Effectiveness of methotrexate and leflunomide as corticoid-sparing drugs in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objectives: The need for glucocorticoid-sparing drugs (GCSD) remains an important issue and is an unmet need in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We therefore aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of methotrexate (MTX) and of leflunomide (LEF) in daily clinical practice in PMR patients from Argentina. Methods: A multicentre and observational study (medical records review) of PMR patients seen between 2007 and 2023, who had at least three months of follow-up after starting a GCSD, either MTX or LEF, was performed. Results are expressed as medians and interquartile ranges [25th-75th (IQR)] for continuous variables and percentages for categorical ones. The two treatment groups were compared using χ2 test for categorical variables, Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and the log-rank test for time-to-event data. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression. In all cases, a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One-hundred and eighty-six patients (79% female) with a median age of 72 years (IQR, 65-77 years) were included. One-hundred and forty-three patients (77%) were prescribed MTX (15, IQR 10-15) and 43 (23%) LEF (20 mg, fixed dose). Flare-ups (relapses and recurrences) occurred in 13 patients (7%) and were comparable between both groups. Persistent GCSD intake was observed in 145 patients (78%). Glucocorticoid (GC) withdrawal was achieved in 67 of these 145 patients (46%) and this occurred more frequently in the LEF group (P = 0.001). Furthermore, time until prednisone discontinuation was shorter in the LEF-treated patients (4.7 months, IQR 3-20 on LEF versus 31.8 months, IQR 10-82 on MTX, P = 0.000). Remission was found more frequently in the LEF group (P = 0.003). In the multivariate analysis, the probability of remission was higher with LEF therapy (P = 0.010) and this finding persisted in the subgroup analysis who were followed up < 40 months (OR 3.12, 95% CI = 1.30-7.47, P = 0.011). Conclusions: This study demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of LEF and even its superiority in achieving remission when compared with MTX as GCSD in PMR patients. Further research is needed to support these findings.

Fluid balance in critically ill children with lower respiratory tract viral infection: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence has associated positive fluid balance of critically ill patients with poor outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the pattern of daily fluid balances and their association with outcomes in critically ill children with lower respiratory tract viral infection. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was conducted, in children supported with high-flow nasal cannula, non-invasive ventilation, or invasive ventilation. Median (interquartile range) daily fluid balances, cumulative fluid overload (FO) and peak FO variation, indexed as the % of admission body weight, over the first week of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit admission, and their association with the duration of respiratory support were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 94 patients with a median age of 6.9 (1.9-18) months, and a respiratory support duration of 4 (2-7) days, showed a median (interquartile range) daily fluid balance of 18 (4.5-19.5) ml/kg at day 1, which decreased up to day 3 to 5.9 (- 14 to 24.9) ml/kg and increased to 13 (- 11 to 29.9) ml/kg at day 7 (p = 0.001). Median cumulative FO% was 4.6 (- 0.8 to 11) and peak FO% was 5.7 (1.9-12.4). Daily fluid balances, once patients were stratified according to the respiratory support, were significantly lower in those requiring mechanical ventilation (p = 0.003). No correlation was found between all examined fluid balances and respiratory support duration or oxygen saturation, even after subgroup analysis of patients with invasive mechanical ventilation, or respiratory comorbidities, or bacterial coinfection, or of patients under 1 year old. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of children with bronchiolitis, fluid balance was not associated with duration of respiratory support or other parameters of pulmonary function.

Taller de concordancia en la evaluación de imágenes capilaroscópicas / Reliability of nailfold videocapillaroscopy workshop

Introducción: la capilaroscopia es un método no invasivo que permite observar la microvasculatura en el área periungueal. Los resultados informados pueden ser altamente variables entre distintos observadores. A lo largo del tiempo surgieron métodos cuantitativos y semicuantitativos para mejorar la reproducibilidad. Objetivos: conocer el nivel de acuerdo intra e interobservador al informar los diferentes patrones capilaroscópicos en individuos con diferente nivel de entrenamiento. Materiales y métodos: estudio de corte transversal. Participaron médicos reumatólogos especialistas y en formación que habían realizado previamente un curso virtual de capacitación en capilaroscopia. Recibieron 40 imágenes capilaroscópicas proyectadas en una presentación de PowerPoint y debían responder a través de un cuestionario digital. Se evaluó la concordancia de respuestas intra e interobservador. Resultados: se encontró un alto nivel de concordancia global con un kappa 0,66 IC 95% (0,63-0,70) p<0,0000. También en otros grupos como reumatólogos en formación: kappa 0,65 IC 95% (0,60-0,71) p=0,0000, y médicos reumatólogos: kappa 0,67 IC 95% (0,62-0,72) p=0,0000. Conclusiones: el nivel de concordancia encontrado fue globalmente alto, independientemente del nivel de entrenamiento de los profesionales, y de ser o no reumatólogo. La concordancia fue superior cuando se comparó a quienes tenían más de 4 años de experiencia en la realización de videocapilaroscopia.

