Noncardiac vascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis: increase in venous thromboembolic events?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of noncardiac vascular disease in a community-based incidence cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare it to that in the general population and to investigate trends in the incidence of noncardiac vascular disease in patients with RA. METHODS: A population-based inception cohort of patients with incident RA between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2007 in Olmsted County, Minnesota and a cohort of non-RA subjects from the same population base was assembled and followed up until December 31, 2008. Venous thromboembolic, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial events were ascertained by medical record review. RESULTS: The study population included 813 patients with RA with a mean±SD age of 55.9±15.7 years (68% women) and an average length of followup of 9.6±6.9 years. Compared to non-RA subjects of similar age and sex, patients diagnosed as having RA between 1995 and 2007 had a higher incidence (%) of venous thromboembolism (cumulative incidence±SE 6.7±1.7 versus 2.8±1.1, respectively; P=0.005) but similar rates of cerebrovascular and peripheral arterial events. Among patients with RA, the incidence of venous thromboembolic, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial events was similar in the 1995-2007 time period compared to the 1980-1994 time period. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the incidence of venous thromboembolism is increased in patients with RA compared to non-RA subjects. The incidence of cerebrovascular events and peripheral vascular disease events is similar in patients with RA compared to non-RA subjects. Among patients with RA, the incidence of noncardiac vascular disease has remained stable in recent decades.

Dual energy computed tomography for quantification of tissue urate deposits in tophaceous gout: help from modern physics in the management of an ancient disease.

Gout has been recognized for centuries but is also a modern day scourge. It is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men and appears to be increasing in both incidence and prevalence (Arromdee et al. in J Rheumatol 29(11):2403-2406, 2002). Despite these facts, few advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of gout for over 50 years. Difficult cases of gout challenge available therapeutic options. It is only recently that the Food and Drug Administration has approved febuxostat as a treatment option for patients intolerant of allopurinol. We describe a difficult case of tophaceous gout notable for several reasons: utilization of rasburicase as uricolytic treatment to dramatically reduce tissue urate burden; treatment of gout flares with interleukin-1ß inhibition; and quantification of tissue urate with novel dual energy computed tomography technology before and after uricolytic therapy.

Increased incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to the general population. METHODS: A population-based inception cohort of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents with incident RA in 1980-2007 and a cohort of non-RA subjects from the same population base were assembled and followed until 12/31/2008. The occurrence of AF was ascertained by medical record review. RESULTS: The study included 813 patients with RA and 813 non-RA subjects (mean age 55.9 (SD:15.7) years, 68% women in both cohorts). The prevalence of AF was similar in the RA and non-RA cohorts at RA incidence/index date (4% versus 3%; P = 0.51). The cumulative incidence of AF during follow-up was higher among patients with RA compared to non-RA subjects (18.3% versus 16.3% at 20 years; P = 0.048). This difference persisted after adjustment for age, sex, calendar year, smoking, and hypertension (hazard ratio: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.00). There was no evidence of a differential impact of AF on mortality in patients with RA compared to non-RA subjects (hazard ratio 2.5 versus 2.8; interaction P = 0.31). CONCLUSION: The incidence of AF is increased in patients with RA, even after adjustment for AF risk factors. AF related mortality risk did not differ between patients with and without RA.

Diagnostic features, treatment, and outcomes of Takayasu arteritis in a US cohort of 126 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes in a longitudinal cohort of patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients with newly diagnosed TAK evaluated from January 1, 1984, through December 31, 2009. RESULTS: The cohort included 126 patients who were predominantly white (85/103; 82.5%) and female (115/126; 91%). The median age at diagnosis was 31.6 years (interquartile range, 22.9-39.8 years). Median delay in diagnosis was 17.5 months (interquartile range, 7-41.8 months). Thirty-one patients (25%) were 40 years or older at diagnosis. Median delay in diagnosis for patients 40 years or older was 44.8 months compared with 28.3 months for those younger than 40 years (P<.001). Limb claudication was the presenting symptom in 64 of 123 patients (52%). Hata type V arteriographic abnormalities were the most common (57/100; 57%). Renal artery abnormalities were observed in 24 of 41 patients (58%) with new-onset hypertension. Inflammatory markers were elevated at diagnosis in 85 of 119 patients (71%). Vascular interventions were performed in 69 patients (55%). Seventy-nine patients (63%) were followed up for more than 1 year (median follow-up, 5.5 years; interquartile range, 2.9-10.0 years). In this subset, treatment consisted of corticosteroids in 73 patients (92%) and additional immunosuppressants in 52 patients (66%). At 5 years, 96% experienced at least one remission of any duration. The overall survival was 97% at 10 years and 86% at 15 years. Mortality was increased compared with the general population (standardized mortality ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.0-8.9). CONCLUSION: There continues to be an unacceptably long delay in the diagnosis of TAK. Awareness of TAK in patients older than 40 years is needed. Morbidity was high despite immunosuppressive treatment. Survival was decreased in this cohort.

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in patients with Takayasu arteritis: experience from a referral center with long-term followup.

OBJECTIVE: To report a single-center experience with the use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA). METHODS: We retrospectively studied a cohort of patients with refractory TA evaluated at our institution and treated with TNF inhibitors. American College of Rheumatology criteria for TA were used for inclusion. Disease activity was assessed according to the National Institutes of Health criteria. RESULTS: We included 20 patients (19 women, 17 white) with a mean ± SD age of 33 ± 10.2 years and a median disease duration of 15.9 months (interquartile range [IRQ] 2-32.7 months) prior to the use of TNF inhibitors. Before the use of TNF inhibitors, all 20 patients received prednisone. Other medication use included methotrexate (18 patients), azathioprine (5 patients), mycophenolate mofetil (3 patients), and cyclophosphamide (3 patients). Seventeen patients (85%) received infliximab, 2 patients (10%) received adalimumab, and 1 patient (5%) received etanercept. The median duration of treatment with TNF inhibitors was 23.0 months (IQR 8.7-38.9 months). Treatment with TNF inhibitors resulted in disease remission in 18 (90%) of 20 patients and sustained remission in 10 patients (50%). Ten (83%) of 12 patients were able to taper prednisone below 10 mg and 7 patients discontinued prednisone. However, 6 of the 18 patients achieving remission experienced relapse while receiving TNF inhibitors. Eleven patients (55%) discontinued TNF inhibitors for the following reasons: relapse, persistently active disease, lack of corticosteroid-sparing effect, adverse effects (4 patients), and other reasons (4 patients). CONCLUSION: In this study, treatment with TNF inhibitors induced remission, including sustained remission in patients with refractory TA. However, 33% of patients experienced disease relapse while receiving TNF inhibitors and 20% discontinued treatment because of adverse events.

Bivalvular Bartonella henselae prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis is an uncommon manifestation of infection with Bartonella species. Herein, we report a case of Bartonella henselae endocarditis involving prosthetic mitral and aortic valves. The patient had a favorable outcome with combined medical and surgical therapy. Concomitant crescentic glomerulonephritis led to an initial mistaken diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis.