Atherosclerotic plaque progression and incident cardiovascular events in a 10-year prospective study of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: the impact of persistent cardiovascular risk factor target attainment and sustained DORIS remission.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). We assessed atherosclerotic plaque progression and incident cardiovascular events in SLE patients over a 10-year follow-up.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed 738 carotid ultrasound measurements (413 in SLE patients and 325 in age/sex-matched healthy controls [HC]) to assess new plaque development from baseline to 3-, 7-, and 10-year follow-up.

24-hour isolated aortic systolic hypertension phenotype and its association with carotid and cardiac damage: the SAFAR study.

The prevalence of systolic hypertension phenotypes based on simultaneous 24-h brachial (br) and aortic (ao) ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) remains unknown. We sought to describe their prevalence and associations with hypertension mediated organ damage (HMOD). Participants with 24-h br and ao ABPM, carotid ultrasound and echocardiography data were categorized into 4 systolic hypertension phenotypes: sustained systolic br and ao normotension (SSN), isolated br systolic hypertension (IbrSH), isolated ao systolic hypertension (IaoSH) and sustained br and ao systolic hypertension (SSH).

Association between simple, combined lipid markers and 20-year cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes: the ATTICA cohort study (2002-2022).

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between simple, combined lipid biomarkers, and 20-year cumulative incidence of new type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among adults participating in the ATTICA cohort study (2002-2022).

Methods: The present analysis included data from 2000 individuals free of T2DM at baseline (age 43 ± 13 years; 51% women). Sociodemographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, clinical, and biochemical parameters were collected at baseline and follow-up examinations; combined lipid markers were evaluated.

Prevented fractions of cardiovascular disease cases, by long-term adherence to the Mediterranean diet; the ATTICA study (2002-2022).

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its related co-morbidities, i.e., type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, have an enormous burden on population health and healthcare systems.

The evaluation of myocarditis in patients with Still's disease; clinical findings from the multicentre international AIDA Network Still's Disease Registry.

Objective: To evaluate the cardiac involvement in patients with Still's disease with a focus on myocarditis included in the multicenter AIDA (AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance) network Still's disease registry. To exploit the predictive factors for myocarditis in deriving a clinical risk patient profile for this severe manifestation.

Methods: A multicenter observational study was built up assessing consecutive patients with Still's disease characterized by the cardiac involvement among those included in the AIDA Network Still's Disease Registry.

Sex-related differences in the 20-year incidence of CVD and its risk factors: The ATTICA study (2002-2022).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine sex-related differences in the long-term (20-year) incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its determinants.

Methods: In 2002, 3,042 apparently healthy Greek adults were recruited, and in 2022, the 20-year follow-up was conducted with 2,169 participants, 1,988 of whom had completed CVD assessments. Sex-specific analyses using nested Cox proportional hazards were performed, as well as classification and regression tree (CRT) analysis modeling.

Longitudinal trends in physical activity levels and lifetime cardiovascular disease risk: insights from the ATTICA cohort study (2002-2022).

Objective: To evaluate trends in physical activity levels and their associations with demographic characteristics, health status, and lifetime cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted using data from 987 males and 1,001 females (45 ± 12 years old) participating in the ATTICA cohort study. Physical activity levels were assessed at baseline (2001-2002) and subsequent follow-ups (2006, 2012, and 2022).

Identification and Clinical Correlation of Circulating MAIT, γδ T, ILC3, and Pre-Inflammatory Mesenchymal Cells in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis.

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathy (SpA), comprise a heterogeneous group of immune-mediated disorders, characterised by the presence of localised and/or systemic inflammation. The limited knowledge of the pathogenesis and the complex mechanisms involved in the induction and maintenance of inflammation in IRDs have impeded the development of reliable biomarkers and the discovery of new therapeutic targets. Although the involvement of heterogeneous cell populations in the pathogenesis of IRDs has been recognised, the characterisation of these cellular subsets in the peripheral blood of patients has not been studied yet.

Tocilizumab plus Nintedanib for progressive interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis: a one-year observational study.

Randomized controlled trials have recently shown that both the IL-6 inhibitor Tocilizumab and the antifibrotic Nintedanib are efficacious for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc)-associated progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD). Since real-world clinical data on Tocilizumab/Nintedanib combination are lacking, we report on their long-term safety and efficacy. Consecutive patients who received off-label Tocilizumab for SSc plus Nintedanib for progressive ILD were retrospectively studied.

