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A scenario-based probability approach integrating point of care rheumatology ultrasound (POCRUS) into rheumatology practice has recently been proposed as a teaching methodology to encourage greater awareness of US for practicing clinicians especially with respect to the management of overlapping clinical conditions. This article reviews the rheumatological areas where application of POCRUS substantially enhances clinical reasoning to confirm or exclude target conditions. It highlights the definitions of ultrasound-detected pathologies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondylarthritis, gout and crystal arthritis, osteoarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica and discusses the added value of POCRUS in diagnosing these conditions. It summarizes advances in predicting giant cell arteritis with sequential application of a probability score and ultrasonography. It discusses the potential for salivary gland ultrasound in the diagnostic workup of suspected Sjogren's syndrome. Other areas for POCRUS application such as in suspected nerve entrapment are reviewed.
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Reumatología , Ultrasonografía , Humanos , Reumatología/educación , Reumatología/métodos , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Competencia Clínica , Curriculum , Educación de Postgrado en Medicina/métodos , Pruebas en el Punto de Atención , Enfermedades Reumáticas/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades Reumáticas/terapia , Reumatólogos/educaciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Giant cell arteritis is a critically ischaemic disease with protean manifestations that require urgent diagnosis and treatment. European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations advocate ultrasonography as the first investigation for suspected giant cell arteritis. We developed a prediction tool that sequentially combines clinical assessment, as determined by the Southend Giant Cell Arteritis Probability Score (SGCAPS), with results of quantitative ultrasonography. METHODS: This prospective, multicentre, inception cohort study included consecutive patients with suspected new onset giant cell arteritis referred to fast-track clinics (seven centres in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and UK). Final clinical diagnosis was established at 6 months. SGCAPS and quantitative ultrasonography of temporal and axillary arteries with three scores (ie, halo count, halo score, and OMERACT GCA Score [OGUS]) were performed at diagnosis. We developed prediction models for diagnosis of giant cell arteritis by multivariable logistic regression analysis with SGCAPS and each of the three ultrasonographic scores as predicting variables. We obtained intraclass correlation coefficient for inter-rater and intra-rater reliability in a separate patient-based reliability exercise with five patients and five observers. FINDINGS: Between Oct 1, 2019, and June 30, 2022, we recruited and followed up 229 patients (150 [66%] women and 79 [34%] men; mean age 71 years [SD 10]), of whom 84 were diagnosed with giant cell arteritis and 145 with giant cell arteritis mimics (controls) at 6 months. SGCAPS and all three ultrasonographic scores discriminated well between patients with and without giant cell arteritis. A reliability exercise showed that the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability was high for all three ultrasonographic scores. The prediction model combining SGCAPS with the halo count, which was termed HAS-GCA score, was the most accurate model, with an optimism-adjusted C statistic of 0·969 (95% CI 0·952 to 0·990). The HAS-GCA score could classify 169 (74%) of 229 patients into either the low or high probability groups, with misclassification observed in two (2%) of 105 patients in the low probability group and two (3%) of 64 of patients in the high probability group. A nomogram for easy application of the score in daily practice was created. INTERPRETATION: A prediction tool for giant cell arteritis (the HAS-GCA score), combining SGCAPS and the halo count, reliably confirms and excludes giant cell arteritis from giant cell arteritis mimics in fast-track clinics. These findings require confirmation in an independent, multicentre study. FUNDING: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, FOREUM.
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Arteritis de Células Gigantes , Ultrasonografía , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Femenino , Anciano , Masculino , Estudios Prospectivos , Ultrasonografía/métodos , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Arterias Temporales/diagnóstico por imagen , Arterias Temporales/patología , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Arteria Axilar/diagnóstico por imagen , Persona de Mediana Edad , Valor Predictivo de las PruebasRESUMEN
Objectives: Ultrasound has a paramount role in the diagnostic assessment of giant cell arteritis (GCA); Southend halo score (HS), halo count (HC), and OMERACT GCA Ultrasonography Score (OGUS) are the first quantitative scores proposed in this setting. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the diagnostic accuracy of these scores in a real-life scenario, as well as to evaluate their optimal cutoff, also with respect to disease extent, sex, and age. Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical, serological, and US findings of all patients referred for the first time to our vasculitis clinic in the suspicion of GCA. Results: A total of 79 patients were included, and a definite diagnosis of GCA was made in 43 patients. For OGUS, the ROC curve showed an optimal cut point of 0.81 (sensitivity 79.07% and specificity 97.22%). For HC and HS, the optimal cutoff values were > 1.5 (sensitivity 76.7% and specificity 97.2%) and > 14.5 (sensitivity 74.4% and specificity 97.2%), respectively. No relevant differences were assessed when patients were stratified according to disease extent, age, and sex. Compression sign (CS) was positive in 34 of 38 patients with cranial GCA and negative in all controls and LV-GCA. Conclusion: All three scores display good sensitivity and excellent specificity, although the cutoff was slightly different than proposed. In particular, for OGUS, a threshold of 0.81 could be employed for diagnostic purposes, although it was developed solely for monitoring. Due to its high sensitivity and specificity, CS should be always assessed in all patients referred with a suspicion of cranial GCA.
