Incidence of Infectious Adverse Events in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis on Biologic Drugs-Data From the Brazilian Registry for Biologics Monitoring.

BACKGROUND: The safety profile of biologic drugs might present substantial regional differences. Since 2009, the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology has maintained BIOBADABRASIL (Brazilian Registry for Biologic Drugs), a registry for monitoring of biologic therapies in rheumatic diseases. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to verify the incidence rate (IR) of serious infections in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients on biologic drugs. METHODS: BIOBADABRASIL prospectively included patients with rheumatic diseases who started the first biologic drug or a synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug as a parallel control group. This study focuses on serious infectious adverse events (SIAEs) in RA and SpA patients on biologic drugs compared with controls, from January 2009 to June 2015. Time of exposure was set from initiation of the drug to the date of last administration or censorship. Serious infectious adverse events IR was calculated per 1000 patient/years with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 1698 patients (RA, 1121; SpA, 577) were included, 7119 patient/years. Serious infectious adverse events were more common among patients on tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi's) than controls (adjusted IR ratio, 2.96 [95% CI, 2.01-4.36]; p < 0.001). Subsequent TNFi was associated with a higher SIAEs incidence when compared with first TNFI (adjusted IR ratio, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.15-2.08]; p = 0.004). Serious infectious adverse events were associated with age and corticosteroids intake. Serious infectious adverse events were more frequent in the respiratory tract in all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: In BIOBADABRASIL, biologic drugs, especially the subsequent TNFi, were associated with a higher risk of serious infections compared with synthetic DMARDs. Corticosteroid intake and age represented risk factors for SIAEs. Constant monitoring is required to follow the safety profile of drugs in the clinical setting of rheumatic conditions in Brazil.

Assessment of fatigue in a large series of 1492 Brazilian patients with Spondyloarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to analyze the score of fatigue in a large cohort of Brazilian patients with SpA, comparing different disease patterns and its association with demographic and disease-specific variables. METHODS: A common protocol of investigation was prospectively applied to 1492 Brazilian patients classified as SpA according to the European Spondyloarthropathies Study Group (ESSG) criteria, attended at 29 reference centers. Clinical and demographic variables were recorded. Fatigue was evaluated using the first item of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean BASDAI fatigue score was 4.20 ± 2.99. There was no significant difference in the fatigue score between the different SpA. Fatigue was higher in female patients (p < 0.001), with mixed (axial + peripheral) involvement (p < 0.001) and in those who did not practice exercises (p < 0.001). Higher scores of fatigue were significantly associated with inflammatory low back pain (p = 0.013), alternating buttock pain (p = 0.001), cervical pain (p = 0.001), and hip involvement (p = 0.005). Fatigue presented a moderate positive statistical correlation with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) (0.469; p < 0.001) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (0.462; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this large series of Brazilian SpA patients, higher fatigue scores were associated with female gender, sedentary, worse functionality, and quality of life.

Brazilian Society of Rheumatology 2020 guidelines for psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic and systemic immune disease characterized by inflammation of peripheral and/or axial joints and entheses in patients with psoriasis (PsO). Extra-articular and extracutaneous manifestations and numerous comorbidities can also be present. These recommendations replace the previous version published in May 2013. A systematic review of the literature retrieved 191 articles that were used to formulate 12 recommendations in response to 12 clinical questions, divided into 4 sections: diagnosis, non-pharmacological treatment, conventional drug therapy and biologic therapy. These guidelines provide evidence-based information on the clinical management for PsA patients. For each recommendation, the level of evidence (highest available), degree of strength (Oxford) and degree of expert agreement (interrater reliability) are reported.

