Incidence rate of and risk factors for glomerulonephritis in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Although extramusculoskeletal manifestations, such as uveitis and psoriasis, in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) are well-documented, studies on the occurrence of glomerulonephritis in this population are scarce.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the incidence rate and risk factors for glomerulonephritis in patients with axial SpA using a nationwide population-based cohort in Korea.

Design: Nationwide population-based study.

Lupus flare and recurrent lupus nephritis following kidney transplantation in patients with lupus nephritis.

Background: Clinical manifestations and risk factors associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares, including recurrent lupus nephritis (LN), in patients with LN who undergo kidney transplantation have been unclear.

Methods: Kidney transplant recipients with LN from January 1995 to December 2021 were included in this study. A disease flare was defined as either an increase in the non-renal SLE disease activity index score or the presence of biopsy-proven recurrent LN.

Anti-protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A-IgM levels in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: a potential biomarker.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been known to have auto-inflammatory nature; hence, the efficacy of autoantibodies is low. However, studies on autoantibodies are ongoing, with some studies showing associations. Previous studies showed that anti-protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A (PPM1A) IgG was increased in patients with AS and associated with radiographic progression.

Incidence rate of chronic kidney disease and its association with long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in ankylosing spondylitis: A nationwide population-based study.

Aim: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) predominantly affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, with rare renal involvement. We investigated the incidence rate and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with AS and its relationship with long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of patients diagnosed with AS from the Korean National Health Insurance service.

Prognostic Factors for Chronic Thrombocytopenia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Introduction: We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and risk factors for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with SLE-associated ITP between January 2000 and December 2021. Patient characteristics were analyzed according to the progression of chronic thrombocytopenia.

Progression to ANCA-associated vasculitis in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and positive ANCA.

Objective: This study explored the development of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and its risk factors in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and positive ANCA results.

Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with IIP with positive ANCA results at a single tertiary center in South Korea were retrospectively reviewed from January 2013 to August 2023. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with AAV occurrence following IIP diagnosis.

Drug survival and change of disease activity using a second janus kinase inhibitor in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis who failed to a janus kinase inhibitor and subsequent biologics.

Background: To assess the drug survival and change of disease activity using a second Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) after failure to a JAKi and subsequent biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 32 patients with difficult-to-treat RA who failed to a JAKi and subsequently to one or more bDMARDs and then switched to a second JAKi. To assess drug survival, electronic medical records of each patient were reviewed.

Relapse in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis undergoing dialysis: a single-centre retrospective study in South Korea.

Objectives: The disease activity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) can decrease after dialysis, and relapse after dialysis is not well-studied. We investigated the clinical manifestations and factors associated with relapse in patients with AAV undergoing dialysis.

Methods: This retrospective study included data of patients with AAV undergoing dialysis due to renal involvement from July 2005 to March 2021 in a single tertiary centre in Seoul, Korea.

Clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with splenomegaly: focussed on the cytopenias.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of splenomegaly, mainly focussing on cytopenia, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cytopenia was commonly observed in 111 SLE patients with splenomegaly (n = 79, 71.2%).

Febuxostat dose requirement according to renal function in patients who achieve target serum urate levels: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To determine the febuxostat dose requirement according to renal function in patients who achieve target serum urate (SU) levels.

Methods: Of 3153 gout patients who underwent febuxostat treatment, 873 patients with an initial SU level>6mg/dL were included and categorized by the estimated glomerular filtration rate: normal, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3, and stages 4-5. Ninety-five patients with insufficient follow-up were further excluded.

Effect of belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with low dose or no corticosteroids.

Background/aims: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) responder index (SRI)-4 response has been achieved with belimumab treatment in patients with moderate disease activity in cornerstone clinical trials and following studies. However, most studies involved patients treated with a mean prednisolone-equivalent dose of approximately 10 mg/d and focused on the steroid-sparing effect of belimumab. We aimed to identify the effect of belimumab in patients with mild-to-moderate SLE who were treated with low-dose or no corticosteroids.

Clinical effect of progressive pulmonary fibrosis on patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease: a single center retrospective cohort study.

