Differences in clinical manifestations and increased severity of systemic lupus erythematosus between two groups of Hispanics: European Caucasians versus Latin American mestizos (data from the RELESSER registry).

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is regarded as a prototype autoimmune disease because it can serve as a means for studying differences between ethnic minorities and sex. Traditionally, all Hispanics have been bracketed within the same ethnic group, but there are differences between Hispanics from Spain and those from Latin America, not to mention other Spanish-speaking populations. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics, severity, activity, damage, mortality and co-morbidity of SLE in Hispanics belonging to the two ethnic groups resident in Spain, and to identify any differences. METHODS: This was an observational, multi-centre, retrospective study. The demographic and clinical variables of patients with SLE from 45 rheumatology units were collected. The study was conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Hispanic patients from the registry were divided into two groups: Spaniards or European Caucasians (EC) and Latin American mestizos (LAM). Comparative univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 3490 SLE patients were included, 90% of whom were female; 3305 (92%) EC and 185 (5%) LAM. LAM patients experienced their first lupus symptoms four years earlier than EC patients and were diagnosed and included in the registry younger, and their SLE was of a shorter duration. The time in months from the first SLE symptoms to diagnosis was longer in EC patients, as were the follow-up periods. LAM patients exhibited higher prevalence rates of myositis, haemolytic anaemia and nephritis, but there were no differences in histological type or serositis. Anti-Sm, anti-Ro and anti-RNP antibodies were more frequently found in LAM patients. LAM patients also had higher levels of disease activity, severity and hospital admissions. However, there were no differences in damage index, mortality or co-morbidity index. In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for confounders, in several models the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for a Katz severity index >3 in LAM patients was 1.45 (1.038-2.026; p = 0.02). This difference did not extend to activity levels (i.e. SLEDAI >3; 0.98 (0.30-1.66)). CONCLUSION: SLE in Hispanic EC patients showed clinical differences compared to Hispanic LAM patients. The latter more frequently suffered nephritis and higher severity indices. This study shows that where lupus is concerned, not all Hispanics are equal.

Influence of the IL17A locus in giant cell arteritis susceptibility.

OBJECTIVE: Different lines of evidence have highlighted the role of IL-17A in the inflammatory process occurring in giant cell arteritis (GCA). The aim of the present study was to assess whether the IL17A locus influences GCA susceptibility and its clinical subphenotypes. METHODS: We carried out a large meta-analysis including a total of 1266 biopsy-proven GCA patients and 3779 healthy controls from four European populations (Spain, Italy, Germany and Norway). Five IL17A polymorphisms (rs4711998, rs8193036, rs3819024, rs2275913 and rs7747909) were selected by tagging and genotyped using TaqMan assays. Allelic combination and dependency tests were also performed. RESULTS: In the pooled analysis, two of the five analysed polymorphisms showed evidence of association with GCA (rs2275913: PMH=1.85E-03, OR=1.17 (1.06-1.29); rs7747909: PMH=8.49E-03, OR=1.15 (1.04-1.27)). A clear trend of association was also found for the rs4711998 variant (PMH=0.059, OR=1.11 (1.00-1.23)). An independent effect of rs2275913 and rs4711998 was evident by conditional regression analysis. In addition, the haplotype harbouring the risk alleles better explained the observed association than the polymorphisms independently (likelihood p value <10(-05)). CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms within the IL17A locus show a novel association with GCA. This finding supports the relevant role of the Th17 cells in this vasculitis pathophysiology.

Schnitzler's syndrome: diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

Schnitzler's syndrome is characterized by recurrent urticarial rash and monoclonal gammopathy, associated with clinical and biological signs of inflammation and a long-term risk of AA amyloidosis and overt lymphoproliferation. An extensive literature review was performed, and the following questions were addressed during an expert meeting: In whom should Schnitzler's syndrome be suspected? How should the diagnosis of Schnitzler's syndrome be established? How should a patient with Schnitzler's syndrome be treated? How should a patient with Schnitzler's syndrome be followed up?. A diagnosis of Schnitzler's syndrome is considered definite in any patient with two obligate criteria: a recurrent urticarial rash and a monoclonal IgM gammopathy, and two of the following minor criteria: recurrent fever, objective signs of abnormal bone remodeling, elevated CRP level or leukocytosis, and a neutrophilic infiltrate on skin biopsy. It is considered probable, if only 1 minor criterion is present. In patients with monoclonal IgG gammopathies, diagnosis is definite if three minor criteria are present and possible if two are present. First-line treatment in patients with significant alteration of quality of life or persistent elevation of markers of inflammation should be anakinra. Follow-up should include clinical evaluation, CBC and CRP every 3 months and MGUS as usually recommended.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis and IgA nephropathy: a comparative clinical study.

