Safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: results from the EULAR Coronavirus Vaccine (COVAX) physician-reported registry

ObjectivesTo describe the safety of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in people with inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (I-RMD).MethodsPhysician-reported registry of I-RMD and non-inflammatory RMD (NI-RMDs) patients vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. From 5 February 2021 to 27 July 2021, we collected data on demographics, vaccination, RMD diagnosis, disease activity, immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive treatments, flares, adverse events (AEs) and SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections. Data were analysed descriptively.ResultsThe study included 5121 participants from 30 countries, 90% with I-RMDs (n=4604, 68% female, mean age 60.5 years) and 10% with NI-RMDs (n=517, 77% female, mean age 71.4). Inflammatory joint diseases (58%), connective tissue diseases (18%) and vasculitis (12%) were the most frequent diagnostic groups; 54% received conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), 42% biological DMARDs and 35% immunosuppressants. Most patients received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (70%), 17% AstraZeneca/Oxford and 8% Moderna. In fully vaccinated cases, breakthrough infections were reported in 0.7% of I-RMD patients and 1.1% of NI-RMD patients. I-RMD flares were reported in 4.4% of cases (0.6% severe), 1.5% resulting in medication changes. AEs were reported in 37% of cases (37% I-RMD, 40% NI-RMD), serious AEs in 0.5% (0.4% I-RMD, 1.9% NI-RMD).ConclusionThe safety profiles of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with I-RMD was reassuring and comparable with patients with NI-RMDs. The majority of patients tolerated their vaccination well with rare reports of I-RMD flare and very rare reports of serious AEs. These findings should provide reassurance to rheumatologists and vaccine recipients and promote confidence in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine safety in I-RMD patients.

Strategies for Articular Cartilage Repair and Regeneration

Articular cartilage is an avascular tissue, with limited ability to repair and self-renew. Defects in articular cartilage can induce debilitating degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. Currently, clinical treatments have limited ability to repair, for they often result in the formation of mechanically inferior cartilage. In this review, we discuss the factors that affect cartilage homeostasis and function, and describe the emerging regenerative approaches that are informing the future treatment options.

STUDY OF SYNOVIAL FLUID IN DIAGNOSIS OF JOINT DISEASES IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL

Background: Analysis of synovial uid has been recommended as a routine procedure to assist in the diagnosis of arthritis. Arthritis can be either a monoarticular or polyarticular lesion leading to morbidity, affecting all ages . Aim of the study: To study synovial uid analysis in the diagnosis of joint diseases in a teaching hospital. Materials and methods: Prospective study was done on synovial uid samples over a period of two years at the Department of Pathology. ACS medical college ,Chennai for duration of 6 months ie, from February 2021 to August 2021. Results: Majority of the cases were osteoarthritis constituting 33.3 % .Rheumatoid arthritis constituted 20%..Chronic nonspecic synovitis were noted in 30% cases .01 case of Traumatic arthritis and 02 cases of Tubercular arthritis were noted. Conclusion: Synovial uid analysis will give us an idea about the differential diagnosis of joint diseases. Synovial uid aspiration should be done for the analysis and also used as a treatment procedure of synovial inammation.

Role of Ilaj Bit Tadbeer (Regimenal Therapy) in Waja-ul-Mafasil (Osteoarthritis): A Review

Osteoarthritis is the commonest of all joint diseases. It results due to breakdown and destruction of joint tissues. The clinical picture of osteoarthritis strongly resembles with Waja-ul-Mafasil which has been elaborated in detail by Unani physicians. Considering the high prevalence, side effects of modern pharmacological treatment and high cost of surgical interventions with equivocal effectiveness of all treatment modalities, there is need for safe, economic and effective treatment in Unani Medicine for osteoarthritis. Unani System of Medicine has Ilaj Bit Tadbeer (Regimenal Therapy) as one of the modes of treatment. The Regimenal Therapy works on the principle of modifying or modulating the six essential factors (Asbaab-e-sittah zarooriya) for maintenance of health and prevention from diseases. Nowadays Regimenal Therapy holds an important place in Unani Medicine particularly for musculoskeletal and nervous disorders. The focus of this paper is to discuss and summarize the role of Ilaj bit Tadbeer in the management of Waja-ul-Mafasil. Key words: Osteoarthritis, Waja-ul-Mafasil, Unani System of Medicine, Ilaj Bit Tadbeer, Regimenal Therapy.

Infrared Thermography for the Evaluation of Inflammatory and Degenerative Joint Diseases: A Systematic Review

Objective Inflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases as well as in osteoarthritis. Temperature, which can be quantified using infrared thermography, provides information about the inflammatory component of joint diseases. This systematic review aims at assessing infrared thermography potential and limitations in these pathologies. Design A systematic review was performed on 3 major databases: PubMed, Cochrane library, and Web of Science, on clinical reports of any level of evidence in English language, published from 1990 to May 2021, with infrared thermography used for diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rheumatic diseases, monitoring disease progression, or response to treatment. Relevant data were extracted, collected in a database, and analyzed for the purpose of this systematic review. Results Of 718 screened articles 32 were found to be eligible for inclusion, for a total of 2094 patients. Nine studies reported the application to osteoarthritis, 21 to rheumatic diseases, 2 on both. The publication trend showed an increasing interest in the last decade. Seven studies investigated the correlation of temperature changes with osteoarthritis, 16 with rheumatic diseases, and 2 with both, whereas 2 focused on the pre-post evaluation to investigate treatment results in patients with osteoarthritis and 5 in patients with rheumatic diseases. A correlation was shown between thermal findings and disease presence and stage, as well as the clinical assessment of disease activity and response to treatment, supporting infrared thermography role in the study and management of rheumatic diseases and osteoarthritis. Conclusions The systematic literature review showed an increasing interest in this technology, with several applications in different joints affected by inflammatory and degenerative pathologies. Infrared thermography proved to be a simple, accurate, noninvasive, and radiation-free method, which could be used in addition to the currently available tools for screening, diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression, and response to medical treatment.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with inflammatory joint diseases in Sweden: from infection severity to impact on care provision

