The Emerging Era of Interventional Imaging in Rheumatology: An Overview During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

Imaging has long been taking its place in the diagnosis, monitor, and prognosis of rheumatic diseases. It plays a vital role in the appraisal of treatment. Key progress in the clinical practice of rheumatology is the innovation of advanced imaging modalities; such as musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These modalities introduced a promising noninvasive method for visualizing bone and soft tissues to enable an improved diagnosis. The use of MSUS in rheumatology is considered a landmark in the evolution of the specialty and its ease of use and many applications in rheumatic diseases make it a forerunner instrument in the practice. The use of MSUS among rheumatologists must parallel the development rate of the excellence revealed in the specialty. Moreover, innovative interventional imaging in rheumatology (III-R) is gaining fame and key roles in the near future for a comprehensive management of rheumatic diseases with precision. This review article throws light on the emergence of these robust innovations that may reshape the guidelines and practice in rheumatology, in particular, efforts to enhance best practice during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are endorsed.

Autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENAs) pattern in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Relevance and clinical implications / Patrón de autoanticuerpos contra antígenos nucleares extraíbles (ENA) en pacientes con artritis reumatoide: relevancia e implicaciones clínicas

Objectives: To study the frequency of different autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENAs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to correlate findings with clinical manifestations, disease activity and radiological damage. Methods: A total of 230 RA patients were included and 75 healthy controls. In all patients rheumatological assessment was done and routine laboratory investigations and immune profile were performed in both patients and controls, including: RF, ACPA, ANA and anti-ENAs (Ro/SSA, La/SSB, U1-RNP, anti-Jo-1 and anti-Sm). Radiological damage was scored using Sharp/van der Heijde, and disease activity was evaluated by DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP. Results: RF was positive in 101 (43.9%), ACPA in 220 (95.7%), ANA in 58 (25.2%), anti Ro in 31 (13.5%), anti-La in 10 (4.3%), anti-Jo1 in 5 (2.2%) and anti-RNP in 2 (0.9%). Anti-Ro/SSA positively correlated with sicca symptoms (p=.02), RF titer (p<.001), ANA (p<.001), DAS28-ESR (p=.026), and DAS28-CRP (p=.003). Anti-La antibodies correlated positively with SJC (p=.001), TJC (p=.001), ANA (p<.001), DAS-28 ESR (p=.007). Anti-Jo-1 correlated positively with interstitial lung disease (ILD) (p≤.001), RF titer (p=.037) and ANA (p≤.001). Anti-RNP antibodies correlated positively with disease duration (p≤.001), ACPA titer (p≤.001) and ANA (p=.014). In the controls ANA was positive in two (2.7%), anti-Ro in three (4%), and none of the controls tested positive for other autoantibodies. Conclusions: In RA patients, positive ANA is frequent and positively associated with anti-Ro, anti-La and anti-Jo1 autoantibodies. Screening for autoantibodies against other anti-ENAs seems mandatory in RA patients especially when ANA is positive. RA cases with positive Anti-Jo-1 may develop anti synthetase syndrome and ILD.(AU)

Objetivos: Estudiar la frecuencia de diferentes autoanticuerpos frente a antígenos nucleares extraíbles (ENA) en pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR) y relacionar los hallazgos con las manifestaciones clínicas, la actividad de la enfermedad y el daño radiológico. Métodos: Se incluyeron un total de 230 pacientes con AR y 75 controles sanos. En todos los pacientes, la evaluación reumatológica, las investigaciones de laboratorio de rutina y el perfil inmune se realizaron tanto en pacientes como en controles, incluidos: RF, ACPA, ANA y anti-ENA (Ro/SSA, La/SSB, U1-RNP, anti-Jo-1 y anti-sm). El daño radiológico se puntuó con Sharp/van der Heijde y la actividad de la enfermedad se evaluó mediante DAS28-ESR y DAS28-CRP. Resultados: La RF fue positiva en 101 (43.9%), ACPA en 220 (95.7%), ANA en 58 (25.2%), anti Ro en 31 (13.5%), anti-La en 10 (4.3%), anti-Jo1 en 5 (2,2%) y anti-RNP en 2 (0,9%). Anti-Ro/SSA se correlacionó positivamente con los síntomas de sicca (p=.02), el título de RF (p<.001), ANA (p<.001), DAS28-ESR (p=.026) y DAS28-CRP (p=.003). Los anticuerpos anti-La se correlacionaron positivamente con SJC (p=.001), TJC (p=.001), ANA (p<.001), DAS-28 ESR (p=.007). El anti-Jo-1 se correlacionó positivamente con la enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (EPI) (p≤0,001), título de RF (p=0,037) y ANA (p≤0,001). Los anticuerpos anti-RNP se correlacionaron positivamente con la duración de la enfermedad (p≤0,001), el título de ACPA (p≤0,001) y ANA (p=0,014). En los controles, ANA fue positivo en dos (2.7%), anti-Ro en tres (4%) y ninguno de los controles dio positivo para otros autoanticuerpos. Conclusiones: En pacientes con AR, el ANA positivo es frecuente y se asocia positivamente con autoanticuerpos anti-Ro, anti-La y anti-Jo1. La detección de autoanticuerpos contra otros anti-ENA parece obligatoria en los pacientes con AR, especialmente cuando la ANA es positiva. Los casos de AR con Anti-Jo-1 positivo pueden desarrollar el síndrome de sintetasa e ILD.(AU)

Autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENAs) pattern in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Relevance and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVES: To study the frequency of different autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENAs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to correlate findings with clinical manifestations, disease activity and radiological damage. METHODS: A total of 230 RA patients were included and 75 healthy controls. In all patients rheumatological assessment was done and routine laboratory investigations and immune profile were performed in both patients and controls, including: RF, ACPA, ANA and anti-ENAs (Ro/SSA, La/SSB, U1-RNP, anti-Jo-1 and anti-Sm). Radiological damage was scored using Sharp/van der Heijde, and disease activity was evaluated by DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP. RESULTS: RF was positive in 101 (43.9%), ACPA in 220 (95.7%), ANA in 58 (25.2%), anti Ro in 31 (13.5%), anti-La in 10 (4.3%), anti-Jo1 in 5 (2.2%) and anti-RNP in 2 (0.9%). Anti-Ro/SSA positively correlated with sicca symptoms (p=.02), RF titer (p<.001), ANA (p<.001), DAS28-ESR (p=.026), and DAS28-CRP (p=.003). Anti-La antibodies correlated positively with SJC (p=.001), TJC (p=.001), ANA (p<.001), DAS-28 ESR (p=.007). Anti-Jo-1 correlated positively with interstitial lung disease (ILD) (p≤.001), RF titer (p=.037) and ANA (p≤.001). Anti-RNP antibodies correlated positively with disease duration (p≤.001), ACPA titer (p≤.001) and ANA (p=.014). In the controls ANA was positive in two (2.7%), anti-Ro in three (4%), and none of the controls tested positive for other autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS: In RA patients, positive ANA is frequent and positively associated with anti-Ro, anti-La and anti-Jo1 autoantibodies. Screening for autoantibodies against other anti-ENAs seems mandatory in RA patients especially when ANA is positive. RA cases with positive Anti-Jo-1 may develop anti synthetase syndrome and ILD.

Vascular neurobehcet disease: correlation with current disease activity forum and systemic vascular involvement.

Behcet's syndrome (BS) is a chronic relapsing vascular inflammatory disease of unknown etiology with high morbidity and mortality. This research aims to study the clinical patterns of CNS disease in a group of patients with BS as well as the frequency and type of the associated radiographic findings suggestive of structural cerebral vascular disease. The findings were studied in relation to disease activity and features of systemic vascular involvement. Forty patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of the International Study Group for Behcet's Disease, mean age of 33.56 ± 9.7 years, were enrolled. Patients were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging with conjugate survey of cerebral blood vessels' flow pattern abnormalities by transcranial Doppler study. Thirty healthy controls were included. Behcet's Disease Current Activity Form Score was used. Neuro-Behcet's syndrome (NBS) was diagnosed in 37.5% with headache being the most common (86.6% of cases), pyramidal affection (signs of upper motor neuron lesions/hemiplegia) was reported in 33.3%, attacks of disturbed conscious level in 26.6%, and cranial nerve affection in 6.5%. Of the patients, 66.6% with clinical features of NBS had statistically significant radiographic evidences of cerebrovascular disease (p = 0.01). Patients with NBS had significantly higher disease activity index score (r = 0.69, p = 0.0001). Radiographic findings and flow abnormalities were significantly less in patients on immune suppressants and antiplatelet drugs (p = 0.003, 0.04). BS patients with clinical neurologic disease were found to have radiographic findings suggestive of cerebral vascular disease with high disease activity index score. Drugs like immunosuppressants and oral antiplatelets might retard cerebral vascular disease progression and flow abnormalities, respectively.