Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Venous Thromboembolism with JAK Inhibitors versus TNF Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) and venous thromboembolic events (VTE) between tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We researched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov until December of 2023 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. The outcomes studied were MACE (stroke, heart attack, myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death) and VTE (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism). We pooled data using random effects model. Risk for the reported outcomes was expressed as odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidential interval (CI). We performed a subgroup analysis based on study design. Results: We identified 23 studies, 20 of which compared the odds for MACE and 14 the odds for VTE between JAK and TNF inhibitors in RA patients. Ten studies were RCTs and the rest were observational. Regarding MACE risk we pooled data from a total of 215,278 patients (52,243 were treated with JAK inhibitors, while the rest 163,035 were under TNF inhibitors). Compared with TNF inhibitors, the OR for JAK inhibitors in regards with MACE risk was 0.87 (0.64-1.17, p<0.01). Regarding VTE, a total of 176,951 patients were analysed (41,375 JAK inhibitors users and 135,576 TNF inhibitors users). The OR for VTE for JAK inhibitors compared with TNF inhibitors was 1.28 (0.89-1.84, p<0.01). Conclusion: According to our results, there is no statistically significant difference for MACE or VTE in RA patients who receive either JAK or TNF inhibitors.

Identification and characteristics of patients with potential difficult-to-treat Psoriatic Arthritis: exploratory analyses of the Greek PsA registry.

OBJECTIVE: To present the characteristics of patients with potential difficult-to-treat (D2T) psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: We used data from the Greek multicentre registry of PsA patients. D2T-PsA was defined as follows: patients with at least 6-months disease duration, who have failed to at least 1 csDMARD and at least 2 bDMARDs/tsDMARDs with a different mechanism of action and have either at least moderate disease activity (MODA) defined as DAPSA > 14, and/or are not at minimal disease activity (MDA). Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between D2T and non-D2T PsA patients. In two sensitivity analyses, patients classified as D2T solely according to the MODA or MDA criterion were examined separately. RESULTS: Among 467 patients included, 77 (16.5%) were considered D2T and 390 non-D2T PsA. Compared with non-D2T, patients with D2T PsA presented more commonly with extensive psoriasis (p< 0.0001) and were more likely to have higher BMI (p= 0.023) and a history of inflammatory bowel disease (p= 0.026). In the MODA and MDA sensitivity analyses, 7.5% and 12.5% of patients were considered D2T, respectively. In both sensitivity analyses, extensive psoriasis was again identified as an independent variable for D2T PsA (p= 0.001 and p= 0.008, respectively). Moreover, female gender (p= 0.034) in the MODA analysis and axial disease (p= 0.040) in the MDA analysis were independent variables for D2T PsA. CONCLUSION: Despite the availability of therapies, D2T PsA is common in real-life cohorts of patients with PsA and extensive psoriasis. High BMI, female gender, axial-disease, and history of IBD were also associated with D2T PsA.

Targeting T-bet expressing B cells for therapeutic interventions in autoimmunity.

Apart from serving as a Th1 lineage commitment regulator, transcription factor T-bet is also expressed in other immune cell types and thus orchestrates their functions. In case of B cells, more specifically, T-bet is responsible for their isotype switching to specific IgG sub-classes (IgG2a/c in mice and IgG1/3 in humans). In various autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and/or rheumatoid arthritis, subsets of T-bet expressing B cells, known as age-associated B cells (CD19+CD11c+CD21-T-bet+) and/or double-negative B cells (CD19+IgD-CD27-T-bet+), display an expansion and seem to drive disease pathogenesis. According to data, mostly derived from mice models of autoimmunity, the targeting of these specific B-cell populations is capable of ameliorating the general health status of the autoimmune subjects. Here, in this review article, we present a variety of therapeutic approaches for both mice and humans, suffering from an autoimmune disease, and we discuss the effects of each approach on T-bet+ B cells. In general, we highlight the importance of specifically targeting T-bet+ B cells for therapeutic interventions in autoimmunity.

