Comparative analysis of arterial involvement in predominant cranial and isolated extracranial phenotypes of giant cell arteritis using F-FDG PET-CT.

Objective: To investigate differences in arterial involvement patterns on F-FDG PET-CT between predominant cranial and isolated extracranial phenotypes of giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: A retrospective review of F-FDG PET-CT findings was conducted on 140 patients with confirmed GCA. The patients were divided into two groups: the cranial group, which presented craniofacial ischemic symptoms either at diagnosis or during follow-up, and the isolated extracranial group which never exhibited such manifestations.

Rituximab in the treatment of progressive interstitial lung disease associated with the antisynthetase syndrome.

Objective: To assess the real-world, long-term effectiveness of rituximab (RTX) as a rescue therapy in patients with antisynthetase syndrome and progressive interstitial lung disease (ASS-ILD).

Methods: Multicentre observational retrospective longitudinal study of a cohort of patients with ASS-ILD that started treatment with RTX due to recurrent or ongoing progressive ILD despite therapy with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants.

Results: Twenty-eight patients were analyzed.

Prevalence of Sjögren's syndrome in the general adult population in Spain: estimating the proportion of undiagnosed cases.

To estimate the prevalence of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in the adult Spanish population we performed a population-based multicenter cross-sectional study. Cases were defined by the American-European Consensus Group criteria proposed in 2002. A total of 4,916 subjects aged 20 years or over were included.

Primary respiratory disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: data from the Spanish rheumatology society lupus registry (RELESSER) cohort.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence, associated factors, and impact on mortality of primary respiratory disease in a large systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) retrospective cohort.

Methods: All adult patients in the RELESSER-TRANS (Registry of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology [SER], cross-sectional phase) registry were retrospectively investigated for the presence of primary pleuropulmonary manifestations.

Results: In total 3215 patients were included.

Rheumatoid arthritis response to treatment across IgG1 allotype - anti-TNF incompatibility: a case-only study.

Introduction: We have hypothesized that incompatibility between the G1m genotype of the patient and the G1m1 and G1m17 allotypes carried by infliximab (INX) and adalimumab (ADM) could decrease the efficacy of these anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) antibodies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The G1m genotypes were analyzed in three collections of patients with RA totaling 1037 subjects. The first, used for discovery, comprised 215 Spanish patients.

Predictors of response to rituximab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to anti-TNF agents or traditional DMARDs.

Objectives: Identifying early predictors of response to biological agents is important for both the individual patient and health economics. The aim here was to identify clinical variables that are easily assessed in clinical practice which are associated with a major response to rituximab (moderate to good EULAR response, according to DAS28 values) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to anti-TNF agents or traditional DMARDs.

Methods: Rituximab (2x1g, two weeks apart) was administered to 108 patients in four different Spanish hospitals.

Biological agents in the management of Felty's syndrome: a systematic review.

Objective: To review and summarize the information available on the effectiveness and safety of biological therapies in refractory Felty's syndrome (FS).

Methods: We describe a case of FS with severe neutropenia and recurrent bacterial infections unresponsive to disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment and long-term administration with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, in which treatment with rituximab (RTX) was useful and resulted in a sustained neutrophil response. Current evidence on the use of biological therapies in FS is also analyzed through a systematic review of the English-language literature, based on a PubMed search.

Rituximab therapy in refractory neuropsychiatric lupus: current clinical evidence.

Objective: To review and summarize published information on the effectiveness and safety of rituximab (RTX) in adult patients with refractory neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).

Methods: We describe a patient with persistently active NPSLE, despite conventional therapy, who responded dramatically to RTX. Current evidence on the therapeutic use of RTX in this complex situation is also analyzed through a systematic review of the English-language literature, based on a PubMed search.