Stress fractures in rheumatoid arthritis: a case series and case-control study

Background:An animal study revealed that sulfasalazine (SSZ) enhances Pneumocystis clearance from the lung by accelerating macrophage activity.[1] Although the preventive effect of SSZ on Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is reported in case-control studies, some important confounders might remain unmeasured and distort the results. [2-3]. The self-controlled case series (SCCS) method involves only cases and controls fixed confounders automatically.[4]Objectives:To evaluate the prophylactic effect of SSZ against PCP in patients with RA, controlling unmeasurable confounders by the SCCS method.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted at five hospitals. Patients with RA who developed PCP between 2003 and 2019 were included. PCP was defined by the following criteria: (1) detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii in respiratory specimens by polymerase chain reaction; (2) clinical manifestations (pyrexia, dry cough, dyspnea, or hypoxia); (3) diffuse interstitial infiltrate on chest imaging; (4) absence of prophylaxis for PCP. Incidence rate ratio (IRR) for Pneumocystis pneumonia associated with sulfasalazine use was calculated by conditional Poisson regression.Results:We identified 48 episodes of PCP in 47 cases. Of these, 15 (31.9%) died. Thirty received SSZ in certain periods of their observations (Table 1). While 46 episodes of PCP developed in the period of 168.9 person-years without SSZ use, only one episode of PCP developed in the period of 103.7 person-years with SSZ use. SSZ use had a decreased risk of PJP (adjusted IRR 0.007, 95% CI <0.001-0.067) after adjusted for age group, the use of glucocorticoid, methotrexate, and tacrolimus, and the use of biologic agent or janus kinase inhibitor (Table 2).Table 1.Characteristic of the 47 patients enrolled in the study.Male/female, n (%)14 (29.8)/33 (70.2)Observational period (years), median (IQR)72.0 (66.3-79.1)Lung disease, n (%)4.7 (1.4-9.5)Use of sulfasalazine, n (%)23 (48.9)Outcome of PCP, death, n (%)30 (63.8)Age at the onset of PCP (years), median (IQR)15 (31.9)PCP, Pneumocystis pneumonia; IQR, interquartile range.Table 2.Unadjusted and adjusted incidence rate ratio for Pneumocystis pneumonia associated with sulfasalazine use.Observation length (years)Episodes of PCP, n (%)Unadjusted IRR95% CI)Adjusted IRRa(% CI)Use of SSZ103.71 (2.1)0.010 (0.001-0.092)0.007 (<0.001-0.067)No use of SSZ168.947 (97.9)referencereferenceIRR, incidence rate ratio; PCP, Pneumocystis pneumonia; SSZ, sulfasalazine.Conclusion:Our study demonstrated the preventive effect of SSZ against PCP with confounders controlled by the SCCS.References:[1]Wang, J., et al. Immune modulation with sulfasalazine attenuates immunopathogenesis but enhances macrophage- mediated fungal clearance during pneumocystis pneumonia. PLoS Pathog. 2010;19;6(8):e1001058.[2]Nunokawa, T. et al. Prophylactic effect of sulfasalazine against Pneumocystis pneumonia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A nested case-control study. Semin. Arthritis Rheum. 2019;48(4):573-578.[3]Nunokawa, T., et al. Effect of Sulfasalazine Use on the Presence of Pneumocystis Organisms in the Lung among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Test-Negative Design Case-Control Study with PCR Tests. Mod. Rheumatol. 2019;29(3):436-440.[4]Petersen, I., et al. Self controlled case series methods: an alternative to standard epidemiological study designs. BMJ. 2016;12;354:i4515.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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Insufficiency fractures of the knee, ankle, and foot in rheumatoid arthritis: A case series and case-control study

European Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.5152/eurjrheum.2020.19196 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 124-129

Author(s):

Aysun Yurtsever ◽

◽

Steen Kåre Fagerberg ◽

Claus Rasmussen ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Series ◽

Case Control ◽

Insufficiency Fractures ◽

Control Study ◽

Ankle And Foot

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Serum Complement C3 and Type 2 Diabetes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case-Control Study

Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials ◽

10.2174/1574887113666180314092757 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 215-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Francesco Ursini ◽

Salvatore D`Angelo ◽

Emilio Russo ◽

Giorgio Ammerata ◽

Ludovico Abenavoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Complement C3 ◽

Serum Complement ◽

Control Study

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TNF-α Blockers Showed Prophylactic Effects in Preventing COVID-19 in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies: A Case–Control Study

Rheumatology and Therapy ◽

10.1007/s40744-021-00342-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mansour Salesi ◽

Behrokh Shojaie ◽

Ziba Farajzadegan ◽

Naghmeh Salesi ◽

Erfan Mohammadi

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies ◽

Control Study

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530. COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients: Single-center experience and case-control study

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.724 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S332-S332

Author(s):

Anna Hardesty ◽

Aakriti Pandita ◽

Yiyun Shi ◽

Kendra Vieira ◽

Ralph Rogers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kidney Transplant ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Clinical Course ◽

