Validity of the rheumatoid arthritis MRI score applied to the forefeet using the OMERACT filter: a systematic literature review

Imaging- and therapeutic targets in neoplastic and musculoskeletal inflammatory diseas

Radiographic scoring methods in hand osteoarthritis - a systematic literature search and descriptive review

OBJECTIVE\nThis systematic literature review aimed to evaluate the use of conventional radiography (CR) in hand osteoarthritis (OA) and to assess the metric properties of the different radiographic scoring methods.\nDESIGN\nMedical literature databases up to November 2013 were systematically reviewed for studies reporting on radiographic scoring of structural damage in hand OA. The use and metric properties of the scoring methods, including discrimination (reliability, sensitivity to change), feasibility and validity, were evaluated.\nRESULTS\nOf the 48 included studies, 10 provided data on reliability, 11 on sensitivity to change, four on feasibility and 36 on validity of radiographic scoring methods. Thirteen different scoring methods have been used in studies evaluating radiographic hand OA. The number of examined joints differed extensively and the obtained scores were analyzed in various ways. The reliability of the assessed radiographic scoring methods was good for all evaluated scoring methods, for both cross-sectional and longitudinal radiographic scoring. The responsiveness to change was similar for all evaluated scoring methods. There were no major differences in feasibility between the evaluated scoring methods, although the evidence was limited. There was limited knowledge about the validity of radiographic OA findings compared with clinical nodules and deformities, whereas there was better evidence for an association between radiographic findings and symptoms and hand function.\nCONCLUSIONS\nSeveral radiographic scoring methods are used in hand OA literature. To enhance comparability across studies in hand OA, consensus has to be reached on a preferred scoring method, the examined joints and the used presentation of data.Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

New criteria for inflammatory back pain in patients with chronic back pain: a real patient exercise by experts from the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS)

Objective: Inflammatory back pain (IBP) is an important clinical symptom in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA), and relevant for classification and diagnosis. In the present report, a new approach for the development of IBP classification criteria is discussed. Methods: Rheumatologists (n = 13) who are experts in SpA took part in a 2-day international workshop to investigate 20 patients with back pain and possible SpA. Each expert documented the presence/absence of clinical parameters typical for IBP, and judged whether IBP was considered present or absent based on the received information. This expert judgement was used as the dependent variable in a logistic regression analysis in order to identify those individual IBP parameters that contributed best to a diagnosis of IBP. The new set of IBP criteria was validated in a separate cohort of patients (n = 648). Results: Five parameters best explained IBP according to the experts. These were: (1) improvement with exercise (odds ratio (OR) 23.1); (2) pain at night (OR 20.4); (3) insidious onset (OR 12.7); (4) age at onset,40 years (OR 9.9); and (5) no improvement with rest (OR 7.7). If at least four out of these five parameters were fulfilled, the criteria had a sensitivity of 77.0% and specificity of 91.7% in the patients participating in the workshop, and 79.6% and 72.4%, respectively, in the validation cohort. Conclusion: This new approach with real patients defines a set of IBP definition criteria using overall expert judgement on IBP as the gold standard. The IBP experts' criteria are robust, easy to apply and have good face validity

Pain Management by Pharmacotherapy in Inflammatory Arthritis. Systematic Literature Reviews of the 3e Initiative 2010

Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

How to Investigate and Follow Up Undifferentiated Peripheral Inflammatory Arthritis? 3e Initiative 2008-2009: Systematic Reviews and Clinical Algorithm Introduction

Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

Paracetamol for the Management of Pain in Inflammatory Arthritis: A Systematic Literature Review

Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

IBD and arthropathies: a practical approach to its diagnosis and management

Arthropathies are a major clinical problem in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Often it is difficult to control the articular symptoms with the anti-inflammatory strategies used for IBD. Studies evaluating specific treatments aimed at articular manifestations in patients with IBD are rare. Although there has been considerable interest in the gut-joint axis over the last decade, the pathophysiological mechanisms driving IBD-associated arthropathy are still unknown. Recently, interest in the multidisciplinary approach to patients with IBD and arthropathy has been increasing. New research and clinical projects aimed at understanding the mechanisms of disease may advance the development of effective therapies. In this review, the pathophysiology of IBD-associated arthropathy is discussed, as well as clinical manifestations, the classification and current therapeutic strategies.Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog

Endorsement of Definitions of Disease Activity States and Improvement Scores for the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score: Results from OMERACT 10

The Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) is a new composite index to assess disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Criteria for disease activity states and improvement scores are important for use in clinical practice, observational studies, and clinical trials, and have been proposed by the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS). At OMERACT 10, our aim was to obtain endorsement from OMERACT for the ASDAS disease activity states and response criteria proposed by the ASAS membership. This article summarizes the associated discussions, the scientific basis of the validation process, and the results from the voting sessions, and identifies areas for research using the ASDAS. OMERACT participants agreed with the selection of cutoff values, which now have the combined endorsement of ASAS and OMERACT and are ready to be used in clinical practice and in research settings. (J Rheumatol 2011;38:1502-6; doi:10.3899/jrheum.110279)Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease