Not the same, but is it the same? Cycling of biologic agents in rheumatoid arthritis. Experience in the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

Introduction: Available data for biocomparable drugs are not enough to make clear decisions with respect to the potential consequences of a change for non-medical reasons in efficacy, security and inmunogenicity in patients. In the near future, options on biological treatments, biocomparable drugs, non biocomparable drugs and new chemical synthesis options will grow. Therefore, it is important to know how patients behave in persistence of treatment after a change for non- medical reasons, which already happens on a regular basis in social security institutions in Mexico.

Not the same, but ¿is it the same? Cycling of biologic agents in rheumatoid arthritis. Experience in the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

Introduction: Available data for biocomparable drugs are not enough to make clear decisions with respect to the potential consequences of a change for non-medical reasons in efficacy, security and inmunogenicity in patients. In the near future, options on biological treatments, biocomparable drugs, non biocomparable drugs and new chemical synthesis options will grow. Therefore, it is important to know how patients behave in persistence of treatment after a change for non-medical reasons, which already happens on a regular basis in social security institutions in Mexico.

Role of depressive symptoms in the health-related quality of life of Venezuelan patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Results from a tertiary care center.

Introduction/objective: To examine the effect of depressive symptoms on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in Venezuelan patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: HR-QoL was assessed in a cross-sectional, single-center study of 212 consecutive Venezuelan patients with RA (1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria) using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36), which includes a Physical Composite Scale (PCS) and a Mental Composite Scale (MCS); depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Covariates included socio-demographics, comorbidities, disease characteristics, body mass index, and disability.

Subclinical synovitis measured by ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis patients with clinical remission induced by synthetic and biological modifying disease drugs.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with disease in clinical remission might show subclinical synovitis, which can be related to the progress of structural joint damage.

Objective: To determine and compare the degree of synovial inflammation by ultrasound (US) in patients with RA in clinical remission, treated with DMARD or combination therapy with DMARD and anti-TNF.

Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study of 58 patients with RA in sustained remission for at least 6 months by DAS28 <2.

Algorithm for identification of undifferentiated peripheral inflammatory arthritis: a multinational collaboration through the 3e initiative.

Objective: To develop an algorithm for identification of undifferentiated peripheral inflammatory arthritis (UPIA).

Methods: An algorithm for identification of UPIA was developed by consensus during a roundtable meeting with an expert panel. It was informed by systematic reviews of the literature used to generate 10 recommendations for the investigation and followup of UPIA through the 3e initiative.

The swollen joint, the thickened artery, and the smoking gun: tobacco exposure, citrullination and rheumatoid arthritis.

Autoimmune diseases result from an interplay between susceptibility genes and environmental factors. These interacting etiopathogenetic components converge in a critical step preceding disease, the loss of tolerance to self. In this review, we examine the evidences linking tobacco smoking with the initiation and perpetuation of inflammation affecting both the synovial membrane and the endothelial lining in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

[Acute leukemia in children erroneously diagnosed as idiopathic juvenile arthritis].

We here present 3 Venezuelan children with acute leukemia, initially diagnosed as idiopathic juvenile arthritis because of the occurrence of pain and joint swelling at the onset of disease. Joint pain was aggravated at night and the arthritis showed a migratory pattern, mainly affecting large joints in an asymmetrical fashion. One patient presented with persistent unilateral sacroiliac pain leading to a wrong diagnosis of spondyloarthritis.