{"title":"What are the main factors affecting the outcome of tocilizumab therapy in COVID-19-induced cytokine release syndrome?","authors":"Cansu Akleylek, Seray Gizem Gür, İbrahim Halil Sever, Safiye Koçulu Demir, Esin Çevik, Egemen Eken, Zafer Gökkaya, Yonca Çağatay, Neslihan Yılmaz","doi":"10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Recommendations for the treatment of cytokine release syndrome/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) associated with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) are still of poor quality. IL-6 is an important therapeutic target as a main mediator of cytokine storm. The aim of our study was to evaluate the tocilizumab (TCZ) efficacy and factors affecting the therapy outcome.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 27 patients treated with TCZ for COVID-19-MAS. All patients in this study were treated with TCZ (intravenously, at a dose of 8 mg kg1 ) in addition to standard therapy. Clinical improvement (survival and decreased oxygen demand) on the 10-14th days and secondary infection rate were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In our 27 treated patients, 14 (51.8%) received TCZ in the intensive care unit (ICU) and seven (25.9%) were need to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Fifteen (55.6%) of these patients revealed a good clinical response (four patients discharge from the ICU and 11 patients who followed-up in nonICU beds showed a decrease in oxygen demand). TCZ was significantly less effective in patients having high Murray lung injury score, low PO2/FiO2 ratio, IMV, and ICU admission (P < .05). Severity of hypoxemia was found as a single independent risk factor in the multivariable analysis (P < .05). Secondary bacterial infections rate was significantly higher in intubated patients (P < .01) or treated in the ICU (P ¼ .01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TCZ was showed limited efficacy for COVID-19-related MAS. The most important predictive indicator for therapy outcome was found as the severity of hypoxemia. In addition, IMV and/or ICU was associated with the poor outcome and high side effect. So, controlled trials are still needed to confirm the indications and timing of TCZ therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"126-131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39623314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identifying physician-perceived barriers to a pragmatic treatment trial in rheumatoid arthritis.","authors":"Haiyan Qu, Shamly Austin, Jasvinder A Singh","doi":"10.5152/eujrheum.2022.21038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eujrheum.2022.21038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this qualitative research was to identify physician-perceived patient and clinic barriers to patient recruitment in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pragmatic trial of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologic versus non-TNF biologic/Janus-Kinase inhibitor initiation after an inadequate response to methotrexate.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 26 rheumatologists in March 2019. An exploratory thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the interview data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Physician perceived patient barriers to the implementation of an RA pragmatic trial. This theme covers three subthemes: (1) patients' personal barriers, (2) patients' treatment-related factors, and (3) trial-related factors (eg, patient recruitment, side effects, mode of use, etc). Physicians perceived clinic barriers interfered with the pragmatic trial enrollment from the clinic or the healthcare system perspective. This theme covered four subthemes: (1) clinic-related factors, (2) patient-related factors, (3) research personnel, and (4) facilitators (positive factors of the clinic).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results from the inductive thematic analysis will help researchers understand the key patient and clinic/system factors/barriers that may influence pragmatic RA trial implementation. The themes suggest there are factors that can be modified (eg, coordinator effort needed, effective patient recruitment during clinic visits, provider engagement) and challenges to overcome (patient insurance status, busy clinic flow, and space issues including limited number of patient rooms). In summary, these themes provide a basis for our and other research teams to develop clinic-centered and patientcentered strategies to implement a pragmatic RA trial.</p>","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"132-138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39792798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Songül Bağlan Yentür, Furkan Bilek, Süleyman Serdar Koca
{"title":"Physical activity and psychosomatic status in patients with Behçet's disease during coronavirus disease pandem.","authors":"Songül Bağlan Yentür, Furkan Bilek, Süleyman Serdar Koca","doi":"10.5152/eurjrheum.2021.20166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eurjrheum.2021.20166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study is to examine the changes in physical activity level, fatigue, depression, and sleep quality in patients with Behçet's disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was designed as an online questionnaire applied to individuals who are being followed up with the diagnosis of Behçet's disease in the rheumatology department. Data were collected using multiple scales including International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate physical activity level, fatigue, depression, sleep quality, and pain, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixteen patients diagnosed with Behçet's disease were included in the study. No statistically significant difference was observed between the IPAQ, FSS, BDI, PSQI, and VAS assessment scores before COVID-19 and during COVID-19 period (P > .05 for all).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Thinking of the negative effects of aggressive clinical symptoms, Behçet's disease patients should be supported in physical activity and psychosocial status.</p>","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"144-147"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39623311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carolyn Ross, Jean-Paul Makhzoum, Christian Pagnoux
