Real life picture of the use of intravenous immunoglobulins in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: Results of a multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: despite the absence of specific guidelines, the treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IvIg) is considered effective in patients with refractory idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). The aim of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of IvIg and define the possible profile of IIM patients candidate to IvIg treatment. METHODS: we performed a retrospective study of IIM pts. treated with IvIg (2 g/kg/month). We collected demographic, epidemiological, laboratory and clinical data. Additionally, to evaluate the toxicity, the adverse events occurred during the treatment were collected. RESULTS: 123 patients with IIM were included in the study. The main indications for the prescription of IvIg were muscle (83.7% of patients) and esophageal involvement (45.5% of patients). IvIg were started mainly for refractory disease. At the end of treatment (mean duration 14 months), muscular necrosis enzymes decreased significantly and dysphagia VAS decreased significantly (p < 0.001), while MMT value increased (104.6 ± 24.2 vs. 127.0 ± 22.2 p < 0.001). Ninety-six pts. (78%) responded to IvIg. They had a shorter disease duration (p < 0.001), higher creatine kinase levels (p < 0.001), and higher prevalence of myalgias at the baseline (p = 0.023) compared to non-responders. The presence of Raynaud's phenomenon (p = 0.023-odds ratio 0.28 [0.11-0.72]) and skin involvement (p = 0.004, odds ratio 0.18 [0.06-0.55]), were associated to a worse response. Adverse events were mostly mild and transitory. CONCLUSIONS: Despite their high cost, IvIg confirmed their effectiveness in refractory IIM pts., particularly in muscular and esophageal manifestations. Specific clinical characteristics at the baseline may identify the patients with higher probability of response to the treatment.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Endothelial Dysfunction: A Close Relationship.

BACKGROUND: Accelerated atherosclerosis, responsible for premature cardiovascular disease, has been estimated to develop or progress in 10% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients each year and to be 6-fold more frequent in SLE compared with the general population. The mechanisms underlying accelerated atherosclerosis in SLE are complex and involve classical and "non-classical" cardiovascular risk factors. Subclinical and disseminated atherosclerosis is associated with endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to analyze the association between SLE and endothelial dysfunction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the prevalence of endothelial dysfunction in SLE, which are briefly reported in this review: impaired clearance of apoptotic cells, oxidative stress markers, B cell activation with different circulating autoantibodies, different subtypes of T lymphocytes, cytokine cascade. Several studies and meta-analyses show a significant trend towards a prevalence of subclinical accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with SLE compared with healthy controls, since childhood. Based on general considerations, we suggest a multidisciplinary management to assess endothelial dysfunction at the diagnosis of the disease and to periodically search for and treat the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the benefits of this management.

Endothelial Dysfunction in Early Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients and Controls Without Previous Cardiovascular Events.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for endothelial dysfunction detected by peripheral artery tonometry in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with early disease without cardiovascular disease and risk factors. METHODS: All the consecutive adult lupus patients, with a disease duration <5 years, seen in our hospital from December 2014 to March 2016 were considered. We excluded patients with any history of cardiovascular disease or risk factors possibly affecting peripheral artery tonometry. Enrolled patients were matched for sex, age, body mass index, and blood pressure with healthy controls with the same exclusion criteria. Patients and controls received a transthoracic Doppler echocardiogram and an evaluation of endothelial function by peripheral artery tonometry. RESULTS: Twenty patients (100% female) with a median disease duration of 14 months (range 1-58 months), a mean ± SD age of 42 ± 15 years, and a mean ± SD age at diagnosis of 40 ± 16 years were enrolled and matched with 20 controls. Peripheral artery tonometry showed a significantly higher prevalence of endothelial dysfunction (P = 0.003) and vascular stiffness (P = 0.02), while echocardiography detected a significantly higher prevalence of left ventricular concentric remodeling (P = 0.003), grade I diastolic dysfunction (P = 0.047), and subclinical increase of filling pressures (P = 0.039) in lupus patients compared to controls. Among lupus patients, no features were associated with endothelial dysfunction. CONCLUSION: A high rate of endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffness occurs in early lupus patients without cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results and to look for patients' characteristics possibly associated with these abnormalities.

Longterm Outcome of Patients with Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the longterm frequency of thrombotic recurrences, obstetrical complications, organ damage, severe comorbidities, and evolution toward connective tissue disease (CTD) in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). METHODS: Medical records of patients with PAPS followed in 6 centers for ≥ 15 years were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: One hundred fifteen patients were studied: 88% women, followed between 1983 and 2014 with a mean (± SD) age at diagnosis of 33 (± 10) years. During a median followup of 18 years (range 15-30), 50 patients (44%) had at least a thrombotic event for a total of 75 events and an annual incidence of 3.5%. Thromboses were more frequent in patients with previous thrombotic history (p = 0.002). A catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome occurred in 6 patients (5%). The use of oral anticoagulants in patients with thrombotic onset did not appear to be protective against recurrences (p = 0.26). Fifty-two women had 87 pregnancies, successful in 78%. Twenty-nine percent of patients accrued functional damage. Damage was significantly associated with a thrombotic history (p = 0.004) and with arterial events (p < 0.001), especially stroke, but not with demographics, serology, or treatment. Twenty-four major bleeding episodes were recorded in 18 patients, all receiving anticoagulants. Severe infections affected 6 patients (5%), with 1 fatality. A solid cancer was diagnosed in 8 patients (7%). Altogether, 16 patients (14%) developed an autoimmune disease and 13 (11%) a full-blown picture of CTD. CONCLUSION: Despite therapy, a high proportion of patients experienced new thrombotic events and organ damage, while evolution toward CTD was infrequent.

Long-term use of hydroxychloroquine reduces antiphospholipid antibodies levels in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was suggested to play a role in lowering antiphospholipid antibody titers and preventing thrombotic recurrences in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, but few data are available in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). In this retrospective, propensity score-matched cohort study, we evaluated the impact of HCQ on aPL titers and the incidence of thrombotic events in 57 exposed patients compared to 57 not exposed patients. These were matched for sex/type of disease onset/follow-up duration, age at the beginning of the follow-up ±10 years and initial date of the follow-up ±5 years. At baseline, no significant differences in demographical, clinical and serological features were observed between the two groups except for positive anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies (21 % in HCQ exposed vs 0 % in HCQ not exposed, P = 0.001). Both the levels of IgG anti-cardiolipin and IgG/IgM anti-ß2-glycoprotein I (anti-ß2GPI) were significantly reduced at end of follow-up compared to the baseline in HCQ-exposed patients, while there were no differences in the other group. Moreover, anti-ß2GPI IgG titers were significantly decreased when the end of follow-up was compared between the two groups (P < 0.002). Among patients with a history of thrombosis, the annual incidence of recurrence was 1.16 % in HCQ exposed and 1.71 % in not exposed patients, with a significant reduction in the incidence of arterial events (0 vs 1.14 %). This study shows a strong reduction in aPL titers together with an apparent decrease in the incidence of arterial thrombosis recurrence in PAPS patients treated with HCQ.

Pregnancy-Related Challenges in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases.

The awareness of pregnancy-related physiologic changes and complications is critical for the appropriate assessment and management of pregnant patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. The overlapping features of physiologic and pathological changes, selected autoantibodies, and the use of potentially teratogenic medications can complicate their management during pregnancy. While pregnancy in lupus patients presents an additional risk to an already complex situation, in patients with no disease activity, the risk of a future pregnancy-related complication is relatively low. Anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies increase the risk of neonatal lupus erythematosus, eg, photosensitive rash and irreversible congenital heart block. Antiphospholipid antibodies increase the risk of pregnancy morbidity, eg, fetal loss and early preeclampsia. Pregnancy usually has a positive effect on rheumatoid arthritis; however, a disease flare is common during the postpartum period. Both the rheumatologist and the obstetrician should partner throughout the pregnancy to manage patients for successful outcomes.

Treatment and functional outcome of patients with cystoid macular edema: a single-center experience.

The aim of this study was to describe a single-center experience in the treatment and follow-up of cystoid macular edema patients. Clinical records of all patients with cystoid macular edema followed up in the Rheumatologic and Ophthalmological Unit of our center between 1993 and 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. The outcome was assessed by visual acuity and optical coherence tomography status during follow-up. Comparisons were made by Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05 significant). In this study 16 eyes in 9 patients were analyzed. Our study includes mainly post-uveitic (78 %) cases with a high prevalence of human leukocyte antigen B51 (67 %). Systemic immunosuppressive therapy was prescribed in 87 % of cases. The most frequently used drugs were cyclosporine, interferon-α, and infliximab. The first two molecules appeared respectively the most used as the first option and the one with the longest survival on treatment. Interferon-α was the most effective drug in contrasting visual acuity loss compared to the majority of drugs, but significantly more effective than mycophenolate (p = 0.01) in reducing macular edema. At the end of follow-up, 50 % of patients showed a significant visual loss, while 88 % did not present macular edema. In our small cohort, interferon-α is the most promising drug in contrasting visual acuity loss in cystoid macular edema. Visual prognosis remains severe in these patients.

Aseptic meningitis occurring during anti-TNF-alpha therapy in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: Aseptic meningitis is a rare and aggressive complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), usually histologically characterised by rheumatoid nodules and lymphocytic aggregates in leptomeninges. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical onset and evolution of aseptic meningitis occurring during anti-TNF-alpha (TNF-α) therapy. METHODS: we retrospectively analysed the clinical records of patients with RA or ankylosing apondylitis (AS) treated by TNF-α drugs in the last 10 years. RESULTS: Four out of 718 patients, treated with TNF-α, developed meningitis after a mean of 5 years (SD: 3.7) of TNF-α exposure (0.55%). Three subjects were affected by long-standing RA (median: 11 years, IQR:8.5-25), one patient by active AS of 8 years' duration. RA patients were treated with etanercept (2 cases) and infliximab (1 case), in association with methotrexate and prednisone. The AS patient was treated with adalimumab. Neurological onset was focal epilepsy (3 cases) and dysarthria (1 case). RM showed leptomeningeal enhancement of basal nuclei (1 case) or fronto-parietal zone (3 cases), associated in one patient with cerebritis. Bacterial, viral or parasitic infections were excluded. One patient underwent cerebral biopsy showing T and B lymphocytes' aggregates. All patients discontinued TNF-α drugs and were treated with high dose of steroids, added to methotrexate in two cases. Neurological symptoms resolved without residuals, and meningeal enhancement showed resolution with high latency. CONCLUSIONS: Meningeal inflammation is a rare manifestation occurring in long-standing RA and AS in clinical remission. TNF-α therapy did not prevent this extra-articular complication.

Prevalence and clinical significance of anti-MDA5 antibodies in European patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

