Intra-articular glucocorticoid injections should not be neglected in the remission targeted treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis: a post hoc analysis from the NEO-RACo trial.

Objectives: To study the effects of neglecting intra-articular glucocorticoid injections (IAGCIs) into swollen joints in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with early, DMARD naive RA were treated, aiming at remission, with methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, low-dose oral prednisolone and, when needed, IAGCIs for 2 years, and randomised to receive infliximab or placebo from weeks 4 to 26. During each of the 15 study visits, patients were scored retrospectively 0.

Disease activity of idiopathic juvenile arthritis continues through adolescence despite the use of biologic therapies.

Objectives: To investigate the use of DMARDs and biologic treatments and disease activity in patients with JIA referred to the adult rheumatology clinic and to provide further information regarding the need for long-term rheumatologic care.

Methods: We studied the data of 154 patients retrospectively from hospital records if they met the following criteria: diagnosis of JIA and at least one visit to the adult rheumatologic unit. Previous and current antirheumatic treatment, duration of biologic therapy and disease activity were recorded.

Outcome of reactive arthritis after an extensive Finnish waterborne gastroenteritis outbreak: a 1-year prospective follow-up study.

The purpose of the study was to assess the 1-year outcome of definitive reactive arthritis (ReA) after a waterborne outbreak. A cohort of 21 patients (15 females and 6 males, median age 54 years) with ReA related to an extensive waterborne outbreak in Finland was clinically followed-up by rheumatologists with visits at baseline, at 1 month and 3, 6 and 12 months. Although the outcome was in general favourable, 1/3 of the patients had chronic course; 7 (33 %) of the 21 patients needed disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and even 8 (38 %) of them used glucocorticoids at 12 months.

Measurement of the kidney function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: plasma cystatin C versus 51Cr-EDTA clearance.

Background/aim: Knowledge of the usefulness of cystatin C measurement in the detection of chronic kidney disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is scant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of plasma cystatin C- and creatinine-based methods to predict glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and classify chronic kidney disease in RA patients.

Methods: The study population consisted of 64 RA patients aged 41-86 years.