Regenerative treatments for scleroderma in cutaneous manifestations of the face: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Scleroderma is a heterogeneous chronic autoimmune disease affecting connective tissue, characterised by chronic inflammation and fibrosis, particularly affecting internal organs and skin. Orofacial involvement is common, leading to facial atrophy, mask-like appearance and difficulties in function that significantly impact patients' quality of life. This systematic review evaluates different autologous regenerative treatments of facial manifestations of scleroderma, aiming to provide comprehensive understanding of their effectiveness in reducing fibrosis, and thereby improving function and skin quality. METHODS: A search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane CENTRAL, and CINAHL was conducted. Studies assessing autologous regenerative treatments in cutaneous manifestations of the face in scleroderma patients were included. Outcomes of interest were treatment characteristics, characterisation of biomaterials, outcome measurements and patient satisfaction. Methodological quality was assessed with the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool. RESULTS: In total 18 studies were included. Methodological quality of studies was weak (n=15) and moderate (n=3). Treatments consisted of autologous fat grafting, platelet-rich plasma, stromal vascular fraction, and adipose-derived stem cells. In general, most studies showed improvements of symptoms, but no treatment was considered superior. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous regenerative treatments hold potential for alleviating cutaneous manifestations of the face in scleroderma. Further clinical trials should be well-designed to improve the quality of clinical evidence.

Can ultrasound of the major salivary glands differentiate Sjögren's disease from its major mimics?

OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound of the major salivary glands (SGUS) is widely used to assess the major salivary glands in Sjögren's disease (SjD). Little is known, however, regarding the diagnostic accuracy of SGUS to differentiate SjD from its mimics. This study aims to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of SGUS in differentiating SjD from other diseases with salivary gland involvement. METHODS: SGUS was performed in 20 consecutive patients with SjD and 20 consecutive patients with well-established systemic disease, i.e., with either sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, HIV infection or chronic HCV infection. Images were scored independently by two blinded observers using the Hocevar scoring system. Diagnostic accuracy to discriminate between the patient (sub-)groups was explored. RESULTS: The accuracy of SGUS to differentiate SjD from other systemic diseases was excellent (area under ROC curve of 0.91). The optimal cut-off value to define positive or negative ultrasound for SS was 15. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were high, varying from 85-90%, and diagnostic odds ratio was 51. SGUS was positive in the vast majority of SjD patients (n=18), but also in 2 patients with HIV infection and one patient with sarcoidosis. SGUS score differed significantly between patients with SjD and other systemic diseases (median 27 vs. 10, p<0.001) as well as between SjD patients and patients with either sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, HIV or HCV infection (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that SGUS has a potentially high diagnostic accuracy to discriminate SjD from systemic diseases which can also cause salivary gland involvement.

Longitudinal evaluation of major salivary gland functioning in Sjögren's disease patients in a prospective standard-of-care cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in major salivary gland functioning over time using salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS), salivary flow measurements (sialometry), and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients diagnosed with primary Sjögren's disease (SjD). METHODS: Consecutive outpatients from the ongoing prospective REgistry of Sjögren Syndrome LongiTudinal (RESULT) cohort, all fulfilling the ACR-EULAR classification criteria for SjD, were included. SGUS images assessed with the Hocevar and OMERACT scoring system, unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva (UWS/SWS), unstimulated and stimulated submandibular/sublingual saliva (uSMSLS/sSMSLS) and parotid saliva, EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) general dryness, oral dryness, and Xerostomia Inventory were assessed at baseline (BL), 2-year (Y2) and 5-year (Y5) follow-up. RESULTS: In total, BL and Y2 data were available for 253 patients and 75 patients had already reached Y5. At group level, SGUS Hocevar (i.e., mean±SD: 22±10 at BL, 22±10 at Y2 and 23±10 at Y5), OMERACT scores, UWS, SWS and PROMs remained stable over time (all p>0.05). Slightly decreased uSMSLS (p=0.025) and sSMSLS (p=0.004) were observed at Y5. At individual patient level, a similar proportion showed an increase or decrease of ≥25% for Hocevar, UWS and SWS. At baseline, poor associations were observed between SGUS and PROMs and fair associations between sialometry and PROMs. Over time, changes in objective assessments did not correlate with changes in PROMs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, major salivary gland functioning assessed with SGUS, sialometry and PROMs did not change significantly up to 5 years of follow-up in a standard-of-care cohort of SjD patients from daily clinical practice.

