Actualización de las guías para el tratamiento farmacológico de la artritis reumatoide del Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología 2023 / Update of the guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by the Mexican College of Rheumatology 2023

Desarrollar guías actualizadas para el manejo farmacológico de la artritis reumatoide (AR). Se conformó un grupo de expertos que fueran representativos de las distintas regiones geográficas y los diferentes servicios médicos que atienden a la población mexicana con AR. Se desarrollaron preguntas basadas en Población, Intervención, Comparación y Desenlace [Outcome] (PICO) que fueron consideradas relevantes desde el punto de vista clínico; las preguntas encontraron su respuesta en los resultados de una revisión sistemática de la literatura (RSL) reciente y la validez de la evidencia fue evaluada mediante el sistema GRADE, considerado un estándar para estos fines. Posteriormente, el grupo de expertos desarrollaró un acuerdo en la dirección y fuerza de las recomendaciones mediante un proceso de votación en distintas etapas. Las guías actualizadas para el tratamiento de la AR categorizan en forma estratificada a las distintas opciones terapéuticas incluyendo las distintas familias de fármacos modificadores de la enfermedad (FARME): convencionales, biológicos e inhibidores de JAK), además de AINE, glucocorticoides y analgésicos. Establece por consenso el uso de todos ellos en distintas subpoblaciones de interés de pacientes con AR, y aborda, además, aspectos relacionados con la vacunación, la COVID-19, la cirugía, el embarazo y la lactancia entre otros. La presente actualización de las guías mexicanas para el tratamiento farmacológico de la AR brinda elementos de referencia en la toma de decisiones basados en la evidencia científica más reciente, y recomienda la participación del paciente para la toma de decisiones conjuntas en la búsqueda del mayor beneficio de nuestros pacientes; establece además, recomendaciones para el manejo de una diversidad de condiciones relevantes que afectan a nuestros pacientes.

Efficacy and safety of weekly vitamin D3 in patients with fibromyalgia: 12-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled placebo trial.

INTRODUCTION: FM is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder characterized by the presence of generalized pain. There are contradictory results regarding the prevalence and supplementation effect of vitamin D deficiency on FM patients. We aim to determine the safety and efficacy of a 12-week vitamin D supplementation on FM patients. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. We included female participants of 18 years old or older, who met 1990 or 2010 ACR criteria for fibromyalgia. The Spanish validated FIQ and the VAS of pain were applied at baseline. The participants were then randomized to receive placebo or 50,000 IU of Vitamin D3 PO, weekly for 12 weeks. RESULTS: We included 80 patients. There was no statistical difference in the initial and final FIQ between both groups. The FIQ delta also did not prove to be different at the end of the study. The increase in vitamin D levels in the intervention group was corroborated. Regarding serious adverse effects, none was reported in both groups. There was no statistical difference in minor adverse events. CONCLUSION: In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study conducted to measure the efficacy and safety of vitamin D exclusively in patients with FM, we found that there is no evidence of a trend in favor of vitamin D treatment, since we did not observe improvement in the VAS of pain or FIQ. TRIAL REGISTRY: Clinical Trials.gov number: NCT03369379 Key Points • There are conflicting results in vitamin D to treat fibromyalgia. • In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, we did not find a difference in the VAS nor FIQ with vitamin D supplementation. • The increase in vitamin D levels in the intervention group was corroborated.

Are RA patients from a non-endemic HCV population screened for HCV? A cross-sectional analysis of three different settings / ¿Debe de realizarse un tamizaje de VHC en pacientes con artritis reumatoide pertenecientes a un área no-endémica? Estudio transversal en tres diferentes sistemas de salud

Introduction. In Mexico, other risk factors are associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV): prior heroin users, living alone, widower, and northern region residence. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are considered immunosuppressed and HCV testing is recommended before treatment. The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of HCV testing in RA patients in three different medical care settings in a non-endemic area. Methods. A retrospective observational study was performed using medical records from 960 RA patients describing the indications for HCV testing. Results. The test was performed in 28.6% and the HCV overall frequency was 0.36%. Population characteristics were not associated with an increased risk of HCV infection; therefore, anti-HCV positivity was low. The main reason for testing was before starting biological agents. Conclusion. Due to the low pre-test probability, testing for HCV infection should be personalized; i.e., according to disease prevalence in a particular geographical location and the individual risk factors (AU)

Introducción. En México, se han descrito factores de riesgo para virus de hepatitis C (VHC), además de los conocidos como: consumo de heroína, individuos que viven solos, ser viudo y residencia en el norte del país. Los pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR) son considerados inmunodeprimidos y se recomienda realizar pruebas de VHC antes del inicio del tratamiento. El objetivo fue describir las características de pacientes con AR a quienes se realizaron pruebas de VHC. Material y métodos. Estudio observacional, retrospectivo de 960 registros médicos donde se describieron las indicaciones para las prueba de VHC. Resultados. La prueba se realizó en el 28.6% y la frecuencia global de VHC fue de 0.36%. Las características de la población no se asociaron con un mayor riesgo de infección, por lo tanto la presencia de anti-VHC fue baja. La principal razón para realizar la prueba fue el inicio de tratamiento biológico. Conclusión. Debido a la baja probabilidad pre-test, las pruebas para el VHC deben ser personalizadas, es decir, según la prevalencia de la enfermedad de acuerdo a la zona geográfica y los factores de riesgo individuales (AU)

Safety and efficacy of methylprednisolone infiltration in anserine syndrome treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The anserine syndrome is a common cause of knee pain. Infiltration with glucocorticoids has been evaluated in studies with low level of evidence and there are no published clinical trials to determine its usefulness. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the infiltration of methylprednisolone in the treatment of Anserin Syndrome. METHODS: We conducted a clinical trial in 58 adult patients with anserin syndrome, which presented intra-articular pathology ruled that reflected pain in the medial aspect of the knee. The WOMAC scale was assessed at baseline and patients were randomized to receive an infiltration of lidocaine plus 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate (group 1) versus xylocaine plus distilled water (group 2). Both groups received 100mg of diclofenac sodium for 10 days. The WOMAC scale was applied at 4 weeks and adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: Equivalence was demonstrated in both groups for demographic variables and initial clinical evaluation. There was no statistical difference in the three domains of assessment of the baseline WOMAC score. The median baseline WOMAC in group 1 was 32 and in group 2 was 25.5 points. At 4 weeks it was 8 and 6.5 points, which corresponded to an improvement of 61.6 and 62.8% respectively. CONCLUSION: The infiltration with methylprednisolone in anserin syndrome is not superior to placebo in patients taking diclofenac measured by the WOMAC scale at 4 weeks. The incidence of adverse events did not show any differences either.