Aplicación de un modelo de predicción de progresión de artritis reumatoide en pacientes con artritis indiferenciada

IntroductionDifferent prediction rules have been applied to patients with undifferentiated arthritis (UA) to identify those that progress to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The Leiden Prediction Rule (LPR) has proven useful in different UA cohorts.ObjectiveTo apply the LPR to a cohort of patients with UA of northeastern Mexico.MethodsWe included 47 patients with UA, LPR was applied at baseline. They were evaluated and then classified after one year of follow-up into two groups: those who progressed to RA (according to ACR 1987) and those who did not.Results43% of the AI patients developed RA. In the RA group, 56% of patients obtained a score ≤ 6 and only 15% ≥ 8. 70% who did not progress to RA had a score between 6 and ≤ 8. There was no difference in median score of LPR between groups, p = 0.940.ConclusionMost patients who progressed to RA scored less than 6 points in the LPR. Unlike what was observed in other cohorts, the model in our population did not allow us to predict the progression of the disease.     

Valoración laríngea mediante videolaringoestroboscopia en pacientes con artritis reumatoide

AimTo evaluate the larynx involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a clinical setting and correlate with the different clinical features related to more aggressive disease.MethodsCross-sectional study including 36 consecutive patients with RA. Reflux symptoms were evaluated by the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and vocal cord impairment by the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). Laryngeal involvement was done by videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS).ResultsThe mean age was 56,3 ± 14 years with a mean disease duration of 2,6 ± 3,1 years (range 0-16 years). Voice use was considered as professional users in 33%. Twenty-four (67%) out of 36 patients had abnormal findings of VLS. One patient had larynx nodules (bamboo nodules). Eleven patients (31%) were diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia, and there were symptoms and signs of pharyngeal-laryngeal reflux in 23 (64%) patients. No signs of cricoarytenoid joint impairment was found.ConclusionsOrganic larynx involvement was uncommon in patients with RA. However symptoms and signs of pharyngeal-laryngeal reflux were seen in around 60% of patients. There was no correlation between the clinical phenotype, severity of disease, immunological profile or treatment with VLS findings.     

Evolución a largo plazo de la calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoide tratados con terapias biológicas

Objective

To analyze the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with biological therapies.

Niveles de fármacos anti-TNFα en pacientes con artritis reumatoide y espondiloartritis

Background and objectivesKnowledge of the levels of anti-TNFα drugs can modify treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA).ObjectivesTo compare the levels of anti-TNFα in patients with RA vs SpA, in different clinical situations.Materials and methodsA retrospective, observational study was conducted. Levels of anti-TNFα and the presence of anti-drug antibodies were measured in consecutively selected patients, using the ELISA technique.ResultsFifty-three, 73 and 78 patients treated with infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept were studied, respectively. The median drug levels in patients using standard doses were infliximab 2.2 μg/ml (1.4-5.2), adalimumab 4.9 μg/ml (0.8-8.9) and etanercept 3.1 μg/ml (2.3-4.4). There were no differences in drug levels according to disease activity but we found differences in etanercept and infliximab levels according to DMARD use.ConclusionsLevels of anti-TNFα drugs will change with DMARD treatment.     

Desarrollo y viabilidad de cuatro checklists para la evaluación de la comorbilidad en pacientes con artritis reumatoide,espondiloartritis axial y artritis psoriásica: Proyecto GECOAI

ObjectiveTo develop and assess the feasibility in daily practice of four comorbidity checklists, for common use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).MethodsA multidisciplinary panel of experts on comorbidity was established. Data from the GECOAR, GECOAX and GECOAP projects were analysed and a narrative literature review in Medline on RA, axSpA and PsA comorbidity was performed in order to select the most relevant and common comorbidities across the three diseases. With these results and those obtained from a focus group of patients, in a nominal group meeting, the experts generated preliminary checklists. These were afterwards modified by an external evaluation by two associations, a patients’ association and an association of health professionals related to rheumatology. As a result, the final checklists were generated. A cross-sectional study was conducted to test the feasibility of three of the checklists in daily practice, in which eight health professionals evaluated the checklists in five patients with RA, five with axSpA and five with SpA.ResultsFour comorbidity checklists were designed, three for health professionals (one to assess current comorbidity, one on prevention/health promotion and one with the referral criteria to other health professionals), and another for patients. The feasibility study showed them to be simple, clear, and useful for use in routine clinical practice.ConclusionsThe use of specific and common checklists for patients with RA, axSpA and PsA is feasible and might contribute favorably to their prognosis as well as in daily practice.     

¿Se puede suspender la medicación en los pacientes con artritis reumatoide en remisión?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality. The combined use of methotrexate and biological agents directed against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has achieved significant improvement in clinical, radiographic and functional parameters not seen previously and has revolutionized the therapeutic goal of achieving remission in clinical, structural and functional parameters. The next goal should be to achieve remission without the use of biological drugs and later without medication. Although there is evidence about the efficacy and safety of TNF inhibitors, there is none on remission without the use of biological agents or disease modifying drugs.     

Cribado de enfermedad pulmonar intersticial difusa en pacientes con artritis reumatoide: una revisión sistemática

AimsInterstitial lung disease (ILD) is frequent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this review was to identify the different screening methods for ILD in patients with RA.MethodsWe ran a systematic search in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library up to April 2020 and did a hand search of the references of the retrieved articles. The search was limited to humans and articles published in English, Spanish or French. We selected studies with any design where: a) the population included adult patients with RA; b) the intervention was any screening method for ILD; and c) validity or reliability of the screening method were evaluated, or a screening method was described. Two reviewers independently screened the articles by title and abstract and subsequently extracted the information using a specific data extraction form.Results25 studies were included with a total of 2,593 patients. The most frequently used tool for ILD screening was high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lung. Electronic auscultation, biochemical markers, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and lung ultrasonography were also evaluated. Across the different studies, electronic auscultation and lung ultrasonography achieved higher accuracy than PFTs, BAL and biochemical markers.ConclusionsHRCT resulted as the most sensitive tool for ILD screening in patients with RA. Given its harmlessness and high sensitivity, lung ultrasonography may become the first-choice tool in the future.     

