scholarly journals The severity of the articular deformities of the hands depending on the seropositivity in rheumatoid arthritis

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-194
Author(s):  
Doiniţa Oprea ◽  
Elena Valentina Ionescu ◽  
Liliana Elena Stanciu ◽  
Carmen Oprea ◽  
Ruxandra Badiu ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), met in the literature also as chronic evolving polyarthritis, is a chronic inflammatory disease, which typically involves the small and medium joints, with a symmetric distribution. Clinical studies shown that a proportion of patients with RA, without measurable rheumatoid factors are a distinct entity from those patients with seropositive RA. Around one third of patients with RA are seronegative for those two serological markers, the rheumatoid factors (RF) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (Anti-CCP). Hands are the most frequently affected in both seropositive and seronegative RA and the first joints involved in the inflammatory process are the metacarpo-phalangeal joints, IFP joints and the radiocarpian joint. The big joints become later symptomatic, after the small joints are affected. Materials and methods: 66 patients files and the personal records of the patients consecutively admitted in the Rheumatology Department of the Clinical Emergency County Hospital Constanta. Patients from county Constanta were included in the study, with diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (diagnosis confirmed at least 2 years ago), including both forms (seropositive and seronegative) of the disease. The complete clinical exam was done for the patients included in the study, following the identification of the active joint disease. The mechanical status of the joint was observed by a single evaluator for each of those 66 patients with RA, with special focus on the presence of the deformities / ankyloses of the hands joints. Therefore, there were evaluated: the mobility (the number of the joints with limited movements), deformities, ankyloses (the number of the joints without mobility). The joint mobility was assessed by counting the hand joints with limited movements and the worsening of the prehension function. The presence of the following hand deformities was followed: fingers in “swan neck”, “fusiform fingers”, the thumb “in Z”, and the aspect of “hand in the shape of a camel back”. For evaluating the painful or swollen joints we used: the 28 joint index, the overall evaluation of the disease activity - by the patient (Patient Global Assessment-PGA) and by the doctor (Medical Doctor Global Assessment- MDGA), the score of disease activity DAS 28 (DAS28 - Disease Activity Score 28), the index of the clinical activity of the disease (Clinical Disease Activity Index- CDAI), as well as the simplified index of activity of the disease (Simplified Disease Activity Index-SDAI). It was determined for each patient the plasma RF and anticitrullinated peptide antibodies. Results and discussion. As expected, there is a bigger frequency of female patients in both forms of the disease (seropositive and seronegative) and regarding males the recurrence is approximate equal between those two groups. By comparing the frequency of the joint deformities at hand level between the 2 groups of patients included in the study (seropositive PR and seronegative PR), we saw a superiority of these (with all their forms) in the patients with seropositive polyarthritis. Conclusions. The clinical study done in this work is completing the data offered by the studies of some dedicated authors, who analysed the characteristic elements of rheumatoid arthritis depending on seropositivity. Our results confirm the idea that seronegative rheumatoid arthritis has a more gentle clinical evolution and is a less destructive form of disease.

RMD Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e000765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silva Pukšić ◽  
Pernille Bolton-King ◽  
Joseph Sexton ◽  
Brigitte Michelsen ◽  
Tore K Kvien ◽  
...  

