Short-term outcome after anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: do we need to revise our assessment criteria?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Disease Activity Score (DAS) using various aggregated dimensions to quantify treatment outcome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in order to determine the best instrument to be used as an endpoint that indicates good response in terms of EULAR response criteria and DAS28 remission criteria, and which satisfies the demands of clinical rheumatology. METHODS: Using raw data for each patient subjected to anti-tumor necrosis factor-a therapy (81 patients), before and 6 months after treatment, DAS28 was calculated 4 times using the standard equation, as follows: (1) DAS 1 (the standard DAS28): tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), patient global assessment (PGA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); (2) DAS 2: TJC, SJC, PGA, C-reactive protein (CRP); (3) DAS 3: TJC, SJC, physician global assessment (PhGA), ESR; and (4) DAS 4: TJC, SJC, PhGA, CRP. Disease activity was identified if DAS score exceeded 5.1. A clinically significant response was recorded if there had been improvement of > 1.2 of the DAS score. RESULTS: DAS 2, DAS3, and DAS4 were superior to the current DAS score used for assessment of RA activity (effect size differences were -0.35, -0.13, and -0.48, respectively). Assessment of disease activity using TJC, SJC, PhGA, and CRP was the best tool to assess response to therapy. ESR was marginally superior to CRP in its sensitivity to monitor disease activity changes (effect sizes 1.08 and 1.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that self-report indices on their own, such as PGA and pain score, are inadequate indicators of disease activity. The DAS might profitably be amended by one or 2 continuous measures for better quantification of the degree of improvement of patients on a given therapeutic modality. Using PhGA and CRP instead of PGA and ESR, respectively, in the DAS equation discriminated better between different patients' responses than the traditional DAS score.     

ESR or CRP,which inflammatory measure can accurately replace clinical measures in rheumatoid arthritis?

BackgroundESR and CRP are two commonly used laboratory inflammatory parameters. The controversy remains which of the two is a better measure to use and which parameter closely reflects the clinical measures of inflammation as well the disease process in Rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsWe used mountain plot analysis to find out the congruency of ESR and CRP individually with clinical measures namely Tender joint count (TJC), Swollen joint count (SJC) and Visual analogue scale for Pain (VAS). 303 RA patients who are in our regular follow-up were included in the study. There TJC, SJC and VAS pain and ESR and CRP were retrieved.Results242 were female and 61 were male patients. The mean age was 46.8 years (17–79 years), mean duration of illness was 70.81 (3–307) months. All of them were on conventional DMARD with majority on combination of methotrexate, Hydroxychloroquine and/or leflunomide. Both ESR and CRP correlated with all three measures such as TJC, SJC and VAS. The correlation was stronger with ESR than CRP. When the effectiveness of ESR vs CRP was compared for their overlapping on the clinical parameters TJC, SJC and VAS by using mountain plot method, CRP performed better than ESR and coincided with all three clinical parameters of the disease RA.ConclusionOur study emphasizes the fact that CRP is a better measure of inflammation than ESR and represents the information on the inflammatory component provided by both TJC and SJC, as appreciated by the close overlap. The CRP can replace the clinical measures (joint counts and Pain scale) more effectively than ESR, provided other causes for elevation of CRP are excluded.     

Determinants of Patient’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity and Physician’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A post hoc analysis of overall and Japanese results from phase 3 clinical trials

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the determinants of Patient’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PtGA) and Physician’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PhGA) in overall and Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from two large randomized controlled trials.

Methods: Post hoc analysis of overall and Japanese RA patients who had previous inadequate responses to methotrexate or who had no/minimal previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment. We examined correlations between PtGA/PhGA and tender joint count in 28 joints (TJC28), swollen joint count in 28 joints (SJC28), inflammatory markers, pain visual analog scale (VAS), and other patient-reported outcomes at baseline, Week 12, and Week 24. Determinants of PtGA/PhGA were identified.

Results: In overall populations, pain VAS was the main determinant of PtGA, whereas TJC28 was the main determinant of PhGA in both studies. In Japanese populations, consistent with overall populations, pain VAS was the main determinant of PtGA in both studies; in contrast to overall populations, pain VAS and SJC28/TJC28 played an important role in PhGA.

