Performance of the 2017 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Provisional Classification Criteria for Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis in a Peruvian Tertiary Care Center.

AIM: To validate the new classification criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in a real-life Peruvian cohort of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis patients. METHODS: We reviewed medical records from a Peruvian tertiary care center from January 1990 to December 2019. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis was diagnosed based on the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, the 2012 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference definitions, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) algorithm, and the clinical acumen of the treating rheumatologists. We classified all patients using the "former criteria" (the 1990 ACR criteria for granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA] and eosinophilic GPA [EGPA] and the 1994 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference definition for microscopic polyangiitis [MPA]), the EMEA algorithm, and the "new criteria" (the 2017 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism Provisional Criteria). The level of agreement (using Cohen κ) was calculated using the clinical diagnosis as the criterion standard. RESULTS: We identified 212 patients, 12 of whom were excluded. One hundred fifty-four (77%) had MPA, 41 (20.5%) GPA, and 5 (2.5%) EGPA. The new criteria performed well for MPA (κ = 0.713) and EGPA (κ = 0.659), whereas the EMEA algorithm performed well for GPA (κ = 0.938). In the overall population, the new criteria showed better agreement (κ = 0.653) than the EMEA algorithm (κ = 0.506) and the former criteria (κ = 0.305). CONCLUSIONS: The 2017 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism Provisional Criteria showed better agreement for the clinical diagnosis of all the patients overall and had the best performance for MPA and EGPA. The EMEA algorithm had the best performance for GPA.

Survival in ANCA-Associated Vasculitides in a Peruvian Center: 28 Years of Experience.

AIM: The aim of this study was to identify demographic and clinical risk factors for mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitides (AAVs) in a Peruvian tertiary referral hospital. METHODS: Medical records of patients with AAV according to classification criteria or diagnosed by an experienced rheumatologist, covering the period between January 1990 and December 2018, were reviewed. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and renal-limited vasculitis were included. Potential predictors of mortality were demographic factors, clinical manifestations, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies status, diagnosis, disease categorization, the 2009 Five Factor Score (FFS), and treatment. Cox regression models were used to determine the risk factors for mortality. Univariable and multivariable analyses using a backward selection method were performed. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-six patients were included; female-to-male ratio was 2:1. The median (interquartile range) age at diagnosis and follow-up were 60.0 (51.0-68.0) and 4.8 (1.3-11.6) years, respectively. One hundred forty-eight patients (75.5%) had microscopic polyangiitis, 37 (18.9%) granulomatosis with polyangiitis, 5 (2.6%) eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and 6 (3.0%) renal-limited vasculitis. Overall survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 years were 83.4%, 68.2%, and 51.7%, respectively. Ocular involvement was protective (hazards ratio [HR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17-0.74; p = 0.006), whereas renal (HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.33-3.28; p = 0.001) and lung involvement (HR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.31-3.28; p = 0.002) and the 2009 FFSs were predictive of mortality (2009 FFS = 1: HR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.50-4.04; p < 0.001; 2009 FFS = 2: HR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.54-6.10; p = 0.001; 2009 FFS = 3: HR, 13.29; 95% CI, 3.69-47.88; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular involvement was protective, whereas 2009 FFS ≥ 1 and renal and lung involvement were predictive factors of mortality in Peruvian AAV patients.

Demographic and Clinical Features of ANCA-Associated Vasculitides in a Peruvian Tertiary Center.