Non-Invasive Assessment of Micro- and Macrovascular Function after Initiation of JAK Inhibitors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors constitute a novel class of oral biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, their use has been associated with increased risk of major cardiovascular events. We investigated whether treatment with JAK inhibitors exerts significant alterations in the micro- and microvasculature in RA patients. METHODS: Thirteen patients with RA initiating treatment with JAK inhibitors were prospectively studied. Eventually, data from 11 patients who completed the study were analyzed. Procedures were performed at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy was applied to detect alterations of the dermal capillary network. Participants underwent 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (Mobil-O-Graph device) for the assessment of blood pressure (both brachial and aortic) and markers of large artery stiffening [pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index] throughout the whole 24 h and the respective day- and nighttime periods. Carotid intima-media thickness was assessed with ultrasound. RESULTS: Three-month treatment with JAK inhibitors was not associated with any differences in brachial and aortic blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and carotid atherosclerosis, with the only exception of nighttime PWV, which was significantly elevated at follow-up. However, three-month treatment with JAK inhibitors induced significant microvascular alterations and increased the total number of capillaroscopic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Three-month treatment with JAK inhibitors may exert significant effects on microcirculation as assessed with nailfold videocapillaroscopy, whereas macrovascular structure and function appears largely unaffected. Further research toward this direction may add substantial information to the available literature regarding cardiovascular aspects of JAK inhibitors in RA.

Glucocorticoid discontinuation rate and risk factors for relapses in a contemporary cohort of patients with giant cell arteritis.

The rates of relapses and therapy discontinuation in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in the modern therapeutic era have not been defined. We aimed to evaluate the glucocorticoid (GC) discontinuation rate and the factors associated with relapses in a contemporary GCA cohort. Patient and treatment data were collected cross-sectionally at first evaluation and 2 years later (second evaluation), in a multicenter, prospective GCA cohort. Predictors of relapses were identified by logistic regression analyses. 243 patients with GCA were initially included (67% women, mean age at diagnosis: 72.1 years, median disease duration: 2 years) while 2 years later complete data for 160 patients were available and analyzed. All patients had received GCs at diagnosis (mean daily prednisolone dose: 40 mg) while during follow-up, 37% received non-biologic and 16% biologic agents, respectively. At second evaluation, 72% of patients were still on therapy (GCs: 58% and/or GC-sparing agents: 29%). Relapses occurred in 27% of patients during follow-up; by multivariable logistic regression analysis, large vessel involvement at diagnosis [odds ratio (OR) = 4.22], a cardiovascular event during follow-up (OR = 4.60) and a higher initial GC daily dose (OR = 1.04), were associated with these relapses. In this large, real-life, contemporary GCA cohort, the rates of GC discontinuation and relapses were 40% and 27%, respectively. Large vessel involvement, a higher GC dose at diagnosis and new cardiovascular events during follow-up were associated with relapses.

Risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in primary Sjogren's syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the guidelines for prevention and management of atherosclerosis in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) do not differentiate from those concerning the general population. OBJECTIVES: The present systematic review aimed to summarize evidence from primary studies assessing the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with primary SS (pSS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Literature was searched until June 2023. Eligible records were randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing subclinical atherosclerosis markers between pSS patients and healthy controls. DerSimonian-Laird random effects models were used to calculate overall effect estimates. Totally, 19 observational studies comprising 1625 participants were included. Compared to healthy controls, pSS patients had significantly higher values of carotid-femoral intima-media thickness (cfIMT) (MD= 0.07 mm; 95 % CI= [0.04, 0.11]; p <0.001) and were more frequently diagnosed with atherosclerotic plaques (OR= 1.9; 95 % CI= [1.32, 2.74]; p <0.001). Moreover, pSS patients showed a decreased flow and nitrate-mediated dilation (MD = -2.48 %; 95 % CI= [-4.57, -0.39]; p = 0.02, MD= -2.11 %; 95 % CI= [-3.22, -1.01]; p <0.001, respectively). Similar results were observed for the pulse-wave velocity (MD= 0.7 m/s; 95 % CI= [0.36, 1.05]; p <0.001) and the ankle-brachial index (OR= 5.78; 95 % CI= [2.23, 14.99]; p = 0.003). Based on meta-regression analyses, only the disease duration and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were positively and significantly associated with higher cfIMT values. CONCLUSION: Patients with pSS have an increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis compared to healthy population and thus possibly require early and disease-specific intervention. Further research is warranted for more accurate cardiovascular risk management in SS.

The Effects of Pilates Exercise Training Combined with Walking on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Functional Capacity, and Disease Activity in Patients with Non-Radiologically Confirmed Axial Spondylitis.