Conclusion: Pain was the most important determinant of PtGA, whereas determinants of PhGA varied between populations/studies and were mostly explained by pain/joint counts. Physicians should be aware of patients’ perceptions of disease activity when performing assessments/prescribing treatments.     

Serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 levels during treatment with sulfasalazine or combination of methotrexate and sulfasalazine in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of treatment with sulfasalazine (SSZ) or the combination of methotrexate (MTX) and SSZ on serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) levels in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Eighty-two patients with early RA (symptoms < 1 year and DMARD-naive at presentation) were selected who had been treated with SSZ (2000 mg/day) or with the combination of MTX (7.5-15 mg/week) and SSZ. Serum MMP-3 levels, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), swollen joint count (SJC), tender joint count (TJC), Ritchie articular index (RAI), and the Disease Activity Score (DAS) were determined at 4 week intervals during a followup of 28 weeks for each treatment group. Response was based on clinical grounds and CRP at 12, 20, and 28 weeks. RESULTS: SSZ responders (n = 52) had lower baseline values of serum MMP-3, CRP, and ESR, compared to partial/nonresponders (n = 30), but did not differ in joint scores and DAS. In the SSZ responder group all variables decreased. In the SSZ partial/nonresponders, CRP, ESR, and SJC decreased in contrast to serum MMP-3, TJC. RAI, and DAS-3. After addition of MTX all variables decreased in 24 of the 30 patients who had shown a partial or no response taking SSZ. In the SSZ responders there was a delayed decrease in serum MMP-3 compared to CRP. CONCLUSION: Serum MMP-3 levels decrease in patients with early RA who respond to SSZ or to the combination of MTX and SSZ. In patients who respond to SSZ the changes in serum MMP-3 levels indicate a delayed response compared to CRP.     

Psychological state is related to the remission of the Boolean-based definition of patient global assessment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objectives. To evaluate whether the psychological state is related to the Boolean-based definition of patient global assessment (PGA) remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods. Patients with RA who met the criteria of swollen joint count (SJC) ≤ 1, tender joint count (TJC) ≤ 1 and C-reactive protein (CRP) ≤ 1 were divided into two groups, PGA remission group (PGA ≤ 1 cm) and non-remission group (PGA > 1 cm). Anxiety was evaluated utilizing the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A), while depression was evaluated with HADS-Depression (HADS-D) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Comparison analyses were done between the PGA remission and non-remission groups in HADS-A, HADS-D and CES-D.

Results. Seventy-eight patients met the criteria for SJC ≤ 1, TJC ≤ 1 and CRP ≤ 1. There were no significant differences between the PGA remission group (n = 45) and the non-remission group (n = 33) in age, sex, disease duration and Steinbrocker's class and stage. HADS-A, HADS-D and CES-D scores were significantly lower in the PGA remission group.

Conclusions. Patients with RA who did not meet the PGA remission criteria despite good disease condition were in a poorer psychological state than those who satisfied the Boolean-based definition of clinical remission. Psychological support might be effective for improvement of PGA, resulting in the attainment of true remission.     

The perception of rheumatoid arthritis core set measures by rheumatologists. Results of a survey

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perception of values of individual core set measures by rheumatologists, and how it differs across measures and across physicians. METHODS: We designed a survey in which 44 international expert rheumatologists explicitly marked positions on the scales of seven core-set measures that in their opinion corresponded to cut-points between remission, low, moderate and high disease activity. The measures comprised swollen and tender joint counts (SJC, TJC), CRP, ESR, patient and evaluator global assessments of activity (PGA, EGA), and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ). RESULTS: The interpretation of measures across physicians was most consistent for ESR and PGA, while for CRP and joint counts there was most variation. Joint counts and CRP implied active disease at lower relative values (using normalized scales) than did PGA, EGA or ESR (P < 0.01 for most comparisons; Bonferroni-adjusted Wilcoxon signed rank test), and most physicians tended to tolerate higher numbers of tender joints than swollen joints to define similar levels of disease activity. Given these cut-points, more RA patients in a typical cross-sectional cohort would be regarded as being in remission according to joint counts (SJC, 35%; TJC, 55%) than to global scores (PGA, 18%; EGA, 9%), and fewer patients would be regarded as being in remission by physician-derived or laboratory measures than by patient-derived ones. CONCLUSION: These data give insights into the integrative process of activity evaluation and will be informative for future survey designs, studies using physician opinion as the gold standard for criterion validity of disease activity, and allow 'activity mapping' of values on different scales based on expert opinion.     

