Faecal microbiota study reveals specific dysbiosis in spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Altered microbiota composition or dysbiosis is suspected to be implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as spondyloarthritis (SpA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was performed on faecal DNA isolated from stool samples in two consecutive cross-sectional cohorts, each comprising three groups of adult volunteers: SpA, RA and healthy controls (HCs). In the second study, HCs comprised a majority of aged-matched siblings of patients with known HLA-B27 status. Alpha and beta diversities were assessed using QIIME, and comparisons were performed using linear discriminant analysis effect size to examine differences between groups. RESULTS: In both cohorts, dysbiosis was evidenced in SpA and RA, as compared with HCs, and was disease specific. A restriction of microbiota biodiversity was detected in both disease groups. The most striking change was a twofold to threefold increased abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus in SpA, as compared with both RA and HCs that was significant in both studies and positively correlated with disease activity in patients having a history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Among HCs, significant difference in microbiota composition were also detected between HLA-B27+ and HLA-B27 negative siblings, suggesting that genetic background may influence gut microbiota composition. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that distinctive dysbiosis characterise both SpA and RA and evidence a reproducible increase in R. gnavus that appears specific for SpA and a marker of disease activity. This observation is consistent with the known proinflammatory role of this bacteria and its association with IBD. It may provide an explanation for the link that exists between SpA and IBD.

A family-based genome-wide association study reveals an association of spondyloarthritis with MAPK14.

OBJECTIVE: More than 40 loci have been associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but less is known about genetic associations in spondyloarthritis (SpA) as a whole. We conducted a family-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify new non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genetic factors associated with SpA. METHODS: 906 subjects from 156 French multiplex families, including 438 with SpA, were genotyped using Affymetrix 250K microarrays. Association was tested with Unphased. The best-associated non-MHC single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were then genotyped in two independent familial cohorts (including 215 French and 294 North American patients with SpA, respectively) to replicate associations. RESULTS: 43 non-MHC SNPs yielded an association signal with SpA in the discovery cohort (p<1×10-4). In the extension studies, association was replicated at a nominal p value of p<0.05 for 16 SNPs in the second cohort and for three SNPs in the third cohort. Combined analysis identified an association close to genome-wide significance between rs7761118, an intronic SNP of MAPK14, and SpA (p=3.5×10-7). Such association appeared to be independent of HLA-B27. CONCLUSIONS: We report here for the first time a family-based GWAS study on SpA and identified an associated polymorphism near MAPK14. Further analyses are needed to better understand the functional basis of this genetic association.

Whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism-based linkage analysis in spondyloarthritis multiplex families reveals a new susceptibility locus in 13q13.

OBJECTIVE: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with high heritability but with complex genetics. Apart from HLA-B27, most of the underlying genetic components remain to be identified. We conducted a whole-genome high-density non-parametric linkage analysis to identify new genetic factors of susceptibility to SpA. METHODS: 914 subjects including 462 with SpA from 143 multiplex families were genotyped using Affymetrix 250K microarrays. After quality control, 189 368 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were kept for further analyses. Both non-parametric and parametric linkage analyses were performed using Merlin software. Association was tested with Unphased. RESULTS: Non-parametric linkage analysis identified two regions significantly linked to SpA: the major histocompatibility complex (LODmax=24.77) and a new 13q13 locus (LODmax=5.03). Additionally, eight loci achieved suggestive LOD scores, including the previously identified SPA2 locus at 9q33 (LODmax=3.51). Parametric analysis supported a codominant model in 13q13 with a maximum heterogeneity LOD, 'HLOD' score of 3.084 (α=0.28). Identification of meiotic recombination events around the 13q13 linkage peak in affected subjects from the 43 best-linked families allowed us to map the disease interval between 38.753 and 40.040 Mb. Family-based association analysis of the SNPs inside this interval in the best-linked families identified a SNP near FREM2 (rs1945502) which reached a p value close to statistical significance (corrected p=0.08). CONCLUSION: We report here for the first time a significant linkage between 13q13 and SpA. Identification of susceptibility factor inside this chromosomal region through targeted sequencing in linked families is underway.