Introduction: videoapillaroscopy is a non-invasive method that allows the observation of the microvasculature in the periungual area. Reported results can be highly variable between different observers. Over time, quantitative and semi-quantitative methods emerged to improve reproducibility. Objetives: to know the level of intra and interobserver agreement when reporting the different capillaroscopic patterns in individuals with different levels of training. Materials and methods: cross section study. Specialist rheumatologists and those in training who had previously completed a virtual capillaroscopy training course participated. They received 40 capillaroscopic images projected in a PowerPoint presentation and had to issue their response through a digital questionnaire. Concordance of intra and interobserver responses was evaluated. Results: a high level of global agreement was found with a kappa 0.66 CI 95% (0.63-0.70) p<0.0000, also in other groups such as rheumatologists in training: kappa 0.65 CI 95% (0.60-0.71) p=0.0000, physicians rheumatologists: kappa 0.67 95% CI (0.62-0.72) p=0.0000. Conclusions: the level of agreement found was globally high, regardless of the level of training of the professionals, and whether or not they were a rheumatologist. Concordance was higher when compared to those who had more than 4 years of experience performing videocapillaroscopy.

Factor reumatoide en vasculitis ANCA asociadas / Rheumatoid factor in ANCA associated vasculitis

Introducción: las pruebas de factor reumatoide (FR) se utilizan principalmente para el diagnóstico de artritis reumatoidea (AR), sin embargo, también pueden estar presentes en otras enfermedades. Su significado clínico en contexto de vasculitis ANCA asociadas (VAA) todavía es incierto. El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer el significado clínico y pronóstico del FR en pacientes con VAA. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, retrospectivo. Se evaluaron pacientes con diagnóstico de VAA (granulomatosis con poliangitis -GPA-, poliangitis microscópica -PAM- y granulomatosis eosinofílica con poliangitis -GEPA-), mayores de 18 años, con FR solicitado antes del inicio del tratamiento. Se recolectaron los siguientes datos: edad, sexo, tipo de VAA, duración de la enfermedad, tratamiento, órganos afectados, Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), Five Factor Score (FFS), eritrosedimentación, proteína C reactiva, requerimiento de diálisis, asistencia respiratoria mecánica, mortalidad y causa de muerte. Se calculó el odds ratio (OR) y su intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC 95%) para determinar la fuerza de asociación entre las variables. Resultados: incluimos 32 pacientes en los que encontramos 31,2% de FR positivo. Comparados con aquellos con FR negativo, no hubo diferencias significativas con respecto a manifestaciones clínicas, ni actividad de la enfermedad medida por el BVAS y reactantes de fase aguda. La presencia de factor reumatoide se asoció a menor ingreso a diálisis (OR 0.14 IC 0,02-0,8; p=0,02) y mortalidad (p=0,04). No hubo diferencias significativas con respecto al FFS. Conclusiones: en nuestro estudio la presencia de FR en pacientes con vasculitis ANCA se asoció a menor requerimiento de diálisis y menor mortalidad. Estos hallazgos no se correlacionaron estadísticamente con el FFS. No se encontró asociación entre la presencia de FR y el compromiso de órgano, actividad de la enfermedad, ni requerimiento de asistencia respiratoria mecánica.

Introduction: rheumatoid factor tests are mainly used for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, it may also be present in other diseases. Its clinical significance in the context of ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) is still uncertain. The objective was to establish the clinical and prognostic significance of RF in patients with AAV. Materials and methods: a retrospective observational study was carried out. Patients with a diagnosis of AAV (GPA, MAP and AGEP) over 18 years of age with RF requested before the start of treatment were evaluated. The following data were collected: age, sex, type of AAV, disease duration, treatment, affected organs, Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), Five Factor Score (FFS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, dialysis requirement, attendance mechanical ventilation, mortality and cause of death. The odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated to determine the strength of association between variables. Results: we included 32 patients in whom we found 31.2% positive RF. Compared to those with negative RF, there were no significant differences with respect to clinical manifestations, nor disease activity measured by BVAS and acute phase reactants. The presence of the rheumatoid factor was associated with lower admission to dialysis (OR 0.14 CI 0.02-0.8 p=0.02) and mortality (p=0.04). There were no significant differences with respect to FFS. Conclusions: in our study, the presence of RF in patients with ANCA vasculitis was associated with a lower requirement for dialysis and lower mortality. These findings were not statistically correlated with the FFS. No association was found between the presence of RF and organ involvement, disease activity, or mechanical ventilation requirement.

A multifactorial study on nutritional status, binge eating and physical activity as main factors directly influencing body weight in Parkinson's disease.

Weight lossisa multifactorial disorder commonly affecting Parkinson's disease patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body weight, nutritional status, physical activity, and Parkinson's disease-related factors. A total of 114 consecutive Parkinson's disease patients without dietary restrictions were evaluated prospectively with respect to: nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment), physical activity level (Yale Physical Activity Survey), MDS-UPDRS score, olfactory function, depression, cognitive functionand impulse-control disorders, among other variables. Structural equation modeling was used to build multivariate models and to calculate standardized regression weights (srw) for pairs of variables, which are homologous to correlation coefficients, taking into account the effects of all other variables in the model. Sixty (53%) patients were males. Mean age was 66.1 ± 9.8 years and mean disease duration was 8.3 ± 5.6 years. Longer disease duration was negatively related to nutritional status (srw = -0.25; p = 0.01). UPDRS II + III score was associated with reduced cognitive function (srw = -0.39; p = 0.01), which was positivelyrelated to nutritional status (srw = 0.23; p = 0.01). Finally, nutritional status was positively related to body weight (srw = 0.22, p < 0.01). Binge eating and physical activity were also directly and positively related to body weight (srw = 0.32; p = 0.001 and srw = 0.23; p = 0.001). Nutritional status, binge eating and physical activity were directly and independently related to body weight in our sample of Parkinson's disease patients. Therefore, physicians should actively explore nutritional status and binge eating in Parkinson's disease patients to avoid alterations in body weight regulation. Effects of physical activity should be further explored.