Use of mesna prophylaxis in patients with cyclophosphamide-treated ANCA-associated vasculitis: cross-sectional survey of practitioners.

Background: There may be some diversity in the practice of co-prescribing 2-mercaptoethane sodium sulfonate (mesna) with cyclophosphamide (CYC) for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Objectives: To assess the practice of prescribing mesna prophylaxis for CYC-treated patients with AAV.

Methods: We invited authors of publications on AAV referenced in MEDLINE over the previous 10 years to participate in an anonymous online survey.

Incidence of giant cell arteritis in six districts of Paris, France (2015-2017).

This prospective population-based study estimated the incidence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in northeastern Paris. GCA cases diagnosed between 2015 and 2017 were obtained from local hospital and community-based physicians and the national health insurance system database. Criteria for inclusion were living in the study area at that time and fulfilling the 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria and/or its expanded version.

Sensitivity of temporal artery biopsy in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is a reference test for the diagnosis of GCA but reveals inflammatory changes only in a subset of patients. The lack of knowledge of TAB sensitivity hampers comparisons with non-invasive techniques such as temporal artery ultrasonography. We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to estimate the sensitivity of TAB in GCA and to identify factors that may influence the estimate.

Vaccination and Risk of Childhood IgA Vasculitis.

Background And Objectives: Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) might develop after vaccination. However, this potential relationship is essentially based on case reports, and robust pharmaco-epidemiologic data are scarce. We aimed to investigate the effect of vaccination on short-term risk of IgAV in children.

Mortality causes and trends associated with giant cell arteritis: analysis of the French national death certificate database (1980-2011).

Objectives: Comprehensive analyses of cause-specific death patterns in GCA are sparse. We studied the patterns and time trends in GCA-related mortality using a large death certificate database.

Methods: We obtained multiple-cause-of-death data from the French national death certificate database for 1980-2011.

Poor Predictive Value of Isolated Adventitial and Periadventitial Infiltrates in Temporal Artery Biopsies for Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis.

Objective: We investigated the diagnostic value of inflammation limited to the adventitia (ILA), and isolated vasa vasorum or small-vessel vasculitis (VVV, SVV) in temporal artery biopsies (TAB) for giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Two pathologists reviewed consecutive first TAB. Using the clinical diagnoses as the gold standard, positive predictive values (PPV) were calculated.

Dietary and Nondietary Triggers of Oral Ulcer Recurrences in Behçet's Disease.

Objective: The nature and impact of food and other external triggers in recurrences of Behçet's disease (BD)-related oral ulcers (OUs) remain unknown. This survey investigated dietary and nondietary triggers of BD-related OU recurrences.

Methods: Patients with BD who were followed in 7 French hospital departments completed a self-administered patient questionnaire.

Use of clean intermittent self-catheterization in France: A survey of patient and GP perspectives.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of GP (general practitioner) patients performing ISC (intermittent self-catheterization), to describe GP and patient knowledge about ISC and to assess the patients' quality of life.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in metropolitan France between November 2012 and September 2013 with French Sentinelles GPs and their patients (≥18 years) performing ISC. Linear regression models assessed independent associations between quality of life scores (Qualiveen and SF-12 scores) and patients' characteristics.

A survey of French general practitioners and a qualitative study on their use and assessment of predictive clinical scores.

Background: Predictive clinical scores, diagnostic as well as prognostic, are considered to be useful tools for making decisions under conditions of uncertainty. They are not intended to replace clinical judgment or medical experience, but to help physicians in the interpretation of clinical information. The general practitioner (GP), the gateway to care in the French health system, should be the main beneficiary of their utilization.