Brief report: the IL23R nonsynonymous polymorphism rs11209026 is associated with radiographic sacroiliitis in spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of inflammatory articular disorders sharing a genetic background. The nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11209026 (Arg381Gln) in the IL23R gene has reproducibly been shown to be associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We undertook this study to examine the association between rs11209026 and SpA as a whole, with particular attention devoted to genotype/phenotype correlation. METHODS: The SNP rs11209026 was genotyped in a French cohort of 415 patients/372 controls, with replication analysis performed in 383 "trios," each consisting of 1 patient with SpA and both parents. Association analysis was carried out in SpA as a whole group and then separately in AS and non-AS patients. Phenotype/genotype correlations were examined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A significant association between rs11209026 and SpA overall was identified only in the familial data set (odds ratio 0.57, P=0.028). Strong association with AS was observed in both the case-control and familial data sets (P=4.5×10(-4) and P=4.0×10(-3), respectively). In contrast, such association was not detected in the non-AS group. Furthermore, rs11209026 frequency was significantly different between AS and non-AS patients (P=1.5×10(-3)). Phenotype/genotype correlation study revealed that both radiographic sacroiliitis and early age at onset were independently associated with a lower frequency of the rare protective rs11209026 allele A in patients (P=9×10(-3) and P=8×10(-3), respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study replicated the robust association between rs11209026 and AS in the French population. However, such association was restricted to AS, as compared to SpA without radiographic sacroiliitis. The fact that it was independently conditional on radiographic sacroiliitis and age at onset suggests that rs11209026 could affect disease severity rather than susceptibility.

Investigating the genetic association between ERAP1 and spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: A robust association between polymorphisms in the non-major histocompatibility complex gene ERAP1 and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in several populations was recently identified. The aim of the current study was to determine the level of association of ERAP1 polymorphisms with spondyloarthritis (SpA) in French/Belgian populations with particular attention to genotype-phenotype correlations. METHODS: We studied 734 independent SpA cases and 632 controls from two European cohorts. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs27044, rs17482078, rs10050860, rs30187 and rs2287987 were genotyped, and case-control association analyses were carried using PLINK 1.07 software. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotypes were estimated with Haploview. Analysis was first carried out in SpA as a whole group, and then separately in AS and non-radiographic SpA (non-AS) patients. RESULTS: Consistent with previous studies conducted in AS, rs30187 was the most significantly associated SNP with SpA (p=0.008 in the French, and p=6.46×10(-4) in the Belgian cohorts). In the combined cohorts, this SNP was associated with both AS and non-AS (P(combined)= 3.9×10(-5) and P(combined)= 0.005, respectively). A similar trend was observed with other SNPs. The rs17482078/rs10050860/rs30187-CCT haplotype was significantly associated with increased risk of SpA in both cohorts (P(combined)= 9.08×10(-4)), including AS and non-AS (P(combined)=6.16×10(-4) and P(combined)=0.049, respectively), whereas the -TTC haplotype was associated with reduced risk of SpA, including AS and non-AS (P(combined)=2.36×10(-7), P(combined)= 5.69×10(-6) and P(combined)= 2.13×10(-4), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show an association between several polymorphisms located in ERAP1 and SpA as a whole. Our findings demonstrate consistent association of the same SNPs and haplotypes with both AS and non-AS subtypes of SpA.