Histopathology, salivary flow and ultrasonography of the parotid gland: three complementary measurements in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The involvement of salivary glands in primary SS (pSS) can be assessed in different ways: histopathology, salivary flow and ultrasonography. To understand the relative value of these different approaches, it is crucial to understand the relationship between them. As we routinely perform these three modalities in the parotid gland for disease evaluation, our aim was to investigate the construct validity between these modalities in one and the same gland. METHODS: Consecutive sicca patients underwent a multidisciplinary diagnostic workup including parotid gland biopsy, collection of parotid gland-specific saliva and parotid gland ultrasonography. Patients who were classified as pSS according to the ACR-EULAR criteria were included. Construct validity was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The 41 included pSS patients completed a full workup within a mean time interval of 2.6 months. Correlations between histopathological features and stimulated parotid salivary flow were fair (ρ = -0.123 for focus score and ρ = -0.259 for percentage of CD45+ infiltrate). Likewise, poor correlations were observed between stimulated parotid salivary flow and parotid ultrasonography (ρ = -0.196). Moderate to good associations were found between the histopathological items focus score and the percentage of CD45+ infiltrate, with parotid US scores (total US score: ρ = 0.510 and ρ = 0.560; highest for homogeneity: ρ = 0.574 and ρ = 0.633). CONCLUSION: Although pSS-associated ultrasonographic findings did correlate with histopathological features, the three modalities that evaluate salivary gland involvement assess different (or at best partly related) constructs. Therefore histopathology, salivary flow and ultrasonography are complementary measurements and cannot directly replace each other in the workup of pSS.

Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome in daily clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: To explore Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) in a standard of care cohort of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and to compare patient characteristics including EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) between PASS and non-PASS groups. METHODS: All pSS patients fulfilling ACR/EULAR classification criteria from the Registry of Sjögren's Syndrome LongiTudinal (RESULT) cohort, who had available PASS data at baseline were included. Patient-reported outcomes included the PASS question: "Considering all the different ways your disease is affecting you, if you were to stay in this state for the next few months, do you consider your current state satisfactory?"; yes: PASS / no: non-PASS. RESULTS: Of the 278 included pSS patients, 199 (72%) had an acceptable symptom state according to the PASS question, and median ESSPRI was 6 (IQR 4-7). In the PASS group, 118 (59%) patients had an unacceptable symptom state according to ESSPRI (score ≥5). In multivariable regression analyses, ESSPRI and disease duration were independently associated with presence of PASS. The accuracy of ESSPRI to predict PASS was fair (AUC of 0.78). The cut-off point of ESSPRI for presence of PASS with the highest Youden's index was 7.2 (sensitivity 85%, specificity 56%), followed by 5.2 (sensitivity 48%, specificity 90%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of pSS patients reported being in an acceptable symptom state according to the PASS question, despite high ESSPRI scores. In our standard of care cohort, the optimal cut-off point of ESSPRI to predict PASS is different when focusing on sensitivity (±7) or specificity (±5).

Can salivary gland ultrasonography replace salivary gland biopsy in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome?

