Subclinical synovitis impact on the progression of lupus joint disease: A 10-year longitudinal multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of subclinical synovitis on the progression of joint disease in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus over a mean follow-up of 10 years. METHODS: A longitudinal follow-up of 96 patients diagnosed with lupus was performed. All patients were considered clinically free of joint disease or with minimal joint impairment at baseline and were studied through ultrasound study of their dominant hand to assess the prevalence of subclinical synovitis. Now, over 10 years after we contacted them and reviewed their evolution to determine the impact of had or had not been diagnosed with subclinical synovitis in their current joint condition. RESULTS: Thirty-one of the 91 reached patients developed clinical progression in their joint manifestations (at least one ordinal degree of worsening). Of these, 23 (74,9%) had demonstrated subclinical synovitis at baseline. In the group of patients who did not progress clinically, 46 (76,6%) did not have this finding at the start of follow-up (p < .01, OR 9,44 95%CI 3,46-25,74). The patients in whom clinical progression was demonstrated had worse combined ultrasound scores than the rest of the patients: 6,41 SD 1,45 vs. 1,15 SD 0,97 (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The finding of subclinical synovitis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with the development of joint disease progression both clinically and ultrasonographically.

Prevalence of subclinical synovitis of the hand in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of subclinical synovitis in Lupus patients without peripheral joint symptoms, in those with arthralgias without arthritis and those with episodic arthritis but without radiological structural damage. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study. Patients with lupus from those three categories were recruited to take part in a greyscale ultrasound scan performed by an expert blinded rheumatologist. Data from a historical control group from a previous study was also included for comparisons. Images were assessed separately in order to determine the presence and level of synovitis following Eular recommendations. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients (88.5% female) with an average age of 40 ± 6.2 years old, were included. SLICC/ACR score was 0.6 ± 0.3 in the group without joint symptoms (group 0), 0.8 ± 0.3 in the group with arthralgias (group I) and 1.1 ± 0.4 in the group with episodic arthritis. The global prevalence of subclinical synovitis was 38.5%. In group 0, that prevalence was 30%. The time since onset of symptoms of patients with subclinical synovitis was longer than the rest of the patients (9.4 ± 2.2 vs 6.5 ± 4.0 years, P < 0.001). No other remarkable association was founded with clinical features of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study focused on subclinical synovitis in patients with lupus. Other previous studies had included patients with different levels of arthropathy. Subclinical synovitis does exist in lupus patients in over a third of patients. Its meaning remains unclear and must be a topic of further studies.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: case report with response to infliximab and review of treatment options.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare systemic and devastating disease with main involvement of skin and joints, frequently related with malignancies. Macrophages and TNFα are the main targets of multiple treatment options with variable results. Although MRH has the tendency of self-resolve in an average of 8 years, treatment must be started early to avoid sequelae, mainly in joints with severe deformities and daily life activity impairment. We describe a 50-year-old man with skin and joint involvement, with a non-previously described muscle affectation, that failed to different drugs and achieved skin improvement with infliximab. We review for the first time in medical literature the available therapeutic options of MRH and its outcomes and propose possible future targets.

Recomendaciones para el uso del metotrexato en artritis reumatoide: incremento y reducción de dosis y vías de administración / Recommendations for the use of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: up and down scaling of the dose and administration routes