Both Disease Activity and HLA-B27 Status Are Associated With Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Spondyloarthritis Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Gut microbiome dysbiosis has previously been reported in spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients and could be critically involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. The objectives of this study were to further characterize the microbiota structure in SpA patients and to investigate the relationship between dysbiosis and disease activity in light of the putative influence of the genetic background. METHODS: Shotgun sequencing was performed on fecal DNA isolated from stool samples from 2 groups of adult volunteers: SpA patients (n = 102) and healthy controls (n = 63). A subset of the healthy controls comprised the age-matched siblings of patients whose HLA-B27 status was known. Changes in gut microbiota composition were assessed based on species diversity, enterotypes, and taxonomic and functional differences. RESULTS: Dysbiosis was confirmed in SpA patients as compared to healthy controls. The restriction of microbiota diversity was detected in patients with the most active disease, and the abundance of several bacterial species was correlated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score. Among healthy controls, significant differences in microbiota composition were also detected between the HLA-B27-positive and the HLA-B27-negative siblings of SpA patients. We highlighted a decreased abundance of several species of bacteria in SpA patients, especially those bacteria belonging to the Clostridiales order. Among the few species of bacteria showing increased abundance, Ruminococcus gnavus was one of the top differentiating species. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal that genetic background and level of disease activity are likely to influence the composition of the gut microbiota of patients with SpA. It may be appropriate for further research on chronic arthritis to focus on these key parameters.

Correspondence between patient-reported flare and disease activity score variation in axial spondyloarthritis: A 12-months web-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to determine thresholds of variations of BASDAI and pain associated with patient-reported outbreak or resolution of flare and to test performance of ASAS preliminary definitions of flare. METHODS: SpA patients registered on the Spondy+platform were invited to fill BASDAI and global pain on numeric rating scales every week during one year and to tell if they experienced flare since last week. Performance of BASDAI and pain variations (ΔBASDAI and Δpain) to detect occurrence and resolution of flare was determined with receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Ninety-one of the 99 axSpA patients included reported at least one episode of flare. Area under the ROC curve was significantly higher for ΔBASDAI than for Δpain to predict outbreak of flare (0.81 vs. 0.77, p<0.05) without statically significant difference to predict flare resolution (0.78 vs. 0.80). Best sensitivity/specificity compromise was obtained for ΔBASDAI of 0.2 and 0.4 points to predict flare outbreak or resolution, respectively. All the ASAS definitions obtained a specificity higher than 95% whereas sensitivity was lower than 40%. CONCLUSION: ΔBASDAI appeared as a suitable variable to monitor occurrence and resolution of patient-reported flare in axSpA.

COVID-19 in French patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases: Clinical features, risk factors and treatment adherence.

OBJECTIVE: To explore how patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRDs) coped with their disease during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify possible predictive factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in this population. METHODS: Patients followed in a single rheumatology department in France or registered on the Spondy+ platform, a secure e-health platform for spondyloarthritis patients, were invited to complete a questionnaire focused on their experiences around COVID19 symptoms, testing and medications access during the lockdown period. Descriptive statistics were used to report questionnaire's results. Factors associated with COVID-19 or with treatment discontinuation were assessed by logistic regression. RESULTS: We obtained 655 answers from the 2,081 contacted patients: 474 with spondyloarthritis, 129 with rheumatoid arthritis and 52 with psoriatic arthritis. The population was predominantly female (61.8%) with a mean age of 51.0±13.4 years. Incidence of COVID-19 was 6.9% (95%CI: 5.1-9.2%), including 12 confirmed and 33 highly suspicious cases. No death was observed and five patients needed to be hospitalized. Factors independently associated with an increased risk of infection were SARS-CoV-2 exposure, younger age and non-smoking. More than 30% of the patients suspended or decreased the dosage of one of their drugs during the lockdown period. This was followed in 63.4% of them by increased disease activity. Modifications were mostly motivated by fear of contagion (79.3%). CONCLUSION: We did not observe any increase of incidence or severity of COVID-19 in patients suffering of the 3 most common CIRDs. This survey also adds evidence of the safety of anti-rheumatic drugs use regarding COVID-19.