Ultrasound is a promising diagnostic method when it comes to assessing the involvement of major salivary glands in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). A matter of debate is whether ultrasound of the major salivary glands (SGUS) can replace a salivary gland biopsy in the diagnosis or classification of pSS. The intra- and inter-observer reliability of SGUS was found to be good, especially when focusing on hypoechogenic areas and homogeneity, and comparable to the reliability of histopathologic characteristics of salivary gland biopsies of pSS patients. However, replacing salivary gland biopsy by SGUS led to substantial decrease of the accuracy of the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria with clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. When SGUS was added as an additional item to the criteria, the accuracy of the criteria remained high, offering at the same time the clinicians a wider array of tools to assess patients. Combination of SGUS and anti-SSA antibodies was shown to be highly predictive of the classification of a patient suspected of pSS, making routine salivary gland biopsy debatable.

Differences in presentation between paediatric- and adult-onset primary Sjögren's syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVES: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a rare disease in paediatric patients. Presenting symptoms differ from those in adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate presenting symptoms, classification criteria and clinical assessments, including salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS), at disease onset in paediatric and adult patients with pSS. METHODS: Data of 23 paediatric- and 33 adult-onset patients with pSS were obtained from our standardised multidisciplinary REpSULT and RESULT cohorts, respectively. Clinical, patient-reported, serological, functional, biopsy and SGUS parameters were compared. RESULTS: In paediatric-onset pSS (pedSS) patients, recurrent parotid gland swelling (91% vs. 49%, p<0.001) and fever (30% vs. 3%, p=0.006) were more often present than in adult-onset patients. In contrast, sicca symptoms of mouth (52% vs. 79%, p=0.046) and eyes (26% vs. 73%, p<0.001) were less common in pedSS patients. In paediatric patients, the entry criteria of the ACR/EULAR classification were most often met due to activity in the glandular domain of the ESSDAI. When applying the ACR/EULAR classification criteria, only 78% of pedSS fulfilled these criteria compared to 100% of adult patients. Abnormal glandular function tests had a greater contribution to fulfilling the criteria in adults, while the biopsy had a greater contribution in paediatric patients. Anti-SSA/Ro serology had similar contribution for both cohorts. SGUS Hocevar score was significantly higher in paediatric compared to adult patients (median 25 vs. 18, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: PedSS has a different presentation than adult-onset pSS. Recurrent parotid gland swelling in paediatric patients should alert clinicians to the potential presence of pSS.

How do patients with systemic sclerosis experience currently provided healthcare and how should we measure its quality?

OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into SSc patients' perspective on quality of care and to survey their preferred quality indicators. METHODS: An online questionnaire about healthcare setting, perceived quality of care (CQ index) and quality indicators, was sent to 2093 patients from 13 Dutch hospitals. RESULTS: Six hundred and fifty patients (mean age 59 years, 75% women, 32% limited cutaneous SSc, 20% diffuse cutaneous SSc) completed the questionnaire. Mean time to diagnosis was 4.3 years (s.d. 6.9) and was longer in women compared with men (4.8 (s.d. 7.3) vs 2.5 (s.d. 5.0) years). Treatment took place in a SSc expert centre for 58%, regional centre for 29% or in both for 39% of patients. Thirteen percent of patients was not aware of whether their hospital was specialized in SSc. The perceived quality of care was rated with a mean score of 3.2 (s.d. 0.5) (range 1.0-4.0). There were no relevant differences between expert and regional centres. The three prioritized process indicators were: good patient-physician interaction (80%), structural multidisciplinary collaboration (46%) and receiving treatment according to SSc guidelines (44%). Absence of disease progression (66%), organ involvement (33%) and digital ulcers (27%) were the three highest rated outcome indicators. CONCLUSION: The perceived quality of care evaluated in our study was fair to good. No differences between expert and regional centres were observed. Our prioritized process and outcome indicators can be added to indicators suggested by SSc experts in earlier studies and can be used to evaluate the quality of care in SSc.

