Specific descriptions of axial involvement are associated with radiographic damage development after 2 years in psoriatic arthritis patients.

Objectives: Investigating the association between different definitions of axial involvement and syndesmophytes development over 2 years in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Patients from a prospective multicentre cohort (Belgian Epidemiological Psoriatic Arthritis Study) involving 17 Belgian rheumatology practices were recruited between December 2012 and July 2014 and included when fulfilling the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis. Axial involvement included six clinical and two radiographic oriented definitions.

Extent of axial damage in psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis: comparative data from the BEPAS and (Be-)GIANT multicentre cohorts.

Background: To examine radiographic axial damage of the sacroiliac joints and spine in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) in private and academic Belgian practices.

Methods: Patients with PsA with clinical diagnosis of PsA and fulfilling the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis from the prospective Belgian Epidemiological Psoriatic Arthritis Study and patients with SpA fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria for SpA originate from the Ghent and BelGian Inflammatory Arthritis and spoNdylitis cohorTs were included in this study. Baseline pelvic and spinal radiographs were analysed by two calibrated readers.

Reactive arthritis after COVID-19 vaccination: 17 cases.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to report a series of 17 cases of ankle bi-arthritis that occurred shortly after coronavirus disease 2019 RNA vaccination, and to discuss the potential role of these vaccines in the pathogenesis of this rheumatological manifestation.

Methods: All patients were examined in the same department and received a full work-up to investigate the usual causes of ankle bi-arthritis. No rheumatic inflammatory disease occurred after 9 months of follow-up.

Cardiovascular comorbidities in psoriatic arthritis: epidemiology and risk factors in two different European populations.

Objectives: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease, frequently associated with cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities. Our aim was to compare the prevalence of CV comorbidities between two groups of PsA patients from different European countries: Belgium and Italy.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of two longitudinal cohorts in which 803 PsA patients were enrolled (463 from Belgium and 340 from Italy).

The burden of psoriatic arthritis in the biologics era: data from the Belgian Epidemiological Psoriatic Arthritis Study.

Objectives: To characterize the frequency of PsA subtypes, estimate the severity based on damage and inflammation and estimate the impact of PsA on patients' health-related quality of life.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal observational study in 17 academic and non-academic centres in Belgium. Patients with PsA fulfilling Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis were recruited.

EULAR Sjögren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI): a user guide.

The EULAR Sjögren's syndrome (SS) disease activity index (ESSDAI) is a systemic disease activity index that was designed to measure disease activity in patients with primary SS. With the growing use of the ESSDAI, some domains appear to be more challenging to rate than others. The ESSDAI is now in use as a gold standard to measure disease activity in clinical studies, and as an outcome measure, even a primary outcome measure, in current randomised clinical trials.

Spinal radiographic changes in ankylosing spondylitis: association with clinical characteristics and functional outcome.

Objective: To determine which patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have radiographic spinal damage and to investigate the relation between radiographic spinal changes and limitations in physical function.

Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide study in Belgium of patients with AS under the care of a rheumatologist. The treating physician completed a questionnaire including clinical disease manifestations and laboratory findings (HLA-B27 and C-reactive protein), and classified spinal radiographs into 3 categories: (1) no AS-related spinal abnormalities; (2) syndesmophytes; and (3) spinal ankylosis.

Modified aquaporin 5 expression and distribution in submandibular glands from NOD mice displaying autoimmune exocrinopathy.

Objective: To investigate the expression and localization of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) in salivary glands and salivary gland function in the NOD mouse.

Methods: All experiments were performed using NOD and BALB/c mice (ages 8 weeks and 24 weeks). Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical analysis were used to study the expression and distribution of AQP5 in salivary glands.

The epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis and the commencement of anti-TNF therapy in daily rheumatology practice.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in rheumatology practice at the beginning of the anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) era, and to evaluate the initiation of anti-TNF therapy in a clinical setting where prescription is regulated by the authority's imposed reimbursement criteria.

Methods: Between February 2004 and February 2005, all Belgian rheumatologists in academic and non-academic outpatient settings were invited to register all AS patients who visited their practice. A random sample of these patients was further examined by an in-depth clinical profile.