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OBJECTIVES: To develop treat-to-target (T2T) recommendations in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted to retrieve data on treatment targets and outcomes in GCA/PMR as well as to identify the evidence for the effectiveness of a T2T-based management approach in these diseases. Based on evidence and expert opinion, the task force (29 participants from 10 countries consisting of physicians, a healthcare professional and a patient) developed recommendations, with consensus obtained through voting. The final level of agreement was provided anonymously. RESULTS: Five overarching principles and six-specific recommendations were formulated. Management of GCA and PMR should be based on shared decisions between patient and physician recognising the need for urgent treatment of GCA to avoid ischaemic complications, and it should aim at maximising health-related quality of life in both diseases. The treatment targets are achievement and maintenance of remission, as well as prevention of tissue ischaemia and vascular damage. Comorbidities need to be considered when assessing disease activity and selecting treatment. CONCLUSION: These are the first T2T recommendations for GCA and PMR. Treatment targets, as well as strategies to assess, achieve and maintain these targets have been defined. The research agenda highlights the gaps in evidence and the need for future research.
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Arteritis de Células Gigantes , Polimialgia Reumática , Humanos , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/complicaciones , Polimialgia Reumática/epidemiología , Calidad de Vida , ComorbilidadRESUMEN
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are common conditions in older adults. Their clinical connection has been recognized over time, with many patients experiencing both conditions separately, simultaneously or in temporal sequence to each other. Early GCA detection is essential to prevent vascular damage, but identifying subclinical GCA in PMR patients remains a challenge and routine screening is not standard practice. Subclinical GCA prevalence in newly diagnosed PMR patients ranges from 23 to 29%, depending on the screening method. Vessel wall imaging and temporal artery biopsy can detect subclinical GCA. Epidemiology and trigger factors show similarities between the two conditions, but PMR is more common than GCA. Genetic and pathogenesis studies reveal shared inflammatory mechanisms involving dendritic cells, pro-inflammatory macrophages, and an IL-6 signature. However, the inflammatory infiltrates differ, with extensive T cell infiltrates seen in GCA while PMR shows an incomplete profile of T cell and macrophage-derived cytokines. Glucocorticoid treatment is effective for both conditions, but the steroid requirements vary. PMR overall mortality might be similar to the general population, while GCA patients with aortic inflammatory aneurysms face increased mortality risk. The GCA-PMR association warrants further research. Considering their kinship, recently the term GCA-PMR Spectrum Disease (GPSD) has been proposed.
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Arteritis de Células Gigantes , Polimialgia Reumática , Humanos , Anciano , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/complicaciones , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/diagnóstico , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/epidemiología , Polimialgia Reumática/complicaciones , Polimialgia Reumática/diagnóstico , Polimialgia Reumática/tratamiento farmacológico , Glucocorticoides/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: More than half of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica have a relapse during tapering of glucocorticoid therapy. Previous studies have suggested that interleukin-6 blockade may be clinically useful in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica. Sarilumab, a human monoclonal antibody, binds interleukin-6 receptor α and efficiently blocks the interleukin-6 pathway. METHODS: In this phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive 52 weeks of a twice-monthly subcutaneous injection of either sarilumab (at a dose of 200 mg) plus a 14-week prednisone taper or placebo plus a 52-week prednisone taper. The primary outcome at 52 weeks was sustained remission, which was defined as the resolution of signs and symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica by week 12 and sustained normalization of the C-reactive protein level, absence of disease flare, and adherence to the prednisone taper from weeks 12 through 52. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients underwent randomization (60 to receive sarilumab and 58 to receive placebo). At week 52, sustained remission occurred in 28% (17 of 60 patients) in the sarilumab group and in 10% (6 of 58 patients) in the placebo group (difference, 18 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, 4 to 32; P = 0.02). The median cumulative glucocorticoid dose at 52 weeks was significantly lower in the sarilumab group than in the placebo group (777 mg vs. 2044 mg; P<0.001). The most common adverse events with sarilumab as compared with placebo were neutropenia (15% vs. 0%), arthralgia (15% vs. 5%), and diarrhea (12% vs. 2%). More treatment-related discontinuations were observed in the sarilumab group than in the placebo group (12% vs. 7%). CONCLUSIONS: Sarilumab showed significant efficacy in achieving sustained remission and reducing the cumulative glucocorticoid dose in patients with a relapse of polymyalgia rheumatica during glucocorticoid tapering. (Funded by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; SAPHYR ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03600818.).
