Quality of life, disease activity and preferences for administration routes in rheumatoid arthritis: a multicentre, prospective, observational study.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate quality of life (QoL), disease activity, compliance to treatment, patient and physician preferences for route of administration (RoA), status of health and pain in RA patients starting advanced treatments or needing a switch, and the factors associated with patient preferences. Methods: A multicentre, prospective, observational and 1-year follow-up study was conducted, between 2015 and 2020, in adult RA patients using advanced treatments for the first time or needing a switch in their current treatments. All the data collected were entered into electronic case report forms. DAS in 28 joints with ESR [DAS28-4(ESR)], EuroQol 5-Dimensional Questionnaire (EQ-5D), HAQ Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Compliance Questionnaire for Rheumatology (CQR-19), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Instrument (WPAI) and Patient Global Assessment-Visual Analogue Scale (PGA-VAS) questionnaires were used for longitudinal assessments. Results: Four hundred and fifty-nine patients were enrolled. Three hundred and eight patients (67.1%) attended the final study visit at 12 months and were included for comparative analyses. Irrespective of RoA, the disease activity and QoL improved significantly at 12 months, whereas compliance worsened. At baseline and 12 months, EQ-5D and DAS28-4(ESR) scores were significantly correlated (P < 0.001). The WPAI scores changed significantly in favour of better outcomes over 12 months after initiation of advanced treatment or switching (P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients preferred an oral RoA, in comparison to physicians (53.6% vs 31.4%; P < 0.001). Patient and physician RoA preferences were independent of gender, age, disease duration, advanced treatment type and the EQ-5D-3L, DAS28-4(ESR), HAQ-DI, PGA-VAS and CQR-19 scores at baseline. Conclusion: The oral route was more frequently preferred by patients compared with physicians, although patients' preference rates showed a slight increase towards the end of the treatment, which might be an important factor for RA outcomes. Better control of disease activity and QoL were achieved at 12 months, regardless of RoA.

MEFV gene testing may guide physicians for early diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever.

INTRODUCTION: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent attacks of polyserositis. Even though clinical assessment is accepted to be the most important factor in the diagnosis of FMF, some diagnostic procedures may help the physician. In this study, we aimed to compare the number of diagnostic procedures performed and number of physician referrals in early diagnosed and late diagnosed cases. Furthermore, we assessed which diagnostic approaches would affect the decision-making of physicians in the early diagnosed patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled into the study 143 FMF patients who met the Tel-Hashomer Criteria. Demographic variables, MEFV mutations (when available), diagnostic procedures (if performed) and specialist referrals were evaluated. Early diagnosis was defined as establishment of definite diagnosis within a 5-year period after the appearance of the first symptom. RESULTS: Early diagnosed were referred to physicians less often, and except for genetic testing, had fewer diagnostic procedures. In addition to clinical features, MEFV testing was found to be the only method that might influence the diagnosis by a physician. CONCLUSIONS: MEFV gene assessment, unlike other diagnostic procedures, might support physicians in the early diagnosis of FMF. Especially in atypical cases, MEFV gene assessment might be considered for diagnosis of FMF.

Long-term effects of lateral wedge orthotics on hip and ankle joint space widths.

BACKGROUND: Lateral wedge insoles have been used for the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) and have been shown to reduce loading of the medial compartment of the knee. However, as the entire lower extremity acts as a single kinetic chain, altering the biomechanics of the knee may also have significant effects at the ankles or hips. We aimed to evaluate the effects of lateral wedge orthotics on ankle and hip joints, compared to neutral orthotics, by assessing the changes in joint space width (JSW) during 36 months of continuous use. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 109 subjects with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the medial knee according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. The trial was double blind and patients were randomized to either wedged or neutral orthotic shoe inserts. Hip and ankle JSWs were quantified using plain radiographies at baseline and at 36-months follow-up. FINDINGS: 45 patients completed the 36 month study. 31 of those who completed the study were using the lateral wedge versus 14 were using neutral orthotics. 2 patients in the wedge group had missing radiographs and were not included in the JSW analyses. There were no significant differences between the wedge and the neutral orthotics groups in the magnitude of JSW change at either the hip or the ankles at 36 month. INTERPRETATION: We found no significant adverse effects of the lateral wedges on ankles or hips. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00076453).