Successful treatment of aggressive AA amyloidosis with tocilizumab in a patient with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Polymyalgia rheumatica associated amyloidosis is an extremely rare condition that can be rapidly progressive with high morbidity and mortality and management is challenging. Tocilizumab is a monoclonal anti IL-6 receptor antibody which is in the therapeutic arsenal of polymyalgia rheumatica. The efficiency of tocilizumab in improvement of polymyalgia rheumatica activity score and decreasing steroid dose is well established, while efficiency in polymyalgia rheumatica associated amyloidosis has not been published.

Assessment of venous disease with different venous disease specific scales in Behçet's disease patients with deep vein thrombosis.

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a frequent and important consequence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) for Behcet`s disease (BD) patients. Although various clinical scales are used to diagnose PTS, Villalta scale was accepted as the standard tool to diagnose and grade the severity of PTS. Poor quality of life (Qol) in the general population was defined for patients with PTS, however, studies in BD patients with PTS is limited.

Treatment with biologic DMARDs may not adversely affect lung nodules in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: Lung nodules (LNs) impose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in patients with rheuma- toid arthritis (RA) due to unpredictable outcomes. Potential induction of nodulosis with the use of con- ventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARD) and lack of knowledge regarding the effect of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)/tofacitinib on the LN raise concerns and have an impact on treatment decisions. This study aims to evaluate the possible effects of the bDMARDs/tofa- citinib and csDMARDS on LNs observed in RA patients.

The impact of anti-TNF treatment on Wnt signaling, noggin, and cytokine levels in axial spondyloarthritis.

Introduction: Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are commonly used in treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), but clinical and radiological improvement is not achieved in all patients. We aimed to investigate the impact of anti-TNFs on inflammatory and noninflammatory parameters in patients with axSpA.

Methods: In this longitudinal study, 30 biologic naïve axSpA patients with high disease activity and 30 healthy controls were enrolled.

Serum levels of fetuin-A as a novel biomarker for disease activity in patients with Takayasu arteritis and granulomatous polyangiitis.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate serum fetuin-A (Fet-A) levels in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) and granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA) and to analyze the relationship between serum Fet-A levels and disease activity scores.

Method: Thirty-two TA and 28 GPA patients presented to the rheumatology clinic at Gazi University and met the criteria of American College of Rheumatology 1990 and 2012 International Chapell Hill meeting, respectively, and 20 healthy control subjects were included in the present study. We collected data on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, calcium, and phosphate levels as well as erythrocyte sedimentation rates.

Diagnostic utility of serum biomarkers in large vessel vasculitis and their correlation with positron emission tomography.

Objectives: To investigate the association between vascular inflammation, as detected by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and interleukin-6 (IL-6), pentraxin3, and B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) in subjects with LVV.

Methods: The study included newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA, n = 27) or Takayasu arteritis (n = 9) patients and healthy control (HC, n = 31) subjects. PET scan and blood samples were obtained before the introduction of treatments.

Long-term safety and efficacy of anakinra and canakinumab in patients with familial Mediterranean fever: a single-centre real-life study with 101 patients.

Objectives: Anakinra and canakinumab are the most commonly used agents in colchicine resistant/intolerant patients. In this study we investigated long-term efficacy and safety of anakinra and canakinumab.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 101 adult patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Phenotypic characterization of Familial Mediterranean Fever patients harboring variants of uncertain significance.

Background/aim: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the prototype of hereditary autoinflammatory disorders and caused by mutations on the MEFV gene located on the short arm of chromosome 16. Although some MEFV variants are clearly associated with disease phenotype, there are numerous variants with unknown clinical association which are termed as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Here, we present clinical correlations of VUS in a large cohort of adult FMF patients from three tertiary centers located in Central Anatolia.

Predictors for the risk and severity of post-thrombotic syndrome in vascular Behçet's disease.

Objective: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities is the most common form of vascular involvement in Behçet disease (BD), frequently leading to post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) as a disabling complication. We have described the clinical characteristics and predictors of PTS presence among patients with BD and lower extremity DVT. We also used venous Doppler ultrasound (US) examinations in our assessment.

