Incidence and Prevalence of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis in a Healthcare Management Organization in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate incidence and prevalence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a university hospital-based health management organization (Hospital Italiano Medical Care Program) in Argentina. METHODS: Overall and sex-specific incidence rates (IRs) and prevalence were calculated (age ≥ 50 yrs). Incidence study followed members with continuous affiliation ≥ 1 year from January 2000 to December 2015. Diagnosis as per the 2012 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for PMR or the ACR 1990 criteria for GCA. Prevalence was calculated on January 1, 2015. RESULTS: There were 176,558 persons who contributed a total of 1,046,620 person-years (PY). Of these, 825 developed PMR, with an IR (per 100,000 PY) of 78.8 (95% CI 73.4-84.2) overall, 90.1 (95% CI 82.9-97.2) for women, and 58.9 (95% CI 51.1-66.6) for men. Ninety persons developed GCA; the IR was 8.6 (95% CI 6.8-10.4) overall, 11.1 (95% CI 8.5-10.6) for women, and 4.2 (2.2-6.3) for men. There were 205 prevalent PMR cases and 23 prevalent GCA cases identified from a population of 80,335. Prevalence of PMR was 255 per 100,000 (95% CI 220-290) overall, 280 (95% CI 234-325) for women, and 209 (95% CI 150-262) for men; and the prevalence of GCA was 28.6 per 100,000 (95% CI 16.9-40.3) overall, 36.4 (95% CI 20.1-52.8) for women, and 14.2 (95% CI 0.3-28.1) for men. CONCLUSION: This is the first study of incidence and prevalence of PMR and GCA in Argentina. There were similarities and differences with cohorts from other parts of the world, but population-based epidemiologic studies in Latin America are needed.

Ultrasound-detected tenosynovitis as a risk factor for flares in rheumatoid arthritis patients in clinical remission.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to investigate the value of ultrasound (US) detected synovitis and tenosynovitis as risk factors for short term flare in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in clinical remission. METHODS: Consecutive RA patients in clinical remission (DAS28 ERS < 2.6) for at least 3 months underwent Power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) examination of 1st to 6th extensor compartments at the wrist, 2nd to 5th finger flexor, posterior tibial tendon, and peroneal tendons. To assess synovitis, carpal joints, 1st to 5th metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, and 2nd to 5th interphalangeal proximal (IPP) joints were bilaterally examined. Synovitis and tenosynovitis were defined according to OMERACT. Patients were followed for 1 year. Disease flare was defined as an increase in disease activity generating the need for a change in therapy by the attending rheumatologist. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included. After 1 year of follow-up, 26 patients (29%) experienced a flare. At baseline 39%, 23% and 8% had US-detected synovitis, tenosynovitis or both, respectively. In the 1-year period after the baseline US examination, US-detected tenosynovitis (RR: 4.9; 95% CI: 2.2-10.8) was associated with an increased risk of exacerbation. This association was not shown with US-detected synovitis (RR: 1.3; 95% CI: 0.76-2.2). In the multivariate analysis, only subclinical tenosynovitis (OR: 9.8; 95% CI: 2.5-39.1; p = 0.001) and baseline DAS28 (OR: 5.7; 95% CI: 1.1-31.6; p = 0.047) were significantly associated with an increased risk of having a flare. CONCLUSION: In our study, subclinical tenosynovitis was associated with disease flare in patients with RA in clinical remission. KEY POINTS: • Synovitis and tenosynovitis are risk factors for short term flare in RA patients in clinical remission. • Subclinical tenosynovitis, but not synovitis, was associated with disease flare in patients with unstable remission. • Ultrasound-detected tenosynovitis could be useful to predict relapses in RA patients in clinical remission.

Performance of Ultrasonography Compared to Conventional Radiography for the Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis in Patients With Knee Pain.

