Reumatismo最新文献

Cerebrovascular events (CE) are one of the most common and severe events in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a condition characterized by thrombosis and circulating anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL). Seronegative APS (SN-APS) refers to a group of patients with clinical features of APS but persistently negative tests for "criteria aPL": anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and anti-β2glycoprotein I antibodies detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the lupus anticoagulant detected by clotting assays. We report a series of five cases of SN-APS in young or middle-aged patients who tested positive for "non-criteria" aPL. We retrospectively collected cases of SN-APS patients who experienced CE without an identified cause despite an extensive diagnostic work-up and tested negative for criteria aPL. All the patient sera were tested for aCL by immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and anti-vimentin/cardiolipin (aCL/Vim) by ELISA. We identified five cases of female patients aged 21 to 58 years, evaluated at the Rheumatology Unit and/or Stroke Unit/Emergency Department of the Sapienza University Hospital of Rome, "Policlinico Umberto I". All patients presented a clinical history suggestive of APS. All the patients tested positive for aCL by TLC-immunostaining, and one patient was positive for aCL/Vim. In young or middle-aged patients with cryptogenic CE and a clinical history suggestive of APS, the use of new diagnostic tools for identifying aPL, if validated in future studies, could represent an important step in the prompt diagnosis of APS.

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a granulomatous vasculitis that involves the aortic artery and its branches, resulting in stenosis, occlusion, and aneurysmal dilatation. Cardiovascular involvement is one of the main complications and a major cause of mortality in these patients. Herein, we describe the case of a woman with TA who presented with severe acute heart failure secondary to myocarditis and responded well to immunosuppressive therapy.

We describe the case of a 73-year-old man affected by pneumoconiosis, secondary to silica dust exposure, who was diagnosed with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)-related cervical myelitis. Pneumoconiosis is reported to trigger autoantibody production and the onset of different autoimmune diseases, including ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). MPA is an AAV of the small vessels that can often affect the nervous system, although involvement of the spinal cord in the form of myelitis is described as an anecdotal occurrence. Our experience suggests that an autoimmunity workup should be considered for patients with pneumoconiosis who present with neurological symptoms consistent with AAV.

This case series aims to characterize the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) induced by anti-tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) therapy in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondylarthritis (SpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Patients with a diagnosis of SLE induced by anti-TNFα therapy and registered on the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt) who started their first anti-TNFα between 2001 and 2020 were included. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained by consulting Reuma.pt. The diagnosis of SLE induced by anti-TNFα was considered if there was a temporal relationship between the onset of anti-TNFα therapy and manifestations (clinical and immunological) in accordance with the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria (2019). A total of 607 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and six cases of SLE induced by anti-TNF-α therapy were reviewed: two patients were affected by RA, three patients by SpA, and one by PsA. All these patients had articular and constitutional symptoms that improved after discontinuation of the anti-TNFα agent. After switching to a second anti-TNFα agent, there was no recurrence of SLE over time. The development of SLE secondary to anti-TNFα agents in inflammatory rheumatic patients is rare. In this case series, all patients had a mild disease that improved after therapy discontinuation without recurrence of the disease. SLE induced by anti-TNFα should be considered in the follow-up of RA, SpA, and PsA patients.

Visceral muscle dysmotility syndrome (VMDS) is a rare syndrome, described in the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical course. It is characterized by diffuse thickened intestinal wall and gastrointestinal-genitourinary-hepatobiliary hollow viscera dilatation and dysmotility. Due to the rarity and the heterogeneity of the clinical characteristics of this syndrome, it is not entirely clear which is the best diagnostic imaging technique for the diagnosis and/or follow-up, even if, in all the described cases, computed tomography (CT) was generally used to study visceral involvement. However, there are no cases describing the visceral metabolic activity by 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG)-positron emission tomography-CT (18FDG-PET-CT). Here, we reported the first clinical case of VMDS studied by 18FDG-PET-CT, characterizing the metabolic activity of this rare syndrome during SLE flare. We found a high intestinal metabolic burden, hyper-fixation in duodenum, and high hepatic metabolic activity. Moreover, we reviewed the literature on VMDS in SLE, focusing on imaging techniques in different anatomical sites (bowel, urinary tract, bile ducts), patients' symptoms, and treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the status of liver [aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)] and kidney (serum creatine) function in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients assuming continuously non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone over a long period.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2022, there were records of 385 AS patients. Of them, 56 were receiving only NSAIDs, and the files of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Blood tests, including serum creatinine, AST, and ALT, were assessed at each visit.

Results: Of the 56 patients, 39 were male. The mean age was 45.30 years, and the follow-up period was 9.80 years. Of them, 44.6% used indomethacin, 26.8% naproxen, 17.9% diclofenac, 5.4% acemethazine, 3.6% meloxicam, and 1.8% celecoxib. The mean baseline serum creatinine was 0.71 mg/dL. The mean baseline serum AST and ALT were 19.6 u/L and 22.9 u/L, respectively. Baseline creatinine, AST, and ALT were not statistically significantly different between sexes. There was a statistically significant difference between mean creatinine concentrations at baseline and at year 3. One patient on naproxen discontinued treatment due to elevated creatinine. The creatinine level decreased during the patient's follow-up. Liver enzymes above 3 times the normal value were not seen in any patient.

Conclusions: Based on real-world data, long-term use of NSAIDs has generally not led to acute liver and kidney injury or progressive impairment of hepatorenal function requiring discontinuation of treatment.