Case Series ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Case Control ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Kidney Transplant Recipients ◽

Transplant Patients ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background Organ transplant recipients (OTR) are considered high-risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. Case-fatality rates (CFR) vary significantly in different case series, and some patients were still hospitalized at the time of analyses. To our knowledge, no case-control study of COVID-19 in OTR has been published to-date. Methods We captured kidney transplant recipients (KTR) diagnosed with COVID-19 between 3/1 and 5/18/2020. After exclusion of KTR on hemodialysis and off immunosuppression (IS), we compared the clinical course of COVID-19 between hospitalized KTR and non-transplant patients, matched by sex and age (controls). All patients were discharged from the hospital or died. Results 16 KTR had COVID-19. All 3 KTR off IS, who were excluded from further analyses, survived. Median age was 54 (range: 34–65) years; 5/13 KTR (38.4%) were men. Median time from transplant was 41 (range: 1–203) months. Two KTR, both transplanted >10 years ago, were managed as outpatients. IS was reduced in 12/13 (92.3%), most often by discontinuation of the antimetabolite. IL6 levels were >1,000 (normal: < 5) pg/mL in 3 KTR. Tacrolimus or sirolimus levels were >10 ng/mL in 6/9 KTR (67%) (Table 1). Eleven KTR were hospitalized (84.6%) and matched with 44 controls. One KTR, the only one treated with hydroxychloroquine, died (CFR 5.8%; 7.6% in KTR on IS; 9% in hospitalized KTR on IS). Four controls died (CFR: 9%; state CFR: 5.2%; inpatient CFR: 16.6%). There were no significant differences in length of stay or worst oxygenation status between hospitalized KTR and controls. Four KTR (30.7%), received remdesivir, 4 convalescent plasma, 3 (23%) tocilizumab. KTR received more often broad-spectrum antibiotics, convalescent plasma or tocilizumab, compared to controls (Table 2). Table 1 Table 2 Conclusion Unlike early reports from the pandemic epicenters, the clinical course and outcomes of KTR with COVID-19 in our small case series were comparable to those of non-transplant patients. Calcineurin or mTOR inhibitor levels were high, likely due to diarrhea and COVID-19-related hepatic dysfunction. Extremely high IL6 levels were common. The role of IS and potential benefits from investigational treatments remain to be elucidated. A larger multi-institutional study is underway. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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SAT0077 CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ASSESSMENT WITH CAROTID ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.6420 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 973-973

Author(s):

R. Gonzalez Mazario ◽

J. J. Fragio-Gil ◽

P. Martinez Calabuig ◽

E. Grau García ◽

M. De la Rubia Navarro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Disease Duration ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Carotid Ultrasonography ◽

Control Study

Background:Cardiovascular disease (CV) is the most frequent cause of death in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. It is well known that RA acts as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.Objectives:To assess the CV risk in RA patients using carotid ultrasonography (US) additionally to the traditional CV risk factors.Methods:A prospective transversal case control study was performed, including adult RA patients who fulfilled ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria and healthy controls matched according to CV risk factors. Population over 75 years old, patients with established CV disease and/or chronic kidney failure (from III stage) were excluded. The US evaluator was blinded to the case/control condition and evaluated the presence of plaques and the intima-media thickness. Statistical analysis was performed with R (3.6.1 version) and included a multivariate variance analysis (MANOVA) and a negative binomial regression adjusted by confounding factors (age, sex and CV risk factors).Results:A total of 200 cases and 111 healthy controls were included in the study. Demographical, clinical and US data are exposed in table 1. Not any difference was detected in terms of CV risk factors between the cases and controls. In both groups a relationship between age, BMI and high blood pressure was detected (p<0.001).Table 1.Table 2.RA basal characteristicsDisease duration (years)16,98 (11,38)Erosions (X-Ray of hands/feet)163 (81,5%)Seropositive (RF/anti-CCP)146 (73%)Extra-articular symptoms44 (22%)Intersticial difusse lung disease10 (5%)Rheumatoid nodules14 (7%)Prednisone use103 (51,5%)Median dose of Prednisone last year (mg)2,34 (2,84)sDMARDsMethotrexate104 (52%)Leflunomide29 (14,5%)Hydroxycloroquine9 (4,5%)bDMARDs89 (44,5%) TNFi41 (20,5%) Abatacept15 (7,5%) IL6i22 (11%) RTX11 (5,5%)JAKi26 (13%) Baricitinib11 (5,5%) Tofacitinib15 (7,5%)DAS 28-ESR3,1 (2,3, 3,9)SDAI7,85 (4,04, 13,41)HAQ0,88 (0,22, 1,5)RF (U/mL)51 (15, 164,25)Anti-CCP (U/mL)173 (22, 340)Patients showed higher intima-media (both right and left) thickness compared to controls (p<0.006). Moreover it was also related to the disease duration and DAS28 score (p<0.001). A higher plaque account was noted in cases(p<0.004) and it was also related to the disease duration (p<0.001).Conclusion:RA implies a higher CV risk. Traditional CV risk factors explains only partially the global risk. These findings support that RA acts as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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