Objetivos. Describir la estrategia terapéutica óptima de uso de metotrexato en AR sobre dosis inicial, vía de administración, incremento y disminución de dosis, seguimiento del paciente y uso de ácido fólico/folínico. Material y método. Once expertos plantearon los interrogantes clínicos a resolver. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica sistemática. Los contenidos fueron seleccionados en una sesión de trabajo y el nivel de acuerdo se estableció posteriormente en una ronda de consenso vía correo. Resultados. La dosis de inicio de metotrexato no debe ser < 10 mg/semana, preferentemente por vía oral, considerando la vía parenteral como alternativa según el cumplimento, ineficacia o efectos secundarios gastrointestinales, polimedicación, obesidad (si requiere dosis > 20 mg/semana), preferencias del paciente, enfermedad muy activa o para evitar errores de medicación. Se cambiará a la vía parenteral cuando haya ineficacia, toxicidad gastrointestinal, incumplimiento o por coste-efectividad antes de pasar a fármacos más caros; y a la inversa, según preferencias del paciente, intolerancia a inyectables, reducción de dosis < 7,5 mg/semana, ineficacia, bajo cumplimiento o efectos adversos gastrointestinales. Se realizará escalada rápida de dosis si la respuesta es inadecuada hasta los 15-20 o, incluso, 25 mg/semana en unas 8 semanas, con incrementos de 2,5-5 mg. La reducción se realizará según la dosis a la que estuviera el paciente, con disminuciones de 2,5-5 mg cada 3-6 meses. El seguimiento del paciente deberá realizarse cada 1-1,5 meses hasta la estabilidad y luego cada 1-3 meses. Conclusiones. Este documento pretende resolver algunos interrogantes clínicos habituales y facilitar la toma de decisiones en la AR tratada con metotrexato (AU)

Objectives, To describe the optimal therapeutic strategy for use of methotrexate in RA patients over the initial dose, route of administration, dose increase and decrease, patient monitoring, and use of folic/folinic acid. Materials and methods. Eleven clinical experts proposed some questions to be solved. A systematic literature search was conducted. The contents were selected in a work session and subsequently validated via email to establish the level of agreement. Results. The initial dose of methotrexate should not be <10 mg/week, preferably orally, but the parenteral route is considered as an alternative due to compliance, non-effectiveness of treatment or gastrointestinal side effects, polypharmacy, obesity (if required doses are >20 mg/week), patient preference, very active disease or to avoid administration errors. Changing to a parenteral administration is proposed when the oral route is not effective enough, gastrointestinal toxicity appears, there is non-compliance or due to cost-effectiveness reasons before using more expensive drugs. On the contrary, due to patient preferences, intolerance to injections, dose reduction <7.5 mg/week, non-effectiveness of the route, poor compliance or gastrointestinal side effects. There should be a rapid dose escalation if inadequate responses occur up to 15–20 or even 25 mg/week in about 8 weeks, with increments of 2.5–5 mg. The reduction will be carried out according to the dose the patient had, with decreases of 2.5–5 mg every 3–6 months. Patient monitoring should be performed every 1–1.5 months until stability is reached and then for every 1–3 months. Conclusions. This document pretends to solve some common clinical questions and facilitate decision-making in RA patients treated with methotrexate (AU)

Es seguro realizar infiltraciones o aspiraciones articulares en pacientes anticoagulados con acenocumarol? / Is it safe to perform joint infiltrations or aspirations in patients anticoagulated with acenocoumarol?

El propósito del presente estudio es determinar la tasa de complicaciones por sangrado en pacientes anticoagulados con acenocumarol en función del índice normalizado internacional (INR) de coagulación. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo con 901 registros de pacientes a quienes se les practicó una artrocentesis o infiltración articular entre 2009 y 2013, se agruparon los registros en función de tener un INR superior o inferior a 2,0 (268 y 633 registros, respectivamente) y se compararon las tasas de complicaciones por sangrado. Se observó una tasa de 0,37% de complicaciones por sangrado tempranas (< 24 h) en el grupo de pacientes con INR < 2 y una tasa de 0,99% en el grupo de pacientes con INR ≥ 2 (p = 0,47). Solo se presentó un caso de complicación por sangrado tardío, entre 24 h y 30 días, en el grupo de pacientes con INR ≥ 2. Concluimos que la anticoagulación oral a dosis terapéutica con acenocumarol no incrementa el riesgo de sangrado por punciones articulares (AU)

The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of bleeding complications in patient's anticoagulated with acenocoumarol according to the international normalized ratio (INR) coagulation index. A cross-sectional study was performed with 901 charts of patients who underwent arthrocentesis or joint infiltration between 2009 and 2013; the charts were grouped on the basis of having an INR higher or lower than 2.0 (268 and 633, respectively). Comparisons were performed in terms of rates of early or late bleeding complications. A 0.37% rate of early bleeding complications (<24 h) was observed in the group of patients with INR<2 and 0.99% in the group of patients with INR≥2 (P=.47). Only one case of late complication was presented by bleeding between 24 h and 30 days, in the group of patients with INR≥2. We conclude that oral anticoagulation with acenocoumarol at therapeutic doses does not increase the risk of bleeding joint punctures (AU)