{"title":"Updates in ANCA-associated vasculitis.","authors":"Carolyn Ross, Jean-Paul Makhzoum, Christian Pagnoux","doi":"10.5152/eujrheum.2022.20248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eujrheum.2022.20248","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are small-vessel vasculitides that include granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Wegener's granulomatosis), microscopic polyangiitis, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg - Strauss syndrome). Renal-limited AAV can be considered a fourth entity. Despite their rarity and still unknown cause(s), research into AAV has been very active over the past decades and has allowed for the development of new therapeutic regimens. The pathogenesis is a complex process of immune dysregulations with genetic and environmental influences. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified multiple genetic predisposing variants, especially at the major histocompatibility complex region. The pathogenic role of antimyeloperoxidase ANCA (MPO-ANCA) is well supported by several animal models, but that of antiproteinase 3 ANCA (PR3-ANCA) is not as strongly demonstrated. B cells likely play a major role in the pathogenesis because they produce ANCAs, as do neutrophil abnormalities, imbalances in T-cell subtypes, and/or cytokine - chemokine networks. The role of the alternative complement pathway was established more recently, and studies of the antagonist of human C5a receptor (avacopan) in AAV have just been completed, with promising results. The current standard management of severe AAV still consists of remission induction therapy with glucocorticoids combined with rituximab or, less often now, cyclophosphamide. Several studies showed that reduced-dose regimens of glucocorticoids are noninferior to the previously used heavier regimens, for therefore less cumulative exposure to glucocorticoids. Avacopan use may even lead to new steroid-free therapeutic approaches, at least for some selected patients. Several trials and studies have now shown the superiority of rituximab over azathioprine or methotrexate as maintenance therapy. However, the optimal dosing regimen and duration for maintenance remain to be better defined, at the individual patient level. Many changes have occurred in the standard of care for AAV over the past decades, and more are expected soon, including with use of avacopan, but also, likely, a few other agents under investigation or development.</p>","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"153-166"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39792801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stefanie D Wade, Jonathan S Hausmann, Jason A Freed
{"title":"Engaging trainees within the virtual classroom: Teaching strategies for rheumatologists in a pandemic.","authors":"Stefanie D Wade, Jonathan S Hausmann, Jason A Freed","doi":"10.5152/eujrheum.2022.20236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eujrheum.2022.20236","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented challenges in medical education, including for rheumatology training programs. Many programs have adapted by transitioning educational curricula into virtual classrooms. Herein, we review strategies to optimize learning within the virtual classroom. We introduce the flipped virtual classroom as a framework for facilitating higher-order thinking and improving long-term learning. We provide recommendations to maximize interactions between learners, elevate group discussions, and encourage problem solving. Once implemented, these techniques can lead to more productive teaching and learning experiences while maintaining a sense of community for rheumatology training programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"148-152"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39778541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ahmet Karataş, Hakan Artaş, Kader Uğur, Süleyman Serdar Koca
{"title":"Sonoelastrographic finding of Achilles tendon in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and acromegaly.","authors":"Ahmet Karataş, Hakan Artaş, Kader Uğur, Süleyman Serdar Koca","doi":"10.5152/eujrheum.2022.21132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eujrheum.2022.21132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Achilles tendinopathy can be noticed in both acromegaly and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Acromegaly patients presenting with tendinopathy findings may be confused with AS findings. In this study, sonoelastrographic findings of Achilles tendon are explored in patients with AS and acromegaly.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>25 patients with AS, 30 patients with acromegaly, and 18 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Achilles tendon was evaluated by sonoelastography in all the study participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The thickness of Achilles tendon in neutral positions was higher in acromegaly patients than those in AS patients. The sonoelastography measurement of Achilles tendon was increased in acromegaly patients when compared to the control group and AS patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The thickness of Achilles tendon can increase in patients with acromegaly and AS. However, the sonoelastographic features of Achilles tendon can be similar in patients with AS and acromegaly.</p>","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"122-125"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39778540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fernanda Mendonça Rodrigues, Ana Beatriz Bacchiega, Bruno Cesar Bacchiega, Manuella Lima Gomes Ochtrop, Roger Abramino Levy