Objective: To describe an intensive and multimodal ultrasound (US) training program focused on Achilles enthesitis and to illustrate the learning curve of trainees without experience.

Methods: Three medical students (trainees) and two rheumatologists experienced in musculoskeletal US (trainers) were involved in the training program, which encompassed one preliminary theoretical-practical meeting and five scanning sessions (two patients per session). The students and one expert performed the US examination of the Achilles enthesis bilaterally. The trainees acquired representative images and assessed the presence of Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) US abnormalities of enthesitis. The experts provided feedback addressing trainees' misinterpretations, and the quality of the acquired images was evaluated. A dedicated questionnaire was used to evaluate the students' confidence. After each session, five sets of static images (total=100 images of most commonly scanned entheses) were provided and scored by the students according to OMERACT US definitions. Total agreement and prevalence and bias adjusted kappa (PABAK) were used to evaluate the concordance between the trainees and the expert sonographer.

Results: The total agreement and PABAK significantly improved between the first and fifth scanning sessions (76.2% versus 92.9%, p<0.01, and 0.5 versus 0.79, p<0.01) and between the first and fifth static image sets (64.5% versus 81.9%, p<0.01, and 0.29 versus 0.74, p<0.01). Image quality did not significantly improve (p=0.34). A significant increase in trainees' confidence was registered (p<0.01).

Conclusions: The described training program rapidly improved the students' performance in the US assessment of Achilles enthesitis, appearing to be an effective starting model for the future development of pathology-oriented teaching programs for the US in rheumatology.

Objective: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic inflammatory diseases and represent the two most important types of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), while spondyloarthritis (SpA) comprises a heterogeneous group of systemic inflammatory chronic rheumatic diseases, including peripheral SpA and axial SpA. Joint manifestations are the most commonly observed extraintestinal manifestations, and they can precede or not the diagnosis of IBD. Notably, in women, misdiagnoses of IBD as irritable bowel syndrome and SpA as fibromyalgia are common, leading to delayed diagnoses, increased disease burden, and poorer prognoses. This narrative review emphasizes the critical role of diagnostic tools in facilitating early referrals of IBD patients with suspected SpA and vice versa to rheumatologists and gastroenterologists, respectively. Special attention is given to the multidisciplinary approach for more effective management of these conditions, particularly in female patients.

Methods: In this narrative review, we critically evaluated the literature on this topic, focusing on papers written in English that address female issues in IBD and SpA.

Results: IBD and SpA are chronic inflammatory disorders often occurring in the same patients. Female patients are often misdiagnosed, and this delay in diagnosis is associated with a higher disease burden and a poorer prognosis.

Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach is needed to enable early referral between gastroenterologists and rheumatologists, as this means a better prognosis for patients with a reduction in the economic and social burden associated with IBD and SpA.

Objective: To review the role of sacro-iliac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), with a focus on gender differences.

Methods: The experience of the authors and the results of an informal literature review are reported.

Results: Inflammatory changes of the sacro-iliac joint are the hallmark of AxSpA. Early, non-radiographic sacroiliitis may be diagnosed with MRI through the assessment of bone marrow edema (BMO) as well as concomitant structural damage. The MRI protocol should include three necessary sequences, i.e., fat-saturated T2-weighted sequences on two orthogonal planes, T1-weighted semi-coronal sequence, and fat-suppressed T1-weighted semi-coronal sequence. Inflammatory changes comprise required signs (BMO and/or osteitis) and additional signs, including synovitis (better defined as joint space enhancement), enthesitis, and capsulitis. Structural changes consist of erosions, sclerosis, fat metaplasia, and ankylosis. Due to mechanical axial strain, inflammatory changes in the sacro-iliac joint can be found in healthy individuals, runners, and patients with nonspecific low back pain. The prevalence of BMO is higher in women during pregnancy and postpartum, even 12 months after childbirth, but the extent and distribution of MRI findings may help in the differential diagnosis. Other challenges in the MRI diagnosis of sacroiliitis are subchondral T2 hyperintensity during developmental age, periarticular sclerosis in healthy subjects, or osteitis condensans ilii, and several pathological conditions that may mimic AxSpA, some of which are more frequently found in women.

Conclusions: The described diagnostic challenges impose a multidisciplinary approach combining imaging findings with clinical and laboratory data.

Objective: The knowledge of ankylosing spondylitis is rising, and more and more attention is being paid to the diagnosis of this pathology in females. The purpose of this narrative review is to emphasize the role of reproductive health in women with ankylosing spondylitis, with particular attention to contraception and fertility.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed to evaluate the reproductive health of women with ankylosing spondylitis.

Results: Oral contraception has been shown to be safe in women with ankylosing spondylitis, with no contraceptive benefits that should be evaluated during counseling. In the literature, there is no strong data regarding fertility in women with ankylosing spondylitis. It seems that these women may have impaired fertility due to reduced ovarian reserve, pharmacological treatments, and reduced sexual activity due to the concern that offspring may contract the disease. A multidisciplinary approach is needed in these women to ensure an adequate evaluation of sexual activity as an important aspect of quality of life and to counsel regarding family planning to address patients' concerns on contraception, fertility desire, and fertility preservation.

Conclusions: Lifestyle factors should be investigated to improve fertility and disease activity without medications. Further trials are needed to investigate the reproductive health of women with ankylosing spondylitis.