Scoring hypoechogenic areas in one parotid and one submandibular gland increases feasibility of ultrasound in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether ultrasonographic scoring of (i) both parotid and submandibular salivary glands and (ii) all individual components of the Hocevar scoring system, is needed for classifying patients as primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: Ultrasound examination of the major salivary glands (sUS) was performed in 204 consecutive patients clinically suspected (n=171) or diagnosed (n=33) with pSS.Parenchymal echogenicity, homogeneity, hypoechogenic areas, hyperechogenic reflections and salivary gland posterior border were scored in left and right parotid and submandibular glands. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess which glands and sUS components contributed significantly to classification as pSS or non-pSS according to the 2016 American College of Rheumatology-European League Against Rheumatism (ACR-EULAR) criteria. RESULTS: 116 (57%) patients were classified as pSS, the remaining as non-pSS. Instead of scoring both sides (area under the curve; AUC=0.856, Nagelkerke R2=0.526), multivariate analysis showed that sUS scoring of only right (AUC=0.850; R2=0.518) or left (AUC=0.852; R2=0.511) parotid and submandibular glands is sufficient to predict ACR-EULAR classification. Moreover, all individual components of the Hocevar scoring system significantly predicted classification. Multivariate analysis showed that parenchymal echogenicity and hypoechogenic areas contributed independently to ACR-EULAR classification (AUC=0.857; R2=0.539). Scoring these components in one parotid and one submandibular gland highly predicted ACR-EULAR classification (AUC=0.855; R2=0.539). Scoring only hypoechogenic areas on one side showed almost similar results (AUC=0.846; R2=0.498). CONCLUSION: sUS examination of parotid and submandibular glands on one side is sufficient to predict classification of patients according to the ACR-EULAR criteria. To further increase feasibility of sUS in outpatient clinics worldwide, only hypoechogenic areas can be scored.

Validation of the ACR-EULAR criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome in a Dutch prospective diagnostic cohort.

Objectives: To validate the ACR-EULAR classification criteria for primary SS (pSS), and compare them to the American-European Consensus Group (AECG) and ACR criteria in a Dutch prospective diagnostic cohort. Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 129) referred for suspicion of pSS underwent a multidisciplinary evaluation, including a labial and/or parotid gland biopsy. Patients with an incomplete work-up (n = 8) or associated systemic auto-immune disease (n = 7) were excluded. The ACR-EULAR classification was compared with expert classification, AECG and ACR classification. Additionally, the accuracy of individual ACR-EULAR items in discriminating pSS from non-pSS was evaluated. The validity of criteria sets was described separately using parotid or labial gland biopsy results for classification. Results: Of the 114 evaluated patients, the expert panel classified 34 (30%) as pSS and 80 (70%) as non-pSS. Using labial gland biopsy results, ACR-EULAR classification showed 87% absolute agreement (κ = 0.73) with expert classification, with a sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 83%. Using the parotid gland biopsy results, the ACR-EULAR criteria performed excellently as well. Focus score, anti-SSA titre and ocular staining score showed good to excellent accuracy, whereas unstimulated whole saliva and Schirmer's test had poor accuracy. The ACR-EULAR and AECG criteria had equal validity. Compared with ACR classification, ACR-EULAR classification showed higher sensitivity but lower specificity. Conclusion: The ACR-EULAR criteria showed good agreement with expert classification, but some patients may be misclassified as pSS. Unstimulated whole saliva and Schirmer's test showed poor discriminative value. The ACR-EULAR criteria performed equally to the AECG criteria, and had higher sensitivity but lower specificity than the ACR criteria.