Disease activity score 28 as an instrument to measure disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of components of the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) [tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), patient's general health (GH), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)] on the total DAS28 score, and overlapping of the 4 individual components in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with low, moderate, or high disease activity. METHODS: The effect of each component was studied in the FIN-RACo trial patients at 6 months and in a "theoretical model," where each component of the DAS28 ranged as follows: TJC and SJC from 0 to 28, GH from 0 to 100, and ESR from 1 to 100, while the other 3 components were 0 (ESR1). Overlapping of the components was studied in the FIN-RACo trial patients at 6 months with low (DAS28 < or = 3.2), moderate (DAS28 > 3.2 and < or = 5.1), and high (DAS28 > 5.1) disease activity. The higher limit for overlapping was defined as the highest SJC in the low disease activity group, and the lower limit as the lowest SJC in the high disease activity group; the percentage of patients who fall between these limits represent overlapping in SJC. Overlapping was calculated similarly concerning TJC, ESR, and GH. RESULTS: ESR had the greatest effect on DAS28, followed by TJC, GH, and SJC, while in the "theoretical model" TJC had the greatest effect on the DAS28, followed by ESR, SJC, and GH. At 6 months, overlapping was present in 54%, 45%, 49%, and 31% of patients in SJC, TJC, GH, and ESR, respectively. CONCLUSION: In real-life patients, ESR had the greatest effect of the 4 components of DAS28 on the total DAS28 score. The values of the individual components of DAS28 overlap considerably among the 3 disease activity groups.     

Determinants of discordance in patients' and physicians' rating of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity

Objective

To assess the determinants of patients' (PTGL) and physicians' (MDGL) global assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity and factors associated with discordance among them.

Methods

A total of 7,028 patients in the Quantitative Standard Monitoring of Patients with RA study had PTGL and MDGL assessed at the same clinic visit on a 0–10‐cm visual analog scale (VAS). Three patient groups were defined: concordant rating group (PTGL and MDGL within ±2 cm), higher patient rating group (PTGL exceeding MDGL by >2 cm), and lower patient rating group (PTGL less than MDGL by >2 cm). Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify determinants of PTGL and MDGL and their discordance.

Results

The mean ± SD VAS scores for PTGL and MDGL were 4.01 ± 2.70 and 2.91 ± 2.37, respectively. Pain was overwhelmingly the single most important determinant of PTGL, followed by fatigue. In contrast, MDGL was most influenced by swollen joint count (SJC), followed by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and tender joint count (TJC). A total of 4,454 (63.4%), 2,106 (30%), and 468 (6.6%) patients were in the concordant, higher, and lower patient rating groups, respectively. Odds of higher patient rating increased with higher pain, fatigue, psychological distress, age, and morning stiffness, and decreased with higher SJC, TJC, and ESR. Lower patient rating odds increased with higher SJC, TJC, and ESR, and decreased with lower fatigue levels.

Conclusion

Nearly 36% of patients had discordance in RA activity assessment from their physicians. Sensitivity to the “disease experience” of patients, particularly pain and fatigue, is warranted for effective care of RA.     

The relationship between disease activity and depression in Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Aim of the workTo estimate the prevalence of depression and its relationship with disease activity parameters in Egyptian patients with RA.Patients and methodsA cross sectional study was conducted on 170 patients with RA. The following values were assessed for each patient: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), swollen and tender joint counts (SJC and TJC), disease activity score 28 (DAS28), health assessment questionnaire score (HAQ), visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain and hospital anxiety and depression scale-depression subscale (HADS-D).ResultsThe prevalence of depression was 15.29% (26 RA patients). In the depressed RA patients, positive significant correlations were found between HADS-D score and age, disease duration, HAQ score, VAS, DAS28 score and CRP. However, no significant correlation was found between HADS-D score and ESR, number of swollen and tender joints. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was found between depressed male and female patients with RA.ConclusionPatients with RA and co-morbid depression have worse health outcomes. RA cases should be monitored for accompanying depression during follow-up. The identification and treatment of depression in RA paramount to the overall management of RA.     

Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide don��t decrease after 6?months of infliximab treatment in refractory rheumatoid arthritis

Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) and the rheumatoid factor (RF) are well-established serological markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ACPA are very useful in the diagnosis of RA, especially at the early stages of the disease when ACPA have a greater diagnostic value than RF. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of infliximab treatment on RF IgM and ACPA serum levels and RA activity during 6 months of treatment. Thirty-two patients with refractory RA were treated with infliximab during a 6-month period. At baseline, 3 and 6 months of treatment the patients were examined for the number swollen and tender joints out of 28 (SJC, TJC) and the visual analogue scale of arthritis activity according to the patient (VAS). Serum samples were tested for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein level (CRP), ACPA and RF IgM. The disease activity score (DAS-28) parameter was also calculated at the same time. During the course of our study, we observed statistically significant improvement in ESR, CRP, TJC, SJC, VAS DAS-28, and RF IgM after 3 and 6 months of infliximab treatment when compared to the baseline, whereas the ACPA level remained unchanged after 3 and 6 months of treatment (P = 0.96 and P = 0.85). The changes in the ACPA level are not a factor for evaluation of successful infliximab treatment but the changes in RF IgM are. According to different behavior of these antibodies during infliximab treatment, we suggest that the roles of ACPA and RF in the pathogenesis of RA are different.     

Remission occurs still only in minority of rheumatoid arthritis while a tight control is achievable in a routine clinical practice – A cross section study

The current recommended target is to achieve remission, if not at least low disease activity (LDA) in management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We analysed the incidence of patients achieving LDA or in remission in a real time clinical situation in a tertiary referral rheumatology centre, at a given point of time.Materials and methodsWe reviewed 480 patients who fulfilled classification criteria for RA and who were assessed for 28 Tender Joint Count (TJC), Swollen Joint Count (SJC), ESR and CRP. Their DAS28 (3) CRP and DAS28 (3) ESR score were calculated and were classified into LDA, remission, low, moderate and high disease activity based on the DAS28 (3) score.Results5.9% and 21.9% were in remission and 12% and 10% were in LDA based on DAS28 (3) ESR and DAS28 (3) CRP respectively. There was no significant influence of duration of illness, treatment and age in attaining both LDA and remission in our population.Conclusion5.9% and 21.9% of RA were in remission based on DAS28 (3) ESR and DAS28 (3) CRP respectively and 12% and 10% of RA patients were in LDA based on DAS28 (3) ESR and DAS28 (3) CRP respectively at the point of our study. DAS (3) CRP overestimate remission compared to DAS28 (3) ESR.     

Serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 in early rheumatoid arthritis is correlated with disease activity and radiological progression

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical significance of serial measurements of serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) levels in relation to markers of disease activity and radiological progression in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: In a 3 year prospective study of 33 patients with early RA (symptoms < 1 year at entry) monthly measurements of serum MMP-3 were transformed into time integrated values for 6 month periods for comparison with other markers of disease activity like swollen joint count (SJC), tender joint count (TJC), Ritchie articular index (RAI), the disease activity score (DAS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and radiological progression, scored according to Sharp's method, in which erosions and joint space narrowing are scored separately and combined to a total Sharp score. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between serum MMP-3 and SJC, ESR, and CRP during all periods and between 6 and 30 months with the DAS. There were no correlations between serum MMP-3 and TJC or the RAI. During the first 12 months serum MMP-3 was correlated only with the item joint space narrowing of the Sharp score. After 12 months of followup it was also correlated with the total Sharp score and after 18 months it was correlated with all 3 items of the Sharp score. There was a wide interindividual variation in the relation between serum MMP-3 and radiological progression but intraindividually this relation seemed to be rather constant. CONCLUSION: Time integrated values of serum MMP-3 are correlated with time integrated values of other markers of disease activity such as joint swelling, ESR, CRP, and the DAS. Of the radiological scores, as outcome measures, especially joint space narrowing correlated closely with cumulative serum MMP-3.     

International multicenter psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis reliability trial for the assessment of skin,joints, nails,and dactylitis

Objective

Clinical trials in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) involve assessment of the skin and joints. This study aimed to determine whether assessment of the skin and joints in patients with PsA by rheumatologists and dermatologists is reproducible.