Kidney whole-transcriptome profiling in primary antiphospholipid syndrome reveals complement, interferons and NETs-related gene expression.

Objective: Pathogenesis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) remains poorly elucidated. We aimed to evaluate for the first time kidney transcriptome profiles in primary APS vs systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and control subjects.

Methods: We performed RNA sequencing on archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded kidney biopsies from APS (n = 4), SLE (n = 5) and control (n = 3) individuals, differential gene expression analysis (DGEA) and enrichment analysis using gene ontology (GO) and CORUM, KEGG and Reactome pathway databases.

Synovial expression of glucocorticoid receptor parallels fibroblast activation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Hypocortisolemia is associated with increased expression of NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor, GR) in blood cells. As endogenous cortisol production is decreased in some RA patients, we tested the hypothesis that GR may be aberrantly expressed in rheumatoid synovium.

Methods: We defined the cellular pattern of NR3C1 synovial expression using human and mouse single-cell RNA-sequencing data.

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Arrhythmogenic Substrates in Patients with Systemic Autoimmunity: An Update.

Patients with systemic autoimmunity due to autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) or sarcoidosis frequently present with systemic manifestations including cardiac involvement. Cardiac rhythm disturbances and specifically ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) may affect the prognosis of these patients. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a non-invasive imaging modality that can provide valuable diagnostic and prognostic information in patients with ARDs or systemic autoimmunity in general.

Biological use influences the impact of inflammation on risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Chronic inflammation promotes cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) improve disease activity and cardiovascular disease outcomes. We explored whether bDMARDs influence the impact of disease activity and inflammatory markers on long-term cardiovascular risk in RA.

Immunosuppressives discontinuation after renal response in lupus nephritis: predictors of flares, time to withdrawal and long-term outcomes.

Objectives: The optimal duration of immunosuppressive (IS) treatment for lupus nephritis (LN) remains uncertain. We assessed the prevalence and predictors of IS tapering and discontinuation (D/C) in LN patients.

Methods: Data from 137 inception cohort LN patients were analyzed.

TNFRSF11A variants contribute to systemic autoinflammatory diseases: A case series of 12 patients.

Background: Limited evidence suggests that variants in TNFRSF11A gene, encoding RANK, may contribute to systemic autoinflammatory disease (SAID).

Aim/methods: To estimate the prevalence of TNFRSF11A variants in a cohort of patients with SAIDs screened for 26 related genes and describe the disease phenotypic expression.

Results: A total of 12 out of 167 patients, 7 males, aged (median) 38 years at disease onset, yielded at least one TNFRSF11A rare variant.

The Impact of Dietary Carbohydrates on Inflammation-Related Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The ATTICA Study (2002-2022).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential interplay between a carbohydrate diet and inflammation in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) development. ATTICA is a prospective observational study of 3042 adults free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) who were recruited in 2002 and followed for 20 years. Baseline data on carbohydrate intake and inflammatory biomarker levels were collected.

Systemic Sclerosis Sine Scleroderma: A Time of Reappraisal.

Objective: Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc), formally described in 1962, is a subset of SSc that, unlike limited cutaneous (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) forms, lacks skin fibrosis. According to the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria, SSc can be diagnosed in the absence of skin thickening, even if this is expected to develop later in disease course. Driven by a fatal case of ssSSc with cardiac involvement, we analyzed published data on ssSSc prevalence and severity.

Insufficient PD-1 expression during active autoimmune responses: a deep single-cell proteomics analysis in inflammatory arthritis.

Objectives: Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) maintains peripheral immune tolerance by preventing T cell continuous activation. Aiming to understand the extent of PD-1 expression in inflammatory arthritis beyond its involvement with T cells, we assess its presence on various circulating single cells.

Methods: Mass cytometry analysis of patients with active seropositive/seronegative rheumatoid (RA; n=9/8) and psoriatic (PsA; n=9) arthritis versus healthy controls (HC; n=13), re-evaluating patients after 3 months of anti-rheumatic treatment.

Discrimination and net-reclassification of cardiovascular disease risk with Lipoprotein(a) levels: The ATTICA study (2002-2022).

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a recognized as risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, its influence on clinical risk evaluations remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether Lp(a) improves CVD risk prediction among apparently healthy adults from the general population.