Humoral immune response against BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients with rheumatic disease undergoing immunosuppressive therapy: A Japanese monocentric study.

We investigated serum total antibody titers against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor-binding domain after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japanese patients taking various immunosuppressive medications for rheumatic disease. In 212 outpatients with rheumatic diseases at Kagawa University Hospital and 43 healthy volunteers (controls), all of whom had received 2 doses of BNT162b2 vaccine, serum antibody titers of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were analyzed at least 14 days after the second dose. Many of the patients were taking immunosuppressive agents to manage their rheumatic disease.

Immunogenicity against the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in Rheumatic Disease Patients Receiving Immunosuppressive Therapy.

Objective To investigate the serum total antibody (immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G) titre against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor-binding domain following BNT162b2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in Japanese rheumatic disease patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Methods The serum antibody titre against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was analysed in 123 outpatients with rheumatic diseases at Kagawa University Hospital and 43 healthy volunteers who had received 2 doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine with at least 14 days elapsing since the second dose. Results The antibody titre in rheumatic disease patients was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects (p<0.

Sustained discontinuation of infliximab with a raising-dose strategy after obtaining remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the RRRR study, a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine whether the 'programmed' infliximab (IFX) treatment strategy (for which the dose of IFX was adjusted based on the baseline serum tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α)) is beneficial to induction of clinical remission after 54 weeks and sustained discontinuation of IFX for 1 year.

Methods: In this multicentre randomised trial, patients with IFX-naïve rheumatoid arthritis with inadequate response to methotrexate were randomised to two groups; patients in programmed treatment group received 3 mg/kg IFX until week 6 and after 14 weeks the dose of IFX was adjusted based on the baseline levels of serum TNF-α until week 54; patients in the standard treatment group received 3 mg/kg of IFX. Patients who achieved a simplified disease activity index (SDAI) ≤3.

Predictive value of serum amyloid a levels for requirement of concomitant methotrexate in tocilizumab initiation: A analysis of the SURPRISE study.

To identify predictive factors for remission by tocilizumab monotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This is a analysis of the SURPRISE study, a 2-year randomized, controlled study comparing the efficacy of tocilizumab with (ADD-ON) and without methotrexate (SWITCH). The primary endpoint was DAS28-ESR remission (<2.

Tocilizumab discontinuation after attaining remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with tocilizumab alone or in combination with methotrexate: results from a prospective randomised controlled study (the second year of the SURPRISE study).

Objective: To evaluate the sustained remission and low disease activity after discontinuation of tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with tocilizumab alone or in combination with methotrexate.

Methods: The SURPRISE study was a 2-year, open-label randomised controlled study. Among patients who had been randomised to additional tocilizumab (ADD-ON) or switch to tocilizumab (SWITCH) in the first year, those who achieved remission based on the disease activity score for 28 joints (DAS28-ESR<2.

Changes in foot function, disease activity, and disability after forefoot resection arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in foot function, disease activity, and disability in patients with RA after resection arthroplasty of the forefoot (arthroplasty). Arthroplasty was performed on 11 patients with RA. All study patients underwent clinical assessment to measure disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints-C-reactive protein, DAS28-CRP), disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, HAQ-DI) and foot function (Foot Function Index, FFI) at the following stages: preoperatively and 1, 3, and 12 months after surgery.

Comparison of adding tocilizumab to methotrexate with switching to tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with inadequate response to methotrexate: 52-week results from a prospective, randomised, controlled study (SURPRISE study).

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety between tocilizumab added to methotrexate and tocilizumab switched from methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This is a 2-year randomised, controlled study. RA patients with moderate or high disease activity despite methotrexate were randomly assigned either to tocilizumab added to methotrexate (add-on) or tocilizumab switched from methotrexate (switch).

Longterm Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Tocilizumab Monotherapy: Results from the 2-year Open-label Extension of the MUSASHI Study.

Objective: To evaluate the longterm safety and efficacy of subcutaneous tocilizumab (TCZ-SC) as monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Of 346 patients who received 24 weeks of double-blind treatment with either TCZ-SC monotherapy, 162 mg every 2 weeks (q2w); or intravenous TCZ (TCZ-IV) monotherapy, 8 mg/kg every 4 weeks; 319 patients continued to receive TCZ-SC q2w in the 84-week open-label extension (OLE) of the MUSASHI study (JAPICCTI-101117). Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity were evaluated for all patients treated with TCZ during 108 weeks.

Association of higher methotrexate dose with lymphoproliferative disease onset in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: Methotrexate (MTX) is used as an anchor drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) occasionally develops in patients treated with MTX, and is known as MTX-associated LPD (MTX-LPD). Although MTX-LPD occurs mainly in RA patients, it has not been established if MTX administration is an independent risk factor for LPD in RA patients.

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with infliximab: a retrospective review and case-control study of 21 patients.

Objective: To establish proper management of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with infliximab. PCP has been observed in 0.4% of patients with RA treated with infliximab in Japan.

A case of femoral nerve palsy caused by iliopectineal bursitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

We report the case of a 46-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who developed femoral nerve palsy caused by an enlarged iliopectineal bursa. Surgical excision revealed that the iliopectineal bursa was connected with the hip joint. The patient showed good recovery from the femoral nerve palsy after surgery.