ERAP1 Gene Expression Is Influenced by Nonsynonymous Polymorphisms Associated With Predisposition to Spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Several polymorphisms in ERAP1 are strongly associated with susceptibility to spondyloarthritis (SpA). The combination of rs17482078, rs10050860, and rs30187 results in the construction of 3 major haplotypes that are associated with SpA (the "protective" haplotype T/T/C, the "neutral" haplotype C/C/C, and the "susceptibility" haplotype C/C/T). The aim of the present study was to determine whether such haplotypes might affect endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP-1) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, protein level, and/or enzymatic activity in antigen-presenting cells, a type of cell that is potentially relevant to disease pathogenesis. METHODS: Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were generated in 2 cohorts (a discovery cohort and a replication cohort) comprising a total of 23 SpA patients and 44 healthy controls. Lymphoblastoid B cell lines were established from individuals who were homozygous for the risk, the neutral, or the protective ERAP1 haplotype, respectively. In those samples, we investigated the relationship between ERAP1 haplotypes and mRNA expression level. We also used Western blot analysis to measure the relative protein expression of ERAP-1 and a fluorogenic assay to measure its enzymatic activity. RESULTS: In monocyte-derived DCs, there was a strong association between ERAP1 haplotypes and the ERAP-1 mRNA expression level, with higher levels in subjects harboring the susceptibility haplotype (P = 0.001 and P = 5.6 × 10(-7) in the discovery and replication cohorts, respectively). In lymphoblastoid B cell lines, we observed a significant correlation between haplotype risk score and ERAP1 transcript or protein level (P = 0.003, ρ = 0.92 for both). Enzymatic activity followed a similar trend both in monocyte-derived DCs and in lymphoblastoid B cell lines. CONCLUSION: These data provide strong evidence that SpA-associated ERAP1 polymorphisms affect the level of gene expression in antigen-presenting cells. How increased production/activity of ERAP-1 may influence susceptibility to SpA remains to be determined.

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells from HLA-B27+ axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients display altered functional capacity and deregulated gene expression.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the functional capacity and gene expression profile of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MD-DCs) in HLA-B27+ axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients and healthy controls. METHODS: MD-DCs were differentiated with interleukin 4 (IL-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for seven days, starting from purified CD14+ monocytes and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for six and twenty four hours. Their capacity to stimulate allogeneic CD4+ T cells from unrelated healthy donor was tested. Transcriptomic study was performed with Affymetrix HuGene 1.0 ST microarrays. Gene expression levels were compared between patients and controls using a multivariate design under a linear model (LIMMA). Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed for validation of the most striking gene expression differences. RESULTS: The stimulatory capacity of allogeneic CD4+ T cells by MD-DCs from SpA patients was decreased. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 81 genes differentially expressed in MD-DCs between SpA patients and controls (P <0.01 and fold-change <0.66 or >1.5). Four selected genes were validated by q RT-PCR: ADAMTS15, CITED2, F13A1 and SELL. Expression levels of ADAMTS15 and CITED2, encoding a metallopeptidase and a transcription factor, respectively, were inversely correlated with each other (R = 0.75, P = 0.0003). Furthermore, in silico analysis identified several genes of the Wnt signaling pathway having expression co-regulated with CITED2. CONCLUSION: This study revealed altered function and gene expression pattern in MD-DCs from HLA-B27+ axial SpA. Co-expression study showed an inverse correlation between ADAMTS15 and CITED2. Moreover, the Wnt signaling pathway appeared as deregulated in SpA MD-DCs, a finding which may be connected to Th17-driven inflammatory responses.

Can we improve the diagnosis of spondyloarthritis in patients with uncertain diagnosis? The EchoSpA prospective multicenter French cohort.

