HLA-Cw6 allele and biologic therapy are protective factors against liver fibrosis in psoriatic arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between liver fibrosis and the HLACw6 allele in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study involving PsA patients with determination of the HLA-Cw6 allele was performed. Liver fibrosis was estimated by using the FIB-4 (fibrosis-4) score. A multivariate logistic model was undertaken to assess the odds ratio (OR), with its 95% confidence interval, of liver fibrosis after adjustment for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 209 PsA patients were included: 25.3% HLA-Cw6 were positive, 59.8% were receiving biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), 29.6% had arterial hypertension (AHT), 24% dyslipidaemia, and 4.2% acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The HLA-Cw6 allele was more frequent in PsA patients with normal FIB-4 values (p=0.024), as opposed to AHT (p=0.002), AMI (p=0.023) and dyslipidaemia (p=0.030), which were found more frequently in subjects with altered FIB-4 values. The presence HLA-Cw6 and the use of bDMARDs were confirmed as protective factors against liver fibrosis (OR 0.210, 0.062-0.707, p=0.012 and OR 0.397, 0.166-0.949, p=0.038, respectively). Conversely, AHT emerged as a risk factor (OR 2.973, 1.125-7.858, p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: In PsA, the HLA-Cw6 allele and bDMARDs behave as protective factors for liver fibrosis, while AHT is an independent risk factor.

Updating the use of the Madrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI): a systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the use of the enthesis ultrasound Madrid Sonographic Entesis Index (MASEI) from its publication. METHODS: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register databases was performed. The search strategy was constructed to identify publications containing terms related to enthesis and ultrasound. The only applied filter was studies conducted in humans. One reviewer systematically screened the search. A second reviewer verified the selection. The data extraction was focused on study characteristics, including population and components of the OMERACT filter. RESULTS: Sixty-eight of the 1581 identified studies had used MASEI, including 41 (60%) abstracts and 27 (40%) articles. Of the 27 articles, MASEI was mainly used for spondyloarthritis and related diseases in 12 (44%) articles, followed by both psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in five (19%) articles; however, it was also used in diseases such as Behçet disease, FM, familiar Mediterranean fever, SS, crystal arthropathies and systemic sclerosis. The feasibility of MASEI was reported in three (11%) articles, and the reliability in 12 (44%) with good to excellent values. No article evaluated the responsiveness to treatment. The construct validity of MASEI was assessed using biomarkers in seven (26%) articles, clinical examination in 13 (48%) and imaging procedures (only X-rays) in two (7%). The discriminative validity was assessed in 16 (59%) articles, not only in SpAs. CONCLUSION: MASEI is a feasible, reliable and valid ultrasound score for the study of enthesis in spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and other diseases.

What is metacarpophalangeal joint swelling in psoriatic arthritis? Ultrasound findings and reliability assessment.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate by ultrasound (US) the frequency and reliability of peritenon extensor tendon inflammation (PTI) and intra articular synovitis (IAS) in metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPj) of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. METHODS: 27 PsA patients with clinical involvement of MCPj were consecutively included. Presence of PTI and IAS were evaluated by grey-scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD). Longitudinal and transverse 3-5 second videos of US examinations were recorded for reliability assessments by five readers. Consensus on positive US results was achieved when at least three readers agreed. RESULTS: Clinical swelling was present in 60 joints whereas US detected IAS and/or PTI in 75 MCPj. GS PTI in at least one MCPj was found in 19 patients and 41 joints, concurring with clinical swelling in 30/41. GS IAS in at least one MCPj was found in 23 patients and 63 joints, concurring with clinical swelling in 37/63. The inter-reader reliability was good for PD PTI and moderate for GS PTI. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies that both IAS and PTI cause MCPj swelling, where PTI is almost as frequent as IAS as a cause of swelling. The reliability of PTI is at least as good as for IAS.

Case Report and Literature Review of Parvimonas micra: Difficult-to-Treat Arthritis in Hiding.

Septic arthritis is a life-threatening rheumatological syndrome that is highly related to a patient's immune status and comorbidities, and although the most common clinical presentation is rapid-onset monoarthritis, it can also appear as subacute or chronic joint swelling. In these cases, differential diagnosis is more challenging, but early diagnosis and treatment is no less urgent to ensure a good global prognosis and the best outcome of the affected joint. Anaerobic microorganisms, such as Parvimonas micra, are an uncommon cause of septic arthritis (less than 5% of cases) but may be the cause of subacute arthritis. Knowledge about Parvimonas micra is important, as it is difficult to culture in the laboratory and generates a synovial fluid with atypical characteristics for septic arthritis so that, if not suspected, its diagnosis can be easily overlooked and underdiagnosed. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman with subacute arthritis of the left knee, describe the difficult diagnosis and treatment of its unexpected cause (Parvimonas micra), and review previously described cases, identifying the possible common comorbidities that may help clinicians easily find and treat this cause of subacute septic arthritis.