Purpose: To investigate the performance of ultrasonography (US) for the detection of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in patients suffering from knee pain, compared to conventional radiographs. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed at a university teaching hospital. Consecutive patients complaining of unilateral or bilateral mechanical knee pain who signed an informed consent were included. All patients underwent simultaneously an ultrasonographic and a radiographic evaluation of the knee. Exclusion criteria were age under 18 years, prior diagnosis of knee OA, diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis, history of knee surgery or trauma, severe knee deformities, and corticosteroid injection within the last 2 months. The diagnostic properties of US for the detection of knee OA were evaluated using radiological data as the reference method. Evaluated test properties were sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR+ and LR-). Results: Three-hundred twenty-two knees (281 patients) were included. Radiographic degenerative changes were present in 56.8% (183) of the evaluated knees. Regarding the diagnostic properties of the US, the presence of either osteophytes or the compromise of the femoral hyaline cartilage had the best sensitivity to detect OA (95%), with a NPV of 92% and a LR- of 0,07, while the combined identification of osteophytes and compromise of the femoral hyaline cartilage had the best specificity (94%), with 94% PPV and a LR+ of 13. Conclusion: US demonstrated an excellent sensitivity with an adequate specificity for the detection of radiographic knee OA.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient's Journey: Delay in Diagnosis and Treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to establish delay times from articular symptoms onset to first rheumatologist consultation, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis, and treatment initiation with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy and to assess the impact of delayed diagnosis on structural damage. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study. Rheumatoid arthritis adult patients treated in a private health system between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2016, were included. Electronic medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical and demographic data, dates of first disease symptom, diagnosis, and date of first treatment with DMARDs. Physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire) and structural damage (Sharp score modified by van der Heijde) were also assessed. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-six patients (81% female), with a mean age of 67.25 (standard deviation [SD], 14.53) years, were included. At the end of follow-up period, median Health Assessment Questionnaire (n = 145) and radiological scores (n = 171) were 0.125 (interquartile range, 0-0.87) and 15 (interquartile range, 6-33), respectively. A mean of 9.2 (SD, 20) months (median, 3 months) elapsed from the first disease symptom to rheumatologist consultation, 14.2 (SD, 24) months (median, 4.8 months) to RA diagnosis, and 16.9 (SD, 25.4) months (median, 7 months) to treatment initiation with DMARDs. Significantly greater structural damage was found in patients with a diagnosis delay of more than 12 months (n = 70) (p = 0.0325). CONCLUSIONS: Despite good access to medical consultation in a private health system, there is still a delay to RA diagnosis and to start pharmacological therapy. A delay of more than 12 months was significantly associated with greater radiological damage after 5 years of follow-up.

Incidence and prevalence of granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis in health management organization in Argentina: a 15-year study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to estimate incidence and prevalence rates of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) using data from a university hospital-based health management organization (HIMCO) in Latin America. METHODS: Multiple methods for case finding were used to ensure complete ascertainment. GPA was diagnosed if fulfilling ACR 1990 criteria or a clinical diagnosis was made by an experienced rheumatologist. For MPA, a clinical diagnosis made by an experienced rheumatologist in concordance with Chapel Hill 2012 consensus. Renal limited vasculitis (RLV) ANCA-P positive was considered along with MPA. Global, age-specific, and sex-specific incidence and prevalence rates were calculated for members of the HIMCO with continuous affiliation ≥ 1 year from January 2000 to January 2015. Each person was followed up until GPA or MPA were diagnosed, voluntarily withdraw of the HIMCO, death, or study finalization. Prevalence was calculated on January 1, 2015. RESULTS: Nineteen incident cases of GPA and 28 of MPA were identified from January 2000 to January 2015. During this period, a total of 349,775 HIMCO persons contributed a total of 2,073,438 person-years. GPA and MPA overall incidence rate per 1,000,000 person-years were 9 (95% CI 5-13) and 14 (95% CI 9-19), respectively. Age-specific incidence rates in both female and male patients peaked in the seventh decade of life in our population. On January 1, 2015, prevalence rates were 7.4 per 100,000 (95% CI 2.8-12) for GPA and 5.2 per 100,000 (95% CI 1.3-9) for MPA. Prevalence rates were higher in ages over 70 for both genders and both diseases. CONCLUSION: In this first study from Latin America, incidence and prevalence rates were in ranges of previous reports from other sites of the world. In our population, GPA and MPA were more frequent in women and in older ages, and the incidence of MPA was higher than that of GPA. Key points • In Argentina, MPA incidence was higher than GPA, similar to that reported in other parts of the world. • Prevalence and incidence rates were higher in ages over 70 for both sexes and both diseases.

