Clinical features, treatment and outcomes of Italian children with enthesitis-related arthritis and juvenile psoriatic arthritis: a cross-sectional cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Limited information is available on the clinical features, treatment modalities and outcomes of the juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) categories of enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) and juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA). This study was aimed to describe the characteristics of Italian children with ERA and JPsA and to compare them with those of patients with the other categories of JIA. METHODS: Patients were part of a multinational sample included in a study aimed to investigate the prevalence of disease categories, treatment approaches, and disease status in patients from across different geographical areas (EPOCA Study). All patients underwent a retrospective assessment, based on the review of clinical chart, and a cross-sectional evaluation, which included assessment of physician- and parent-reported outcomes and laboratory tests, and recording of ongoing therapies. RESULTS: Of the 9081 children with JIA enrolled in the EPOCA Study, 1300 were recruited at 18 paediatric rheumatology centres in Italy. 45 (3.5%) had ERA and 49 (3.8%) had JPsA. Several remarkable differences in demographic features and frequency of articular and extra-articular manifestations, disease damage, impairment in physical function and health-related quality of life, school-related problems, comorbidities, and ongoing treatments were observed between ERA and JPsA and the other JIA categories. CONCLUSIONS: We described the characteristics of Italian children with ERA and JPsA and highlighted their peculiarities and their differences from the other JIA subsets. These data provide useful insights for future revisions of JIA classification and a benchmarking against which the features from other cohorts may be compared.

Treat-to-Target in Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the current evidence on the adoption of the treat-to-target (T2T) strategy in pediatric rheumatic diseases (PRD). RECENT FINDINGS: The recent advances in the management of PRD have markedly increased the ability to achieve disease remission. Complete disease quiescence is regarded as the ideal therapeutic goal because its attainment leads to lesser long-term damage and physical disability, and to optimization of quality of life. Studies in adult rheumatic diseases have shown that patient outcomes are improved if complete suppression of the inflammatory process is aimed for by frequent adjustments of therapy according to quantitative indices. This approach, which underlies the T2T concept, has been applied in strategic trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, recommendations for the T2T have been issued for RA and other adult rheumatic diseases. There is currently a growing interest for the introduction of T2T in PRD, and recommendations for treating juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to target were promulgated. A similar initiative has been undertaken for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Preliminary therapeutic studies have explored the T2T design in JIA. The T2T strategy is a modern therapeutic approach that holds the promise of improving the outcomes in patients with PRD.

Rheumatic syndromes and occult tumor: 10-year experience in a teaching hospital. / Síndromes reumáticos y tumor oculto, experiencia de 10 años en un hospital universitario.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the different clinical characteristics of patients admitted to the Rheumatology Department due to rheumatic manifestations as the first expression of an unknown malignant process. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive observational study involving the review of the medical records of those admitted to rheumatology in the University Hospital of Ciudad Real between January 2007 and August 2017 for initial rheumatic manifestations with a suspicion at discharge of an unknown tumor. RESULTS: In all, 64 patients were identified from more than 500 admissions. The most common rheumatic manifestations were inflammatory low back pain, polyarthralgia, hip pain, thoracic spine pain, cervical pain, polyarthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Forty-four percent had low hemoglobin, 70% had elevation of acute-phase reactants, 62% had abnormal tumor markers, 76% had metastatic lesions. In 20% the primary tumor was of pulmonary origin and only 26.56% received palliative treatment; 64% died. DISCUSSION: It is important to consider the possibility of an underlying malignant process in the differential diagnosis since its early identification can be determinant for prognosis.

Radioisotope Synoviorthesis in the Control of Refractory Synovitis in Castilla-La Mancha. A 10-year Experience. / La sinoviortesis radioisotópica en el control de la sinovitis refractaria en Castilla La-Mancha. Una experiencia de 10 años.

Our hospital is the nuclear medicine referral hospital for radioisotopic synoviorthesis for all of Castilla-La Mancha. OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience in the performance of radioisotopic synoviorthesis for arthritis refractory to other treatments in our hospital. METHODOLOGY: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study protocolised through the review of the database of radioisotopic synoviorthesis performed between 2007 and 2017. Previous clinical data were collected (age, sex, pathology, previous treatments, previous infiltration and affected joint), and progress at 6 months after administering the isotope. An Excel database was created for a frequency analysis with SPSS 21. RESULTS: 30 radiosynovitis interventions were performed. The most frequent pathologies in this order were: pigmented villonodular synovitis (40%), rheumatoid arthritis (23.3%), spondyloarthritis (13.3%), osteoarthritis (10%) and nonspecific arthritis (6.7%), followed by systemic lupus erythematosus and gout. After 6 months, 56.7% of the patients improved compared to 36.7% who remained the same. Likewise, none of them presented complications related to the procedure. Six point six percent of the patients were lost to follow-up. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In patients with episodes of recurrent arthritis with associated joint effusion in one or two joints, refractory to systemic treatments, to local infiltrations with corticosteroids and for patients for whom other treatments may be contraindicated, we must consider the possibility of performing an isotope radiosinoviortesis, as it is a simple, safe technique with a success rate of more than 50%.

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.