Enthesis lesions are associated with X-ray progression in psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship among enthesis ultrasound (US) lesions and radiological structural damage in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. METHODS: Consecutive PsA patients with swelling of at least 1 of the 2nd to 5th metacarpophalangeal joints were included. Clinical and demographic data were collected. The Madrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index (MASEI) was selected to evaluate the enthesis, with its total score and MASEI-activity and MASEI-structural damage subscores. The modified Sharp van der Heijde method for PsA and the New York criteria for sacroiliitis were selected to evaluate cumulative bone damage on X-rays. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were included. Male gender, older age, longer PsA duration and acute reactant factors were associated with greater bone cumulative damage. Enthesis tendon thickening, enthesophytes, total MASEI and the MASEI-structural damage subscore showed significant correlations with radiographic peripheral and sacroiliac damage scores. Tendon thickening and enthesophytes were the enthesis lesions more frequently associated with radiographic damage in PsA. CONCLUSION: The enthesis MASEI score was associated with axial and articular radiographic structural damage in PsA patients. The MASEI-structural damage subscore correlated better with cumulative bone damage in PsA than the MASEI-activity subscore.

Doppler enthesitis: a potential useful outcome in the assessment of axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the frequency of power Doppler (PD) enthesitis in active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and its potential usefulness in clinical practice. METHODS: A prospective multicentre cross-sectional study in patients with axSpA and PsA with active disease was undertaken. Patients underwent bilateral ultrasound (US) examination of the peripheral entheses according to the Madrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI). The MASEI and Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) PD enthesitis definitions were checked. An inter-reader analysis of recorded videos was performed to determine reliability. RESULTS: Sixty-four consecutive patients were included. The mean DAS28 (3.9 ± 1.3) for peripheral involvement, mean BASDAI (5.6 ± 2.2) for axial involvement, and CRP values (10 ± 10.9) reflected moderate-high disease activity at baseline. The mean global MASEI score was 29.4 (± 11.4), and 55 patients (86%) scored ≥ 18 (proposed cut-off point to diagnose SpA). At the patient level, abnormal US findings consistent with at least one enthesis showing a PD signal were observed in 52 (81.3%) patients using the MASEI PD definition and 48 (75%) using the OMERACT PD definition, without significant variation between axSpA and PsA. The inter-reader reliability was excellent (kappa = 0.92 for MASEI PD and 0.86 for OMERACT PD). CONCLUSIONS: PD enthesitis was found in the majority of patients with active axSpA and PsA, independent of axial or peripheral affectation. Both MASEI and OMERACT PD definitions were useful in detecting active enthesitis. These findings support the usefulness of a PD US evaluation of entheses in the assessment of axSpA and PsA. Key Points • PD enthesitis is a very common finding in patients with active axSpA and PsA • Both MASEI and OMERACT PD definitions are useful to detect active enthesitis • US enthesitis may reveal information in axSpA and PsA.

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in Spain.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prevalence is believed to be around 1% worldwide, although it varies considerably among different populations. The aim of EPISER2016 study was to estimate the prevalence of RA in the general adult population in Spain. We designed a population-based cross-sectional study. A national survey was conducted between November 2016 and October 2017 involving a probabilistic sample from the general population aged 20 years or older. Subjects were randomly selected for phone screening using a computer-assisted telephone interviewer system. Positive RA screening results were evaluated by a rheumatologist. Cases fulfilled the 1987 ACR and/or the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria; previous diagnosis established by a rheumatologist and clearly identified in medical records were also accepted regardless of the criteria used. Prevalence estimates with 95% CI were calculated taking into account the design of the sample (weighting based on age, sex, and geographic origin using as a reference the distribution of the population in Spain). 4916 subjects participated in the study and 39 RA cases were confirmed. RA estimated prevalence was 0.82% (95% CI 0.59-1.15). Mean age of RA cases was 60.48 (14.85) years, they were more frequently women (61.5%), from urban areas (74.4%), non-smokers (43.6%), and with a high body mass index (53.8% with overweight). Extrapolating to the population in Spain (approximately 37 million are ≥ 20 years old), it was estimated that there were between 220,000 and 430,000 people aged 20 years or older with RA. No undiagnosed cases were detected, which could be related to the establishment of early arthritis clinics around the country, increasing the rates of diagnosis during early phases of RA.