Brazilian recommendations for the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases characterized by axial and/or peripheral joints inflammation, as well as extra-articular manifestations. Over some decades, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the basis for the pharmacological treatment of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the emergence of the immunobiologic agents brought up the discussion about the role of NSAIDs in the management of these patients. The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations for the use of NSAIDs for the treatment of axSpA. A panel of experts from the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials for 15 predefined questions. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to assess the quality of evidence and formulate recommendations were used, and at least 70% agreement of the voting panel was needed. Fourteen recommendations for the use of NSAIDs in the treatment of patients with axSpA were elaborated. The purpose of these recommendations is to support clinicians' decision making, without taking out his/her autonomy when prescribing for an individual patient.

The Brazilian Society of Rheumatology guidelines for axial spondyloarthritis - 2019.

Spondyloarthritis is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases characterized by axial and/or peripheral joints inflammation, as well as extra-articular manifestations. The classification axial spondyloarthritis is adopted when the spine and/or the sacroiliac joints are predominantly involved. This version of recommendations replaces the previous guidelines published in May 2013.A systematic literature review was performed, and two hundred thirty-seven studies were selected and used to formulate 29 recommendations answering 15 clinical questions, which were divided into four sections: diagnosis, non-pharmacological therapy, conventional drug therapy and biological therapy. For each recommendation the level of evidence supporting (highest available), the strength grade according to Oxford, and the degree of expert agreement (inter-rater reliability) is informed.These guidelines bring evidence-based information on clinical management of axial SpA patients, including, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Correction to: Clinical predictors of remission and low disease activity in Latin American early rheumatoid arthritis: data from the GLADAR cohort.

The original version of this article, unfortunately, contained an error. The first and family name of Loreto Massardo was interchanged and is now presented correctly in this article.

Clinical predictors of remission and low disease activity in Latin American early rheumatoid arthritis: data from the GLADAR cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To identify baseline predictors of remission and low disease activity (LDA) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the GLADAR (Grupo Latino Americano De estudio de la Artritis Reumatoide) cohort. METHODS: Patients with 1- and 2-year follow-up visits were included. Remission and LDA were defined by DAS28-ESR (< 2.6 and ≤ 3.2, respectively). Baseline predictors examined were gender, ethnicity, age at diagnosis, socioeconomic status, symptoms' duration, DMARDs, RF, thrombocytosis, anemia, morning stiffness, DAS28-ESR (and its components), HAQ-DI, DMARDs and corticosteroid use, and Sharp-VDH score. Multivariable binary logistic regression models (excluding DAS28-ESR components to avoid over adjustment) were derived using a backward selection method (α-level set at 0.05). RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-eight patients were included. Remission and LDA/remission were met by 19.3% and 32.5% at the 1-year visit, respectively. For the 280 patients followed for 2 years, these outcomes were met by 24.3% and 38.9%, respectively. Predictors of remission at 1 year were a lower DAS28-ESR (OR 1.17; CI 1.07-1.27; p = 0.001) and HAQ-DI (OR 1.48; CI 1.04-2.10; p = 0.028). At 2 years, only DAS28-ESR (OR 1.40; CI 1.17-1.6; p < 0.001) was a predictor. Predictors of LDA/remission at 1 year were DAS28-ESR (OR 1.42; CI 1.26-1.61; p < 0.001), non-use of corticosteroid (OR 1.74; CI 1.11-2.44; p = 0.008), and male gender (OR 1.77; CI 1.2-2.63; p = 0.036). A lower baseline DAS28-ESR (OR 1.45; CI 1.23-1.70; p < 0.001) was the only predictor of LDA/remission at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: A lower disease activity consistently predicted remission and LDA/remission at 1 and 2 years of follow-up in early RA patients from the GLADAR cohort. Key Points • In patients with early RA, a lower disease activity at first visit is a strong clinical predictor of achieving remission and LDA subsequently. • Other clinical predictors of remission and LDA to keep in mind in these patients are male gender, non-use of corticosteroids and low disability at baseline. • Not using corticosteroids at first visit is associated with a lower disease activity and predicts LDA/remission at 1 year in these patients.

