{"title":"Late-onset rheumatoid arthritis: Justifying the need for international practice guidelines and classification criteria.","authors":"Chokan Baimukhamedov, Marina Baimukhamedova","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae117","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae117","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"597-598"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142951779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jang Woo Ha, Jason Jungsik Song, Yong-Beom Park, Sang-Won Lee
{"title":"Validation of the 2022 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for giant cell arteritis in Korean patients with giant cell arteritis.","authors":"Jang Woo Ha, Jason Jungsik Song, Yong-Beom Park, Sang-Won Lee","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae110","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We applied the 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Association for Rheumatology (EULAR) criteria to Korean patients previously diagnosed with giant cell arteritis (GCA) according to the 1990 ACR criteria and validated its clinical efficiency.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nine patients with GCA were included. The proportion of patients meeting each item of the 1990 ACR criteria and the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median age was 65.0 years, and 77.8% of the patients were women. Seven (77.8%) patients had polymyalgia rheumatica. All nine patients were reclassified as having GCA according to the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria. Among the 10 items of the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria, the item contributing the most to the reclassification was elevated acute-phase reactant levels (100%), followed by new temporal headache (77.8%) and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography activity throughout the aorta (77.5%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this study, for the first time, we demonstrated a concordance rate of 100% between the two criteria in Korean patients previously diagnosed with GCA. Moreover, we also clarified the major contributors to the reclassification according to the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"524-528"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142951781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shirkhan Amikishiyev, Yasemin Yalçınkaya, Konul Mammadova, Numune Aliyeva, Gorkem Durak, Bahar Artim-Esen, Ahmet Gül, Ahmet Kaya Bilge, Gulfer Okumuş, Murat Inanc
{"title":"Mortality and associated factors in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary hypertension with and without interstitial lung disease: A long-term follow-up study.","authors":"Shirkhan Amikishiyev, Yasemin Yalçınkaya, Konul Mammadova, Numune Aliyeva, Gorkem Durak, Bahar Artim-Esen, Ahmet Gül, Ahmet Kaya Bilge, Gulfer Okumuş, Murat Inanc","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae095","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to investigate mortality and prognostic factors in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) with or without interstitial lung disease (ILD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The associations between mortality and demographics, transthoracic echocardiography, right heart catheterization (RHC), pulmonary functional parameters at baseline, and treatment modalities were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Survival rates for PH-SSc patients (42 female, mean age 56.6 ± 13.5, median follow-up 45 months) were 91% at the first year, 75% at 2 years, and 43.1% at 5 years. The majority of the deceased patients had PH + ILD (P = .007). The PH + ILD group had more diffuse skin involvement, anti-Scl-70, high C-reactive protein, low FVC, and lower DLCO. The deceased patients had higher estimated pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), low cardiac output, and FVC values. Median survival time was significantly better in patients on combined therapy. Mortality-related factors in the PH + ILD group were decreased initial FVC, high estimated PASP, low cardiac output, deteriorated functional class, and monotherapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This is the first reported SSc-PH cohort from Turkey by a multidisciplinary team. PH is a severe complication of SSc with high mortality especially in patients with accompanying severe ILD.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"478-483"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142470024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The knowledge and skills required for the onco-rheumatologist: Study of four-year consultation records of a high-volume cancer centre.","authors":"Koichi Takeda, Taro Shiga","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae114","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Onco-rheumatology, the intersection of oncology and rheumatology, is an emerging field requiring further definition. This study aimed to identify the knowledge and skills essential for rheumatologists in clinical oncology.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively reviewed consultations with the onco-rheumatology department of a high-volume tertiary cancer centre in Japan from January 2020 to December 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We analysed 417 consultations. The most common consultation (229, 55%) was related to immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Of the 238 irAEs in 185 patients, 15% were rheumatic and 85% were nonrheumatic (e.g. hepatobiliary toxicities, colitis). Approximately 25% of nonendocrine irAEs were refractory/relapsing, requiring second-line therapy (e.g. mycophenolate mofetil, biologics, immunoglobulin). In addition to irAE consultations, 137 (33%) consultations were about possible rheumatic diseases. The final diagnosis often related to cancer treatment, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-related aortitis (15 patients, 11%), olaparib-related erythema nodosum (10 patients, 7.3%), and surgical menopause-related arthralgia (10 patients, 7.3%). Five patients (3.6%) were diagnosed with autoinflammatory bone disease mimicking bone tumours.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Onco-rheumatologists are expected to play a central role in the management of a wide range of irAEs, not limited to rheumatic irAEs. They must also manage rheumatologic manifestations during cancer treatment and rheumatic diseases that mimic tumours.