Effects of Amerindian Genetic Ancestry on Clinical Variables and Therapy in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To define whether Amerindian genetic ancestry correlates with clinical and therapeutic variables in admixed individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from Latin America. METHODS: Patients with RA (n = 1347) and healthy controls (n = 1012) from Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Peru were included. Samples were genotyped for the Immunochip v1 using the Illumina platform. Clinical data were obtained through interviews or the clinical history. RESULTS: Percentage of Amerindian ancestry was comparable between cases and controls. Morning stiffness (p < 0.0001, OR 0.05), rheumatoid factor (RF; p < 0.0001, OR 0.22), radiographic changes (p < 0.0001, OR 0.05), and higher number of criteria were associated with lower Amerindian ancestry after Bonferroni correction. Higher Amerindian ancestry correlated only with weight loss (pBonferroni < 0.0001, OR 2.85). Increased Amerindian ancestry correlated with higher doses of azathioprine (p < 0.0001, OR 163.6) and sulfasalazine (p < 0.0001, OR 48.6), and inversely with methotrexate (p = 0.001, OR 0.35), leflunomide (p = 0.001, OR 0.16), and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (pBonferroni = 0.001, OR 0.37). Only the presence of RF and weight loss were modified after confounders adjustment. CONCLUSION: Amerindian ancestry protects against most major clinical criteria of RA, but regarding the association of RF with increased European ancestry, age, sex, and smoking are modifiers. Ancestry also correlates with the therapeutic profiles.

Adherencia al tratamiento de pacientes con artritis reumatoidea que reciben medicamentos biológicos / Treatment adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving biologics

Introducción: Al igual que en otras enfermedades crónicas, la adherencia al régimen terapéutico de los pacientes con artritis reumatoidea (AR) es baja (entre 30 y 80%), dependiendo de la definición de adherencia y de la metodología empleada para medirla. En este estudio se propone determinar el nivel de adherencia al tratamiento en pacientes con AR que reciben DMAR biológicas e identificar factores asociados a la falta de cumplimiento a la terapia. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio analítico, observacional de corte transversal en donde se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos con AR según criterios de clasificación (ACR’87) que se encontraban recibiendo fármacos biológicos para el tratamiento de su enfermedad en los últimos seis meses y que asistieron a la consulta ambulatoria. Para la valoración de la adherencia a DMAR se utilizaron los cuestionarios CQR (Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology) y el cuestionario SMAQ (Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire). Resultados: Se encuestaron 345 pacientes. Mediante el cuestionario SMAQ se observó una adherencia del 50% (159 pacientes). El Cuestionario CQR tuvo un puntaje mediano de 78 puntos (RIC 67-86). El 47% (147 pacientes) fueron adherentes (CQR >80). Sobre los pacientes incluidos, 151 (48%) refirieron no haber tenido ningún retraso, pérdida o adelanto de la dosis del biológico en los últimos 6 meses de tratamiento. El 52% no adherentes tuvo como causas: 146 (46%) pérdida de al menos una dosis del biológico con una mediana de dosis perdidas de 2 (RIQ: 1-3); 117 (37%) tuvo al menos un retraso en las dosis del biológico y 8 (2%) delantó la dosis. Los factores asociados al no cumplimiento de la terapia biológica fueron el tipo de cobertura médica, que el paciente no haya notado mejoría y la esperanza de una rápida respuesta al tratamiento, y la falta de adherencia a DMAR

Introduction: As in other chronic diseases, adherence to the therapeutic regimen of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is low (between 30 and 80%), depending on the definition of adherence and the methodology used to measure it. This study aims to determine the level of adherence to treatment in patients with RA who receive biological DMARs and to identify factors associated with non-compliance with therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, observational study was performed in which consecutive patients with RA according to classification criteria (ACR'87) who were receiving biological drugs for the treatment of their disease in the last six months were included Attended the outpatient appointment. The CQR (Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology) and SMAQ (Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire) questionnaires were used to assess adherence to DMAR. Results: A total of 345 patients were surveyed. A 50% adherence (159 patients) was observed through the SMAQ questionnaire. The CQR Questionnaire had a median score of 78 points (RIC 67-86). 47% (147 patients) were adherent (CQR> 80). Regarding the patients included, 151 (48%) reported not having had any delay, loss or advancement of the biological dose in the last 6 months of treatment. The 52% of non-adherents had as causes: 146 (46%) loss of at least one dose of the biological with a median of doses lost of 2 (RIQ: 1-3); 117 (37%) had at least one biological dose delay and 8 (2%) delayed the dose. Factors associated with non-compliance with biological therapy were the type of medical coverage, the patient's perceived improvement and the expectation of a rapid response to treatment, and lack of adherence to DMAR.

