Burden of lupus activity on health care resources utilization in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to analyze health care resource utilization (HCRU) of patients with lupus (SLE) from a health management organization (HMO) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, compared with matched controls and comparing periods of flare, low disease activity, and remission. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study including all SLE incident cases (ACR 1997/SLICC 2012 criteria) between 2000 and 2020 and 5 matched controls. Clinical data and HCRU (medical and nonmedical consultations, lab and imaging tests performed, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and drugs prescribed) were obtained from administrative databases and electronic medical records. For each patient with SLE, an activity state was determined in every month of follow-up: flare (BILAG A or 2 BILAG B); low disease activity (LLDAS); remission (DORIS definition); or intermediate activity (not fulfilling any of previous). Incidence rates for each HCRU item and incidence rate ratios between SLE and control patients were and between remission and flare periods were calculated. Multivariate negative binomial logistic regression analyses were performed for identification of variables associated with major resource use. RESULTS: A total of 62 SLE and 310 control patients were included, 88.7% were women, the median age at diagnosis was 46 years, and were followed for more than 8 years. Patients with SLE contributed with 537.2 patient-years (CI 95% 461.1-613.3) and controls with 2761.9 patient-years (CI 95% 2600.9-2922.8). HCRU in patients with SLE was significantly higher than in controls in all items, even in remission periods. Patients with SLE remained 74.4% of the time in remission, 12.1% in LLDAS, 12.2% in intermediate activity, and 1.3% in flare (there were 64 flares in 36 patients). HCRU was significantly higher during flare periods compared with remission periods. Number of flares was independently associated with emergency department consultations, lab tests and X-ray performed, number of drugs prescribed, and hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: Significantly more HCRU was observed in patients with SLE in flare compared to remission periods.

Prognostic factors associated with advanced chronic kidney disease in a cohort of patients with ANCA vasculitis and renal involvement.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors associated with advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) in a cohort of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and renal involvement. METHODS: Observational retrospective study. We included patients with biopsy-proven ANCA glomerulonephritis (GN) diagnosed between 2001 and 2016, with at least 1-year follow-up. Data were recorded at diagnosis, end of induction, after 12 months of treatment, and at the end of follow-up. We analysed clinical-analytical data and renal histopathology, as well as treatments, dialysis requirement, relapses and death. Univariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with long-term ACKD (eGFR < 30 ml/min). Multivariate analysis using an alternative outcome (eGFR at the end of follow-up) was performed. Diagnostic accuracy for ACKD of each predictor variable was compared using AUC of ROC curves. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included: 17 GPA, 14 MPA, 5 EGPA, and 24 RLV. Forty-six patients were women (76.7%). Mean age at diagnosis was 67.8 years (SD 13.1), and median follow-up time was 4.2 years (IQR 2.2-6.8). At the end of follow-up, 12 patients (20.0%) had an eGFR < 30 ml/min. Univariate analysis showed a statistically significant association of ACKD with sclerotic class biopsy (OR 7.17, 95% CI 1.34-38.31), 12-month proteinuria (OR 5.16, 95% CI 1.16-22.87), and creatinine at diagnosis (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02-1.52), end of induction (OR 15.40, 95% CI 2.41-98.28), and after 12 months (OR 19.25, 95% CI 2.75-134.92). In the multivariate analysis, eGFR at baseline (< 0.001), after 6 months (< 0.001) and 12 months of treatment (< 0.001), remained statistically associated with eGFR at the end of follow-up. The best diagnostic accuracy in ROC curves was shown by serum creatinine at the end of induction treatment (AUC 0.93) and after 12 months (AUC 0.94). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of patients with ANCA GN, creatinine and eGFR at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of treatment were the best predictors of ACKD at the end of follow-up.

Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology Guidelines for the Treatment of Takayasu Arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop the first evidence-based Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) guidelines for the treatment of Takayasu arteritis (TAK). METHODS: A panel of vasculitis experts developed a series of clinically meaningful questions addressing the treatment of TAK patients in the PICO (population/intervention/comparator/outcome) format. A systematic literature review was performed by a team of methodologists. The evidence quality was assessed according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations/Assessment/Development/Evaluation) methodology. The panel of vasculitis experts voted each PICO question and made recommendations, which required ≥70% agreement among the voting members. RESULTS: Eleven recommendations were developed. Oral glucocorticoids are conditionally recommended for newly diagnosed and relapsing TAK patients. The addition of nontargeted synthetic immunosuppressants (e.g., methotrexate, leflunomide, azathioprine, or mycophenolate mofetil) is recommended for patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing disease that is not organ- or life-threatening. For organ- or life-threatening disease, we conditionally recommend tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (e.g., infliximab or adalimumab) or tocilizumab with consideration for short courses of cyclophosphamide as an alternative in case of restricted access to biologics. For patients relapsing despite nontargeted synthetic immunosuppressants, we conditionally recommend to switch from one nontargeted synthetic immunosuppressant to another or to add tumor necrosis factor inhibitors or tocilizumab. We conditionally recommend low-dose aspirin for patients with involvement of cranial or coronary arteries to prevent ischemic complications. We strongly recommend performing surgical vascular interventions during periods of remission whenever possible. CONCLUSION: The first PANLAR treatment guidelines for TAK provide evidence-based guidance for the treatment of TAK patients in Latin American countries.

Validation and adaptation of the Spanish version of the systemic lupus activity questionnaire (S-SLAQ) in an Argentinean population.

OBJECTIVES: To validate the systemic lupus activity questionnaire (SLAQ) in Spanish language. METHODS: The SLAQ questionnaire was translated and adapted in Spanish. Consecutive SLE patients from 8 centers in Argentina were included. A rheumatologist completed a Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)-2K, and a physician's assessment. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), stability by test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient), and construct validity by evaluating the correlation with clinically relevant scores. Sensitivity and specificity for clinically significant disease activity (SLEDAI ≥6) of different S-SLAQ cut-off points were evaluated. RESULTS: We included 97 patients ((93% female, mean age: 40 years (SD14.7)). Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84, p < 0.001), and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.95 (p < 0.001). Mean score of S-SLAQ was 8.2 (SD 7.31). Correlation of S-SLAQ was moderate with Patient NRS (r= 0.63 p< 0.001), weak with SLAM-no lab (r = 0.42, p <0.001) and SLAM (r = 0.38, p < 0.0001), and very weak with SLEDAI-2K (r = 0.15, p =0.1394). Using the S-SLAQ cutoff of five points, the sensitivity was 72.2% and specificity was 37.9%, for clinically significant disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: The S-SLAQ showed good validity and reliability. A good correlation, similar to the original instrument, was observed with patient´s global disease activity. No correlation was found between S-SLAQ and gold standard disease activity measures like SLEDAI-2K and SLAM. The S-SLAQ cutoff point of 5 showed a good sensitivity to identify the active SLE population and therefore could be an appropriate screening instrument for disease activity in clinical and epidemiological studies.

A longitudinal multiethnic study of biomarkers in systemic lupus erythematosus: Launching the GLADEL 2.0 Study Group.

Introduction: After more than 20 years of sustained work, the Latin American Group for the Study of Lupus (GLADEL) has made a significant number of contributions to the field of lupus, not only in the differential role that race/ethnicity plays in its course and outcome but also in several other studies including the beneficial effects of using antimalarials in lupus patients and the development of consensus guidelines for the treatment of lupus in our region. Methods: A new generation of "Lupus Investigators" in more than 40 centers throughout Latin America has been constituted in order to continue the legacy of the investigators of the original cohort and to launch a novel study of serum and urinary biomarkers in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Results: So far, we have recruited 807 patients and 631 controls from 42 Latin-American centers including 339 patients with SLE without renal involvement, 202 patients with SLE with prevalent but inactive renal disease, 176 patients with prevalent and active renal disease and 90 patients with incident lupus nephritis. Conclusions: The different methodological aspects of the GLADEL 2.0 cohort are discussed in this manuscript, including the challenges and difficulties of conducting such an ambitious project.