Ultrasound of the Major Salivary Glands is a Reliable Imaging Technique in Patients with Clinically Suspected Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the inter- and intraobserver reliability of ultrasound of major salivary glands in patients clinically suspected of having primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) as well as to assess sources of variation in outcomes of ultrasonographic evaluation. METHODS: 80 consecutive outpatients with clinically suspected pSS underwent ultrasound evaluation. The following ultrasound variables of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands were assessed: echogenicity, parenchymal homogeneity, presence of hypoechogenic areas, hyperechogenic reflections and clearness of posterior glandular border, according to the scoring system of Hocevar et al. (total score range: 0 - 48). Images were scored independently by three blinded observers in two sessions. RESULTS: The intraobserver reliability of the total ultrasound score was excellent, with an intraclass correlation (ICC) ranging from 0.89 to 0.96. The interobserver reliability was good to excellent, with ICCs of 0.84 and 0.76 for the total ultrasound score in the two sessions. The kappa value ranged from 0.60 to 0.83 depending on the applied cut-offs (cut-off score ≥ 15 and ≥ 17). Hypoechogenic areas and homogeneity of parotid glands showed the highest interobserver reliability. The median kappa for echogenicity was low. The total ultrasound scores varied more between observers in patients with higher ultrasonographic scores (approximately scores ≥ 20). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound of major salivary glands is a reliable imaging technique for patients with clinically suspected pSS. Discrepancies between observers in assessing the severity of ultrasound findings may interfere with detecting 'true' changes over time. When monitoring the progression of pSS or treatment efficacy, it is advised that a particular patient be scored by the same ultrasonographer at every time point.

Ultrasonography of major salivary glands compared with parotid and labial gland biopsy and classification criteria in patients with clinically suspected primary Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of ultrasound of major salivary glands (sUS) compared with parotid and labial gland biopsies, sialometry, anti-SSA/Ro antibody status and classification criteria in patients clinically suspected with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: 103 consecutive outpatients with clinically suspected pSS underwent sUS. Parenchymal echogenicity, homogeneity, hypoechogenic areas, hyperechogenic reflections and clearness of salivary gland border were scored according to the Hocevar scoring system. Total ultrasound score was calculated as the sum of these domains (range 0-48). RESULTS: Absolute agreement between sUS and parotid (83%) and labial (79%) gland biopsy outcome was good. Negative sUS predicts negative parotid gland biopsy, and positive sUS predicts positive labial gland biopsy. Compared with the American European Consensus Group (AECG) classification, sUS showed an absolute agreement of 82%, sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 92%. Compared with the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification, absolute agreement was 86%, sensitivity was 77% and specificity was 92%. Compared with the ACR-European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification, absolute agreement was 80%, sensitivity was 67% and specificity was 94%. Positive sUS predicts classification, but negative sUS does not exclude classification. The combination of positive sUS with presence of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies or negative sUS with absence of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies showed a high predictive value for classification as pSS or non-pSS. CONCLUSION: In our prospective inception cohort study derived from daily clinical practice, absolute agreement between sUS and salivary gland biopsies was slightly higher for parotid compared with labial gland biopsies. The combination of positive sUS and presence of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies highly predicts classification according to the AECG, ACR and ACR-EULAR classification criteria.

Added value of the salivary gland ultrasonography OMERACT score in the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for Sjögren's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether addition of the salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) OMERACT score influences the performance of the 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for Sjögren's disease (SjD) in daily clinical practice. METHODS: Patients visiting the Sjögren Expertise centre in the University Medical Center Groningen for a diagnostic trajectory because of a suspicion of SjD were included. SGUS was performed of both parotid and submandibular glands. ROC analysis was used to assess the accuracy to predict clinical diagnosis of SjD with the SGUS OMERACT score, and by adding the SGUS OMERACT score to the ACR/EULAR criteria. Furthermore, the performance of the SGUS OMERACT and total SGUS Hocevar score were compared. RESULTS: In total, 419 consecutive patients were included. ROC analysis of the highest SGUS OMERACT score out of all four salivary glands (range 0-3) showed good accuracy (AUC 0.849) to predict clinical diagnosis of SjD, comparable to the accuracy of the total SGUS OMERACT score (range 0-12; AUC 0.868) and total Hocevar score (range 0-48; AUC 0.864). When incorporating the highest SGUS OMERACT score (cut-off score of ≥2) as additional item in the ACR/EULAR criteria, accuracy remained excellent (AUC 0.974), and clinical diagnosis could be predicted with a sensitivity of 96.4% and specificity of 86.5%. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for predicting the clinical diagnosis of SjD remained excellent after incorporating the SGUS OMERACT score and extends the diagnostic options in patients suspected with SjD.

