scholarly journals Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Monitoring Clinical Response to Treatment in Acute Symptomatic Psoriatic Dactylitis: Results from a Multicentre Prospective Observational Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 3127
Author(s):  
Nicolò Girolimetto ◽  
Pierluigi Macchioni ◽  
Niccolò Possemato ◽  
Ilaria Tinazzi ◽  
Vittoria Bascherini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Response ◽  
Conditional Logistic Regression ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Extensor Tendon ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
High Frequency Ultrasound ◽  
Conditional Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Treatment Responses ◽  
Analogue Scales

This observational and prospective study evaluated the clinical correlations of sonographic lesions in consecutive psoriatic arthritis (PsA) dactylitis cases. Eighty-three dactylitic digits were evaluated clinically and sonographically before treatment and at one-month (T1) and three-month (T3) follow-up. Clinical evaluation included the Leeds Dactylitis Index-basic (LDI-b) score and the visual analogue scales for pain (VAS-p) and functional impairment (VAS-FI). High-frequency ultrasound with grey scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) assessed flexor tenosynovitis (FT), soft tissue oedema (STO), extensor tendon paratenonitis, and joint synovitis. There was a statistically significant correlation between the clinical parameters (VAS-p, VAS-FI, and LDI-b) and FT and STO at T1 and T3. We found statistically significant improvement in FT and STO for the cases with clinically meaningful treatment responses (p < 0.001). After a multiple conditional logistic regression analysis, the only variables that correlated with a T1 clinical response were the resolutions of PD FT (OR 15.66) and PD STO (OR 6.23), while the resolution of PD FT (OR 27.77) and of GS STO (OR 7.29) correlated with a T3 clinical response. The clinical improvements of active dactylitis are linked to the regression of sonographic evidence of extracapsular inflammation (particularly FT and STO).

scholarly journals POS0677 THE ROLE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND IN PREDICTING THE RESPONSE TO JAK INHIBITORS: RESULTS FROM A LARGE MONOCENTRIC COHORT

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 583-583
Author(s):  
C. Garufi ◽  
F. Ceccarelli ◽  
F. R. Spinelli ◽  
S. Mancuso ◽  
C. Pirone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Jak Inhibitors ◽  
Inflammatory Score ◽  
Inflammatory Status

Background:In the management of chronic arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Ultrasound (US) assessment can provide relevant information about the joint inflammatory status in the diagnostic phase and even more in the monitoring of disease activity and structural damage1,2.Objectives:In this longitudinal study, we aimed to assesse the role of US in predicting the efficacy of JAK-inhibitors (JAKi) in RA patients.Methods:We enrolled RA patients starting baricitinib or tofacitinib. All patients were evaluated at baseline and after 4, 12, 24, 48 weeks. Disease activity was calculated by DAS28CRP. US examination in 22 joints (I–V MCPs and PIPs, wrists) aimed at evaluating inflammatory features (synovial effusion and hypertrophy, power Doppler-PD), through a semi-quantitative scale (0-3). The total US (0-198) and PD (0-66) scores were calculated. We scanned bilateral flexor (I–V fingers of hands) and extensor compartments (1-6) tendons: tenosynovitis was scored as absent/present (0/1), resulting in a total score (0-22).Results:We studied 102 patients (M/F 15/87; median age 59.2 years, IQR 17.75; median disease duration 144 months, IQR 126), 61 treated with baricitinib and 41 with tofacitinib. At baseline, the median total US score was 18 (IQR 19) and the median PD score 2 (4). We observed a significant reduction in both total and PD US scores at all time-points (p<0.0001) (Figure 1). At baseline, 75.4% of patients showed tenosynovitis involving at least one tendon, with a median score of 2 (IQR 3.5) significantly decreasing after 24 weeks (p=0.02). Multivariate analysis, adjusted for baseline DAS28CRP and other concomitant treatments (including glucocorticoids and methotrexate treatment), confirmed the independent association between baseline US (PD and tenosynovitis) scores and the reduction of disease activity at follow-up evaluations.Conclusion:The present study confirmed the early efficacy of JAKi in RA patients by using US evaluation. Furthermore, power doppler and tenosynovitis scores could play a predictive role in response to treatment.References:[1]MUELLER RB, HASLER C, POPP F, et al. Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Analysis of Real-World Data from the St. Gallen and Aarau Cohorts. J Clin Med. 2019;8(10):1548.[2]COLEBATCH AN, EDWARDS CJ, ØSTERGAARD M, et al. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging of the joints in the clinical management of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013;72(6):804-14.Figure 1.Ultrasound inflammatory score (a) and Ultrasound Power Doppler (PD) score (b) at baseline and follow-up.Table 1.Baseline characteristics of 414 RA patients.WEEKS04122448US inflammatory score18 (19)11 (15.5)9.5 (11.7)7.5 (8)6 (11)US PD score2 (4)0 (2)0 (1)0 (1)0 (0.7)Disclosure of Interests:Cristina Garufi: None declared, Fulvia Ceccarelli: None declared, Francesca Romana Spinelli Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Consultant of: Gilead/Galapagos, Eli Lilly, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Silvia Mancuso: None declared, Carmelo Pirone: None declared, Fabrizio Conti Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Pfizer, Consultant of: Gilead/Galapagos