Evaluation of fatigue and its correlation with quality of life index, anxiety symptoms, depression and activity of disease in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis is associated with psychosocial morbidity and decrease in quality of life. Psychiatric comorbidity also plays an important role in the impairment of quality of life and onset of fatigue. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of fatigue in psoriatic arthritis patients and to correlate it to quality of life indexes, functional capacity, anxiety, depression and disease activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on outpatients with psoriatic arthritis. Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-F; version 4) was used to measure fatigue; 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) to measure quality of life; Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) to assess functional capacity; Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale to measure anxiety and depression symptoms; Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) to evaluate clinical activity. RESULTS: In all, 101 patients with mean age of 50.77 years were included. The mean PDI score was 8.01; PASI score, 9.88; BASDAI score, 3.59; HAQ score, 0.85; HAD - Anxiety (HAD A) score, 7.39; HAD Depression (HAD D) score, 5.93; FACIT-Fatigue Scale (FACIT-FS) score, 38.3 and CDAI score, 2.65. FACIT-FS was statistically associated with PASI (rs -0.345, p<0.001), PDI (rs -0.299, p<0.002), HAQ (rs -0.460, p<0.001), HAD A (rs -0.306, p=0.002) and HAD D (rs -0.339, p<0.001). The correlations with CDAI and BASDAI were not confirmed. There was statistically significant correlation with all of the domains of SF-36 and FACIT-F (version 4). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of fatigue was moderate to intense in <25% of patients with psoriatic arthritis. Fatigue seems to be more related to the emotional and social aspects of the disease than to joint inflammatory aspects, confirming that the disease's visibility is the most disturbing aspect for the patient and that "skin pain" is more intense than the joint pain.

Incidence of tuberculosis among patients with rheumatoid arthritis using TNF blockers in Brazil: data from the Brazilian Registry of Biological Therapies in Rheumatic Diseases (Registro Brasileiro de Monitoração de Terapias Biológicas - BiobadaBrasil).

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of tuberculosis and to screen for latent tuberculosis infection among Brazilians with rheumatoid arthritis using biologics in clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cohort study used data from the Brazilian Registry of Biological Therapies in Rheumatic Diseases (Registro Brasileiro de Monitoração de Terapias Biológicas - BiobadaBrasil), from 01/2009 to 05/2013, encompassing 1552 treatments, including 415 with only synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, 942 synthetic DMARDs combined with anti-tumor necrosis factor (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab) and 195 synthetic DMARDs combined with other biologics (abatacept, rituximab and tocilizumab). The occurrence of tuberculosis and the drug exposure time were assessed, and screening for tuberculosis was performed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Unpaired t-test and Fisher's two-tailed test; p<0.05. RESULTS: The exposure times were 981 patient-years in the controls, 1744 patient-years in the anti-TNF group (adalimumab=676, infliximab=547 and etanercept=521 patient-years) and 336 patient-years in the other biologics group. The incidence rates of tuberculosis were 1.01/1000 patient-years in the controls and 2.87 patient-years among anti-TNF users (adalimumab=4.43/1000 patient-years; etanercept=1.92/1000 patient-years and infliximab=1.82/1000 patient-years). No cases of tuberculosis occurred in the other biologics group. The mean drug exposure time until the occurrence of tuberculosis was 27(11) months for the anti-TNF group. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of tuberculosis was higher among users of synthetic DMARDs and anti-TNF than among users of synthetic DMARDs and synthetic DMARDs and non-anti-TNF biologics and also occurred later, suggesting infection during treatment and no screening failure.

