Vitamin D, an inflammatory activity marker for spondyloarthritis?

In this study, a relationship between low levels of vitamin D and other markers of inflammation is observed in patients with spondyloarthritis. Therefore, insufficient levels of vitamin D could be used as a marker of inflammation, so they would help to have a better follow-up of the patient. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and level of disease activity in patients suffering from spondyloarthritis. METHODOLOGY: This study is an observational, descriptive and transversal study. A retrospective review of patients with spondyloarthritis under treatment at the Rheumatology Department of Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real between September 2016 and September 2018 is under consideration. The association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and levels of disease activity was calculated using odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence level. RESULTS: Initial study developments are reported. A group of 147 patients was analyzed. The average disease activity was 4.3 (according to BASDAI) and 11.4 (according to DAPSA). Twenty-eight percent of patients showed increased levels of acute-phase reactants, and 82% exhibited 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Analysis of the association between vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and BASDAI/DAPSA activity degree revealed an OR of 7.9 (CI95%: 2.92-21.23, p = < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In this study, an association was found between those patients with spondyloarthritis who had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and disease activity. Despite these results, a 1-year follow-up of these patients using two or more measurements of activity and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels would be needed to corroborate these data.

Self-management model in the scheduling of successive appointments in rheumatology. / El modelo de autogestión en la agenda de consultas sucesivas en reumatología.

INTRODUCTION: The rheumatology service of Ciudad Real Hospital, located in an autonomous community of that same name that is nearly in the center of Spain, implemented a self-management model of successive appointments more than 10 years ago. Since then, the physicians of the department schedule follow-up visits for their patients depending on the disease, its course and ancillary tests. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the self-management model for successive appointments in the rheumatology service of Ciudad Real Hospital versus the model of external appointment management implemented in 8 of the hospital's 15 medical services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comparative and multivariate analysis was performed to identify variables with statistically significant differences, in terms of activity and/or performance indicators and quality perceived by users. The comparison involved the self-management model for successive appointments employed in the rheumatology service of Ciudad Real Hospital and the model for external appointment management used in 8 hospital medical services between January 1 and May 31, 2016. RESULTS: In a database with more than 100,000 records of appointments involving the set of services included in the study, the mean waiting time and the numbers of non-appearances and rescheduling of follow-up visits in the rheumatology department were significantly lower than in the other services. The number of individuals treated in outpatient rheumatology services was 7,768, and a total of 280 patients were surveyed (response rate 63.21%). They showed great overall satisfaction, and the incidence rate of claims was low. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the self-management model of scheduling appointments has better results in terms of activity indicators and in quality perceived by users, despite the intense activity. Thus, this study could be fundamental for decision making in the management of health care organizations.

Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis in an HLA-B27-positive patient with axial spondyloarthritis being treated with adalimumab. / Nefritis túbulo-intersticial aguda en paciente con espondiloartritis axial HLA-B27 en tratamiento con adalimumab.

Antagonists of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (ATNF) are used for the treatment of multiple diseases such as psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, usually, when they are refractory to first-line treatment1. The use of ATNF has been associated with the induction of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease, vasculitis, sarcoidosis-like diseases and, recently, acute granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis. We report a case of acute nongranulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis in an HLA-B27-positive patient with axial spondyloarthritis and Crohn's disease being treated with adalimumab.

[Kikuchi disease: Evolution during outbreaks and its response to antimalarial treatment]. / Enfermedad de Kikuchi-Fujimoto: evolución en brotes con respuesta a antipalúdicos.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a syndrome characterized by the presence of usually painful cervical lymphadenopathy with fever and night sweats. It is a rare clinical entity that mainly affects young Asian women, although it found worldwide. It is a benign and self-limiting condition; however, its importance lies in its differential diagnosis with other clinical entities such as lymphoma or histiocytoma. We present a case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, with special emphasis on its clinicopathological significance and its evolution during outbreaks. Antimalarial therapy causes remission and we discuss the use of hydroxychloroquine for reoccurring cases.