Eva C Schwaneck, Anna S Harasim, Hans-Peter Tony, Micha Gawlik, Torsten Witte, Stefanie Joos, Michael Gernert, Marc Schmalzing, Henner Morbach, Matthias Fröhlich, Manuel Krone
{"title":"Vaccination status of patients with primary immunodeficiencies in Germany-a multicentric epidemiologic analysis.","authors":"Eva C Schwaneck, Anna S Harasim, Hans-Peter Tony, Micha Gawlik, Torsten Witte, Stefanie Joos, Michael Gernert, Marc Schmalzing, Henner Morbach, Matthias Fröhlich, Manuel Krone","doi":"10.1007/s00393-024-01549-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-024-01549-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vaccinations represent an easily accessible, safe, and important method for preventing infections. Patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are more susceptible to infections and should receive an extended spectrum of immunizations in many countries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between January 2019 and May 2020, vaccination certificates of 70 patients with PID from the regions of Würzburg and Hanover in Germany were evaluated. The patients were additionally surveyed regarding their attitude towards vaccinations and the communication with their physicians. Medical records were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 70 patients, 54 (77%) suffered from common variable immunodeficiency, 30 (43%) were diagnosed with accompanying autoimmunity, 62 (89%) had an increased susceptibility to infections, and 56 (80%) were on immunoglobulin substitution therapy. Seven patients (10%) had neither a vaccination certificate nor were they able to recollect of their last vaccination. Only 55 (79%) and 43 (61%) patients stated that their rheumatologist or immunologist had recommended an influenza and a pneumococcal vaccination, respectively. When asked about their overall trust in vaccinations on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 = very low, 10 = very high), the mean value was 7.8. The most common vaccination was against tetanus in 63 (90%) patients, 49 (70%) had received vaccination against pneumococci, and 39 (56%) had received an influenza vaccination. Interestingly, 26 patients (37%) were vaccinated against measles, even though this is contraindicated in most PID patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our data suggest that vaccination rates in this at-risk population are insufficient. Healthcare providers should emphasize vaccinations routinely when caring for these patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142037078","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}
M Schmalzing, O Sander, M Seidl, R Marks, N Blank, I Kötter, M Tiemann, M Backhaus, B Manger, K Hübel, U Müller-Ladner, J Henes
{"title":"Castleman's disease in the rheumatological practice.","authors":"M Schmalzing, O Sander, M Seidl, R Marks, N Blank, I Kötter, M Tiemann, M Backhaus, B Manger, K Hübel, U Müller-Ladner, J Henes","doi":"10.1007/s00393-024-01560-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-024-01560-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142037077","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}
Stefan Krämer, A Flöge, S Handt, F Juzek-Küpper, K Vogt, J Ullmann, T Rauen
{"title":"[Prioritized appointment allocation in new patients, what is really decisive? : Comparative analysis of manual appointment allocation with automated and AI-assisted approaches].","authors":"Stefan Krämer, A Flöge, S Handt, F Juzek-Küpper, K Vogt, J Ullmann, T Rauen","doi":"10.1007/s00393-024-01550-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-024-01550-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The timely allocation of appointments for new patients is a daily challenge in rheumatological practice, which can be supported by digital solutions. The question is to find the simplest and most effective possible method for prioritization when allocating appointments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a registration form for new patients, standardized symptoms and laboratory results were collated. After reviewing this information by a medical specialist the allocation of appointments was carried out in three categories: a) < 6 weeks, b) 6 weeks up to 3 months and c) > 3 months. The waiting time between the time of registration and the presentation appointment was calculated and compared between patients with and without a diagnosis of an inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD). In addition a decision tree (DT), a method taken from the field of supervised learning within artificial intelligence (AI), was established and the resulting classification was compared with respect to the accuracy and calculated saving in waiting time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study 800 appointments between 2020 and 2023 (including 555 women, 69.4%, median age 53 years, interquartile range, IQR 39-63 years) were analyzed. An IRD could be confirmed in 409 (51.1%) cases with a waiting time of 58 vs. 93 days for non-IRD cases (-38%, p < 0.01). An AI-based stratification resulted in an accuracy of 67% for IRD and a predicted saving of 19% waiting time. The accuracy increased up to 78% with a time saving for IRD cases of up to 31%, when all basic laboratory results were known. Simplified algorithms, e.g., stratification by the use of laboratory findings alone, resulted in a lower accuracy and time savings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Manual allocation of appointments by a medical specialist is effective and significantly reduces the waiting times for patients with IRD. An automated categorization can lead to a reduction in waiting times for appointments when taking complete laboratory results and a lower sensitivity into consideration.</p>","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141989018","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}
Martin Gehlen, Michael Schwarz-Eywill, Karin Mahn, Andreas Pfeiffer, Jürgen M Bauer, Anna Maier
{"title":"[Sonography of muscles : Rheumatology-Neurology-Geriatrics-Sports medicine-Orthopedics].","authors":"Martin Gehlen, Michael Schwarz-Eywill, Karin Mahn, Andreas Pfeiffer, Jürgen M Bauer, Anna Maier","doi":"10.1007/s00393-024-01541-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-024-01541-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Muscle sonography is used in rheumatology, neurology, geriatrics, sports medicine and orthopedics. Muscular atrophy with fatty and connective tissue degeneration can be visualized and must be interpreted in conjunction with the sonographic findings of the supplying nerves. Sonography is becoming increasingly more important for the early diagnosis of sarcopenia in rheumatology, geriatrics and osteology. Even if its significance has not yet been conclusively clarified, many publications confirm the high reliability of the method. Sonography can ideally be used in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnostics of myositis as it can speed up the diagnosis, muscle groups that were not imaged by MRI can also be assessed sonographically and all muscle groups can be examined during the course of the procedure. Sonography also helps to make a quick and uncomplicated diagnosis of many sports injuries in addition to MRI and is therefore the basis for a targeted therapeutic approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141983385","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}
