Real-world assessment of the efficacy and tolerability profile of JAK inhibitors in difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2TRA) in clinical practice.

Methods: We included RA patients initiating a JAKi between 2018 and 2022. Patients meeting EULAR criteria for D2TRA were compared to active non-D2TRA patients.

Unmet needs in axial spondyloarthritis. Proceedings of the French spondyloarthritis taskforce workshop.

The progress observed over the last 30 years in the field of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has not made it possible to answer all the current questions. This manuscript represents the proceedings of the meeting of the French spondyloArthitiS Task force (FAST) in Besançon on September 28 and 29, 2023. Different points of discussion were thus individualized as unmet needs: biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease activity, a common electronic file dedicated to SpA nationwide, a better comprehension of dysbiosis in the disease, a check-list for addressing to the rheumatologist, adapt patient reported outcomes thresholds for female gender, implementation of comorbidities screening programs, new imaging tools, in research cellular and multi omics approaches, grouping, at a nationwide level, different cohorts and registries, therapeutic strategy studies, consensual definition of difficult to treat disease and management, preclinical stage of the disease, mastering AI as a tool in the various aspects of research.

The sacroiliac joint: An original and highly sensitive tool to highlight altered bone phenotype in murine models of skeletal disorders.

Bone disorders may affect the skeleton in different ways, some bones being very impaired and others less severely. In translational studies using murine models of human skeletal diseases, the bone phenotype is mainly evaluated at the distal femur or proximal tibia. The sacroiliac joint (SIJ), which connects the spine to the pelvis, is involved in the balanced transfer of mechanical energy from the lumbar spine to the lower extremities.

Should complete B cell depletion be maintained in patients treated long-term with rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis?

Objective: To determine whether persistent complete B cell (BC) depletion was associated with a better clinical response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients long-term treated with rituximab (RTX).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including RA patients admitted for a new infusion between 2019 and 2021. The primary endpoint was the comparison of the mean disease activity score based on 28 joints (DAS28)-CRP at each of the four last infusion visits between patients with persistent complete BC depletion (mean CD19 counts <18/µl at each of the last four visits) or without persistent complete BC depletion (mean CD19 counts of the last four visits ≥18/µl).

T cells in the pathogenesis of axial spondyloarthritis.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is the prototype of the spondyloarthritis spectrum. The involvement of T cells in its pathogenesis has long been suspected on the basis of the association with the major histocompatibility complex I molecule HLA-B27 and the pivotal role of interleukin 17 in the inflammatory mechanisms associated with the disease. Moreover, the presence of unconventional or "innate-like" T cells within the axial enthesis suggests an important role for these cells in the pathophysiology of the disease.

French recommendations for the management of non-infectious chronic uveitis.

This French National Diagnostic and Care Protocol (NDPC) includes both pediatric and adult patients with non-infectious chronic uveitis (NICU) or non-infectious recurrent uveitis (NIRU). NICU is defined as uveitis that persists for at least 3 months or with frequent relapses occurring less than 3 months after cessation of treatment. NIRU is repeated episodes of uveitis separated by periods of inactivity of at least 3 months in the absence of treatment.

Characterisation of gut microbiota composition in patients with axial spondyloarthritis and its modulation by TNF inhibitor treatment.

Objective: To assess whether gut microbiota composition is associated with patient characteristics and may have predictive value on the response to TNF inhibitor (TNFi) treatment in axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA).

Methods: The study involved 61 patients fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria for AxSpA. All patients had active disease despite non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs intake and were eligible for treatment with a TNFi.

Characteristics of patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis in a French single-centre hospital.

Objectives: To compare the features of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2TRA) patients using two different definitions according to the previous failure of targeted therapies.

Methods: We stratified consecutive RA patients treated at Cochin Hospital into two groups, a D2TRA group and a non-D2TRA group, according to two definitions of D2TRA. Both definitions defined D2TRA as RAs failing at least two targeted therapies, with a different mechanism of action for the EULAR-D2TRA definition or without prejudging the mechanism of action and for the Alternative D2TRA definition.

Characteristics associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes in people with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis: data from the COVID-19 PsoProtect and Global Rheumatology Alliance physician-reported registries.

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with severe COVID-19 in people with psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Demographic data, clinical characteristics and COVID-19 outcome severity of adults with PsO, PsA and axSpA were obtained from two international physician-reported registries. A three-point ordinal COVID-19 severity scale was defined: no hospitalisation, hospitalisation (and no death) and death.

Hip Pain Associated with Acetabular Dysplasia in Patients with Suspected Axial Spondyloarthritis: DESIR Cohort Data.

Objectives: To determine whether acetabular dysplasia is associated with hip pain at physical examination among adults with recent-onset inflammatory back pain (IBP) suggesting axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: This cross-sectional ancillary study was conducted on the prospective DESIR cohort, which enrolled patients aged 18-50 years who had recent-onset IBP. Two readers used antero-posterior pelvic radiographs to assess the Tönnis angle, acetabular angle (AA), lateral centre-edge angle (LCEA), and femoral head extrusion index (FHEI).

Evaluation of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Teleconsultation During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To describe which variables were collected by rheumatologists to monitor patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during teleconsultation and identify which ones have more impact on clinician intervention.

Methods: Retrospective monocentric, routine care cross-sectional study including patients with RA seen in teleconsultation between March and September 2020. Available variables assessing disease status were collected in teleconsultation files.

Characterization of Blood Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis and of Resident Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells From the Axial Entheses of Non-Axial Spondyloarthritis Control Patients.

Objective: The importance of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in the pathogenesis of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) has been demonstrated by the success of IL-17A blockade. However, the nature of the cell populations that produce this important proinflammatory cytokine remains poorly defined. We undertook this study to characterize the major IL-17A-producing blood cell populations in the peripheral blood of patients with axial SpA, with a focus on mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a population known to be capable of producing IL-17.

Bone Involvement in Patients with Spondyloarthropathies.

Spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are common systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, in which, as in other rheumatic diseases, levels of markers of bone resorption are elevated, leading to bone loss and elevated risk of vertebral fractures. However, the diseases are also associated with new bone formation in the spine, the so-called syndesmophytes. We tried to unravel the pathogenesis of formation and growth of syndesmophytes and evaluated new diagnostic and treatment options.

Immunogenicity of Rituximab biosimilar GP2013 in chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorders in daily clinical practice.

Objective: To study in daily practice the risk of immunogenicity of patients treated with the biosimilar rituximab (RTX) GP2013 used for chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorders.

Methods: A prospective monocentric routine care study was carried out between September 2018 and May 2021, including consecutive patients treated with the biosimilar RTX GP2013. Biosamples were taken before each infusion to quantify anti-RTX antibodies (ADAbs) and serum RTX trough levels by ELISA (Lisa Tracker Duo Rituximab, LTR005, Theradiag).

2022 French Society for Rheumatology (SFR) recommendations on the everyday management of patients with spondyloarthritis, including psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: Update the French Society for Rheumatology (SFR) recommendations on the everyday management of patients with spondyloarthritis, including psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: Following standardized procedures, a systematic literature review was done by four supervised rheumatology residents based on questions defined by a task force of 16 attending rheumatologists. The findings were reviewed during three working meetings that culminated in each recommendation receiving a grade and the level of agreement among experts being determined.

A Pooled Analysis Reporting the Efficacy and Safety of Secukinumab in Male and Female Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Introduction: Despite of higher disease burden, lower efficacy to biologics has been reported in female compared to male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of secukinumab by sex in patients with active AS from five phase 3 studies (MEASURE 1-5) through 52 weeks.

Methods: Baseline demographics, disease characteristics and efficacy outcomes at Weeks 16 and 52 were summarized for males versus females.