Comparison of two strategies of glucocorticoid withdrawal in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in low disease activity (STAR): a randomised, placebo- controlled, double-blind trial.

Objectives: To compare two strategies-a hydrocortisone replacement strategy and a prednisone tapering strategy-for their success in glucocorticoid discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with low disease activity (LDA).

Methods: The Strategies for glucocorticoid TApering in Rheumatoid arthritis (STAR) study was a double- blind, double-placebo randomised controlled trial including patients with RA receiving a stable dose of glucocorticoid 5 mg/day for ≥3 months and were in LDA for ≥3 months. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either replace prednisone with 20 mg/day of hydrocortisone for 3 months, then reduce to 10 mg/day for 3 months before discontinuation or to taper prednisone by 1 mg/day every month until complete discontinuation, contingent on maintaining LDA.

Evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease in patients treated with JAK inhibitors: a MAJIK-SFR cohort study.

Objective: To examine the course of interstitial lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA-ILD) in France on treatment with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) using the MAJIK-SFR registry.

Methods: Prospective national multicentre observational study identifying patients with RA-ILD from the MAJIK-SFR registry. Pulmonary assessment data were collected at JAKi initiation and follow-up visits (6 months, 12 months and a median of 21 months postinclusion), including chest high-resolution CT (HRCT), pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO)), acute exacerbations of ILD, respiratory infections and lung cancers.

Do SMS/e-mail reminders increase influenza vaccination of rheumatoid arthritis patients under anti-TNF: a nested randomized controlled trial in the ART e-cohort.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of short message service (SMS) and/or email reminders in improving influenza vaccination coverage rates among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with anti-TNF therapies, and to identify factors associated with vaccination.

Methods: A nested randomized controlled trial in the ART e-cohort, an ongoing French nationwide multicentre prospective cohort of RA patients treated with anti-TNF therapy. Patients were 1:1 randomized, with stratification on age.

Impact of pregnancy on sacroiliac imaging in women with axial spondyloarthritis: results of the analysis of the DESIR cohort.

Objective: In postpartum healthy women, inflammatory lesions of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) can appear and mimic sacroiliitis. However, the impact of delivery on imaging abnormalities in women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of delivery on SIJ imaging in early axSpA.

Diagnosis challenges in inception cohorts in axial spondyloarthritis: the case of the French national DESIR cohort.

Background: Inception cohorts aim to describe chronic diseases from diagnosis and over years of follow-up. Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) diagnosis might be challenging during the first years of the disease. Thus, identifying the features that will be associated with a confirmed diagnosis over time is key.

Unmet needs in axial spondyloarthritis. Proceedings of the French spondyloarthritis taskforce workshop.

The progress observed over the last 30 years in the field of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has not made it possible to answer all the current questions. This manuscript represents the proceedings of the meeting of the French spondyloArthitiS Task force (FAST) in Besançon on September 28 and 29, 2023. Different points of discussion were thus individualized as unmet needs: biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease activity, a common electronic file dedicated to SpA nationwide, a better comprehension of dysbiosis in the disease, a check-list for addressing to the rheumatologist, adapt patient reported outcomes thresholds for female gender, implementation of comorbidities screening programs, new imaging tools, in research cellular and multi omics approaches, grouping, at a nationwide level, different cohorts and registries, therapeutic strategy studies, consensual definition of difficult to treat disease and management, preclinical stage of the disease, mastering AI as a tool in the various aspects of research.

Repurposing the Fibrosis-4 Score in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Data from the ESPOIR Cohort.

We aimed to evaluate the value of the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score as a prognostic factor in RA in the prospective ESPOIR cohort. We included patients from the ESPOIR cohort with a diagnosis of RA according to ACR/EULAR criteria. The formula for the FIB-4 score is as follows: [age (years) × aspartate transaminase level (U/L)]/[platelet count (10/L) × alanine aminotransferase level (U/L)].

Standardized reporting for systematic global evaluation of axial spondyloarthritis: An evidence-based and consensus-driven initiative.

Introduction: National and international scientific societies advocate for a regular, systematic, and standardized global evaluation of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients. However, there are no recommendations specifying the content of this global evaluation. This initiative aimed to propose a standardized reporting framework, using evidence-based and consensus approaches, to collect data on all domains of axSpA.

