Interface Management between General Practitioners and Rheumatologists-Results of a Survey Defining a Concept for Future Joint Recommendations.

OBJECTIVE:To measure the views of general practitioners (GPs) and rheumatologists in a nationwide evaluation, so as to optimise their cooperation in managing patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. METHODS:A questionnaire covering aspects of collaboration was sent, both by mail and/or by email, to all GPs and rheumatologists in Austria. Topics covered were (i) examinations and interventions to be performed before referral, (ii) the spectrum of diseases to be referred, and (iii) the role of GPs in follow-up and continuous management of patients. RESULTS:1,229 GPs of the 4,016 GPs (31%) and 110 of the 180 rheumatologists (61%) responded to the questionnaire. In cases of suspected arthritis, 99% of the GPs and 92% of the rheumatologists recommended specific laboratory tests, and 92% and 70%, respectively, recommended X-rays of affected joints before referral. Rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and connective tissue disease were unanimously seen as indications for referral to a rheumatologist. Only 12% of rheumatologists felt responsible for the treatment of hand osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. 80% of GPs and 85% of rheumatologists were of the opinion that treatment with disease-modifying drugs should be initiated by a specialist. Subsequent drug prescription and administration by GPs was supported by a majority of GPs and rheumatologists, with a concomitant rheumatologist follow-up every three to six months. CONCLUSION:The considerable consensus between the two professional groups constitutes a solid base for future joint recommendations, with the aim to accelerate the diagnostic process and the initiation of adequate therapy

La radiologia medica / Which MR sequences should we use for the reliable detection and localization of bone marrow edema in spondyloarthritis?

Objectives To assess the diagnostic confidence in detecting and localizing areas of bone marrow edema in the sacroiliac joint of patients with suspected spondyloarthritis using a single-plane method and comparing it with multiplanar unenhanced and enhanced methods. Materials and methods Patients with clinical suspicion of spondyloarthritis undergoing an MRI of the sacroiliac joint were included in this retrospective study. To assess sacroiliitis, three methods were applied: single-plane (i.e., para-coronal STIR alone), multiplanar unenhanced (i.e., para-coronal STIR and para-axial PD-fs), and multiplanar enhanced method (i.e., para-coronal and para-axial post-contrast T1-fs). Two 4-point scales were used to evaluate, respectively, the diagnostic confidence in detection and localization of bone marrow edema. The distribution of certain and uncertain rating according to signal intensity and size of the lesions was also calculated. Results Seventy-four patients met the inclusion criteria. Both multiplanar methods increased the diagnostic confidence in detection (p < 0.001) and localization (p < 0.001) of sacroiliitis; no significant difference occurred between the multiplanar unenhanced and enhanced methods (p = 0.405 and p = 1.00, respectively, for detection and localization). A statistically significant difference between the distributions of certain and uncertain rating for detection based on the size and signal intensity of each lesion emerged (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively), whereas no statistically significant difference occurred for the confidence of localization (p = 0.452 and p = 0.694, respectively). Conclusions The multiplanar methods increased the diagnostic confidence in detection and localization of sacroiliitis. The absence of a significant difference between the proposed unenhanced and enhanced methods suggests that contrast medium is not mandatory for the detection of sacroiliitis.(VLID)355286

Opinion on laboratory examinations to be performed by the GP prior to referral to the rheumatologist in case of arthritis.

<p>Abbreviations: ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein; CBC, complete blood count; ALT, alanine transaminase; GGT, gamma-glutamyl transferase; UA, uric acid; Crea, creatinine; RF, rheumatoid factor; ACPA, antibodies against citrullinated protein/peptide antigens; ANA, anti-nuclear-antibodies. The differences between GPs and rheumatologists were statistically significant for ALT (p<0.001), Uric acid (p = 0.001), Creatinine (p = 0.035), RF (p<0.001), ANA (p<0.001). * p value based on Fisher's exact test.</p

Optimised management of RA.