Methods

Ten rheumatologists and 9 dermatologists from 7 countries met for a combined physical examination exercise to assess 20 PsA patients (11 men, mean age 51 years, mean PsA duration 11 years). Each physician assessed 10 patients according to a modified Latin square design that enabled the assessment of patient, assessor, and order effect. Tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), dactylitis, physician's global assessment (PGA) of PsA disease activity (PGA‐PsA), psoriasis body surface area (BSA), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Lattice System Physician's Global Assessment of psoriasis (LS‐PGA), National Psoriasis Foundation Psoriasis Score (NPF‐PS), modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (mNAPSI), number of fingernails with nail changes (NN), and PGA of psoriasis activity (PGA‐Ps) were assessed. Variance components analyses were carried out to estimate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), adjusted for the order of measurements.

Results

There is excellent agreement (ICC ≥0.80) on the mNAPSI, substantial agreement (0.6 ≥ ICC < 0.80) on the TJC, PASI, and NN, moderate agreement (0.4 ≥ ICC < 0.60) on the PGA‐Ps, LS‐PGA, NPF‐PS, and BSA, and fair agreement (0.2 ≥ ICC < 0.40) on the SJC, dactylitis, and PGA‐PsA. The only measure that showed a significant difference between dermatologists and rheumatologists was dactylitis (P = 0.0005).

Conclusion

There is substantial to excellent agreement on the TJC, PASI, NN, and mNAPSI among rheumatologists and dermatologists.     

Immunomodulatory effects of blood letting cupping therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

This study was carried out in order to evaluate the efficiency of blood-letting cupping (BLC) therapy as a complementary therapy in management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to investigate its modulatory effects on natural killer cells (NK) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R). Two groups of RA patients diagnosed according to American Rheumatology Association were included: Group I included 20 patients who received the conventional medicinal therapy of RA, Group II included 30 patients who received combined conventional and BLC therapy. Ten age and sex matched normal controls were also included, as group III. Visual analogue score (VAS), tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), disease activity scores (DAS), laboratory markers of disease activity [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Rheumatoid factor (RF)] were evaluated on 3 successive months, NK cell (%) measured by flowcytometry and SIL-2R concentrations measured by ELISA were also assessed. After one month of combined therapy there was significant (P < 0.001) reduction in VAS (5.16 +/- 0.28), TJC (11.62 +/- 1.03), SJC (10.13 +/- 1.02) and DAS (5.35 +/- 0.14). Early and marked reductions in laboratory markers of disease activity (26.90 +/- 3.68) for CRP, (51.46 +/- 6.06) for RF and (40.56 +/-3.36) for ESR were also detected as compared to base line, while the effects of conventional therapy appeared late after 3 months of treatment. Conventional therapy induced significant depression in white blood cell (WBC %) (p < 0.001) whereas combined therapy induced marked (p < 0.001) elevation since the first month (8.44 +/- 1.58) compared to base line (6.94 +/- 1.58). There was a significant (P < 0.05) lowering in NK cell (%) with conventional therapy while combined therapy induced significant (P < 0.001) increase (11.33 +/- 0.4.7) compared to base line level (8.50 +/- 0.46). Additionally, combined therapy resulted in marked reduction (P < 0.001) in SIL-2R conc. after 3 months of treatment (1790 +/- 68.11) compared to base line (2023 +/- 92.95), while insignificant reduction was detected with the conventional therapy. The improvement rate (%) of clinical, laboratory cellular & immunological parameters were significantly higher with combined therapy than with conventional therapy. Moreover, strong positive correlations (p < 0.0001) were detected between SIL-R conc. and clinical parameters VAS (r = 0.890), TJC (r = 0.905), SJC (r = 0.872) and DAS (r = 0.923) and also between SIL-R conc. and ESR (r = 0.973), CRP (r = 0.933), RF (r = 0.941), while a strong negative correlation was found with NK count cell % (r = 0.927). In conclusion, BLC therapy combined with conventional therapy may improve the clinical condition of patients with RA. It has modulatory effects on the innate (NK %) and adaptive cellular (SIL-2R conc.) immune responses that could be used as monitoring tools for disease activity and prognosis.     

