Proliferative synovitis, an ultrasound pattern associated with ACPA-positive patients and erosive disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse ultrasound (US) differences between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients according to autoantibody status and characterise the clinical and radiological features associated with the US pattern of seropositive patients. METHODS: We collected demographic and clinical data and bilateral hand US images of RA patients. We defined an extreme proliferative US pattern, encompassing synovial hypertrophy grade II-III with Power Doppler signal, which we called US proliferative synovitis (US PS). To better characterise US PS, MRI of the dominant hand and immunostaining of synovial biopsies were made in subgroups of 42 and 23 patients, respectively. RESULTS: We included 205 RA patients (84.8% seropositive). No significant differences in disease activity were found according to autoantibody status. US PS was found in 55.5% of seropositive and 16.1% of seronegative patients (p=0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, erosions [OR 4.90 95% CI (2.17-11.07), p=0.0001] and ACPA [OR 3.5 95% CI (1.39-10.7), p=0.009] but not RF status [OR 0.74 95% CI (0.31-1.71), p=0.483] were independently associated with US PS. After a mean follow-up of 46 months, US PS was independently associated with changes in therapy (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.20-5.77, p=0.016). Ninety-four per cent of joints with US PS had RAMRIS synovitis sub-index grade 2-3. US PS was significantly associated with higher synovial vessel density (p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: In RA patients, US PS was associated with ACPA status, erosive disease and an enhanced need to change disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy in the long-term. At synovial level, this US pattern was characterised by higher vessel density.

Clinical and structural damage outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis patients receiving NSAIDs or advanced therapies: a description of a real-life cohort.

Introduction: This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, disease activity, and structural damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who receive chronic treatment with nonsteroideal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or advanced therapies in a clinical setting. Methods: Cross-sectional study on axSpA patients consecutively recruited from the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. We collected data on clinical and demographic characteristics, as well as treatment patterns involving NSAIDs and advanced therapies. Structural damage was assessed using mSASSS. Results: Overall, data from 193 axSpA patients (83% ankylosing spondylitis) were gathered, with a mean disease duration of 21.4 years. Of these, 85 patients (44%) were exclusively taking NSAIDs, while 108 (56%) were receiving advanced therapies, with TNF inhibitors being the predominant choice (93 out of 108, 86.1%). Among patients using NSAIDs, 64.7% followed an on-demand dosing regimen, while only 17.6% used full doses. Disease activity was low, with a mean BASDAI of 3.1 and a mean ASDAS-CRP of 1.8. In comparison to patients under chronic NSAID treatment, those taking advanced therapies were primarily male (69.4% versus 51.8%, p = 0.025) and significantly younger (mean age of 49 versus 53.9 years, p = 0.033). Additionally, patients on advanced therapies exhibited lower ASDAS-CRP (p = 0.046), although CRP serum levels and BASDAI scores did not differ between the two groups. In the multivariable analysis, therapy (NSAID versus biological treatment) was not independently associated with ASDAS-CRP, BASDAI or mSASSS. Conclusion: This cross-sectional analysis of a real-world cohort of axSpA patients shows positive clinical and radiological outcomes for both NSAIDs and advanced therapies.

Update on Cardiovascular Risk and Obesity in Psoriatic Arthritis.

PsA is characterized by a high prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities. Recognizing these comorbidities is critical due to their influence on the quality of life and the choice of therapy. Imaging techniques also play an important role in the evaluation of the CV risk in psoriatic disease, improving the prediction of CV events when combined with clinical scores as a predictive tool. Meta-analyses point to a significant reduction in the incidence of CV events associated with the suppression of inflammatory activity when using systemic therapies. Consequently, the mortality rate in PsA patients has fallen in the last 40 years and is now similar to that of the general population, including cardiovascular causes. Obesity is an especially relevant CV comorbidity in patients with psoriatic disease, most of whom are overweight/obese. Body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for PsA and a causal relationship with psoriasis has been demonstrated by Mendelian randomized studies. The study of fat distribution shows that patients with psoriasis are characterized by visceral fat accumulation, which correlates with CV risk measurements. These findings suggest that approaches to the prevention and treatment of psoriatic disease might come from targeting adiposity levels, in addition to the immune pathways. Weight loss treatment with low energy diets in patients with PsA has been associated with significant improvements in disease activity. Novel strategies using a multimorbidity approach, focused more on patients outcomes, are necessary to better address comorbidities, improve clinical outcomes and the quality of life of patients with psoriatic disease.

Effect of antiresorptive and bone forming treatments in bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis. / Efecto del tratamiento antirresortivo y osteoformador en las erosiones óseas en la artritis reumatoide.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause joint destruction and marked disability. Early treatment with disease-modifying drugs, including biological therapy, is the principal treatment to prevent the structural damage associated with this entity. Some studies have indicated that concomitant treatment with antiresorptives, such as bisphosphonates or denosumab, could prevent erosive lesions in this process, and it has even been suggested that treatment with a bone forming agent, such as teriparatide, could revert previously established erosive lesions. In this article we review the evidence available on the efficacy of treatment with antiresorptives and bone forming agents in the prevention and/or treatment of bone erosions associated with RA.

Efecto del tratamiento antirresortivo y osteoformador en las erosiones óseas en la artritis reumatoide / Effect of antiresorptive and bone forming treatments in bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis

La artritis reumatoide (AR) es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica que puede ocasionar destrucción articular y marcada discapacidad. El tratamiento precoz con fármacos modificadores de la enfermedad, incluyendo la terapia biológica, constituye el principal tratamiento para prevenir el daño estructural asociado a esta entidad. Algunos estudios han indicado que el tratamiento concomitante con antirresortivos, como los bisfosfonatos o el denosumab, podría prevenir el desarrollo de lesiones erosivas en este proceso, e incluso se ha sugerido que el tratamiento con un osteoformador, como la teriparatida, podría revertir las lesiones erosivas previamente establecidas. En este artículo se revisa la evidencia disponible sobre la eficacia del tratamiento antirresortivo y osteoformador en la prevención o tratamiento de las erosiones óseas asociadas a la AR

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause joint destruction and marked disability. Early treatment with disease-modifying drugs, including biological therapy, is the principal treatment to prevent the structural damage associated with this entity. Some studies have indicated that concomitant treatment with antiresorptives, such as bisphosphonates or denosumab, could prevent erosive lesions in this process, and it has even been suggested that treatment with a bone forming agent, such as teriparatide, could revert previously established erosive lesions. In this article we review the evidence available on the efficacy of treatment with antiresorptives and bone forming agents in the prevention and/or treatment of bone erosions associated with RA