ObjectivesTo compare risks for COVID-19-related outcomes in inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) and across disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during the first two waves of the pandemic and to assess effects of the pandemic on rheumatology care provision.MethodsThrough nationwide multiregister linkages and cohort study design, we defined IJD and DMARD use annually in 2015–2020. We assessed absolute and relative risks of hospitalisation or death listing COVID-19. We also assessed the incidence of IJD and among individuals with IJD, rheumatologist visits, DMARD use and incidence of selected comorbidities.ResultsBased on 115 317 patients with IJD in 2020, crude risks of hospitalisation and death listing COVID-19 (0.94% and 0.33% across both waves, respectively) were similar during both waves (adjusted HR versus the general population 1.33, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.43, for hospitalisation listing COVID-19; 1.23, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.40 for death listing COVID-19). Overall, biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs) did not increase risks of COVID-19 related hospitalisation (with the exception of a potential signal for JAK inhibitors) or death. During the pandemic, decreases were observed for IJD incidence (−7%), visits to rheumatology units (−16%), DMARD dispensations (+6.5% for bDMARD/tsDMARDs and −8.5% for conventional synthetic DMARDs compared with previous years) and for new comorbid conditions, but several of these changes were part of underlying secular trends.ConclusionsPatients with IJD are at increased risk of serious COVID-19 outcomes, which may partially be explained by medical conditions other than IJD per se. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has exerted measurable effects on aspects of rheumatology care provision demonstrated, the future impact of which will need to be assessed.

Importance of the second SARS-CoV-2 vaccination dose for achieving serological response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative spondyloarthritis

ObjectivesTo assess the kinetics of humoral response after the first and second dose of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in patients with inflammatory joint diseases compared with healthy controls (HC). To analyse factors influencing the quantity of the immune response.MethodsWe enrolled patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA), excluding those receiving B-cell depleting therapies and assessed the humoral response to mRNA vaccines after the first and the second dose of the vaccine in terms of seroconversion rate and titre. We compared the results to a HC group and analysed the influence of therapies as well as other characteristics on the humoral response.ResultsSamples from 53 patients with RA, 46 patients with SpA and 169 healthy participants were analysed. Seroconversion rates after the first immunisation were only 54% in patients with inflammatory arthritis compared with 98% in the HC group. However, seroconversion rates were 100% in all groups after second immunisation. Patients developed reduced antibody titres after the first vaccination compared with HC, but there was no difference after the second dose. While disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) monotherapy did not affect antibody levels, seroconversion rates as well as titre levels were reduced in patients receiving a combination of DMARDs compared with HC.ConclusionsPatients with inflammatory joint diseases under DMARD therapy show impaired humoral responses to the first vaccine dose but excellent final responses to vaccination with mRNA vaccines. Therefore, the full course of two immunisations is necessary for efficient vaccination responses in patients with inflammatory arthritis under DMARD therapy.

Musculoskeletal Interventions: A Review on Genicular Artery Embolization

Symptomatic knee pain is one of the most common joint diseases that affects millions of people worldwide. The treatment for knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis (OA) begins with conservative therapy and progresses to surgical intervention when conservative therapy fails. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) offers an alternative option for patients who are poor surgical candidates. Multiple studies have been conducted worldwide demonstrating the safety and efficacy of GAE in patients with mild to moderate OA. The purpose of this article is to describe the current literature on GAE and highlight the latest findings from a randomized controlled trial comparing GAE versus sham embolization.

Influenza outcomes in patients with inflammatory joint diseases and DMARDs: how do they compare to those of COVID-19?

ObjectivesTo estimate absolute and relative risks for seasonal influenza outcomes in patients with inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). To contextualise recent findings on corresponding COVID-19 risks.MethodsUsing Swedish nationwide registers for this cohort study, we followed 116 989 patients with IJD and matched population comparators across four influenza seasons (2015–2019). We quantified absolute risks of hospitalisation and death due to influenza, and compared IJD to comparators via Cox regression. We identified 71 556 patients with IJD on active treatment with conventional synthetic DMARDs and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (tsDMARDs) at the start of each influenza season, estimated risks for the same outcomes and compared these risks across DMARDs via Cox regression.ResultsPer season, average risks for hospitalisation listing influenza were 0.25% in IJD and 0.1% in the general population, corresponding to a crude HR of 2.38 (95% CI 2.21 to 2.56) that decreased to 1.44 (95% CI 1.33 to 1.56) following adjustments for comorbidities. For death listing influenza, the corresponding numbers were 0.015% and 0.006% (HR=2.63, 95% CI 1.93 to 3.58, and HR=1.46, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.01). Absolute risks for influenza outcomes were half (hospitalisation) and one-tenth (death) of those for COVID-19, but relative estimates comparing IJD to the general population were similar.ConclusionsIn absolute terms, COVID-19 in IJD outnumbers that of average seasonal influenza, but IJD entails a 50%–100% increase in risk for hospitalisation and death for both types of infections, which is largely dependent on associated comorbidities. Overall, bDMARDs/tsDMARDs do not seem to confer additional risk for hospitalisation or death related to seasonal influenza.