scholarly journals Can Rheumatoid factor and Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides predict true remission in rheumatoid arthritis patients? Study of relationship between autoantibodies levels and muskuloskelatal ultrasound findings in a sample cohort of Egyptian patients in clinical remission

Author(s):  
Eman Hassan Al Sayed ◽  
Doaa Shaker Amin

Abstract BackgroundTrue remission is the ultimate goal for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (Anti-CCP) and ultrasonographic (US) findings in Egyptian RA patients in clinical remission.MethodsUsing data from a cross-sectional study on 50 RA patients in clinical remission or low disease activity (LDA) as defined by disease activity score (DAS28-ESR) cutoff points, performed in Alexandria University Hospital; we analyzed statistical relationships and correlations between RF, Anti-CCP) and Gray Scale (GS) and Power Doppler (PD) US using US7 score. US remission was defined as on a GS ≤ 1 and PD = 0. ResultsAmong 34 patients in clinical remission, 61.8% (21) of patients in clinical remission were in ultrasonographic remission, and 38.2% (13) of patients in clinical remission had subclinical ultrasonographic activity. Patients in clinical remission with US remission had significantly higher Anti-CCP (p= 0.006) but not RF (p= 0.086), than those in clinical remission with US subclinical activity. Anti-CCP positively correlated with synovitis score by power Doppler US (PDUS) (rs= 0.553, p= 0.001), and tenosynovitis/paratenonitis score by gray scale US(GSUS) (rs=0.389, p= 0.023).ConclusionWe demonstrated that patients in clinical RA remission with subclinical US activity had higher serum levels of Anti-CCP, but not RF. Such an association should guide further treatment decisions for those patients.

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman A. Baraka ◽  
Sami A. Egilla ◽  
Gamal A. Hamad ◽  
Maiada A. Khalil ◽  
Shereen H. Ahmed ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1–3% of the population making it one of the most popular autoimmune diseases. Chemokines through switching on their receptors exert a climacteric role in RA pathogenesis. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to quantify the serum levels of serum B lymphocyte chemoattractant protein13 (CXCL13) chemokine in recent onset RA patients and to correlate its levels with clinical, laboratory, and musculoskeletal ultrasonographic parameters (MSUS) of disease activity and severity. Results The mean serum CXCL13 value showed a significant increase in the RA patients (388.86 ± 283.63 pg/ml) than in the controls (62.94 ± 31.62 pg/ml) (P < 0.001). Highly active RA patients had significantly the highest mean of CXCL13 (mean ± SD 819.13 ± 191.05) compared with the moderately active RA patients (mean ± SD 284.95 ± 137.93) (P < 0.001) and the RA patients with low disease activity (mean ± SD 129.5 ± 21.27) (P < 0.001) and its levels were positively related with clinical disease activity and musculoskeletal ultrasonographic severity parameters. Conclusion Serum CXCL13 is correlated with clinical disease activity and MSUS disease severity that encourages its use for monitoring the activity and severity of synovitis in recent onset RA patients. Future studies to detect the effect of disease activity control by medications on CXCL13 levels and the effect of the CXCL13 antagonist on controlling RA disease activity and severity are recommended.


2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Sivakumaran ◽  
Sidra Hussain ◽  
Laura Attipoe ◽  
Coziana Ciurtin

Background There is no consensus regarding the minimum number of joints that should be included in an ultrasound (US) scoring system to reliably assess for disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Purpose To assess whether simplified US protocols for hand examination are as informative as the examination of 22 joints in patients with RA, and to correlate the US parameters with disease activity (DAS-28). Material and Methods This is a cross-sectional study of 224 RA patients stratified based on their DAS-28 scores and assessed using eight preselected US examination protocols, including 22, 18, 16, 14, ten, eight, and two different combinations of four joints, respectively. Results We found a significant difference between US hand scores regarding their ability to detect active inflammation and erosions. DAS-28 scores correlated very well with the power Doppler (PD) scores generated by all eight US examination protocols (r = 0.89–1, P < 0.05), irrespective of patients' disease activity. Simplified US scores missed information on presence of PD in 20.6–40.2% patients ( P < 0.05) and misdiagnosed non-erosive hand RA in 12–38.4% patients ( P < 0.05), depending on the number of joints excluded from US hand examination. Conclusion Preselected simplified US scores are less reliable in appreciating the disease burden when compared with an extended protocol for 22 joint US examination, raising clinicians' awareness regarding the need to comprehensively assess multiple hand joints to reliably rule out subclinical inflammation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1160.2-1161
Author(s):  
I. Fairushina ◽  
D. Abdulganieva ◽  
E. Kirillova ◽  
R. Abdrakipov

