Sensitivity of classification criteria from time of diagnosis in an incident systemic lupus erythematosus cohort: a population-based study from Norway.

Objectives: To compare the sensitivity of 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria against 1997 ACR criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), for incident SLE cases in the presumably complete population-based Nor-SLE cohort from Southeast Norway (2.9 million inhabitants).

Methods: All cases International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) coded as SLE during 2000-2017 were individually reviewed.

Risk loci involved in giant cell arteritis susceptibility: a genome-wide association study.

Background: Giant cell arteritis is an age-related vasculitis that mainly affects the aorta and its branches in individuals aged 50 years and older. Current options for diagnosis and treatment are scarce, highlighting the need to better understand its underlying pathogenesis. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have emerged as a powerful tool for unravelling the pathogenic mechanisms involved in complex diseases.

Risk of death in Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections is associated with specific phylogenetic lineages.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex (KpSC) bloodstream infections (BSIs) are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, particularly in elderly and multimorbid patients. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains have been associated with poorer outcome. However, the clinical impact of KpSC phylogenetic lineages on BSI outcome is unclear.

Declining Incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Norway 1999-2017: Data From a Population Cohort Identified by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision Code and Verified by Classification.

Objective: The goal of this study was to provide complete, robust data on annual systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) incidence rates over nearly two decades from the Southeast Norway area (2.9 million inhabitants) and assess accuracy of SLE-specific International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes for SLE diagnosis.

Methods: From administrative databases, we identified all cases International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) coded as SLE during 1999 through 2017 in Southeast Norway.

Persisting mortality gap in systemic lupus erythematosus; a population-based study on juvenile- and adult-onset SLE in Norway 1999-2022.

Objective: To estimate mortality and survival rates of SLE in a contemporary, population-based setting and assess potential influences by time, sex, ethnicity, classification criteria and age at diagnosis.

Methods: We assessed mortality and survival in the Nor-SLE cohort, which includes all chart review-confirmed SLE cases resident in Southeast Norway (population 2.9 million) 1999-2017.

Changes of inflammation in patients with psoriatic arthritis after high intensity interval training assessed by ultrasound and MRI, a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In psoriatic arthritis (PsA) there is a theoretical risk of increased disease activity related to strenuous physical activity, including exercise. We evaluated the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on objective measures of inflammation in PsA assessed by ultrasound (US) of peripheral joints and entheses, and by bone marrow edema (BME) on MRI of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) and spine.

Methods: We randomly assigned 67 PsA patients to an intervention group that performed structured HIIT for 11 weeks, or to a control group instructed not to change their physical exercise habits.

One-Third of European Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis Reach Pain Remission With Routine Care Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Treatment.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) initiating a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi), to assess the proportion reaching PRO "remission" across registries and treatment series, and to compare patients registered to fulfill the modified New York (mNY) criteria for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) vs patients with nonradiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA).

Methods: Fifteen European registries contributed PRO scores for pain, fatigue, patient global assessment (PtGA), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) from 19,498 patients with axSpA. Changes in PROs and PRO remission rates (definitions: ≤ 20 mm for pain, fatigue, PtGA, BASDAI, and BASFI; ≤ 0.

Predictors of ASDAS-CRP inactive disease in axial spondyloarthritis during treatment with TNF-inhibitors: Data from the EuroSpA collaboration.

Objectives: In patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) initiating their first tumor necrosis factor alpha-inhibitor (TNFi), we aimed to identify common baseline predictors of Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS-CRP) inactive disease (primary objective) and clinically important improvement (CII) at 6 months, and drug retention at 12-months across 15 European registries.

Methods: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Outcomes were investigated per registry and in pooled data using logistic regression analyses on multiply imputed data.

Short-term, intermediate-term and long-term risks of acute coronary syndrome in cohorts of patients with RA starting biologic DMARDs: results from four Nordic countries.

Objectives: To compare the 1-year, 2-year and 5-year incidences of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) starting any of the biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) currently available in clinical practice and to anchor these results with a general population comparator.

Methods: Observational cohort study, with patients from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden starting a bDMARD during 2008-2017. Time to first ACS was identified through register linkages.

Do patient-reported measures of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis vary between countries? Results from a Nordic collaboration.

Objectives: To investigate whether patient-reported outcomes vary across countries and are influenced by cultural/contextual factors. Specifically, we aimed to assess inter-country differences in tender joint count (TJC), pain and patient's global health assessment (PGA), and their impact on disease activity (DAS28-CRP) in RA patients from five Nordic countries.

