Patients with rheumatoid arthritis facing sick leave or work disability meet varying regulations: a study among rheumatologists and patients from 44 European countries.

Objectives: To describe and explore differences in formal regulations around sick leave and work disability (WD) for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as perceptions by rheumatologists and patients on the system's performance, across European countries.

Methods: We conducted three cross-sectional surveys in 50 European countries: one on work (re-)integration and social security (SS) system arrangements in case of sick leave and long-term WD due to RA (one rheumatologist per country), and two among approximately 15 rheumatologists and 15 patients per country on perceptions regarding SS arrangements on work participation. Differences in regulations and perceptions were compared across categories defined by gross domestic product (GDP), type of social welfare regime, European Union (EU) membership and country RA WD rates.

Efficacy and safety of filgotinib, a selective Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (TORTUGA): results from a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial.

Background: At present, biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the only treatment recommended for patients with ankylosing spondylitis who have not responded to first-line treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The TORTUGA trial investigated the efficacy and safety of filgotinib, an oral selective Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

Methods: In this completed, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, we enrolled adult patients from 30 sites in seven countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Spain, and Ukraine).

Efficacy of Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis in Patient Subgroups from Two Randomised Phase 3 Trials.

Background: Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor being investigated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. We report efficacy of tofacitinib in patient subgroups based on pooled data from two Phase 3 trials (NCT01276639, NCT01309737).


Objectives: To assess consistency of treatment effects of tofacitinib versus placebo in subgroups defined by baseline characteristics, and to ascertain whether baseline characteristics are of value in optimizing tofacitinib use.

Translation and validation of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) for use in Ukraine.

The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the original English-language versions of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) into Ukrainian and validate the instruments by administering them to Ukrainian patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). After consensual translation, cultural adaptation, and back-translation into English, the Ukrainian versions of BASDAI and BASFI were transformed into numerical rating scales and tested on 87 Ukrainian AS patients meeting the modified 1984 New York criteria for AS. The Ukrainian versions were easily understood by the patients and displayed high levels of internal consistency and good reliability.

The development of systemic sclerosis classification criteria.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disorder whose aetiology remains obscure, although environmental and genetic influences are likely to play a role. Disease registries have contributed to enhancing our understanding of this debilitating illness, but without sensitive, specific, and extensively validated classification criteria, accurate comparison between registries and the identification of patients suitable for clinical trials can be problematic. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, published in 1980, have become outdated as our understanding of disease specific autoantibodies and nailfold capillaroscopy has improved.

A proposal of criteria for the classification of systemic sclerosis.

Background: Sensitive and specific criteria for the classification of systemic sclerosis are required by clinicians and investigators to achieve higher quality clinical studies and approaches to therapy. A clinical study of systemic sclerosis patients in Europe and Canada led to a set of criteria that achieve high sensitivity and specificity.

Material/methods: Both clinical and laboratory investigations of patients with systemic sclerosis, related conditions and diseases with clinical features that can be mistaken as part of the systemic sclerosis spectrum were undertaken.