Quality of life in spondyloarthritis: analysis of a large Brazilian cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze quality of life and demographic and clinical variables associated to its impairment in a large Brazilian cohort of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS: A common protocol of investigation was applied to 1465 Brazilian patients classified as SpA according to the European Spondyloarthropaties Study Group (ESSG) criteria, attended at 29 reference centers for Rheumatology in Brazil. Clinical and demographic variables were recorded. Quality of life was analyzed through the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean ASQoL score was 7.74 (+5.39). When analyzing the specific diseases in the SpA group, the ASQoL scores did not present statistical significance. Demographic data showed worse scores of ASQoL associated with female gender (p=0.014) and African-Brazilian ethnicity (p<0.001). The analysis of the clinical symptoms showed that buttock pain (p=0.032), cervical pain (p<0.001) and hip pain (p=0.001) were statistically associated with worse scores of ASQoL. Continuous use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p<0.001) and biologic agents (p=0.044) were associated with higher scores of ASQoL, while the other medications did not interfere with the ASQoL scores. CONCLUSION: In this large series of patients with SpA, female gender and African-Brazilian ethnicity, as well as predominant axial symptoms, were associated with impaired quality of life.

Brazilian recommendations for the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

Abstract Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases characterized by axial and/or peripheral joints inflammation, as well as extra-articular manifestations. Over some decades, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the basis for the pharmacological treatment of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the emergence of the immunobiologic agents brought up the discussion about the role of NSAIDs in the management of these patients. The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations for the use of NSAIDs for the treatment of axSpA. A panel of experts from the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials for 15 predefined questions. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to assess the quality of evidence and formulate recommendations were used, and at least 70% agreement of the voting panel was needed. Fourteen recommendations for the use of NSAIDs in the treatment of patients with axSpA were elaborated. The purpose of these recommendations is to support clinicians' decision making, without taking out his/her autonomy when prescribing for an individual patient.(AU)

Drug survival and causes of discontinuation of the first anti-TNF in ankylosing spondylitis compared with rheumatoid arthritis: analysis from BIOBADABRASIL.

Treatment survival with biological therapy may be influenced by many factors, and it seems to be different among various rheumatic diseases and biological agents. The goal of the study was to compare the drug survival and the causes of discontinuation of anti-tumoral necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Study participants were a cohort from the Brazilian Registry of Biological Therapies in Rheumatic Diseases (BIOBADABRASIL) between 2008 and 2012. The observation time was up to 4 years following the introduction of the first treatment. Gender, age, disease duration, disease activity, comorbidities, and concomitant therapies were assessed. A total of 1303 patients were included: 372 had AS and 931 had RA in which 38.7 % (n = 504) used infliximab (IFX), 34.9 % (n = 455) used adalimumab (ADA), and 26.4 % (n = 344) used etanercept (ETA). The anti-TNF drug survival of patients with AS was 63.08 months (confidence interval (CI) 60.24, 65.92) and patients with RA was 47.5 months (CI 45.65, 49.36). It was significant higher in AS (log-rank; p ≤ 0.001). Patients with RA discontinued anti-TNF more than patients with AS when adjusted to gender and corticosteroid. The adjHR (95 % CI) was 1.6 (1.14, 2.31). Female patients who were also corticosteroid users, but not of advanced age, have shown lower survival for both diseases (log-rank, p ≤ 0.001). The discontinuation rate of IFX, but not of ADA or ETA, was significantly higher in RA than in SA; HR (95 % CI) was 2.49 (1.46, 4.24). The main causes of discontinuation were ineffectiveness and adverse event in both diseases. AS patients have better drug survival adjusted to gender, age, and corticosteroid. This results appear to be related to the disease mechanism.

[Evaluation of performance of BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) in a Brazilian cohort of 1,492 patients with spondyloarthritis: data from the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritides (RBE)]. / Avaliação do desempenho do BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) numa coorte brasileira de 1.492 pacientes com espondiloartrites: dados do Registro Brasileiro de Espondiloartrites (RBE).