AIM: The aim of this study was to identify the demographic and clinical features of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAVs) in a Peruvian tertiary referral hospital. METHODS: Medical records of patients with AAV according to classification criteria or diagnosed by an experienced rheumatologist, and covering the period between January 1990 and December 2019, were reviewed. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and renal-limited vasculitis (RLV) were included. Demographic factors (age at diagnosis, sex), disease duration, clinical manifestations (per organ involvement), creatinine level at diagnosis (milligram per deciliter), ANCA status, diagnosis, 2009 Five Factor Score, disease categorization, and treatment were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred twelve patients were included. Their female-to-male ratio was 1.9:1 (139 [65.6%]/73 [34.4%]), and their mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 59.2 (12.5) years. One hundred fifty-eight patients (74.5%) had MPA, 42 (19.8%) GPA, 7 (3.3%) RLV, and 5 (2.4%) EGPA. Neurological, lung, and renal involvements were the most frequently affected systems. Myeloperoxidase preferentially occurred in MPA (82.5%), whereas proteinase 3 did occur in GPA (79.5%). Microscopic polyangiitis patients were older (61.1 [11.5] years). Female sex predominated in MPA and RLV (2.4:1 and 6:1, respectively), but the opposite was the case for EGPA (1:4). Ear-nose-throat and ocular involvement were more frequent in GPA (both p's < 0.001), and neurological and cardiovascular involvement were more frequent in EGPA (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the largest series of AAV patients in Latin America. Overall, female sex predominated. Microscopic polyangiitis was the most frequent AAV, and myeloperoxidase-ANCA was the most frequent antibody in Peruvian AAV population.

Comparison of an interferon-gamma assay with tuberculin skin testing for detection of tuberculosis (TB) infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a TB-endemic population.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis (TB) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents is commonly the result of reactivation of latent TB infection (LTBI); detection and treatment of LTBI is essential before treatment with anti-TNF agents. We reported previously that the tuberculin skin test (TST) is inaccurate for diagnosis of LTBI in patients with RA. Here, we compare the prevalence of LTBI in RA patients and matched controls according to positive TST and QuantiFeron-TB Gold In-Tube version (QFT) results and determine their agreement. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 101 RA patients and 93 controls was conducted in Lima, Perú, where the prevalence of LTBI in the general population has been estimated to be 68%. Blood was drawn for QFT assay followed by TST using 2-TU of RT 23 purified protein derivative. TST was deemed positive at >or= 5 mm for RA patients and >or= 10 mm for controls. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between RA patients and controls for age, sex, bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination, or history of or contact with TB. 88% of patients had active RA disease and 2 (1.9%) patients had indeterminate QFT results. The number of subjects testing positive with the QuantiFeron assay was comparable between patients and controls (44.6% vs 59.1%, respectively), whereas the TST detected significantly less LTBI among RA patients (26.7%) than controls (65.6%). Thus, the rate of LTBI in RA patients represented 75% and 41% of the rate in their controls using QFT or TST, respectively (p = 0.008). Poor agreement between TST and QFT was seen in RA patients, but in controls, good agreement was observed between these tests. CONCLUSION: In a TB-endemic population, the QuantiFeron-TB Gold In-Tube assay seemed to be a more accurate test for detection of LTBI in RA patients compared with the TST, and may potentially improve the targeting of prophylactic therapy before treatment with anti-TNF agents.

[Pattern of serum cytokines in patients with rheumatoid artritis according to PPD reactivity]. / Patrón de citocinas séricas en pacientes con artritis reumatoide de acuerdo a su reactividad al PPD.

INTRODUCTION: We demonstrated, in a recently published study, far more PPD negative reactivity among patients who had RA (70%) than among controls (30%). To evaluate the hypothesis that different response to PPD in RA patients is associated with different profiles of serum cytokines, we compared the serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF alpha and IFN gamma from PPD negative and PPD positive RA patients. We also evaluated any correlations between serum cytokines and RA activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty RA patients and 21 controls were enrolled. Those with an induration < 5mm were considered as negative and those with ≥ 5mm as positive PPD. Disease activity was calculated using DAS28. Plasma levels of cytokines were determined using the multiplex BD TM Cytometric Bead Array Kit Assay. RESULTS: Of the RA patients, 27 (67.5%) had negative reaction to PPD and 13 (32.5%) a positive reaction to PPD. There was no statistical difference in sex profile, age or activity index between both negative and positive PPD RA patients. There was no significant difference in all the cytokines measured between PPD positive and PPD negative RA patients. Index activity show a positive correlation with IFN gamma (r = 0.433; p = 0.005) and IL-6 (r = 0.325; p = 0.041) in RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: Positive and negative tuberculin RA patients seem to show a similar cytokine serum profile.

