Prevalence, demographics, and clinical characteristics of Latin American patients with spondyloarthritis

Abstract Large epidemiologic and clinical estimates of spondyloarthritis (SpA) in Latin America are not available. In this narrative review, our goal was to descriptively summarize the prevalence and features of SpA in Latin America, based on available small studies. A review of peer-reviewed literature identified 41 relevant publications. Of these, 11 (mostly based on Mexican data) estimated the prevalence of SpA and its subtypes, which varied from 0.28 to 0.9% (SpA), 0.02 to 0.8% (ankylosing spondylitis), 0.2 to 0.9% (axial SpA), and 0.004 to 0.08% (psoriatic arthritis). Demographic and/or clinical characteristics were reported in 31 of the 41 publications, deriving data from 3 multinational studies, as well as individual studies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Data relating to treatment, disease manifestations (articular and extra-articular), and comorbidities were summarized across the countries. Available data suggest that there is a variability in prevalence, manifestations, and comorbidities of SpA across Latin America. Basic epidemiologic and clinical data are required from several countries not currently represented. Data relating to current treatment approaches, patient outcomes, and socioeconomic impact within this large geographic region are also needed.(AU)

Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis: revisiting screening of latent tuberculosis infection and its follow-up during anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in an endemic area

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively evaluate the performance and distinctive pattern of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) screening and treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) under anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy and determine the relevance of re-exposure and other risk factors for TB development. METHODS: A total of 135 and 83 patients with AS and PsA, respectively, were evaluated for LTBI treatment before receiving anti-TNF drugs via the tuberculin skin test (TST), chest radiography, and TB exposure history assessment. All subjects were evaluated for TB infection at 3-month intervals. RESULTS: The patients with AS were more often treated for LTBI than were those with PsA (42% versus 30%, p=0.043). The former also presented a higher frequency of TST positivity (93% versus 64%, p=0.002), although they had a lower frequency of exposure history (18% versus 52%, p=0.027) and previous TB (0.7% versus 6%, p=0.03). During follow-up [median, 5.8 years; interquartile range (1QR), 2.2-9.0 years], 11/218 (5%) patients developed active TB (AS, n=7; PsA, n=4). TB re-exposure was the main cause in seven patients (64%) after 12 months of therapy (median, 21.9 months; IQR, 14.2-42.8 months) and five LTBI-negative patients. TB was identified within the first year in four patients (36.3%) (median, 5.3 months; IQR, 1.2-8.8 months), two of whom were LTBI-positive. There was no difference in the TB-free survival according to the anti-TNF drug type/class; neither synthetic drug nor prednisone use was related to TB occurrence (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Known re-exposure is the most critical factor for incident TB cases in spondyloarthritis. There are also some distinct features in AS and PsA LTBI screening, considering the higher frequency of LTBI and TST positivities in patients with AS. Annual risk reassessment taking into consideration these peculiar features and including the TST should be recommended for patients in endemic countries.

The link between ankylosing spondylitis and oral health conditions: two nested case-control studies using data of the UK Biobank

Abstract Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects the axial skeleton and the sacroiliac joints. Recent studies investigated the link between AS and oral diseases, particularly periodontitis. Others suggested that periodontitis may have a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between AS and oral conditions. Material and Methods: This research was conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number 26307. The UK Biobank recruited around 500000 participants throughout Great Britain. Clinical records were available for 2734 participants. Two case-control studies were conducted based on whether AS was self-reported or clinically diagnosed. Oral conditions were identified using self-reported reports of oral ulcers, painful gums, bleeding gums, loose teeth, toothache, and dentures. The association between AS and oral conditions was assessed using logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, educational level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and body mass index. Results: A total of 1307 cases and 491503 control participants were eligible for the self-reported AS study. The mean age was 58 years for the cases [7.5 standard deviation (SD)] and 57 years for the control groups (8.1 SD). Also, 37.1% of the cases and 54.2% of the control participants were females. Among the oral conditions, only oral ulcers were strongly associated with AS [1.57 adjusted odds ratio (OR); 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31 to 1.88]. For the study of clinically diagnosed AS, 153 cases and 490351 control participants were identified. The mean age for both cases and control groups was 57 years; 7.6 SD for the cases and 8.1 for the control group. Females corresponded to 26.1% of the cases, and 54.2% of the control participants. Clinically diagnosed AS was associated with self-reported oral ulcers (2.17 adjusted OR; 95% CI 1.33 to 3.53). Conclusion: Self-reported and clinically diagnosed AS populations have increased risk of reporting oral ulcers. Further investigations are required to assess the link between a specific type of oral condition and AS.