Methods: We collected data (baseline, 3- and 12-months) from rheumatology registers in the five countries comprising RA patients starting a first ever MTX or a first ever TNF inhibitor (TNFi).

European bio-naïve spondyloarthritis patients initiating TNF inhibitor: time trends in baseline characteristics, treatment retention and response.

Objectives: To investigate time trends in baseline characteristics and retention, remission and response rates in bio-naïve axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients initiating TNF inhibitor (TNFi) treatment.

Methods: Prospectively collected data on bio-naïve axSpA and PsA patients from routine care in 15 European countries were pooled. Three cohorts were defined according to year of TNFi initiation: A (1999-2008), B (2009-2014) and C (2015-2018).

Effect of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring vs Standard Therapy During Maintenance Infliximab Therapy on Disease Control in Patients With Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Proactive therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), consisting of individualized treatment based on scheduled assessments of serum drug levels, has been proposed as an alternative to standard therapy to optimize efficacy and safety of infliximab and other biologic drugs. However, it remains unclear whether proactive TDM improves clinical outcomes during maintenance therapy.

Objective: To assess whether proactive TDM during maintenance therapy with infliximab improves treatment efficacy by preventing disease worsening compared with standard infliximab therapy without TDM.

Pregnancy outcomes in relation to disease activity and anti-rheumatic treatment strategies in women with rheumatoid arthritis: a matched cohort study from Sweden and Denmark.

Objectives: To explore the association of maternal RA to pregnancy outcomes, especially preterm birth (PTB) and small for gestational age (SGA), in relation to disease activity and anti-rheumatic treatment before and during pregnancy.

Methods: By linking prospective clinical rheumatology registers (CRR) in Sweden (the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register, SRQ) and Denmark (the Danish clinical quality register, DANBIO) with medical birth registers, we identified 1739 RA-pregnancies and 17 390 control-pregnancies (matched 1:10 on maternal age, birth year, parity) with delivery 2006-18. Disease activity (DAS28, CRP, HAQ score) and anti-rheumatic treatment 9 months before and during pregnancy were identified through CRR and prescribed drug registers.

Effect of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring vs Standard Therapy During Infliximab Induction on Disease Remission in Patients With Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Proactive therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), defined as individualized drug dosing based on scheduled monitoring of serum drug levels, has been proposed as an alternative to standard therapy to maximize efficacy and safety of infliximab and other biological drugs. However, whether proactive TDM improves clinical outcomes when implemented at the time of drug initiation, compared with standard therapy, remains unclear.

Objective: To assess whether TDM during initiation of infliximab therapy improves treatment efficacy compared with standard infliximab therapy without TDM.

Real-World Six- and Twelve-Month Drug Retention, Remission, and Response Rates of Secukinumab in 2,017 Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis in Thirteen European Countries.

Objective: There is a lack of real-life studies on interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibition in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We assessed real-life 6- and 12-month effectiveness (i.e.

Trajectories of fatigue in actively treated patients with established rheumatoid arthritis starting biologic DMARD therapy.

Objectives: To define fatigue trajectories in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who initiate biological DMARD (bDMARD) treatment, and explore baseline predictors for a trajectory of continued fatigue.

Methods: One-hundred and eighty-four patients with RA initiating bDMARDs were assessed at 0, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months. Swollen and tender joint counts, patient reported outcomes (PROMs), blood samples and ultrasound examinations were collected at each time point.

Magnetic resonance imaging compared to ultrasonography in giant cell arteritis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There has been a shift in recent years to using ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as first-line investigations for suspected cranial large vessel vasculitis (LVV) and is a new recommendation by the EULAR 2018 guidelines for imaging in LVV. This cross-sectional study compares the performance of US and MRI and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for detecting vasculitis in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Patients with new-onset or already diagnosed GCA were recruited.

Fatigue is cross-sectionally not associated with objective assessments of inflammation, but changes in fatigue are associated with changes of disease activity assessments during biologic treatment of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The associations between fatigue and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have not been defined. The present objectives were to explore in RA patients the cross-sectional and longitudinal relation of fatigue with subjective as well as objective assessments of disease activity.

Methods: RA patients were consecutively included when initiating biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and assessed at baseline, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months with investigation of fatigue, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs; joint pain and patient's global disease activity, MHAQ, pain catastrophizing, Mental Health score), clinical examinations (examiner's global disease activity, 28 tender and swollen joint counts), and laboratory variables (ESR, CRP, calprotectin).