Patrón de citocinas séricas en pacientes con artritis reumatoide de acuerdo a su reactividad al PPD / Pattern of serum cytokines in patients with rheumatoid artritis according to PPD reactivity

Introducción: En un reciente estudio, se demostró una alta reactividad negativa al PPD o tuberculina en pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR), (70%) comparado con controles (30%). Para determinar si esta alta reactividad negativa al PPD está asociada con un determinado patrón de citocinas, se compararon las concentraciones séricas de interleucina (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, factor de necrosis tumoral (TNF)-a e interferón (IFN)-g en pacientes con AR con reactividad positiva y negativa al PPD. Se analizó también la correlación entre las citocinas y la actividad de la AR. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron 40 pacientes con AR y 21 individuos sanos. Se consideró reactividad positiva al PPD a una induración e 5mm y reactividad negativa cuando es < 5 mm. La actividad de la AR se determinó según el DAS28. Las citocinas se determinaron por citometría de flujo utilizando el Kit Multiplex Cytometric Bead Array. Resultados: De los pacientes con AR, 27 (67,5%) presentaron reactividad negativa al PPD y 13 (32,5%) reactividad positiva al PPD, similares en edad, sexo femenino y enfermedad activa. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en las citocinas entre los grupos con PPD positivo y PPD negativo. El IFN-g (r = 0,433; p = 0,005) y la IL-6 (r = 0,325; p = 0,041) fueron las únicas que mostraron correlación positiva con la actividad de la enfermedad. Conclusiones: No parece que haya diferencias en el patrón de citocinas séricas en los pacientes con reactividad negativa y positiva al PPD(AU)

Introduction: We demonstrated, in a recently published study, far more PPD negative reactivity among patients who had RA (70%) than among controls (30%). To evaluate the hypothesis that different response to PPD in RA patients is associated with different profiles of serum cytokines, we compared the serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF alpha and IFN gamma from PPD negative and PPD positive RA patients. We also evaluated any correlations between serum cytokines and RA activity. Material and methods: Forty RA patients and 21 controls were enrolled.Those with an induration < 5mm were considered as negative and those with e 5mm as positive PPD. Disease activity was calculated using DAS28. Plasma levels of cytokines were determined using the multiplex BD TM Cytometric Bead Array Kit Assay. Results: Of the RA patients, 27 (67.5%) had negative reaction to PPD and 13 (32.5%) a positive reaction to PPD. There was no statistical difference in sex profile, age or activity index between both negative and positive PPD RA patients. There was no significant difference in all the cytokines measured between PPD positive and PPD negative RA patients. Index activity show a positive correlation with IFN gamma (r = 0.433; p = 0.005) and IL-6 (r = 0.325; p = 0.041) in RA patients. Conclusions: Positive and negative tuberculin RA patients seem to show a similar cytokine serum profile(AU)

Biopsia de grasa subcutánea para el diagnóstico de amiloidosis secundaria en artritis reumatoide / Subcutaneous fat biopsy to diagnose secondary amyloidosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJETIVO: Investigar la presencia de amiloidosis secundaria (AA) en pacientes con diagnóstico de artritis reumatoide (AR). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se evaluó tiempo de enfermedad (TE), presencia de manifestaciones extraarticulares, capacidad funcional y estadio de progresión anatómica, hemograma, velocidad de sedimentación globular, factor reumatoide (FR) (Test de Látex), albúmina sérica y examen completo de orina. Se realizó aspirado de grasa subcutánea periumbilical. El tejido se coloreó con rojo Congo y observó por microscopía óptica y luz polarizada, siendo positiva la birrefringencia verde manzana. RESULTADOS: Se estudió 81 pacientes con diagnóstico de AR (criterios del ACR), 71 fueron mujeres y 10 varones, con rango de edad 31 a 80 años. 75/81 fueron FR (+), 3/81 AA (+). El TE promedio fue 14,74 años para los AA (-) y 20,3 para los AA (+). Sólo en un paciente se halló amiloide en biopsia renal. CONCLUSIONES: En nuestra serie la frecuencia fue menor a lo reportado. Los pacientes con amiloidosis tuvieron títulos altos de FR y TE más prolongado.