Clinical features, damage accrual, and survival in patients with familial systemic lupus erythematosus: data from a multi-ethnic, multinational Latin American lupus cohort.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the clinical features, damage accrual, and survival of patients with familial and sporadic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A multi-ethnic, multinational Latin American SLE cohort was studied. Familial lupus was defined as patients with a first-degree SLE relative; these relatives were interviewed in person or by telephone. Clinical variables, disease activity, damage, and mortality were compared. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard adjusted for potential confounders for time to damage and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 66 (5.6%) patients had familial lupus, and 1110 (94.4%) had sporadic lupus. Both groups were predominantly female, of comparable age, and of similar ethnic distribution. Discoid lupus (OR = 1.97; 95% CI 1.08-3.60) and neurologic disorder (OR = 1.65; 95% CI 1.00-2.73) were significantly associated with familial SLE; pericarditis was negatively associated (OR = 0.35; 95% CI 0.14-0.87). The SLE Disease Activity Index and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) were similar in both groups, although the neuropsychiatric (45.4% vs. 33.5%; p = 0.04) and musculoskeletal (6.1% vs. 1.9%; p = 0.02) domains of the SDI were more frequent in familial lupus. They were not retained in the Cox models (by domains). Familial lupus was not significantly associated with damage accrual (HR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.30-1.55) or mortality (HR = 1.23; 95% CI 0.26-4.81). CONCLUSION: Familial SLE is not characterized by a more severe form of disease than sporadic lupus. We also observed that familial SLE has a higher frequency of discoid lupus and neurologic manifestations and a lower frequency of pericarditis.

Incidence of cancer in a cohort of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome in Argentina.

Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) is usually a mild disease, but serious complications such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma-and hypothetically other malignancies-may develop. The aim of this study was to evaluate both overall and specific incidence of cancer in a cohort of patients with pSS compared to the expected incidence in general population of Argentina. Retrospective analytic study of pSS patients fulfilling American-European Consensus Group (AECG) criteria, followed from the time of their diagnosis until the end of the study, death, loss of follow- up, or being given a diagnosis of cancer. Cancer incidence for the general population was obtained from GLOBOCAN 2018, and demographic information was obtained from the national institute for statistics and census. Age- and sex-specific Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR) were then calculated. One hundred fifty-seven patients, with a mean age of 57.8 years (SD 18.3), were included. Mean patient follow-up duration was 7.37 years (SD 4.2), contributing to a total of 1158 patient/years. Fifteen patients developed a malignancy during follow-up. Cancer incidence for pSS patients was compared with the general population's incidence through SIRs. Female patient's SIRs for overall cancer was 4.17 (95% CI 2.30-6.87), non-Hodgkin lymphoma 41.40 (95% CI 10.12-102.1), multiple myeloma 41.49 (95% CI 1.14-167.28), tongue cancer 44.4 (95% CI 1.23-177.31), uterus cancer 8.39 (95% CI 0.19-40.73), lung cancer 4.51 (95% CI 0.1-22.16), and breast cancer 3.76 (95% CI 1.04-9.45). An increased overall cancer risk, and particularly for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast cancer and tongue cancer was observed in female pSS patients compared to control group.

Evaluation of Learned Helplessness, Perceived Self-efficacy, and Functional Capacity in Patients With Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to compare learned helplessness (LH) and perceived self-efficacy (SE) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to assess their correlation with functional disability, level of perceived pain, and fatigue. METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included consecutive patients (aged ≥18 years) with RA, according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria, and FM, according to 2010 American College of Rheumatology criteria. Learned helplessness was measured by the Rheumatology Attitude Index, Spanish version; SE with the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale, Spanish version; functional capacity with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Argentine version; depression with Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale 7-item version and perceived pain and fatigue by the visual analog scale. Disease activity was measured by the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and disease impact with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). RESULTS: A total of 215 patients, 100 with FM and 115 with RA, were included. Mean age was 59 (SD, 14) years and 58 (SD, 13) years for FM and RA, patients respectively. Whereas LH and depression were significantly higher, SE was significantly lower in FM patients. We found a positive correlation between LH and HAQ, pain, depression, fatigue, FIQ, and CDAI in FM and RA patients. We observed a negative correlation between SE and HAQ, pain, depression, fatigue, FIQ (FM), and CDAI (RA) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both LH and SE correlate significantly with functional capacity, perceived pain, disease activity, and disease impact in RA and FM patients. Learned helplessness was higher in patients with active disease or high disease impact, as opposed to those in remission or with low disease impact, and the reverse was true for SE. Patients with FM had significantly more LH, pain, fatigue, and depression and less SE compared with those with RA.