Efficacy of golimumab plus methotrexate in methotrexate-naïve patients with severe active rheumatoid arthritis

The purpose of this study was to assess the treatment benefit of golimumab + methotrexate (MTX) vs. MTX monotherapy in MTX-naïve patients with severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This was a post hoc analysis of MTX-naïve RA patients in the GO-BEFORE trial who were randomized to receive placebo + MTX (n?=?160), golimumab 50 mg + MTX (n?=?159), or golimumab 100 mg + MTX (n?=?159). Subsets of patients with severe disease were identified using these baseline criteria: C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥1.5 mg/dL, CRP ≥3.0 mg/dL, swollen joint count (SJC) ≥10 and tender joint count (TJC) ≥12, SJC?≥?20/TJC?≥?12, 28-joint count Disease Activity Score using CRP (DAS28-CRP) >5.1, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody-positive status. The treatment effect of golimumab + MTX vs. MTX alone was evaluated for these outcomes: the proportions of patients achieving ≥20, 50, and 70 % improvement in the American College of Rheumatology criteria; DAS28-CRP European League Against Rheumatism response; DAS28-CRP <2.6, clinically meaningful improvement in physical function; and change in van der Heijde-Sharp score ≤0 at week 52. Clinical response was greater in the golimumab + MTX groups vs. placebo + MTX for all of the outcomes evaluated. Furthermore, the treatment effect of golimumab + MTX was consistently greater among patients in the severe disease subsets when compared with the overall GO-BEFORE trial population. The treatment benefit of golimumab + MTX vs. MTX monotherapy was most pronounced within the subsets of patients with CRP ≥3.0 mg/dL and SJC?≥?20/TJC?≥?12. Following treatment with golimumab + MTX, improvements in RA signs/symptoms and in progression of structural damage were evident for the overall GO-BEFORE population, with the treatment effect more pronounced among patients with severe active disease.     

血清抗突变型瓜氨酸波形蛋白抗体在类风湿关节炎诊断中的价值

目的探讨抗突变型瓜氨酸波形蛋白(MCV)抗体在类风湿关节炎(RA)诊断中的价值。方法采用ELISA法测定68例RA患者(RA组)、62例关节疼痛及自身免疫性疾病患者(疾病对照组)、129例健康体检者(正常对照组)的抗MCV抗体、抗环瓜氨酸肽(CCP)抗体水平,计算抗MCV抗体与抗CCP抗体诊断RA的敏感性与特异性;速率散射比浊法检测CRP水平,记录压痛关节数(TJC)、肿胀关节数(SJC),并计算DAS28积分值。对抗MCV抗体与抗CCP抗体及DAS28积分(包括CRP、TJC、SJC三个变量)进行Spearman秩相关性分析。结果 RA组抗MCV抗体、抗CCP抗体、DAS28积分值显著高于疾病对照组及正常对照组;抗MCV抗体与抗CCP抗体诊断RA的敏感性分别为88.2%(60/68)、75.0%(51/68),P=0.026;特异性分别为97.3%(186/191)、95.8%(183/191),P=0.548。抗MCV与抗CCP抗体呈显著正相关(r=0.826,P<0.05);抗MCV与RA活动度指标DAS28积分及CRP、肿胀关节数间均有明显相关性。结论抗MCV抗体在RA诊断中较抗CCP抗体具有更高的敏感性和特异性,能为RA诊断提供良好的依据,且抗MCV抗体与RA病情活动度指标相关,高滴度的抗MCV可能在一定程度上提示RA的病情活动。     