ObjectivesDisease Activity index for PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) (sum score 68/66 tender/swollen joint counts (68TJC/66SJC), patient’s global assessment, pain and C-reactive protein (CRP)) is recommended for clinical assessment of disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Ultrasound (US) (grey scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD)) detects inflammation in joints and extra-articular structures. The present objectives were to explore the longitudinal relationships between DAPSA, clinical assessment as well as patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) with US in patients with PsA initiating biological DMARDs and the associations between DAPSA and US remission.Methods47 patients with PsA were examined at baseline and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Assessments included 68TJC/66SJC, examiner’s global assessment (EGA), PROMs, CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and US GS and PD (48 joints, 10 flexor tendons, 14 entheses, 4 bursae). Clinical composite scores and PD sum scores (0=remission) were calculated. Longitudinal associations were explored by generalised estimating equations with linear and logistic regression.ResultsDAPSA was not longitudinally associated to PD. 66SJC, ESR, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, EGA and CRP were longitudinally associated with PD (p<0.001–0.03), whereas the pain-related components of DAPSA (68TJC and pain) as well as PROMs were not associated. At 6–12 months, remission was achieved in 29%–33 % of the patients for DAPSA and 59%–70 % for PD. The association between DAPSA and PD remission was not significant (p=0.33).ConclusionsDAPSA was not associated with US inflammatory findings which indicates that DAPSA and US may assess different aspects of PsA activity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 1609-1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Aletaha ◽  
Jen-fue Maa ◽  
Su Chen ◽  
Sung-Hwan Park ◽  
Dave Nicholls ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo determine if disease duration and number of prior disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) affect response to therapy in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsAssociations between disease duration or number of prior DMARDs and response to therapy were assessed using data from two randomised controlled trials in patients with established RA (mean duration, 11 years) receiving adalimumab+methotrexate. Response to therapy was assessed at week 24 using disease activity outcomes, including 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28(CRP)), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and proportions of patients with 20%/50%/70% improvement in American College of Rheumatology (ACR) responses.ResultsIn the larger study (N=207), a greater number of prior DMARDs (>2 vs 0–1) was associated with smaller improvements in DAS28(CRP) (–1.8 vs –2.2), SDAI (–22.1 vs –26.9) and HAQ-DI (–0.43 vs –0.64) from baseline to week 24. RA duration of >10 years versus <1 year was associated with higher HAQ-DI scores (1.1 vs 0.7) at week 24, but results on DAS28(CRP) and SDAI were mixed. A greater number of prior DMARDs and longer RA duration were associated with lower ACR response rates at week 24. Data from the second trial (N=67) generally confirmed these findings.ConclusionsNumber of prior DMARDs and disease duration affect responses to therapy in patients with established RA. Furthermore, number of prior DMARDs, regardless of disease duration, has a limiting effect on the potential response to adalimumab therapy.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Bartlett ◽  
Vivian P. Bykerk ◽  
Orit Schieir ◽  
Marie-France Valois ◽  
Janet E Pope ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Questionnaire (RA-FQ) is a patient-reported measure of disease activity in RA. We estimated minimal and meaningful change from the perspective of RA patients, physicians, and using a disease activity index. Methods Data were from 3- and 6-month visits of adults with early RA enrolled in the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort. Participants completed the RA-FQ, the Patient Global Assessment of RA, and Patient Global Change Impression at consecutive visits. Rheumatologists recorded joint counts and MD Global. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores were computed. We compared mean RA-FQ change across categories using patients, physicians, and CDAI anchors. Results The 808 adults were mostly white (84%) women (71%) with a mean age of 55 and moderate-high disease activity (85%) at enrollment. At V2, 79% of patients classified their RA as changed; 59% were better and 20% were worse. Patients reporting they were a lot worse had a mean RA-FQ increase of 8.9 points whereas those who were a lot better had a -6.0 decrease. Minimal worsening and improvement were associated with a mean 4.7 and -1.8 change in RA-FQ, respectively, while patients rating their RA unchanged had stable scores. Physician and CDAI classified more patients as worse than patients, and minimal and meaningful RA-FQ thresholds differed by group. Conclusion Thresholds to identify meaningful change vary by anchor used. These data offer new evidence demonstrating robust psychometric properties of the RA-FQ and offer guidance about improvement or worsening, supporting its use in RA care, research and decision-making.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Ramiro ◽  
Robert BM Landewé ◽  
Désirée van der Heijde ◽  
Alexandre Sepriano ◽  
Oliver FitzGerald ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo investigate whether following a treat-to-target (T2T)-strategy in daily clinical practice leads to more patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) meeting the remission target.MethodsRA patients from 10 countries starting/changing conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were assessed for disease activity every 3 months for 2 years (RA BIODAM (BIOmarkers of joint DAMage) cohort). Per visit was decided whether a patient was treated according to a T2T-strategy with 44-joint disease activity score (DAS44) remission (DAS44 <1.6) as the target. Sustained T2T was defined as T2T followed in ≥2 consecutive visits. The main outcome was the achievement of DAS44 remission at the subsequent 3-month visit. Other outcomes were remission according to 28-joint disease activity score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) Boolean definitions. The association between T2T and remission was tested in generalised estimating equations models.ResultsIn total 4356 visits of 571 patients (mean (SD) age: 56 (13) years, 78% female) were included. Appropriate application of T2T was found in 59% of the visits. T2T (vs no T2T) did not yield a higher likelihood of DAS44 remission 3 months later (OR (95% CI): 1.03 (0.92 to 1.16)), but sustained T2T resulted in an increased likelihood of achieving DAS44 remission (OR: 1.19 (1.03 to 1.39)). Similar results were seen with DAS28-ESR remission. For more stringent definitions (CDAI, SDAI and ACR/EULAR Boolean remission), T2T was consistently positively associated with remission (OR range: 1.16 to 1.29), and sustained T2T had a more pronounced effect on remission (OR range: 1.49 to 1.52).ConclusionIn daily clinical practice, the correct application of a T2T-strategy (especially sustained T2T) in patients with RA leads to higher rates of remission.


