Update of the guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by the Mexican College of Rheumatology 2023.

OBJECTIVE: To develop updated guidelines for the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A group of experts representative of different geographical regions and various medical services catering to the Mexican population with RA was formed. Questions based on Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) were developed, deemed clinically relevant. These questions were answered based on the results of a recent systematic literature review (SLR), and the evidence's validity was assessed using the GRADE system, considered a standard for these purposes. Subsequently, the expert group reached consensus on the direction and strength of recommendations through a multi-stage voting process. RESULTS: The updated guidelines for RA treatment stratify various therapeutic options, including different classes of DMARDs (conventional, biologicals, and JAK inhibitors), as well as NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and analgesics. By consensus, it establishes the use of these in different subpopulations of interest among RA patients and addresses aspects related to vaccination, COVID-19, surgery, pregnancy and lactation, and others. CONCLUSIONS: This update of the Mexican guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of RA provides reference points for evidence-based decision-making, recommending patient participation in joint decision-making to achieve the greatest benefit for our patients. It also establishes recommendations for managing a variety of relevant conditions affecting our patients.

[Bilateral tuberculous mastitis nulliparous patient, initially treated as idiopathic granulomatous mastitis]. / Mastitis tuberculosa bilateral en paciente nulípara, que inicialmente se trató como mastitis granulomatosa idiopática.

The breast infection by M tuberculosis is rare, when it occurs, clinical and histologically confused with other forms of granulomatous inflammation, making it essential to use other diagnostic methods also may be negative. We report a patient with fimica mastitis that originally was treated as idiopathic granulomatous mastitis with apparent satisfactory clinical response. However, frequent relapses forced to look for other etiologies. Fortunately, the PCR showed the cause and was managed with specific treatment with disappearance of the disease. Clinical suspicion should be in mind when faced with a case like ours.

[Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis treated with steroids and methotrexate]. / Mastitis granulomatosa idiopática tratada con esteroides y metotrexato.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is a rare inflammatory breast disease of unknown etiology. It manifests as breast mass of 6 cm on average (range 2-10 cm), often in upper outer quadrant of left breast, in another quadrant, right or bilateral breast. Clinical diagnosis by ultrasound or mammography and fine needle aspiration confuses with carcinoma; histopathology (gold standard) confirm the diagnosis after ruling out causes of granulomatous inflammation, mainly tuberculosis. Steroid treatment achieve complete remission, but adverse reactions and relapses after the descent and suspension. Methotrexate or azathioprine is added from the start to maintain remission. We report three cases of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis diagnosis and treatment based on prednisone until clinical improvement and methotrexate as maintenance therapy. Complete remission was obtained in three patients. The rheumatologist knows and handles autoimmune/inflammatory with these drugs, therefore, is suggested the multidisciplinary treatment of this disease with oncologists and gynecologists.

[Peripheral neuropathy caused by leflunomide. A case reported with a brief review]. / Neuropatía periférica por leflunomida. Informe de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

BACKGROUND: Leflunomide (LEF) is an immunomodulator derived from isoxazole It is an approved drug in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a recognized side effect of some medications. CLINICAL CASE: A 48 years old woman with diabetes type 2 (DM2) and RA; with serum negative rheumatoid factor. She got nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories drugs, corticosteroid, methotrexate, sulfasalazine and chloroquine. Despite this, she was clinically within the functional class III and data of osteopenia. The treatment was switched to LEF, chloroquine and prednisone. After four months, she began with dysesthesia in the left cubital area, paresthesias in her right knee; and then in a progressive pattern others paresthesias, hyporeflexia and a decrease in the muscular strength. She was treated with cholestyramine, but her neuropathy did not improve. Severe segmental demyelination polyneuropathy and retrograde axonal degeneration with predominance of the thoracic members over the pelvic members was reported in the electroneurophysiological and electromyography studies. CONCLUSIONS: It is advisable to perform electrophysiological studies in patients' with DM2 before they get treatment with LEF.