Discontinuation of hydroxychloroquine in older patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a mainstay of treatment for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ocular toxicity can result from accumulated exposure. As the longevity of patients with SLE improves, data are needed to balance the risk of ocular toxicity and the risk of disease flare, especially in older patients with quiescent disease. Accordingly, this study was initiated to examine the safety of HCQ withdrawal in older SLE patients. METHODS: Data were obtained by retrospective chart review at three major lupus centers in New York City. Twenty-six patients who discontinued HCQ and thirty-two patients on HCQ matched for gender, race/ethnicity, and age were included in this study. The primary outcome was the occurrence of a lupus flare classified by the revised version of the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) Flare composite index, within 1 year of HCQ withdrawal or matched time of continuation. RESULTS: Five patients (19.2%) in the HCQ withdrawal group compared to five (15.6%) in the HCQ continuation group experienced a flare of any severity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.28; 95% CI 0.31, 5.30; p = 0.73). There were no severe flares in either group. The results were similar after adjusting for length of SLE, number of American College of Rheumatology criteria, low complement levels, and SELENA-SLEDAI score, and in a propensity score analysis (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 0.23, 6.16; p = 0.84). The analysis of time to any flare revealed a non-significant earlier time to flare in the HCQ withdrawal group (log-rank p = 0.67). Most flares were in the cutaneous and musculoskeletal systems, but one patient in the continuation group developed pericarditis. The most common reason for HCQ withdrawal was retinal toxicity (42.3%), followed by patient's preference (34.6%), other confirmed or suspected adverse effects (15.4%), ophthalmologist recommendation for macular degeneration (3.8%), and rheumatologist recommendation for quiescent SLE (3.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study of older stable patients with SLE on long-term HCQ, withdrawal did not significantly increase the risk of flares.

Rheumatic manifestations of euthyroid, anti-thyroid antibody-positive patients.

The aim of this study is to define the rheumatic manifestations of euthyroid patients with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) but without a well-defined connective tissue disease. Forty-six consecutive patients with anti-thyroid peroxidase (αTPO) and/or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (αTG), and normal thyroid function in the absence of a well-defined connective tissue disease were included in a case-cohort study. Arthralgias were a presenting complaint in 98 % of patients. Fibromyalgia syndrome was found in 59 % of patients. Raynaud's phenomenon occurred in 28 % and sicca symptoms in 26 % of patients. Two patients had seronegative arthritis resembling rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis was radiographically present in 88 %, affecting the spine in 45 % of patients. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels positively correlated with levels of αTPO, but not with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or αTG levels. A positive ANA was found in 24 % of patients. One patient developed subclinical hypothyroidism during the study. Rheumatic manifestations frequently occur in patients with CLT in the absence of overt thyroid dysfunction and mimic the presentation of the well-defined connective tissue diseases.

Rheumatic manifestations of autoimmune thyroid disease: the other autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is an inflammatory thyroiditis that in some cases is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland, also referred to as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or Hashimoto thyroiditis. Hashimoto thyroiditis is one of the commonest causes of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism has been associated with osteoarthritis (OA) and inflammatory forms of arthritis and with several well defined connective tissue diseases, which in turn can cause arthritis. The presence of arthritis in patients with AITD with normal thyroid function is now being increasingly recognized. There is also considerable evidence to suggest that AITD is highly associated with fibromyalgia syndrome. We review the current literature on the rheumatologic manifestations of AITD and describe the features in its presentation that set it apart from other forms of autoimmune arthritis.