scholarly journals Sustained Response To Onabotulinumtoxin A In Patients With Chronic Migraine: Real-Life Data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Ornello ◽  
Simona Guerzoni ◽  
Carlo Baraldi ◽  
Luana Evangelista ◽  
Ilaria Frattale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Response ◽  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Treatment Cycle ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Sustained Response ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Main Body ◽  
The Third ◽  
Onabotulinumtoxin A

Abstract Background. Treatment with onabotulinumtoxin A (BT-A) is safe and effective for chronic migraine (CM). Several studies assessed possible predictors of response to treatment with BT-A, but there is little knowledge on the frequency and predictors of sustained response. The aim of this study was to evaluate sustained response to BT-A in patients with CM.Main body. In this prospective open-label study, 115 patients with CM and treated with BT-A were consecutively enrolled in two Italian headache centers and followed up for 15 months. Anytime responders were defined as those patients who achieved a ≥50% reduction in headache days during any three-month treatment cycle compared with the three months prior to initiation of BT-A treatment. Sustained responders were defined as those who achieved a ≥50% reduction in headache days within the third treatment cycle and maintained response until the end of follow-up. Non-responders were defined as those patients who never achieved a ≥50% reduction in headache days during the follow-up. Headache characteristics prior to BT-A treatment were assessed in order to evaluate their ability in predicting treatment response.The 115 enrolled patients (84.3% female; median age 50 years) had a median migraine duration of 30 years (interquartile range 22-38). At the end of follow-up, 66 patients (57.4%) were classified as anytime responders. Among the 51 patients who achieved a clinical response within the third month of treatment, 33 (64.7%) were sustained responders. Patients with sustained response had a lower CM duration (median 31 vs 65 months; P=0.030) and a lower number of headache days (median 25 vs 30; P=0.013) at baseline compared with non-responders.Conclusions. About two thirds of patients who gain ≥50% response to BT-A within the third cycle of treatment maintain this positive response over time. More recent onset of CM and more headache-free days at baseline are associated with sustained response. We suggest not to delay preventive treatment of CM with BT-A, in order to increase the likelihood to achieve sustained clinical response.

Concentrations of doxycycline and penicillin G in sera and cerebrospinal fluid of patients treated for neuroborreliosis.

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1104-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Karlsson ◽  
S Hammers ◽  
I Nilsson-Ehle ◽  
A S Malmborg ◽  
B Wretlind
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Treatment Failure ◽  
Clinical Response ◽  
Drug Administration ◽  
Drug Concentration ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Penicillin G ◽  
Good Clinical Response

