Implications of thyroid-related autoantibodies in patients with Sjögren's syndrome without overt thyroid diseases.

Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of anti-thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid dysfunction, and their association with clinical and laboratory features in Korean patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) without overt thyroid illnesses.

Methods: We consequently included 196 pSS patients (190 women) and cross-sectionally collected clinical and laboratory data including the EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) and Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI). The fatigue-dominant group was defined as those in the highest quartile of the fraction of fatigue, calculated as the ESSPRI fatigue score divided by the total ESSPRI score.

Clinical characteristics and courses of Korean patients with giant cell arteritis: a multi-center retrospective study.

Objective: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large-vessel vasculitis that primarily affects elderly individuals. However, data regarding Korean patients with GCA are scarce owing to its extremely low prevalence in East Asia. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of Korean patients with GCA and their outcomes, focusing on relapse.

SLIRP promotes autoimmune diseases by amplifying antiviral signaling via positive feedback regulation.

The abnormal innate immune response is a prominent feature underlying autoimmune diseases. One emerging factor that can trigger dysregulated immune activation is cytosolic mitochondrial double-stranded RNAs (mt-dsRNAs). However, the mechanism by which mt-dsRNAs stimulate immune responses remains poorly understood.

All-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with Behçet disease versus the general population.

Background: The comparative risk of cause-specific mortality in patients with Behçet disease (BD) vs. the general population is not known.

Objectives: To compare the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with BD vs.

Recurrent focal myofasciitis of Behçet syndrome mimics infectious myofasciitis: a case report.

Behçet syndrome (BS) is a chronic inflammatory disease with multiorgan manifestations. However, muscular involvement in BS has rarely been reported. Herein, we report the case of a 30-year-old male with BS who had recurring pain and swelling of the lower legs.

Comparative risk of infections between JAK inhibitors versus TNF inhibitors among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study.

Background: To compare infectious risk between JAK inhibitors (JAKis) versus TNF inhibitors (TNFis) among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Korea.

Methods: Using 2009-2019 Korea National Health Insurance Service database, we conducted a cohort study on RA patients initiating a JAKi or TNFi. The primary outcomes were herpes zoster (HZ), serious bacterial (SBI), and opportunistic infections (OI).

Anterior and Lateral Femoroacetabular Excursion Angles Are Helpful for Assessing Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Purpose: To develop a radiographic measurement to evaluate the femoroacetabular space using 3-dimensional (3D) hip models in asymptomatic hips, and to evaluate the reliability and validity of the femoroacetabular excursion angle (FAEA) in symptomatic patients.

Methods: From January 2020 to December 2020, we recruited patients with healthy hips to establish 3D models. Through the simulation of 14 activities of daily living (ADLs), anterior and lateral impingement-free FAEAs were measured.

Quantitative interstitial lung disease scores in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: longitudinal changes and clinical implications.

Objectives: To investigate computer-aided quantitative scores from high-resolution CT (HRCT) images and determine their longitudinal changes and clinical significance in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs)-related interstitial lung disease (IIMs-ILD).

Methods: The clinical data and HRCT images of 80 patients with IIMs who underwent serial HRCT scans at least twice were retrospectively analysed. Quantitative ILD (QILD) scores (%) were calculated as the sum of the extent of lung fibrosis, ground-glass opacity, and honeycombing.

Performance of cut-offs adjusted with positive control band intensity in line-blot assays for myositis-specific antibodies.

The diagnostic performance of band intensity (BI) cut-offs, adjusted by a positive control band (PCB) in a line-blot assay (LBA) for myositis-related autoantibodies (MRAs) is investigated. Sera from 153 idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) patients with available immunoprecipitation assay (IPA) data and 79 healthy controls were tested using the EUROLINE panel. Strips were evaluated for BI using the EUROLineScan software, and the coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated.

Lung function trajectory of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: To explore the course of lung function and RA disease activity and predictive factors for deteriorating lung function in patients with RA-interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: The Korean Rheumatoid Arthritis-Interstitial Lung Disease cohort is a multicentre, prospective observational cohort. Patients with RA-ILD were enrolled and followed up annually for 3 years for RA disease activity and ILD status assessment.

Methotrexate, leflunomide and tacrolimus use and the progression of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objective: To examine the association between MTX, LEF and tacrolimus use and the progression of RA-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: The Korean RA-ILD cohort prospectively enrolled patients with RA-associated ILD at multiple centres from 2015 to 2018 and followed up with them for 3 years. ILD progression was defined by any of the followings: a decrease of ≥10% in forced vital capacity, a decrease of ≥15% in the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, or death from respiratory failure.

The effect of rebamipide on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastro-enteropathy: a multi-center, randomized pilot study.

Background/aims: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly-used medications, and ailments such as arthritis or heart disease, require long-term use of these drugs, which can induce gastroenteropathy with bleeding and ulcers. This study investigated the associations between efficacy, safety, and gastrointestinal symptoms linked to rebamipide and proton pump inhibitor administration in patients requiring long-term NSAID use.

Methods: This study was a multi-center, randomized, open-labeled, pilot design.

Comparative risk of blindness and vision-threatening ocular comorbidities in patients with Behçet's disease versus the general population.

Objective: To compare the risk of blindness and vision-threatening ocular comorbidities in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) vs the general population.

Methods: Using 2002-2017 Korea National Health Insurance Service database, we did a population-based cohort study comparing newly diagnosed BD patients and age- and sex-matched non-BD controls at a 1:5 ratio. The primary outcome was blindness, defined as a best-corrected visual acuity of ≤20/500 in the better-seeing eye.

Association between sarcopenia defined as low lean mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and comorbidities of rheumatoid arthritis: Results of a nationwide cross-sectional health examination.

Background: To examine the association between sarcopenia and comorbidities among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We selected RA patients and age- and sex-matched non-RA controls at a 1:5 ratio from 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Sarcopenia was defined by appendicular skeletal muscle mass.

A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Parallel-Group Trial on the Effects of Temporary Methotrexate Discontinuation for One Week Versus Two Weeks on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: This clinical trial was conducted to investigate whether discontinuing methotrexate (MTX) for 1 week after seasonal influenza vaccination is noninferior to discontinuing for 2 weeks after vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-group noninferiority trial, RA patients receiving a stable dose of MTX were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to discontinue MTX for 1 week or for 2 weeks after they received the quadrivalent 2021-2022 seasonal influenza vaccine containing H1N1, H3N2, B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria strains. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with a satisfactory vaccine response, which was defined as ≥4-fold increase in antibody titers, as determined with the hemagglutination inhibition assay, against ≥2 of the 4 vaccine strains at 4 weeks after vaccination.