Modified technique for obtaining mediastinal samples with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: results from a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a widely-accepted method for obtaining both benign and malignant mediastinal lymph node samples. We present the results obtained with a modification that simplifies sampling, known as fine-needle capillary sampling or EBUS-FNC. METHODS: A prospective observational study with 44 consecutive patients who underwent EBUS at the University of Navarra Clinic in Pamplona (Spain). All samples were obtained by EBUS-FNC instead of by conventional EBUS-TBNA. No suction was used, and the internal stylus was not completely withdrawn at any time. RESULTS: The examination of the mediastinum by means of EBUS identified the presence of lymphadenopathies or mediastinal masses in 38 patients (86.4%). Samples were taken from more than one lymph node in 23 patients (52.3%). EBUS-FNC provided adequate and representative material for interpretation in all patients, and diagnostic performance was 87%. Sensitivity for the detection of lung cancer with EBUS-FNC was 84%. Mild complications were only recorded in two patients (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that EBUS-FNC is a safe technique, comparable to EBUS-TBNA in efficacy, and is able to obtain adequate samples.

Anticuerpos antipéptidos cíclicos citrulinados como marcadores de diagnóstico y actividad en artritis reumatoidea temprana / Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies as diagnostic and activity markers in early rheumatoid artritis

Objetivos: Determinar el valor diagnóstico de los Ac aCCP de segunday tercera generación para AR de reciente comienzo y compararloscon el valor diagnóstico del FR. Evaluar la actividad de la enfermedadmediante el score DAS28 al establecer el diagnóstico de AR. Resultados: Se analizaron los datos de 149 pacientes (75,3% mujeres y 24,7% varones). La edad media de los pacientes fue 58 ± 14. Al final del estudio, 61 (40,9%) cumplieron criterios para AR. Los valores de cribaje de estos anticuerpos demuestran una sensibilidad superior para las dos generaciones de Ac aCCP con respecto al FR, con una specificidad similar para todos los anticuerpos. La actividad de la enfermedad al momentodel diagnóstico medida por DAS28 fue similar en todos los grupos. Conclusiones: Los resultados indican que no existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los valores de cribaje entre los Ac anti CCP de las dos generaciones para el diagnóstico de AR. Los valores de cribaje de estos anticuerpos demuestran una sensibilidadsuperior para las dos generaciones de Ac aCCP con respecto al FR, con una especificidad similar para todos los anticuerpos. No hubo diferencias en la actividad de la enfermedad al inicio.

Objetives: To determine the diagnostic value of Ac ACCP second and third generation in the early AR compared to the diagnostic value of FR. To assess disease activity by DAS28 score to establish the diagnosis of RA.Results: We analyzed data from 149 patients (75.3% women and 24.7% males). The average age of patients was 58 ± 14. At the end of the study, 61 (40.9%) met criteria for RA. The values of screening for these antibodies demonstrated a higher sensitivity for the two generations of Ac aCCP with respect to the FR, with a similar specificity for all antibodies. Disease activity at diagnosis by DAS28 score wassimilar in all groups. Conclusions: The results indicate that there were no statistically significant differences among two generations of Ac aCCP for the diagnosis of RA, with a large difference with respect to the RF. Thevalues of screening for these antibodies demonstrated a higher sensitivity for the two generations of Ac aCCP with respect to the FR, with a similar specificity for all antibodies. The activity at the onset of the disease was similar for all the groups.

Anticuerpos antipéptidos cíclicos citrulinados como marcadores de diagnóstico y actividad en artritis reumatoidea temprana / Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies as diagnostic and activity markers in early rheumatoid artritis

Objetivos: Determinar el valor diagnóstico de los Ac aCCP de segunday tercera generación para AR de reciente comienzo y compararloscon el valor diagnóstico del FR. Evaluar la actividad de la enfermedadmediante el score DAS28 al establecer el diagnóstico de AR. Resultados: Se analizaron los datos de 149 pacientes (75,3% mujeres y 24,7% varones). La edad media de los pacientes fue 58 ± 14. Al final del estudio, 61 (40,9%) cumplieron criterios para AR. Los valores de cribaje de estos anticuerpos demuestran una sensibilidad superior para las dos generaciones de Ac aCCP con respecto al FR, con una specificidad similar para todos los anticuerpos. La actividad de la enfermedad al momentodel diagnóstico medida por DAS28 fue similar en todos los grupos. Conclusiones: Los resultados indican que no existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los valores de cribaje entre los Ac anti CCP de las dos generaciones para el diagnóstico de AR. Los valores de cribaje de estos anticuerpos demuestran una sensibilidadsuperior para las dos generaciones de Ac aCCP con respecto al FR, con una especificidad similar para todos los anticuerpos. No hubo diferencias en la actividad de la enfermedad al inicio.(AU)

Objetives: To determine the diagnostic value of Ac ACCP second and third generation in the early AR compared to the diagnostic value of FR. To assess disease activity by DAS28 score to establish the diagnosis of RA.Results: We analyzed data from 149 patients (75.3% women and 24.7% males). The average age of patients was 58 ± 14. At the end of the study, 61 (40.9%) met criteria for RA. The values of screening for these antibodies demonstrated a higher sensitivity for the two generations of Ac aCCP with respect to the FR, with a similar specificity for all antibodies. Disease activity at diagnosis by DAS28 score wassimilar in all groups. Conclusions: The results indicate that there were no statistically significant differences among two generations of Ac aCCP for the diagnosis of RA, with a large difference with respect to the RF. Thevalues of screening for these antibodies demonstrated a higher sensitivity for the two generations of Ac aCCP with respect to the FR, with a similar specificity for all antibodies. The activity at the onset of the disease was similar for all the groups.(AU)

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and bronchiolitis obliterans organized pneumonia.

Diverse pleuropulmonary manifestations, including pleural effusion, rheumatoid nodulosis, fibrosis, obliterans brochiolitis, bronchiectasias, vasculitis, drug-induced lung disease, and obliterans bronchiolitis with organized pneumonia, have been described in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Bronchiolitis obliterans organized pneumonia (BOOP) is an uncommon condition described in patients with RA but not in juvenile RA (JRA). We described a patient with JRA who developed a BOOP.