The concept of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) has been introduced to predict the diverse prognosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, the incidence and effect of PPF on outcomes in patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) need to be elucidated. This study reviewed 197 patients with CTD-ILD.

Recovery and long-term renal outcome of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis who are on dialysis at presentation.

Objective: Renal involvement in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) can lead to severe renal dysfunction requiring dialysis at diagnosis. We aimed to study the clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with AAV dependent on dialysis at presentation and the long-term renal outcomes of patients who recovered from dialysis.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of patients diagnosed with AAV who were on dialysis from July 2005 to May 2021 at a single tertiary center in Korea.

When MRI would be useful in patients without evidence of sacroiliitis on radiographs?

We aimed to identify when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would be useful to diagnose patients with suspected axial spondyloarthropathy (AxSpA) without evidence of sacroiliitis on radiographs. We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of patients who underwent pelvis MRI after radiographs at the rheumatology clinic in a single tertiary center in Korea. Patients underwent imaging from January 2020 to July 2022.

Long-term renal outcomes of patients with non-proliferative lupus nephritis.

Background/aims: Although non-proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) (class I, II or V) has been considered as a less severe type of LN, data on long-term renal prognosis are limited. We investigated the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in non-proliferative LN.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who were diagnosed with LN class I, II, V, or II + V by kidney biopsy from 1997 to 2021.

Incidence of and risk factors for myelodysplastic syndrome in patients with rheumatologic diseases.

Objective: We investigated the incidence of and risk factors for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in patients with rheumatologic disease.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who were diagnosed with rheumatologic diseases at a tertiary care hospital between May 2009 and July 2022 and identified the patients who were subsequently diagnosed with MDS. Each patient with MDS was matched with five age- and sex-matched controls chosen from the cohort of patients with each specific rheumatologic disease.

Pregnancy Outcomes Associated With Biologic Agent Exposure in Patients With Several Rheumatic Diseases and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: This study aimed to analyze pregnancy outcomes based on biologic agents use in women using the nationwide population-based database.

Methods: The study used the claims database to identify women of childbearing age with several rheumatic (rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis) and inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) who had pregnancy-related codes between January 2010 and December 2019. We analyzed live births and adverse pregnancy outcomes based on the previous use of biologics.

Prognostic value of proteinuria monitoring in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objective: To determine the prognostic significance of proteinuria monitoring in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of kidney biopsy-confirmed patients with AAV. Proteinuria was evaluated by a urine dipstick test.

Anti-S1/RBD-Specific Antibody Formation After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Elderly Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Single-Center Prospective Observational Study.

Background: The guidelines of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been continuously updated, with extensive discussion on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 booster vaccines and antibody generation associated with the different types of vaccine. We investigated the effects of the third dose of the mRNA vaccine on antibody titer and the factors associated with antibody production in patients with RA who had previously received two doses of the ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19 vaccine.

Methods: Between October 14, 2021 and June 17, 2022, two patient groups diagnosed with RA were recruited prospectively: one with two doses of ChAdOx1-S nCoV-19 and the second group with the additional third mRNA vaccine.

Serum IgG4 level during initial treatment as a predictor of relapse in IgG4-related disease.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the predictors of relapse in immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD), focusing on the serum IgG4 levels during initial treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively recruited 57 patients with IgG4-RD who were treated with immunosuppressants and elevated serum IgG4 levels in a tertiary hospital between January 2011 and December 2020. They were followed up for ≥ 6 months after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy.

Incidence of rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.

Background/aims: The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with changes in the epidemiology of not only infectious diseases but also several non-infectious conditions. This study investigated changes in the recorded incidence of various rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The number of patients for each disease from January 2016 to December 2020 was obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database.

promoter variant rs35705950, rare but significant susceptibility locus in rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease with usual interstitial pneumonia in Asian populations.

Background: variant rs35705950 is the common and most significant risk variant for rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) in Western populations. However, little is known about its significant association with RA-ILD in Asian populations. We here investigate the association of rs35705950 with Korean patients with RA-ILD.