{"title":"Evaluation of endothelial function in patients with Behçet's disease in remission: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Fernanda Mendonça Rodrigues, Ana Beatriz Bacchiega, Bruno Cesar Bacchiega, Manuella Lima Gomes Ochtrop, Roger Abramino Levy","doi":"10.5152/eujrheum.2022.20184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eujrheum.2022.20184","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Endothelial dysfunction is an initial stage of the atherogenic process, which can be evaluated by a noninvasive method (flow-mediated dilation - FMD) and has a well-established prognostic value for cardiovascular (CV) risk. Currently, there is no evidence of increased CV mortality in Behc¸et's disease (BD), although its association with endothelial dysfunction has been described. There are still doubts in the literature whether the presence of chronic vascular inflammation might trigger the development of atherosclerosis, despite BD remission, which is why this study was conducted.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 24 subjects in this cross-sectional study (12 patients with BD in remission and 12 subjects matched by gender age). Endothelial function was analyzed via FMD.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The lowest median for FMD was presented by the BD group (2.025% - interquartile range (IQR) 7.785 versus 5.46% - IQR 3.625, P ¼ .18). The median total cholesterol in the BD group was lower than the controls (168 mg dL-1 - IQR 46 and 216.5 mg dL-1 - IQR 54, respectively, P ¼ .0193). In the right carotid artery, the intima-media thickness was equal to 0.740 - IQR 0.16 for the patients and 0.740 - IQR 0.11 for the controls (P ¼ .9473); on the left, 0.725 - IQR 0.13 and 0.745 - IQR 0.120 (P ¼ .4333), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The lower median trend of FMD in patients with BD suggests endothelial dysfunction, despite clinical remission of the inflammatory disease, although our study is limited by the sample size and greater use of statins in BD group.</p>","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"139-143"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39792800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica and cervical spine involvement in rheumatoid arthritis.","authors":"Nurbanu Hindioğlu, Mahmut Bilal Doğan, Meryem Can","doi":"10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21033","url":null,"abstract":"Concurrent use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor and tyrosine kinase inhibitor in ankylosing spondylitis and myeloid neoplasm.","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"182-183"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39623309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mariana Correia Marques, Buğra Han Egeli, Holly Wobma, Claudio Ribeiro, Edwin Anderson, Jonathan S Hausmann, Fatma Dedeoğlu
{"title":"Features predicting colchicine efficacy in treatment of children with undefined systemic autoinflammatory disease: A retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Mariana Correia Marques, Buğra Han Egeli, Holly Wobma, Claudio Ribeiro, Edwin Anderson, Jonathan S Hausmann, Fatma Dedeoğlu","doi":"10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Patients with undefined systemic autoinflammatory diseases (uSAIDs) are challenging to manage, as there are no guidelines or recommendations for targeted therapy. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of empiric treatment with colchicine in our single-center uSAID population in the United States, as well as the patient characteristics associated with the most robust colchicine response.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Children with uSAID 18 years old at initial evaluation during 2000-2019 were included if they received 3 months of colchicine therapy. Data on demographics, clinical features, laboratory/ genetic studies, and treatment responses were collected. Most statistics were based on chi-square analyses for categorical data. Complete response to colchicine was defined as resolution of episodes or the presence of minor residual symptoms that did not require any further therapy. A partial response was defined as a decrease in the frequency, severity, or length of episodes but still necessitating additional therapy. Patients were considered nonresponders if they did not experience any improvement with colchicine at target therapeutic dosing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 133 children diagnosed with uSAID who met our inclusion criteria. The median time to starting empiric colchicine was 5 months from the diagnosis of autoinflammatory disease. 92.5% (n = 123) of patients had a beneficial response to colchicine, including 46.6% (n = 62) partial responders and 45.9% (n = 61) complete responders. The presence of a nonurticarial rash was associated with an incomplete colchicine response (29.2% (n = 21) vs 13.1% (n = 8), P = .025). The presence of a heterozygous MEFV mutation in patients who did not fit Familial Mediterranean Fever diagnostic criteria (n = 25) appeared to be associated with a greater likelihood of complete colchicine response, although this was not statistically significant (62.5% (n = 14) vs 42.6% (n =11), P = .08). In MEFV mutation-negative patients, a nonurticarial rash was even more strongly associated with incomplete colchicine response, with an OR of 27.53 (CI [1.59-477], P = .023). The presence of oral ulcers also corresponded to incomplete colchicine response, although this did not reach clinical significance (38.9% (n = 28) vs 24.6% (n = 15), P = .08). There was no significant association between episode duration or frequency and colchicine response.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Colchicine leads to clinical benefits in most children with uSAID. We, thus, recommend an early trial of colchicine in newly diagnosed patients with uSAID.</p>","PeriodicalId":12066,"journal":{"name":"European journal of rheumatology","volume":"9 3","pages":"116-121"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39623313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}