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"402-409"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142854696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Laboratory markers predicting tofacitinib efficacy in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A pooled analysis of Phase 2/3 randomised controlled clinical trials.","authors":"Yoshiya Tanaka, Hisashi Yamanaka, Shigeyuki Toyoizumi, Tomohiro Hirose, Tsutomu Takeuchi","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae109","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We characterised early changes in laboratory parameters in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis and assessed whether these changes at Month (M)1 were predictive of tofacitinib efficacy at M3.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This post hoc analysis included pooled data from Japanese patients receiving tofacitinib or placebo in three Phase 2/Phase 3 studies (NCT00603512; NCT00687193; NCT00847613). Outcomes included changes from baseline in laboratory parameters (Week 2 and M1/3); efficacy end points were Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, based on C-reactive protein; Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate; and American College of Rheumatology-N index at M3. Univariate/multivariable analyses assessed whether changes at M1 were predictive of efficacy at M3.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 467 patients receiving tofacitinib and 104 receiving placebo were included. Tofacitinib treatment was associated with decreases from baseline in C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophils, and platelets and increases in lymphocytes, haemoglobin, and lipids up to M3. Decreased platelet count and increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and haemoglobin at M1 were predictive of changes in efficacy outcomes at M3.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Changes in laboratory parameters at M1 could potentially be used to assess whether tofacitinib therapy will be effective at M3; however, further investigation is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"417-424"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142807506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors related to acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses among patients with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases in Japan: A single-centre cross-sectional survey.","authors":"Riki Kurokawa, Sachiko Ohde, Satoshi Kawaai, Hiromichi Tamaki","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae102","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We studied the current state and factors associated with the acceptance or hesitancy of booster doses of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine among patients with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases (ARDs) in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A single-centre cross-sectional survey was conducted among outpatients with ARDs who visited the Immuno-Rheumatology Center at St. Luke's International Hospital from 1 October 2023 to 30 November 2023. We investigated patient characteristics, COVID-19 vaccination-related status, decision-making preferences, health-related status, and independent factors associated with the acceptance or hesitancy of booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 241 patients were included in the analyses, and 198 patients (82.2%) received booster doses, while 43 (17.8%) did not. Older age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19, 0.95, P = .037], having rheumatoid arthritis (aOR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.92, P = .030), and having a physician recommend receiving the vaccine (aOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.95, P = .035) were independently associated with receiving booster doses. The main reasons for hesitancy regarding booster doses were concerns about adverse reactions and long-term safety.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings could help physicians counsel patients with ARDs regarding their acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to promote appropriate decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"535-541"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142644264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Can the affected intestinal segment visualized on abdominal ultrasound predict gastrointestinal tract bleeding in immunoglobulin A vasculitis?","authors":"Merve Cansu Polat, Zahide Ekici Tekin, Avni Merter Keçeli, Elif Çelikel, Vildan Güngörer, Cüneyt Karagöl, Melike Mehveş Kaplan, Nimet Öner, Didem Öztürk, Emine Özçelik, Mehveş Işıklar Ekici, Yasemin Uğur Es, Sultan Nilay Yoğun, Banu Çelikel Acar","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae103","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to evaluate immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) patients with gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement and to reveal the relationship between the location and extent of the affected intestinal segment detected on the initial abdominal ultrasound and GI tract bleeding.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This medical record review study was conducted on 117 IgAV patients with GI tract involvement between January 2016 and June 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: those with (n = 28) and without (n = 89) GI tract bleeding. Predictors of GI tract bleeding were investigated by comparing demographic, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Gender, age at diagnosis, symptoms at admission, rash distribution, GI tract complaints, and the elapsed time until the development of GI tract symptoms were similar in both groups. There was no difference between small intestinal, large intestinal, or small + large intestinal involvement (P = .89). The ileum was the most commonly affected intestinal segment in patients with and without GI tract bleeding (P = .37). Jejunal wall thickening (P = .04) and the number of affected intestinal segments (P = .008) were higher in patients with GI tract bleeding.