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1607-1613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Barnabe ◽  
Joanne Homik ◽  
Susan G. Barr ◽  
Liam Martin ◽  
Walter P. Maksymowych

Objective.Predictors of remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been defined in cross-sectional analyses using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), but not with newer composite disease activity measures or using the more clinically relevant state of sustained remission. We have evaluated predictors of remission using cross-sectional and longitudinal durations of disease state, and by applying additional definitions of remission [American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Boolean, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)].Methods.Individuals in the Alberta Biologics Pharmacosurveillance Program were classified for the presence of remission (point and/or sustained > 1 yr) by each of the 4 definitions. Multivariate models were constructed including all available variables in the dataset and refined to optimize model fit and predictive ability to calculate OR for remission.Results.Nonsmoking status independently predicted point remission by all definitions (OR range 1.20–2.71). Minority ethnicity decreased odds of remission by DAS28 (OR 0.13) and CDAI (OR 0.09) definitions. Male sex was associated with DAS28 remission (OR 2.85), whereas higher baseline physician global (OR 0.67) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate values (OR 0.98) decreased odds of DAS28 remission. Higher baseline patient global score (OR 0.77) and swollen joint counts (OR 0.93) were negative predictors for CDAI remission. Higher baseline Health Assessment Questionnaire (OR 0.62) reduced odds for remission by the SDAI definition, and educational attainment increased these odds (OR 2.13). Sustained remission was negatively predicted by baseline physician global for the DAS28 (OR 0.80), and higher tender joint count (OR 0.96) for the CDAI.Conclusion.We demonstrate the influence of duration of remission state and remission definition on defining independent predictors for remission in RA requiring anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. These predictors offer improved applicability for modern rheumatology practice.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ichiro Yoshii ◽  
Tatsumi Chijiwa ◽  
Naoya Sawada

Abstract Validity and risk of setting patient’s global assessment (PGA) ≤ 2 as a Boolean remission criteria substituting PGA ≤ 1 in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigatedPatients were recruited from an area cohort, of whom attained Boolean remission (Boolean-1) or near remission with PGA ≤ 2 and the rest components were ≤ 1 (Boolean-2). Simplified disease activity index (SDAI) score was compared according to the criteria variations.A total of 517 patients were studied. Mean SDAI score of patients with Boolean-1 was significantly lower than that of patients with Boolean-2 at acquisition. The trend was evident in the patients who attained Boolean-1 remission. Mean SDAI score at acquisition, 6 months after, and 1 year after of patients who attained Boolean-2 first and then Boolean-1, was significantly inferior to that of patients who attained the remissions at the same time. The mean SDAI score at month 6 in the Boolean-2 was not SDAI remission at all.We concluded that setting PGA ≤ 2 as a remission criteria may not have statistical difference in disease activity from PGA ≤ 1, however, there was an determinant risk to misread that includes patient who losses clinical remission after acquisition.


2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 1254-1258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Kaneko ◽  
Harumi Kondo ◽  
Tsutomu Takeuchi

Objective.To investigate the performance of the new remission criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in daily clinical practice and the effect of possible misclassification of remission when 44 joints are assessed.Methods.Disease activity and remission rate were calculated according to the Disease Activity Score (DAS28), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and a Boolean-based definition for 1402 patients with RA in Keio University Hospital. Characteristics of patients in remission were investigated, and the number of misclassified patients was determined — those classified as being in remission based on 28-joint count but as nonremission based on a 44-joint count for each definition criterion.Results.Of all patients analyzed, 46.6%, 45.9%, 41.0%, and 31.5% were classified as in remission in the DAS28, SDAI, CDAI, and Boolean definitions, respectively. Patients classified into remission based only on the DAS28 showed relatively low erythrocyte sedimentation rates but greater swollen joint counts than those classified into remission based on the other definitions. In patients classified into remission based only on the Boolean criteria, the mean physician global assessment was greater than the mean patient global assessment. Although 119 patients had ≤ 1 involved joint in the 28-joint count but > 1 in the 44-joint count, only 34 of these 119 (2.4% of all subjects) were found to have been misclassified into remission.Conclusion.In practice, about half of patients with RA can achieve clinical remission within the DAS28, SDAI, and CDAI; and one-third according to the Boolean-based definition. Patients classified in remission based on a 28-joint count may have pain and swelling in the feet, but misclassification of remission was relatively rare and was seen in only 2.4% of patients under a Boolean definition. The 28-joint count can be sufficient for assessing clinical remission based on the new remission criteria.


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 716-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Till Uhlig ◽  
Elisabeth Lie ◽  
Vibeke Norvang ◽  
Åse Stavland Lexberg ◽  
Erik Rødevand ◽  
...  