UNLABELLED: Power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) has proved to be a highly sensitive tool for assessing enthesitis in spondyloarthritis (SpA). In patients with a suspected SpA, diagnosis could be improved by detecting enthesitis with PDUS. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of PDUS for the diagnosis of SpA alone or combined with other clinical, laboratory and imaging findings in patients consulting for a suspected SpA. METHODS: Prospective, multicenter French cohort study (Boulogne-Billancourt, Brest, Caen, Grenoble, Marseille and Nancy). Outpatients consulting for symptoms suggestive of SpA (inflammatory back pain [IBP], arthritis or inflammatory arthralgia [IA], enthesitis or dactylitis [ED], HLA-B27 positive uveitis [B27+U], familiarity for SpA [Fam]) were recruited and followed up for at least 2 years. Sample size was set to 500 patients (for estimated prevalence of SpA of 30±5% after 2 years). At baseline, patients were submitted to standardized physical examination, pelvic X-ray, sacroiliac joints magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), HLA-B typing, and other tests judged useful for diagnosis. For each patient, a blinded PDUS examination of 14 enthesitic sites was performed at baseline and at years 1 and 2. Patients were planned to be followed during 5 years. The diagnosis of SpA ascertained by an experts' committee, blind to PDUS results, after at least 2 years of follow-up, with a revaluation of doubtful patients at 5 years will be used as gold standard for evaluating the diagnostic performance of PDUS and the best diagnostic procedure by combining PDUS, clinical symptoms and other tests. RESULTS: Between January 2005 and September 2007, 489 patients were included (96% of the target population). Nineteen patients (0.2%) retired their informed consensus or were lost to follow-up immediately after their inclusion. At baseline, mean age of the 470 remaining patients was 40 years, mean duration of symptoms was 6.1 years; 42% of them were HLA-B27+ and 63% were female. Primary inclusion criterion was IBP in 53%, IA in 27%, ED in 9%, B27+U in 8% and Fam in 4%. Follow-up is still ongoing. CONCLUSION: We have set up a unique diagnostic cohort which includes the entire spectrum of SpA manifestations. By using PDUS we expected to improve the diagnostic procedure of SpA.

Severity of osteoporosis: what is the impact of co-morbidities?

The co-morbidity profile varies widely across postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, and comorbidities often adversely affect the management of osteoporosis. There is a need for detailed information on the co-morbidities that may affect the course of osteoporosis by increasing the risk of subsequent fractures or inducing multiple fractures. We consequently reviewed the literature on the most common co-morbidities in adults older than 50 years of age, with special attention to published meta-analyses. We found that osteoporosis severity was increased not only by conventional risk factors, but also by a number of conditions including inflammatory bowel and joint diseases with or without glucocorticoid therapy, breast cancer and prostate cancer treated with chemotherapy or hormone therapy, diabetes (chiefly type 1), and celiac disease. Studies suggest an adverse impact of moderate renal failure and depression, although their methodological weaknesses preclude definitive conclusions. In practice, these co-morbidities should be taken into account when evaluating the fracture risk and making treatment decisions.

Osteoporosis and mortality.

Osteoporosis is classified as a public health problem by healthcare authorities because it is associated with an increased risk of potentially serious fractures. Osteoporotic fractures are known to generate a heavy burden of morbidity and financial cost [1]. However, recent data indicate that some osteoporotic fractures are also associated with excess mortality. These data have led to public health measures such as the addition by the World Health Organization of fracture prevention to the list of public health priorities [2] and the update on hip fractures issued recently by the statistics department of the French ministry of health (DREES [3]). Hip fractures constitute the most severe complication of osteoporosis because they can induce permanent physical disability, loss of self-sufficiency, institutionalization and, above all, an increased risk of death. Interestingly, two recent publications support the hypothesis that optimal osteoporosis management may affect the risk of death. Here, we will review the main data linking osteoporotic fractures overall (as opposed to hip fractures only) and mortality.

Severe osteoporosis: does structural monitoring help?

Vertebral fractures, the most common osteoporotic fractures, are associated with excess mortality even in the absence of symptoms. Presence of at least one radiological or clinical prevalent vertebral fracture increases the risk of incident vertebral fractures not only in untreated patients, but also in treated patients, as established by studies involving routine radiological monitoring. Therefore, whether structural monitoring is indicated on a routine basis deserves discussion. Height measurement is a basic monitoring tool for detecting new vertebral fractures. However, loss of height is nonspecific. Radiography involves radiation exposure levels and financial costs that are not consistent with use for routine monitoring. Vertebral fracture assessment based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (VFA), in contrast, is an inexpensive method that delivers only low radiation levels. VFA used in conjunction with absorptiometry may be well suited to the monitoring of women with severe osteoporosis.

