IgG4:IgG RNA ratio differentiates active disease from remission in granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a new disease activity marker? A cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Objectives: An important limitation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is the lack of disease activity markers. Immunoglobulin G4-positive (IgG4) B cells and plasma cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of GPA. We hypothesized that the presence of these cells in peripheral blood could serve as disease activity parameter in GPA.

Applicability of trials in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of trial populations showing adequate proportion of women, but underrepresentation of elderly people.

Objectives: To evaluate whether elderly people and women are adequately represented in randomized controlled trials (RCT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Four systematic searches in MEDLINE yielded RCT in RA and OA on any intervention published in 2016 and 2017 and population-based studies (PBS) in RA and OA published between 2013 and 2017. Random effects meta-analyses estimated the pooled proportion of elderly people (defined as being ≥ 65 years old), the mean age, its standard deviation (SD), and the proportion of women stratified by disease (RA and OA) and study type (RCT and PBS).

Identification of an Amino Acid Motif in HLA-DRβ1 That Distinguishes Uveitis in Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Objective: Uveitis is a visually debilitating disorder that affects up to 30% of children with the most common forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The disease mechanisms predisposing only a subgroup of children to uveitis are unknown. This study was undertaken to identify genetic susceptibility loci for uveitis in JIA, using a genome-wide association study in 522 children with JIA.

One-year Predictors of Presenteeism in Workers with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Disease-related Factors and Characteristics of General Health and Work.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects adults of working age and leads to productivity losses because of presenteeism that results from limitations while at work. The aim of our study was to gain insight into disease-related factors, general health, and work characteristics as predictors of presenteeism in workers with RA.

Methods: Workers with RA (n = 150) recruited by rheumatologists completed questionnaires at baseline and after 1 year.

Toward Establishing a Standardized Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring System for Temporomandibular Joints in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Objective: The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are frequently affected in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Early detection is challenging, as major variation is present in scoring TMJ pathology on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Consensus-driven development and validation of an MRI scoring system for TMJs has important clinical utility in timely improvement of diagnosis and serving as an outcome measure.

Validating Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission Using the Patients' Perspective: Results from a Special Interest Group at OMERACT 2016.

Objective: The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) working group on the patients' perspective on remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been working on this topic since 2010. At OMERACT 2016, progress and preliminary data on validity of measurement instruments for pain, fatigue, and independence in remission in RA were presented, and future directions were explored.

Methods: A special interest group was organized, in which the current data on the patients' perspective on remission were presented.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Knee as an Outcome Measure in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: An OMERACT Reliability Study on MRI Scales.

Objective: There is increasing evidence that early therapeutic intervention improves longterm joint outcome in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Given the existence of highly effective treatments, there is an urgent need for reliable and accurate measures of disease activity and joint damage in JIA. Our objective was to assess the reliability of 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring methods: the Juvenile Arthritis MRI Scoring (JAMRIS) system and the International Prophylaxis Study Group (IPSG) consensus score, for evaluating disease status of the knee in patients with JIA.

Long-term treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis patients starting adalimumab or etanercept with or without concomitant methotrexate.

Objectives: To observe long-term clinical response and drug survival in a prospective two-year cohort study in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients starting adalimumab or etanercept treatment, with or without methotrexate (MTX), after failure of conventional DMARD therapy, including MTX.

Methods: Disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were collected of 873 consecutive RA patients, treated with adalimumab or etanercept, prospectively at baseline, 4, 16, 28, 40, 52, 78 and 104 weeks of biological therapy. Sustained minimal disease activity (MDA), DAS28 <2.

Glucocorticoid Effect on Radiographic Progression in Placebo Arms of Rheumatoid Arthritis Biologics Trials.

Objective: To assess the effect of glucocorticoids (GC) on damage progression in placebo-biologic arms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) biologics trials.

Methods: Posthoc metaanalysis of 2 infliximab (IFX) trials (established and early RA) and 1 tocilizumab (TCZ) trial (established RA).

Results: The proportion of patients receiving GC was 38%-64%, baseline damage was 11-82 Sharp/van der Heijde points, and progression in the placebo groups was 0.

Recommendations for the conduct of clinical trials for drugs to treat or prevent sarcopenia.

Purpose: Sarcopenia is an age-related muscle condition which is frequently a precursor of frailty, mobility disability and premature death. It has a high prevalence in older populations and presents a considerable social and economic burden. Potential treatments are under development but, as yet, no guidelines support regulatory studies for new drugs to manage sarcopenia.

Economic evaluation of a tight-control treatment strategy using an imaging device (handscan) for monitoring joint inflammation in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a tight-control treatment strategy using the handscan (TCHS) compared to using only clinical assessments (TC) and compared to a general non-tight-control treatment strategy (usual care; UC) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Data from 299 early RA patients from the CAMERA trial were used. Clinical outcomes were extrapolated to Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and costs using a Markov model.

Study on the protective effect of the KIR3DL1 gene in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune disease that mainly affects the sacroiliac joints and the spine of the lower back. The disease is strongly associated with HLA-B27. Additional genes, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and molecular components have been identified to be associated with AS, but the exact mechanism that drives disease development remains poorly understood.

Axial spondyloarthritis.

The term axial spondyloarthritis covers both non-radiographic disease and radiographic disease (also known as ankylosing spondylitis). Some studies have been performed to investigate the prevalence of axial spondyloarthritis, although most are limited to patients with radiographic disease. A strong genetic association has been shown between axial spondyloarthritis and human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27), but the pathogenetic role of HLA-B27 has not yet been clarified.