OBJECTIVES: Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are related syndromes. In the present study we aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcome of a large and unselected series of patients diagnosed as having HSPN and IgAN. METHODS: Comparative study of a wide and unselected population of HSPN (142 patient) and IgAN (61 patients) from a teaching hospital of Northern Spain. RESULTS: All of the following comparisons were expressed between HSPN vs. IgAN, respectively. HSPN patients were younger (30.6±26.4 vs. 37.1±16.5 years, p<0.001). Precipitating events, usually an upper respiratory tract infection and/or drug intake, were more frequently observed in HSPN (38% vs. 23%, p=0.03). Extra-renal manifestations were also more common in HSPN than in IgAN; skin lesions (100% vs. 1.8%; p<0.001), gastrointestinal (62% vs. 7.4%; p<0.001), and joint involvement (61.3% vs. 3.6%; p<0.001). However, nephritis was less severe in HSPN, renal insufficiency (25% in HSPN vs. 63.4% in IgAN; p<0.001), nephrotic syndrome (12.5%, vs. 43.7%; p<0.001), and nephritic syndrome (6.8% vs. 10.7%; NS). Leukocytosis was more frequent in HSPN (22.5% vs. 8.2%; p=0.015) and anaemia in IgAN (12.7% in HSPN vs. 36% in IgAN, p<0.001). The frequency of corticosteroid (79.6% vs. 69%; NS) and cytotoxic drug (19% vs. 16.5%, NS) use was similar. The frequency of relapses was similar (38.6% in HSPN vs. 36.3% in IgAN). After a median follow-up of 120.8 (IQR; 110-132) months in HSPN and 138.6 (IQR; 117-156) in IgAN, requirement for dialysis (2.9% vs. 43.5%; p<0.001), renal transplant (0% vs. 36%, p<0.001) and residual chronic renal insufficiency (4.9% vs. 63.8%; p<0.001) was more frequently observed in patients with in IgAN. CONCLUSIONS: HSPN and IgAN represent different syndromes. IgAN has more severe renal involvement while HSPN is associated with more extra-renal manifestations.

Multicenter longitudinal study of B-lymphocyte depletion in refractory systemic lupus erythematosus: the LESIMAB study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of single and repeated courses of rituximab in patients with refractory lupus. METHODS: LESIMAB is a multicenter, retrospective, longitudinal study of lupus patients who have not responded to standard therapy and have been treated with rituximab. Response rates at six months and at follow-up were defined as efficacy outcomes. Complete response was defined as a SELENA-SLEDAI score ≤ two and a SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index of zero. Partial response was defined as a reduction in the SELENA-SLEDAI score of ≥four points with no new or worsening of symptoms. Adverse events were collected. RESULTS: Seventy-three (62.9%) of 116 patients achieved a response at six months (complete in 22 and partial in 51). Ninety-seven (77.6%) of 128 patients achieved a response after a mean follow-up of 20.0 ± 15.2 months (complete in 50 and partial in 47). High baseline SLEDAI score, previous treatment with ≥100 mg/day prednisone, and no history of severe hematologic flare were associated with response after the first treatment course. The median time to response was 6.5 months (95% CI, 5.0-8.0). Thirty-seven patients (38.1%) relapsed after the first infusion. The flare was severe in seven cases and mild to moderate in 29 cases. Serious infection rate was 12.6/100 patient-years. A schedule of four weekly doses was associated with more serious infections. Six patients died: two of infection and four of lupus complications. CONCLUSION: Rituximab can be an effective treatment option for patients who have refractory lupus with severe or life-threatening disease with an acceptable tolerance profile.

