Predictors of disease activity in gout: a 12-month analysis of the ATTACk (Achieving improvement in the management of crystal-induced arthritis) multicentre cohort study.

Objectives: Gout treatment is largely suboptimal in clinical practice. We aimed to assess the predictors of disease-activity at 12 months in a real-life setting.

Methods: Consecutive patients referred to Rheumatology Units for suspected acute crystal-induced arthritis were enrolled in a multicentre-cohort study.

Impact of disease duration and gender on the sensitivity and specificity of 2015 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for gout. Cross-sectional results from an Italian multicentric study on the management of crystal-induced arthritis (ATTACk).

Objectives: We aimed to assess the performance of the 2015 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) gout classification criteria in an Italian cohort of patients with crystal-induced arthritis stratified by disease duration and gender in a real-life setting.

Methods: Consecutive patients referred to Rheumatology Units for suspected acute crystal-induced arthritis were enrolled in a multicentre cohort study by the Italian Society of Rheumatology which was designed to improve the management of crystal-induced arthritis (ATTACk). To test the performance of the criteria (sensitivity and specificity), the presence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in synovial fluid (SF) was used as gold standard.

Application of Ultrasound in the Assessment of Oligoarticular Psoriatic Arthritis Subset: Results from Patients Treated with Apremilast.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease characterized by different phenotypes in terms of joint involvement. The so-called oligoarticular pattern involves fewer than five active joints at a different time points. The evaluation of disease activity in this subset of patients is an unmet need due to the lack of specific indices able to capture modifications over time.

Caffeine intake influences disease activity and clinical phenotype in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objective: Caffeine, one of the most widely consumed products in the world, seems to interact with multiple components of the immune system by acting as a non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor. In vitro dose-dependent treatment with caffeine down-regulates mRNA levels of key inflammation-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. So far, no robust data are available about the possible contribution of caffeine in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Secukinumab may be a valid treatment option in patients with CNS demyelination and concurrent ankylosing spondylitis: Report of two clinical cases.

The therapeutic approach to CNS demyelination associated to ankylosing spondylitis is a complex issue due to the contraindication of TNF inhibitors in demyelinating diseases. Secukinumab, a human IgG1κ monoclonal antibody that binds and inhibits IL-17A, was recently approved for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. We report the clinical cases of two patients affected by a CNS demyelinating disease and ankylosing spondylitis who were successfully treated with secukinumab, providing additional evidence of the feasibility of this therapeutic option when the use of TNF inhibitors is discouraged by challenging comorbidities.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound in monitoring response to apremilast in psoriatic arthritis patients: results from a longitudinal study.

Introduction/objective: Apremilast, PDE4 competitive inhibitor, has been recently introduced in the treatment of adult psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, but only preliminary data are available on imaging evaluation. Thus, we evaluated the response to apremilast in PsA patients by ultrasonographic (US) assessment.

Methods: Thirty-four patients (M/F 7/27; median age 61 years, IQR 15; median disease duration 10 years, IQR 13) treated for polyarticular involvement were longitudinally evaluated.

Porphyromonas gingivalis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose Of Review: To explore the pathogenic association between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis focusing on the role of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Recent Findings: In the last decades our knowledge about the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis substantially changed. Several evidences demonstrated that the initial production of autoantibodies is not localized in the joint, rather in other immunological-active sites.

Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Same Inflammatory Mediators?

The strict link between periodontitis (PD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been widely demonstrated by several studies. PD is significantly more frequent in RA patients in comparison with healthy subjects: this prevalence is higher in individuals at the earliest stages of disease and in seropositive patients. This is probably related to the role of in inducing citrullination and leading to the development of the new antigens.

Serological markers associated with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with rituximab.

Objective: To evaluate prospectively serological markers at baseline and during treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating rituximab treatment, following failure of antitumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy.

Methods: Patients with RA and healthy control subjects were recruited. Plasma complement (C)3, C4, rheumatoid factor (RF), anticitrullinated protein antibody (ACPA), immunoglobulin (Ig)M, A and G, disease activity scores (DAS) and therapeutic response were recorded at baseline and at 6, 12 and 18 months.

Self-reported adherence to a home-based exercise program among patients affected by psoriatic arthritis with minimal disease activity.

More than half of all patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) exhibit progressive erosive arthritis, associated with severe functional impairment and psychosocial disability. Biologics have been suggested to be more effective in inducing minimal disease activity" (MDA) than disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Behavioral patient education appears to be more effective in encouraging patients to increase their physical activity (PA) levels.

Insights on the role of physical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are physically inactive, and trials have been undertaken to examine the effect of physical activity on pain, disease activity, functional ability and quality of life (QoL) in RA. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between physical activity and disease-activity in RA and in healthy controls. Our findings showed that fewer RA patients had a professional occupation compared with controls, but patients and controls were similar with respect to the sedentary extent of their job.