ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-12-19DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1588
B Cremonezi Lammoglia, L De Aguiar Trevise, T Paslar Leal, M Pereira Lopes Vieira Pinto, G Hasselmann, N Salles Rosa Neto
{"title":"Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: sequential use of mepolizumab following rituximab for inadequate asthma control despite vasculitis remission.","authors":"B Cremonezi Lammoglia, L De Aguiar Trevise, T Paslar Leal, M Pereira Lopes Vieira Pinto, G Hasselmann, N Salles Rosa Neto","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1588","DOIUrl":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We report the case of a 54-year-old woman with antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis presenting with mononeuritis multiplex, intestinal hemorrhage, cardiomyopathy, fever, and worsening asthma symptoms. She was initially treated with steroids and cyclophosphamide but eventually required rituximab to control a vasculitis flare. However, her asthmatic symptoms did not improve, despite attaining vasculitis remission. Symptoms abated only after the treatment transition to mepolizumab. After a 1-year interval, there were no further episodes of asthma exacerbation and no requirement for systemic steroid therapy. This report reinforces the use of rituximab for induction and maintenance of remission in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and predominant vasculitic manifestations, whereas mepolizumab demonstrated better control of the persistent eosinophilic manifestations, ensuing sustained remission and improved quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138808590","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-12-19DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1565
H Parente, M Pontes Ferreira, C Soares, F Guimarães, S Azevedo, D Santos-Faria, J Tavares-Costa, D Peixoto, C Afonso, D Roriz, F Teixeira
{"title":"Lumbosacral pain in a patient with psoriatic arthritis: when the rheumatic disease is innocent.","authors":"H Parente, M Pontes Ferreira, C Soares, F Guimarães, S Azevedo, D Santos-Faria, J Tavares-Costa, D Peixoto, C Afonso, D Roriz, F Teixeira","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1565","DOIUrl":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1565","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lumbar pain is a very common symptom that derives from benign musculoskeletal conditions, rheumatic inflammatory diseases, neoplasms, and referred and/or nociplastic pain. A 70-year-old man with psoriatic arthritis presented with early-onset lumbosacral pain without evident red flags. Symptomatic treatment was unhelpful. Radiographic imaging showed subtle signs of a disease that could easily be missed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a massive prostatic malignancy with bone (sacral and iliopubic) metastasis. Awareness must be given not to disregard every lumbar pain as part of the preexisting rheumatic inflammatory disease (spondyloarthropathy in this case) or a common muscle/ligament/articular disarrangement. Persistence of pain, albeit not inflam-matory nor sharp in nature, despite adequate treatment might be just as important as an acute red flag and requires proper follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138808596","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-12-19DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1627
F R Spinelli, F Conti, R Caporali, F Iannone, F Cacciapaglia, On Behalf Of The Steering Committee Of The Italian Society Of Rheumatology
{"title":"Janus kinase inhibitors: between prescription authorization and reimbursability.","authors":"F R Spinelli, F Conti, R Caporali, F Iannone, F Cacciapaglia, On Behalf Of The Steering Committee Of The Italian Society Of Rheumatology","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1627","DOIUrl":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1627","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Following the restrictions on the reimbursability of Janus kinase inhibitors introduced by the Italian Medicines Agency, the Italian Society of Rheumatology has drafted this document to shed light on the clinical conditions and reimbursability criteria set out in the prescription forms.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138808593","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-12-19DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1585
D Mohamadzadeh, S Assar, F Farsad
{"title":"Acquired hemophilia A treated with rituximab in a 62-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis: a case-based review.","authors":"D Mohamadzadeh, S Assar, F Farsad","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1585","DOIUrl":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare autoimmune disorder with unpredictable hemostasis that is caused by autoantibody formation against coagulation factor VIII. AHA can occur in the context of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disorders. Here we report the case of a 62-year-old female with an 11-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who presented with cutaneous and mucosal bleeding. Activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged and not corrected by the mixing test. Factor VIII activity was decreased, and the anti-factor VIII antibody was positive. AHA associated with RA was diagnosed. The patient was treated with rituximab 500 mg weekly for 4 doses and prednisolone 10 mg/daily. The patient did not experience bleeding events after treatment, and factor VIII activity and inhibitor normalized. At the end of the article, we discuss similar cases of RA-associated AHA.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138808535","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-12-19DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1557