Objective.To examine the frequency of 6 definitions for remission and 4 definitions for low disease activity (LDA) after starting a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical practice, and to study whether predictors for achieving remission after 6 months are similar for these definitions.Methods.Remission and LDA were calculated according to the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3), and both the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Boolean remission definitions 3 and 6 months after 4992 DMARD prescriptions for patients enrolled in the NOR-DMARD, a 5-center Norwegian register. Prediction of remission after 6 months was also studied.Results.After 3 months, remission rates varied between definitions from 8.7% to 22.5% and for LDA from 35.5% to 42.7%, and increased slightly until 6 months of followup. DAS28 and RAPID3 gave the highest and ACR/EULAR, SDAI, and CDAI the lowest proportions for remission. Positive predictors for remission after 6 months were similar across the definitions and included lower age, male sex, short disease duration, high level of education, current nonsmoking, nonerosive disease, treatment with a biological DMARD, being DMARD-naive, good physical function, little fatigue, and LDA.Conclusion.In daily clinical practice, the DAS28 and RAPID3 definitions identified remission about twice as often as the ACR/EULAR Boolean, SDAI, and CDAI. Predictors of remission were similar across remission definitions. These findings provide additional evidence to follow treatment recommendations and treat RA early with a DMARD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 508.1-508
Author(s):  
P. Mandl ◽  
P. Studenic ◽  
F. Alasti ◽  
R. Kaltenberger ◽  
A. Kerschbaumer ◽  
...  

Background:The notion that weather conditions may influence the symptoms and course of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases goes back to ancient times. However, despite the seemingly obvious relationship, previous studies assessing how meteorological variables affect pain and disease activity have yielded contradictory results.Objectives:To evaluate whether meteorological variables influence disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:We assessed correlations between clinical measures of disease activity (pain, patient global assessment [PGA], tender- and swollen 28 joint counts [TJC and SJC]) and individual meteorological variables: temperature (temp.), effective (eff.) temperature, saturation vapor pressure (SVP), absolute humidity (AH), relative humidity (RH), dew point, vapor pressure (VP) and precipitation. Assessments documented in the Care for Rheumatoid Arthritis database of our institution were matched with these meteorological variables on a daily basis for a period of 12 years between 2005 and 2017 and analyzed utilizing generalized estimating equations. Patients with <5 visits in the study period, those with <1 visit/quarter or with no pain (VAS=0) in ≥3 consecutive visits and those living outside of the catchment area were excluded. Patients were grouped into remission or low (≤11) vs. moderate or high (>11) disease activity based on the simplified disease activity index (SDAI).Results:A total of 461 patients with an average disease duration at first visit of 5.7±7.4 years, average age of 55.3±14.5 years and a mean SDAI of 22.1±12.7 were analyzed. Among patients with moderate or high disease activity, higher temp./eff. temp. and SVP were associated with lower pain, TJC and SJC (Figure 1); on the contrary, higher RH was associated with higher pain and higher SJC. In those in remission or low disease activity, higher RH, AH, VP or dew point were associated with lower PGA. Higher precipitation was associated with lower SJC.Figure 1.Association of meteorological parameters and clinical measures of disease activity. PGA: patient’s global assessment, SDAI: simplified disease activity index, SJC: swollen joint count, TJC: tender joint count. * p≤ 0.05, ** p≤ 0.01, *** p≤ 0.001Conclusion:In this large association study of meteorological parameters with RA, both temperature and humidity parameters were modestly inversely associated with pain, TJC and SJC.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumi Shidara ◽  
Ayako Nakajima ◽  
Eisuke Inoue ◽  
Daisuke Hoshi ◽  
Naoki Sugimoto ◽  
...  

Objective.To evaluate longterm functional outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on the number of times that the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) or the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) remission criteria were fulfilled.Methods.Patients with RA who participated in all 6 data collections in an observational cohort from 2008 to 2010 and who fulfilled the DAS28 remission criteria at baseline were studied. Patients were classified by the number of times they fulfilled the ACR/EULAR [Boolean trial, Boolean practice, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), or Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)] or DAS28 remission criteria at each collection. The OR for the Japanese version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ) progression, based on the number of times each set of remission criteria was fulfilled, were calculated by logistic regression.Results.A total of 915 patients were studied. The OR (95% CI) for J-HAQ progression were 0.54 (0.33–0.87), 0.55 (0.33–0.92), 0.48 (0.28–0.82), 0.29 (0.16–0.51), 0.24 (0.13–0.47), and 0.07 (0.03–0.15) for those fulfilling the Boolean trial remission from 1 to 6 times. This tendency was also observed for the other 4 criteria. The OR (95% CI) for J-HAQ progression in patients who achieved remission at all 6 data collections were 0.07 (0.03–0.14) for the Boolean practice, 0.10 (0.05–0.20) for the SDAI, and 0.07 (0.04–0.15) for the CDAI, whereas 0.15 (0.08–0.29) for the DAS28.Conclusion.Continual fulfillment of any remission criteria was strongly effective in preventing patients from progression of functional disability; however, the ACR/EULAR criteria appear to be preferable.


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