Prevalence of positive ppd in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of positive and anergic tuberculin skin test (ppd) in a rheumatoid arthritis cohort of patients (RA) and assess the association among ppd results and clinical and treatment variables. Patients with RA diagnosis were included. The ppd was done by Mantoux method. Positive result was considered when indurations were equal or greater than 5 mm. Anergic reaction was defined when the indurations was 0 mm. We included 105 patients (N = 105). The prevalence of positive ppd was 12.4% (n = 13), while the 87.6% (n = 92) presented a negative result. The 69.5% (n = 73) of the population were anergic to ppd. Patients with negative result received higher steroids dosages than patients with positive ppd (p < 0.04). In the multivariable model, the steroids dosage was a significant and independent predictor of negative ppd (p = 0.021, OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55-0.95). Anergic and non-anergic patients were separated in groups, and a new analysis was done. The higher dosage of methotrexate was associated to tuberculine anergy (p = 0.025). In the multivariable model, the methotrexate dosage was a significant and independent predictor of tuberculine anergy (p = 0.005, OR 1.14, 95% CIs 1.04-1.24). In conclusion, in our cohort, the prevalence of positive ppd was lower than others studies. Among analyzed variables, the high steroid dose was a significant and independent predictor of negative ppd. The methotrexate treatment and dose were associated with ppd anergy.

Myocarditis as a form of relapse in two patients with adult Still's disease.

Still's disease is a subset of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) that usually presents with intermittent fever, rash, and arthritis. Extra-articular flares can occur several years after disease onset. We report two cases of adult Still's disease with myocarditis after several years of being in remission. A 34-year-old Caucasian man with history of systemic juvenile arthritis in remission since age 13 was admitted in hospital with 10 days history of fever, odynophagia, and arthralgias. Chest X-ray and cardiac ultrasound showed cardiac enlargement. An endomyocardial biopsy revealed acute myocarditis. He was treated with methylprednisolone and intravenous gammaglobulin, with improvement of his general condition and cardiac parameters. A 16-year-old Caucasian male patient with history of systemic JIA in remission for the last 7 years was admitted with 7 days history of fever, odynophagia, arthralgias, and myalgias. Two days after admission, he developed chest pain and pericardial rubbing was found on examination. Cardiac ultrasound showed left ventricular dilatation with impaired systolic function, and posterior, inferior and apical-septal wall hypokinesia. Blood test showed elevated creatine phosphokinase levels. He was treated with IV methylprednisolone with normal follow-up cardiac ultrasound. Cardiac involvement in patients with systemic JIA can be the first symptom of disease reactivation, even after many years of disease remission.

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), as presentation of rheumatoid arthritis.

We report a 65-year-old caucasian male, who presented cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) as first manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. The patient started with fever, myalgias and progressive dyspnea in October 2004. The chest X-ray (CXR) and high resolution computed tomographic scan (HRCT) showed diffuse alveolar exudates with air bronchogram in both the lungs. An open lung biopsy was done and the histological image was compatible with COP. Six months later, a diagnosis of RA was made. Treatment with oral methotrexate and etanercept was prescribed with improvement in symptoms, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Even though COP after the joint involvement is found more frequently in RA, in rare cases it could be the first manifestation of this illness.

Eficacia, tolerabilidad y seguridad de la ciclosporina para microemulsion en el tratamiento de la artritis reumatoidea activa: estudio abierto / Efficacy, tolerability and safety of cyclosporine for microemulsion in the treatment of the active rheumatoid arthritis: open study

La ciclosporina para microemulsión (cpm) ha sido ampliamente utilizada para el tratamiento de la ar- tritis reumatoidea (AR) con muy buenos resultados sobre la progresión del daño articular según ha sido informado por el grupo de estudio GRISAR1. Para evaluar eficacia, seguridad y tolerabilidad de la cpm en el tratamiento de la AR un grupo local de 12 centros (50 pacientes), realizó un estudio abierto, prospectivo (Neo-Ra-02), de seis meses de seguimiento. Los parámetros considerados para evaluar la eficacia fueron: modificación de la rigidez matutina, pruebas funcionales (índices de HAQ, Ritchie y Lee), de laboratorio y radiológicos (índice de Larsen). Los parámetros usados para evaluar la seguridad fueron: tensión arterial y determinaciones de laboratorio de función renal, hepática y análisis hematológico. Los criterios para la participación de los pacientes fueron: presencia de AR activa (según definición del ACR), estadios anatómicos y funcionales de Steinbrocker del I al III, evolución de la enfermedad no mayor de 5 años, ausencia de historia previa de hipertensión arterial, enfermedad renal o hepática y ausencia de uso de drogas modificadoras de la enfermedad en los dos meses anteriores al estudio. A las 4 semanas del tratamiento se verificó disminución estadísticamente significativa del dolor, rigidez matutina, scores de sensibilidad, entumecimiento articular e índice de Ritchie. No hubo incremento significativo de la creatinina, ni del ácido úrico séricos. Seis casos desarrollaron hipertensión arterial leve. La cpm demostró eficacia con mínima incidencia de efectos adversos (12 por ciento de hipertensión arterial leve) cuando su administración fue en dosis bajas y adecuadamente monitoreada.