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of the application of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) in a large series of Brazilian patients with the diagnosis of SpA and establish its correlations with specific variables into the group. METHODS: A common protocol of investigation was prospectively applied to 1492 Brazilian patients classified as SpA according to the European Spondyoarthropathies Study Group (ESSG), attended at 29 referral centers of Rheumatology in Brazil. Clinical and demographic variables, and disease indices (BASDAI, Basfi, Basri, Mases, ASQol) were applicated. The total values of BASDAI were compared to the presence of the different variables. RESULTS: The mean score of BASDAI was 4.20 ± 2.38. The mean scores of BASDAI were higher in patients with the combined (axial + peripheral + entheseal) (4.54 ± 2.38) clinical presentation, compared to the pure axial (3.78 ± 2.27) or pure peripheral (4.00 ± 2.38) clinical presentations (p<0.001). BASDAI also presented higher scores associated with the female gender (p<0.001) and patients who did not practice exercises (p < 0.001). Regarding the axial component, higher values of BASDAI were significantly associated with inflammatory low back pain (p<0.049), alternating buttock pain (p<0.001), cervical pain (p<0.001) and hip involvement (p<0.001). There was also statistical association between BASDAI scores and the peripheral involvement, related to the lower (p=0.004) and upper limbs (p=0.025). The presence of enthesitis was also associated to higher scores of BASDAI (p=0.040). Positive HLA-B27 and the presence of cutaneous psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, uveitis and urethritis were not correlated with the mean scores of BASDAI. Lower scores of BASDAI were associated with the use of biologic agents (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this heterogeneous Brazilian series of SpA patients, BASDAI was able to demonstrate "disease activity" in patients with axial as well as peripheral disease.

The Brazilian Society of Rheumatology guidelines for axial spondyloarthritis - 2019

Abstract Spondyloarthritis is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases characterized by axial and/or peripheral joints inflammation, as well as extra-articular manifestations. The classification axial spondyloarthritis is adopted when the spine and/or the sacroiliac joints are predominantly involved. This version of recommendations replaces the previous guidelines published in May 2013. A systematic literature review was performed, and two hundred thirty-seven studies were selected and used to formulate 29 recommendations answering 15 clinical questions, which were divided into four sections: diagnosis, non-pharmacological therapy, conventional drug therapy and biological therapy. For each recommendation the level of evidence supporting (highest available), the strength grade according to Oxford, and the degree of expert agreement (inter-rater reliability) is informed. These guidelines bring evidence-based information on clinical management of axial SpA patients, including, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Analysis of the association of fatigue with clinical and psychological variables in a series of 371 Brazilian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Fatigue is a highly subjective and extremely common symptom in patients with rheumatoid arthritis although it is difficult to characterize and define. The aim of this study was to assess fatigue in a cohort of Brazilian patients, and to analyze the relationship between fatigue and disease-specific variables. METHODS: 371 Brazilian patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis according to the 1987 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria were prospectively investigated. Demographic, clinical and laboratorial data were obtained from hospitals records. The number of painful joints, bone mass index, disease duration, quality of life, functional capacity, anxiety and depression were recorded. Fatigue was evaluated using the subscale of Fatigue Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-FATIGUE scale). RESULTS: The median fatigue score was 42.0 (10.0), negatively correlated with functional capacity (-0.507; P < 0.001), anxiety and depression (-0.542 and -0.545; P < 0.001 respectively), and predominantly with physical domain of Short Form 36-item quality of life questionnaire (SF-36P: 0.584; P < 0.001). The scores were not associated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (-0.118; P < 0.05), C-reactive protein (-0.089; P < 0.05), disease activity (-0.250; P < 0.001) or the number of painful joints (-0.135; P < 0.01). Confidence interval of 95% was applied for all measures. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of Brazilian patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we suggest a new significance for fatigue complains as an independent parameter not related with number of painful joints, disease or inflammatory activity scores. Psychological and functional impairments appear to be more related to fatigue. Additional studies and inclusion of standard measures for monitoring fatigue complains are required.