Artritis infecciosa esternoclavicular: serie de 5 casos y revisión de la literatura / Sternoclavicular septic arthritis: a series of 5 cases and review of the literature

La artritis infecciosa es una urgencia médica de cuyo rápido diagnóstico depende el pronóstico a corto y medio plazo del estado general del paciente y de la funcionalidad final de la articulación. La articulación esternoclavicular es una región de baja prevalencia de este tipo de artritis, aunque su frecuencia se suele concentrar en pacientes inmunosuprimidos, usuarios de drogas parenterales o tras procedimientos traumáticos. Presentamos una serie de 5 casos microbiológicamente documentados de artritis infecciosa esternoclavicular, 3 de los cuales se presentaron en pacientes inmunocompetentes, y una revisión de esta peculiar enfermedad (AU)

Infectious arthritis is a medical emergency whose prognosis, in terms of general morbidity and the final functionality of the joint, depends on rapid diagnosis and treatment. The sternoclavicular joint is an area of low prevalence of this type of arthritis, although its frequency is often concentrated in immunosuppressed patients, users of parenteral drugs or after traumatic events. We present a series of 5 microbiologically documented cases of sternoclavicular septic arthritis, 3 of which occurred in immunocompetent patients, and a short review of this pathology (AU)

Recommendations for the use of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: up and down scaling of the dose and administration routes.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the optimal therapeutic strategy for use of methotrexate in RA patients over the initial dose, route of administration, dose increase and decrease, patient monitoring, and use of folic/folinic acid. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eleven clinical experts proposed some questions to be solved. A systematic literature search was conducted. The contents were selected in a work session and subsequently validated via email to establish the level of agreement. RESULTS: The initial dose of methotrexate should not be <10mg/week, preferably orally, but considering the parenteral route as an alternative due to compliance, non effectiveness of treatment or gastrointestinal side effects, polypharmacy, obesity (if required doses are >20mg/week), patient preference, very active disease or to avoid administration errors. Changing to a parenteral administration is proposed when the oral route is not effective enough, gastrointestinal toxicity appears, there is non-compliance or due to cost-effectiveness reasons before using more expensive drugs. On the contrary, due to patient preferences, intolerance to injections, dose reduction <7.5mg/week, non effectiveness of the route, poor compliance or gastrointestinal side effects. There should be a rapid dose escalation if inadequate responses occurr up to 15-20 or even 25mg/week in about 8 weeks, with increments of 2.5-5mg. The reduction will be carried out according to the dose the patient had, with decreases of 2.5-5mg every 3-6 months. Patient monitoring should be performed every 1-1.5 months until stability and then every 1-3 months. CONCLUSIONS: This document pretends to solve some common clinical questions and facilitate decision-making in RA patients treated with methotrexate.

Sternoclavicular septic arthritis: a series of 5 cases and review of the literature.

Infectious arthritis is a medical emergency whose prognosis, in terms of general morbidity and the final functionality of the joint, depends on rapid diagnosis and treatment. The sternoclavicular joint is an area of low prevalence of this type of arthritis, although its frequency is often concentrated in immunosuppressed patients, users of parenteral drugs or after traumatic events. We present a series of 5 microbiologically documented cases of sternoclavicular septic arthritis, 3 of which occurred in immunocompetent patients, and a short review of this pathology.

Is it safe to perform joint infiltrations or aspirations in patients anticoagulated with acenocoumarol?