Síndromes reumáticos y tumor oculto, experiencia de 10 años en un hospital universitario / Rheumatic syndromes and occult tumor: 10-year experience in a teaching hospital

OBJETIVO: Describir las diferentes características clínicas de los pacientes ingresados en el Servicio de Reumatología por manifestaciones reumáticas como primera expresión de un proceso tumoral no conocido. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional retrospectivo y descriptivo protocolizado por la revisión de las historias clínicas de los ingresados en Reumatología del Hospital Universitario de Ciudad Real desde enero de 2007 hasta agosto de 2017 por manifestaciones iniciales reumáticas, con sospecha al alta de un tumor no conocido. RESULTADOS: De más de 500 ingresos, se obtuvieron 64 casos. Las manifestaciones reumáticas más frecuentes fueron lumbalgia inflamatoria, poliartralgias, síndrome de cadera, dorsalgia, cervicalgia, poliartritis y polimialgia reumática. Un 44% presentaban anemia, un 70% elevación de los reactantes de fase aguda, un 62% alteración en los marcadores tumorales y un 76% lesiones metastásicas. En el 20%, el tumor primario fue de origen pulmonar y solo el 26,56% recibió tratamiento paliativo. El 64% fallecieron. DISCUSIÓN: Es importante plantearse en el diagnóstico diferencial la posibilidad de un proceso tumoral subyacente, dado que su diagnóstico temprano puede ser determinante para el pronóstico

OBJECTIVE: To describe the different clinical characteristics of patients admitted to the Rheumatology Department due to rheumatic manifestations as the first expression of an unknown malignant process. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive observational study involving the review of the medical records of those admitted to rheumatology in the University Hospital of Ciudad Real between January 2007 and August 2017 for initial rheumatic manifestations with a suspicion at discharge of an unknown tumor. RESULTS: In all, 64 patients were identified from more than 500 admissions. The most common rheumatic manifestations were inflammatory low back pain, polyarthralgia, hip pain, thoracic spine pain, cervical pain, polyarthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Forty-four percent had low hemoglobin, 70% had elevation of acute-phase reactants, 62% had abnormal tumor markers, 76% had metastatic lesions. In 20% the primary tumor was of pulmonary origin and only 26.56% received palliative treatment; 64% died. DISCUSSION: It is important to consider the possibility of an underlying malignant process in the differential diagnosis since its early identification can be determinant for prognosis

La sinoviortesis radioisotópica en el control de la sinovitis refractaria en Castilla La-Mancha. Una experiencia de 10 años / Radioisotope synoviorthesis in the control of refractory synovitis in Castilla-La Mancha. A 10-year experience

Nuestro hospital es el hospital de referencia en medicina nuclear para la realización de la sinoviortesis radioisotópica para toda Castilla La-Mancha. OBJETIVO: Describir la experiencia en la realización de la sinoviortesis radioisotópica en las artritis refractarias a otros tratamientos en nuestro hospital. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal protocolizado a través de la revisión de la base de datos de las sinoviortesis radioisotópicas realizadas entre 2007 y 2017. Se recopilaron datos clínicos previos (edad, sexo, proceso patológico, tratamientos previos, infiltración previa y articulación afectada) y evolutivos a los 6 meses tras administrar el isótopo. Se creó una base de datos Excel para un análisis de frecuencias con SPSS 21. RESULTADOS: Se realizaron 30 radiosinoviortesis, siendo las enfermedades más frecuentes, por este orden: sinovitis villonodular pigmentada (40%), artritis reumatoide (23,3%), espondiloartritis (13,3%), osteoartritis (10%) y artritis inespecíficas (6,7%), seguido de lupus eritematoso sistémico y gota. Tras 6 meses un 56,7% de los pacientes mejoraron frente a un 36,7% que seguían igual. Así mismo, ninguno de ellos presentó complicaciones relacionadas con el procedimiento. A un 6,6% de los pacientes se les perdió el seguimiento. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES: En los pacientes con episodios de artritis de repetición con derrame articular asociado en una o 2 articulaciones, refractarias a tratamientos sistémicos, a las infiltraciones locales con corticoides y en aquellos pacientes en los que otros tratamientos puedan estar contraindicados, debemos considerar la posibilidad de realizar una radiosinoviortesis isotópica, pues es una técnica sencilla, segura y con una tasa de éxito superior al 50%

Our hospital is the nuclear medicine referral hospital for radioisotopic synoviorthesis for all of Castilla-La Mancha. OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience in the performance of radioisotopic synoviorthesis for arthritis refractory to other treatments in our hospital. METHODOLOGY: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study protocolised through the review of the database of radioisotopic synoviorthesis performed between 2007 and 2017. Previous clinical data were collected (age, sex, pathology, previous treatments, previous infiltration and affected joint), and progress at 6 months after administering the isotope. An Excel database was created for a frequency analysis with SPSS 21. RESULTS: 30 radiosynovitis interventions were performed. The most frequent pathologies in this order were: pigmented villonodular synovitis (40%), rheumatoid arthritis (23.3%), spondyloarthritis (13.3%), osteoarthritis (10%) and nonspecific arthritis (6.7%), followed by systemic lupus erythematosus and gout. After 6 months, 56.7% of the patients improved compared to 36.7% who remained the same. Likewise, none of them presented complications related to the procedure. Six point six percent of the patients were lost to follow-up. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In patients with episodes of recurrent arthritis with associated joint effusion in one or two joints, refractory to systemic treatments, to local infiltrations with corticosteroids and for patients for whom other treatments may be contraindicated, we must consider the possibility of performing an isotope radiosinoviortesis, as it is a simple, safe technique with a success rate of more than 50%