E Yılmaz
{"title":"Can restless legs be a sign of something else? A case report of spondyloarthritis presenting with restless legs syndrome and a review of the literature.","authors":"E Yılmaz","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1557","DOIUrl":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1557","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic movement disorder characterized by an urge or need to move the limbs, usually associated with uncomfortable sensations in the legs and sleep disorders. In general, two clinical forms of RLS are described: primary and secondary. Although primary RLS has a familial component, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood but seems to be related to abnormalities in the dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways of the central nervous system. The secondary forms of the syndrome are associated with iron deficiency, renal failure, pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and several rheumatologic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome. In a few clinical trials, an increased frequency of RLS has been reported in patients with spondyloarthritis. In this report, a case of coexistence of spondyloarthritis and RLS is presented, showing satisfactory improvement with conservative treatment and additionally adding naproxen. Anemia of chronic disease occurring in rheumatic diseases, and associated iron deficiency may contribute to the development of RLS.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138808584","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-12-19DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1562
F Masini, K Gjeloshi, E Pinotti, R Ferrara, C Romano, G Cuomo
{"title":"Polymyositis following varicella and mumps infection in adults: report of two cases.","authors":"F Masini, K Gjeloshi, E Pinotti, R Ferrara, C Romano, G Cuomo","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1562","DOIUrl":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1562","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Idiopathic immune myopathies (IIMs) are autoimmune diseases caused by immune-mediated muscle damage. The etiology remains unclear. Epidemiological and experimental studies, both in animals and humans, hint at viruses as major environmental factors able to trigger aberrant immune responses through many different mechanisms. However, only a few cases of either dermatomyositis or polymyositis following a specific viral infection have been reported in the literature. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical features and the treatment strategy of 2 cases of polymyositis developing shortly after chickenpox and mumps, respectively, and to review the existing literature on the topic. The clinical records of the 2 patients suspected to have developed inflammatory myositis following a viral infection were reviewed. Their clinical history, main laboratory findings, and treatment outcome are presented here. Moreover, a literature search was performed in the PubMed and MEDLINE databases to identify reports describing the association between viral infections and IIMs in patients aged ≥18. The 2 patients reported here developed polymyositis shortly after chickenpox and mumps, respectively, suggesting a causal role for viruses in triggering autoimmunity. Only a few reports published between 1990 and 2020 were found in the literature, possibly linking infections to myositis development. Intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab were effective for the treatment of viral-triggered polymyositis.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138808610","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1539
A M Treichel, D X Zheng, G C Ranasinghe, A S Zeft, W F Bergfeld, C B Bayart
{"title":"Eosinophilic fasciitis in a young male auto mechanic exposed to organic solvents.","authors":"A M Treichel, D X Zheng, G C Ranasinghe, A S Zeft, W F Bergfeld, C B Bayart","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1539","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1539","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We report a case of eosinophilic fasciitis in a teenage auto mechanic who was most likely affected by occupational exposure to organic solvents, including the aromatic hydrocarbons benzene, trimethylbenzene, naphthalene, toluene, and xylene. The patient presented with an 8-month history of painful induration of his extremities and an abnormal gait. A deep excisional biopsy of the fascia was obtained, demonstrating subcutaneous fibrosis with perivascular and interstitial inflammation, with lymphocytes and plasma cells spilling into the sclerosed fascia, and focal fibrinoid necrosis. Treatment was begun with intravenous pulse doses of methylprednisolone, prednisone (20 mg daily), and subcutaneous methotrexate (25 mg weekly), and the patient's painful induration had resolved and gait had normalized at the 6-month follow-up. Our case suggests that exposure to organic solvents could be implicated in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic fasciitis and highlights the importance of a thorough occupational history to prevent repeat exposures to potentially causative agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10300469","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1623
H Quiñones-Moya, A Camargo-Coronel, M R Hernández-Zavala