The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of bleeding complications in patient's anticoagulated with acenocoumarol according to the international normalized ratio (INR) coagulation index. A cross-sectional study was performed with 901 charts of patients who underwent arthrocentesis or joint infiltration between 2009 and 2013; the charts were grouped on the basis of having an INR higher or lower than 2.0 (268 and 633, respectively). Comparisons were performed in terms of rates of early or late bleeding complications. A 0.37% rate of early bleeding complications (< 24hours) was observed in the group of patients with INR<2 and 0.99% in the group of patients with INR≥2 (P=.47). Only one case of late complication was presented by bleeding between 24 hours and 30 days, in the group of patients with INR≥2. We conclude that oral anticoagulation with acenocoumarol at terapeutical doses does not increase the risk of bleeding joint punctures.

Tenosinovitis infecciosa del aparato extensor del pie / Infectious tenosynovitis of the foot extensors

No disponible

SER consensus statement on the use of biologic therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a reference to rheumatologists and other physicians involved in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are using, or about to use biologic therapies. METHODS: Recommendations were developed following a nominal group methodology and based on systematic reviews. The level of evidence and degree of recommendation were classified according to a model proposed by the Center for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford. The level of agreement was established through a Delphi technique. RESULTS: We have produced recommendations on the use of belimumab, the only biological agent with approved indications for SLE, and other biological agents without an indication for SLE. The objective of treatment is to achieve a complete clinical response, taken as the absence of perceived or evident disease activity. Nuances regarding the use of biologic therapies in SLE were reviewed as well, such as the evaluation that should be performed prior to administration and the follow up of patients undergoing these therapies. CONCLUSIONS: We present the SER recommendations for the use of biological therapies in patients with SLE.

Leucemia de linfocitos grandes granulares como complicación de artritis reumatoide / Large granular lymphocyte leukemia as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis

La leucemia de linfocitos grandes granulares es una entidad poco frecuente, perteneciente al mismo espectro de trastornos que el síndrome de Felty, que puede presentarse en pacientes con artritis reumatoide de larga evolución. Clínicamente se caracteriza por neutropenia persistente e incremento de la susceptibilidad a infecciones bacterianas, asociado a la presencia en sangre periférica y médula ósea de una expansión clonal de linfocitos atípicos con fenotipo de linfocito T citotóxico, o menos frecuentemente de célula NK; y esplenomegalia. Se diagnostica con mayor frecuencia en pacientes con artritis reumatoide seropositiva con importante daño estructural, manifestaciones extraarticulares y valores persistentemente altos de factor reumatoide y VSG, a pesar de poder presentar escasa actividad inflamatoria articular. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 70 años con artritis reumatoide de larga evolución que desarrolló shock séptico secundario a la infección de una prótesis de cadera por Salmonella spp. Presentaba neutropenia persistente, identificándose en sangre periférica y médula ósea una población monoclonal de linfocitos T aberrantes compatibles con leucemia de linfocitos grandes granulares (AU)

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia is a rare entity belonging to same spectrum of diseases than Felty’s syndrome, which might occur in patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis. It is clinically characterized by persistent neutropenia and recurrent bacterial infections associated with the presence in both peripheral blood and bone marrow of clonal expansion of atypic lymphocytes with a cytotoxic T cell phenotype, or less frequently an NK-cell phenotype, as well as splenomegaly. It is more frequently diagnosed in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, with significant structural damage, extra-articular manifestations and persistently elevated values of ESR, despite them havubg low inflammatory joint activity. We report the case of a 70 year old male with a long-standing rheumatoid arthritis, who developed septic shock secondary to prosthetic hip infection by Salmonella spp. He showed persistent neutropenia, and an aberrant monoclonal T cell population was detected in both peripheral blood and bone marrow, consistent with large granular lymphocyte leukemia (AU)

Nuevas dianas terapéuticas en el lupus sistémico (parte 2/2) / New targets in systemic lupus (part 2/2)

Glucocorticoides, aspirina, antipalúdicos e inmunosupresores convencionales constituyen la base del tratamiento del lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES). Hasta recientemente, los 3 primeros eran los únicos agentes aprobados para su tratamiento. El mejor conocimiento de la fisiopatología del sistema inmunitario ha permitido identificar nuevas dianas terapéuticas. De hecho, belimumab, un anticuerpo monoclonal humano inhibidor de BLyS, se ha convertido hace pocos meses en el primer fármaco aprobado para el tratamiento del LES desde 1957, lo que subraya las dificultades de todo tipo, incluyendo las económicas y organizativas, inherentes a los ensayos clínicos sobre esta enfermedad. Otras muchas moléculas se encuentran en distintas fases de desarrollo y en poco tiempo dispondremos de resultados concretos. En esta revisión repasamos el mecanismo de acción y los datos clínicos más relevantes de estas moléculas (AU)