Prevalencia serológica de anticuerpos al virus de la Hepatitis C en personal de salud en el Perú / Serologic prevalence of HCV antiobodies in health personnel in Peru

En el Perú se reporta con cierta frecuencia nuevos casos de Hepatitis Viral C (HVC) asintomática en pacientes con o sin antecedentes de transfusión. Sin embargo a pesar que en los últimos años, los despistajes serológicos han mejorado notablemente, aún persiste una población de politransfundidos con alto riesgo de HCV (hemodializados (HD) por ejemplo), representando un importante reservorio. Partiendo de esta premisa es que decidimos estudiar cuál es el riesgo que tiene la población de trabajadores de salud (TS) en el Perú como otro importante grupo de riesgo a la infección por por HCV. Se estudió 2,769 TS de 8 Hospitales Generales y 2 Clínicas privadas de la ciudad de Lima y de 7 Hospitales generales de cuatro ciudades importantes del Perú (Chiclayo, Trujillo, Arequipa y Cusco). Se estudió a todos aquellos trabajadores que por su especialidad, tienen mayor contacto con sangre y/o derivados (Cirugía, UCI, Traumatología, Ginecología, Gastroenterología, Hemodiálisis y Laboratorio-Banco de sangre BS). La población estudiada corresponde a 30 por ciento de los TS total de los servicios. Todos los sueros fueron procesados por el test EIA-3 (HCV-Cobas-Core, Lab. Roche, USA) los positivos fueron confirmados por RT-HCV (Amplicor-Roche) : los sueros positivos fueron confirmados por PCR y los positivos con carga viral alta se les hizo genotipaje HCV (Amplicor-Roche Diagnostic, IGEN Diagnostic USA). De los 2,769 trabajadores de salud estudiados en el Perú, 32 fueron positivos para anticuerpos HCV (1.16 por ciento del total). Lima presentó una prevalencia ligeramente mayor que los de provincia: 26 de 2,112 vs 6 de 657 ó 1.23 por ciento vs 0.91 por ciento respectivamente. El mayor riesgo lo tienen los profesionales con mayor contacto con sangre: 2 Médicos de HD, 5 enfermeras de HD y 3 técnicos de laboratorio-BS. Los médicos y las enfermeras comparten el mismo riesgo. Si separamos provincias de Lima, vemos que el mayor riesgo lo tienen ésta última (1.34 por ciento contra 1.07 por ciento en provincias). Existe un riesgo importante en trabajadores de salud y las cifras están ligeramente más elevadas de los valores que se sospechaban en el Perú (entre e. 0.4 y 1.0). Finalmente, podemos concluir que el grupo de mayor riesgo de HCV en trabajadores de salud (TS) están en el personal de hemodiálisis (3.1 por ciento), le siguen los de laboratorio (1.79 por ciento), el de cirugía (1.40 por ciento) y gastroenterología (0.8 por ciento).

Biopsia de grasa subcutanea enel diagnóstico de Amiloidosis secundaria en artritis reumatoide

Se investiga amidoloidosis secundaria en pacientes con diagnóstico de artritis reumatoide. Se estudia 81 pacientes con diganóstico de Artritis Reumatoide de acuerdo a los criterios revisados del Colegio Americano de Reumatología. Se evalua duración de enfermedad, presencia o ausencia de manifestaciones extrarticulares capacidad funcional y estadio de progresion radiológica. Los parámetros extrarticulares, capacidad funcional y estadio de progresión radiológica. Los parametros de laboratorio incluyeron : hemograma, velocidad de sedimentación globular (VSG), factor reumatoide (Test de Latex), Albúmina sérica y examen completo de orina. En forma consecutiva en todos los pacientes se realizo aspirado de grasa subcutanea periumbilical, el tejido luego fue coloreado con Rojo Congo y observado a través de microscopia óptica convencional y en luz polarizada siendo positivo la birrefringencia verde manzana. Se determina que en nuestra serie la frecuencia fue menor en comparación con otros estudios. Los pacientes con amiloidosis tuvieron títulos altos de factor reumatoide y el tiempo de enfermedad más prolongado.