Differentiation between early rheumatoid and early psoriatic arthritis by the ultrasonographic study of the synovio-entheseal complex of the small joints of the hands.

Objectives: To determine whether ultrasonographic findings of the synovio-entheseal complex of the hand small joints could be used to differentiate between early rheumatoid and early psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: Thirty-four early rheumatoid and 26 early psoriatic arthritis patients with a prevalent involvement of the hands were examined with ultrasound (US). All exams were performed at the first visit by evaluating synovitis, peritendon extensor digitorum tendon oedema, enthesitis of the central slip of extensor tendon, flexor tenosynovitis and soft tissue oedema.

Efficacy of belimumab and targeting of rheumatoid factor-positive B-cell expansion in Sjögren's syndrome: follow-up after the end of the phase II open-label BELISS study.

Objectives: Belimumab, a monoclonal anti-B lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS) antibody, appeared effective in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in the phase II open-label 52-week BELISS study. Herein, the follow-up after the end of the BELISS study and suspension of the drug was reported in order to further verify the efficacy of belimumab in SS.

Methods: 13 SS patients were followed after the end of the belimumab treatment.

Efficacy and safety of belimumab given for 12 months in primary Sjögren's syndrome: the BELISS open-label phase II study.

Objective: To report the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment of SS with belimumab, targeting the B-cell-activating factor.

Methods: Patients with primary SS were included in the BELISS open-label phase II study, a 1-year open-label trial, if they were positive for anti-SSA or anti-SSB antibodies and had systemic complications or persistent salivary gland enlargement or early disease or biomarkers of B-cell activation. They received belimumab, 10 mg/kg i.

Clinical and biological differences between cryoglobulinaemic and hypergammaglobulinaemic purpura in primary Sjögren's syndrome: results of a large multicentre study.

Objectives: To determine the clinical and laboratory differences between cryoglobulinaemic and hypergammaglobulinaemic purpura in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), in a large Italian multicentre cohort.

Method: Patients were selected according to the following criteria: fulfilling the American-European classification criteria for pSS, serum cryoglobulin and gammaglobulin levels evaluated, and lack of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Multinomial analyses were performed by distinguishing three groups of pSS: (i) purpura associated with cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CV), (ii) purpura associated with hypergammaglobulinaemic vasculitis (HGV), and (iii) pSS patients without purpura (pSS controls).

Sequential therapy with belimumab followed by rituximab in Sjögren's syndrome associated with B-cell lymphoproliferation and overexpression of BAFF: evidence for long-term efficacy.

Objectives: The overexpression of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) may decrease the efficacy of rituximab treatment in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Anti-CD20 therapy was effective on marginal zone B cells, in the murine model for human CD20 expression only when preceded by anti-BAFF therapy. The possible efficacy of a sequential anti-BAFF/anti-CD20 therapy in SS was investigated.