Profile of the use of disease modifying drugs in the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritides.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have evaluated the profile of use of disease modifying drugs (DMD) in Brazilian patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS: A common research protocol was applied prospectively in 1505 patients classified as SpA by criteria of the European Spondyloarthropathies Study Group (ESSG), followed at 29 referral centers in Rheumatology in Brazil. Demographic and clinical variables were obtained and evaluated, by analyzing their correlation with the use of DMDs methotrexate (MTX) and sulfasalazine (SSZ). RESULTS: At least one DMD was used by 73.6% of patients: MTX by 29.2% and SSZ by 21.7%, while 22.7% used both drugs. The use of MTX was significantly associated with peripheral involvement, and SSZ was associated with axial involvement, and the two drugs were more administered, separately or in combination, in the mixed involvement (p < 0.001). The use of a DMD was significantly associated with Caucasian ethnicity (MTX , p = 0.014), inflammatory back pain (SSZ, p = 0.002) , buttock pain (SSZ, p = 0.030), neck pain (MTX, p = 0.042), arthritis of the lower limbs (MTX, p < 0.001), arthritis of the upper limbs (MTX, p < 0.001), enthesitis (p = 0.007), dactylitis (MTX, p < 0.001), inflammatory bowel disease (SSZ, p < 0.001) and nail involvement (MTX, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of at least one DMD was reported by more than 70% of patients in a large cohort of Brazilian patients with SpA, with MTX use more associated with peripheral involvement and the use of SSZ more associated with axial involvement.

[Epidemiologic profile of juvenile-onset compared to adult-onset spondyloarthritis in a large Brazilian cohort]. / Perfil epidemiológico da espondiloartrite de início juvenil comparada com a espondiloartrite de início na vida adulta em uma grande coorte brasileira.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of juvenile-onset spondyloarthritis (SpA) (< 16 years) and compare them with a group of adult-onset (≥ 16 years) SpA patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective, observational and multicentric cohort with 1,424 patients with the diagnosis of SpA according to the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) submitted to a common protocol of investigation and recruited in 29 reference centers participants of the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritis (RBE - Registro Brasileiro de Espondiloartrites). Patients were divided in two groups: age at onset<16 years (JOSpA group) and age at onset ≥ 16 years (AOSpA group). RESULTS: Among the 1,424 patients, 235 presented disease onset before 16 years (16.5%). The clinical and epidemiologic variables associated with JOSpA were male gender (p<0.001), lower limb arthritis (p=0.001), enthesitis (p=0.008), anterior uveitis (p=0.041) and positive HLA-B27 (p=0.017), associated with lower scores of disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index - BASDAI; p=0.007) and functionality (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index - BASFI; p=0.036). Cutaneous psoriasis (p<0.001), inflammatory bowel disease (p=0.023), dactylitis (p=0.024) and nail involvement (p=0.004) were more frequent in patients with adult-onset SpA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with JOSpA in this large Brazilian cohort were characterized predominantly by male gender, peripheral involvement (arthritis and enthesitis), positive HLA-B27 and lower disease scores.

Effect of enthesitis on 1505 Brazilian patients with spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical effect of enthesitis in a large Brazilian cohort of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS: A common protocol of investigation was prospectively applied to 1505 patients with SpA in 29 centers in Brazil. Clinical and demographic variables and disease indexes were investigated. The Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score was used to investigate the enthesitis component. Ankylosing spondylitis was the most frequent disease in the group (65.4%). Others were psoriatic arthritis (18.4%), undifferentiated SpA (6.7%), reactive arthritis (3.3%), and enteropathic arthritis (3.2%). RESULTS: At least 1 affected enthesis was observed in 54% of the patients with SpA, with a mean of 2.12 ± 2.98 entheses affected. According to the clinical presentation, enthesitis was significantly more frequent in patients with axial + peripheral joint involvement compared to isolated axial or peripheral involvement (p < 0.001). There was a statistical association between the presence of enthesites and axial symptoms (buttock pain, cervical pain, and hip pain), and peripheral symptoms (lower limb arthritis, number of painful and swollen joints; p < 0.05). Patients with enthesitis also presented higher mean scores of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI; p < 0.001), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (p < 0.001), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that BASFI (p < 0.0001; OR 74.839), ASQoL (p = 0.0001; OR 14.645), and Achilles tendonitis (p = 0.0059; OR 7.593) were associated with work incapacity. CONCLUSION: The clinical presence of enthesitis in this large cohort of patients with SpA was frequent and was associated with a significant increase in disease activity and decline in functional capacity and quality of life.

