Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Dactylitis and Enthesitis in Psoriatic Arthritis.

Dactylitis is a clinical concept that corresponds to the swelling of the whole finger or toe giving a sausage appearance. Although it can be observed in different diseases, it is a distinctive clinical feature of psoriatic arthritis and is associated with a poor prognosis. Ultrasound has made it possible to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis dactylitis, identifying associated structural alterations, namely, flexor tenosynovitis, subcutaneous tissue edema, pulley inflammation with thickening and intra-pulley Doppler signals, extensor paratenonitis, synovitis, pericapsular bone formation, and flexor enthesitis.

Identifying Clinicoradiological Phenotypes in Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a bone formation disease in which only skeletal signs are considered in classification criteria. The aim of the study was to describe different phenotypes in DISH patients based on clinicoradiological features. : We evaluated 97 patients who met the Resnick or modified Utsinger classification criteria for DISH and were diagnosed at our hospital from 2004 to 2015.

Should over-treatment of axial spondyloarthritis with biologics remain a concern after the issue of the new ASAS criteria? Data from REGISPONSERBIO (Spanish Register of Biological Therapy in Spondyloarthritides).

Objectives: To study whether disease status at treatment initiation has changed after the issue of the ASAS classification criteria.

Methods: REGISPONSERBIO registers patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) on biological treatment since 2013. It includes patients starting biological treatment (incident) or already on biological therapies (prevalent).

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: Can we identify a peripheral pattern?

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a bone disease characterized by ossification of spinal ligaments and peripheral entheses. Currently, we still use the classic classification criteria that do not include extraspinal manifestations. A number of authors agree on the need to revise them.

VARIAR Study: Assessment of short-term efficacy and safety of rituximab compared to an tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists as second-line drug therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to a first tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonist.

Objective: to compare the short-term efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) therapy versus anti-TNF in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients after discontinuation of a first anti-TNF agent.

Methods: prospective observational multicenter study in the clinical practice setting, involving patients with severe RA refractory to a first anti-TNF agent, who received either RTX or a second anti-TNF (2TNF), comparing the efficacy endpoints, EULAR response (Good/Moderate) and safety at 6 months.

Results: 103 patients enrolled, 82 completed 6-month follow-up, 73.

Nailfold capillaroscopic findings in primary Sjögren's syndrome with and without Raynaud's phenomenon and/or positive anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies.

The aim of this study was to assess nailfold capillaroscopic (NC) findings in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS) with and without Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) as well as in the presence of positive anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies. Videocapillaroscopy was performed in 150 patients with PSS. Data collected included demographics, presence of RP, PSS symptoms, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, anti-Ro, anti-La, anti-CCP, salivary scintigraphy, labial biopsy, and NC findings.

Diagnostic and therapeutic delay of rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with health care devices in Catalonia. The AUDIT study.

Objective: Diagnosis and therapy of patients with early onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is influenced by accessibility to specialized care devices. We attempted to analyze the impact of their availability.

Methods: We analyzed time related to diagnosis delay measuring: 1) Time from first clinical symptoms to the first visit with the Rheumatologist; 2) Time from referral to the first visit of Rheumatology; 3) Time between first symptom until final diagnosis; 4) time between first symptom until the initiation of the first disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD).

Improved prediction of knee osteoarthritis progression by genetic polymorphisms: the Arthrotest Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a genetic prognostic tool to predict radiographic progression towards severe disease in primary knee OA (KOA) patients.

Methods: This investigation was a cross-sectional, retrospective, multicentric association study in 595 Spanish KOA patients. Caucasian patients aged ≥40 years at the time of diagnosis of primary KOA of Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3 were included.

Mutilating/resorptive arthritis. A study of 24 patients in a series of 360 patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To describe a large series of patients with mutilans/resorptive arthritis (AM) of a representative population of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and analyze the associated variables.

Methods: Multicenter cross-sectional study of consecutive patients affected by PsA in 8 centers. In patients with swelling or deformity of the hands or feet we performed an anteroposterior rx.

[Functional impairment in psoriatic arthritis. Multicentric study of 343 patients].

Background And Objective: The study is aimed at improving our knowledge about the functional impairment of the psoriatic arthritis through a multicentral series.

Patients And Method: We have designed a transversal and multicentral study (centers of the same geographical area), including 343 patients with psoriatic arthritis. Eight medical centers have participated.