Differences sustained between diffuse and limited forms of juvenile systemic sclerosis in expanded international cohort. www.juvenile-scleroderma.com

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the baseline clinical characteristics of juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) patients in the international Juvenile SSc Inception Cohort (jSScC), compare these characteristics between the classically defined diffuse (dcjSSc) and limited cutaneous (lcjSSc) subtypes, and among those with overlap features. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using baseline visit data. Demographic, organ system evaluation, treatment, and patient and physician reported outcomes were extracted and summary statistics applied. Comparisons between dcjSSc and lcSSc subtypes and patients with and without overlap features were performed using Chi-square and Mann Whitney U-tests. RESULTS: At data extraction 150 jSSc patients were enrolled across 42 centers, 83% were Caucasian, 80% female, dcjSSc predominated (72%), and 17% of the cohort had overlap features. Significant differences were found between dcjSSc and lcjSSc regarding the modified Rodnan Skin Score, presence of Gottron's papules, digital tip ulceration, 6 Minute walk test, composite pulmonary and cardiac involvement. All more frequent in dcSSc except for cardiac involvement. DcjSSc patients had significantly worse scores for physician rated disease activity and damage. A significantly higher occurrence of Gottron's papules, musculoskeletal involvement and composite pulmonary involvement, and significantly lower frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon, were seen in those with overlap features. CONCLUSION: Results from a large international jSSc cohort demonstrate significant differences between dcjSSc and lcjSSc patients including more globally severe disease and increased frequency of ILD in dcjSSc patients, while those with lcSSc have more frequent cardiac involvement. Those with overlap features had an unexpected higher frequency of interstitial lung disease

Underdetection of Interstitial Lung Disease in Juvenile Systemic Sclerosis

OBJECTIVES: Utilizing data obtained from a prospective international juvenile systemic sclerosis cohort (jSScC) to determine if pulmonary screening with forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is sufficient to assess the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in comparison to high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in jSSc. METHODS: The jSScC cohort database was queried for patients enrolled from January 2008 to January 2020 with recorded pulmonary function tests (PFT) parameters and HRCT to determine the discriminatory properties of PFTs parameters, FVC and DLCO, in detecting ILD. RESULTS: Eighty-six jSSc patients had both CT imaging and FVC values for direct comparison. Using findings on HRCT as the standard measure of ILD presence, the sensitivity of FVC in detecting ILD in jSSc was only 40%, the specificity was 77%, and AUC was 0.58. Fifty-eight jSSc patients had both CT imaging and DLCO values for comparison. The sensitivity of DLCO in detecting ILD was 76%, the specificity was 70%, and AUC was 0.73. CONCLUSION: The performance of PFTs in jSSc to detect underlying ILD was quite limited. Specifically, the FVC, which is one of the main clinical parameters in adult SSc to detect and monitor ILD, would miss approximately 60% of children that had ILD changes on their accompanying HRCT. The DLCO was more sensitive in detecting potential abnormalities in HRCT, but with less specificity than the FVC. These results support the use of HRCT in tandem with PFTs for the screening of ILD in jSSc

Isolated arthritis revealing an underlying anti-synthetase syndrome: Results from a multicentre international study

Background: Articular involvement is reported to occur in up to 85% of patients with antisynthetase syndrome (ASSD) and it may be the only onset feature, although with frequencies and characteristics not still defined Objectives: To determine in a large international cohort of anti Jo-1 positive ASSD the prevalence of isolated arthritis at disease onset. To describe the clinical, serological and radiological characteristics and evolution of these patients Methods: We included all anti Jo-1 positive patients referring to participating centres and with an isolated arthritis at disease onset. The pattern of articular involvement, radiological and serological characteristics of patients were analysed. IgM-Rheumatoid factor (RF) was assessed by immunonephelometry; anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) by commercial second-generation ELISA kits; anti Jo-1 and anti-Ro positivity by commercially available ELISA kits Results: An isolated arthritis was the first manifestation in 54 (41 females, 13 males) out of the 225 patients included (167 females, 58 males), with a prevalence of 24%. Main characteristics of arthritis and overal results has been completely reported in table 1. Conclusions: We confirmed that an isolated polyarthritis is the first symptom of anti Jo-1 positive ASSD in up to a quarter of cases. Arthritis is mainly polyarticular and symmetrical, and the positivity for IgM RF or ACPA or both is not a rare finding, as well as the occurrence of marginal X-rays joint erosions. Anti-Ro positivity and RP occurrence may help clinician in the early identification of ASSD, even if the high rate of subsequent appearance of ILD and myositis clearly suggest that the screening for an underlying ASSD should be performed also in patients that may be undoubtedly diagnosed with RA. (Table Presented). ]

Reporting items for capillaroscopy in clinical research on musculoskeletal diseases: A systematic review and international Delphi consensus

Objectives: The level of detail included when describing nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) methods varies among research studies, making interpretation and comparison of results challenging. The overarching objective of the present study was to seek consensus on the reporting standards in NVC methodology for clinical research in rheumatic diseases and to propose a pragmatic reporting checklist. Methods: Based on the items derived from a systematic review focused on this topic, a three-step web-based Delphi consensus on minimum reporting standards in NVC was performed among members of the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases and the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium. Results: A total of 319 articles were selected by the systematic review, and 46 items were proposed in the Delphi process. This Delphi exercise was completed by 80 participants from 31 countries, including Australia and countries within Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Agreement was reached on items covering three main areas: Patient preparation before NVC (15 items), device description (5 items) and examination details (13 items). Conclusion: Based on the available evidence, the description of NVC methods was highly heterogeneous in the identified studies and differed markedly on several items. A reporting checklist of 33 items, based on practical suggestions made (using a Delphi process) by international participants, has been developed to provide guidance to improve and standardize the NVC methodology to be applied in future clinical research studies

Generation of a Core Set of Items to Develop Classification Criteria for Scleroderma Renal Crisis Using Consensus Methodology

OBJECTIVE: To generate a core set of items to develop classification criteria for scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) using consensus methodology. METHODS: An international, multidisciplinary panel of experts was invited to participate in a 3-round Delphi exercise developed using a survey based on items identified by a scoping review. In round 1, participants were asked to identify omissions and clarify ambiguities regarding the items in the survey. In round 2, participants were asked to rate the validity and feasibility of the items using Likert-type scales ranging from 1 to 9 (where 1 = very invalid/unfeasible, 5 = uncertain, and 9 = very valid/feasible). In round 3, participants reviewed the results and comments from round 2 and were asked to provide final ratings. Items rated as highly valid and feasible (median scores ≥7 for each) in round 3 were selected as the provisional core set of items. A consensus meeting using a nominal group technique was conducted to further reduce the core set of items. RESULTS: Ninety-nine experts from 16 countries participated in the Delphi exercise. Of the 31 items in the survey, consensus was achieved on 13, in the categories hypertension, renal insufficiency, proteinuria, and hemolysis. Eleven experts took part in the nominal group technique discussion, where consensus was achieved in 5 domains: blood pressure, acute kidney injury, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, target organ dysfunction, and renal histopathology. CONCLUSION: A core set of items that characterize SRC was identified using consensus methodology. This core set will be used in future data-driven phases of this project to develop classification criteria for SRC