Damage in a large systemic lupus erythematosus cohort from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry (RELESSER) with emphasis on the cardiovascular system: a longitudinal analysis.

Objective: To assess organ damage, with emphasis on the cardiovascular system, over the different stages of the disease in a large SLE cohort.

Methods: Multicentre, longitudinal study of a cohort of 4219 patients with SLE enrolled in the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry. Organ damage was ascertained using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI).

Impact of Inherited Thrombophilia in Women with Obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Single-Center Study and Literature Review.

Inherited thrombophilia (IT) has been implicated as a potential causal factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), including recurrent miscarriage with and without the presence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and impact of IT on fetal-maternal outcomes and thrombotic risk in women within the spectrum of obstetric APS. Three hundred and twenty-eight women with APS-related obstetric morbidity ever pregnant were included.

Pregnancy outcomes in 1869 pregnancies in a large cohort from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Register (RELESSER).

Introduction: Obstetric complications are more common in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in the general population.

Objective: To assess pregnancy outcomes in women with SLE from the RELESSER cohort after 12 years of follow-up.

Methods: A multicentre retrospective observational study was conducted.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and trabecular bone score (TBS) in postmenopausal women: The Camargo cohort.

Objectives: The potential relationship between diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and bone microstructure has not been studied in women. We aimed to assess the association between the trabecular bone score (TBS) and DISH in postmenopausal women, as well as the role of other parameters related to bone metabolism, such as bone mineral density (BMD), calciotropic hormones, and bone remodeling markers.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, nested in a prospective population-based cohort (Camargo cohort).

Early stages of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and chronic inflammation: the Camargo Cohort Study.

Introduction/objectives: DISH has traditionally been considered a non-inflammatory rheumatic disorder. Currently, an inflammatory component has been theorized in the early phases of this condition (EDISH). The study is aimed at investigating a possible relationship between EDISH and chronic inflammation.

Comparison of ANA testing by indirect immunofluorescence or solid-phase assays in a low pre-test probability population for systemic autoimmune disease: the Camargo Cohort.

Objectives: Autoantibodies and, specifically antinuclear antibodies (ANA), are the hallmark of systemic autoimmune diseases (AID). In the last decades, there has been great technical development to detect these autoantibodies along with an increased request for this test by clinicians, while the overall pre-test probability has decreased. In this study, we compare the diagnostic performance of three different methods for ANA screening (indirect immunofluorescence [IIF], addressable laser bead immunoassay [ALBIA], and fluorescence enzyme immunoassay [FEIA]).

Non-Criteria Obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome: How Different Is from Sidney Criteria? A Single-Center Study.

This study aims to compare the demographic characteristics, clinical features, serology, and fetal-maternal outcomes between women with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and those with non-criteria (NC)-APS and seronegative (SN)-APS. Two-hundred and sixty-three women with APS obstetric morbidity ever pregnant were included. Of those, 66 met the APS classification criteria, 140 were NC-APS, and 57 were SN-APS.

TNF Inhibitors Exert a "Hidden" Beneficial Effect in the Cardiovascular Lipoprotein Profile of RA Patients.

Purpose: A high cardiovascular risk has been described in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); the effects of different biological agents have also been described in these patients. The aim of the present study is to examine the effects of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in the lipoprotein profile of RA patients using a broad laboratory assessment including a large number of non-routine tests.

Patients And Methods: RA patients treated with and without TNFi (70 patients in each group) were cross-sectionally compared regarding a broad spectrum of lipoprotein parameters including serum levels of total and HDL, LDL and VLDL cholesterol triglycerides, lipoprotein A (LpA), apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A), B100 (Apo B) and paroxonase.

Anti-Protein-Arginine Deiminase 4 IgG and IgA Delineate Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis.

There is a strong need for biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in all phases of the patient’s journey and to enable the implementation of precision medicine strategies to improve patient care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of anti-protein-arginine deiminase (PAD) 4 IgG and IgA in the sera of RA patients and disease controls, and to investigate their association with joint erosion and biological treatment use. Sera from 104 RA and 155 controls were tested for the presence of anti-PAD4 IgG and IgA using a new particle-based multi-analyte technology (PMAT).

