Machine learning-based remission prediction in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs: findings from the Kuwait rheumatic disease registry.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common condition treated with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medicines (bDMARDs). However, many patients exhibit resistance, necessitating the use of machine learning models to predict remissions in patients treated with bDMARDs, thereby reducing healthcare costs and minimizing negative effects.

Objective: The study aims to develop machine learning models using data from the Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases (KRRD) to identify clinical characteristics predictive of remission in RA patients treated with biologics.

Bilateral Retinal Vasculitis as Initial Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Secondary Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease of undefined etiology with a relapsing and remitting course. Lupus retinopathy is reported in around 10% of patients with SLE; however, it is rarely the initial presenting feature of the disease. We report a unique case of bilateral retinal vasculitis as the initial presentation of SLE with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced DAS28 index among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Case study from KRRD.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that mostly affects the synovial joints. It has been hypothesized that dietary and other environmental and lifestyle factors contribute to the development of RA and its severity.

Objective: The present study aims to measure the effect of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on the disease activity scores (DAS28) among patients with RA.

Therapeutic role of immunomodulators during the COVID-19 pandemic- a narrative review.

The emergency state caused by COVID-19 saw the use of immunomodulators despite the absence of robust research. To date, the results of relatively few randomized controlled trials have been published, and methodological approaches are riddled with bias and heterogeneity. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, convalescent plasma and the JAK inhibitor baricitinib have gained Emergency Use Authorizations and tentative recommendations for their use in clinical practice alone or in combination with other therapies.

Rheumatologic Aspects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Practical Resource for Physicians in Kuwait and the Gulf region as Recommended by the Kuwait Association of Rheumatology.

The Kuwait Association of Rheumatology members met thrice in April 2020 to quickly address and support local practitioners treating rheumatic disease in Kuwait and the Gulf region during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) may need treatment modifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, we voted online for the general guidance needed by local practitioners. In this review, we have addressed patients' vulnerability with rheumatic disease and issues associated with their optimum management.

Accessibility to biologics and its impact on disease activity and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Kuwait.

Objective: Biologics are indicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in case of persistent high disease activity despite conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) or patients with contraindications to cDMARDs or poor prognostic factors. The purpose of this study was to compare the prescription rates of biologics in Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti patients and to assess whether this had an impact on disease activity and quality of life in RA patients.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases.

Kuwait association of rheumatology 2018 treatment recommendations for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The Kuwait Association of Rheumatology (KAR) aimed to develop a set of recommendations for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), tailored to the unique patient population and healthcare system of Kuwait. Each recommendation was developed based on expert opinion and evaluation of clinical practice guidelines from other international and national rheumatology societies. Online surveys were conducted to collate feedback on each KAR member's level of agreement (LoA) with definitions of disease-/treatment-related terms used and the draft recommendations.