Yuriko Mori, Frederik L Giesel, Andrea-Hermina Györfi, Wolfgang Merkt, Jörg Distler
{"title":"[FAPI-PET-CT for quantification of the tissue response in rheumatic diseases].","authors":"Yuriko Mori, Frederik L Giesel, Andrea-Hermina Györfi, Wolfgang Merkt, Jörg Distler","doi":"10.1007/s00393-024-01536-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00393-024-01536-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is mainly found on the surface of activated fibroblasts but is not expressed on the surface of inactive fibroblasts. Selective FAP inhibitors (FAPI), which are coupled to a radioactive tracer, can be used to quantify profibrotic and proinflammatory fibroblasts in patients using FAPI positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT). Following initial applications in neoplastic diseases, FAPI-PET/CT is also increasingly being applied in rheumatological diseases. The first studies have shown that in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) FAPI accumulates in actively fibrotically remodeled pulmonary and myocardial areas, that a high FAPI accumulation is associated with the risk of short-term progression and that this accumulation in the lungs regresses after successful treatment. In cases of immunoglobulin 4 (IgG4)-associated diseases (IgG4 rheumatic disease, RD), the FAPI signal correlates with the histological accumulation of activated fibroblasts and a poorer response to treatment to inhibit inflammation. Fibroblasts in chronically inflamed tissue, such as patients with inflammatory joint diseases, vasculitis or myositis, also express FAP and can be quantified by FAPI-PET/CT. The treatment-induced change of the phenotype from a destructive IL-6+/MMP3+THY1+ fibroblast subtype to an inflammation inhibiting CD200+DKK3+ subtype can be mechanistically demonstrated using FAPI-PET/CT. These studies provide indications that FAPI-PET/CT enables quantification of the tissue response in patients with fibrosing and chronic inflammatory diseases and can be used for patient stratification; however, further studies are essential for validation of the use of FAPI-PET/CT as a molecular imaging marker.</p>","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":"455-459"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141731478","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":"[EULAR recommendations 2023 on the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus -Implications for treatment in Germany].","authors":"Johanna Mucke, Martin Aringer","doi":"10.1007/s00393-024-01544-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00393-024-01544-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The 2023 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) faced several tasks: the newly approved medications anifrolumab and voclosporin as well as the additional approval of belimumab for lupus nephritis had to be conceptionally fitted into the management of SLE. Novel data on hydroxychloroquine and glucocorticoids, additional results for the treat-to-target goals remission and low disease activity and experience with respect to vaccinations and infections had to be considered. Additionally, EULAR specified a slightly modified structure. The update was further developed with 5 overarching principles and 13 recommendations. An SLE activity score is required for each patient visit. All SLE patients should receive hydroxychloroquine at a target dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. Glucocorticoids should only be used if necessary and reduced to not more than 5 mg prednisone equivalent daily in the long-term or, even better, tapered off. If the target of remission or low disease activity is not reached, methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate and/or belimumab or anifrolumab should be used. For lupus nephritis, Euro-Lupus cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate are options for induction therapy and mycophenolate or azathioprine for maintenance. In the case of severe nephritis, the addition of belimumab or a calcineurin inhibitor (voclosporin or tacrolimus) should be considered. It is important that treatment should be continued for at least 3 years. This review article describes the details of the new recommendations against the background of relevant studies in recent years and classifies them in the clinical context.</p>","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":"431-438"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735088","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":"[Update on lupus nephritis].","authors":"M Schneider, A Schwarting, G Chehab","doi":"10.1007/s00393-024-01534-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00393-024-01534-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In addition to the butterfly rash, lupus nephritis is the most specific manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The perspective on this organ manifestation has fundamentally changed as well as the manifestation of SLE itself 40 years after the first multicenter clinical study on lupus nephritis. Even if there is a faint glimpse of hope of a cure, there is still the fight against the problem of nonresponders and also the progressive loss of organ function. This update gives an overview of the current importance of lupus nephritis in the context of the whole SLE disease, of the special features and on the options provided by the new diagnostic and therapeutic developments.</p>","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":"447-454"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141459627","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":"[When should patients with rheumatoid arthritis be treated with radiosynoviorthesis (RSO)?]","authors":"Willm Uwe Kampen, K H Bohuslavizki","doi":"10.1007/s00393-024-01533-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00393-024-01533-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":"492-494"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141459628","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}