First Latin American clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: Latin American Group for the Study of Lupus (GLADEL, Grupo Latino Americano de Estudio del Lupus)-Pan-American League of Associations of Rheumatology (PANLAR).

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a complex and heterogeneous autoimmune disease, represents a significant challenge for both diagnosis and treatment. Patients with SLE in Latin America face special problems that should be considered when therapeutic guidelines are developed. The objective of the study is to develop clinical practice guidelines for Latin American patients with lupus. Two independent teams (rheumatologists with experience in lupus management and methodologists) had an initial meeting in Panama City, Panama, in April 2016. They selected a list of questions for the clinical problems most commonly seen in Latin American patients with SLE. These were addressed with the best available evidence and summarised in a standardised format following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. All preliminary findings were discussed in a second face-to-face meeting in Washington, DC, in November 2016. As a result, nine organ/system sections are presented with the main findings; an 'overarching' treatment approach was added. Special emphasis was made on regional implementation issues. Best pharmacologic options were examined for musculoskeletal, mucocutaneous, kidney, cardiac, pulmonary, neuropsychiatric, haematological manifestations and the antiphospholipid syndrome. The roles of main therapeutic options (ie, glucocorticoids, antimalarials, immunosuppressant agents, therapeutic plasma exchange, belimumab, rituximab, abatacept, low-dose aspirin and anticoagulants) were summarised in each section. In all cases, benefits and harms, certainty of the evidence, values and preferences, feasibility, acceptability and equity issues were considered to produce a recommendation with special focus on ethnic and socioeconomic aspects. Guidelines for Latin American patients with lupus have been developed and could be used in similar settings.

ANCA-associated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis: always pauci-immune?

OBJECTIVES: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis (GN) is considered "pauci-immune" with absent or mild glomerular tuft staining for immunoglobulin (Ig) and/or complement. However, it is not unusual to see some immune deposits (ID) within glomeruli on immunofluorescence (IF). We determined to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of immune deposits in ANCA-associated GN. METHODS: We included all patients with ANCA associated vasculitis with renal biopsies between January 2002 and May 2014: granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis and renal limited vasculitis. Patients were divided into Group A: biopsy without ID (≤2+ intensity of immunostaining) and Group B: biopsy with ID (>2+ intensity of immunostaining). Serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at time of the biopsy, amount of proteinuria and hematuria, requirement of dialysis and extra renal involvement were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients (75.4% females) were included. Mean age at biopsy was 66.3 years. Typical pauci-immune GN was found in 39 patients (73.5%, group A). In 14 patients (26.4%, group B) examination revealed substantial deposition of Ig or complement in the mesangium and/or along the glomerular capillary wall. The only difference comparing both groups was significantly higher proteinuria in group B (mean 1.6/24 h (SD: 10.7) vs. 0.8/24 h (SD: 7.6), p=0.0036). CONCLUSIONS: In ANCA GN at least a quarter of patients were not "pauci-immune" (26.4%). In this subgroup, immune deposits were only associated with a significantly higher proteinuria. Further basic and clinical research is needed to elucidate the significance of immune deposition in ANCA GN.

