First Spanish study on the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided sacroiliac joint injection in patients with spondyloarthritis.

Objective: The aim was to assess clinical improvement after US-guided injection of CSs into the SI joint of patients with SpA. Methods: This was an observational, descriptive, retrospective study of patients with SpA and sacroiliitis who received an US-guided injection into the SI joint between 1 June 2020 and 31 May 2021. Means were compared using Student's paired t-test for the variables visual analog scale (VAS), BASDAI, ASDAS, CRP and ESR before and after the procedure. We evaluated the association between these variables and the clinical response using the odds ratio. Results: We analysed 32 patients with SpA [age 42.69 (8.19) years; female sex, 56.25%], with a VAS score of 7.88 (0.79), BASDAI of 5.43 (1.48) and ASDAS of 3.27 (0.86) before the procedure. At 2-3 months, 75% of patients had improved: VAS 3.81 (2.33) (-4.07, P < 0.0001) and BASDAI 3.24 (1.6) (-2.19, P < 0.0001). At 5-6 months, 59.37% had improved: VAS 4.63 (2.31) (-3.25, P < 0.0001), BASDAI 3.57 (1.67) (-1.86, P < 0.0001) and ASDAS 2.27 (0.71) (-1.0, P < 0.0001). Bone marrow oedema resolved in 87.5% of cases compared with the previous MRI scan. No significant association was identified with the clinical response to the injection. Conclusion: US-guided injection of CSs into the SI joint of patients with SpA and active sacroiliitis leads to an improvement in symptoms that is maintained at 5-6 months. The procedure is effective, safe, inexpensive and easy to apply.

Identification of a 3'-Untranslated Genetic Variant of RARB Associated With Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Genome-Wide Association Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic background influencing the development of cardiovascular (CV) disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in which, after quality control and imputation, a total of 6,308,944 polymorphisms across the whole genome were analyzed in 2,989 RA patients of European origin. Data on subclinical atherosclerosis, obtained through assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and presence/absence of carotid plaques by carotid ultrasonography, were available for 1,355 individuals. RESULTS: A genetic variant of the RARB gene (rs116199914) was associated with CIMT values at the genome-wide level of significance (minor allele [G] ß coefficient 0.142, P = 1.86 × 10-8 ). Interestingly, rs116199914 overlapped with regulatory elements in tissues related to CV pathophysiology and immune cells. In addition, biologic pathway enrichment and predictive protein-protein relationship analyses, including suggestive GWAS signals of potential relevance, revealed a functional enrichment of the collagen biosynthesis network related to the presence/absence of carotid plaques (Gene Ontology no. 0032964; false discovery rate-adjusted P = 4.01 × 10-3 ). Furthermore, our data suggest potential influences of the previously described candidate CV risk loci NFKB1, MSRA, and ZC3HC1 (P = 8.12 × 10-4 , P = 5.94 × 10-4 , and P = 2.46 × 10-4 , respectively). CONCLUSION: The present findings strongly suggest that genetic variation within RARB contributes to the development of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA.

Influence of elevated-CRP level-related polymorphisms in non-rheumatic Caucasians on the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Association between elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels and subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular (CV) events was described in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CRP, HNF1A, LEPR, GCKR, NLRP3, IL1F10, PPP1R3B, ASCL1, HNF4A and SALL1 exert an influence on elevated CRP serum levels in non-rheumatic Caucasians. Consequently, we evaluated the potential role of these genes in the development of CV events and subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients. Three tag CRP polymorphisms and HNF1A, LEPR, GCKR, NLRP3, IL1F10, PPP1R3B, ASCL1, HNF4A and SALL1 were genotyped in 2,313 Spanish patients by TaqMan. Subclinical atherosclerosis was determined in 1,298 of them by carotid ultrasonography (by assessment of carotid intima-media thickness-cIMT-and presence/absence of carotid plaques). CRP serum levels at diagnosis and at the time of carotid ultrasonography were measured in 1,662 and 1,193 patients, respectively, by immunoturbidimetry. Interestingly, a relationship between CRP and CRP serum levels at diagnosis and at the time of the carotid ultrasonography was disclosed. However, no statistically significant differences were found when CRP, HNF1A, LEPR, GCKR, NLRP3, IL1F10, PPP1R3B, ASCL1, HNF4A and SALL1 were evaluated according to the presence/absence of CV events, carotid plaques and cIMT after adjustment. Our results do not confirm an association between these genes and CV disease in RA.