Recommendations of the French Society of Rheumatology for the management in current practice of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objective: To develop recommendations for the routine management of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods: Following standard procedures, a systematic review of the literature by five supervised junior rheumatologists, based on the questions selected by the steering committee (5 senior rheumatologists), was used as the basis for working meetings, followed by a one-day plenary meeting with the working group (15 members), leading to the development of the wording and determination of the strength of the recommendations and the level of agreement of the experts.

Results: Five general principles and 19 recommendations were drawn up.

Factors Associated With Treatment Pathways in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Multistate Analysis of the 10-Year Follow-Up of the DESIR Cohort.

Objective: Current recommendations for the management of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) emphasize the need of an individualized strategy in therapeutic decision-making. The study objectives were to describe therapeutic strategies observed in axSpA, and to assess the factors associated with treatment intensification over time.

Methods: We included patients with axSpA from the French prospective cohort DESIR (), with a scheduled 10-year follow-up.

Frequency of irritable bowel syndrome in spondyloarthritis: a multicentric cross-sectional study and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of symptoms and factors associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA).

Methods: In a cross-sectional multicentric study, consecutive patients with ax-SpA treated with biologics in five rheumatology departments were asked for IBS Rome IV criteria. Demographic data, lifestyle behaviours and disease characteristics were recorded.

How do patient-reported outcome measures affect treatment intensification and patient satisfaction in the management of psoriatic arthritis? A cross sectional study of 503 patients.

Objectives: The AsseSSing Impact in pSoriatic Treatment (ASSIST) study investigated prescribing in routine PsA care and whether the patient-reported outcome-PsA Impact of Disease questionnaire (PsAID-12)-impacted treatment. This study also assessed a range of patient and clinician factors and their relationship to PsAID-12 scoring and treatment modification.

Methods: Patients with PsA were selected across the UK and Europe between July 2021 and March 2022.

Ten-year clinical outcome of recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis: Results from the DESIR inception Cohort.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the 10-year clinical outcome of patients with recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods Study Design: The DESIR cohort is an inception cohort of axSpA patients.

Methods Diagnosis And Management: The diagnosis and management of patients were based on the decision of the treating rheumatologist.

Diagnosis and treatment of Tropheryma whipplei infection in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease: Data from the French Tw-IRD registry.

Objectives: Tropheryma whipplei infection can manifest as inflammatory joint symptoms, which can lead to misdiagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic disease and the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. We investigated the impact of diagnosis and treatment of Tropheryma whipplei infection in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease.

Methods: We initiated a registry including patients with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs-treated inflammatory rheumatic disease who were subsequently diagnosed with Tropheryma whipplei infection.

An international multicentre analysis of current prescribing practices and shared decision-making in psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: Shared decision-making (SDM) is advocated to improve patient outcomes in PsA. We analysed current prescribing practices and the extent of SDM in PsA across Europe.

Methods: The ASSIST study was a cross-sectional observational study of PsA patients ≥18 years of age attending face-to-face appointments between July 2021 and March 2022.

Ten-year radiographic and functional outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients in remission compared to patients in low disease activity.

Background: To compare the 10-year structural and functional prognosis between patients in sustained remission versus patients in sustained low disease activity (LDA) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We included 256 patients from the ESPOIR cohort who fulfilled the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria for RA and who were in sustained remission using the Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) score (n = 48), in sustained LDA (n = 139) or in sustained moderate to high disease activity (MDA or HDA, n = 69) over 10 years. The mTSSs progression over 10 years and the 10-year HAQ-DI scores were compared between the 3 groups.

Factors associated with the retention of secukinumab in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in real-world practice: results from a retrospective study (FORSYA).

Background: Secukinumab efficacy and retention data are emerging in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in real-world settings. However, limited data are available on the predictive factors that affect the retention rate. The key objective was to determine whether objective signs of inflammation (OSI) were predictive of secukinumab retention at 1 year.

Characteristics of the (Auto)Reactive T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis According to the Immune Epitope Database.

T cells are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Accordingly, and to better understand T cells' contribution to RA, a comprehensive review based on an analysis of the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) was conducted. An immune CD8+ T cell senescence response is reported in RA and inflammatory diseases, which is driven by active viral antigens from latent viruses and cryptic self-apoptotic peptides.

Patient-defined flares and disease activity worsening in 222 patients with psoriatic arthritis from 14 countries.

Objectives: To explore patient-defined flares in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), compared to an increase in disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA) and to analyze the validity of a patient-reported flare question.

Methods: ReFlap (NCT03119805) was a longitudinal study in 14 countries of consecutive patients with definite PsA. Patients were seen twice in the context of usual care, 4.