Stabilized severe osteoporosis: should the treatment be stopped?

Several medications have been proven to decrease the risk of postmenopausal osteoporotic fractures of the spine, hip, or peripheral skeleton. However, the optimal duration of treatment with these medications has not been determined. The efficacy data come chiefly from controlled trials conducted over 3 to 5 years in elderly women at high risk for fractures. Some of these trials were followed by open-label extension phases that showed sustained bone mineral density gains over 7 to 10 years. The data pointing to a sustained decrease in the fracture rate beyond 4-5 years of treatment vary across studies and drugs but are generally scant and open to criticism. The published evidence does not suggest a need for stopping osteoporosis medications after the first 4-5 years out of concern about bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw or alendronate-induced atypical fractures. Given that pharmacotherapy targets patients with severe osteoporosis, continued treatment beyond the first 5 years is probably warranted in most cases.

Defining treatment failure in severe osteoporosis.

The management of postmenopausal osteoporosis has benefited from the recent introduction of several new drug classes and is now well standardized. However, none of the available osteoporosis drugs completely abolishes the occurrence of fractures. Therefore, criteria are needed to determine when the occurrence of a fracture during treatment indicates failure to respond to the drug. Such criteria would improve patient management. A panel of national osteoporosis experts was convened to discuss data from a literature review on severe osteoporosis (Osteoporosis DIagnosis and Surveillance of SEvErity, ODISSEE). The experts reached a consensus that "an inadequate response to treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis is the occurrence, in a patient with severe osteoporosis, adequate calcium and vitamin D intakes, and good treatment adherence, of any of the following: incident major fracture within the first treatment year, more than one minor insufficiency fracture, or a bone mineral density decrease by at least the smallest significant amount (0.03 g/cm(2)) after 5 years or earlier in the event of a minor fracture".

Management of patients with incident fractures during osteoporosis treatment.

Official recommendations are available for detecting osteoporosis and initiating osteoporosis medications in postmenopausal women. However, there are no recommendations about the management of patients with incident fractures despite osteoporosis therapy. Second-line osteoporosis treatments have been evaluated only based on laboratory and absorptiometry criteria. Nevertheless, we will try to answer the following questions: (1) What criteria should be used to determine whether a fracture during osteoporosis treatment indicates treatment failure (low-energy fracture, fracture not due to an intercurrent health condition, fracture of the type targeted by the osteoporosis treatment, sufficient treatment duration at occurrence of the fracture, and good adherence to the treatment and to vitamin D supplementation)? (2) In patients with treatment failure or an inadequate clinical response, defined as a fracture despite adherence to osteoporosis therapy for at least 1 year, what are the best treatment strategies?

Severe osteoporosis: diagnosis and follow-up. Lessons for clinical practice.

The management of osteoporosis has improved considerably, leading to the development of new goals. A major concern today is the management of patients with severe osteoporosis, in whom the need for pharmacotherapy is clear [1]. Epidemiological data have established that osteoporosis is associated with severe complications [2,3]. Furthermore, osteoporosis is now recognized as a complication of several chronic diseases, whose presence adversely affects the management of osteoporosis. The ODISSEE task force (Osteoporosis DIagnosis and Surveillance of SEvErity) was established to answer practical questions regarding the management of severe osteoporosis, based on evidence in the literature. Several groups conducted an exhaustive literature review, and advice was obtained from a panel of French rheumatologists. The ODISSEE scientific committee then developed the first consensus statement on the diagnosis, follow-up and management of severe osteoporosis. This statement was validated by a panel of 70 French rheumatologists at the first national ODISSEE meeting held on November 13-14, 2009.