Work productivity impairment in patients with familial Mediterranean fever and effects of interleukin-1 antagonists.

Introduction: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, serositis, and arthritis. Some patients suffer from associated inflammatory conditions and damage related to FMF that may potentially impair work productivity which have not been studied to date.

Methods: Consecutive FMF patients who were attending a tertiary referral center and age-and sex-matched healthy subjects enrolled into the study.

Appendectomy history is associated with severe disease and colchicine resistance in adult familial Mediterranean fever patients.

Background/aim: Peritonitis attacks of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) usually requires emergency medical admissions and it’s hard to distinguish a typical abdominal attack from surgical causes of acute abdomen. Therefore, history of abdominal surgery, particularly appendectomy, is very common in patients with FMF. However, history of appendectomy might also give some clues about the course of FMF in the adulthood.

Compliance of Familial Mediterranean Fever Patients With Regular Follow-up Visits and Associated Factors.

Background: Follow-up is crucial to detect asymptomatic complications of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). The current European League Against Rheumatism recommendations state that patients with FMF should be evaluated at least every 6 months to monitor attacks, acute phase response, and proteinuria.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess compliance of FMF patients with regular follow-up visits and the associated factors.

Comparison of the effectiveness of pilates exercises, aerobic exercises, and pilates with aerobic exercises in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a rheumatic disease characterized by erosive synovitis and polyarthritis. Exercise is known to improve many symptoms in RA patients.

Aim: This study was designed to compare the effects of pilates exercises, aerobic exercises, and combined training including pilates with aerobic exercises on fatigue, depression, aerobic capacity, pain, sleep quality, and quality of life.

Predictors of persistent inflammation in familial Mediterranean fever and association with damage.

Objective: Persistent inflammation is an insidious and less studied feature of FMF. We investigated clinical determinants of persistent inflammation and its associations with individual damage items.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of 917 FMF patients, who fulfilled the Tel Hashomer criteria and had at least 6 months' follow-up.

Use of prognostic nutritional index in the evaluation of disease activity in patients with Behçet's disease.

Objective: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, multisystem disorder that can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Monitoring tools that measure disease activity are required for effective management of BD. We aimed to investigate the association of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) with disease activity in BD.

Factors associated with damage in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Objectives: Defining predictors of damage would improve patient care. We applied damage indexes to patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and identified the predictors of damage.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of 926 FMF patients, who fulfilled the Tel-Hashomer criteria and had at least six months of follow-up.

Colchicine intolerance in FMF patients and primary obstacles for optimal dosing.

Background/aim: Colchicine is the mainstay of treatment in FMF. However, in daily practice it is not easy to maintain effective colchicine doses in a substantial number of patients due to its side effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate prevalence and risk factors for colchicine side effects that limit optimal drug dosing and cause permanent discontinuation.

Diaphragmatic muscle thickness and diaphragmatic function are reduced in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus compared to those with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with an increased risk of pulmonary infections, as well as a rare condition known as shrinking lung syndrome (SLS). The diaphragm has an important role to play in lung physiology and might also play a role in these adverse events. Here, we aimed to investigate whether SLE patients have impairment in their diaphragmatic muscle thickness and function with respect to another connective-tissue disease: primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Diagnostic Role of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography for the Evaluation of Patients With Inflammation of Unknown Origin.

Background: Sometimes, the underlying causes of inflammation cannot be established despite meticulous investigation, including medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiologic procedures. Rheumatologists are often faced with patients whose condition is known as inflammation of unknown origin (IUO). Differential diagnosis of IUO is diverse, and investigation of these cases is challenging and time-consuming.

Tofacitinib for the treatment for colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever: case-based review.

Familial Mediterranean fever is characterized by self-limited attacks of serositis and arthritis. However, substantial number of patients suffer from chronic complications of this disease, primarily involving musculoskeletal system. Treatment for these complications is challenging due to limited evidence.