Usefulness of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Diagnosing Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Large-Vessel Vasculitis: A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the utility of FDG-PET/CT in diagnosing polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and associated large-vessel vasculitis (LVV). METHODS: We analyzed FDG-PET/CT completed between 2015 and 2019 on patients diagnosed with PMR. For comparisons, patients with PMR were matched 1:1 to controls based on age and gender. FDG-PET/CT had been completed on the controls over the same period. The FDG uptake was scored visually for 17 articular or periarticular sites and 13 vascular sites using a semi-quantitative scoring system (score of 0-3). RESULTS: Eighty-one patients with PMR and eighty-one controls were included (mean age 70.7 (9.8) years; 44.4% women). Significant differences between the PMR and control groups were found at all articular and periarticular sites for the following: (i) the FDG uptake score (p < 0.001 for all locations); (ii) the number of patients per site with significant FDG uptake (score ≥ 2); (iii) the global FDG articular uptake scores (31 [IQR, 21 to 37] versus 6 [IQR, 3 to 10], p < 0.001); and (iv) the number of sites with significant FDG uptake (score ≥ 2) (scores of 0-17) (11 [IQR, 7 to 13] versus 1 [IQR, 0 to 2], p < 0.001). No significant differences in the global FDG vascular uptake scores were found between the patients who were considered isolated PMR and the control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The FDG uptake score and the number of sites with significant FDG uptake could be pertinent criteria for the diagnosis of PMR. Unlike others, we did not confirm the presence of vascular involvement in patients with isolated PMR.

Characteristics of Patients Treated with JAK Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis before versus after VTE Risk Warnings.

BACKGROUND: Baricitinib (BARI) or Tofacitinib (TOFA) were the first Janus Kinase Inhibitors (JAKi) to be marketed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Concerns regarding venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk have emerged during the past years. The aim of the study was to compare the baseline characteristics of patients initiating BARI or TOFA in RA before versus after European Medicine Agency (EMA)'s VTE warnings and to compare real-world persistence with these two drugs. METHODS: In this multicentric cohort study, RA patients initiating BARI or TOFA were included from October 2017, date of BARI marketing authorization in France, to September 2020. Baseline characteristics regarding VTE risk were compared (before vs. after May 2019) by using pre-specified statistical tests. Comparison of persistence was assessed by using propensity-score methods. RESULTS: 232 patients were included; 155 with BARI and 77 with TOFA. Baseline characteristics of patients regarding VTE risk factors were not statistically different when Janus Kinase inhibitor (JAKi) was initiated before vs. after EMA's warnings although a trend towards a lower proportion of VTE history was observed. Five VTE events occurred, four with BARI, one with TOFA. Cumulative persistence rate at 2 years was similar between BARI and TOFA: HR 0.96; 95% Cl: 0.52 to 1.74; p = 0.89. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not show a significant change in patients characteristics starting a JAKi after the EMA's warnings, probably due to a lack of power. Though, the lower proportion of VTE history in patients after May 2019 suggests that rheumatologists have taken into account the potential VTE risk. These results need to be confirmed by further evidence.

Secukinumab and ustekinumab treatment in psoriatic arthritis: results of a direct comparison.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the characteristics of patients (pts) with PsA treated by ustekinumab (UST) or secukinumab (SEK) and to compare real-world persistence of UST and SEK in PsA. METHODS: In this retrospective, national, multicentre cohort study, pts with PsA (CASPAR criteria or diagnosis confirmed by the rheumatologist) initiating UST or SEK with a follow-up ≥6 months were included from January 2011 to April 2019. The persistence between SEK and UST was assessed after considering the potential confounding factors by using pre-specified propensity-score methods. Causes of discontinuation and tolerance were also collected. RESULTS: A total of 406 pts were included: 245 with UST and 161 with SEK. The persistence rate was lower in the UST group compared with the SEK group [median persistence 9.4 vs 14.7 months; 26.4% vs 38.0% at 2 years; weighted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.92; P =0.015]. In subgroup analysis, the persistence rate of SEK associated with MTX was significantly higher than that of UST associated with MTX: HR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.30, 3.51; P =0.001, in contrast to SEK vs UST monotherapy: HR = 1.06; 95% CI: 0.74, 1.53; P =0.75. Discontinuation due to inefficacy was reported in 91.7% (SEK) and 82.4% (UST) of pts. Discontinuation due to an adverse event was reported in 12.2% (SEK) and 7.7% (UST) of pts. CONCLUSION: In this first study comparing UST and SEK, the persistence of SEK was higher than that of UST in PsA. In subgroup analysis, this difference was only found in association with MTX.

