Glucocorticoid Withdrawal Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Methods: SLE patients whose prednisolone had been previously withdrawn or taken <5 mg/day were enrolled. Serum morning cortisol levels were collected after 72-hour GCS discontinuation, and low-dose ACTH stimulation test (LDST) was performed. Patient report outcomes (PROs) included SLE-specific quality of life questionnaire (SLEQoL), functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (FACIT), patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Pittsburgh's sleep quality index (PSQI).

The effect of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Disease Activity Score and SLE Disease Activity Index 2000-based remission states in patients with SLE on damage accrual.

Background/objective: This study aimed to compare the effect of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Score (SLE-DAS) with the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) remission state on damage accrual.

Methods: This study classified SLE patients from the Lupus Clinic of the Royal Thai Army (LUCRA) cohort based on the SLE-DAS index, or Boolean-based, and SLEDAI-2K (Doria) remission state. Regression analysis models were constructed to identify predictors of the Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) during follow-up.

Performance of systemic lupus erythematosus responder index for detecting clinician-rated responders in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Disease activity measures in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are critical tools for trial endpoints. We aimed to evaluate the performance of current treatment outcome measures in SLE.

Methods: Individuals with active SLE with a clinical SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score of at least 4 were followed up for two or more visits and classified as responders and non-responders based on a physician's judgment of improvement.

Predictors of flare in rheumatoid arthritis patients with persistent clinical remission/low disease activity: Data from the TARAC cohort.

To identify predictors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity flare in RA patients who achieved low disease activity (LDA) or persistent remission from the observational Thai Army Rheumatoid Arthritis Cohort study. RA patients with persistent clinical remission, defined by disease activity score 28 (DAS28) < 2.6 and LDA defined by DAS28 ≤ 3.

Effect of Curcumin on Serum Urate in Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background/objective: Hyperuricemia leads to gout and renal complications and may increase cardiovascular risk. Curcumin inhibits xanthine oxidase and increases uricosuric activity and, as a result, decreases serum urate (SU). This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the effects of curcumin versus placebo on SU in subjects with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (SU level ≥ 6 mg/dL in women or ≥ 7 mg/dL in men).

Effect of patient education on medication adherence of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: There is a general understanding that patient educational interventions for enhancing medication adherence are important. However, their success at improving adherence is debatable. This study aimed to assess the influence of different modes of patient education on medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

2016 updated Thai Rheumatism Association Recommendations for the use of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: In June 2015, the Thai Rheumatism Association (TRA) approved an update of its recommendation for the use of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and targeted synthetic (tsDMARD) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to cover those currently available in Thailand (etanercept, infliximab, golimumab, rituximab, tocilizumab, abatacept and tofacitinib).

Method: A search of the literature was performed between January 2000 and June 2015. Existing RA recommendations, in relation to the use of bDMARDs and tsDMARD, were identified and evaluated by the AGREE II instrument prior to their use as a 'guide' for developing this TRA recommendation.

Evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis for non-rheumatologists: Integrating systematic literature research and expert opinion of the Thai Rheumatism Association.

Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease leading to joint damage, functional disability, poor quality of life and shortened life expectancy. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are a principal strategy to improve outcomes. To provide best practices in the diagnosis and management of patients with RA, the Thai Rheumatism Association (TRA) developed scientifically sound and clinically relevant evidence-based recommendations for general practitioners, internists, orthopedists, and physiatrists.

Lupus Damage and Waist Circumference as the Independent Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in SLE Patients from Phramongkutklao Hospital.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported to be a major cause of both morbidity and premature mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors in Thai SLE patients from Phramongkutklao Hospital, Thailand.

Material And Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the frequency of CVD in SLE patients in Phramongkutklao Hospital on the basis of medical record documentation.

Serum procalcitonin as a diagnostic aid in patients with acute bacterial septic arthritis.

Introduction: Septic arthritis is a common and serious problem. Early detection and prompt treatment improve outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate serum procalcitonin for diagnosis of acute bacterial septic arthritis and to compare its diagnostic utility with synovial white blood cells (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

The good EULAR response at the first year is strongly predictive of clinical remission in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the TARAC cohort.

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and prognostic factors of clinical remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The Thai Army Rheumatoid Arthritis Cohort (TARAC) patients were included if baseline data were available. Clinical remission was defined as 28-joint count disease activity scores (DAS28) <2.

Reliability and validity of the Thai version of bath ankylosing spondylitis indices.

Objective: Translate the Thai version of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Score (BASG), and assess their validity in Thai patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Material And Method: The original BASDAI, BASFI, and BASG were translated to Thai language and re-translated back by professional translators. The translated questionnaires were subsequently modified by a panel of rheumatologists and small group of AS patients to suit the Thai culture.

The association between serum vitamin D Level and disease activity in Thai rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Serum vitamin D level was inversely associated with the risk of developing new onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and disease activity, but some conflicting results have been reported.

Objective: To examine the serum vitamin D status in Thai RA patients and possible independent factors affecting serum 25 hydroxyvitamin vitamin D (25(OH)D) and the associations of serum 25(OH)D level and the disease activity and functional status in Thai RA patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 239 Thai RA patients.

Risk of tuberculosis with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy: substantially higher number of patients at risk in Asia.

Aim: To assess the potential risk of tuberculosis (TB) in patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) agents in Asia.

Methods: Absolute risk increase (ARI) of TB was estimated for three widely used anti-TNF-α therapies using published standardized incidence ratios (SIR) from the French Research Axed on Tolerance of bIOtherapies registry and incidence (absolute risk [AR]) of TB in Asia. Assuming an association of increased TB risk with anti-TNF-α therapy and country TB AR (incidence), the ARI of TB by country was calculated by multiplying the SIR of the anti-TNF-α therapy by the country's TB AR.

Current daily glucocorticoid use and serum creatinine levels are associated with lower 25(OH) vitamin D levels in Thai patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background And Objective: Because vitamin D deficiency has been previously reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we decided to examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Thai SLE patients, to identify possible independent factors affecting serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(2) and D(3) [25(OH)] vitamin D levels, and to examine the associations of serum 25(OH) vitamin D and disease activity and damage in Thai SLE patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 101 SLE patients. Blood samples were prospectively collected.

Radiosynovectomy using yttrium-90, phosphorus-32 or rhenium-188 radiocolloids versus corticoid instillation for rheumatoid arthritis of the knee.

Background: Radiosynovectomy (RSO) is widely used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Commercially available radiopharmaceuticals are costly, and therefore new agents may be of interest. Radiocolloids labelled with less costly and more accessible radionuclides are of interest to developing countries.

Health-related quality of life and disease severity of SLE patients in Phramongkutklao Hospital.

Background: The studies of association of disease activity and damage with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in lupus have shown equivocal results and has not been studied in Thailand.

Objective: To examine the HRQOL and to examine the association between HRQOL and SLE disease severity (disease activity and damage) in Thai SLE patients.

Material And Method: The Short Form-36 (SF-36) was applied in 95 consecutive SLE patients.

Factors associated with osteonecrosis in Thai lupus patients: a case control study.

Objective: To identify associated factors for the development of osteonecrosis of a femoral head (ON) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective nested case-control study from SLE patients who attended the Rheumatology Clinic at Phramongkutklao Hospital from 1992-2008. Cases were defined as SLE patients, who had clinically apparent ON (confirmed by plain radiographs or magnetic resonance imaging).