Glucocorticoids, aspirin, conventional antimalarials and immunosuppressants are the mainstay of treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Until recently, the first three were the only agents approved for treatment. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of the immune system has identified new therapeutic targets. In fact, belimumab, a human monoclonal antibody to BLyS inhibitor has become, in recent months, the first drug approved for the treatment of SLE since 1957, underscoring difficulties of all kinds, including economic and organizational ones inherent to clinical trials on this disease. Many other molecules are in various stages of development and soon will have concrete results. In this review, we examined the mechanism of action and most relevant clinical data for these molecules (AU)

Nuevas dianas terapéuticas en el lupus sistémico (parte 1/2) / New therapeutic targets in systemic lupus

Glucocorticoides, aspirina, antipalúdicos e inmunosupresores convencionales constituyen la base del tratamiento del lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES). Hasta recientemente, los 3 primeros eran los únicos agentes aprobados para su tratamiento. El mejor conocimiento de la fisiopatología del sistema inmunitario ha permitido identificar nuevas dianas terapéuticas. De hecho, belimumab, un anticuerpo monoclonal humano inhibidor de BLyS, se ha convertido hace pocos meses en el primer fármaco aprobado para el tratamiento del LES desde 1957, lo que subraya las dificultades de todo tipo, incluyendo las económicas y organizativas, inherentes a los ensayos clínicos sobre esta enfermedad. Otras muchas moléculas se encuentran en distintas fases de desarrollo y en poco tiempo dispondremos de resultados concretos. En esta revisión repasamos el mecanismo de acción y los datos clínicos más relevantes de estas moléculas (AU)

Glucocorticoids, aspirin, antimalarials and conventional immunosuppressants are the mainstay of treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Until recently, the first three were the only agents approved for treatment. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of the immune system has identified new therapeutic targets. In fact, belimumab, a human monoclonal antibody to BLyS inhibitor has become, in recent months, the first drug approved for the treatment of SLE since 1957, underscoring difficulties of all kinds, including economic and organizational ones inherent to clinical trials on this disease. Many other molecules are in various stages of development and soon will have concrete results. In this review, we examined the mechanism of action and most relevant clinical data for these molecules (AU)

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis.

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia is a rare entity belonging to same spectrum of diseases than Felty's syndrome, which might occur in patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis. It is clinically characterized by persistent neutropenia and recurrent bacterial infections associated with the presence in both peripheral blood and bone marrow of clonal expansion of atypic lymphocytes with a cytotoxic T cell phenotype, or less frequently an NK-cell phenotype, as well as splenomegaly. It is more frequently diagnosed in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, with significant structural damage, extra-articular manifestations and persistently elevated values of ESR, despite them havubg low inflammatory joint activity. We report the case of a 70 year old male with a long-standing rheumatoid arthritis, who developed septic shock secondary to prosthetic hip infection by Salmonella spp. He showed persistent neutropenia, and an aberrant monoclonal T cell population was detected in both peripheral blood and bone marrow, consistent with large granular lymphocyte leukemia.

New therapeutic targets in systemic lupus.

Glucocorticoids, aspirin, antimalarials and conventional immunosuppressants are the mainstay of treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Until recently, the first three were the only agents approved for treatment. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of the immune system has identified new therapeutic targets. In fact, belimumab, a human monoclonal antibody to BLyS inhibitor has become, in recent months, the first drug approved for the treatment of SLE since 1957, underscoring difficulties of all kinds, including economic and organizational ones inherent to clinical trials on this disease. Many other molecules are in various stages of development and soon will have concrete results. In this review, we examined the mechanism of action and most relevant clinical data for these molecules.