A pilot trial of integrating the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) into rheumatology care.

Objectives: Utilising Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) questionnaires can enhance clinical care by measuring longitudinal changes in symptom severity as reported by the patient. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and impact of incorporating PROMIS® questionnaires at the point-of-care in rheumatology practice.

Methods: Patients with rheumatic diseases and decrements in ≥1 PROMIS® domain (pain intensity, physical function, or sleep disturbance) were stratified by their concerning domain, then randomised to either receive an interpretation of their PROMIS® scores prior to their rheumatology appointment (Arm 1) or to usual care (Arm 2) (ClinicalTrials.

Increased Epicardial Fat Volume Is Independently Associated with the Presence and Severity of Systemic Sclerosis.

Rationale And Objectives: The study aimed to determine if intrathoracic fat volumes are associated with the presence and severity of systemic sclerosis (SSc), defined by the presence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Materials And Methods: A total of 265 patients were included in the study, 202 of whom had SSc (134 had SSc with no PAH and 68 had SSc-associated PAH) and who underwent high-resolution computed tomography, and 63 controls who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography with calcium scoring. Intrathoracic and epicardial (EFV) fat volumes were quantified by manual tracing of the mediastinum and the pericardium, the difference of which represents the extrapericardial fat volume.

Use of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog for protection against premature ovarian failure during cyclophosphamide therapy in women with severe lupus.

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CYC) therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease predominantly affecting women of childbearing age, causes an unacceptably high incidence of irreversible premature ovarian failure (POF). This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of depot leuprolide acetate, a synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRH-a), for protection against POF during CYC therapy.

Methods: Young women with severe SLE treated in a standardized protocol of monthly intravenous bolus CYC were offered treatment with GnRH-a (depot leuprolide acetate; a 3.