Age at diagnosis influences the clinical phenotype, treatment strategies and outcomes in patients with giant cell arteritis: results from the observational GCAGE study on a large cohort of 1004 patients.

Background: Immune and vascular ageing are proposed risk factors for giant cell arteritis (GCA). Data on the impact of age at diagnosis of GCA on the clinical presentation and course of the disease are scarce.

Methods: Patients with GCA followed at referral centres within the Italian Society of Rheumatology Vasculitis Study Group were enrolled up to November 2021.

Interstitial lung disease in microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis: demographic, clinical, serological and radiological features of an Italian cohort from the Italian Society for Rheumatology.

Objectives: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been described as a possible pulmonary involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV), mainly granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Aim of this cross-sectional Italian national study was to describe demographic, clinical and serological profile of ILD related to MPA and GPA and investigate possible correlations between radiologic patterns of ILD and vasculitis features.

Methods: We enrolled 95 consecutive patients with AAV-ILD, 56 affected by MPA (58.

Clinical spectrum time course in non-Asian patients positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies.

Objectives: To define the clinical spectrum time-course and prognosis of non-Asian patients positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre, international, retrospective cohort study.

Results: 149 anti-MDA5 positive patients (median onset age 53 years, median disease duration 18 months), mainly females (100, 67%), were included.

Beneficial impact of Baricitinib in COVID-19 moderate pneumonia; multicentre study.

• Baricitinib, an anti-JAK1/JAK2, reduces cytokine release and SARS-Co-V2 entry. • In a retrospective multicenter study baricitinib reduces COVID-19 mortality rate. • Baricitinib reduces intensive care unit admissions of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Effectiveness of Adalimumab for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis: An Italian Real-Life Retrospective Study.

Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of adalimumab in the real-life setting in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). To evaluate the 2-year retention rate of adalimumab in PsA patients. Potential baseline parameters influencing persistence on treatment were also evaluated.

Association of Smoking and Obesity on the Risk of Developing Primary Sjögren Syndrome: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Objective: To explore the role of smoking and obesity in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS).

Methods: Olmsted County (Minnesota, USA) residents (n = 106) diagnosed with pSS from 2000 to 2015 were compared to 3 controls without pSS and matched for age and sex who were randomly selected from Olmsted County residents.

Results: Current smokers were less likely to be pSS cases (OR 0.

Personalization of biologic therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: less frequently accounted choice-driving variables.

Objective: To propose appropriate statements that drive the choice of biologic therapies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), factoring in their impact on the following issues: anti-drug antibody (ADAb) formation, suspicion and management of infections, lupus-like syndrome (LLS), effects on bone mass and sexual sphere, and relationship between RA and periodontal disease (PD).

Methods: An overview of existing evidence was undertaken by an expert panel on behalf of the Italian board for the TAilored BIOlogic therapy (ITABIO). Data were extracted from controlled trials, national registries, national health care databases, post-marketing surveys, and, when required by the paucity of controlled studies, from open-label clinical series.

Preventive therapy for tuberculosis in rheumatological patients undergoing therapy with biological drugs.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) accounts for almost a quarter of the world population, and, in 5-10% of the subjects with impaired immune-response against M. tuberculosis growth, it may progress to active tuberculosis (TB). In this review, we focus on the need to propose a screening for LTBI including preventive therapy offer in rheumatic patients undergoing therapy with biological drugs.

Hospitalisation rates among patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: a population-based study, 1995-2016.

Objective: To determine rates and primary discharge diagnoses of hospitalisation in a cohort of patients with incident primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) compared with the general population.

Methods: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study focused on Olmsted County, Minnesota. The pSS cohort consisted of patients with incident pSS in the 1976-2015 period and was compared with a cohort of individuals without pSS matched 3:1 for age, sex and calendar year, randomly selected from the same population.

Rapid loss of efficacy of biosimilar infliximab in three patients with Behçet's disease after switching from infliximab originator.

Three patients affected by Behçet's disease (BD) with severe uveitis and neurological involvement in stable clinical remission and who rapidly relapsed after switching from reference infliximab (re-IFX) to biosimilar infliximab (bio-IFX) are reported. In order to observe the rules of local health authorities, two males and one female (38, 26, and 40 years old, respectively) with BD complicated by severe uveitis and neuro-Behçet and who were in prolonged remission, were switched from re-IFX to bio-IFX, with the same dosing regimen of 5 mg/kg intravenous infusions every 8 weeks. All three patients experienced disease flare-ups, with recurrence of uveoretinitis in the first patient, neuro-Behçet in the second, and uveitis and neuro-Behçet in the third after 1, 3, and 2 infusions, respectively.

Risk of Tuberculosis Reactivation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis Receiving Non-Anti-TNF-Targeted Biologics.

Tuberculosis (TB) still represents an important issue for public health in underdeveloped countries, but the use of antitumor necrosis factor agents (anti-TNF) for the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic disorders has reopened the problem also in countries with low TB incidence, due to the increased risk of TB reactivation in subjects with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Over the last 5 years, several non-anti-TNF-targeted biologics have been licensed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. We reviewed the epidemiology of TB, the role of different cytokines and of the immune system cells involved in the immune response against TB infection, the methods to detect LTBI, and the risk of TB reactivation in patients exposed to non-anti-TNF-targeted biologics.