Celecoxib is efficacious and well tolerated in treating signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of celecoxib in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: This was a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 4 treatment arms: celecoxib 200 mg qd, celecoxib 400 mg qd, naproxen 500 mg bid, and placebo. Patients (age 18-75 yrs) requiring daily treatment with nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and with a pain intensity on visual analog scale (VAS) > or = 50 mm worsening by 30% compared with a preinclusion visit (14 days prior) were studied.

Epratuzumab (humanised anti-CD22 antibody) in autoimmune diseases.

B cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. Different approaches targeting the B cell compartment are under investigation. Selective modulation of B cells has been recently achieved using a humanised monoclonal antibody against the B cell surface marker CD22.

Epratuzumab (humanised anti-CD22 antibody) in primary Sjögren's syndrome: an open-label phase I/II study.

This open-label, phase I/II study investigated the safety and efficacy of epratuzumab, a humanised anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody, in the treatment of patients with active primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Sixteen Caucasian patients (14 females/2 males, 33-72 years) were to receive 4 infusions of 360 mg/m2 epratuzumab once every 2 weeks, with 6 months of follow-up. A composite endpoint involving the Schirmer-I test, unstimulated whole salivary flow, fatigue, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) was devised to provide a clinically meaningful assessment of response, defined as a > or = 20% improvement in at least two of the aforementioned parameters, with > or = 20% reduction in ESR and/or IgG considered as a single combined criterion.

Distribution and roles of aquaporins in salivary glands.

Salivary glands are involved in secretion of saliva, which is known to participate in the protection and hydratation of mucosal structures within the oral cavity, oropharynx and oesophagus, the initiation of digestion, some antimicrobial defence, and the protection from chemical and mechanical stress. Saliva secretion is a watery fluid containing electrolytes and a mixture of proteins and can be stimulated by muscarinic and adrenergic agonists. Since water movement is involved in saliva secretion, the expression, localization and function of aquaporins (AQPs) have been studied in salivary glands.

Adalimumab for the treatment of patients with moderately to severely active psoriatic arthritis: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Adalimumab, a fully human, anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody, was evaluated for its safety and efficacy compared with placebo in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Patients with moderately to severely active PsA and a history of inadequate response to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were randomized to receive 40 mg adalimumab or placebo subcutaneously every other week for 24 weeks. Study visits were at baseline, weeks 2 and 4, and every 4 weeks thereafter.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with the selective costimulation modulator abatacept: twelve-month results of a phase iib, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of abatacept (CTLA-4Ig), a selective costimulation modulator, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that has remained active despite methotrexate (MTX) therapy.

Methods: This was a 12-month, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 339 patients with active RA despite MTX therapy were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/kg abatacept (n = 115), 2 mg/kg abatacept (n = 105), or placebo (n = 119).

Inefficacy of infliximab in primary Sjögren's syndrome: results of the randomized, controlled Trial of Remicade in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (TRIPSS).

Objective: There is no effective treatment for patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Since tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) could be a key element in the pathogenesis of primary SS, we conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of infliximab in primary SS.

Methods: A total of 103 patients with primary SS were randomly assigned to receive infliximab infusions (5 mg/kg) or placebo at weeks 0, 2, and 6 and were followed up for 22 weeks.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by selective inhibition of T-cell activation with fusion protein CTLA4Ig.

Background: Effective new therapies are needed for rheumatoid arthritis. Current therapies target the products of activated macrophages; however, T cells also have an important role in rheumatoid arthritis. A fusion protein--cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4-IgG1 (CTLA4Ig)--is the first in a new class of drugs known as costimulation blockers being evaluated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

New approaches to the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome: soon beyond symptomatic relief?

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a common autoimmune disease characterized by destruction and dysfunction of the salivary and lachrymal glands. Systemic manifestations occur in almost one third of patients with SS. Treatment of SS has been long considered as disappointing, being mainly restricted to local management with artificial tears and oral lubricants or to the use of immunosuppression-based therapies for systemic disease.

Infliximab in primary Sjögren's syndrome: one-year followup.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a maintenance regimen of infliximab in patients with active primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) over a 1-year period.

Methods: This followup study included 10 of the 16 patients with primary SS who participated in a pilot study. Patients who continued to have symptoms received additional infusions of infliximab for 1 year.