Mercury Exposure in a Riverside Amazon Population, Brazil: A Study of the Ototoxicity of Methylmercury

Introduction Mercury poisoning causes hearing loss in humans and animals. Acute and long-term exposures produce irreversible peripheral and central auditory system damage, and mercury in its various forms of presentation in the environment is ototoxic. Objective We investigated the otoacoustic emissions responses in a riverside population exposed to environmental mercury by analyzing the inhibitory effect of the medial olivocochlear system (MOCS) on transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). Methods The purpose of the research was to evaluate the entire community independently of variables of sex and age. All of the participants were born and lived in a riverside community. After otolaryngologic evaluation, participants were received tympanometry, evaluation of contralateral acoustic reflexes, pure tone audiometry, and recording of TEOAEs with nonlinear click stimulation. Hair samples were collect to measure mercury levels. Results There was no significant correlation between the inhibitory effect of the MOCS, age, and the level of mercury in the hair. Conclusions The pathophysiological effects of chronic exposure may be subtle and nonspecific and can have a long period of latency; therefore, it will be important to monitor the effects of mercury exposure in the central auditory system of the Amazon population over time. Longitudinal studies should be performed to determine whether the inhibitory effect of the MOCS on otoacoustic emissions can be an evaluation method and diagnostic tool in populations exposed to mercury. .

Frecuencia de alelos HLA de clase I y II en una cohorte de pacientes con espondiloartritis provenientes del noroccidente colombiano / Frequency of HLA alleles class I and II in a cohort of northwestern Colombian patients with spondyloarthritis

Introducción. Las espondiloartritis son enfermedades reumatológicas crónicas que afectan el esqueleto axial y las articulaciones periféricas, con varias manifestaciones extraarticulares. La asociación con el HLA-B27 sigue siendo uno de los vínculos más fuertes conocidos entre estas entidades y el complejo mayor de histocompatibilidad; sin embargo, la distribución mundial del HLA-B27 varía considerablemente y se han descrito asociaciones con genes no HLA-B27. Objetivo. Conocer la frecuencia de alelos HLA de clase I y II en pacientes con espondiloartritis provenientes del noroccidente colombiano y su frecuencia en las manifestaciones clínicas y radiológicas específicas. Materiales y métodos. Se condujo un estudio descriptivo, observacional, de corte transversal, retrospectivo y prospectivo entre 2005 y 2008 de 56 pacientes colombianos con espondiloartritis. Se identificaron los alelos correspondientes a los loci HLA de clase I y II (HLA-B, HLADQB1 y HLADRB). Se analizó su frecuencia con las manifestaciones clínicas axiales, periféricas, extraarticulares y radiológicas. Resultados. Se encontró una baja frecuencia de HLA-B27 en la población total (50 %), aunque fue el alelo más frecuente, junto con HLA-DRB4*01 (35,7 %) y HLA-DQB1*0501 (28,6 %), en todos los pacientes en general y en cada una de las manifestaciones clínicas y radiológicas. Se resalta la alta frecuencia de HLA-B27 y HLA-DRB4*01 (64,3 %) en pacientes con dactilitis, hallazgo novedoso sin previa descripción. Conclusión. Los alelos HLA-B27, HLA-DRB4*01 y HLA-DQB1*0501 fueron frecuentes en los diferentes subtipos de espondiloartritis y en las manifestaciones clínicas axiales, periféricas y extraarticulares específicas, además de la sacroiliítis radiológica.