?Cómo son los pacientes con artritis reumatoide de reciente comienzo en Espa?a? Descripción de la cohorte PROAR

ObjectiveTo identify factors present in recent onset arthritis that may help to predict rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to describe a cohort of recent onset RA.Patients and methodA 5 year prospective cohort of patients with early oligo and polyarthritis (< 1 year of evolution) from 34 rheumatology units, was studied. Sociodemographic, clinical features and RA risk factors were recorded. Rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP determinations and radiographs of hands and feet were analyzed too. After three years, a diagnosis of certainty and the variables that determined the evolution to RA, were evaluated.ResultsOne hundred and seventy one patients were included; 161 (94.2%) fulfilled RA diagnostic criteria; most of them (157; 97.5%) in the first visit. Factors associated with RA diagnosis were: positive RF, anti-CCP and DAS-28; 65% of the patients had radiological erosions in the first visit.ConclusionsPositive RF, anti-CCP and the disease activity are predictive factors of RA. Radiological damage exists very early in most of patients, that's why it is more important to treat the disease aggressively instead than achieving an RA diagnosis of certainty.     

Implantación y evaluación de una prestación de gastroscopia precoz para pacientes con dispepsia y datos de alarma en Atención Primaria

Introduction

Dyspepsia is a common disorder in both Primary (PC) and Specialised Care (SC). Gastroscopy is recommended at the start of the study if there are warning signs, although it is not always available in PC.

Leucemia de linfocitos grandes granulares como complicación de artritis reumatoide

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia is a rare entity belonging to same spectrum of diseases than Felty's syndrome, which might occur in patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis. It is clinically characterized by persistent neutropenia and recurrent bacterial infections associated with the presence in both peripheral blood and bone marrow of clonal expansion of atypic lymphocytes with a cytotoxic T cell phenotype, or less frequently an NK-cell phenotype, as well as splenomegaly. It is more frequently diagnosed in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, with significant structural damage, extra-articular manifestations and persistently elevated values of ESR, despite them havubg low inflammatory joint activity. We report the case of a 70 year old male with a long-standing rheumatoid arthritis, who developed septic shock secondary to prosthetic hip infection by Salmonella spp. He showed persistent neutropenia, and an aberrant monoclonal T cell population was detected in both peripheral blood and bone marrow, consistent with large granular lymphocyte leukemia.     

Validación de una versión en español del Health Assessment Questionnaire-II para la evaluación de la capacidad funcional en pacientes mexicanos con artritis reumatoide

ObjectiveTo evaluate the validity, reliability, and performance of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-II(HAQ-II) Spanish version questionnaire to measure physical function.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 496 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, distributed in 2 samples. The construct validity was evaluated employing the confirmatory factor analysis and the validity based on the relationship with other variables. Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (ω) coefficient were used to determine reliability. Item performance was analysed by fitting different models of item response theory.ResultsThe one-factor model presented a poor fit in the confirmatory factor analysis; an exploratory factor analysis was carried out, which suggested a 2-factor structure. The confirmatory factor analysis in the second sample confirmed that the second-order model had a good fit to the data. The general factor explained more than 70% of the variance. The reliability indices showed adequate internal consistency (α = .92-.95; ω = .88-.93). Ninety-three percent of the contrasting hypotheses about the relationship of the HAQ-II scores with other variables were confirmed, demonstrating their convergent, divergent, and known group validity. The multidimensional graduated response model was the one that best predicted person's interaction with the items.ConclusionThe Spanish version of the HAQ-II presents adequate validity and reliability for measuring Mexican patients’ physical function with rheumatoid arthritis.     

Valor de la ecografía con Doppler de poder en pacientes con artritis reumatoide en remisión clínica: ¿reclasificación de la actividad de la enfermedad?

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to describe the ultrasound (US) findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission, and to evaluate the ability of power Doppler (PD) US to reclassify disease activity in these patients.

Reactivación de citomegalovirus en pacientes con gastritis inmunomediada

IntroductionReactivation of cytomegalovirus can complicate the evolution of patients with gastritis induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors.MethodsThe experience in our center is described and a review of the literature is performed.ResultsA case of severe gastritis induced by treatment with a programmed cell death receptor-1 (anti-PD1) inhibitor, associated with reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) is described. In the systematic review, we identified 5 cases of immune-related gastritis associated with CMV reactivation. Ganciclovir treatment contributed to clinical improvement in most patients.ConclusionThe early identification of a CMV infection in patients with severe or refractory immune-related gastritis will allow the initiation of targeted treatment, and may avoid increasing immunosuppressive therapy.     

Recomendaciones para el uso de la ecografía y la resonancia magnética en pacientes con artritis reumatoide

Objective

To develop evidence-based recommendations on the use of ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Impacto pronóstico y factores predictores de la recuperación de la fracción de eyección en pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada alcohólica

Introduction and objectives

Recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been described in alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) after a period of alcohol withdrawal. Nevertheless, the prognostic impact of LVEF recovery in ACM and its determinants have not been studied. We sought to define the role of LVEF improvement in the long-term outcome of ACM and to identify predictors of LVEF recovery in these patients.