The objective of the study was to examine the effects of Pilates exercise training combined with walking on cardiorespiratory fitness, functional capacity, and disease activity in patients with non-radiologically confirmed axial spondylitis (nr-axSpA). Thirty patients with nr-axSpA (seven women (90%), with a mean age of 46.07 ± 10.48 years old and C-reactive protein (CRP) 2.26 ± 2.14 mg/L) were randomly divided into two groups: A (n1 = 15 patients) and B (n2 = 15 patients). Group A followed a 6-month home-based Pilates exercise training program, while Group B remained untrained until the end of the study. A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), timed up and go test (TUG), five times sit-to-stand test (5×STS), sit-and-reach test (SR), back scratch test for the right (BSR) and the left arm (BSL), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) were applied to all patients, both at the beginning and at the end of the study. After 6 months, Group A showed higher values in exercise time by 37.41% (p = 0.001), higher peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) by 25.41% (p = 0.01), a higher ratio between oxygen uptake and maximum heart rate (VO2/HRmax) by 14.83% (p = 0.04), and higher SR by 18.70% (p = 0.007), while lower values were observed in TUG by 24.32% (p = 0.001), 5×STS by 12.13% (p = 0.001), BASDAI score by 20.00% (p = 0.04) and ASDAS score by 23.41% (p = 0.03), compared to Group B. Furthermore, linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation in Group A between BASDAI and 5×STS (r = 0.584, p = 0.02), BASDAI and TUG (r = 0.538, p = 0.03), and ASDAS and 5×STS (r = 0.538, p = 0.03), while a negative correlation was found between BASDAI and VO2peak (r = -0.782, p < 0.001), ASDAS and SR (r = -0.548, p = 0.03), and ASDAS and VO2peak (r = -0.659, p = 0.008). To sum up, cardiorespiratory fitness, functional capacity, and disease activity improved after a long-term Pilates exercise training program in patients with nr-axSpA.

Omicron variant dominance and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are key determinants for a milder course of COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine whether the introduction of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and the dominance of the omicron variant had a significant impact on the outcome of COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SAIRDs). METHODS: Using data entered to the Greek Rheumatology Society COVID-19 registry, we investigated the incidence of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, during the successive periods of the pandemic according to the prevalent strain (wild-type, Alpha, Delta, Omicron) in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Variables independently associated with hospitalization and death were explored using multivariate regression analyses, while Kaplan-Meier curves were used to depict survival data. RESULTS: From August 2020 until June 30, 2022, 456 cases (70.2% females) of COVID-19 with a mean age (± SD) of 51.4 ± 14.0 years were reported. In unvaccinated patients, the proportions of hospitalization and death were 24.5% and 4%, compared to 12.5% and 0.8% in the vaccinated group (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). The rates of hospitalization for the wild-type, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron periods were 24.7%, 31.3%, 25.9%, and 8.1% respectively (p < 0.0001), while the case fatality rates were 2.7%, 4%, 7%, and 0%, respectively (p = 0.001). Using multivariable regression analysis, factors independently associated with hospitalization were infection by a non-Omicron variant, being non-vaccinated, exposure to rituximab, older age, and respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Independent predictors for death were contracting COVID-19 during the Alpha or Delta period, pulmonary disease, and older age, while being vaccinated was protective. CONCLUSIONS: In this 2-year analysis, the rates of hospitalization and death among patients with SAIRDs have declined significantly. Vaccination and the dominance of the Omicron variant appear to be the major determinants for this shift. Key points • During the late phase of the pandemic, the proportion of severe COVID-19 cases, defined as requiring hospitalization or resulting in death, in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases has declined. • Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and the dominance of the Omicron strain are the key factors that have independently contributed to this shift.

Higher frequency but similar recurrence rate of uveitis episodes in axial spondylarthritis compared to psoriatic arthritis. A multicentre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Data on risk factors predicting uveitis development in spondyloarthritis (SpA) is scarce. Our aim was to examine associations between demographic, clinical and/or laboratory characteristics of SpA with the occurrence and the course of uveitis, including ocular damage and recurrence rate. METHODS: Characteristics (at disease diagnosis and ever-present) from axSpA and Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients followed in 3 tertiary rheumatology-clinics were retrospectively recorded. Comparisons were made between patients with and without uveitis, as well as between those with uveitis-rate [episodes/year] above the median uveitis-rate in the whole cohort ("recurrent"-uveitis) and the remaining uveitis patients ("non-recurrent uveitis"). In multivariable models, age, gender and variables significantly different in univariate analyses were included. RESULTS: 264 axSpA and 369 PsA patients were enrolled. In axSpA, uveitis occurred in 11.7% and was associated with HLA-B27 (OR = 4.15, 95%CI 1.16-14.80, p = 0.028) and ever-present peripheral arthritis (OR = 3.05 (1.10-8.41, p = 0.031). In contrast, uveitis in PsA occurred only in 2.7% of patients and was associated with SpA family-history (OR = 6.35 (1.29-31.27), p = 0.023) axial disease at diagnosis (OR = 5.61 [1.01-28.69], p = 0.038) and disease duration (OR = 1.12 [1.04-1.21], p = 0.004). Median uveitis recurrence rate was comparable between axSpA and PsA (0.205 and 0.285 episodes/year, respectively). No associations were found between recurrent uveitis and demographic/clinical/laboratory characteristics. Ocular damage (e.g. synechiae) was seen in 16.1% of axSpA and 30% of PsA patients, all of them with recurrent uveitis. CONCLUSION: Uveitis occurred more commonly in axSpA than in PsA patients, while uveitis recurrence rate was similar. Permanent ocular damage may occur more often in PsA than axSpA.