Concentrations of doxycycline and penicillin G in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were analyzed in 46 patients during treatment for neuroborreliosis. Twenty patients were treated intravenously with penicillin G at 3 g every 6 h (q6h), and 26 patients were treated orally with doxycycline at 200 mg q24h. All samples were collected on day 13 of treatment. The median concentrations of penicillin G in serum were 0.5, 37, and 5.6 micrograms/ml before and 1 and 3 h after drug administration, and that in CSF was 0.5 (range, 0.3 to 1.6) microgram/ml after 2 to 3 h. The median concentrations of doxycycline in serum were 2.1, 6.1, and 4.7 micrograms/ml before and 2 and 6 h after drug administration, and that in CSF was 0.6 (range, 0.4 to 2.5) microgram/ml after 4 h. All patients had concentrations of penicillin G or doxycycline in CSF above the lowest reported MICs of penicillin G (0.003 microgram/ml) and doxycycline (0.12 microgram/ml) for Borrelia burgdorferi. However, no patients had a drug concentration in CSF above the highest reported MIC of penicillin G (8 micrograms/ml), and only one had a drug concentration in CSF above the highest reported MIC of doxycycline (2 micrograms/ml), despite good clinical response to treatment. No treatment failure or relapse was observed during a 1-year follow-up, although one patient treated with penicillin G and one treated with doxycycline were retreated because of residual pain. The chosen dosages of penicillin G and doxycycline seem to give sufficient concentrations in serum and CSF for the treatment of neuroborreliosis.

Clinical response to treatment in inpatients with depression correlates with changes in activity levels and psychomotor speed

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 652-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian RE Averill ◽  
Marie Crowe ◽  
Chris M Frampton ◽  
Ben Beaglehole ◽  
Cameron J Lacey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Response ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Psychomotor Speed ◽  
Activity Count ◽  
Early Improvement ◽  
Acute Psychiatric Wards

Background: Monitoring clinical response to treatment in depressed inpatients, particularly identifying early improvement, may be sub-optimal. This may impact adversely on patients through longer admissions and sub-optimal pharmacotherapy. Psychomotor speed is a prominent neuropsychological function which changes as recovery occurs. This study examines simple techniques used to quantify psychomotor change and their potential to contribute to monitoring recovery. Methods: Activity levels were continuously monitored in patients diagnosed with a major depressive episode from four acute psychiatric wards using two actigraphs (commercial and scientific) for 3 weeks and linear regression used to calculate a gradient to express rate of change. Psychomotor speed was assessed using the simple Coin Rotation Task. Mood and functioning were rated using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms, Clinical Global Impression Scale and Functioning Assessment Short Test. The assessments were completed at baseline and follow-up (3 weeks), and correlations were calculated for all change measures. Results: In all, 24 inpatients were recruited but not all completed baseline and follow-up measures. Change in activity count ( N = 16) and psychomotor speed ( N = 13) correlated significantly with improvement in clinical measures of depressive symptoms. Actigraphs were acceptable to hospital inpatients. Limitations: The limited size of this pilot study precludes the analysis of predictive power or the influence of other variables such as depression subtypes, age, gender or variations related to medications. Conclusion: Early change in simple activity and psychomotor speed warrant further investigation for utility in measuring treatment response in depressed inpatients.

scholarly journals Ultrasonographic Evidence of Predominance of Acute Extracapsular and Chronic Intrasynovial Patterns in 100 Cases of Psoriatic Hand Dactylitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolò Girolimetto ◽  
Pierluigi Macchioni ◽  
Ilaria Tinazzi ◽  
Luisa Costa ◽  
Dennis McGonagle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Extensor Tendon ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Frequency Ultrasound ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chronic Form ◽  
Tissue Edema ◽  
Longitudinal Imaging ◽  
Flexor Tenosynovitis

