Diagnostic performance and predictive value of rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic-citrullinated peptide antibodies and HLA-DRB1 locus genes in rheumatoid arthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We evaluated the significance of the genes, defined as <it>DRB1*04 </it>or <it>DRB1*01</it>, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We focused on the role of genetic and serologic markers to predict disease activity and destructive process of joints.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty patients with RA were examined. Radiographic changes were evaluated by (Larsen score) and disease activity was measured by disease activity score 28 (DAS28). The markers analyzed were: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP2) and HLA-<it>DRB1 </it>alleles typed by PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, anti-CCP antibodies, CRP, RF and AKA were detected in 83.3%, 56.7%, 71.7% and 52% of patients respectively. HLA-<it>DRB1</it>*01 was found in 45% of patients and 35% of them had one or two HLA-<it>DRB1*04 </it>alleles. According to <it>DRB1*04 </it>subtypes, (<it>DRB1* 0405</it>) was present in of 80% them. For prediction of grade of activity, the independent predictors were anti-CCP (OR 19.6), and <it>DRB1*04 </it>positive allele (OR 5.1). The combination of <it>DRB1*04 </it>+ anti-CCP antibodies gave increase in the specificity and positive predictive value to 92% and 90 respectively. As regards to the prediction of radiological joint damage, the independent predictors were HLA-<it>DRB1*04</it>, HLA-<it>DRB1*01</it>, RF, and CRP > 18 (OR 5.5, 4.5, 2.5, 2.0 respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest that anti-CCP2 is superior to RF for the detection of RA and provided predictive information on joint destruction and disease activity. The presence of RA associated antibodies (ACCP or RF) and/or the SE genes are indicative for a poorer radiological outcome and higher grade of activity.</p

Racial differences in systemic sclerosis disease presentation: a European Scleroderma Trials and Research group study

Objectives. Racial factors play a significant role in SSc. We evaluated differences in SSc presentations between white patients (WP), Asian patients (AP) and black patients (BP) and analysed the effects of geographical locations.Methods. SSc characteristics of patients from the EUSTAR cohort were cross-sectionally compared across racial groups using survival and multiple logistic regression analyses.Results. The study included 9162 WP, 341 AP and 181 BP. AP developed the first non-RP feature faster than WP but slower than BP. AP were less frequently anti-centromere (ACA; odds ratio (OR) = 0.4, P &lt; 0.001) and more frequently anti-topoisomerase-I autoantibodies (ATA) positive (OR = 1.2, P = 0.068), while BP were less likely to be ACA and ATA positive than were WP [OR(ACA) = 0.3, P &lt; 0.001; OR(ATA) = 0.5, P = 0.020]. AP had less often (OR = 0.7, P = 0.06) and BP more often (OR = 2.7, P &lt; 0.001) diffuse skin involvement than had WP.AP and BP were more likely to have pulmonary hypertension [OR(AP) = 2.6, P &lt; 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.7, P = 0.03 vs WP] and a reduced forced vital capacity [OR(AP) = 2.5, P &lt; 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.4, P &lt; 0.004] than were WP. AP more often had an impaired diffusing capacity of the lung than had BP and WP [OR(AP vs BP) = 1.9, P = 0.038; OR(AP vs WP) = 2.4, P &lt; 0.001]. After RP onset, AP and BP had a higher hazard to die than had WP [hazard ratio (HR) (AP) = 1.6, P = 0.011; HR(BP) = 2.1, P &lt; 0.001].Conclusion. Compared with WP, and mostly independent of geographical location, AP have a faster and earlier disease onset with high prevalences of ATA, pulmonary hypertension and forced vital capacity impairment and higher mortality. BP had the fastest disease onset, a high prevalence of diffuse skin involvement and nominally the highest mortality

Expression of anti-heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (anti-hnRNP) in limited systemic sclerosis patients: Relation to radiographic findings of the hand

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease with vascular, fibrotic and immune changes of skin and some internal organs. Anti-heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (anti-hnRNP) were found in SSc patients. Aim of the work: To assess anti-hnRNP A1 and A2 autoantibodies in limited SSc patients and to find their relation to clinical and hand radiographic characteristics. Patients and methods: 26 limited SSc patients and 16 matched control were studied. Skin thickness was scored according to the modified Rodnan skin score method (mRss) and radiologic examination by plain X-ray of the hand and wrist was performed anti-hnRNP A1 and A2 were measured in patients and control. Results: All patients were females with a mean age of 37.5 ± 11.24 years and mean disease duration of 7.84 ± 1.19 years. 96.2% of cases showed juxta-articular osteoporosis, 38.5% with marginal erosions, 73.1% with surface erosions, 42.3% with subchondral cyst, 42.3% with metacarpophalangeal subluxation, 11.5% with marginal sclerosis, 80.8% with resorption of distal phalanges, 38.5% with resorption of distal ulna and 34.6% with calcinosis. Anti-hnRNPA1 was positive in all the patients but the anti-hnRNPA2 was positive in 21 (80.8%). Anti-hnRNP A1 and A2 showed significant difference between patients and control (5.66 ± 4.18 ng/ml vs 2.88 ± 0.82; p < 0.01 and 1.82 ± 0.36 vs 0.73 ± 0.08; p < 0.02, respectively). There was no significant correlation between the markers with the mRss or radiographic changes. Conclusion: Joint affection in SSc is more frequent than expected. Anti-hnRNP A1 and anti hnRNP A2 antigens may be useful markers for SSc patient although no significant relation was found with radiologic findings

