Publications by authors named "S Grazzini"
Objective: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are rare autoimmune diseases that primarily affect striated muscles; skin, joints, and lungs may be involved with different degrees of severity. Traditional treatment relies on high-dose glucocorticoids and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Methods: A growing amount of evidence is demonstrating the potential role of novel treatments in the management of IIM.
Article Synopsis
- Tocilizumab (TCZ) is effective in treating giant cell arteritis (GCA), but the best treatment duration remains unclear, as stopping early may lead to relapses while prolonged treatment raises safety concerns.
- In this study, 38 GCA patients treated with TCZ and a fast tapering schedule of prednisone (up to 62.5 mg) were followed for 24 months, revealing a 29% incidence of adverse events (AEs), with only one classified as serious.
- The findings indicate that long-term TCZ treatment combined with low-dose corticosteroids can achieve clinical remission in GCA patients, with only a small percentage (8%) experiencing minor relapses after an
Article Synopsis
- * Treatment options include glucocorticoids for acute symptoms, with various other non-immunosuppressive therapies (like antihypertensives and statins) being debated for long-term management, although evidence is not definitive.
- * A review of 11 studies involving 204 patients found mixed results for antiplatelets and anticoagulants, while antihypertensives showed some benefits but also risks; further research is needed to establish effective treatment protocols.
Introduction: Anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of anti-aminoacyl-transfer-RNA synthetase antibodies (ARS) and the involvement of muscles, skin, joints, and lungs. Despite increasing interest and evidence, optimal clinical management remains unclear due to a lack of randomized control trials. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a treatment regimen involving early co-administration of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, with rapid prednisone tapering.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe describe the case of a 76-year-old man affected by pneumoconiosis, secondary to silica dust exposure, who was diagnosed with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)-related cervical myelitis. Pneumoconiosis is reported to trigger autoantibody production and the onset of different autoimmune diseases, including ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). MPA is an AAV of the small vessels that can often affect the nervous system, although involvement of the spinal cord in the form of myelitis is described as an anecdotal occurrence.
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