Association Between Comorbidities and Quality of Life in Psoriatic Arthritis: Results from a Multicentric Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: In psoriatic arthritis (PsA), comorbidities add to the burden of disease, which may lead to poorer quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between comorbidities and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Patients from a multicentric, cross-sectional study on comorbidities in PsA were included in the analysis. Data on comorbidities were collected and were subsequently used to compute the modified Rheumatic Disease Comorbidity Index (mRDCI). The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 questionnaire physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scales were used to assess QOL. RESULTS: In total, 124 recruited patients fulfilled the ClASsification for Psoriatic ARthritis criteria (CASPAR): 62.1% were male; mean age and mean disease duration were 52.6 ± 12.6 years and 11.3 ± 9.6 years, respectively. The number of comorbid conditions was 2.0 ± 1.3, with 30.6% of the sample having currently or a history of 3 or more comorbidities. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, only anxiety remained significantly related to mental health (p < 0.0001). Anxiety alone accounted for 28.7% of the variance in MCS scores. Moreover, MCS was also significantly associated with the mRDCI score, which explained 4.9% of the variance in MCS [ß = -1.56 (standard error 0.64), R2 = 0.049, p = 0.0167]. In contrast, PCS was not significantly associated either with type or number of comorbidities. CONCLUSION: In this study, the type of comorbidity appeared to have a greater effect than the number of comorbidities. Indeed, anxiety in PsA was independently associated with QOL and would thus be an important factor to take into account in daily clinical practice.

Tocilizumab Effectiveness After Switching from Intravenous to Subcutaneous Route in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: The RoSwitch Study.

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of this work was to assess the maintenance of effectiveness of subcutaneous tocilizumab 6 months after switching from intravenous to subcutaneous formulation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a real-world setting. Secondary objectives aimed to describe the characteristics of patients and disease, the effectiveness at 12 months after switching, the therapeutic maintenance, and to search for predictive factors of switching. METHODS: We analyzed all the RA patients of the shared medical file "RIC Nord de France", treated with tocilizumab, switching or not from intravenous to subcutaneous tocilizumab, between April 2015 and January 2016. The primary effectiveness endpoint was the proportion of patients remaining in their DAS28-ESR category remission/low disease activity (LDA) or moving to an inferior DAS28-ESR category at 6 months. Since RoSwitch was an observational study, without randomization, a propensity score was built in a sensitivity analysis to balance on RA and patients' characteristics at inclusion between switching and no-switching groups. RESULTS: An improvement of initial DAS28-ESR category or maintenance in DAS28-ESR remission/LDA at 6 months was shown in 203 of the 285 patients with an evaluation for the primary criterion (71.2%, 95% CI [65.6-76.4%]) without differences between groups (73.3%, 95% CI [63.0-82.1%] vs. 70.3%, 95% CI [63.3-76.6%]). The RoSwitch study showed the maintenance of effectiveness at 6 and 12 months. Similar therapeutic maintenance rates were observed for switch and no-switch patients. No clinical factor was associated with the switch in patients in remission/LDA at inclusion. CONCLUSIONS: The RoSwitch study showed the maintenance of effectiveness at 6 months in RA patients switching from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) tocilizumab. FUNDING: Roche SAS and Chugai Pharma France.

Abatacept Monotherapy Versus Abatacept Plus Methotrexate for Treatment-Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Methotrexate combination therapy improves abatacept efficacy as a first-line biologic agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but it is unclear when abatacept is used later on, particularly after non-TNF inhibitor (TNFi) failure. STUDY QUESTION: The objective of this study was to determine whether treatment response after non-TNFi inadequate response is different in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with abatacept in combination with or not with methotrexate. METHODS: Patients treated with abatacept monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate after non-TNFi failure were included. RESULTS: Data from 46 patients aged 56 years [49-61] with 12 years [8-16] of disease duration were examined. Rituximab was the treatment used in the previous line for 75.0% of the combination therapy group (15/20) and 34.6% (9/26) in the monotherapy group. At 12 months, 38.5% (10/26) of patients were in good-to-moderate EULAR response in the monotherapy group compared with 25.0% (5/20) in the combination therapy group (P = 0.33). Treatment persistence at 12 months was 61.5% (16/26) in the monotherapy group and 35.0% (7/20) in the combination therapy group (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Adding methotrexate to abatacept did not improve treatment response in patients with RA after non-TNFi inadequate response.