Circulating cytokines in active polymyalgia rheumatica.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the circulating cytokine profile and the cellular source of circulating cytokines in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). METHODS: The study included 34 patients with active untreated PMR and 17 age-matched healthy controls (HC). Circulating cytokines were measured by cytometric bead array and ELISA. Intracellular cytokines were assessed in CD3+ and CD14+ cells by flow cytometry. Cytokines in cell culture supernatants were also determined after polyclonal stimulation of patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS: Circulating levels of interleukin-6 (IL6) were significantly higher in subjects with active PMR than in HC. Corticosteroid (CS) treatment was followed by a decrease in the level of IL6. Intracellular cytokine staining showed that circulating monocytes did not produce higher amounts of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with PMR than in HC. There was a discordance between serum levels and cytokine-producing monocyte and T cells, and it was not possible to demonstrate a Th1 bias in the peripheral compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Active PMR is characterised by increased serum levels of IL6, but not of other proinflammatory cytokines, that are rapidly suppressed by CS treatment. As circulating monocytes do not show increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, IL6 may be mainly produced in the inflamed tissue. A study of the circulating cytokine profile and its cellular source may provide a clue to new therapeutic options.

Interleukin-12 gene polymorphisim in patients with giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica and elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The cytokine profile suggests that giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a Th1-driven disease, in which local IFN-gamma plays a critical role in the development of a systemic arteritis. IL-12 is a potent inducer of IFN-gamma and is critically involved in biasing an immune response towards a Th1 pathway. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between an IL-12 gene polymorphism (-1188 A/C 3UTR) and disease susceptibility for GCA and two other age-related inflammatory conditions, such as polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA). Furthermore, we attempted to correlate such polymorphism with in vitro IL-12 production. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed genotypes at -1188 in the 3UTR of the IL-12 promoter by PCR-RFLP in 68 GCA, 138 PMR, and 72 EORA patients as well as in 465 healthy controls (HC). IL-12p70 levels in culture supernatants after stimulation with PMA+Ionomycin was assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: All groups were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Allelic and gen-omic distribution was not significantly different among the study groups. None of the genetic variants was associated with disease severity. Although the differences were not statistically significant, HC genotypes were associated with distinct IL-12 p70 production. CONCLUSIONS: The IL-12 (-1188 A/C 3UTR) gene polymorphism is not associated with disease susceptibility or severity in three age-related chronic inflammatory syndromes. The production of IL-12 p70 is dependent on the genetic background in HC, although in patients such association may be biased by other unknown factors.

Innate immune response gene expression profiles characterize primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by thromboembolic episodes and pregnant morbidity with an increasing clinical importance. To gain insight into the pathogenesis of PAPS, we have investigated the gene expression profiles that characterize peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from PAPS patients. We show that the transcriptional activity of genes involved in innate immune responses, such as toll-like receptor 8 and CD14, as well as downstream genes of this pathway, such as STAT1, OAS2, TNFSF13 and PLSCR1 are significantly increased in PAPS patients. In addition, the expression of monocyte-specific cytokines is also elevated in PAPS mononuclear cells stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide. Taken together, these results reveal a 'response to pathogen' signature in PAPS, which could reflect an altered monocyte activity. Finally, microarray analyses also revealed a reduced expression of genes coding for proteins involved in transcriptional control. Interestingly, a significant proportion of them exhibit E2F-binding sites in their promoter, suggesting that a deregulated RB/E2F activity could play a role in the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid syndrome.

A double-blind placebo controlled trial of etanercept in patients with giant cell arteritis and corticosteroid side effects.

OBJECTIVE: Open label studies have suggested that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists led to sustained improvement and corticosteroid sparing effect in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). To confirm these observations, we conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial with etanercept in patients with biopsy-proven GCA with side effects secondary to corticosteroids. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with GCA to receive etanercept (n = 8) or placebo (n = 9) over 1 year together with corticosteroids that were reduced according to a predefined schedule. The primary outcome was the ability to withdraw the corticosteroid therapy and control the disease activity at 12 months. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups, although patients in the etanercept group showed higher levels of basal glycaemia (p = 0.02) and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (p = 0.01). After 12 months, 50% of the patients in the etanercept group and 22.2% in the placebo group were able to control the disease without corticosteroid therapy (p value not significant). Patients in the etanercept group had a significant lower dose of accumulated prednisone during the first year of treatment (p = 0.03). There were no differences in the number and type of adverse events. CONCLUSION: The limited number of patients included in this study does not allow us to draw definitive conclusions. Etanercept therapy was well tolerated in this aged population. The therapeutic role of etanercept in patients with GCA should be evaluated in studies with a larger number of patients.

