Patient involvement in rheumatoid arthritis care to improve disease activity-based management in daily practice: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an intervention to improve disease activity-based management of RA in daily clinical practice by addressing patient level barriers.

Methods: The DAS-pass strategy aims to increase patients' knowledge about DAS28 and to empower patients to be involved in treatment (decisions). It consists of an informational leaflet, a patient held record and guidance by a specialized rheumatology nurse.

Patients' experiences regarding self-monitoring of the disease course: an observational pilot study in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases at a rheumatology outpatient clinic in The Netherlands.

Objectives: Self-monitoring the disease course is a relatively new concept in the management of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs). The aims of this pilot study were to obtain patients' experiences with online self-monitoring, to assess information about the agreement between the disease course assessed with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and an objectively measured Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) by the rheumatologist, and to assess adherence to predetermined PROM frequency intervals.

Design: Observational study using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension, a novelty in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: insights and first experiences with vasoactive therapy.

To characterise the different types of pulmonary hypertension (PH) among idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). A retrospective case series with assessment of PH by right heart catheterisation, extent of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and outcome of vasoactive therapy.The group of patients with IIM with PH (n=9) showed a median age at PH diagnosis of 62 years (IQR 48-71 years; eight women), seven diagnosed with polymyositis and two with dermatomyositis; median disease duration of 5.

Correction: Challenges of developing a cardiovascular risk calculator for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Challenges of developing a cardiovascular risk calculator for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk calculators designed for use in the general population do not accurately predict the risk of CVD among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who are at increased risk of CVD. The process of developing risk prediction models involves numerous issues. Our goal was to develop a CVD risk calculator for patients with RA.

IL-32 promoter SNP rs4786370 predisposes to modified lipoprotein profiles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Interleukin (IL)-32 has previously been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of RA and might be linked to the development of atherosclerosis. However, the exact mechanism linking IL-32 to CVD still needs to be elucidated.

The Disease Activity Score (DAS) and the Disease Activity Score using 28 joint counts (DAS28) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), disease activity cannot be measured in all individual patients according to a single variable. The Disease Activity Score (DAS) and the DAS28 have been developed to measure disease activity in RA both in daily clinical practice as well as in clinical trials on a group as well as individual level. The DAS/DAS28 is a continuous measure of RA disease activity that combines information from swollen joints, tender joints, acute phase response and general health.

Systematic review of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for assessing disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Patient assessment of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be useful in clinical practice, offering a patient-friendly, location independent, and a time-efficient and cost-efficient means of monitoring the disease. The objective of this study was to identify patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess disease activity in RA and to evaluate the measurement properties of these measures. Systematic literature searches were performed in the PubMed and EMBASE databases to identify articles reporting on clinimetric development or evaluation of PROM-based instruments to monitor disease activity in patients with RA.

Patients with Systemic Sclerosis/polymyositis Overlap Have a Worse Survival Rate Than Patients Without It.

Objective: Studies on mortality associated with patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and myopathy have been limited by heterogeneous definitions of muscle involvement. The objective of this study is to determine whether homogeneous-defined SSc/polymyositis overlap (SSc-PM overlap) is associated with a worse survival rate compared with SSc without PM.

Methods: Data from the Nijmegen Systemic Sclerosis cohort were used.

Effectiveness of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors in Combination with Various csDMARD in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Data from the DREAM Registry.

Objective: To analyze and compare the effectiveness and drug survival in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as measured by 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) monotherapy, TNFi + leflunomide (LEF), TNFi + sulfasalazine (SSZ), TNFi + other conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARD), and TNFi + methotrexate (MTX) therapy, in daily practice.

Methods: Data were collected from the DREAM registry. Patients beginning their first TNFi treatment were included in the study: TNFi monotherapy (n = 320), TNFi + SSZ (n = 103), TNFi + LEF (n = 80), TNFi + other csDMARD (n = 99), TNFi + MTX alone (n = 919), TNFi + MTX + other csDMARD (n = 412).

Cost-Effectiveness of Cardiovascular Screening in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Early detection and preemptive treatment of patients at risk is of great importance in reducing the excess risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it is unclear how much screening is cost-effective in RA. The objective is to assess whether CV screening in RA proves to be cost-effective from a medical perspective, using different scenarios based on different guidelines.

A multidimensional 'path analysis' model of factors explaining fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Many factors may play a causal role on fatigue in RA patients, but their contribution and interplay is barely understood. The objective was to develop a multidimensional model of factors that explain fatigue severity in RA.

