Molecular characterisation of lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) and DORIS remission by whole-blood transcriptome-based pathways in a pan-European systemic lupus erythematosus cohort.

Objectives: To unveil biological milieus underlying low disease activity (LDA) and remission versus active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We determined differentially expressed pathways (DEPs) in SLE patients from the PRECISESADS project (NTC02890121) stratified into patients fulfilling and not fulfilling the criteria of (1) Lupus LDA State (LLDAS), (2) Definitions of Remission in SLE remission, and (3) LLDAS exclusive of remission.

Results: We analysed data from 321 patients; 40.

Suitability for e-health of non-pharmacological interventions in connective tissue diseases: scoping review with a descriptive analysis.

Objective: Non-pharmacological interventions support patients with connective tissue diseases to better cope with and self-manage their diseases. This study aimed to map existing evidence on non-pharmacological interventions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and mixed connective tissue diseases regarding content, feasibility and potential suitability in an e-health setting.

Methods: A literature search was performed in eight different databases in July 2020.

European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) SLE classification criteria item performance.

Background/objectives: The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2019 classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus system showed high specificity, while attaining also high sensitivity. We hereby analysed the performance of the individual criteria items and their contribution to the overall performance of the criteria.

Methods: We combined the EULAR/ACR derivation and validation cohorts for a total of 1197 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and n=1074 non-SLE patients with a variety of conditions mimicking SLE, such as other autoimmune diseases, and calculated the sensitivity and specificity for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and the 23 specific criteria items.

2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: To develop new classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) jointly supported by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

Methods: This international initiative had four phases. 1) Evaluation of antinuclear antibody (ANA) as an entry criterion through systematic review and meta-regression of the literature and criteria generation through an international Delphi exercise, an early patient cohort, and a patient survey.

2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To develop new classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) jointly supported by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

Methods: This international initiative had four phases. (1) Evaluation of antinuclear antibody (ANA) as an entry criterion through systematic review and meta-regression of the literature and criteria generation through an international Delphi exercise, an early patient cohort and a patient survey.

Rheumatoid arthritis in remission : Decreased myostatin and increased serum levels of periostin.

Background: Chronic inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with disturbances in muscle and bone metabolism.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether endocrine regulators of myogenesis and bone metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission differed from unaffected healthy controls. An additional point was whether these were associated with patients' health-related functioning or particular bodily functions of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Immunoadsorption in Autoimmune Diseases Affecting the Kidney.

Autoantibodies play an important role in the pathophysiology of renal involvement in systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic vasculitis, and anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (or Goodpasture syndrome). Direct removal of autoantibodies therefore has been tried in various ways, first by plasma exchange. Today, immunoadsorption is the extracorporeal method that most effectively removes (pathogenic) immune complexes and antibodies.

MicroRNA 155-deficiency leads to decreased autoantibody levels and reduced severity of nephritis and pneumonitis in pristane-induced lupus.

Objective: We herein examine the role of endogenous miR155 in the development of systemic manifestations in pristane induced lupus.

Materials And Methods: Systemic lupus in miR155-deficient and wild type mice was induced upon injection of pristane and analyzed after 8 months, PBS-injected mice served as controls. Glomerulonephritis and pneumonitis were quantified using the kidney biopsy score and a newly adapted histomorphometric image analysis system; lung tissue was further analyzed by tissue cytometry.

The patients' perspective: living with lupus in Austria.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease with a vast variety of clinical manifestations. Timely diagnosis is important for gaining access to specific therapy and care. In this survey, we asked SLE patients with an established diagnosis to report about their personal history and their daily life with SLE in order to gain knowledge about diagnostics, treatment pathways and potential problems in daily living and functioning.

It's more than dryness and fatigue: The patient perspective on health-related quality of life in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome - A qualitative study.

Objectives: In Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (PSS), there is an apparent lack of data concerning the perspectives of patients, their needs, preferences and difficulties of daily life. This qualitative study was conducted to explore perspectives and needs of patients with PSS that influence health related quality of life (HRQL).

Methods: We recruited 20 PSS patients fulfilling the American-European consensus classification criteria out of the PSS cohort of the Medical University Graz, Austria.

Regulatory T cell-deficient scurfy mice develop systemic autoimmune features resembling lupus-like disease.