Serum levels of antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and human HSP60 in giant cell arteritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the serum levels of IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) and human heat shock protein (hHSP) 60 antibodies in patients with active giant cell arteritis (GCA) and to determine whether such levels decrease with corticosteroid therapy and remission of symptoms. METHODS: IgG anti-C. pneumoniae and anti-hHSP60 antibodies were quantified by commercial and in-house ELISA tests, respectively, in serum samples from 17 GCA patients, 39 polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patients and 23 age-matched healthy subjects. RESULTS: Serum IgG anti-hHSP60, but not anti-C. pneumoniae, antibodies were significantly increased in GCA patients in comparison with PMR patients or healthy controls. After steroid therapy, both anti-hHSP60 and -C. pneumoniae antibodies decreased significantly in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although some infectious agents have been suggested to participate in GCA pathogenesis, our data do not suggest that C. pneumoniae might be one of them. The production of anti-hHSP60 antibodies is shared in GCA with other systemic diseases and may be triggered by unknown infectious agents and/or other inflammatory factors.

Plasma adrenomedullin levels in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: Plasma adrenomedullin (AM) levels are elevated in several inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The aims of the present study were: a) to assess whether plasma AM levels are abnormal in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (PMR and GCA) and b) to investigate if this parameter is related to clinical and biochemical indicators of disease activity in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AM plasma levels were analyzed in 17 patients with PMR and GCA and in 14 healthy subjects. Twelve patients (9 PMR and 3 GCA) were studied when they had active disease before any steroid therapy and the remaining 5 patients (2 PMR and 3 GCA) were in complete clinical remission and no longer receiving steroid treatment. AM was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Plasma AM concentration was significantly higher in patients with active GCA compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and with patients with isolated PMR (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between patients with active PMR and the control group. Within the PMR/GCA group with active disease, AM plasma levels were positively correlated with ESR (r = 0.6, p = 0.02), and negatively with hematocrit (r = -0.57, p = 0.03) and hemoglobin (r = -0.55, p = 0.04). No correlations were found between AM and CRP. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of AM are elevated in patients with active GCA and correlate with parameters that reflect the acute phase response. The differences in the secretion of AM between patients with PMR and GCA might reflect the severity of the vascular endothelial cell damage in these conditions. The role of AM in the pathogenesis of PMR and GCA needs to be assessed in a larger series of patients.

Lack of effect of rapamycin in anti-CCP antibody production in a rheumatoid arthritis kidney allograft recipient.

Autoimmune diseases may lead to end-stage renal disease and, as a consequence, kidney transplantation. Classical immunosuppressive drugs, such as cyclosporine or corticosteroids, are well-established therapies for both transplantation and autoimmune diseases. Rapamycin is a new immunosuppressant useful for allograft transplantation and with a promising future for autoimmune diseases, although it has not been extensively studied in humans. Here the case of a patient diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who received a renal allograft is reported. She was started on prednisolone, azathioprine and cyclosporine immunosuppression and changed to rapamycin instead of cyclosporine 4 years after transplantation, because of chronic allograft nephropathy. At present, the patient has a functioning graft. However, the arthritis symptoms reappeared after the change in immunosuppressant. Titers of RA-specific anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibodies increased whereas rheumatoid factor titers decreased. This case report suggests that rapamycin used for kidney transplantation might have a different influence on the spectrum of RA autoantibodies.

Recognition of tissue residing antigen by T cells in vasculitic lesions of giant cell arteritis.

The objective of this study was to explore the nature of the antigen-specific T cell response in giant cell arteritis by analyzing clonally expanded T cells in temporal artery specimens. In temporal artery tissue from eight patients, 10% of the T cell receptor beta chain repertoire was systematically screened for clonal T cells by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with selected BV, BJ, and BC specific primers and by direct sequencing of the amplified product. In five additional patients tissue-derived T cell clones were characterized. All expanded clonotypes were analyzed for their presence at different sites of the inflamed artery. T cell lines were tested for their proliferation to autologous monocytes pulsed with temporal artery extracts from patients with giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and unrelated diseases. Clonally expanded T cells were identified in 30% of the BV-J combinations of the sampled repertoire. A subset of these clones were encountered at different sites of the inflammation, but not in the peripheral blood. The T cell receptor beta chain sequences were diverse. The patients had between none and five such clonotypes in the sampled repertoire, suggesting that only few T cell specificities in each patient are involved in antigen recognition. One of these T cell clonotypes was shown to proliferate in response to an antigen selectively expressed in temporal artery specimens from giant cell arteritis and from polymyalgia rheumatica patients. Clonotypes with identical T cell receptor beta chain sequences can be found at distinct sites of the inflammation in giant cell arteritis, suggesting recognition of the same antigen at different locations. At least for some of these T cell clones the antigen is shared between different giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica patients but not expressed in temporal arteries of patients with unrelated diseases. While different HLA-DR4+ patients utilize distinct T cell specificities, the actual number of responding T cells in individual patients is small and may be disease limiting.