Bevezetés: Norbert Elias és a folyamatszociológia

2014 júniusában fontos konferencia került megrendezésre a Leicesteri Egyetemen Elias munkásságáról, amelynek apropóját az életművet bemutató összkiadás (Th e Collected Works of Norbert Elias) kötetsorozatának befejezése szolgáltatta. Az összkiadást a University College Dublin Press adta ki Stephen Mennell szerkesztésében [az ezzel kapcsolatos információkat lásd a hasznos oldalak között a kötet végén]. A konferencia főszervezői John Goodwin és Jason Hughes voltak, a szervezésben aktívan részt vett Plugor Réka, és – a mintegy kéttucatnyi országból érkezett konferencia-résztvevő között – jelen volt Hadas Miklós is. Itt merült föl annak ötlete, hogy elkészüljön ez a különszám

Update of EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis

The aim was to update the 2009 European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), with attention to new therapeutic questions. Update of the previous treatment recommendations was performed according to EULAR standard operating procedures. The task force consisted of 32 SSc clinical experts from Europe and the USA, 2 patients nominated by the pan-European patient association for SSc (Federation of European Scleroderma Associations (FESCA)), a clinical epidemiologist and 2 research fellows. All centres from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research group were invited to submit and select clinical questions concerning SSc treatment using a Delphi approach. Accordingly, 46 clinical questions addressing 26 different interventions were selected for systematic literature review. The new recommendations were based on the available evidence and developed in a consensus meeting with clinical experts and patients. The procedure resulted in 16 recommendations being developed (instead of 14 in 2009) that address treatment of several SSc-related organ complications: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), digital ulcers (DUs), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), skin and lung disease, scleroderma renal crisis and gastrointestinal involvement. Compared with the 2009 recommendations, the 2016 recommendations include phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors for the treatment of SSc-related RP and DUs, riociguat, new aspects for endothelin receptor antagonists, prostacyclin analogues and PDE-5 inhibitors for SSc-related PAH. New recommendations regarding the use of fluoxetine for SSc-related RP and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for selected patients with rapidly progressive SSc were also added. In addition, several comments regarding other treatments addressed in clinical questions and suggestions for the SSc research agenda were formulated. These updated data-derived and consensus-derived recommendations will help rheumatologists to manage patients with SSc in an evidence-based way. These recommendations also give directions for future clinical research in SSc

An international SUrvey on non-iNvaSive tecHniques to assess the mIcrocirculation in patients with RayNaud'\u80\u99s phEnomenon (SUNSHINE survey)

To canvas opinion concerning the role of non-invasive techniques in the assessment of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (Rp) in clinical and research settings: four nailfold capillaroscopy methods [videocapillaroscopy (NVC), dermoscopy, stereomicroscopy, digital USB microscopy], four laser Doppler methods (laser Doppler flowmetry, imaging, anemometry/velocimetry, laser speckle contrast analysis), thermographic imaging, and upper limb arterial Doppler ultrasound. Emails with a link to the survey were sent to physicians from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research group (EUSTAR), the EULAR Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases (SG_MC/RD) and members of the pediatric rheumatology Email board. The main descriptive analysis related to physicians looking after adult patients, with some analysis also of opinions from paediatric rheumatologists. 106 'adult physicians' responded (a response rate of 25.8%), of whom 68.9% were European, and 81.1% practising for more than 10 years. Nineteen paediatricians responded. The most widely available technique was NVC (72.7%). Nailfold capillaroscopy was most frequently performed by the physician him/herself, using different types of equipment relating to availability. Most rheumatologists reported high levels of appropriateness for NVC in both clinical and research settings for global assessment and differential diagnosis of Rp. Other techniques were less used. Of all the different techniques, nailfold capillaroscopy was the one most used in both clinical and research settings by adult physicians, the majority of whom use NVC in their everyday practice. The low proportion of clinicians using other techniques suggests that these are currently mainly research tools, available only in specialist centres

Incidence and risk factors for gangrene in patients with systemic sclerosis from the EUSTAR cohort

Objective: In patients with SSc, peripheral vasculopathy can promote critical ischaemia and gangrene. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, incidence and risk factors for gangrene in the EUSTAR cohort. Methods: We included patients from the EUSTAR database fulfilling the ACR 1980 or the ACR/EULAR 2013 classification criteria for SSc, with at least one visit recording data on gangrene. Centres were asked for supplementary data on traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We analysed the cross-sectional relationship between gangrene and its potential risk factors by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Longitudinal data were analysed by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: 1757 patients were analysed (age 55.9 [14.5] years, disease duration 7.9 [10.3] years, male sex 16.7%, 24.6% diffuse cutaneous subset [dcSSc]). At inclusion, 8.9% of patients had current or previous digital gangrene, 16.1% had current digital ulcers (DUs) and 42.7% had ever had DUs (current or previous). Older age, DUs ever and dcSSc were statistically significant risk factors for gangrene in the cross-sectional multivariable model. During a median follow-up of 13.1 months, 16/771 (0.9%) patients developed gangrene. All 16 patients who developed gangrene had previously had DUs and gangrene. Further risk factors for incident gangrene were the dcSSc subset and longer disease duration. Conclusion: In unselected SSc patients, gangrene occurs in about 9% of SSc patients. DUs ever and, to a lesser extent, the dcSSc subset are strongly and independently associated with gangrene, while traditional cardiovascular risk factors could not be identified as risk factors