Central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: data from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Register (RELESSER)

Objectives: To analyze the prevalence, incidence, survival and contribution on mortality of major central nervous system (CNS) involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Patients fulfilling the SLE 1997 ACR classification criteria from the multicentre, retrospective RELESSER-TRANS (Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Register) were included. Prevalence, incidence and survival rates of major CNS neuropsychiatric (NP)-SLE as a group and the individual NP manifestations cere-brovascular disease (CVD), seizure, psychosis, organic brain syndrome and transverse myelitis were calculated. Furthermore, the contribution of these manifestations on mortality was analysed in Cox regression models adjusted for confounders. Results: A total of 3591 SLE patients were included. Of them, 412 (11.5%) developed a total of 522 major CNS NP-SLE manifestations. 61 patients (12%) with major CNS NP-SLE died. The annual mortality rate for patients with and without ever major CNS NP-SLE was 10.8% vs 3.8%, respectively. Individually, CVD (14%) and organic brain syndrome (15.5%) showed the highest mortality rates. The 10% mortality rate for patients with and without ever major CNS NP-SLE was reached after 12.3 vs 22.8 years, respectively. CVD (9.8 years) and organic brain syndrome (7.1 years) reached the 10% mortality rate earlier than other major CNS NP-SLE manifestations. Major CNS NP-SLE (HR 1.85, 1.29-2.67) and more specifically CVD (HR 2.17, 1.41-3.33) and organic brain syndrome (HR 2.11, 1.19-3.74) accounted as independent prognostic factors for poor survival. Conclusion: The presentation of major CNS NP-SLE during the disease course contributes to a higher mortality, which may differ depending on the individual NP manifestation. CVD and organic brain syndrome are associated with the highest mortality rates.Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

ABATACEPT in rheumatoid arthritis with interstitial lung disease. A multicenter study of 181 patients

Background Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is a severe extraarticular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objectives Our aim was to assess the efficacy of abatacept (ABA) in RA patients with ILD. Methods Retrospective multicenter study of RA patients with ILD treated with ABA. ILD was diagnosed by HRCT. We have analyzed the following variables: a) 1-point change the Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC); b) FVC improvement ≥10%; and improvement ≥10% in DLCO; c) radiological improvement in HRCT scan, d) changes in DAS28 score. Values were compared with baseline e) prednisone doses Results We studied 181 patients (94women/87 men) with ILD associated to RA. The follow-up was 12.1[6.2-24.1] months. The mean age was 64.54 ± 9.7 years. The median to progression of ILD was 12 [3-43.75] months. 81 patients were treated in monotherapy, 100 patients in combination therapy. The most frequent pattern was UIP 45,3%. The most of patients who did not have dyspnea remained asymptomatic. See results in Figure1. DAS28 also improved. We appreciate a decrease in the dose of prednisone compared to the initial dose. Conclusion ABA seems to be effective. However, should be verified in prospective and randomized studies