Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews最新文献

{"title":"Incidence and Prevalence of Septic Arthritis in Thailand: A Database from the Ministry of Public Health.","authors":"Thanit Foocharoen, Tippawan Onchan, Patnarin Pongkulkiat, Ajanee Mahakkanukrauh, Siraphop Suwannaroj, Chingching Foocharoen","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S434983","DOIUrl":"10.2147/OARRR.S434983","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A better understanding of the epidemiological profile of septic arthritis or pyogenic arthritis in Thais could improve care and provide information for better infectious control. We aimed to determine the incidence and prevalence of septic arthritis in Thailand between 2017 and 2020.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive epidemiological study was performed using demographic data from patients over 18 years of age having a primary diagnosis of M00 pyogenic arthritis between 2017 and 2020. Data were sourced from the Information and Communication Technology Center, Ministry of Public Health database. The incidence and prevalence of septic arthritis were calculated, and their respective 95% confidence interval (CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The number of patients with septic arthritis in 2017 was 26,878 from a total Thai population of 65,204,797. The prevalence of septic arthritis in 2017 was 41.2 per 100,000 (95% CI 40.7-41.7). The prevalence of septic arthritis among women was slightly higher than among men (42.2 vs 40.2 per 100,000). The incidence of septic arthritis slightly increased from 2018 to 2019 but was stable in 2020 (22.6, 23.3, and 23.1 per 100,000 person-years, respectively). The incidence was highest in the southern region between 2018 and 2019 but highest in the northeast in 2020. The peak was in the elderly population 60 and older (56.4, 59.5, and 57.3 per 100,000 person-years in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively). The incidence increased with age and the maximum rate was in those ≥ 70 years (70.2 per 100,000 person-years in 2019).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Septic arthritis commonly presents in the elderly and is comparable between men and women. The disease was found mainly in the northeastern and southern regions. The incidence remained stable during the study period.</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"213-222"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10638938/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89719949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is Serum Uric Acid Level Associated with Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients","authors":"Dalal Alkhudir, Adeeba Al-Herz, Khulood Saleh, Adel Alawadhi, Waleed Al-Kandari, Eman Hasan, Khaled Mokaddem, Aqeel Ghanem, Youssef Bartella, Mohammed Hussain, Naser AlHadhood, Yaser Ali, Ebrahim Nahar, Ahmad Alenizi, Ali Aldei, Fatemah Abutiban, Sawsan Hayat, Hussain Behbehani, Fatemah Baron, Hebah Alhajeri, Amjad Alkadi, Ahmed Alsaber","doi":"10.2147/oarrr.s418814","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/oarrr.s418814","url":null,"abstract":"Background: An association between serum uric acid (UA) and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients has not been well studied. We describe RA patients with high and normal UA and study its association with RA activity. Methods: Adult RA patients from the Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases (KRRD) were studied from February 2012 through March 2022. Patients with documented UA levels were included. UA of > 357 μmol/L (6mg/dL) was considered high. Statistical comparison and correlation were made using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Overall, 1054 patients with documented UA. A total of 158 patients (15%) had high UA level with a mean of 409± 44.4μmol/L. The mean age for the high UA group and low UA group were 59.3 ± 10.7 years and 54.5 ± 12.4 years, respectively ( p < 0.001). 49.4% were female in high UA group, and 62.2% were female in low UA group, respectively ( p < 0.05). Logistic analysis showed an inverse relation between DAS28 and UA, as lower DAS28 score was associated with higher UA level ( p =0.032) OR 1.39. There was a direct relation with HAQ, creatinine and UA. A higher HAQ is associated with a higher UA level ( p =0.019) OR 0.78. High creatinine level is also associated with high UA level ( p < 0.001) OR 0.24. The use of antirheumatic drugs was similar among patients with high and normal UA. Conclusion: RA patients with a higher UA had a lower disease activity despite using similar antirheumatic drugs. The reasons behind this association need to be further studied. Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, uric acid, disease activity, DAS28, registry, KRRD, Kuwait, Middle East","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"6 3","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135715607","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":"Biosimilars for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Riding the 2023 Wave [Podcast].","authors":"Stanley B Cohen,&nbsp;Mariah Z Leach","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S443235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OARRR.S443235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article discusses some of the queries and concerns that patients may have about initiating or switching to treatment with a biosimilar for rheumatoid arthritis following the US 2023 release of several biosimilars of the adalimumab reference product, also known by the brand name, Humira. The article also covers the difference between a generic medicine and a biosimilar, and the clinical evidence to support the safety and efficacy of adalimumab biosimilars