OBJECTIVES: Polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) is an autoimmune disease characterised by skin and muscle inflammation, internal organ involvement and serum disease-specific autoantibodies. The recently identified anti-MDA5 (melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5) antibodies are associated with clinically amyopathic DM (CADM), rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease, severe skin manifestations, and poor prognosis. Our objective was to examine the clinical significance of anti-MDA5 antibodies in a cohort of European Caucasian patients with PM/DM, considering that data on anti-MDA5 serology are limited to Asian and US cohorts. METHODS: Sera from 76 consecutive adult Italian patients with PM/DM were analysed by immunoprecipitation (IP) of 35S-methionine radiolabelled HeLa and K562 cell extracts, ELISA using recombinant MDA5 protein and IP-Western Blot using rabbit anti-MDA5 antibodies. Clinical associations of anti-MDA5 antibody positive patients were analysed. RESULTS: Anti-MDA5 antibodies were identified in 5/76 (7%) PM/DM cases and all 5 cases were CADM; anti-MDA5 was the second most common autoantibody in DM after anti-MJ/NXP-2, found in 24% of cases. Compared to 29 anti-MDA5 (-) DM, anti-MDA5 (+) patients have more typical DM skin disease (digit pulp/periungual lesions, Gottron's papules, heliotrope rash) (p=ns). Interstitial lung disease was observed in 3/5 anti-MDA5 (+) patients but only 14% of anti-MDA5 (-) cases (p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Our study on European patients with PM/DM confirms that anti-MDA5 antibodies are not uncommon. All anti-MDA5 (+) cases are affected by CADM with typical skin disease, while rapidly progressive pulmonary involvement was diagnosed only in one case. Further studies in larger cohorts are necessary to define the clinical significance of anti-MDA5 antibodies in European PM/DM.

A subset of systemic sclerosis but not of systemic lupus erythematosus is defined by isolated anti-Ku autoantibodies.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyse the annual incidence of anti-Ku antibodies and to study their clinical associations in patients mainly affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlap diseases. METHODS: Anti-Ku were detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis in a total of 203 sera during 14 years of anti-ENA detection. Anti-Ku+ sera belong to 46 patients, mostly affected by UCTD (12 cases), SSc spectrum diseases (13 cases), including SSc/PM, SSc/DM and SSc; and SLE spectrum diseases (9 cases), including SLE, SLE/APS, SLE/SS, SLE/PM. RESULTS: Anti-Ku antibodies represent 2% of all anti-ENA positive sera, and are found in 1.3-3% of anti-ENA positive sera per year. Anti-Ku+ SSc represents 2% of all SSc patients. All anti-Ku+ SSc spectrum diseases showed a limited cutaneous disease; myositis, dysphagia and isolated anti-Ku in more than 70% of cases. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was found in 54% of SSc patients, frequently with mild functional impairment. When compared with other limited SSc cases, anti-Ku+ SSc showed a higher rate of male patients, arthritis, myositis and ILD. A lower rate of digital ulcers was found, although both groups showed the same rate of SSc pattern at nailfold capillaroscopy. Anti-Ku+ SLE patients (representing 1.5% of all SLE) showed cutaneous features, Raynaud's phenomenon, multiple autoantibodies, without major organ manifestations. Isolated anti-Ku+ patients significantly show a diagnosis within SSc spectrum diseases, with arthralgias, Raynaud's phenomenon, dysphagia, ILD, myositis and sclerodactyly. CONCLUSIONS: In SLE spectrum diseases, anti-Ku are found associated with other autoantibodies, without a peculiar clinical profile, except for Raynaud's phenomenon and severe alterations of capillary bed. In SSc anti-Ku are frequently associated with myositis and ILD, mostly found as isolated autoantibodies.

Anti-MJ/NXP-2 autoantibody specificity in a cohort of adult Italian patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