The influence of patient perceptions of disease on medication intensification in daily practice.

Objective: The objectives of this study were twofold: to assess if there are independent effects of variables representing patients' perceptions of disease on intensification of drug therapy in patients with RA seen in daily practice; and to test the hypothesis that effects of patients' perceptions of disease are mediated through patient self-reported willingness to alter therapy.

Methods: Before being seen by a physician, consecutive patients with RA, attending the Radboudumc outpatient rheumatology clinic, were asked to fill out a short questionnaire regarding the following four items: perceived health change, satisfaction with current health, willingness to change therapy and expected health change until the next visit. Independent associations between these measures, registered clinical measures and synthetic DMARD/biologic DMARD (including CSs) intensification were studied with logistic regression.

Effectiveness of two different doses of rituximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in an international cohort: data from the CERERRA collaboration.

Background: The approved dose of rituximab (RTX) in rheumatoid arthritis is 1000 mg × 2, but some data have suggested similar clinical efficacy with 500 mg × 2. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the regular and low doses given as first treatment course.

Methods: Twelve European registries participating in the CERERRA collaboration (The European Collaborative Registries for the Evaluation of Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis) submitted anonymized datasets with demographic, efficacy and treatment data for patients who had started RTX.

Stopping Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Treatment in Patients With Established Rheumatoid Arthritis in Remission or With Stable Low Disease Activity: A Pragmatic Multicenter, Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biologic agents are an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear whether patients whose disease is in remission or who have stable low disease activity need to continue use of TNFi or can stop this treatment. This study was undertaken to assess whether patients with established RA who are in remission or have stable low disease activity can effectively and safely stop their TNFi therapy.

Recently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients benefit from a treat-to-target strategy: results from the DREAM registry.

Despite considerable evidence on the efficacy and safety of early aggressive treat-to-target (T2T) strategies in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a proportion of patients still fail to reach remission. The goal of this study is to examine remission rates and predictors of remission in a real life T2T cohort of consecutive patients with a recent diagnosis of RA. Baseline demographics, clinical, laboratory and patient-reported variables and 1-year follow-up disease activity data were used from patients with early RA included in the DREAM remission induction cohort II study.

Monitoring rheumatoid arthritis using an algorithm based on patient-reported outcome measures: a first step towards personalised healthcare.

Objectives: The objective of this proof of concept study was to evaluate alerts generated by a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM)-based algorithm for monitoring patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The algorithm was constructed using an example PROM score of an equally weighted mean of visual analogue scale (VAS) general health, VAS disease activity and VAS pain. Based on the PROM score, red flags are generated in 2 instances: the target level of disease activity is not met; change in disease activity surpasses an early alert threshold.

Impaired Porphyromonas gingivalis-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor Production by Dendritic Cells Typifies Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: The prevalence of periodontitis is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the severity of periodontitis can affect the level of arthritis. Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the main bacteria involved in periodontitis. Our aim was to determine if there are differences in the innate immune response against P gingivalis between healthy controls and RA patients.

Tapering and discontinuation of methotrexate in patients with RA treated with TNF inhibitors: data from the DREAM registry.

Objectives: To study the number of patients that taper or discontinue concomitant methotrexate (MTX) in daily practice in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and to analyse the effects of that adaption on disease activity and drug survival.

Methods: Data were collected from the Dutch Rheumatoid Arthritis Monitoring (DREAM) registry. Patients who started their first TNFi were included in the study.

Effectiveness of tocilizumab with and without synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis: results from a European collaborative study.

Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of tocilizumab (TCZ) with and without synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (sDMARDs) in a large observational study.

Methods: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with TCZ who had a baseline visit and information on concomitant sDMARDs were included. According to baseline data, patients were considered as taking TCZ as monotherapy or combination with sDMARDs.

Validity and measurement precision of the PROMIS physical function item bank and a content validity-driven 20-item short form in rheumatoid arthritis compared with traditional measures.

Objective: To evaluate the content validity and measurement properties of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function item bank and a 20-item short form in patients with RA in comparison with the HAQ disability index (HAQ-DI) and 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical functioning scale (PF-10).

Methods: The content validity of the instruments was evaluated by linking their items to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core set for RA. The measures were administered to 690 RA patients enrolled in the Dutch Rheumatoid Arthritis Monitoring registry.