in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"207-212"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10625413/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71487233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Current Validated Clinical and Patient Reported Disease Outcome Measures in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.","authors":"Erin Balay-Dustrude,&nbsp;Susan Shenoi","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S261773","DOIUrl":"10.2147/OARRR.S261773","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a common chronic illness in childhood and comprises seven categories based on the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria. Accurate assessment and measurement of the clinical, functional, and quality of life outcomes of patients with JIA are paramount for understanding the disease course and formulating effective treatment strategies. Interest in the development and use of outcome measurements specifically focused on rheumatologic conditions has greatly expanded over the last two decades, adding to and improving upon the established disease measures. Furthermore, many of these measures have been validated using the widely accepted Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core principles of instrument validation, allowing researchers and clinicians to gain confidence in these tools. This review summarizes the current validated disease outcome measures in JIA, including clinical, imaging, patient-reported, and functional outcome measurement tools, and highlights ongoing work that continues to refine and improve upon the available tools. The clinical disease outcome measures discussed in this review include physician global assessment (PhGA), American College of Rheumatology (ACR, Wallace) criteria for clinical inactive disease and clinical remission, juvenile arthritis disease activity scores (JADAS), juvenile spondyloarthritis disease activity index (JSPaDA), juvenile arthritis damage index (JADAI), and the ACR pediatric response scores. The imaging outcome measures discussed include the Dijkstra composite scores, childhood arthritis radiographic score of the hip (CARSH), and Poznanski Score. The patient-reported disease outcome measures discussed include patient global assessment (PtGA), patient-reported outcome measurement information system for JIA (PROMIS), juvenile arthritis parent/child centered disease assessment index (JAPAI, JACAI), juvenile arthritis multidimensional assessment report (JAMAR), and the Pediatric quality of life inventory rheumatology module (PedsQL). The functional outcome tools discussed include the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), juvenile arthritis functionality scale and index (JAFS and JASI), and Juvenile Arthritis Functional Assessment Report and Scale (JAFAS and JAFAR).</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"189-206"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/66/01/oarrr-15-189.PMC10574249.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41239727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vitamin D Levels Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Sudanese Patients: Prevalence and Correlation to Disease Activity - A Bicentric Study.","authors":"Mohamed Elfaith Mustafa Mohamed,&nbsp;Ziryab Imad Taha,&nbsp;Salih Boushra Hamza,&nbsp;Yassin A Abdalla,&nbsp;Sufian K Noor,&nbsp;Jimmy William","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S425397","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OARRR.S425397","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate vitamin D levels among adult Sudanese RA patients and identify its correlation with RA disease activity.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A bicentric cross-sectional analytical hospital-based study was performed in two Khartoum State Hospitals between October 2019 and January 2020, enrolling 90 Sudanese patients with RA. Serum vitamin D levels were measured with a standard reference level of 30ng/mL-100ng/mL. A detailed interview-based questionnaire was used to collect the patient's information, clinical data and lab results-disease activity was assessed via the DAS-28 score. The data was then analyzed using SPSS v-24.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Vitamin D levels were low in 79 candidates (87.8%), 53 of which (67.1%) showed moderate insufficiency (10-30ng/mL), and 26 candidates (32.9%) had severe deficiency (less than 10 ng/mL). Regarding the disease activity, 57 participants (63.3%) had moderate disease activity (DAS-28=3.2-5.1), and 22 participants (24.4%) had high disease activity (DAS-28 >5.1). A significant negative correlation was reported between high DAS-28 scores and low vitamin D levels with p-value = <0.001 (95% CI: -0.8591 to 0.0015) and r = -0.44.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Most adult Sudanese rheumatoid arthritis patients showed low vitamin D levels (87.8%), which was also significantly correlated with increased disease activity (P-value <0.05). Moreover, the prevalence of low vitamin D levels was significantly higher than in numerous countries worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"181-187"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/c3/1f/oarrr-15-181.PMC10518178.