Introduction. Spondyloarthritis is a chronic rheumatic disease that affect the axial skeleton and peripheral joints, along with several extra-articular manifestations. The association with HLA-B27 remains one of the strongest known links between these entities and the major histocompatibility complex. However, the global distribution of HLA-B27 varies considerably and furthermore, associations with non-HLA-B27 genes have been described. Objective. The frequency of HLA class I and II was determined in a population of patients with spondyloarthritis with respect to detection in the clinical setting and by radiology. Materials and methods. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, retrospective and prospective study was conducted in 56 patients from northwestern Colombia. Each was diagnosed with spondyloarthritis between 2005 and 2008. In each case, alleles were identified for the loci HLA class I and II (HLA-B; HLADQB1 and HLADRB). The frequency of these alleles in the axial, peripheral, extraarticular and radiological manifestations. Results.The frequency of HLA-B27 was 50% overall, and it was the most frequent allele. The two other alleles were HLA.DRB4*01 at 35.7% and HLA-DQB1*0501 at 28.6%, as detected in each of the clinical and radiological manifestations. A high frequency of HLA-B27 and HLA-DRB4*01 (64.3%) was noted in patients with dactylitis. Conclusion. The alleles HLA-B27, HLA-DRB4*01 and HLA-DQB1*0501 were common in the different subtypes of spondyloarthritis and were frequent in the specific clinical axial, peripheral and extraarticular clinical manifestations, as well as radiological sacroiliitis.

Gender differences in ankylosing spondylitis-associated cumulative healthcare utilization: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is one of the most common rheumatic diseases with gender differences in prevalence and clinical presentation. This study aimed to examine whether such gender differences are correlated with cumulative healthcare utilization in Taiwan. METHODS: The National Health Insurance Research Database supplied claim records of one million individuals from 1996 to 2007. Selected cases included patients aged >16 years. Certified rheumatologists diagnosed the patients in three or more visits and gave prescriptions for AS. Multivariate adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the influence of gender on cumulative healthcare utilization associated with AS. RESULTS: The study included 228 women and 636 men. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, men had more cumulative outpatient visits associated with AS (odds ratio, 1.59; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.13 -2.23; p = 0.008). Men also exhibited a trend for higher frequency of AS-related hospitalization (p = 0.054). CONCLUSION: Men are more likely to have high cumulative AS-associated healthcare utilization than women. Further investigation of the causal factors is warranted.

Distribution of HLA-B*27 alleles in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Iran

HLA-B*27 is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis [AS]. It represents a family of alleles that differ among ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HLA-B*27 alleles in AS patients and healthy controls in Isfahan [Iran]. Sixty AS patients and 430 healthy blood donors were selected. All subjects were HLA-B*27 positive by flow cytometry. HLA-B*27 subtypes were determined by PCR-SSP. Forty patients [66.7%] and 17 controls [3.95%] were HLA-B*27 positive. Subtypes detected by PCR-SSP were B*2705, B*2702, B*2704 and B*2707. One patient was B*2702/B*2710. No significant difference was found in the distribution of these alleles between AS patients and controls. Although Caucasian subtypes are predominant among Iranians, this population is characterized by a combination of both specific Caucasian and Oriental subtypes. However such results should be interpreted carefully because of the small sample size in our investigation and definitive conclusion awaits more ethnic-group studies

Uveíte das espondiloartropatias: prevalência e relação com doença articular / Uveitis and spondyloarthritis: prevalence and relationship with joint disease

