Comprehensive review on intravertebral intraspinal, intrajoint, and intradiscal vacuum phenomenon: From anatomy and physiology to pathology.

The term 'vacuum phenomenon' (VP), is characterized by gas-like density areas due to a rapid increase in the joint space volume ('acute VP') or represent a chronic gas collection. It can occur within a collapsed vertebral body, the spinal canal, joints but mainly the intervertebral disc. Studies support that VP is originated by a dynamic process involving the balance between tissues' liquid and gaseous components, influenced by the duration and the depth of mechanical and metabolic alterations, by the nature of neighboring tissues and the variability in both pressure and permeability of disc or vertebral or joint structures. Prevalence of VP in the general population is about 2%, reaching 20% in the elderly with disc degeneration. Although it's often a random finding in asymptomatic patients, VP is an eventually painful expression of disc degeneration, or disc or vertebral fracture, or bone lesions. In sporadic cases, intradiscal gas can be expelled (all-in-one or gradually), resulting in a gaseous cyst, causing pain and neurological symptoms. Considering that spontaneous resolution and recurrence after surgery are both possible, most of the authors recommend conservative treatment in patients with intradiscal and intravertebral VP; occasionally percutaneous CT(computed tomography) -guided aspiration or vertebral stabilization.

Alveolar haemorrhage in ANCA-associated vasculitis: Long-term outcome and mortality predictors.

INTRODUCTION: Alveolar haemorrhage (AH) is considered an important cause of morbidity and early mortality in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of outcome in patients with AH-AAV and to evaluate outcome and causes of death in this subset. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 29 Italian Centers. Clinicians were asked to recruit all patients diagnosed with AAV-associated AH during the last 10 years, from 2007 to 2016. Univariate and multivariable analysis were performed. RESULTS: One-hundred and six patients were included (median age at onset of 55 years [IQR 42-67]). The majority were ANCA-positive (PR3 57.1%, MPO 33.7%) and 72.6% had also renal involvement. At presentation, anaemia was shown in 97 (92.4%) patients, hemoptysis in 54 (51.9%), respiratory failure in 68 (66.7%), of whom 48 (70.6%), requiring respiratory support. At the end of the 37 months [IQR 13-77] follow-up, 19/106 (17.9%) patients were dead. The main causes of death were active disease and infections. By stepwise regression analysis, age >65 years (HR 3.66 [95% CI 1.4-9.51], p = 0.008) and the need for respiratory support (HR 4.58 [95% CI 1.51-13.87], p = 0.007) at AH onset were confirmed to be predictive of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Predictors of outcome in AAV-AH were determined. Factors related to the patient's performance status and the severity of the lung involvement strongly influenced the outcome. Balancing harms and benefits for the individual patient in induction and maintenance treatment strategies is crucial.

Management of hyperuricemia in asymptomatic patients: A critical appraisal.

While there is consensus on starting urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in cases of symptomatic hyperuricemia, the frequent condition of asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) remains a challenge due to differences in the findings of studies that have addressed the issue. Uric acid has anti-oxidant properties, but high levels predispose to gout and may play a role in metabolic syndrome. We systematically evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) addressing ULT in patients with AH, to assess the current evidence. We found broad heterogeneity among the studies (13 RCTs), in terms of study design and population, making findings challenging to interpret and generalize; hard end-points were not assessed. Allopurinol is often prescribed for AH despite the fact that its use is not backed by conclusive evidence from prospective RCTs, nor is it recommended by the guidelines. Its potential benefits, in terms of absolute risk reduction, must be weighed against its potential for harm since it can trigger severe adverse hypersensitivity reactions, sometimes even fatal. RCTs with hard end-points are needed to assess the risk/benefit of lowering uric acid in subjects with AH, particularly as secondary prevention for cardiovascular risk and in patients with different degrees of renal disease. To date, particularly after the result from the CARES trial, preventive treatment of asymptomatic and non-severe hyperuricemia is not recommended.

The profiling of axial spondyloarthritis patient candidate to a biologic therapy: Consensus from a Delphi-panel of Italian experts.

OBJECTIVE: The project aimed to collect expert consensus statements for the profiling of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) candidate to biologic agents (bDMARDs) treatment, in order to better define the drivers for the best treatment choice. METHODS: The 6 more interesting topics about axSpA patient profiling were identified by the project steering committee and a panel of axSpA Italian experts. A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed for each of the selected topics according to the PICO format. Two rounds of a modified Delphi process were conducted. In the 1st round, the steering committee evaluated the results of the SLR in order to formulate statements for each topic. In the 2nd round, the experts panel discussed, rephrased when needed, and voted the level of agreement (on a 5-point Likert-type scale) for each statement. Consensus was defined as ≥66% agreement. RESULTS: The topics selected for the analysis were the differential efficacy of available bDMARDs on enthesitis/dactylitis, uveitis, radiographic progression and cardiovascular involvement, and the clinical response in non radiographic-axSpA and in patients receiving a second-line bDMARD. The Delphi rounds formulated 19 statements, all reaching the defined level of consensus in a second round including 25 rheumatologists highly skilled in the management of axSpA. CONCLUSION: Identified consensus statements can help clinicians to apply to routine-care settings the results from clinical studies and international recommendations, providing a guide for individualization of treatment strategy in axSpA patients.

Clinical heterogeneity of SAPHO syndrome: challenging diagnose and treatment.

Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a rare disease which is often misdiagnosed and under-recognized, because of its peculiar and heterogeneous clinical presentation. Its main features consist of cutaneous and osteoarticular manifestations, the latter affecting more often the anterior chest wall and having typical radiologic findings. There are no validated diagnostic criteria for SAPHO and no guidelines for treatment, due mainly to its rarity; as a consequence, therapy is empirical and aimed to control pain and modifying inflammatory process. To date, the use of anti-TNF agents has been proved to be a valid alternative for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments, such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids, DMARDs and biphosphonates. The clinical heterogeneity of the disease, possibly due to differences in pathogenic mechanism of different manifestations, is challenging for both diagnosis and treatment, which should aim to control both skin and bone involvement in different clinical subsets. Here, we summarize the current status of knowledge about the SAPHO syndrome and present two cases of patients with very different disease manifestations, suggesting the need for personalized treatment.