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41133317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of Spondyloarthritis on Health-Related Quality of Life and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Saudi Arabia: A Narrative Review and Directions for Future Research.","authors":"Hanan Al Rayes,&nbsp;Hany Salah,&nbsp;Tharwat Hamad,&nbsp;Mohab Soliman,&nbsp;Mohamed Bedaiwi","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S414530","DOIUrl":"10.2147/OARRR.S414530","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spondylarthritis (SpA) is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of rheumatological disorders. Several studies demonstrated that SpA is associated with increased healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and a lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This review aimed to summarize the current literature regarding the multidimensional impact of SpA on HRQoL and HCRU in Saudi Arabia and explore the correlation of the extent of severity of SpA with HRQoL and HCRU. Although the prevalence of SpA varies across different populations and is correlated with HLA-B27 prevalence, the magnitude of SpA in the Saudi population has not been extensively evaluated. Few studies have investigated the impact of SpA on HRQoL and HCRU in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. There is a need to study the cost-effectiveness of various SpA treatment strategies, including biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), to prioritize healthcare spending in the Saudi healthcare system. Data on SpA in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region are mainly based on expert views, with few population-based studies compared to other regions. Therefore, there is an imperative need to develop high-quality, national-level epidemiological studies that assess the following: (1) more accurate estimates of the current prevalence of SpA in Saudi Arabia, including the prevalence of axial SpA and psoriatic arthritis; (2) the phenotypes/clinical characteristics of SpA, including disease severity and extra-articular involvement; (3) the impact of SpA on the HRQoL of the patients and the factors that can predict the extent of impaired HRQoL in such population, which can represent the first step in developing psychological interventions that should be personalized to this patient population; (4) the impact of implementing formal assessment of disease activity on the management of the patients and, subsequently, their HRQoL; and (5) the HCRU and costs for patients with SpA, and how treatment patterns can affect this cost.</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"161-171"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/11/89/oarrr-15-161.PMC10497044.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10608897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diagnosis and Treatment of Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD) Disease: A Review.","authors":"Sharon Cowley,&nbsp;Geraldine McCarthy","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S389664","DOIUrl":"10.2147/OARRR.S389664","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate (CPPD) crystal-related arthropathies are a common cause of acute and chronic arthritis caused by the deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals in joints and soft tissues, resulting in inflammation and joint damage. They present with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and often present challenges to diagnosis and management as they commonly affect older co-morbid patients. The challenges are compounded by a lack of a well-defined description of CPPD. However, an international expert-driven process is underway to develop CPPD classification criteria. Treatment is also problematic as unlike gout, there are no agents available that decrease the crystal burden. Treatment options have often been extrapolated from gout treatment pathways without having extensive trials or a solid evidence base. It is hoped the new CPPD classification guidelines will contribute to large multicentre studies, with well-defined patient cohorts, which will facilitate the production of high-quality evidence to guide the management of this condition. Here, we discuss the barriers and facilitators in diagnosing and treating CPPD-related arthropathy.</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"33-41"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/77/bb/oarrr-15-33.PMC10040153.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9573159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and Predictors of Remission and Sustained Remission in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis from the United Arab Emirates: A Two-Year Prospective Study.","authors":"Jamal Al-Saleh,&nbsp;Ahlam Almarzooqi,&nbsp;Ahmed A Negm","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S408894","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OARRR.S408894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To estimate the prevalence of remission and sustained remission for more than 12 months in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the United Arab Emirates and explore predictors of remission and sustained remission in these patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A two-year prospective study conducted in Dubai Hospital (January 1, 2018-December 31, 2019) included all consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis attending the rheumatology clinic. Patients with a Simplified Disease Activity Index ≤3.3 and/or Clinical Disease Activity Index ≤2.8 in December 2018 were considered in remission and followed until December 2019. Those who maintained remission through 2019 were considered in sustained remission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, a total of 444 patients were followed for a 12-months period. The percentage of remission achieved in RA patients was 30.4% according to the Clinical Disease Activity Index, 31.1% according to Simplified Disease Activity Index, and 50.9% according to the Value of Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) remission criteria. The 12-months sustained remission rates ranged from 38.3% for the ACR-EULAR to 69.3% for the DAS28. Male gender, shorter disease duration, better functioning as evaluated by the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (lower HAQ scores), and higher compliance rates are among sustained remission predictors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Establishing \"real-world\" data and understanding local predictors to sustained remission is principal for implementing timely and appropriate patient-tailored strategies. These strategies include early detection, close monitoring, and enhancing treatment adherence among UAE patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"51-63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/82/3d/oarrr-15-51.PMC10183195.