Protective Role of the Interleukin 33 rs3939286 Gene Polymorphism in the Development of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the interleukin-33 (IL-33)-interleukin-1 receptor like 1 (IL-1RL1) signaling pathway is implicated in the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 576 Spanish RA patients from Northern Spain were genotyped for 6 well-known IL33-IL1RL1 polymorphisms (IL33 rs3939286, IL33 rs7025417, IL33 rs7044343, IL1RL1 rs2058660, IL1RL1 rs2310173 and IL1RL1 rs13015714) by TaqMan genotyping assay. The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was determined by the assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) by carotid ultrasound (US). RESULTS: RA patients carrying the TT genotype of the IL33 rs3939286 polymorphism had lower cIMT values than those homozygous for the CC genotype (mean ± standard deviation (SD): 0.71 ± 0.14 mm versus 0.76 ± 0.16 mm, respectively) while patients carrying the CT genotype had intermediate cIMT values (mean ± SD: 0.73 ± 0.17 mm). Moreover, RA patients carrying the mutant allele T of the IL33 rs3939286 polymorphism exhibited significantly lower cIMT values than those carrying the wild allele C (mean ± SD: 0.72 ± 0.16 mm versus 0.75 ± 0.18 mm respectively; p = 0.04). The association of both genotype and allele frequencies of IL33 rs3939286 and cIMT levels remained statistically significant after adjustment for sex, age at the time of US study, follow-up and center (p = 0.006 and p = 0.0023, respectively), evidencing that the potential effect conferred by IL33 rs3939286 may be independent of confounder factors. No association with other IL33-IL1RL1 genetic variants was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results may suggest a potential protective effect of the IL33 rs3939286 allele T in the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA.

Espondilodiscitis, experiencia en nefrología / Spondylodiscitis, nephrology department's experience

La espondilodiscitis es una infección del cuerpo vertebral y los discos adyacentes, cuya forma de diseminación más frecuente es la vía hematógena. Se trata de una entidad rara pero con una incidencia global en aumento, debido principalmente al incremento de bacteriemias en portadores de dispositivos intravasculares, como el utilizado en pacientes en tratamiento renal sustitutivo con hemodiálisis. Su diagnóstico es difícil por presentarse con síntomas inespecíficos, por lo que para un diagnóstico precoz y preciso es necesario el uso de la resonancia magnética. El tratamiento antibiótico empírico temprano y el abordaje multidisciplinario mejoran el pronóstico de esta infección potencialmente grave. Presentamos una serie de casos diagnosticados de espondilodiscitis en nuestra Sección de Nefrología (AU)

Spondylodiscitis is an infection of the vertebral body and adjacent intervertebral discs, in which hematogenous spread is by far the most common cause. This is a rare disease but its overall incidence is increasing, due mainly to increased bacteremia in patients with intravascular catheter as it is used in hemodialysis, being Staphylococcus aureus the most common organism. The diagnosis is difficult because of nonspecific symptoms. The use of magnetic resonance imaging allows an early and accurate diagnosis. The early empirical antibiotic treatment may improve the outcome of this potentially catastrophic infection, so it requires the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of physicians to optimal therapy. We report a case series of spondylodiscitis diagnosed in our Nephrology Unit (AU)

Spondylodiscitis, nephrology department's experience.

Spondylodiscitis is an infection of the vertebral body and adjacent intervertebral discs, whose most common means of spreading is the haematogenous route. It is a rare disease but its overall incidence is increasing, mainly due to increased bacteraemia in patients with intravascular devices, such as that used in patients on renal replacement therapy with haemodialysis. Its diagnosis is difficult due to non-specific symptoms and as such, for early and accurate diagnosis, MRI is necessary. The early empirical antibiotic treatment and the multidisciplinary approach may improve the prognosis of this potentially serious infection. We report a series of cases diagnosed with spondylodiscitis in our Nephrology Unit.

Crioglobulinemia con acronecrosis no asociada a infección por hepatitis C: presentación de un caso / Cryoglobulinemia with acronecrosis not associated with hepatitis C infection: a case report

La crioglobulinemia es una enfermedad rara en la cual se producen inmunoglobulinas monoclonales y/o policlonales que precipitan con el frío. Si bien este fenómeno puede observarse en una gran cantidad de trastornos, se ha asociado más frecuentemente a la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C en más del 90%. El porcentaje restante, llamado crioglobulinemia esencial, se ha caracterizado por curso más severo y falta de respuesta al tratamiento convencional. El presente artículo describe el caso de un paciente con crioglobulinemia esencial que se presenta con acronecrosis, en la que su mala evolución, a pesar del tratamiento, la lleva a la amputación (AU)

Cryoglobulinemia is a rare disease characterized by the production of monoclonal or polyclonal immunoglobulins that precipitate in cold temperature. While this phenomenon can be observed in a large number of disorders, it has been associated with hepatitis C virus infection in more than 90% of cases. The remaining 10%, called essential cryoglobulinemia, has been characterized by a more severe course and a failure to respond to conventional treatment. This article describes the case of a patient with essential cryoglobulinemia presenting with acronecrosis with a poor outcome, despite treatment, leading to amputation (AU)

Cryoglobulinemia with acronecrosis not associated with hepatitis C infection: a case report.

Cryoglobulinemia is a rare disease characterized by the production of monoclonal or polyclonal immunoglobulins that precipitate in cold temperature. While this phenomenon can be observed in a large number of disorders, it has been associated with hepatitis C virus infection in more than 90% of cases. The remaining 10%, called essential cryoglobulinemia, has been characterized by a more severe course and a failure to respond to conventional treatment. This article describes the case of a patient with essential cryoglobulinemia presenting with acronecrosis with a poor outcome, despite treatment, leading to amputation.