Validation in Spanish of a screening questionnaire for the detection of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: A patient self-administered questionnaire [PsA Screening and Evaluation (PASE)] has been developed and validated in English, but has not been tried in Spanish speaking populations. This study aimed to adapt and validate PASE in Spanish to screen Spanish speaking psoriasis patients for signs and symptoms of inflammatory arthritis. METHODS: Initial translation from English to Spanish (forward translation) was performed by two independent translators and the resulting versions were synthesized during a consensus meeting. The questionnaire was tried in a pilot study and resulted in a change in the agreement scale for a frequency scale with wording adaptation [Spanish PASE (PASE-S)]. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven patients were screened with PASE-S; 25 with PsA (without previous treatments), 23 with psoriasis, 22 with psoriasis and OA and 41 with OA without psoriasis. The diagnosis of psoriasis was performed by a dermatologist, and a rheumatologist determined the diagnosis of PsA or OA. Patients with PsA had statistically significant higher symptoms, function and total PASE-S scores compared with those without PsA. Receiver operator curves showed an area under the curve of 0.79 (95% CI 0.69, 0.89) for the total score. A cut-off value ≥34 showed sensitivity of 76%, and specificity of 74.4% for the diagnosis of PsA. CONCLUSION: The validated PASE questionnaire is a self-administered tool that can be used to screen for PsA among patients with psoriasis in a Spanish speaking population. PASE was able to distinguish between symptoms of PsA and OA.

Patient preferences for biologic agents in rheumatoid arthritis: a discrete-choice experiment.

OBJECTIVES: To assess patients' preferences for rheumatoid-arthritis treatments with biologic agents using a discrete-choice experiment. METHODS: A discrete-choice experiment was conducted with adult rheumatoid-arthritis patients who had never been treated with biological agents from two university hospitals-public and private-in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We evaluated preferences for seven treatment attributes (with two to three levels each): effectiveness, mode of administration, frequency of administration, local and systemic adverse events, severe infections, and out-of-pocket costs.A probit regression model was used to analyze the relative importance of rheumatoid-arthritis treatment attributes. We estimated attributes' relative importance and their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Survey responses from 240 patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were included in the study. All tested biological agents' attributes significantly affected the choice of treatment. Attributes' relative importance in decreasing order was the following (mean, confidence interval 95%): cost, 0.81 (0.69-0.92); systemic adverse events, 0.66 (0.57-0.76); frequency of administration, 0.61 (0.52-0.71); efficacy, 0.42 (0.32-0.51); route of administration, 0.41 (0.30-0.52); local adverse events, 0.40 (0.31-0.49); and serious infections, 0.29 (0.22-0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Different treatment attributes had a significant and different influence in rheumatoid-arthritis patients' choice of biological agents. This type of study can not only inform about patients' preferences but also about the trade-offs among different possible treatments or process-related attributes.

Incidence and prevalence of polymyositis and dermatomyositis in a health management organization in Buenos Aires.

BACKGROUND: Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are infrequent diseases. Data on incidence and prevalence are scarce and conflicting. There are no such data in Latin America and in Argentina in particular. OBJECTIVES: We undertook to examine the incidence and prevalence of PM/DM in the prepaid health maintenance organization (HMO) of our hospital, in the city of Buenos Aires. METHODS: Members of the HMO between January 1999 and June 2009 were identified from medical records of patients followed up by us at the HMO. Incident cases and prevalence were calculated at the end of the period. RESULTS: During the study period, 146,747 persons contributed a total of 937,902.6 person-years (mean age was 46.6 [SD, 18.4] years, and 59% were female). Ten incident cases were detected, 7 women and 3 men with a global incidence rate (IR) of 1.07 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-1.84). Three subjects had DM with an IR of 0.32 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI, 0.1-0.99), and 7 had PM with an IR of 0.75 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI, 0.35-0.16). On June 1, 2009, 17 prevalent cases were detected, with a mean age of 48.9 (SD, 17.7) years; 76% were female, representing a prevalence of 17.4 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 10.1-27.8). Among the 17 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, 10 patients had DM, with a prevalence of 10.22 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 4.9-18.8), and 7 had PM (prevalence, 7.2 per 100,000 persons [95% CI, 2.9-14.7]). CONCLUSIONS: It is difficult to compare studies from different populations and using different ascertainment techniques. These first data from Latin America are in general agreement with many studies.