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9485003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Course and Outcomes of COVID-19 Infection in Patients Treated with Rituximab: A Tertiary Care Center Experience.","authors":"Thamer S Alhowaish,&nbsp;Moustafa S Alhamadh,&nbsp;Alaa Mathkour,&nbsp;Marwan Alamoudi,&nbsp;Hossam Ali Alqahtani,&nbsp;Abdulrahman Alrashid","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S424316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OARRR.S424316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Patients receiving rituximab (RTX) may be at increased risk for severe Coronavirus infections and worse outcomes compared with the general population. Because of the conflicting results concerning the effect of RTX on the clinical course and outcomes of COVID-19 infection, we aimed to share our experience with 35 patients infected with COVID-19 while treated with RTX for a variety of clinical indications.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study that included 35 patients. All patients aged ≥14 years who were treated with RTX for various conditions and were found to have COVID-19 infection were included. Patients with poor outcomes or patients with suspected COVID-19 infection were excluded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The patients' mean age was 42.8 ± 16.3 years with an average BMI of 29.9 ± 11.4 kg/m². Over half (51.4%, n = 18) of the patients received RTX at a dose of 375 mg/m2 with a median frequency of 4 doses. More than a third (37.1%, n = 13) of the patients had hypogammaglobulinemia and 25.7% had low CD19. Over a third (42.9%, n= 15) of the patients required hospitalization and almost a third (25.7%, n = 9) required treatment in the intensive care unit. There was a statistically significant association between intensive care unit admission and age, steroid use, and low CD19. The mortality rate was 25.7%, and it was significantly higher in elderly, diabetics, corticosteroid users, patients who were hospitalized, treated in the intensive care unit, and had low immunoglobin or CD19.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Treatment with RTX seems to be a potential risk factor for unfavorable outcomes in COVID-19 patients. RTX should be used with caution or avoided unless the benefit clearly outweighs the risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"145-159"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/1b/4c/oarrr-15-145.PMC10473421.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10151867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Red Blood Cell Distribution Width: A Potential Inexpensive Marker for Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases; Scoping Review.","authors":"Mushabab Alghamdi","doi":"10.2147/OARRR.S424168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OARRR.S424168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rheumatic diseases encompass a diverse group of autoimmune disorders that affect the joints and connective tissues. The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been widely investigated as an inflammatory marker. This scoping review aimed to explore the potential utility of RDW as an inexpensive marker for disease activity in patients with rheumatic diseases. By summarizing the available evidence, we aimed to determine whether RDW can serve as a reliable and accessible indicator of disease activity in these patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search was systematically performed across electronic databases, encompassing PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies have explored the relationship between RDW and disease activity in rheumatic diseases. Data extraction focused on the study characteristics, methodologies, and findings related to RDW as a disease activity marker.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After removing duplicates, the initial search yielded 25 relevant studies. These studies encompassed a variety of rheumatic diseases, with rheumatoid arthritis being the most frequently studied condition. The association between RDW and disease activity was assessed by using various disease activity indices and clinical parameters. While some studies have reported a significant correlation between elevated RDW and disease activity, others have yielded inconclusive results.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>From this review, we concluded that RDW is an inexpensive potential marker for the evaluation of disease activity in rheumatic diseases. RDW is promising as an inexpensive and readily available marker; however, its clinical utility in assessing disease activity in rheumatic conditions warrants more rigorous investigation through well-designed prospective studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":45545,"journal":{"name":"Open Access Rheumatology-Research and Reviews","volume":"15 ","pages":"173-180"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/85/80/oarrr-15-173.PMC10505028.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10309157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}