Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis

With advancing therapeutic options, achieving a state of remission has become the treatment goal in rheumatoid arthritis. Agreeing on what constitutes remission and what measures should be used to assess disease activity has remained a challenge. Multiple remission criteria have been devised and modified, all with different strengths and limitations. A consensus definition of remission will need to be achieved if we are to be able to evaluate outcomes of clinical trials and establish treatment targets for practice. Remission defined as the complete absence of disease currently may not be a realistic therapeutic goal

Significance of sex in achieving sustained remission in the consortium of rheumatology researchers of north america cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objective To determine whether men with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to achieve remission compared to women. Methods RA patients enrolled in the Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America (CORRONA) cohort between October 2001 and January 2010 were selected for the present analyses. Detailed clinical, demographic, and drug utilization data were available at enrollment (baseline) and at subsequent followup visits. We examined the influence of sex on the Clinical Disease Activity Index remission score (≤2.8) using sustained remission or point remission as the primary outcome measure in multivariate stepwise logistic regression models. We stratified the data by RA duration at baseline (≤2 years or >2 years) to investigate whether RA duration had differential effects on remission in men and women. Results A total of 10,299 RA patients (2,406 men and 7,893 women) were available for this study. In both early and established RA, women had more severe disease at baseline with worse disease activity measures, modified Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index score, pain on a visual analog scale, and depression. Women were also more likely to have been treated with disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs and anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy compared to men. In the regression models, male sex was associated with sustained remission in early RA (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.07–1.78, P = 0.01), but not in established RA. However, for point remission, an inverse association was observed with male sex in established RA (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.48–0.87, P = 0.005) and not in early RA. Conclusion Within the large real‐life CORRONA cohort of RA patients, men were more likely to achieve sustained remission compared to women in early RA, although not in established RA.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94462/1/21762_ftp.pd

Impact of Perceived Stress During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients' Disease Activity: An Online Survey.

Introduction/objectivesPsychological stress worsens rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress/anxiety in rheumatic patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if stress during the COVID-19 pandemic specifically impacts RA disease activity as reported by the patient.MethodThis was a cross-sectional COVID-19 RA survey study. University of California, Los Angeles rheumatology clinic patients were emailed a link to a survey in July and November 2020. The 30-question survey pertained to COVID-19-related stress, RA disease activity, and demographics. For the survey responders, anti-cyclic citrullinated antibody, rheumatoid factor, and age were extracted from the electronic health record. Analyses were performed to examine the association between the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) and other COVID-19-related stress measures with the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3).ResultsA total of 1138/5037 subjects completed the emailed survey (22.6% response rate). When examining responses across RAPID3 categories (near remission, low, moderate, and high disease severity), there were significant increases in PSS-4 and other stress variables. Multiple linear regression models showed that PSS-4, financial stress, age, seropositivity, disease duration, and Black race were independently associated with worsened RAPID3 scores, when controlling for other confounding factors.ConclusionsThis study suggests that stress overall negatively impacts RAPID3, and Black RA patients had a higher RAPID3 scores during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite colossal efforts to combat the pandemic, RA patients currently suffer from stress/anxiety, and methods to mitigate these psychological effects are needed

Ultrasound and multi-biomarker disease activity score for assessing and predicting clinical response to tofacitinib treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BackgroundMusculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and the multi-biomarker disease activity (MBDA) score are outcome measures that may aid in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This study evaluated tofacitinib response by MSUS/MBDA scores and assessed whether baseline MSUS/MBDA scores or their early changes predict later clinical response.MethodsTwenty-five RA patients treated with tofacitinib were assessed at baseline, 2, 6 and 12-weeks. Power doppler (PDUS) and gray scale (GSUS) ultrasound scores, MBDA score, clinical disease activity index (CDAI), and disease activity score (DAS28) were obtained. Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate associations and identify predictors of response to therapy.ResultsMSUS, MBDA scores, CDAI, and DAS28 improved significantly over 12 weeks (p < 0.0001). Baseline MSUS and MBDA score correlated with each other, and with 12-week changes in CDAI/DAS28 (r = 0.45-0.62, p < 0.05), except for GSUS with DAS28. Two-week change in MSUS correlated significantly with 12-week changes in CDAI/DAS28 (r = 0.42-0.57, p < 0.05), except for early change in PDUS with 12-week change in CDAI. Regression analysis demonstrated significant independent associations between baseline PDUS/MBDA score and 6-week change in CDAI/DAS28, with adjustment for baseline CDAI/DAS28 (all p < 0.05); and between baseline MBDA scores and 12-week change in DAS28 (p = 0.03).ConclusionsRA patients treated with tofacitinib for 12 weeks demonstrated improvement by clinical, imaging, and biomarker end-points. Baseline PDUS and MBDA score were predictive of CDAI and DAS28 responses. This is the first study to evaluate early measurements of MSUS and MBDA score as predictors of clinical response in RA patients treated with tofacitinib.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02321930 (registered 12/22/2014)

Ultrasound characterization of cutaneous ulcers in systemic sclerosis

Skin ulcers in scleroderma (SSc) patients are considered a major challenge, both in clinical assessment and treatment decisions. The objective of our study is to assess ultrasonographic (US) morphology of skin ulcers in SSc patients and evaluate if US will be of value in enhancing our clinical information and influence our management plans. We examined a convenience sample of 21 skin ulcers reported in 10 SSc patients by US. We used a previously published US definition of normal skin and developed a preliminary US definition of skin ulcer. Skin ulcers were evaluated by gray scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) and separated into ulcer and non-ulcer lesions; pain and ulcer measures were obtained using visual analogue scales (VAS). Lesions were characterized and ulcers were clinically and sonographically measured. Ten patients presenting with 21 skin lesions were examined by US. Applying our US definition of skin ulcer, all ulcers were available to measure by ultrasound. Eight lesions were sonographically defined as ulcers, and 13 lesions as non-ulcer lesions. Three ulcers had high PD signals suggestive of infection requiring antibiotic treatment and were monitored for 2 weeks showing a decrease of the pain, VAS, and PD signals. Five lesions showed subclinical calcinosis. This is the first study to show the promising role of US in defining skin ulcers of SSc patients. US may support the assessment of morphology and extent of skin ulcers in SSc and can be a helpful tool for detecting underlying pathology.Egyptian governmen

Obesity Impacts Swelling of Ankle and Foot Joints in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Objective The evaluation of disease activity in obese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients presents challenges particularly in the clinical assessment of swollen joints. This study examines the effect of obesity on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) core set measures used in assessing RA disease activity with specific focus on the swollen joint count (SJC). Methods We examined a cross-sectional cohort of 323 early seropositive RA patients (symptom duration = 30 kg/m(2)) and lower-extremity (LE) SJC and SJC44 while accounting for other ACR measures. Results Disease Activity Score 44/ESR4 item, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, physician global, and SJC44 differed across BMI categories (p < 0.05). Of the SJC44, metacarpophalangeal joints and LE joints (knees, ankles, metatarsophalangeal joints) were associated with increased swelling in all BMI groups (P < 0.05). Obesity was significantly associated with LE SJC after adjusting for ACR core set measures. Conclusions There is a direct association between increased BMI and increased swelling of LE joints in RA patients. Increases in DAS44-measured disease activity are higher in obese RA patients because of increased LE swollen joints. Disease Activity Score 28 and Clinical Disease Activity Index, which emphasize upper-extremity joint assessment, are not significantly influenced by obesity