Immunogenicity and safety of the CoronaVac and BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and healthy adults: comparison of different vaccines.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the seroconversion (SC) rate after CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines in adults with inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD). METHODS: Patients who were followed up with IRD and who received two doses of either CoronaVac or BNT162b2 vaccines were included in this prospective observational single-center study. Subjects with two doses of CoronaVac or BNT162b2 without known IRD were included in the healthy controls. The blood samples were taken at a minimum of two and a maximum of 12 weeks after the second dose of vaccine. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients with IRD (61 CoronaVac, 20 BNT162b2) and 100 healthy controls (70 CoronaVac, 30 BNT162b2) were included. The SC rate was slightly lower among patients with IRD versus controls (84 vs 97%, p = 0.002). The SC rate was 100% in all participants who received BNT162b2 both in the patient and control group. The IgG antibody level after CoronaVac in the patient group was significantly lower than both the BNT162b2 (p = 0.031) and the healthy group (p < 0.001). Among patients with IRD, those on rituximab (RTX) (12/81,14.8%) had significantly less SC rate (5/12, 41.7%). The median neutralizing antibody titers were significantly higher in patients with BNT162b2 compared with CoronaVac (1.97 vs. 16.34, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that all patients with BNT162b2 vaccine developed immunogenicity in patients with IRD, while there was a decreased antibody response with CoronaVac vaccine compared to that of BNT162b2. In particular, RTX significantly reduces the SC rate.

Prevalence of peripheral spondyloarthritis among patients with ultrasound-confirmed enthesitis: Single-center cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) in patients with ultrasonography (USG)-confirmed enthesitis. The secondary aim of the study was to reveal the demographic, clinical, and ultrasonographic differences of patients diagnosed with pSpA. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with USG-confirmed enthesitis were evaluated by a rheumatologist to evaluate if they met the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for pSpA. Elementary lesions assessed by USG were based on the definition of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology in Clinical Trials group which included hypoechogenicity, thickening, Doppler signal within 2 mm of bone, enthesophytes, bone erosions, and calcifications. For all patients, clinical and demographic data included: age, gender, smoking habits, body mass index, comorbid diseases, symptom duration, enthesitis region, the presence of bilateral enthesitis, entheseal pain visual analog scale (0-10), standardized enthesitis count following Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) and SPondyloArthritis Research Consortium Canada (SPARCC) enthesitis index. RESULTS: Eight (13.6%, 95% CI 6.0% to 25.0%) of 59 patients were diagnosed with pSpA according to the ASAS classification criteria. Participants diagnosed with pSpA had a longer duration of symptoms (54 vs 12 months), were more likely to present bilateral enthesitis (87.5% vs 49%) with higher SPARCC (11 vs 3) and MASES (6.5 vs 2) scores and higher C-reactive protein (7 vs 3.2 mg/L) concentrations. Entheseal Doppler signal and hypoechogenicity were also more frequently observed (50% vs 0% and 100% vs 49% respectively). CONCLUSION: Peripheral SpA is not uncommon among patients presenting with enthesitis and more likely in cases with prolonged, extensive, and bilateral enthesitis with entheseal hypoechogenicity and Doppler signal. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography can facilitate the diagnosis of pSpA in patients presenting with enthesitis.

Clinical outcomes of Covid-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases and the effects of the pandemic on rheumatology outpatient care: A single-centre experience from Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to detect the frequency and course of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection among our rheumatology outpatients and to investigate how patient follow-up differed during Covid-19 pandemic in a tertiary University Hospital in the capital of Turkey. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) registered in our rheumatology clinic were assessed during their routine outpatient follow-up control or contacted via phone between July and December 2020. Patients' demographics, diagnosis, medication, comorbidities, frequency of going outside during the pandemic, work status, whether patients could attend their routine follow-up, treatment changes, access to drugs during the pandemic, and the incidence of Covid-19 infection were collected. RESULTS: A total of 320 patients with IRD were analysed; 114 (35.6%) patients were treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) (methotrexate/leflunomide/sulfasalazine), 93 (29.1%) patients with biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs), 113 (35.3%) patients with glucocorticoids, and 103 (32.2%) patients with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). A total of 15.9% of patients on HCQ experienced problems in medication supply. Only 87 (27.2%) patients presented for their routine follow-up appointment, and 38 (11.9%) of the patients changed their treatment without professional health advice. While 53 (57%) patients on biological agents continued their treatment, 31 patients (33.3%) interrupted the treatment with doctor's recommendation and 9 patients (9.6%) on their initiative, and 23 of these 31 patients had to restart treatment because of disease activation. The nasopharyngeal swab collected from 30 patients with a suspected Covid-19 contact but without any symptoms was negative. In total, there were 33 patients diagnosed with Covid-19; none of whom had severe respiratory complications or death. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with rheumatic diseases are left without disease monitoring during the pandemic. There was no increased risk of severe Covid-19 infection among patients with IRD.