Accelerated Atherosclerosis and Management of Cardiovascular Risk in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: An Updated Review.

Even though diagnosis and management pathways have been substantially improved over the last years, autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, and systemic vasculitides have been linked to elevated rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, primarily secondary to accelerated atherosclerosis. This phenomenon can be partially attributed to the presence of established cardiovascular risk factors but may also be a result of other inflammatory and autoimmune mechanisms that are enhanced in AIRDs. According to the current guidelines, the recommendations regarding cardiovascular disease prevention in patients with AIRDs are not significantly different from those applied to the general population. Herein, we present a review of the current literature on the risk of accelerated atherosclerosis in AIRDs and provide a summary of available recommendations for the management of cardiovascular risk in rheumatic diseases.

Peripheral nailfold capillary microscopic abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with arterial stiffness: Results from a cross-sectional study.

Vascular injury eventually resulting in the establishment of cardiovascular disease is a serious complication in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is a non-invasive imaging modality that enables the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the peripheral microvasculature. Nevertheless, capillaroscopic patterns remain inadequately defined in RA, especially regarding their clinical significance as potential markers of systemic vascular impairment. Consecutive RA patients underwent NVC using a standardized protocol, to assess the following parameters: capillary density, avascular areas, capillary dimensions, microhemorrhages, subpapillary venous plexus, and presence of ramified, bushy, crossed and tortuous capillaries. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse pressure were measured as well-acknowledged markers of large artery stiffening. The vast majority of our cohort (n = 44) presented a combination of non-specific and abnormal capillaroscopic parameters. Capillary ramification was associated with both PWV and pulse pressure, even after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and systemic inflammation. Our study highlights the high prevalence of a wide range of capillaroscopic deviations from the normal patterns in RA. Furthermore, it provides for the first time evidence of an association between structural disorders of the microcirculation and markers of macrovascular dysfunction, suggesting that NVC might have a role as an index of generalised vascular impairment in RA.

Circulating levels of galectin-3 and coronary microvascular perfusion in rheumatoid arthritis patients with suppressed inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular manifestations are the leading cause of mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Galectin-3, a lectin protein with major role in cellular, inflammatory, and fibrotic processes, has been introduced as a novel cardiac biomarker. We hypothesized that patients with RA present increased levels of galectin-3, and investigated potential associations with arterial stiffness and coronary microvascular dysfunction. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled RA patients and non-RA individuals without cardiovascular comorbidities. Galectin-3 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples. Subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), an index of microvascular myocardial perfusion, and pulse wave velocity (PWV), the gold-standard measure of vascular stiffness, were estimated with applanation tonometry. RESULTS: Cardiovascular risk factors and hsCRP were comparable between patients (n = 24) and controls (n = 24). However, galectin-3 was increased [6.9 (6.7) vs 4.6 (4.7)] ng/dl, p = 0.015], and coronary microvascular perfusion was decreased (142.6 ± 22.8 vs 159.7 ± 23.2%, p = 0.028) in RA patients compared to controls, whereas PWV did not significantly differ. Galectin-3 correlated with both PWV and SEVR in univariate analysis. However, after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical inflammation, these associations were rendered non-significant. CONCLUSION: Galectin-3 appears increased in RA, even among patients with suppressed inflammation in the absence of cardiovascular comorbidities. The observed association of galectin-3 with coronary microvascular perfusion in our study was non-significant after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation. The potential role of galectin-3 as a cardiac biomarker in RA warrants further investigation. Key Points • Galectin-3 has emerged as a novel cardiac biomarker but remains understudied in RA. • Patients with RA present elevated levels of galectin-3 and impaired coronary microvascular perfusion compared to non-RA individuals. • These differences were observed in patients with suppressed inflammation, even in the absence of CVD. • The association of galectin-3 with coronary microvascular impairment in RA warrants further investigation.