Objective.To use ultrasonography to study whether the duration of psoriatic dactylitis was associated with different patterns of extracapsular and synovial-based involvement.Methods.One hundred cases of hand dactylitis from 85 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were consecutively enrolled in a multicenter cross-sectional study and divided into 2 groups according to dactylitis duration (shorter or longer than the median: 20 weeks). All dactylitis fingers were investigated using high-frequency ultrasound both in greyscale (GS) and power Doppler (PD), evaluating the presence of flexor tenosynovitis, soft tissue edema, subcutaneous PD signal (PDS), extensor tendon involvement, and joint synovitis.Results.Cases with a shorter dactylitis duration (< 20 weeks) had a significantly higher prevalence of GS flexor tenosynovitis of grade > 2, PD flexor tenosynovitis, soft tissue edema, and subcutaneous PDS (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, and p = 0.001, respectively). However, the presence of synovitis in GS and PD mode (in both cases at proximal interphalangeal level) was more frequent in patients with longer dactylitis duration (p < 0.001). When detected in the chronic form, flexor tenosynovitis was grade 2 or lower.Conclusion.In a large cohort of PsA hand dactylitis, we found a predominant extracapsular inflammation (flexor tenosynovitis and soft tissue edema) in early cases and a high prevalence of joint synovitis at proximal interphalangeal level in the chronic form. However, longitudinal imaging studies are needed to clarify these aspects.

Sensitivity to change and clinical correlations of the novel DACtylitis glObal Sonographic (DACTOS) score in psoriatic arthritis

Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolò Girolimetto ◽  
Alen Zabotti ◽  
Ilaria Tinazzi ◽  
Niccolò Possemato ◽  
Luisa Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Clinical Parameters ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Sensitivity To Change ◽  
High Frequency Ultrasound ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Analogue Scales

Abstract Objective The aim of the study is to assess the performance of the DACTOS (DACtylitis glObal Sonographic) score in a psoriatic arthritis (PsA) dactylitis clinical setting. In particular, we evaluated the ability of DACTOS to identify the affected fingers, its sensitivity to change after treatment, the correlations between DACTOS and clinical parameters, and the capacity of the score to identify the treatment responders. Methods Forty-six consecutive patients with symptomatic PsA hand dactylitis were enrolled. A total of seventy-three dactylitic digits were evaluated clinically and sonographically before and after treatment in this observational and prospective study. Clinical assessment included the Leeds Dactylitis Index-basic (LDI-b) score and visual analogue scales for pain (VAS-p) and functional impairment (VAS-FI). Sonographic lesions were investigated using high-frequency ultrasound with grey scale and power Doppler features according to the DACTOS score. Correlations between the DACTOS score and the clinical parameters were assessed at baseline, one month (T1) and three months (T3). Results We observed significant improvements in all of the assessed clinical parameters and the DACTOS scores after dactylitis treatment. There was a statistically significant correlation between the variation of all clinical parameters (VAS-p, VAS-FI, and LDI-b) and the DACTOS score at T1 and T3 evaluations. We found statistically significant differences in the DACTOS score between clinical responder and non-responder groups (p&lt; 0.001) and between clinical remission and non-remission groups (p&lt; 0.001). Conclusion The DACTOS score performs well in real life, clinical settings in terms of sensitivity to change and correlations with clinical features in PsA dactylitis.

scholarly journals Sustained Response To Onabotulinumtoxin A In Patients With Chronic Migraine: Real-Life Data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Ornello ◽  
Simona Guerzoni ◽  
Carlo Baraldi ◽  
Luana Evangelista ◽  
Ilaria Frattale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Response ◽  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Treatment Cycle ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Sustained Response ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Main Body ◽  
The Third ◽  
Onabotulinumtoxin A

Abstract Background Treatment with onabotulinumtoxin A (BT-A) is safe and effective for chronic migraine (CM). Several studies assessed possible predictors of response to treatment with BT-A, but there is little knowledge on the frequency and predictors of sustained response. The aim of this study was to evaluate sustained response to BT-A in patients with CM. Main body In this prospective open-label study, 115 patients with CM and treated with BT-A were consecutively enrolled in two Italian headache centers and followed up for 15 months. Anytime responders were defined as those patients who achieved a ≥50% reduction in headache days during any three-month treatment cycle compared with the three months prior to initiation of BT-A treatment. Sustained responders were defined as those who achieved a ≥50% reduction in headache days within the third treatment cycle and maintained response until the end of follow-up. Non-responders were defined as those patients who never achieved a ≥50% reduction in headache days during the follow-up. Headache characteristics prior to BT-A treatment were assessed in order to evaluate their ability in predicting treatment response. The 115 enrolled patients (84.3% female; median age 50 years) had a median migraine duration of 30 years (interquartile range 22-38). At the end of follow-up, 66 patients (57.4%) were classified as anytime responders. Among the 51 patients who achieved a clinical response within the third month of treatment, 33 (64.7%) were sustained responders. Patients with sustained response had a lower CM duration (median 31 vs 65 months; P=0.030) and a lower number of headache days (median 25 vs 30; P=0.013) at baseline compared with non-responders. Conclusions About two thirds of patients who gain ≥50% response to BT-A within the third cycle of treatment maintain this positive response over time. More recent onset of CM and more headache-free days at baseline are associated with sustained response. We suggest not to delay preventive treatment of CM with BT-A, in order to increase the likelihood to achieve sustained clinical response.