{"title":"Response to: myositis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination occurs more frequently than assumed and is probably causally related.","authors":"H Quiñones-Moya, A Camargo-Coronel, M R Hernández-Zavala","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1623","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1623","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We thank Finsterer et al. for the attention paid to our publication; we recognize the validity of the points mentioned in their letter to the editor and will try to answer the observations made.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10300462","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1586
R Deniz, N Güner, Ş A Ekmen, I N Mutlu, D S Özgür, B Karaalioğlu, G Akkuzu, F Yıldırım, K Kalkan, G Güzelant-Özköse, B İnce, M Erdoğan, Y Özlük, I Kılıçaslan, C Bes
{"title":"Discrepancies between clinical and pathological findings seen at renal biopsy in rheumatological diseases.","authors":"R Deniz, N Güner, Ş A Ekmen, I N Mutlu, D S Özgür, B Karaalioğlu, G Akkuzu, F Yıldırım, K Kalkan, G Güzelant-Özköse, B İnce, M Erdoğan, Y Özlük, I Kılıçaslan, C Bes","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1586","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1586","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Renal biopsy contributes to the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment of many rheumatic conditions. This study assessed the diagnostic role and safety of renal biopsies in a tertiary rheumatology clinic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Renal biopsies performed between June 2020 and December 2022 were screened, and demographic, clinical, histopathological, and safety data were collected from patient records.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, 33 males and 38 females were included. Except for 1 patient who received acetylsalicylic acid, antiaggregant, and/or anticoagulant drugs were stopped before the biopsy. Complications included a decrease of hemoglobin in 8 patients (11.3%) and microscopic hematuria in 40 patients (56.3%). Control ultrasonography was performed in 16 patients (22.5%), and a self-limiting hematoma was found in 4 of them (5.6%) without additional complications. While less than 10 glomeruli were obtained in 9 patients (9.9%), diagnosis success was 94.4%. Histopathological data were consistent with one of the pre-biopsy diagnoses in 54 of 67 cases (80.6%) but showed discrepancies in 19.4% (n=13) of patients. A repeat biopsy was performed in 7 patients for re-staging or insufficient biopsy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Renal biopsy significantly contributes to rheumatology practice, especially in patients with complex clinical and laboratory findings or in whom different treatments can be given according to the presence, severity, and type of renal involvement. Although the possibility of obtaining insufficient tissue and the need for re-staging and repeat biopsy in the follow-up might be expected, complication risk does not seem to be a big concern. Renal biopsy often evidenced discrepancies between pre-biopsy diagnosis and histopathological findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10307170","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}
ReumatismoPub Date : 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1530
V Bruzzese, C Marrese, P Scolieri, J Pepe
{"title":"Efficacy of a gluten-free diet in reducing the widespread pain index and symptom severity scale in patients affected by fibromyalgia.","authors":"V Bruzzese, C Marrese, P Scolieri, J Pepe","doi":"10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1530","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1530","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Dietary interventions to improve fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms reported conflicting results. This study aimed to treat FM patients with a gluten-free diet (GFD), alternated with a non-restricted gluten-containing diet, followed by a rechallenge of the GFD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty postmenopausal women with FM and no history of celiac disease participated. A GFD was assigned for 6 months. This was followed by 3 months of a non-restricted gluten-containing diet and then a new GFD for another 6 months. At each visit, the widespread pain index (WPI) and the symptom severity scale (SS) scores were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of the patients enrolled was 53.9±10 years. None of the patients had a diagnosis of irritable bowel disease, although they reported vague gastrointestinal symptoms. After 6 months of a GFD, a statistically significant reduction was observed for the WPI (10.3±1.8 vs 7.7±1.4; p<0.0001) and the SS scale (6.4±1.8 vs 4.15±1.6; p=0.0002). The D percentage reduction of the WPI after 6 months of GFD was -24%±9%, while for the SS scale, it was -36%±21%. The following reintroduction of a gluten-containing diet brought about a statistically significant rise in the absolute SS scale and WPI, as well as a D modification of the WPI (21%±13%) and of the SS scale (74%±90%). The rechallenge of the GFD showed a significant improvement in absolute and D WPI (-24%±7%) and SS (-36%±11%). No modifications to the body mass index were found.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A GFD improved FM symptoms evaluated with WPI and SS. This was confirmed for the first time, also with a rechallenge of the GFD that followed a non-restricted gluten-containing diet.</p>","PeriodicalId":21222,"journal":{"name":"Reumatismo","volume":"75 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10672546","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}