Pregnancy outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV), namely granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis constitute a group of rare systemic vasculitides, affecting small vessels. Genders are equally affected, with symptoms most commonly presenting during and/or after the fifth decade of life, but AAV may also present in younger individuals. As advanced maternal age is becoming common and safe over the last decades, it is now more feasible for middle-aged women suffering from AAV to get pregnant. Although adverse pregnancy outcomes have been thoroughly investigated in other systemic diseases, the exact prevalence of pregnancy complications and unfavorable outcomes in pregnant women with AAV has not been systematically evaluated. METHODS: We researched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Cinahl databases until September, 2022. Three blinded investigators extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. A random effects model was used for the analysis. The outcomes studied were pre-term delivery, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) neonates and disease flare. RESULTS: We included six studies with 92 pregnancies in patients with AAV. The prevalence of pre-term delivery, IUGR neonates and disease flare were 18% (CI: 0.10-0.30, P=non-significant), 20% (CI: 0.11-0.33, P=non-significant) and 28% (CI: 0.09-0.59, P<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: The analysis demonstrated higher occurrence of adverse outcomes in pregnant women suffering from AAV accompanied by an increased risk of disease flare during pregnancy. These findings underline the importance of preconception counseling and the necessity of close monitoring in these patients similarly to other systemic inflammatory diseases.

Cardiorespiratory fitness assessed with cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: JIA is the most common type of arthritis in children and adolescents, causing joint damage, chronic pain and disability. Deconditioning is also prevalent in patients with JIA due to both inactivity and the disease progression, resulting in reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). We aimed to evaluate CRF of patients with JIA compared with healthy controls. METHODS: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to examine differences in determinants of CRF between patients with JIA vs healthy controls. The primary outcome was peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Literature search involved PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases, manual search of article references and grey literature. Quality assessment was undertaken with Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: From 480 literature records initially retrieved, eight studies (538 participants) were included in final meta-analysis. VO2peak was significantly lower in patients with JIA compared with controls [weighted mean difference (WMD): -5.95 ml/kg/min (95% CI -9.26, -2.65)]. Exercise duration and VO2peak (% predicted) were found to be significantly impaired in patients with JIA compared with controls [standardized mean difference: -0.67 (95% CI -1.04, -0.29) and WMD: -11.31% (95% CI -20.09, -2.53), respectively], while no significant differences were found in maximum heart rate. CONCLUSION: VO2peak and other CPET variables were lower in patients with JIA compared with controls, indicating reduced CRF in the former. Overall, exercise programs for patients with JIA should be promoted as part of their treatment to improve physical fitness and reduce muscle atrophy. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42022380833.

Cost of Illness, Quality of Life, and Work Productivity in Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients Receiving Biological Treatments in Greece.

Objectives: To estimate the cost of illness, quality of life and work productivity in patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis (Axial SpA) under biological treatment in Greece. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 12-month duration, of patients with Axial SpA from a tertiary hospital in Greece. Adult patients fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria were enrolled at the beginning of biological treatment due to active disease [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) >4] and failure of first line treatment. All participants completed questionnaires about quality of life, financial costs and work productivity at the same time with the disease activity assessment. Results: 74 patients of whom 57 (77%) with a paid job, were included in the study. The total annual cost for Axial SpA patients is € 9,012.40 while the average cost of acquisition and administration of the drugs is € 8,364. The mean BASDAI in the 52 weeks of follow-up, was decreased from 5.74 to 3.2 and the mean Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) also from 1.13 to 0.75. Work productivity of these patients as measured with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), was significantly impaired at the baseline and improved after the initiation of biological treatment. Conclusions: The cost of illness in patients receiving biological treatments in Greece is high. However, these treatments except from the well-established positive effect on disease activity, can improve remarkably the work productivity and quality of life of Axial SpA patients.

Olanzapine's Cytogenetic Effect on T Lymphocytes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: In Vitro Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study will investigate olanzapine's cytogenetic behavior in cultured human T lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Three olanzapine solutions were added in cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy individuals, SLE, and RA patients. After 72 hours of incubation, the cultured lymphocytes were plated on glass slides and stained with the fluorescence plus Giemsa method. Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), proliferation rate index (PRI), and mitotic index (MI) were measured with the optical microscope. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (p=0.001) dose-dependent increase of SCEs in SLE and RA patients compared to healthy individuals and a statistically significant (p=0.001) reduction of PRI and MI in the highest concentration in the SLE group. Moreover, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was applied to calculate the correlation between SCEs, PRI, and MI. Negative significant correlations were noticed for both patient groups concerning SCEs-PRI alterations and SCEs-MI alterations. Conversely, positive correlations were noticed for both patient groups for PRI-MI alterations.  Conclusions: Olanzapine affects T lymphocytes from SLE and RA patients by modifying DNA replication procedures and DNA damage response. Considering the use of olanzapine in neuropsychiatric symptoms of SLE, further in vivo studies are necessary to evaluate its effect on human DNA.