INTRODUCTION: Autoantibodies in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) are associated with unique subsets, clinical course and outcome. Anti-MJ antibodies, which recognize the nuclear protein NXP-2/MORC3, are reported in ~25% of juvenile DM. Prevalence and clinical significance of anti-MJ antibodies in adult Italian PM/DM patients were studied. METHODS: Sera from 58 consecutive adult Italian PM/DM patients were analyzed by immunoprecipitation of 35S-labeled K562 cells extract, ELISA (anti-MJ, Jo-1), Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence. Clinical associations were analyzed using information from medical charts. RESULTS: Anti-MJ antibodies were the most prevalent specificity (17%) found mainly in DM (30%, 8 cases) vs 8% of PM (2 cases, P = 0.02). Comparing 10 anti-MJ (+) vs 48 anti-MJ (-) cases, DM was more common (P = 0.03), and age at onset was younger in anti-MJ (+) (P = 0.0006). In anti-MJ (+), heliotrope rash (P = 0.01) and calcinosis (P = 0.09) were more frequent. None of them had heart or lung involvement, or malignancy. Myopathy in anti-MJ (+) patients responded well to therapy and none of them had elevated CPK at last visit (0% vs 25% in anti-MJ (-)). Only 60% of anti-MJ (+) showed immunofluorescent nuclear dots staining, despite PML localization of NXP-2/MORC3. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-MJ antibodies are the most frequent specificity in our cohort of adult Italian PM/DM. Anti-MJ (+) were associated with young onset DM, calcinosis, no internal organ involvement and good response of myopathy to therapy. Anti-MJ reported in juvenile DM is also found in adult PM/DM, and could be a new useful biomarker.

Much more than thrombosis and pregnancy loss: the antiphospholipid syndrome as a 'systemic disease'.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an auto-immune disorder characterised by recurrent thrombosis, pregnancy losses and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Although it was initially considered an auto-immune coagulopathy, it is now clear that it is a complex and systemic disease. A large number of manifestations in different organs and tissues (cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, renal, cutaneous, haematologic, gastrointestinal, ocular, skeletal and endocrinologic) have been described in these patients. A small group of patients can have a microvascular involvement, which is the most common pathological finding in patients affected by the catastrophic variant of the syndrome. A strong relationship exists between the antiphospholipid syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, as demonstrated by common clinical, serological and genetic features and by the few but possible cases evolving from the first disease into the second one over years. Finally, the systemic nature of the antiphospholipid syndrome and the understanding of the mechanisms of antiphospholipid-mediated damage suggest a role of immunomodulation beyond anticoagulation in the therapeutic approach to the disease.

Brief report: successful pregnancies but a higher risk of preterm births in patients with systemic sclerosis: an Italian multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess fetal and maternal outcomes in women with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Prospectively collected data on 99 women with SSc from 25 Italian centers were analyzed retrospectively. Women with SSc were observed during 109 pregnancies (from 2000 to 2011), and outcomes were compared to those in the general obstetric population (total of 3,939 deliveries). The maternal age at conception was a mean ± SD 31.8 ± 5.3 years, and the median disease duration at conception was 60 months (range 2-193 months). RESULTS: SSc patients, compared to the general obstetric population, had a significantly increased frequency of preterm deliveries (25% versus 12%) and severe preterm deliveries (<34 weeks of gestation) (10% versus 5%), intrauterine growth restriction (6% versus 1%), and babies with very-low birth weight (5% versus 1%). Results of multivariable analysis showed that corticosteroid use was associated with preterm deliveries (odds ratio [OR] 3.63, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.12-11.78), whereas the use of folic acid (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.91) and presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.85) were protective. The disease remained stable in most SSc patients, but there were 4 cases of progression of disease within 1 year from delivery, all in anti-Scl-70 antibody-positive women, 3 of whom had a disease duration of <3 years. CONCLUSION: Women with SSc can have successful pregnancies, but they have a higher-than-normal risk of preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and babies with very-low birth weight. Progression of the disease during or after pregnancy is rare, but possible. High-risk multidisciplinary management should be standard for these patients, and pregnancy should be avoided in women with severe organ damage and postponed in women with SSc of recent onset, particularly if the patient is positive for anti-Scl-70 antibodies.

