Uveitis in psoriatic arthritis: study of 406 patients in a single university center and literature review.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The manifestations of uveitis are well established in axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA), but not in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We aimed to assess, in a large unselected series of PsA: (A) the frequency and clinical features of uveitis; (B) its association with PsA activity, the impact of disease and functional disability, and (C) its relationship with the biological treatment. In addition, a literature review was performed. METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal study of PsA patients from a single referral hospital. PsA was classified according to the CASPAR criteria, and uveitis was diagnosed by experienced ophthalmologists. RESULTS: We studied 406 patients with PsA (46.3±12.3 years). Uveitis was observed in 20 (4.9%). Uveitis was acute in all cases, anterior (80%), unilateral (80%) and recurrent (50%). Patients with uveitis had a higher prevalence of HLA-B27 (45% vs 7.5%, p<0.0001), sacroiliitis on MRI (25% vs 8.3% p=0.027), ocular surface pathology (10% vs 0.8%, p=0.021), and median PsA impact of Disease Score (5.9 (2.1-6.8) vs 1.25 (0.0-3.0), p=0.001) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (4 (1.6-5) vs 1.0 (0.0-3.5), p=0.01) than patients without uveitis.The exposure adjusted incidence rate (episodes/100 patients-year) of uveitis before versus after biological treatment decreased with anti-TNFα monoclonal antibodies (56.3 vs 9.4) and increased with etanercept (ETN) (6.03 vs 24.2) and secukinumab (SECU) (0 vs 50) (including only one patient treated in the last two cases). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of uveitis in patients with PsA was about 5%. The pattern was similar to that observed in ax-SpA. Uveitis was associated with a worse quality of life and greater functional disability. The uveitis exposure adjusted incidence rate decreased with anti-TNFα monoclonal antibodies and increased with ETN and SECU.

Anti-TNF vs tocilizumab in refractory uveitic cystoid macular edema due to Behcet's disease. Multicenter study of 49 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of TNF inhibitors (adalimumab (ADA) and infliximab (IFX)) vs tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with refractory cystoid macular edema (CME) due to Behçet's disease (BD). METHODS: Multicenter study of patients with BD-associated CME refractory to conventional and/or biological immunosuppressive drugs. From a cohort of 177 patients treated with anti-TNF and 14 patients treated with TCZ, we selected those with CME at baseline. We analyzed the evolution of macular thickness (main outcome), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular inflammation (Tyndall and vitritis) from baseline up to 4 years in the 3 groups mentioned. RESULTS: 49 patients and 72 eyes with CME were included. ADA was used in 25 patients (40 eyes), IFX in 15 (21 eyes) and TCZ in 9 (11 eyes). No statistically significant baseline differences were observed between the 3 groups except for a lower basal BCVA in TCZ group and a higher basal degree of intraocular inflammation in ADA group. Most patients from all groups had received several conventional immunosuppressive drugs. In addition, most patients in the group of TCZ had also received anti-TNF agents. Biological therapy was used in monotherapy (n=8) or combined with conventional immunosuppressive drugs (n=41). Macular thickness progressively decreased in the 3 groups, with no signs of CME after 1 year of treatment. Similarly, BCVA improvement and inflammatory intraocular remission was achieved in all groups. CONCLUSION: Refractory CME associated with BD uveitis can be effectively treated either with ADA, IFX or TCZ. Furthermore, TCZ is effective in patients resistant to anti-TNF therapy.

Anxiety and attitudes towards sex in women requesting emergency contraception.

We performed an observational descriptive study on 89 women who requested for emergency contraception (EC) at the emergency units of two hospitals, Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, and Regional University Hospital in Malaga between October 2016 and April 2017. Both hospitals are on the Andalusian Public Health System. We evaluated a group of socio-demographic variables and others related to the beliefs and the knowledge about EC and contraception in general, sexual behavior, Eysenck's Inventory of Attitudes to Sex (satisfaction and promiscuity factors), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTS: State anxiety scores were low in 10.8% of the participants, middle in 25.7% and high in the 63.5%. On the other hand, the scores for trait anxiety were low in 13.5%, middle in 39.2% and high in 47.3%. The demand for EC resulted in a stressful situation for women, especially for youngest women. Also, married women with children and a history of pregnancy terminations showed higher anxiety scores. Regarding sexual attitudes, the highest levels of anxiety (state and trait) were found in women with less knowledge about EC, and in those who reported less satisfaction with their sex life. Best fit regression models for anxiety levels included beliefs that ECs are abortive, sexual dissatisfaction and women's age as predictive variables for STAI scores. In conclusion, women who requested EC showed high scores in anxiety-state and -trait, with those of younger age presenting more intense emotions.