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Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados , Reducción Gradual de Medicamentos , Polimialgia Reumática , Humanos , Glucocorticoides/administración & dosificación , Glucocorticoides/efectos adversos , Interleucina-6/antagonistas & inhibidores , Polimialgia Reumática/tratamiento farmacológico , Prednisona/administración & dosificación , Prednisona/efectos adversos , Recurrencia , Resultado del Tratamiento , Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados/uso terapéutico , Reducción Gradual de Medicamentos/métodos , Proteína C-Reactiva/análisisRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is primarily treated with glucocorticoids (GCs), which have substantial toxicity. Tocilizumab, an interleukin-6-receptor inhibitor (IL-6Ri), showed beneficial effects in GCA, leading to its approval. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of sarilumab (another IL-6Ri) in GCA. METHODS: This Phase 3, double-blind study comprised a 52-week treatment period and a 24-week follow-up phase. Eligible GCA patients were randomized to receive sarilumab 200 mg (SAR200 + 26W) or 150 mg (SAR150 + 26W) with a 26-week GC taper, or placebo with a 52-week (PBO + 52W) or 26-week (PBO + 26W) GC taper. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained remission (SR) at week 52. Additional endpoints were SR at week 24, cumulative GC dose, and safety. The study was discontinued prematurely due to protracted recruitment timelines, because of the impact of COVID-19. Therefore, only descriptive statistics were summarized. RESULTS: Of the planned 360 subjects, only 83 were randomized and 36 were included in the week 52 analysis. At week 52, 46% (n = 6/13) of patients in SAR200 + 26W, 43% (n = 3/7) in SAR150 + 26W, 30% (n = 3/10) in PBO + 52W, and 0 (n = 0/6) in PBO + 26W taper groups achieved SR. Sensitivity analyses, excluding acute-phase reactants from the SR definition, showed similar results for SAR groups, but 60% (n = 6/10) in PBO + 52W and 17% (n = 1/6) in PBO + 26W taper groups achieved SR at week 52. Similar findings were noted at week 24. The proportions of patients who adhered to GC taper from week 12 through week 52 in each group were as follows: 46% (n = 6/13, SAR200 + 26W), 43% (n = 3/7, SAR150 + 26W), 60% (n = 6/10, PBO + 52W), and 33% (n = 2/6, PBO + 26W). The median actual cumulative GC dose received in the SAR200 + 26W group was lower than other groups. Most patients (80-100%) experienced treatment-emergent adverse events, with similar incidences reported across groups. CONCLUSIONS: Owing to the small sample size due to the early termination, it is difficult to draw clear conclusions from this study. There were no unexpected safety findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03600805. Registered on July 26, 2018.