scholarly journals POS0488 THE IMPACT OF ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODIES INDUCED BY ANTI-TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA AGENTS ON THE LONG-TERM TREATMENT OUTCOMES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 476.2-477
Author(s):  
D. Santos Oliveira ◽  
A. Martins ◽  
F. R. Martins ◽  
M. Rato ◽  
F. Oliveira Pinheiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Clinical Response ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Eular Response ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Switch Rate ◽  
Factor Alpha ◽  
The Impact

Background:The seroconversion of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) induced by anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) therapy remains a matter of concern in various inflammatory conditions namely rheumatoid arthritis. However, evidence is still scarce regarding the impact of these autoantibodies on the clinical response to treatment in these patients.Objectives:This study aimed to explore the impact of ANA induced by anti-TNF-α therapy on the outcomes of treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis over two years of follow-up.Methods:An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted with two years of follow-up. Patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, and registered on the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt) who started their first anti-TNFα agent as first biologic between 2003 and 2018 were included. Patients with positive ANA (titer ≥100) and/or positive anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies and/or with a diagnosis of SLE at their first visit were excluded. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were obtained by consulting Reuma.pt. Disease Activity Score for 28 joints (DAS28), DAS28 delta, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), HAQ delta were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Clinical response was evaluated by EULAR criteria and three response categories were defined: good, mild and no response. The rate of switch of biological treatment was assessed over 24 months. To examine the differences between groups with and without ANA seroconversion independent samples t test for normally distributed continuous data, Mann-Whitney U-tests for non-normally distributed continuous data and Chi-square tests for categorical data were used. Logistic regression models were used to assess the effects of ANA seroconversion on clinical response to treatment over 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.Results:A total of 185 patients (mean age of 49.3±10.9 years old; 85.4% female) with a median follow-up of 7 [4-14] years were included. We found an ANA seroconversion rate (titer ≥100) of 77.3% (n=143) with median time of 36 [15-72.3] months. There were no differences among groups regarding age, gender, disease duration, be seropositivity or not (for rheumatoid factor and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibodies) and have an erosive disease or not. DAS28 delta was significantly different (p=0.035) between group with positive ANA (2.01±1.29) and negative ANA (1.15±1.51) at 6 months. DAS28 was significantly different (p=0.014) between group with positive ANA (5.06±3.39) and negative ANA (3.99±1.43) at 12 months. No statistically significant differences were found in the DAS28, DAS28 delta, HAQ, HAQ delta at 18 and 24 months and in the EULAR response at any time. Switch rate was significantly different between patients with ANA seroconversion (median 1[0-1]) versus absence of seroconversion (median 0[0-1]), p=0.025. In the regression model ANA seroconversion did not predict switch rate and EULAR response over time.Conclusion:This study showed that the majority of patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with an anti-TNF-α agent developed ANA and that their presence may be associated with worse clinical results (DAS28) at 6 and 12 months. In fact, previous research suggested that a decrease in anti-TNF-α drug concentration due to the production of autoantibodies may lead to worse outcomes of treatment. Moreover, our data demonstrated that patients with ANA seroconversion had a higher switch rate. Despite these results, there are no differences in the EULAR response between the two groups and ANA seroconversion did not predict this response over time. Therefore, ANA induced by anti-TNF-α agents should be monitored in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its impact on treatment must be considered. Further research is needed to explore these results through large-scale prospective studies.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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