Polymyalgia rheumatica without significantly increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A more benign syndrome.

BACKGROUND: An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of at least 40 mm/h is considered an important requisite for the diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). However, the relative frequency and clinical features of PMR in patients without a significantly increased ESR are unclear. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients diagnosed as having PMR at the rheumatology divisions of 3 teaching hospitals. The diagnosis of PMR was established, regardless of the ESR, in 201 consecutive patients fulfilling the following criteria: (1) age 50 years or older, (2) severe proximal pain for more than 1 month in at least 2 of 3 areas: neck, shoulder, and/or pelvic girdles, and (3) rapid resolution of the syndrome while taking low-dose prednisone. Patients with giant cell arteritis were previously excluded from the study. The frequency and clinical features of patients with PMR and an ESR lower than 40 mm/h were analyzed. A comparative study between these patients and those with high ESRs was performed. RESULTS: An ESR lower than 40 mm/h was found in 41 patients (20.4%). These patients were younger (P = .02), were more frequently men (P = .006), and experienced a lower frequency of fever (P = .003) and weight loss (P = .07). Furthermore, these patients were characterized by an absence of anemia (P = .002) and a lower frequency of abnormal protein electrophoresis results (P < .001). Otherwise, their clinical syndrome, response to therapy, and frequency of relapses were similar to those of patients with classic PMR. In the entire population of 201 patients, the ESR was related to the length of treatment, number of areas involved, presence of fever, weight loss, and laboratory test result abnormalities, but it was unrelated to the duration of the illness prior to diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: It is not uncommon to find a patient with PMR with an ESR lower than 40 mm/h. This syndrome is more frequent in men and it is clinically less severe than the classic form of PMR. Its recognition will allow these patients to benefit from an effective treatment with low-dose corticosteroids.

Cutaneous vasculitis in children and adults. Associated diseases and etiologic factors in 303 patients.

Cutaneous vasculitis (CV), a condition characterized by palpable purpura and nonspecific histopathologic findings, presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because it may be a primary disorder or it may be a cutaneous manifestation of another entity, such as systemic necrotizing vasculitis, connective tissue disease, systemic bacterial infection, or malignancy. We studied 303 unselected patients (172 adults and 131 children) with CV to assess the disease associations and etiologic factors, to identify the frequency of primary and secondary CV in different age-groups, and to characterize features that help to distinguish between primary and secondary CV. Of the 131 children, 130 had primary CV: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in 116 and hypersensitivity vasculitis (HV) in 14. In contrast, of the 172 adults, only 120 had primary CV: HSP in 39, HV in 70, and essential mixed cryoglobulinemia in 11. CV was a manifestation of systemic necrotizing vasculitis in 23 adults (polyarteritis nodosa in 17, Wegener granulomatosis in 4, and Churg-Strauss syndrome in 2). CV was secondary to other processes in 29 adults: in 20 patients CV was associated with connective tissue disease or another autoimmune or rheumatic disease, in 5 patients CV was a manifestation of severe bacterial infection, especially bacterial endocarditis (4 cases), and in the other 4 patients CV was the presenting symptom of an underlying malignancy. The patients for whom CV was a manifestation of systemic necrotizing vasculitis or secondary to a connective tissue disease, severe bacterial infection, or malignancy had clinical and laboratory data suggestive of the associated disorder. The clinical picture and outcome of primary CV in both children and adults were benign. By contrast, the prognosis of patients with CV in the context of systemic necrotizing vasculitis or secondary to other entities depended on the primary process. Given the different disease association in children and adults, we propose a simple diagnostic workup in children with CV. By contrast the diagnostic approach in adults with CV should be more cautious and the workup more extensive. The early differentiation between primary CV, secondary CV, and CV presenting as a symptom of systemic necrotizing vasculitis, especially in adults, is of paramount importance for an adequate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Clinical features and outcome of 95 patients with hypersensitivity vasculitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features and outcome of patients with isolated hypersensitivity vasculitis (HV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with cutaneous vasculitis followed up at a University Hospital from 1975 to 1994. Patients with vasculitis secondary to collagen vascular diseases, neoplasia, or major infections were excluded. Patients were classified as HV according to the differential criteria proposed by Michel et al (J Rheumatol. 1992;19:721-728). RESULTS: Ninety-five patients were classified as HV. The mean age was 42.7 +/- 21.7 years, with similar disease frequency in both sexes. In 43 patients, the precipitating event was drug therapy, either alone or as a treatment for a coexistent infection, usually an upper respiratory tract infection. The most frequent clinical manifestation was palpable purpura followed by joint symptoms. Systemic involvement was infrequent: 7 patients had nephropathy, manifested almost exclusively by microhematuria, and 5 patients had gastrointestinal symptoms. In 54 subjects the vasculitis did not require treatment; 26 patients were treated with NSAIDs, and 14 required corticosteroids (associated to immunosuppressive agents in 2 of them). After a mean follow-up of 15.5 +/- 28.9 months (median 6), only 2 patients had slight renal impairment, whereas the remaining had a complete recovery. CONCLUSION: Hypersensitivity vasculitis is usually a benign syndrome, often secondary to drugs or infections, or both. Its main clinical manifestations are skin and joint symptoms. The systemic involvement is scarce and its prognosis is excellent.