Determination of serum free light chains as a marker of systemic lupus flare.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of the determination of free light chains (FLC) in serum as a biomarker of flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to analyze the differences in their discriminatory capacity with complement C3 and C4. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. The definition of flare was based on the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) Flare Index. The discriminatory capacity of FLC and C3 and C4 levels was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Forty-six patients were enrolled. Patients with SLE flare showed significantly lower C3 (p = 0.025) and C4 levels (p = 0.028), as well as a higher concentration of lambda light chains (λ-LC) (p = 0.028) compared with the non-flare group. λ-LC, as opposed to kappa light chains and total light chains, demonstrated a discriminatory capacity for detecting the presence of SLE flare (AUC 0.781), with 100% sensitivity, 65% specificity, and 69.6% of patients correctly classified for a cutoff point of ≥ 19.5 mg/L. Complement C3 and C4 also showed a high discriminatory capacity for SLE flare (AUC 0.804 and 0.837, respectively). Comparing λ-LC, C3, and C4, the last one demonstrates better discriminatory capacity for SLE flare with the highest AUC (0.837; 95% CI 0.663-1.000). CONCLUSIONS: λ-LC have good discriminatory capacity for SLE flare and could be useful as a biomarker of SLE exacerbation.Key Points• The usefulness of free light chains as a biomarker could be compared with complement.• Lambda free light chains have good discriminatory capacity for SLE flare.• Free light chains are a promising marker of SLE activity.

Higher prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in the adult population in Spain? A population-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is very heterogeneous. There are no data on its frequency in the general population in Spain. The aim of EPISER2016 study was to estimate the prevalence of PsA in people aged ≥20 years in Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional multicenter population-based study. Subjects from all the autonomous communities in Spain were randomly selected using multistage stratified cluster sampling. Participants in each of the municipalities randomly selected for the study were administered a telephone-based questionnaire to screen for the study diseases. If the participant reported being previously diagnosed, rheumatologists from the participant's reference hospital confirmed the diagnosis based on a review of the clinical history. Subjects not previously diagnosed but whose screening result was positive based on symptoms received a second telephone call from the investigating rheumatologist in order to evaluate the suspicion. If the suspicion remained, an appointment was made at the reference hospital to complete the diagnostic confirmation process according to CASPAR criteria. To calculate the prevalence and its 95% confidence interval (CI), the sample design was taken into account and weighing was calculated considering age, sex and geographic origin. RESULTS: The sample comprised 4916 subjects. The prevalence of PsA was 0.58% (95%CI: 0.38-0.87). All but 1 of the 27 cases (96.30%) had been diagnosed prior to EPISER2016. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PsA in Spain was among the highest reported to date, only below that reported in Norway (0.67%) and slightly higher than that reported in Italy (0.42%).

Orthopedic Surgery in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from the Spanish National Registry of Hospitalized Patients over 17 Years.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the trend of orthopedic surgery (OS) rates on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Retrospective observational study based on information provided by the Spanish National System of Hospital Data Surveillance. All hospitalizations of patients with RA for orthopedic surgery [total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), arthrodesis, and upper limb arthroplasty (ULA)] during 1999-2015 were analyzed. The age-adjusted rate was calculated. Generalized linear models were used for trend analysis. RESULTS: There were 21,088 OS in patients over 20 years of age (77.9% women). OS rate adjusted by age was 754.63/100,000 RA patients/year (women 707.4, men 861.1). Neither an increasing nor a decreasing trend was noted for the total OS. However, trend and age interacted, so in the age ranges 20-40 years and 40-60 years, an annual reduction of 2.69% and 2.97%, respectively, was noted. In the age ranges over 80 years and 60-80 years, we noted an annual increase of 5.40% and 1.09%, respectively. The average age at time of OS increased 5.5 years during the period analyzed. For specific surgeries, a global annual reduction was noted in rates for arthrodesis. In THA, there was an annual reduction in patients under 80 years. In TKA and ULA, there was an annual reduction in patients under 60 years. CONCLUSION: Although the overall OS rate has not changed, there is a decrease in the rate of arthrodesis at all ages, THA in patients under 80 years of age, as well as TKA and ULA in patients under 60 years of age.