Second-line biologic therapy optimization in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: The Italian board for the TAilored BIOlogic therapy (ITABIO) reviewed the most consistent literature to indicate the best strategy for the second-line biologic choice in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Systematic review of the literature to identify English-language articles on efficacy of second-line biologic choice in RA, PsA, and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Data were extracted from available randomized, controlled trials, national biologic registries, national healthcare databases, post-marketing surveys, and open-label observational studies.

Case-control Study on Dactylitis, Enthesitis, and Anterior Uveitis in Spondyloarthritis Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Role of Coexistent Psoriasis.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of dactylitis, enthesitis, and anterior uveitis (AU) in spondyloarthritis (SpA) associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD-SpA) compared with other SpA, and to assess the role of associated psoriasis in the occurrence of dactylitis and enthesitis.

Methods: In a 12-month case-control study, the frequency of dactylitis and enthesitis in 29 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 59 with Crohn disease (CD) who satisfied the Spondyloarthritis international Society criteria for axial or peripheral SpA was compared with 176 controls, including 97 (55.1%) with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 47 (26.

Tailored first-line biologic therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: A multidisciplinary expert panel, the Italian board for the TAilored BIOlogic therapy (ITABIO), was constituted to formulate evidence-based decisional statements for the first-line tailored biologic therapy in patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Systematic review of the literature to identify English-language articles on the variables influencing the first-line biologic choice, including the efficacy and safety of the drug, the route of administration, the availability of response predictor biomarkers, the need of monotherapy, the patient socio-economic status, lifestyle, cultural level, personality, fertility and childbearing potential in women, the presence of comorbidities, the host-related risk factors for infection and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) reactivation, the cardiovascular (CV) risk, and costs.

Results: Some variables, including the patients' preference, the indication for anti-TNF monotherapy in potential childbearing women, and the intravenous route with dose titration in obese subjects resulted valid for all the three rheumatic conditions.

Uveitis in Spondyloarthritis: An Overview.

Autoimmune anterior uveitis (AU) accounts for at least half of the cases of noninfectious uveitis, and similarly to spondyloarthritis (SpA), its occurrence is related to HLA-B27 positivity. AU is significantly more frequently found in HLA-B27-positive subjects with SpA and is characterized by unilateral eye involvement, marked tendency to recur with involvement of both eyes in alternate fashion, and has good prognosis in the majority of cases. The estimated frequency of SpA in patients with AU is around 50%, whereas AU in SpA has been reported in at least 30% of cases.

Systemic autoimmune disease in asbestosis rapidly responding to anti-interleukin-1beta antibody canakinumab: a case report.

Background: Asbestosis is characterized by lung and pleural fibrosis and by immune system dysregulation, with autoantibody production and systemic immune-mediated disease. No specific therapies are available for asbestosis. Recently, the pivotal pathogenic role exerted by interleukin-1beta has been recently reported.

Guidance for the management of patients with latent tuberculosis infection requiring biologic therapy in rheumatology and dermatology clinical practice.

Since the introduction of biologics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriasis (Pso) an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation in patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has been recorded for anti-TNF agents, while a low or absent risk is associated with the non-anti-TNF targeted biologics. To reduce this risk several recommendation sets have been published over time, but in most of them the host-related risk, and the predisposing role to TB reactivation exerted by corticosteroids and by the traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs has not been adequately addressed. Moreover, the management of the underlying disease, and the timing of biologic restarting in patients with TB occurrence have been rarely indicated.

Primary Sjogren's syndrome 1976-2005 and associated interstitial lung disease: a population-based study of incidence and mortality.

Objective: A very few studies describe the epidemiology of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). The reported frequency of pulmonary involvement in pSS varies widely depending on the detection method employed, and consists mainly of various forms of airways disease. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and mortality of pSS and of lung disease in pSS, focusing on interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Incidence and mortality of obstructive lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based study.

Objective: Pulmonary disease represents an important extraarticular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While the association of RA and interstitial lung disease is widely acknowledged, obstructive lung disease (OLD) in RA is less well understood. We therefore aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, and mortality of OLD in patients with RA.

Duration of remission after halving of the etanercept dose in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized, prospective, long-term, follow-up study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of patients with ankylosing spondylitis maintaining clinical remission after reduction of their subcutaneous etanercept dose to 50 mg every other week compared with that in patients receiving etanercept 50 mg weekly.

Methods: In the first phase of this randomized, prospective, follow-up study, all biologic-naïve patients identified between January 2005 and December 2009 as satisfying the modified New York clinical criteria for ankylosing spondylitis treated with etanercept 50 mg weekly were evaluated for disease remission in January 2010. In the second phase, patients meeting the criteria for remission were randomized to receive subcutaneous etanercept as either 50 mg weekly or 50 mg every other week.

Sustained maintenance of clinical remission after adalimumab dose reduction in patients with early psoriatic arthritis: a long-term follow-up study.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the proportion of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients maintaining clinical remission after adalimumab (ADA) dose reduction compared with patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Secondary purposes include evaluating the proportion of PsA patients who achieve remission, the duration of remission after ADA dose reduction, time to relapse, psoriasis course, and the frequency of adverse events at the end of follow-up.

Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, follow-up, case-control study of 76 consecutive patients (35 females, 41 males; mean age 46 ± 10.

Frequency of iridocyclitis in patients with early psoriatic arthritis: a prospective, follow up study.

Objective: The occurrence of iridocyclitis (IC) in early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been rarely assessed. The primary end-point of this study was to evaluate the frequency of IC at onset in patients with early PsA.

Methods: We evaluated the frequency of IC in a clinical series of consecutive, new outpatients with early PsA observed between January 2000 and December 2009.