OBJETIVOS: Estudar a prevalência de uveítes na população local de espondiloartropatias e sua relação temporal com achados articulares. MÉTODOS: Foram revisados prontuários de 77 pacientes com espondiloartropatias atendidos no ambulatório de reumatologia do Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba, para diagnóstico do tipo de espondiloartropatia, sexo, idade, presença e tipo de uveite, tempo decorrido entre as primeiras manifestações oculares e as articulares. RESULTADOS: Uveíte foi encontrada em 12 dos 77 pacientes (15,6 por cento), sendo anterior em 83,3 por cento dos casos. O aparecimento da uveíte foi semelhante em todas as formas de espondiloartropatia (p=0,27) e não sofreu influência do sexo do paciente (p=0,74). O tempo médio de aparecimento dos sintomas oculares em relação ao diagnóstico articular foi de 4,04 meses para artrite reativa e 73 meses para espondilite anquilosante (p=0,009). CONCLUSÕES: A uveíte encontrada em pacientes com espondiloartropatia é, na sua grande maioria, anterior. O aparecimento da uveíte em relação aos sintomas articulares é mais precoce em casos de artrite reativa do que em espondilite anquilosante.

PURPOSE: To study uveitis prevalence in the local population with spondyloarthritis and its temporal relationship with joint complaints. METHODS: We reviewed seventy-seven charts of spondyloarthropathy patients from the rheumatology clinic of the "Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba" for spondyloarthritis class, patients' sex and age, occurrence of uveitis and its location and relationship between the first episode of uveitis and initial joint complaints. RESULTS: Uveitis was found in 12 of 77 patients (15.6 percent) which was anterior in 83.3 percent of the cases, without preference for spondyloarthropathy class (p=0.72) and patients' sex (p=0.74). In patients with reactive arthritis, the mean time between uveitis appearance and joint complaints was 4.04 months and in ankylosing spondylitis 73 months (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Spondyloarthropathy patients have uveitis that is anterior in most of the cases and that appears earlier in reactive arthritis than in ankylosing spondylitis.

Espondilite anquilosante: aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos / Ankylosing spomdylitis: clinical and epidemiological aspects

Os autores enumeram os pricipais índices de prognóstico, atividade de doença, gravidade de doença, incapacidade física e mortalidade da espondilite anquilosante. Fazem uma revisäo da prevalência, distribuiçäo sexual, racial e etária da espondilite anquilosante, bem como da sua história natural e do seu diagnóstico clínico,laboratorial (inclusive o HLA B27) e imagenológico. Dessa forma procuram descrever o impacto da morbidade da doença na qualidade de vida dos espondilíticos, além do impacto da mortalidade da doença na quantidade de vida dos seus portadores

Espondilite anquilosante: estudo epidemiológico em trinta casos / Ankylosing spondylitis: epidemiology study in 30 cases

Os autores estudaram 30 pacientes com espondilite anquilosante, usando os critérios de Roma e de Nova York. eles correlacionaram a presença de HLA-B27 com idade, sexo, grupo étnico e local de nascimento. A alta prevalência desta doença em näo-caucasóides possivelmente reflete a heterogeneidade étnica de nossa populaçäo

Rheumatic diseases other than rheumatic fever.

A total of 101 cases of rheumatic diseases collected during a period of six months from a hospital population have been analysed. These did not include rheumatic fever. Paediatric age group up to age of 12 years was not included in the series. Rheumatoid arthritis has been found to be the commonest condition, constituting 60 cases. Cervical spondylosis was next in common (24 cases). Ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis constituted nine and six cases respectively. Emphasis has been laid on the bizarre manifestation of cervical spondylosis. The study, in spite of limitations throws some light on the relative frequency of rheumatic diseases other than rheumatic fever in Bangladesh.

Rheumatic diseases other than rheumatic fever.

A total of 101 cases of rheumatic diseases collected during a period of six months from a hospital population have been analysed. These did not include rheumatic fever. Paediatric age group up to age of 12 years was not included in the series. Rheumatoid arthritis has been found to be the commonest condition, constituting 60 cases. Cervical spondylosis was next in common (24 cases). Ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis constituted nine and six cases respectively. Emphasis has been laid on the bizarre manifestation of cervical spondylosis. The study, in spite of limitations throws some light on the relative frequency of rheumatic diseases other than rheumatic fever in Bangladesh.