Introduction: Scurfy mice are deficient in regulatory T cells (Tregs), develop a severe, generalized autoimmune disorder that can affect almost every organ and die at an early age. Some of these manifestations resemble those found in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In addition, active SLE is associated with low Treg numbers and reduced Treg function, but direct evidence for a central role of Treg malfunction in the pathophysiology of lupus-like manifestations is still missing.

Personal factors in systemic sclerosis and their coverage by patient-reported outcome measures. A multicentre European qualitative study and literature review.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease where thickening of the skin can lead to reduced body function and limitations in activities. Severe forms can also affect and seriously damage inner organs. Patient-centred rehabilitation emphasises considerations of patients' background, experience and behavior which highlights the need to know if patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) include such personal factors.

Pristane-induced lupus as a model of human lupus arthritis: evolvement of autoantibodies, internal organ and joint inflammation.

Objective: Arthritis is frequently seen in human lupus, but rarely in lupus models. Pristane-induced lupus (PIL) can be induced in various mouse strains such as BALB/c and C57BL/6. We herein characterize clinical and histological features of arthritis in the context of systemic lupus and provide a prudent comparison with models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Autoantibodies against CD74 in spondyloarthritis.

Background: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a common debilitating inflammatory disorder. Establishing the diagnosis is often difficult, since abnormalities in conventional X-ray develop with a latency of several years and only HLA-B27 is used as a laboratory marker. The goal of our study was to identify new autoantibodies as diagnostic markers of SpA.

Lupus nephritis: prolonged immunoadsorption (IAS) reduces proteinuria and stabilizes global disease activity.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by pathogenic autoantibodies, which can be removed by extracorporeal procedures. While previous studies have shown short-term efficacy of immunoadsorption (IAS) in SLE, no information on long-term benefit and safety is available.

Methods: IAS was offered to patients with highly active renal disease when conventional therapy had failed.

Concepts of functioning and health important to people with systemic sclerosis: a qualitative study in four European countries.

Objective: To describe the experiences of people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in different European countries of functioning and health and to link these experiences to the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to develop a common understanding from a bio-psycho-social perspective.

Method: A qualitative multicentre study with focus-group interviews was performed in four European countries: Austria, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. The qualitative data analysis followed a modified form of 'meaning condensation' and the concepts that emerged in the analysis were linked to the ICF.

Immunoadsorption (IAS) for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Immunoadsorption (IAS) is used as a rescue therapy in severely ill SLE patients who are refractory to conventional therapies. This extracorporeal method aims at the rapid and extensive removal of pathogenic immunocomplexes (ICs) and (auto-)antibodies (Abs). Although past data have shown short- to mid-term efficacy and biocompatibility of IAS in (renal) SLE, it is still an experimental and rather expensive procedure - and evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is lacking.

Immunoadsorption in SLE: three different high affinity columns are adequately effective in removing autoantibodies and controlling disease activity.

Introduction: Pathogenic autoantibodies (Abs) are a hallmark of SLE and their rapid removal is beneficial in active SLE. Immunoadsorption (IAS) is effective in removing serum levels of all classes of immunoglobulin (Ig), immune complexes (IC) and anti-dsDNA Abs and appears superior to plasmapheresis with respect to side effects. IAS can be performed with different columns, which use different ligands to bind their target.

Immunoadsorption for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Immunoadsorption (IAS) with various methods is used as a rescue therapy in severely ill SLE patients who are refractory to conventional therapeutic procedures. The method aims at the rapid and extensive removal of pathogenic immunocomplexes (IC) and (auto-) antibodies (Abs). Long-term observational studies suggested efficacy and have not seen an increase in the risk of infections (as were seen in other extracorporeal procedures).

Pre-differentiated Th1 and Th17 effector T cells in autoimmune gastritis: Ag-specific regulatory T cells are more potent suppressors than polyclonal regulatory T cells.

Naïve antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells (TxA23) induce autoimmune gastritis when transferred into BALB/c nu/nu mice. Transfer of in vitro pre-differentiated Th1 or Th17 TxA23 effector T cells into BALB/c nu/nu recipients induces distinct histological patterns of disease. We have previously shown that co-transfer of polyclonal naturally occurring Treg (nTreg) suppressed development of Th1-, but not Th17-mediated disease.