Risk factors and predictive models of giant cell arteritis in polymyalgia rheumatica.

OBJECTIVE: To identify in polymyalgia rheumatica the best set of predictors for a positive temporal artery biopsy and to define predictive models with either a high or low probability of giant cell arteritis (GCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 227 patients, 137 with polymyalgia rheumatica unassociated with arteritis (group A) and 90 with polymyalgia associated with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (group B or training set). Data on demographic features, clinical and laboratory abnormalities were collected. Risk factors for arteritis were estimated by nonlinear logistic regressions. Simple predictive models were constructed with those predictors more related to arteritis by multivariable analysis. These models were then tested in group B and in 89 cases of arteritis without polymyalgia rheumatica (group C or test set). RESULTS: The best predictors of arteritis were a new headache odds ratio (OR) 13.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.7 to 39.3); age at onset < 70 years OR 0.11 (CI 0.04 to 0.35); abnormal temporal arteries OR 4.2 (CI 1.3 to 13.7); raised liver enzymes OR 2.9 (CI 1.1 to 7.8), and jaw claudication OR 4.8 (CI 1.0 to 22.7). Amaurosis was only observed in patients with arteritis. Three subsets had a very high risk of arteritis: (1) Patients with recent headache, abnormal arteries, and > or = 70 years at disease onset: sensitivity 44%, positive predictive value (PPV) 93%, likelihood ratio (LR) 20.3; (2) patients with a new headache, jaw claudication, and abnormal arteries: sensitivity 34.4%, PPV 96.9%, LR 47.2; and (3) those, that in addition to the last 3 features, were > or = 70 years of age at disease onset: sensitivity 26.7%, PPV 100%. We could also identify a subset with a very low risk of arteritis constituted by patients < 70 years, without headache, and with clinically normal temporal arteries: sensitivity 1.1%, PPV 1.7%, LR 0.03. In group C or the test set, these four predictive models correctly identified 57.3%, 29.2%, 23.6, and 3.4% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In polymyalgia rheumatica it is feasible to identify subsets with a very high likelihood of GCA. Although in some of these subsets the diagnosis of arteritis is almost certain, we suggest that even then it should be confirmed by temporal artery biopsy. By contrast, in those patients with polymyalgia < 70 years and without cranial features of giant cell arteritis, the risk of vasculitis is so low that the biopsy could be initially avoided and the patient treated with low-dose corticosteroids.

Insufficiency fractures of the tibia and fibula.