Effect of Pilates mat exercise and home exercise programs on pain, functional level, and core muscle thickness in women with chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of Pilates exercise in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) by training core stabilization muscles in aspects such as: pain, functional level, depression, quality of life, and muscle thickness measured by Ultrasound Imaging (UI) and to compare it with home based exercise. METHODS: A prospective, randomized-single blinded study included 60 female patients with CNLBP. Patients were randomized into Pilates (group 1) or home exercise group (group 2) three times/week for eight weeks. The evaluations were made at the beginning and end of the treatment. Outcome parameters were VAS, Oswestry Disability Index, Qubec Disability Scale, Short Form-36, Beck Depression Questionnaire, sit and reach, Modified Schöber and sit up tests. Multifidus and abdominal muscle thickness were measured by UI. RESULTS: Significant improvement has been observed in all parameters in both groups. It was found that Group 1 was more effective in terms of all parameters (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both Pilates and home exercises are effective in treating patients with chronic low back pain. UI can be useful for evaluating the core muscle thickness progression of chronic low back pain patients who are undergoing exercise therapy.

Is tranexamic acid safe and reliable during tibial intramedullary nailing?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine if the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) during intramedullary reaming treatment for tibial diaphyseal fractures was safe, reduced blood loss, or affected cost effectiveness. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with a tibia diaphysis fracture were randomized into 2 groups and prospectively followed for data on blood loss, thrombosis, and fracture healing. Preoperative TXA was administered intravenously to Group A, and Group B served as the control group. RESULTS: While there was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative 1-hour hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels of the patients, there was a statistically significant difference in the comparison of the postoperative 24-hour and 48-hour Hb and Hct levels. There was no need for an allogenic blood transfusion to any patient in Group A; however, 2 patients in Group B each received 1 unit of erythrocyte suspension because their Hct values dropped below 27%. There was no deep vein thrombosis or embolism observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: The application of intravenous TXA during the preoperative period in the treatment of tibial fractures with intramedullary nailing reduced the bleeding seen in the postoperative period. It did not lead to intravascular thrombosis in the postoperative period, and had no adverse effect on bone healing.

The association of neuropathic pain and disease activity, functional level, and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a cross-sectional study

Background/aim: Increased neuropathic pain (NP) symptoms are seen in rheumatologic diseases such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, but no studies have demonstrated a relationship between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and NP except for a brain imaging study. The aim of this study was to estimate the presence of NP in patients with AS and to investigate how NP was related to disease activity, functional status, and quality of life. Materials and methods: A total of 100 AS patients (71 males and 29 females; median age: 37 years, range: 18­71 years) were included in the study. Pain (visual analog scale (VAS) and the painDETECT questionnaire), disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PGA), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)), functional level (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)), and health-related quality of life (36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)) were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included patients with possible or likely NP symptoms (painDETECT score of ≥13) and Group 2 included patients without NP symptoms (painDETECT score of <13). Results: Low back pain-VAS, peripheral joint-VAS, BASDAI, PGA, ASDAS, and BASFI scores were significantly higher in Group 1 compared to those of Group 2 (P < 0.05). The SF-36 physical component (PC) score was significantly lower in Group 1 compared to that of Group 2 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding SF-36 mental component (MC) scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) values and MASES scores. Total painDETECT scores correlated positively with low back pain-VAS, peripheral joint-VAS, morning stiffness-VAS, BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, ASDAS-ESR, PGA, BASFI, and MASES scores and ESR values, and inversely with SF-36 PC scores. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AS patients should be evaluated in terms of NP in order not to underestimate NP. If clinicians find evidence of likely NP, they should treat the patient with drugs that target NP.