Profibrotic Role of Inducible Heat Shock Protein 90α Isoform in Systemic Sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease that affects skin and multiple internal organs. TGF-β, a central trigger of cutaneous fibrosis, activates fibroblasts with the involvement of the stress-inducible chaperone heat shock protein 90 isoform α (Hsp90α). Available evidence supports overexpression and secretion of Hsp90α as a feature in profibrotic pathological conditions.

Treatment with low-dose prednisone in refractory obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome: A retrospective cohort study and meta-analysis.

Background: Glucocorticoids have been suggested as a potential therapy in refractory obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (oAPS). Our aims were to describe a cohort of patients with oAPS treated with low-dose glucocorticoids and to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of additional glucocorticoids on the pregnancy outcomes in oAPS patients.

Methods: Retrospective study that included 11 women diagnosed with primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Pregnancy and systemic lupus erythematosus in Spain: Has anything changed in the 21st century?

Objective: To analyse a cohort of pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and compare the outcomes of both the disease and pregnancy with the results of previous studies conducted in the same geographical area.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 37 women with systemic lupus erythematosus (64 pregnancies) followed in a multidisciplinary unit. Comparative study with similar Spanish studies identified after literature search.

Vitamin D Status in Hospitalized Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background: The role of vitamin D status in COVID-19 patients is a matter of debate.

Objectives: To assess serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and to analyze the possible influence of vitamin D status on disease severity.

Methods: Retrospective case-control study of 216 COVID-19 patients and 197 population-based controls.

Does Adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score (aGAPSS) Predict the Obstetric Outcome in Antiphospholipid Antibody Carriers? A Single-Center Study.

The adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) Score (aGAPSS) is a tool proposed to quantify the risk for antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-related clinical manifestations. However, aGAPSS has been validated mainly for thrombotic events and studies on APS-related obstetric manifestations are scarce. Furthermore, the majority of them included patients with positive aPL and different autoimmune diseases.

Risk Factors for the Development of the Disease in Antiphospholipid Antibodies Carriers: A Long-term Follow-up Study.

The natural history of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) carriers is not well-established. The objectives of the present study were (a) to study the probability of developing clinical criteria of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), (b) to identify potential risk factors for developing thrombosis and/or obstetric complications, (c) to study the association between the antibody profile and development of APS, and (d) to determine the efficacy of primary prophylaxis. We retrospectively analyzed 138 subjects with positive aPL who did not fulfill clinical criteria for APS.

Feasibility of large-scale population testing for SARS-CoV-2 detection by self-testing at home.

The simplicity and low cost of rapid point-of-care tests greatly facilitate large-scale population testing, which can contribute to controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We evaluated the applicability of a self-testing strategy for SARS-CoV2 in a population-based, cross-sectional study in Cantabria, Spain, between April and May 2020. For the self-testing strategy, participants received the necessary material for the self-collection of blood and performance of a rapid antibody test using lateral flow immunoassay at home without the supervision of healthcare personnel.

Relevance of gastrointestinal manifestations in a large Spanish cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: what do we know?

Objective: SLE can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI symptoms are reported to occur in >50% of SLE patients. To describe the GI manifestations of SLE in the RELESSER (Registry of SLE Patients of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology) cohort and to determine whether these are associated with a more severe disease, damage accrual and a worse prognosis.

Socio-economic factors do also matter: comments on the article "can climatic factors explain the differences in COVID-19 incidence and severity across the SPANISH regions?: an ecological study".

Phosri et al., commented on our previous study about the influence of climate variables at the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Spain. They showed the impact of the association of gross domestic product (GDP) with the cumulative COVID-19 incidence per 10 inhabitants in our country and the rise of several methodologic issues.

Vitamin D Status in Hospitalized Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background: The role of vitamin D status in COVID-19 patients is a matter of debate.

Objectives: To assess serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and to analyze the possible influence of vitamin D status on disease severity.

Methods: Retrospective case-control study of 216 COVID-19 patients and 197 population-based controls.