Comparative efficacy of tocilizumab, abatacept and rituximab after non-TNF inhibitor failure: results from a multicentre study.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of tocilizumab, rituximab and abatacept after a non-tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (non-TNFi) failure for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective multi-centre study included patients treated for RA with abatacept, rituximab or tocilizumab after having received in the previous line the first non-TNFi. Data were collected from patient charts. The primary endpoint was the delta Disease Activity Index of 28 joints - erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and DAS28-CRP (C-reactive protein) at 12 months. The relative change in primary outcome measures from baseline were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred patients started a second non-TNFi between 2006 and 2013, including 15 patients treated with rituximab, 36 with tocilizumab and 49 with abatacept. The change of DAS28-ESR was significantly different between the three groups (P = 0.001). In post hoc pairwise comparisons, patients treated with tocilizumab had a higher decrease of the DAS28-ESR than patients treated by abatacept (median [interquartile range: IQR]: 36% [0; 54%] vs. 0% [0; 20%], P = 0.002). A similar non-significant difference was found between tocilizumab and rituximab (median [IQR] decrease: 36% [0; 54%] vs. 0% [-11; 34%], P = 0.07). Similar results were found with the 12 months change in DAS28-CRP. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a better efficacy of tocilizumab compared with abatacept and rituximab in situations of non-TNFi failure.

Streptococcal and enterococcal spondylodiscitis (vertebral osteomyelitis). High incidence of infective endocarditis in 50 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical, biological, and imaging features and outcomes of patients with streptococcal and enterococcal spondylodiscitis (SESD). METHODS: This retrospective study of patients with SESD was carried out in 2 departments of rheumatology from 1990 through 2002. Comparison was made with cases of staphylococcal spondylodiscitis (SSD) seen during the same period, excluding postoperative cases. RESULTS: Fifty cases of SESD were reviewed and compared with 86 cases of SSD. The main finding was a higher frequency of concomitant infective endocarditis in patients with SESD (11/42 vs 1/37; p = 0.009). Evidence of inflammation, imaging features, and neurological impairment at admission appeared to be less severe in SESD, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Duration of treatment was shorter in SESD than in SSD (105 +/- 26 days vs 130 +/- 49 days; p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the high incidence of infective endocarditis (26%) during SESD. Clinicians must look for predisposing factors and clinical abnormalities in patients with spondylodiscitis whenever a streptococcal or enterococcal agent is identified. Echocardiography should be performed as routine in such situations.

Primary amyloidoma of the axis and acute spinal cord compression: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Localized primary amyloidosis is a disease characterized by a single tumor and localized amyloid deposit (amyloidoma) with no evidence of generalized amyloidosis. The occurrence of an amyloidoma in the spine is rare and only three cases affecting the axis have been previously reported. We describe the case of a 79-year-old woman presenting with a mass involving the odontoid process, responsible for an acute tetraparesia. Diagnosis of local primary amyloidosis was made after surgical excision. RESULTS: Despite the critical presentation, outcome was excellent after total excision of the mass. This case can be classified as a primary localized amyloidoma. The patient did not exhibit any infection, tumor or inflammatory disease, and continued investigations failed to demonstrate other amyloid deposit after one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Amyloidoma must be discussed in presence of a tumor-like mass of the odontoid process and may be responsible, as in our case, for spinal cord compression.

Nonpharmacological prevention of osteoporotic fractures.

In postmenopausal women, the nonpharmacological prevention of osteoporotic fractures pursues the dual objective of minimizing bone loss and preventing falls. In women with a low fracture risk, optimizing the dietary intake of calcium is the main nutritional goal. Regular sustained physical activity should be encouraged. In older women, the high risk of proximal femoral fractures warrants a number of preventive measures, including calcium and vitamin D supplementation, correction of protein deficiency if needed, and minimization of the risk of falls. Hip protectors may be useful in institutionalized women at high risk for falls. These nonpharmacological measures should be part of a comprehensive customized management program used to complement standard pharmacological therapy.