Increased Diagnostic Accuracy of the Labial Gland Biopsy in Primary Sjögren Syndrome When Multiple Histopathological Features Are Included.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the labial salivary gland biopsy based on multiple histopathological features in patients with suspected primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS). METHODS: Patients from a diagnostic sicca cohort with clinically suspected pSS who underwent a labial gland biopsy were included. Patients were categorized as having pSS or non-Sjögren syndrome sicca (non-SS sicca) based on vignettes scored by an expert panel. Labial gland biopsies were analyzed for the presence of four histopathological features: focus score (FS) ≥1, prelymphoepithelial and lymphoepithelial lesions, immunoglobulin G plasma cell shift, and germinal centers. Sensitivity and specificity of histologic features were calculated, and the optimal cutoff value for the number of histopathological features needed to diagnose pSS was determined with receiver operating curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients were categorized as having pSS and 65 as having non-SS sicca. In labial gland biopsies of patients with pSS, the prevalence of FS ≥1 was 82%, followed by 68% for pre-lymphoepithelial and lymphoepithelial lesions, 63% for plasma cell shift, and 24% for germinal centers. Although FS ≥1 showed the highest sensitivity for patients with pSS (82%), specificity was higher for the other three features (98%-100%). The presence of two or more (of four) histopathological features had almost comparable sensitivity to FS alone, but specificity increased with 12% to 100%. For fulfillment of American College of Rheumatology/EULAR criteria, specificity increased from 84% to 95% when an abnormal biopsy was defined by the presence of two or more histopathological features instead of FS ≥1 only. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of the labial gland biopsy increases when other histopathological features besides FS are taken into account, by reducing the number of false-positive biopsies.

Capillary microscopy is a potential screening method for connective tissue disease in children with Raynaud's phenomenon.

BACKGROUND: Nailfold capillary microscopy (NCM) is a cornerstone in the diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) in adulthood. Although Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is very common in childhood, studies on diagnostic methods to differentiate between primary RP (PRP) and secondary RP (SRP) at a young age are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the value of NCM in differentiating between PRP and SRP in children and adolescents with RP. METHODS: In this nested case-control study, 83 patients diagnosed with RP and having underwent NCM in childhood were retrospectively included. Based on whether they were diagnosed with a connective tissue disease (CTD) during follow-up, patients were classified as PRP or SRP. NCM was performed by a vascular technician. PRP and SRP patients were compared on demographics, NCM and serology. Variables associated with SRP were included in a multivariate logistic regression model. Predictive values were calculated for NCM, ANA positivity and the combination of NCM and ANA positivity. RESULTS: At the time of the NCM, the mean age of the RP patients was 15.4 ± 2.3 years. Of these patients, 78.3% were classified as PRP and 21.7% as SRP at mean follow-up of 6.4 ± 3.20 years. CTDs were miscellaneous, with only one patient having developed SSc. Of the NCM parameters, only capillary loss was associated with SRP (p = 0.01). In a multivariate logistic regression model including ANA, capillary loss was not a predictor of SRP. In a model without ANAs, capillary loss was an independent predictor (OR = 3.98, CI 95% 1.22-12.99). Capillary loss had a sensitivity of 44.4% and a specificity of 84.4% for SRP. ANA combined with capillary loss had a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 85.7%. CONCLUSION: Whereas RP in adulthood is most strongly associated with SSc, children with RP seem to be at risk for developing other CTDs with less apparent NCM abnormalities. Of all NCM findings, only capillary loss was predictive for SRP. NCM did not add to the predictive value of ANA screening. However, with a specificity of 84.4% and being non-invasive, NCM shows potential as a screening method for SRP. More research with a larger study population is required before drawing conclusions.