Primary biliary cirrhosis-related autoantibodies in a large cohort of italian patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence, associations, and fine specificity of autoantibodies to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)-associated antigens (MIT3, Sp100, and gp210) in a cohort of Italian patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Sera samples from 201 patients with SSc were tested for antibodies to MIT3, gp210, and Sp100 by ELISA (the PBC screen). Anti-MIT3-positive sera were studied for IgG or IgA isotypes. All sera were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells and on rodent kidney/stomach/liver tissue sections in order to detect antinuclear and antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). SSc was selected by American College of Rheumatology criteria and classified based on LeRoy's criteria. RESULTS: Forty-three (21.4%) sera samples were positive for PBC screen antibodies. Anti-MIT3 antibodies were detected in 36 samples, anti-Sp100 in 5, and anti-gp210 in 1 sample. The other 3 PBC screen-positive samples showed no specificity for the single antigens. PBC screen-positive patients more frequently showed a limited cutaneous SSc subtype (p = 0.04), anticentromere antibodies (ACA; p = 0.0013), elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p < 0.0001), PBC (p = 0.002), and AMA (p = 0.008). Teleangiectasia and calcinosis were less frequent in this group of patients. IgG+IgA anti-MIT3-positive patients had higher prevalence of AMA (p = 0.0035), diagnosis of PBC (p = 0.014), and increased ALP (p = 0.039), all considered biochemical markers of severe liver disease. CONCLUSION: PBC screen antibodies were detected in 20% of patients with SSc, strongly associated with ACA. ACA+/PBC screen+ patients had higher risk of developing PBC or elevation of ALP.

Malignancies in Italian patients with systemic sclerosis positive for anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of malignancies in Italian patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and anti-RNA polymerase III (RNAP III), antitopoisomerase I (topo I), or anticentromere antibodies (ACA); and to characterize the temporal relationship between the 2 diseases, in order to confirm data suggesting a close temporal relationship between the onset of SSc and malignancy in American patients with anti-RNAP III antibodies. METHODS: From a cohort of 466 consecutive SSc patients, 360 Italians with isolated positivity for anti-RNAP III (n = 16), anti-topo I (n = 101), or ACA (n = 243) were identified. Malignancy cases were divided according to their relationship with SSc onset into 3 categories: preceding, synchronous with, or metachronous to the onset of SSc (diagnosed more than 6 months before; 6 months before to 12 months after; and more than 12 months after onset of SSc, respectively). RESULTS: Malignancies were more frequent in the anti-RNAP III group (7/16 patients), than in the anti-topo I (11/101) and ACA groups (21/243) (p < 0.001). This difference was accounted for by the number of patients with cancer synchronous to the onset of SSc (3/16 in the anti-RNAP III group vs 0/101 in the anti-topo I and 1/243 in the ACA group; p < 0.001), whereas neither the number of malignancies preceding nor those metachronous to the onset of SSc was significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: In a cohort of Italian patients with SSc we observed a significant association between malignancies synchronous to SSc onset and positivity for anti-RNAP III antibodies, similar to that described in American patients with SSc.

Pregnancy in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: the importance of counselling for old and new challenges.

Rheumatic diseases can affect women during their childbearing age. Therefore, physicians should introduce a discussion with the patients about pregnancy and its problems. Lupus pregnancies can be successful, even in patients with renal disease, when planned in remission state; the use of low dose aspirin was shown to be an independent predictor of good outcome, so it can be suggested as a preventive measure. Pregnancies in women with Antiphospholipid Syndrome can fail even if properly treated, especially when associated with a systemic autoimmune disease, a history of both thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity, and a triple positivity of antiphospholipid antibody assays. Women with systemic sclerosis have generally a good obstetric outcome, except for an increase rate of preterm deliveries. Severe disease complications were sometimes reported, but their relationship with gestation is not clear yet. Although data on human pregnancy are still preliminary, anti-TNF agents are classified as non teratogens in contrast to methotrexate and leflunomide. So women affected by aggressive chronic arthritis may be treated with anti-TNF in the pre-conceptional period, discontinuing the drug as soon as pregnancy starts. In order to increase maternal compliance and cope with difficult cases, a multidisciplinary team (rheumatologists/internists, obstetricians and neonatologists) should take care of patients during pregnancy.