Background:Detection of subclinical enthesitis and synovitis in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is prevalent and ultrasound (US) examination is informative tool for it diagnosing. Aging positively affects degenerative changes.Objectives:To study relationship between US articular and entheseal findings with age in patients with PsA.Methods:57 patients were enrolled to study with fulfilled PsA criteria (CASPAR, 2009). Data collection: demographical, clinical (current psoriasis, axial involvement, enthesitis, dactylitis), US (synovitis count (by Grey Scale), Power Doppler(PD)+ synovitis), thickening and hypoechogenicity at enthesis, PD+ enthesitis, entheses with structural components); biological (high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR).US examination included 798 joints and 3078 entheses (bilateral shoulders, acromioclavicular joints, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles; entheses at the projection of these joints (total number - 54). US entheseal findings were fixed according to consensus-based US definition and scoring for enthesitis in spondyloarthritis and PsA (OMERACT US)1.Results:In all 57 patients: male - 25 (43.9%), mean age 43.4±10.3(SD) years (y), PsA duration was 7 (3;10) y, Ps duration 10 (8; 22) y; 53 (41.1%) had axial involvement, 42 (73.7%) dactylitis, 8 (14%) clinical enthesitis, and 56 (98.2 %) skin psoriasis, Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index score 6.4 (2;14.4), Disease Activity in PsA score 18.1 (10.2;26.1), hsCRP 10.1(2.4;21.4), ESR 20 (11.3;31.5).Synovitis count increased with age noticeably (r=0.508, p<0.01), and weak correlation of PD+ synovitis (r=0.262, p=0.049) and age was found. The entheseal thickening and hypoechogenicity and structural findings increased with age respectively (r=0.345, p=0.009; r=0.337, p=0.01). There was no correlation between PD+ enthesitis and age. The assosiation between PD+ enthesitis and blood biomarkers of inflammation (hs-CRP (r=0.364, p=0.008); ESR (p=0.358, p=0.008) was found.Conclusion:Our study found significant relationship between age and US synovitis. Association between age and US entheseal involvement was noted. Only PD+ enthesitis was not related with age in comparison with other US entheseal findings. The presence of PD US signal at enthesitis in association with increased inflammatory blood biomarkers can be evaluated as the sign of disease activity regardless of age and not as age-related lesion in PsA patients.References:[1]Balint PV, Terslev L, Aegerter P et al. Reliability of a consensus-based ultrasound definition and scoring for enthesitis in spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: an OMERACT US initiative. Ann Rheum Dis.;2018;77(12):1730-1735.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 508.2-509
Author(s):  
K. Maatallah ◽  
H. Boussaa ◽  
H. Riahi ◽  
H. Ferjani ◽  
M. Habechi ◽  
...  

Background:Foot disease is a common problem in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therapeutic decisions are often based on clinical examination (CE) alone, which can be adversely affected by factors such as deformity, obesity, and peripheral edema. Ultrasonography (US) has previously been shown to be more sensitive than CE for detecting synovitis and tenosynovitis in RA forefeet, but few data exist for the hindfoot and ankle.Objectives:The aim of this study was to compare CE and US for the detection of hindfoot and ankle synovitis and tenosynovitis in patients with established RA.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study including patients with RA (ACR/EULAR 2010). Demographic data and disease parameters were collected. CE was performed by a rheumatologist for the presence or absence of tenderness, swelling, and mobility restriction of both ankles. The following tendons were examined for tenosynovitis: tibialis anterior (TA) and posterior (TP), fibularis longus (FL), and brevis (FB) (assessed together). In a second time, US examination of the tibiotalar, talonavicular, and subtalar joints and the same tendons as CE was performed by a blinded radiologist experienced in musculoskeletal imaging using a Philips HD11 device with a high-frequency linear transducer. The presence or absence of synovitis and tenosynovitis was recorded, and the composite synovitis score (power doppler / grayscale ultrasound (PDUS)) was measured for each joint. The US score of each patient was defined by the sum of the composite scores of the joints studied (0-30). A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.Results:Sixty-two feet were examined in 31 RA patients (25 women and six men) with a mean age of 54.8±10.8 years old [32-70]. The mean disease duration was 8.5±7.2 years [1-37]. Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and Anti-Citrullinated Peptides Antibodies (ACPA) were positive in 61.3% and 83.8% of cases. The mean DAS28 ESR was 3.8±1.5 [0.6-7].Clinical examination of ankles revealed tenderness in 57.4% of cases, swelling in 38.8% of cases, and restriction in the range of motion in 11.1% of cases. TA tenosynovitis was noted in 14.8% of cases, TP tenosynovitis in 22.2% of cases, and FL and FB tenosynovitis in 31.5% of cases.US showed tibiotalar synovitis in 59.3% of cases, talonavicular synovitis in 64.8% of cases, and subtalar synovitis in 46.3% of cases. TA tenosynovitis was noted in 5.6% of cases, TP tenosynovitis in 22.2% of cases, and FB and FL tenosynovitis in 25% and 11.1% of cases respectively.An association was found between clinical tenderness and US synovitis of the tibiotalar joint (p=0.013) and the talonavicular joint (p=0.027). No association was noted between clinical swelling and US synovitis in these joints.No association was noted between clinical and US tenosynovitis of TA (p=0.279), TP (p=0.436), FB (p=0.495) and FL (p=0.315).Conclusion:Clinical examination of RA ankles may be challenging and needs to be coupled with US, which is more sensitive and accurate in the detection of synovitis and tenosynovitis.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 975.1-975
Author(s):  
H. Azzouzi ◽  
O. Lamkhanat ◽  
I. Linda