Sources of discrepancy in patient and physician global assessments of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate discrepancy in the perception of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity between patient and physician, and its possible sources. METHODS: Eighty patients with RA rated their level of disease activity on a visual analog scale (VAS). Physician global assessment (MDGA) of disease activity was performed blinded to the patient evaluation except for the results of laboratory tests. A discrepancy score (DS) was calculated by subtracting MDGA from patient global assessment (PTGA), leading to definition of 3 groups of patients: (1) no discrepancy when PTGA and MDGA were within 1.0 or 3.0 cm of each other; (2) negative discrepancy when PTGA was under-rated relative to the physician; and (3) positive discrepancy when PTGA was over-rated relative to the physician. Age, sex, disease duration, education, income, residence area, employment, use of antirheumatic drugs, comorbidity, pain score, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) rating, tender (TJC) and swollen (SJC) joint count, and Disease Activity Score (DAS28) were recorded. RESULTS: Negative discrepancy was found in 27.5% (VAS 1 cm) and 8.7% (VAS 3 cm) of patients, positive discrepancy in 43.7% (VAS 1 cm) and 23.7% (VAS 3 cm), and no discrepancy in 28.7% (VAS 1 cm) and 67.5% (VAS 3 cm). Patients were predominantly older (mean age near 50 yrs), female, with long disease duration and low income. The negative discrepancy group had a lower level of education and higher C-reactive protein (p < 0.05). The positive discrepancy group presented a higher pain score, HAQ score, and TJC (p < 0.0001). The no-discrepancy group had lower SJC (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that for disease activity in patients with RA assessed on pain score, HAQ, and TJC, the only important feature that determined perception of their RA disease activity was education.     

活动性类风湿关节炎患者生活质量及影响因素分析

目的 探讨活动性类风湿关节炎(RA)患者的健康相关生活质量及其影响因素.方法 采用健康测量量表SF-36对127例活动件RA患者的生活质量进行评价,与非活动性RA患者及健康对照者进行比较,并探讨晨僵时间、疼痛目视模拟测试表(VAS)评分、疲乏VAS评分、患者对自身健康状况的总体评价(PGA)、医生总体评价、压痛关节数(TJC)、压痛关节指数(TJI)、肿胀关节数(SJC)、肿胀关节指数(SJI)、疾病活动指数28(DAS28)、健康评估问卷(HAQ)等临床评价指标与生活质量的相关性.结果 活动性RA患者SF-36量表各维度评分均明显低于健康对照者(P<0.01);与非活动性RA患者相比,除总体健康(GH)外,活动性RA患者其他各维度评分均明显低于非活动性RA患者(P<0.01).疲乏VAS评分、PGA、医生总体评价、HAQ、DAS28是与SF-36量表各维度相关最为密切的临床参数,这些临床参数与各个维度的评分均相关(r=-0.189～-0.673).疼痛VAS评分与除情感职能(RE)外的各维度评分呈低～中度相关(r=-0.201～-0.547);TJI与除GH、RE外的各维度相关(r=-0.189～-0.466),TJC与除GH、社会功能(SF)、RE外的各维度相关(r=-0.179～-0.416),红细胞沉降率与3个维度相关(r=-0.180～-0.266).结论 活动性RA患者的生活质量明显下降,疾病活动、功能状态与患者的生活质量密切相关.     

活动性类风湿关节炎患者生活质量及影响因素分析

目的 探讨活动性类风湿关节炎(RA)患者的健康相关生活质量及其影响因素.方法 采用健康测量量表SF-36对127例活动件RA患者的生活质量进行评价,与非活动性RA患者及健康对照者进行比较,并探讨晨僵时间、疼痛目视模拟测试表(VAS)评分、疲乏VAS评分、患者对自身健康状况的总体评价(PGA)、医生总体评价、压痛关节数(TJC)、压痛关节指数(TJI)、肿胀关节数(SJC)、肿胀关节指数(SJI)、疾病活动指数28(DAS28)、健康评估问卷(HAQ)等临床评价指标与生活质量的相关性.结果 活动性RA患者SF-36量表各维度评分均明显低于健康对照者(P<0.01);与非活动性RA患者相比,除总体健康(GH)外,活动性RA患者其他各维度评分均明显低于非活动性RA患者(P<0.01).疲乏VAS评分、PGA、医生总体评价、HAQ、DAS28是与SF-36量表各维度相关最为密切的临床参数,这些临床参数与各个维度的评分均相关(r=-0.189～-0.673).疼痛VAS评分与除情感职能(RE)外的各维度评分呈低～中度相关(r=-0.201～-0.547);TJI与除GH、RE外的各维度相关(r=-0.189～-0.466),TJC与除GH、社会功能(SF)、RE外的各维度相关(r=-0.179～-0.416),红细胞沉降率与3个维度相关(r=-0.180～-0.266).结论 活动性RA患者的生活质量明显下降,疾病活动、功能状态与患者的生活质量密切相关.