Tenosinovitis subclínica detectada por ecografía en pacientes con artritis reumatoidea en remisión clínica sostenida / Subclinical tenosynovitis detected by ultrasound in patients with rheumatoid arthritis under sustained clinical remission

El objetivo fue evaluar la prevalencia de tenosinovitis detectada por ecografía-doppler en pacientes con Artritis Reumatoidea (AR) en remisión clínica sostenida, determinar su asociación con las características de la enfermedad y determinar si la presencia de tenosinovitis ecográfica podría agregar información a la sinovitis para definir remisión ecográfica. Se incluyeron 60 pacientes con AR en remisión clínica (DAS28 <2,6, CDAI <2,8 y/o SDAI <3,3) sostenida a quienes se les realizó una ecografía con señal doppler de poder (DP). Un reumatólogo entrenado evaluó en forma bilateral: 1°-6° compartimentos extensores a nivel del carpo, 2°-5° tendones flexores de los dedos de las manos, tibial posterior, peroneo lateral corto y largo. A nivel articular se evaluaron en forma bilateral: carpo, 2°-5° metacarpofalángicas y 2°-5° interfalángicas proximales. Se definió remisión ecográfica a la ausencia de sinovitis en escala de grises (EG) grado ≥2 y la ausencia de señal DP a nivel articular o tendinoso. Se detectó tenosinovitis por EG grado ≥2 y señal DP ≥1 en 14 (23%; IC 95%: 12-34) y 13 (21,7%; IC 95%: 10-32) pacientes, respectivamente. Los tendones más frecuentemente afectados fueron: 6° compartimento extensor del carpo, tibial posterior y 3° tendón flexor tibial posterior. En el análisis multivariado, la única variable que se asoció con la presencia de tenosinovitis por ecografía-doppler fue la ERS (OR: 1,11; IC 95%: 1,02-1,22). Veintinueve pacientes (48,3%; IC 95%: 35-60) presentaron sinovitis subclínica y no fueron clasificados como AR en remisión ecográfica. La adición de la información brindada por la presencia de tenosinovitis subclínica, permitió clasificar 6 pacientes más sin remisión ecográfica, arrojando un total de 35 pacientes (58,3%; IC 95%: 45-70) (p=0,272).

The aims were to evaluate prevalence of ultrasound (US) tenosynovitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients in sustained clinical remission, its association with disease features and to assess whether the presence of tenosynovitis could add information to synovitis to define ultrasound (US) remission. Sixty consecutive RA patients in sustained (≥12 months) clinical remission (DAS28 <2.6, CDAI <2.8 and/or SDAI <3.3) were included. All patients underwent US examination by the same experienced rheumatologist. The following were bilaterally assessed: 1st-6th extensor tendon compartments at wrist level, 2nd-5th finger flexor tendons, posterior tibial, peroneal tendons, wrists, 2nd-5th metacarpophalangeal and 2nd-5th proximal interphalangeal. US remission was defined as the absence of synovitis on gray scale (GS ≥2) and the absence of power doppler (PD) signal at both joint and tendon level. Grey scale ≥2 and PD tenosynovitis were detected in 14 (23%; 95% CI: 12-34) and 13 (21.7%; 95% CI: 10-32) RA patients in clinical remission, respectively. The most frequent involved tendons were: 6th extensor wrist compartment, 3rd finger flexor and posterior tibials. In multivariate analysis, the only feature associated with the presence of subclinical tenosynovitis was erythrosedimentation rate (ESR)(OR: 1.11; 1.02-1.22). Twenty-nine (48.3%; 95% CI: 35-60) patients had subclinical synovitis and were not classified as in US remission. Adding the information of subclinical tenosynovitis, 6 more patients would have been classified as not in US remission, yielding a total of 35 patients (58.3%; 95% CI: 45-70) (p=0.272).