Background:Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is one of the risk factors for the calculation of the 10 years fracture probability assessed by the FRAX tool.Objectives:The aim was to study the association of disease activity and the 10 year fracture risk probability by the FRAX tool in our RA patients and their impact on fracture prevalence.Methods:Cross-sectional study of the association FRAX and disease activity score (DAS 28 CRP) was designed. Patients with RA were included. Mean DAS was calculated for each patient adjusted on his follow-up duration. Data about patients (demographic, disease characteristics and fracture assessment) were collected. The 10 year fracture risk probability for major osteoporotic fracture was calculated with and without BMD (bone mineral density) using the FRAX tool for Morocco. Descriptive analysis and regressions were performed with SPSS.20. p<0.05 was considered significant.Results:One hundred and ninety nine RA patients were included with mean age of 55.5±12 years. Women represented 91% and 40.1% had osteoporosis. Remission was observed in 86.4% with 95.5% taking methotrexate. 17.1% had vertebral fractures. FRAX and DAS were associated (p=0.03), and both explained vertebral fracture (VF) prevalence. When adjusted on disease parameters, FRAX with and without BMD explained the vertebral prevalence (p=0.02, OR=1.09[1.01-1.19]). However, age remains the only predictor of VF when adjusted on osteoporosis factors (DAS28CRP, menopause, BMI, smoking, diabetes, gender, steroid use, HAQ) and FRAX BMD.Conclusion:Persistent disease activity was associated to high 10 year fracture risk probability calculated by the FRAX tool in RA.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman A. Baraka ◽  
Mona G. Balata ◽  
Shereen H. Ahmed ◽  
Afaf F. Khamis ◽  
Enas A. Elattar

Abstract Background This study aimed to measure the serum and synovial interleukin (IL)-37 levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (PKOA) and healthy controls and to detect its relation to RA disease activity. Results This cross-sectional study included 50 RA patients with a mean age of 40.24 ± 8.62 years, 50 patients with PKOA with a mean age of 56.69 ± 4.21, and 40 healthy controls with a mean age of 41.75 ± 7.38 years. The mean serum IL-37 level in the RA patients (382.6 ± 73.97 pg/ml) was statistically significantly (P < 0.001) the highest among the studied groups; however, it showed a non-significant difference between the PKOA patients (70.38 ± 27.49 pg/ml) and the healthy controls (69.97 ± 25.12 pg/ml) (P > 0.94). Both serum and synovial IL-37 levels were significantly positively correlated with disease activity scores (r = 0.92, P< 0.001 and r = 0.85, P < 0.001), tender joint counts (r = 0.83, P < 0.001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.001 ), swollen joint counts (r = 0.72, P < 0.001 and r = 0.60, P < 0.001), visual analog scale (r = 0.82, P < 0.001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.75, P < 0.001 and r = 0.65, P < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (r = 0.93, P < 0.001 and r = 0.79, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion Serum and synovial IL-37 were significantly elevated in the RA patients, and they were closely correlated. Being less invasive, the serum IL-37 could be a marker of disease activity and could reflect the effective disease control by drugs. Having an anti-inflammatory effect could not suggest IL-37 as the key player to control inflammation alone, but its combination with other anti-proinflammatory cytokines could be investigated.


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