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In IgAV patients, jejunum involvement and affected multiple intestinal segments shown by abdominal ultrasound are associated with GI tract bleeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"516-523"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142623605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The abundance of regulatory T cell subsets is associated with the clinical outcomes of sarcoidosis.","authors":"Katsuhide Kusaka, Yusuke Miyazaki, Shingo Nakayamada, Satoshi Kubo, Ippei Miyagawa, Yurie Satoh-Kanda, Yasuyuki Todoroki, Masanobu Ueno, Yoshiya Tanaka","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae106","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Some patients with sarcoidosis achieve spontaneous remission, whereas others repeatedly experience relapse. We examined differences in the clinical course of active sarcoidosis according to peripheral blood immunophenotypes before treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study compared peripheral blood immunophenotypes between patients with active sarcoidosis (n = 28) and healthy control subjects (n = 10). Patients with sarcoidosis were divided into the spontaneous remission group without treatment (n = 9), the non-relapsed group after treatment (n = 13), and the relapsed group after treatment (n = 6) and were compared for peripheral blood immunophenotypes and background characteristics at baseline.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients with sarcoidosis showed increases in activated T helper (Th) 1 cells, activated Th17 cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cell subsets. The proportion of effector Treg cells was highest in the spontaneous remission group, and the proportion of non-suppressive Treg cells was highest in the relapsed group. No differences were observed in the proportions of other CD4+ T cell subsets. The cut-off values for predicting spontaneous remission and relapse were calculated for the effector Treg/non-suppressive Treg ratio. As a result, A ratio ≥1.469 predicted spontaneous remission (75%), while ≤0.722 predicted relapse (66.7%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Effector and non-suppressive Treg cell proportions before treatment may predict spontaneous remission and relapse in active sarcoidosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"557-564"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142623721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effectiveness and safety of low-energy shock wave therapy for digital ulcers associated with systemic sclerosis: A Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial.","authors":"Tomonori Ishii, Yasushi Kawaguchi, Osamu Ishikawa, Hiromitsu Takemori, Naruhiko Takasawa, Hitoshi Kobayashi, Yuichi Takahashi, Hidekata Yasuoka, Takao Kodera, Osamu Takai, Izaya Nakaya, Yukio Sato, Tomomasa Izumiyama, Hiroshi Fujii, Yukiko Kamogawa, Yuko Shirota, Tsuyoshi Shirai, Yoko Fujita, Shinichiro Saito, Shih-Wei Chiu, Takuhiro Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Shimokawa, Hideo Harigae","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae104","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterised by ischaemic skin ulcers on the fingertips, and low-energy shock wave therapy is suggested as a novel treatment for ischaemic lesions with angiogenic effects. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of shock wave therapy for skin ulcers in patients with SSc.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this Phase 3 pivotal study, we analysed 60 SSc patients with digital ulcers that did not disappear after >4 weeks of existing treatment: 30 patients were treated with extracorporeal shock wave therapy and 30 with conventional treatment. The ulcer count reduction observed after an 8-week treatment period was compared between the shock wave therapy and conventional treatment groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After an 8-week treatment period, the mean reduction in the number of ulcers was 0.83 (SD 2.79) in the conventional treatment group compared to a more pronounced reduction of 4.47 (SD 2.65) in the shock wave therapy group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study findings indicate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for refractory digital ulcers associated with SSc, which has limited therapeutic options. This therapy is non-invasive and safe and can be used without restriction in combination with other therapies, thus serving as a novel therapeutic method.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"484-495"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142676319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Decreased foot-related quality of life is a risk factor for falls in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.","authors":"Akihisa Haraguchi, Kenta Kamo","doi":"10.1093/mr/roae108","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mr/roae108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study is to assess the need to treat forefoot lesions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who are unaware of their foot problems.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From April to September 2022, 116 RA patients at Yamaguchi Red Cross hospitalwere administered the Self-Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire (SAFE-Q), a self-assessment questionnaire on foot-related issues, and underwent forefoot radiography. We also assessed the occurrence of falls 1 year later. Among the 88 patients who were unaware of foot problems, we analysed the frequency and type of forefoot deformities and conducted a multivariate analysis to identify factors predicting falls during the 12-month follow-up.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the unaware patients, 64 (72.7%) had forefoot deformities and 17 (19.3%) experienced falls within the first year. The fall group had a history of falls and lower SAFE-Q scores but did not significantly differ from others in terms of forefoot deformities. Multivariate analysis identified a history of falls and lower SAFE-Q scores as predictive factors for future falls.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Decreased foot-related quality of life is a risk factor for falls, even in patients who are unaware of their foot problems. Physicians should regularly assess foot-related quality of life using tools such as SAFE-Q to help prevent falls in RA patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":18705,"journal":{"name":"Modern Rheumatology","volume":" ","pages":"443-448"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142807492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}