Rituximab in the Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Antisynthetase Syndrome: A Multicenter Retrospective Case Review.

Objective: To assess clinical outcomes including imaging findings on computed tomography (CT), pulmonary function testing (PFT), and glucocorticoid (GC) use in patients with the antisynthetase syndrome (AS) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) treated with rituximab (RTX).

Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients at 2 institutions with AS-ILD who were treated with RTX. Baseline demographics, PFT, and chest CT were assessed before and after RTX.

A Negative Antinuclear Antibody Does Not Indicate Autoantibody Negativity in Myositis: Role of Anticytoplasmic Antibody as a Screening Test for Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of anticytoplasmic autoantibody (anti-CytAb) in antisynthetase antibody-positive (anti-SynAb+) patients.

Methods: Anti-SynAb+ patients were evaluated for antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-CytAb [cytoplasmic staining on indirect immunofluorescence (IIF)] positivity. Anti-SynAb+ patients included those possessing anti-Jo1 and other antisynthetase autoantibodies.

Improved Resident Adherence to AAA Screening Guidelines via an Electronic Reminder.

The 2014 United States Preventive Services Task Force systematic review found abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening decreased related mortality by close to half. Despite the simplicity of screening, research suggests poor adherence to the recommended AAA screening guidelines. Using the quality improvement plan-study-do-act cycle, we retrospectively established poor adherence to AAA screening and poor documentation of smoking history in our resident clinic.

Prevention of stroke in rheumatoid arthritis.

Recognizing that systemic inflammation is a major contributor to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including stroke, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) serves as the basis for prevention strategies for cerebrovascular disease in RA. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, recognize that RA may be an independent risk factor for cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The risk of CVD should be assessed in each patient with RA, utilizing modified risk score calculators.