<p>Optimised management of RA.</p

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Immunosuppressives and biologics during pregnancy and lactation : A consensus report issued by the Austrian Societies of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

An increasing and early-onset use of immunosuppressives and biologics has become more frequently seen among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and rheumatic disorders. Many women in their childbearing years currently receive such medications, and some of them in an interdisciplinary setting. Many questions arise in women already pregnant or wishing to conceive with respect to continuing or discontinuing treatment, the risks borne by the newborns and their mothers and long-term safety. Together with the Austrian Society of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, the IBD working group of the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology has elaborated consensus statements on the use of immunosuppressives and biologics in pregnancy and lactation. This is the first Austrian interdisciplinary consensus on this topic. It is intended to serve as a basis and support for providing advice to our patients and their treating physicians.(VLID)365891

PLOS ONE / MicroRNA 155-deficiency leads to decreased autoantibody levels and reduced severity of nephritis and pneumonitis in pristane-induced lupus

Objective We herein examine the role of endogenous miR155 in the development of systemic manifestations in pristane induced lupus. Materials and methods Systemic lupus in miR155-deficient and wild type mice was induced upon injection of pristane and analyzed after 8 months, PBS-injected mice served as controls. Glomerulonephritis and pneumonitis were quantified using the kidney biopsy score and a newly adapted histomorphometric image analysis system; lung tissue was further analyzed by tissue cytometry. Serum levels of anti-dsDNA, anti-histone and anti-chromatin antibodies were measured by ELISA. Frequencies of B cells, activated and regulatory CD4+ T cells as well as Th1, Th2, Th17 cells were measured by flow cytometry. RT-qPCR was used to measure expression levels of interferon-signature and T-cell subset related as well as miR155-associated genes. Results After induction of lupus, miR155-deficient mice had significant less pulmonary involvement (perivascular inflammatory area in mm2/mm2 lung area 0.000920.00015 vs. 0.00270.00075, p = 0.0347) and renal disease (glomerular activity score 1.950.19 vs 30.26, p = 0.0029) compared to wild types. MiR155-deficient mice had significantly lower serum levels of disease-associated auto-antibodies and decreased frequencies of activated CD4+CD25+ (Foxp3-) cells. Upon restimulation, CD4+ cells showed a less pronounced Th2 and Th17 and a slightly decreased Th1 response in mir155-deficient mice. Pristane-treated wild types showed significantly up-regulated expression of genes related to the INF-signature (MX1, IP10, IRF7, ISG15). Conclusions MiR155-deficient mice had less severe organ involvement, lower serum auto-antibody levels, a less prominent T cell response and lower expressions of genes jointly responsible for disease development. Thus, antagonizing miR155 might be a future approach in treating SLE.(VLID)487406

CCR6 controls autoimmune but not innate immunitydriven experimental arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, characterized by synovial infiltration of various inflammatory cells. Chemokines are involved in controlling the recruitment of different cell types into the synovial membrane. The role of CCR6 in the development of arthritis so far remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of CCR6 in the pathogenesis of arthritis using three different murine arthritis models. Compared to WT animals, CCR6/ mice developed less clinical signs of arthritis in the collageninduced arthritis model but not in the K/BxN serum transfer arthritis model and in the human tumour necrosis factor transgenic arthritis model, suggesting a defect in adaptive effector functions but intact innate effector functions in the development of arthritis in CCR6/ animals. In line with this, anticollagen antibody levels were significantly reduced in CCR6/ mice compared with WT mice. Moreover, we demonstrate enhanced osteoclastogenesis in vitro in CCR6/ mice compared with WT mice. However, we did not detect differences in bone mass under steady state conditions in vivo between WT and CCR6deficient mice. These data suggest that CCR6 is crucially involved in adaptive but not in innate immunitydriven arthritis. CCR6 or its chemokine ligand CCL20 might represent a possible new target for the treatment of RA.(VLID)481838