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COVID-19 , Arteritis de Células Gigantes , Humanos , Método Doble Ciego , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/tratamiento farmacológico , Resultado del Tratamiento , Tratamiento Farmacológico de COVID-19RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To update the EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging modalities in primary large vessel vasculitis (LVV). METHODS: A systematic literature review update was performed to retrieve new evidence on ultrasound, MRI, CT and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for diagnosis, monitoring and outcome prediction in LVV. The task force consisted of 24 physicians, health professionals and patients from 14 countries. The recommendations were updated based on evidence and expert opinion, iterating until voting indicated consensus. The level of agreement was determined by anonymous votes. RESULTS: Three overarching principles and eight recommendations were agreed. Compared to the 2018 version, ultrasound is now recommended as first-line imaging test in all patients with suspected giant cell arteritis, and axillary arteries should be included in the standard examination. As an alternative to ultrasound, cranial and extracranial arteries can be examined by FDG-PET or MRI. For Takayasu arteritis, MRI is the preferred imaging modality; FDG-PET, CT or ultrasound are alternatives. Although imaging is not routinely recommended for follow-up, ultrasound, FDG-PET or MRI may be used for assessing vessel abnormalities in LVV patients with suspected relapse, particularly when laboratory markers of inflammation are unreliable. MR-angiography, CT-angiography or ultrasound may be used for long-term monitoring of structural damage, particularly at sites of preceding vascular inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The 2023 EULAR recommendations provide up-to-date guidance for the role of imaging in the diagnosis and assessment of patients with LVV.
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Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are closely related conditions characterized by systemic inflammation, a predominant IL-6 signature, an excellent response to glucocorticoids, a tendency to a chronic and relapsing course, and older age of the affected population. This Review highlights the emerging view that these diseases should be approached as linked conditions, unified under the term GCA-PMR spectrum disease (GPSD). In addition, GCA and PMR should be seen as non-monolithic conditions, with different risks of developing acute ischaemic complications and chronic vascular and tissue damage, different responses to available therapies and disparate relapse rates. A comprehensive stratification strategy for GPSD, guided by clinical findings, imaging and laboratory data, facilitates appropriate therapy and cost-effective use of health-economic resources. Patients presenting with predominant cranial symptoms and vascular involvement, who usually have a borderline elevation of inflammatory markers, are at an increased risk of sight loss in early disease but have fewer relapses in the long term, whereas the opposite is observed in patients with predominant large-vessel vasculitis. How the involvement of peripheral joint structures affects disease outcomes remains uncertain and understudied. In the future, all cases of new-onset GPSD should undergo early disease stratification, with their management adapted accordingly.
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Arteritis de Células Gigantes , Polimialgia Reumática , Humanos , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/tratamiento farmacológico , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/complicaciones , Polimialgia Reumática/tratamiento farmacológico , Polimialgia Reumática/complicaciones , Glucocorticoides/uso terapéutico , Diagnóstico por ImagenRESUMEN
RNA modifications regulate multiple aspects of cellular function including RNA splicing, translation, export, decay, stability, and phase separation. One of the comprehensive ways to detect such modifications is by the recent advancement of direct RNA sequencing from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). However, this method obtains a large amount of data with high complexity in the form of raw current signal that poses a new informatics challenge to accurately detect those modifications. Here, we provide nanoDoc2, a software to detect multiple types of RNA modification from nanopore direct RNA sequencing data. The nanoDoc2 includes a novel signal segmentation algorithm based on the trace value-a base probability feature that is added by the Guppy basecalling program from ONT during processing of the raw signal. The core of nanoDoc2 includes a machine learning algorithm in which a 6-mer segmented raw current signal is analyzed by deep one-class classification using a WaveNet-based neural network. As an output, an RNA modification is detected by a statistical score in each candidate position. Herein, we describe the detailed instructions on how to use nanoDoc2 for signal segmentation, train/test the neural network, and finally predict RNA modifications present in nanopore direct RNA sequencing data.
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Nanoporos , ARN , ARN/genética , Programas Informáticos , Algoritmos , Análisis de Secuencia de ARN/métodos , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento/métodosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To develop an Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasonography score for monitoring disease activity in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and evaluate its metric properties. METHODS: The OMERACT Instrument Selection Algorithm was followed. Forty-nine members of the OMERACT ultrasonography large vessel vasculitis working group were invited to seven Delphi rounds. An online reliability exercise was conducted using images of bilateral common temporal arteries, parietal and frontal branches as well as axillary arteries from 16 patients with GCA and 7 controls. Sensitivity to change and convergent construct validity were tested using data from a prospective cohort of patients with new GCA in which ultrasound-based intima-media thickness (IMT) measurements were conducted at weeks 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24. RESULTS: Agreement was obtained (92.7%) for the OMERACT GCA Ultrasonography Score (OGUS), calculated as follows: sum of IMT measured in every segment divided by the rounded cut-off values of IMTs in each segment. The resulting value is then divided by the number of segments available. Thirty-five members conducted the reliability exercise, the interrater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the OGUS was 0.72-0.84 and the median intrareader ICC was 0.91. The prospective cohort consisted of 52 patients. Sensitivity to change between baseline and each follow-up visit up to week 24 yielded standardised mean differences from -1.19 to -2.16, corresponding to large and very large magnitudes of change, respectively. OGUS correlated moderately with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein and Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (corrcoeff 0.37-0.48). CONCLUSION: We developed a provisional OGUS for potential use in clinical trials.
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Arteritis de Células Gigantes , Humanos , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/diagnóstico por imagen , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Estudios Prospectivos , Arterias Temporales/diagnóstico por imagen , Ultrasonografía/métodosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To explore current management practices for PMR by general practitioners (GPs) and rheumatologists including implications for clinical trial recruitment. METHODS: An English language questionnaire was constructed by a working group of rheumatologists and GPs from six countries. The questionnaire focused on: 1: Respondent characteristics; 2: Referral practices; 3: Treatment with glucocorticoids; 4: Diagnostics; 5: Comorbidities; and 6: Barriers to research. The questionnaire was distributed to rheumatologists and GPs worldwide via members of the International PMR/Giant Cell Arteritis Study Group. RESULTS: In total, 394 GPs and 937 rheumatologists responded to the survey. GPs referred a median of 25% of their suspected PMR patients for diagnosis and 50% of these were returned to their GP for management. In general, 39% of rheumatologists evaluated patients with suspected PMR >2 weeks after referral, and a median of 50% of patients had started prednisolone before rheumatologist evaluation. Direct comparison of initial treatment showed that the percentage prescribing >25 mg prednisolone daily for patients was 30% for GPs and 12% for rheumatologists. Diagnostic imaging was rarely used. More than half (56%) of rheumatologists experienced difficulties recruiting people with PMR to clinical trials. CONCLUSION: This large international survey indicates that a large proportion of people with PMR are not referred for diagnosis, and that the proportion of treatment-naive patients declined with increasing time from referral to assessment. Strategies are needed to change referral and management of people with PMR, to improve clinical practice and facilitate recruitment to clinical trials.
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Médicos Generales , Arteritis de Células Gigantes , Polimialgia Reumática , Humanos , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/diagnóstico , Arteritis de Células Gigantes/tratamiento farmacológico , Polimialgia Reumática/diagnóstico , Polimialgia Reumática/tratamiento farmacológico , Reumatólogos , Glucocorticoides/uso terapéutico , Prednisolona/uso terapéutico , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Despite highly effective targeted therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, about 40% of patients respond poorly, and predictive biomarkers for treatment choices are lacking. We did a biopsy-driven trial to compare the response to rituximab, etanercept, and tocilizumab in biologic-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis stratified for synovial B cell status. METHODS: STRAP and STRAP-EU were two parallel, open-label, biopsy-driven, stratified, randomised, phase 3 trials done across 26 university centres in the UK and Europe. Biologic-naive patients aged 18 years or older with rheumatoid arthritis based on American College of Rheumatology (ACR)-European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria and an inadequate response to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were included. Following ultrasound-guided synovial biopsy, patients were classified as B cell poor or B cell rich according to synovial B cell signatures and randomly assigned (1:1:1) to intravenous rituximab (1000 mg at week 0 and week 2), subcutaneous tocilizumab (162 mg per week), or subcutaneous etanercept (50 mg per week). The primary outcome was the 16-week ACR20 response in the B cell-poor, intention-to-treat population (defined as all randomly assigned patients), with data pooled from the two trials, comparing etanercept and tocilizumab (grouped) versus rituximab. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug. These trials are registered with the EU Clinical Trials Register, 2014-003529-16 (STRAP) and 2017-004079-30 (STRAP-EU). FINDINGS: Between June 8, 2015, and July 4, 2019, 226 patients were randomly assigned to etanercept (n=73), tocilizumab (n=74), and rituximab (n=79). Three patients (one in each group) were excluded after randomisation because they received parenteral steroids in the 4 weeks before recruitment. 168 (75%) of 223 patients in the intention-to-treat population were women and 170 (76%) were White. In the B cell-poor population, ACR20 response at 16 weeks (primary endpoint) showed no significant differences between etanercept and tocilizumab grouped together and rituximab (46 [60%] of 77 patients vs 26 [59%] of 44; odds ratio 1·02 [95% CI 0·47-2·17], p=0·97). No differences were observed for adverse events, including serious adverse events, which occurred in six (6%) of 102 patients in the rituximab group, nine (6%) of 108 patients in the etanercept group, and three (4%) of 73 patients in the tocilizumab group (p=0·53). INTERPRETATION: In this biologic-naive population of patients with rheumatoid arthrtitis, the dichotomic classification into synovial B cell poor versus rich did not predict treatment response to B cell depletion with rituximab compared with alternative treatment strategies. However, the lack of response to rituximab in patients with a pauci-immune pathotype and the higher risk of structural damage progression in B cell-rich patients treated with rituximab warrant further investigations into the ability of synovial tissue analyses to inform disease pathogenesis and treatment response. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council and Versus Arthritis.