Incidence and Prevalence of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis in a Healthcare Management Organization in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate incidence and prevalence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a university hospital-based health management organization (Hospital Italiano Medical Care Program) in Argentina. METHODS: Overall and sex-specific incidence rates (IRs) and prevalence were calculated (age ≥ 50 yrs). Incidence study followed members with continuous affiliation ≥ 1 year from January 2000 to December 2015. Diagnosis as per the 2012 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for PMR or the ACR 1990 criteria for GCA. Prevalence was calculated on January 1, 2015. RESULTS: There were 176,558 persons who contributed a total of 1,046,620 person-years (PY). Of these, 825 developed PMR, with an IR (per 100,000 PY) of 78.8 (95% CI 73.4-84.2) overall, 90.1 (95% CI 82.9-97.2) for women, and 58.9 (95% CI 51.1-66.6) for men. Ninety persons developed GCA; the IR was 8.6 (95% CI 6.8-10.4) overall, 11.1 (95% CI 8.5-10.6) for women, and 4.2 (2.2-6.3) for men. There were 205 prevalent PMR cases and 23 prevalent GCA cases identified from a population of 80,335. Prevalence of PMR was 255 per 100,000 (95% CI 220-290) overall, 280 (95% CI 234-325) for women, and 209 (95% CI 150-262) for men; and the prevalence of GCA was 28.6 per 100,000 (95% CI 16.9-40.3) overall, 36.4 (95% CI 20.1-52.8) for women, and 14.2 (95% CI 0.3-28.1) for men. CONCLUSION: This is the first study of incidence and prevalence of PMR and GCA in Argentina. There were similarities and differences with cohorts from other parts of the world, but population-based epidemiologic studies in Latin America are needed.

Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology Guidelines for the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Considerable variability exists in the way health-care providers treat patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis in Latin America. The most frequently used treatments for ANCA-associated vasculitis are cyclophosphamide and prolonged glucocorticoid tapers; however, randomised controlled trials conducted over the past 30 years have led to the development of several evidence-based treatment alternatives for these patients. Latin America faces socioeconomic challenges that affect access to care, and the use of certain costly medications with proven efficacy ANCA-associated vasculitis is often restricted. For these reasons, the Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology developed the first ANCA-associated vasculitis treatment guidelines tailored for Latin America. A panel of local vasculitis experts generated clinically meaningful questions related to the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis using the Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) format. Following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology, a team of methodologists conducted a systematic literature review. The panel of vasculitis experts voted on each PICO question and made recommendations, which required at least 70% agreement among the voting members. 21 recommendations and two expert opinion statements for the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis were developed, considering the current evidence and the socioeconomic characteristics of the region. These recommendations include guidance for the use of glucocorticoids, non-glucocorticoid immunosuppressants, and plasma exchange.

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Statin Indication and Lipid Goals: Analysis According to Different Recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Different strategies have been proposed for the cardiovascular risk management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OBJECTIVES: (1) To estimate the cardiovascular risk by different strategies in RA patients, analyzing which proportion of patients would be candidates to receive statin therapy; (2) to identify how many patients meet the recommended lipid goals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed from a secondary database. The QRISK-3 score, the Framingham score (adjusted for a multiplying factor×1.5), the ASCVD calculator and the SCORE calculator were estimated. The indications for statin therapy according to NICE, Argentine Consensus, ACC/AHA, and new European guidelines were analyzed. The recommended LDL-C goals were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 420 patients were included. In total, 24.7% and 48.7% of patients in primary and secondary prevention were receiving statins, respectively. Only 19.4% of patients with cardiovascular history received high intensity statins. Applying the ACC/AHA guidelines (based on ASCVD score), the Argentine Consensuses (based on adjusted Framingham score), the NICE guidelines (based on QRISK-3) and European recommendations (based on SCORE), 26.9%, 26.5%, 41.1% and 18.2% of the population were eligible for statin therapy, respectively. Following the new European recommendations, 50.0%, 46.2% and 15.9% of the patients with low-moderate, high or very high risk achieved the suggested lipid goals. CONCLUSION: Applying four strategies for lipid management in our population, the cardiovascular risk stratification and the indication for statins were different. A significant gap was observed when comparing the expected and observed statin indication, with few patients achieving the LDL-C goals.

Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology guidelines for the treatment of giant cell arteritis.

Considerable variability exists in the way that health-care providers treat patients with giant cell arteritis in Latin America, with patients commonly exposed to excessive amounts of glucocorticoids. In addition, large health disparities prevail in this region due to socioeconomic factors, which influence access to care, including biological treatments. For these reasons, the Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology developed the first evidence-based giant cell arteritis treatment guidelines tailored for Latin America. A panel of vasculitis experts from Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Argentina generated clinically meaningful questions related to the treatment of giant cell arteritis in the population, intervention, comparator, and outcome (PICO) format. Following the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation methodology, a team of methodologists did a systematic literature search, extracted and summarised the effects of the interventions, and graded the quality of the evidence. The panel of vasculitis experts voted on each PICO question and made recommendations, which required at least 70% agreement among the voting members to be included in the guidelines. Nine recommendations and one expert opinion statement for the treatment of giant cell arteritis were developed considering the most up-to-date evidence and the socioeconomic characteristics of Latin America. These recommendations include guidance for the use of glucocorticoids, tocilizumab, methotrexate, and aspirin for patients with giant cell arteritis.

Osteoporotic fractures in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Argentina: a matched retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To compare the incidence of osteoporotic fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with matched controls from a university hospital. METHODS: Consecutive RA patients (n = 100) were matched (age and sex) with controls (1:2). The follow-up period began at the index date, defined as the date of diagnosis for RA patients and the date of the first medical claim at the Health Management Organization (HMO) for non-RA patients. Fracture incidence rates per 1000 persons-years (PY) for distinct types of fractures were calculated. Multivariate cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with fractures. RESULTS: One hundred RA patients were followed for a total of 975.1 patients-years and 200 controls for 1485.7 patients-years. No difference was found in the overall fracture incidence rate per 1000 PY between RA and controls (19.5, 95% CI 12.7-28.6 vs 12.1, 95% CI 7.7-18.7, p = 0.07). In the Cox regression analysis, only age (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11, p = 0.006) and history of a prior fracture (HR 9.85, 95% CI 2.97-32.64, p <  0.001) were associated with fractures after the index date. The stratified analysis of the fractures by location showed that only the vertebral fractures were more frequent in RA patients compared with controls (12.9 per 1000 PY, 95% CI 8.9-25.8, vs. 3.4, 95% CI 1.4-8.1, respectively, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with RA didn't show an overall increased risk of osteoporotic fractures compared with matched controls, but vertebral fractures were more frequently observed in patients with RA.

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Statin Indication and Lipid Goals: Analysis According to Different Recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Different strategies have been proposed for the cardiovascular risk management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OBJECTIVES: (1) To estimate the cardiovascular risk by different strategies in RA patients, analyzing which proportion of patients would be candidates to receive statin therapy; (2) to identify how many patients meet the recommended lipid goals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed from a secondary database. The QRISK-3 score, the Framingham score (adjusted for a multiplying factor×1.5), the ASCVD calculator and the SCORE calculator were estimated. The indications for statin therapy according to NICE, Argentine Consensus, ACC/AHA, and new European guidelines were analyzed. The recommended LDL-C goals were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 420 patients were included. In total, 24.7% and 48.7% of patients in primary and secondary prevention were receiving statins, respectively. Only 19.4% of patients with cardiovascular history received high intensity statins. Applying the ACC/AHA guidelines (based on ASCVD score), the Argentine Consensuses (based on adjusted Framingham score), the NICE guidelines (based on QRISK-3) and European recommendations (based on SCORE), 26.9%, 26.5%, 41.1% and 18.2% of the population were eligible for statin therapy, respectively. Following the new European recommendations, 50.0%, 46.2% and 15.9% of the patients with low-moderate, high or very high risk achieved the suggested lipid goals. CONCLUSION: Applying four strategies for lipid management in our population, the cardiovascular risk stratification and the indication for statins were different. A significant gap was observed when comparing the expected and observed statin indication, with few patients achieving the LDL-C goals.