Treatment of resistant Raynaud's phenomenon with single-port thoracoscopic sympathicotomy: One-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Follow-up of patients with treatment-resistant Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) one-year after single-port thoracoscopic sympathicotomy (SPTS). METHODS: Eight patients (six males, two females, median age of 45 years) with treatment-resistant RP underwent left-sided SPTS at the third rib (R3), unilaterally. Questionnaires were taken, and number and duration of RP attacks were reported over a 2-week period. Perfusion was assessed with a cooling and recovery procedure at baseline and one year after SPTS. Furthermore, laser speckle contrast analysis, pulse wave velocity, heart rate variability and nailfold capillary microscopy were performed. RESULTS: One year after SPTS the duration of the attacks of was reduced with 1.9 h in the left hand versus 0.3 h in the right hand. Furthermore, three aspects of the questionnaire showed a significant improvement (role limitations due to physical health (p = 0.017), pain (p = 0.027) and physical functioning (p = 0.025)). The total area under the curve of the total cooling and recovery procedure of the left hand was larger one year after surgery (101 (75-140) at baseline versus 118 (95-190) one year post-operatively, p = 0.012), implying a better perfusion in the fingers. This was mainly due to the improvement during the recovery phase (21 (1-41) at baseline versus 38 (24-43) one year post-operatively, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: One year after unilateral R3 SPTS the benefit with regard to the majority of outcome variables persisted, though some effects seem to attenuate. Long-term effects and long-term follow-up results will be investigated in an on-going study. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02680509.

Long-term abatacept treatment for 48 weeks in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: The open-label extension phase of the ASAP-III trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate treatment efficacy of long-term abatacept treatment in pSS patients. METHODS: The single-centre ASAP-III trial consisted of two phases: the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase (1:1 randomisation) from baseline to week 24, of which results have been published previously, and the open-label extension phase from week 24 to 48, in which all patients received abatacept. Main inclusion criteria were fulfilment of the AECG criteria, positive gland biopsy, disease duration ≤ 7 years and ESSDAI ≥ 5. Long-term treatment effects of abatacept on clinical, patient-reported, glandular and laboratory outcome measures were assessed in patients treated with abatacept from baseline to week 48. Furthermore, Composite of Relevant Endpoints for Sjögren's Syndrome (CRESS) response (response on ≥3 of 5 items) was analysed. RESULTS: In patients on abatacept treatment for 48 weeks (n = 40), median ESSDAI improved from baseline 14.0 (IQR 9.0-16.8) to 4.0 (2.0-8.0) at week 48 (p < 0.001), with 50% of patients reaching low disease activity (ESSDAI < 5) at week 48. Median ESSPRI improved from 7.0 (IQR 5.4-7.7) to 5.0 (3.7-6.7) (p < 0.001). Significant improvement was also seen in dry eye and laboratory tests. Combining response at multiple clinically relevant items, 73% of patients were CRESS responders at week 48. Additional improvement was seen between week 24 and week 48 of abatacept treatment. CONCLUSION: In the open-label extension phase of the ASAP-III trial, improvement was seen up to 48 weeks of abatacept treatment in clinical, patient-reported, dry eye and laboratory outcomes. The majority of patients were CRESS responders at week 48.

[Sympathicotomy in patients with drug resistant Raynaud's phenomenon]. / Sympathicotomie bij medicatieresistent fenomeen van Raynaud.

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a disorder of the microvasculature which causes poor blood flow to the digits. This disorder is common in young females and may be associated with several underlying connective tissue diseases including systemic sclerosis. Although RP may have a tremendous impact on quality of life, treatment options are limited. Conventional medical treatment mainly consists of vasodilatory drugs, which are not effective in all patients and may induce undesired side effects. The current clinical lesson describes three patients with severe RP who all underwent a novel, minimally invasive, single-port thoracoscopic sympathicotomy (SPTS). Although this procedure seems promising in patients with treatment-resistant RP, as shown with patients A and B, future research has yet to show what the long-term effects are.