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Antirreumáticos , Artritis Reumatoide , Productos Biológicos , Humanos , Femenino , Masculino , Rituximab/uso terapéutico , Etanercept/uso terapéutico , Artritis Reumatoide/tratamiento farmacológico , Terapia Biológica , Biopsia Guiada por Imagen , Antirreumáticos/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Background: Although polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a very common rheumatic inflammatory disease, current insight into the pathobiology of PMR is limited and largely based on studies in blood. We investigated T helper 1 (TH1) and T helper 17 (TH17) cell responses in blood, synovial fluid and bursa tissue of patients with PMR. Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from 18 patients with new-onset PMR and 32 healthy controls. Synovial fluid was aspirated from the inflamed shoulder bursae or biceps tendon sheath of 13 patients. Ultrasound-guided biopsies of the subacromial-subdeltoid (SASD) bursa were obtained from 11 patients. T cells were examined by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. Results: Besides an increase of TH17 (CD4+IL-17+IFN-γ-) cells and T cytotoxic 17 (TC17; CD8+IL-17+IFN-γ-) cells, no other major changes were noted in the circulating T cell compartment of patients with PMR. Absolute numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were similar in blood and synovial fluid of patients with PMR. Synovial fluid T cells showed an effector-memory (CD45RO+CCR7-) phenotype. Percentages of TH1 (CD4+IFN-γ+IL-17-) cells and TH1/TH17 (CD4+IFN-γ+IL-17+) cells, but not TH17 or TC17 cells, were increased in the synovial fluid. Bursa tissue biopsies contained a small number of T cells, which were mostly CD8 negative. The majority of bursa tissue T cells produced IFN-γ but not IL-17. For comparison, B cells were scarcely detected in the bursa tissue. Conclusion: Although the circulating TH17 cell pool is expanded in patients with PMR, our findings indicate that TH1 cells are involved in the inflammation of bursae and tendon sheaths in this condition. Our study points towards the TH1 cell pathway as a potential target for therapy in PMR.
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Bursitis , Arteritis de Células Gigantes , Polimialgia Reumática , Tenosinovitis , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , HumanosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is implicated in pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis. We evaluated the efficacy of the GM-CSF receptor antagonist mavrilimumab in maintaining disease remission. METHODS: This phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled patients with biopsy-confirmed or imaging-confirmed giant cell arteritis in 50 centres (North America, Europe, Australia). Active disease within 6 weeks of baseline was required for inclusion. Patients in glucocorticoid-induced remission were randomly assigned (3:2 ratio) to mavrilimumab 150 mg or placebo injected subcutaneously every 2 weeks. Both groups received a 26-week prednisone taper. The primary outcome was time to adjudicated flare by week 26. A prespecified secondary efficacy outcome was sustained remission at week 26 by Kaplan-Meier estimation. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: Of 42 mavrilimumab recipients, flare occurred in 19% (n=8). Of 28 placebo recipients, flare occurred in 46% (n=13). Median time to flare (primary outcome) was 25.1 weeks in the placebo group, but the median was not reached in the mavrilimumab group (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.92; p=0.026). Sustained remission at week 26 was 83% for mavrilimumab and 50% for placebo recipients (p=0.0038). Adverse events occurred in 78.6% (n=33) of mavrilimumab and 89.3% (n=25) of placebo recipients. No deaths or vision loss occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Mavrilimumab plus 26 weeks of prednisone was superior to placebo plus 26 weeks of prednisone for time to flare by week 26 and sustained remission in patients with giant cell arteritis. Longer treatment is needed to determine response durability and quantify the glucocorticoid-sparing potential of mavrilimumab. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03827018, Europe (EUdraCT number: 2018-001003-36), and Australia (CT-2018-CTN-01 865-1).