Peritenon Extensor Tendon Inflammation in Psoriatic Arthritis Is an Enthesitis-related Lesion.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between enthesitis, synovitis, and peritenon extensor tendon inflammation (PTI) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: PsA patients with swelling of metacarpophalangeal joints were included. Greyscale and power Doppler (PD) were used for synovitis and PTI ultrasound identification. Madrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI) was used for enthesitis assessment. PD activity was evaluated using PD item of MASEI and PD Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) definition. RESULTS: Synovitis had no association with enthesitis. PTI was associated with PD MASEI and PD OMERACT. Only PD OMERACT showed a positive correlation with PTI. CONCLUSION: In PsA, PTI is associated to enthesitis, as opposed to synovitis.

Prevalence of rheumatic diseases in adult population in Spain (EPISER 2016 study): Aims and methodology. / Prevalencia de enfermedades reumáticas en población adulta en España (estudio EPISER 2016). Objetivos y metodología.

AIMS: To describe the methodology of the EPISER 2016 (study of the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in adult population in Spain), as well its strengths and limitations. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), osteoarthritis (knee, hip, hands, and cervical and lumbar spine), fibromyalgia, gout and clinical osteoporotic fracture. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Population-based, multicenter, cross-sectional study, with the participation of 45 municipalities in the 17 Spanish autonomous communities. The reference population will consist of adults aged 20 years and over residing in Spain. A computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) system will be used for data collection. Diagnostic suspicions and diagnoses received by the participants will be studied by rheumatologists in the referral hospitals in the selected municipalities. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: the prevalence of the rheumatic diseases will be calculated using estimators and their 95% confidence intervals. Weights will be calculated in each of the sampling stages in accordance with the probability of selection. The distribution of the population in Spain will be obtained from the Spanish Statistics Institute. CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic and lifestyle changes over the last 16 years justify EPISER 2016. This study will provide current data about the prevalences of RA, AS, PsA, SLE, SS, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and clinical osteoporotic fracture. The results will allow comparisons with studies from other countries and EPISER 2000.

Trends in hip fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the Spanish National Inpatient Registry over a 17-year period (1999-2015). TREND-AR study.

PURPOSE: To analyse trends in hip fracture (HF) rates in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over an extended time period (17 years). METHODS: This observational retrospective survey was performed by reviewing data from the National Surveillance System for Hospital Data, which includes more than 98% of Spanish hospitals. All hospitalisations of patients with RA and HF that were reported from 1999 to 2015 were analysed. Codes were selected using the Ninth International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification: ICD-9-CM: RA 714.0 to 714.9 and HF 820.0 to 820.3. The crude and age-adjusted incidence rate of HF was calculated by age and sex strata over the last 17 years. General lineal models were used to analyse trends. RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2015, 6656 HFs occurred in patients with RA of all ages (84.25% women, mean age 77.5 and 15.75% men, mean age 76.37). The age-adjusted osteoporotic HF rate was 221.85/100 000 RA persons/ year (women 227.97; men 179.06). The HF incidence rate increased yearly by 3.1% (95% CI 2.1 to 4.0) during the 1999-2015 period (p<0.001) and was more pronounced in men (3.5% (95% CI 2.1 to 4.9)) than in women (3.1% (95% CI 2.3 to 4.1)). The female to male ratio decreased from 1.54 in 1999 to 1.14 in 2015. The average length of hospital stays (ALHS) decreased (p<0.001) from 16.76 days (SD 15.3) in 1999 to 10.78 days (SD 7.72) in 2015. Age at the time of hospitalisation increased (p<0.001) from 75.3 years (SD 9.33) in 1999 to 79.92 years (SD 9.47) in 2015. There was a total of 326 (4.9%) deaths during admission, 247 (4.4%) in women and 79 (7.5%) in men (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In Spain, despite the advances that have taken place in controlling disease activity and in treating osteoporosis, the incidence rate of HF increased in both male and female patients with RA.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: case report with response to infliximab and review of treatment options.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare systemic and devastating disease with main involvement of skin and joints, frequently related with malignancies. Macrophages and TNFα are the main targets of multiple treatment options with variable results. Although MRH has the tendency of self-resolve in an average of 8 years, treatment must be started early to avoid sequelae, mainly in joints with severe deformities and daily life activity impairment. We describe a 50-year-old man with skin and joint involvement, with a non-previously described muscle affectation, that failed to different drugs and achieved skin improvement with infliximab. We review for the first time in medical literature the available therapeutic options of MRH and its outcomes and propose possible future targets.