Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Detects Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy in Symptomatic Patients with Inflammatory Joint Diseases and a Normal Routine Workup.

Background. Patients with inflammatory joint diseases (IJD) are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared with the general population. We hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) could identify cardiac abnormalities in patients with IJD and atypical symptoms unexplained by routine clinical evaluation.

Biologic Therapies and Autoimmune Phenomena.

The use of biologic medications has represented a great advancement in the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Despite their excellent efficacy, during the last years, a growing number of reports of autoimmune phenomena and paradoxical inflammation has emerged. These phenomena may range from the discovery of an isolated autoantibody to full-blown autoimmune diseases, organ-specific and systemic.

Pleural effusion in psoriatic arthritis patients: a case series and review of the literature.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with psoriasis. Pulmonary involvement is a rare extra-articular manifestation of the disease characterized by rigidity of the chest wall and apical pulmonary fibrosis. Pleural effusion is uncommon in PsA.

Clinical, Serological and Immunological Characteristics in Greek Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: The Role of IL-17, IL-23, and Sclerostin.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory form of arthritis that belongs to the family of spondyloarthritis (SpA) and is related to skin psoriasis. The incidence and prevalence of the disease vary considerably between countries. PsA is classified into axial PsA and peripheral PsA, with a wide range of other extra-articular manifestations.

Adalimumab-induced myasthenia gravis: case-based review.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease characterised by the presence of acetylcholine receptor antibodies and by blocking the transmission of the signal in the neuromuscular junction causing muscle weakness. It can be associated with several autoimmune diseases and certain drugs, between them Etanercept an anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agent. A 42-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to methotrexate, was treated with adalimumab (ADA), a human monoclonal antibody against the TNF, in a dosage scheme of 40 mg every 14 days subcutaneously.

Persistence and Adherence during the First Six Months of Tocilizumab Treatment Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Routine Clinical Practice in Greece. Results from the Single Arm REMISSION II Study (NCT01649817).

Objective/aim: One of the most important factors that affect a treatment's performance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is adherence to medications. According to literature, there are several reasons for non-adherence in RA patients with some of them being related to a specific patient profile of the study population. In this study, we investigated persistence to intravenous tocilizumab (TCZ) therapy in RA during routine clinical practice in Greece and identified causes for non-adherence.

Eight-year survival study of first-line tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: real-world data from a university centre registry.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy, safety and survival of TNF-α inhibitors in patients with RA.

Methods: A total of 178 patients >18 years of age were treated with TNF-α inhibitors. A total of 74 patients were treated with infliximab, 75 with adalimumab and 29 with etanercept.

B cell depletion treatment decreases CD4+IL4+ and CD4+CD40L+ T cells in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Recent data suggests that rituximab may favorably affect skin fibrosis and lung function in patients with systemic sclerosis. Based on experimental data suggesting a key role of B and T cells in scleroderma we aimed to explore the effect(s) of rituximab treatment on T cell subpopulations. Fifteen patients with scleroderma who received rituximab treatment and six who received standard treatment alone were recruited.

The impact of temporal artery biopsy for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis in clinical practice in a tertiary university hospital.

Background: Temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is useful in assisting with giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis but lacks sensitivity. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic impact of TAB histology in patients with suspected GCA on hospital admission.

Methods: A prospectively maintained database was queried for all TABs performed between 1-1-2000 until 31-12-2017 at the University Hospital of Ioannina.

Comparative Analysis and Predictors of 10-year Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors Drug Survival in Patients with Spondyloarthritis: First-year Response Predicts Longterm Drug Persistence.

Objective: To evaluate the 10-year drug survival of the first tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) administered to patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) overall and comparatively between SpA subsets, and to identify predictors of drug retention.

Methods: Patients with SpA in the Hellenic Registry of Biologic Therapies, a prospective multicenter observational cohort, starting their first TNFi between 2004-2014 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used.

A multicenter, open-label, comparative study of B-cell depletion therapy with Rituximab for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: Rituximab (RTX) may favorably affect lung function and skin fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We aimed to assess long-term efficacy and safety of RTX in SSc compared to standard treatment.

Methods: A total of 51 patients with SSc-associated interstitial lung disease were recruited and treated with RTX (n = 33) or conventional treatment (n = 18).

Tuberculous pyomyositis in a rheumatoid arthritis patient treated with anakinra.

Musculoskeletal tuberculosis (TB) occurs in only 3% of patients with TB while tuberculous pyomyositis is rare. It usually affects immunocompromised or patients with underlying comorbidities. We present a case of tuberculous pyomyositis in a 85-year-old Caucasian patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with steroids and anakinra.

Cancer diagnosis in a cohort of patients with Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis: a single-center experience and review of the literature.

Background: With the development of modern therapies and better care of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) increased survival has been achieved. However, ARDs may share an association with risk of lymphomas and solid tumors. The increased cancer risk in these patients is mainly due to high inflammatory activity and severity of disease, rather than the immunosuppressive therapy.

Effect of hydroxychloroquine on the lipid profile of patients with Sjögren syndrome.

Objective: Many studies have highlighted the hypolipidemic action of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). We investigated the effect of HCQ on the lipid profile of patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS).

Methods: The present retrospective observational study included 71 female patients with SS treated with HCQ.

Comparative effectiveness and survival of infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept for rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Hellenic Registry of Biologics: Low rates of remission and 5-year drug survival.

Objective: To compare effectiveness, drug survival, and safety between infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept, in a nationwide cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study of 1208 active RA patients. Effectiveness, drug survival, and serious adverse events during entire follow-up (median 2.

Cardiovascular risk profile in patients with spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: The spondyloarthritides (SpA) are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. We studied cardiovascular risk factors in patients with SpA.

Methods: The following risk factors were assessed in SpA patients and healthy controls: smoking, family history of premature ischemic heart disease, obesity, serum lipids, apolipoproteins, urate and carotid intima media thickness (IMT).

Fertility in male patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies treated with infliximab.

Objectives: The majority of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are affected during their peak reproductive years. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Today, anti-TNFα blockers are an essential treatment for these patients.

Prognostic factors of radiological damage in rheumatoid arthritis: a 10-year retrospective study.

Objective: to describe the longterm clinical and radiological outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cohort in northwestern Greece; and to investigate predictive factors of radiological damage at the 10-year followup in patients with RA.

Methods: we studied the disease course and outcome of 144 patients with RA and radiographs of the hands and wrists available at baseline and at 10 years. Baseline measurements and time-averaged measures of swollen joint count (SJC) and inflammatory markers [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] were tested in univariate analysis, and then those presenting a statistically significant association with either Larsen score at 10 years or annual progression rate were included in 2 logistic regression models in order to determine relevant independent prognostic factors.