Enteropathic arthritis in Brazil: data from the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritis.

UNLABELLED: Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative rectocolitis) have extraintestinal manifestations 25% of the patients, with the most common one being the enteropathic arthritis. METHODS: Prospective, observational, multicenter study with patients from 29 reference centers participating in the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritis (RBE), which incorporates the RESPONDIA (Ibero-American Registry of Spondyloarthritis) group. Demographic and clinical data were collected from 1472 patients and standardized questionnaires for the assessment of axial mobility, quality of life, enthesitic involvement, disease activity and functional capacity were applied. Laboratory and radiographic examinations were performed. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical, epidemiological, genetic, imaging, treatment and prognosis characteristics of patients with enteropathic arthritis with other types of spondyloarthritis in a large Brazilian cohort. RESULTS: A total of 3.2% of patients were classified as having enteroarthritis, 2.5% had spondylitis and 0.7%, arthritis (peripheral predominance). The subgroup of individuals with enteroarthritis had a higher prevalence in women (P < 0.001), lower incidence of inflammatory axial pain (P < 0.001) and enthesitis (P = 0.004). HLA-B27 was less frequent in the group with enteroarthritis (P = 0.001), even when considering only those with the pure axial form. There was a lower prevalence of radiographic sacroiliitis (P = 0.009) and lower radiographic score (BASRI) (P = 0.006) when compared to patients with other types of spondyloarthritis. They also used more corticosteroids (P < 0.001) and sulfasalazine (P < 0.001) and less non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (P < 0.001) and methotrexate (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: There were differences between patients with enteroarthritis and other types of spondyloarthritis, especially higher prevalence of females, lower frequency of HLA-B27, associated with less severe axial involvement.

Ethnic influence in clinical and functional measures of Brazilian patients with spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Spondyloarthritides (SpA) can present different disease spectra according to ethnic background. The Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritis (RBE) is a nationwide registry that comprises a large databank on clinical, functional, and treatment data on Brazilian patients with SpA. The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of ethnic background in SpA disease patterns in a large series of Brazilian patients. METHODS: A common protocol of investigation was prospectively applied to 1318 SpA patients in 29 centers distributed through the main geographical regions in Brazil. The group comprised whites (65%), African Brazilians (31.3%), and people of mixed origins (3.7%). Clinical and demographic variables and various disease index scores were compiled. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was the most frequent disease in the group (65.1%); others were psoriatic arthritis (18.3%), undifferentiated SpA (6.8%), enteropathic arthritis (3.7%), and reactive arthritis (3.4%). RESULTS: White patients were significantly associated with psoriasis (p = 0.002), positive HLA-B27 (p = 0.014), and use of corticosteroids (p < 0.0001). Hip involvement (p = 0.02), axial inflammatory pain (p = 0.04), and radiographic sacroiliitis (p = 0.025) were associated with African Brazilian descent. Sex distribution, family history, and presence of peripheral arthritis, uveitis, dactylitis, urethritis, and inflammatory bowel disease were similar in the 3 groups, as well as age at disease onset, time from first symptom until diagnosis, and use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents (p > 0.05). Schober test and thoracic expansion were similar in the 3 groups, whereas African Brazilians had higher Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Scores (p = 0.005) and decreased lateral lumbar flexion (p = 0.003), while whites had a higher occiput-to-wall distance (p = 0.02). African Brazilians reported a worse patient global assessment of disease (p = 0.011). Other index scores and prevalence of work incapacity were similar in the 3 groups, although African Brazilians had worse performance in the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life questionnaire (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ethnic background is associated with distinct clinical aspects of SpA in Brazilian patients. African Brazilian patients with SpA have a poorer quality of life and report worse disease compared to whites.