OBJECTIVE: Insufficiency fractures (IF) occur when normal or physiological muscular activity stresses a bone that is deficient in mineral or elastic resistance. IF of the tibia and fibula are probably less common than IF of the ribs, vertebrae, hip, pelvis, and distal ulna, and therefore they are frequently underrecognized and mistaken for other conditions. Our aim was to analyze the main features and outcome of IF of the tibia and fibula in patients attending our Rheumatology Service. METHODS: IF was considered when occurring spontaneously or with minimal trauma. Between January 1984 and July 1997, 25 patients were diagnosed as having IF of the tibia and fibula. The main predisposing factors, clinical features, therapy, and outcome were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: All the patients except four were women (mean age, 66+/-12 years). Three cases were diagnosed between 1984 and 1990 (0.42 cases/year) and 22 between 1991 and 1997 (three cases/year). Eighteen patients had an underlying condition: rheumatoid arthritis (RA, 13 cases), psoriatic arthritis (2), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (1), kidney transplant (1), and Crohn's disease (1). Eleven patients had osteoporotic fractures in other locations. Risk factors for osteoporosis were corticosteroids (13 cases), prolonged immobilization (10), early menopause (2), and methotrexate therapy (10). All patients had pain on weight bearing and marked functional impairment, 16 had local inflammatory signs, and 10 had deformity. In only five patients the diagnosis of IF was considered at the first examination. The diagnostic delay was 76+/-117 days (median, 21). The initial radiograph was diagnostic in 20 patients, and in the remaining the diagnosis was made by computed tomography (CT) scan (three cases), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (1), and bone scan (1). IF were located as follows: tibia (10 cases), fibula (seven), tibia and fibula (eight). Nineteen patients were treated with conservative management, four received no specific treatment, and two required surgery. Sixteen patients were hospitalized for a mean period of 12+/-8 days. Most patients had complete recovery. The high frequency of IF seen in RA patients is probably due to the severe disease in patients treated by our Service and that such patients have a higher risk for osteoporosis and its complications. CONCLUSIONS: IF of the tibia and fibula are probably more common than previously thought. They usually occur in patients with underlying rheumatic diseases, mainly RA, and are frequently mistaken for other joint and bone conditions. Despite a frequent delay in diagnosis, they have a good prognosis with conservative management. Nonetheless, a higher index of suspicion may avoid unnecessary investigations and treatments.

Circulating CD8+ T cells in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: a review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: During the last few years, there have been several studies on T cell subsets in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), with conflicting results. Whereas some authors have found normal values of circulating CD8+ T cells, others have found a decreased number. Furthermore, in some studies, the level of CD8+ cells was found to be related to disease activity, and it has been proposed that a decrease of CD8+ T cells be used as a diagnostic criterion for PMR. The purpose of our study was to determine the value of assessing T cell subsets in PMR and GCA. METHODS: T lymphocyte subsets were determined by flow cytometry using a whole blood lysis technique in the following groups: 28 PMR and 6 GCA patients before corticosteroid treatment, 20 PMR and 12 GCA patients in clinical remission with steroid treatment, 55 PMR patients in remission without steroid treatment, 17 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients before treatment, and 18 age-matched controls with noninflammatory conditions. Total white cell, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured by routine techniques. Comparisons were made by the Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney test. A MEDLINE database search for studies published between 1983 and 1997 was performed. RESULTS: Compared with noninflammatory controls, CD8+ T cells were not reduced before steroid treatment in patients with active PMR/GCA in proportion (P =.7) or absolute numbers (P =.1). Patients with active disease had significantly lower hemoglobin levels and higher platelet counts, CRP, and ESR than noninflammatory controls (P <.05). When compared with active RA, CD8+ T cells were not reduced in patients with active PMR in proportion (P =.5) or absolute numbers (P =.2). Between these two groups, RA patients were significantly younger (P =.003) and had lower ESR values (P =.003). We did not find significant differences between patients with active PMR/GCA and those in remission with steroid therapy, except for the lower hemoglobin levels and higher platelet count, CRP, and ESR in the active disease group (P <.05). The same results were found when patients with active disease were compared with PMR in remission and no longer on steroid therapy, the only significant differences were those parameters reflecting the acute phase response (hemoglobin levels, platelet count, CRP and ESR). CONCLUSIONS: This study does not confirm the previous findings that the proportion or number of circulating CD8+ T cells are reduced in patients with active PMR/GCA. The utility of the determination of CD8+ T cells for diagnostic and prognostic purpose should be evaluated in a large multicenter study.