccine recommended by the WHO in 2012. Clinical and laboratory assessments were performed on the day of the vaccination and 4-6 weeks later.

The fine line between Takayasu arteritis and giant cell arteritis.

The objective of this study is to describe a series of patients above the age of 50 years with large vessel arteritis and vascular involvement typical of TAK. A retrospective review of 18 patients (median age 64 years) with emphasis on clinical characteristics, laboratory values, and vascular involvement by CT, MRI, or planar angiography. Five patients fulfilled the ACR criteria for GCA, five for TAK, three both GCA and TAK, while five patients did not fulfill the criteria for either disease.

Vaccination against influenza in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of the influenza virus vaccine in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients compared to healthy controls.

Methods: Twenty-six SSc patients and 16 healthy controls were vaccinated with a trivalent influenza subunit vaccine (H1N1 A/Brisbane/59/2007(TGA 2008/81B) (H1N1), H3N2 A/Uruguay/716/2007 (A/Brisbane/10/2007-like, NIBSC8/124) (H3N2) and B B/Brisbane/60/2008 (TGA 2009/82/B) (B)). The subjects were evaluated on the day of vaccination and 6 weeks later.

Large aorta and narrow arteries: two short stories of too long diagnostic delay.

The diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. We herein present two cases of Takayasu arteritis that demonstrate two important aspects of the disease, which leaded to a significant delay in the diagnosis. The first case presented with an indolent disease with a clinical course of 20 years until clinical diagnosis was finally established while the second case shows the commonly unrecognised aspect of severe renovascular hypertension in these patients.

Synovial fluid levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and IgA rheumatoid factor in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis.

Objective: To assess the levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) and IgA rheumatoid factor (IgA-RF) in synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Knee effusions of 29 patients with RA (23 women, 6 men; mean +/- SD age 60 +/- 15 years), 20 with PsA (6 women, 14 men; mean age 51 +/- 12 years), and 19 with OA (9 women, 10 men; mean age 73 +/- 11.8 years) were aspirated, tested for white blood cell (WBC) counts, centrifuged, and stored at -20 degrees .