Central muscle relaxants in rheumatology practice

The article describes the general principles of the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, discusses modern approaches to the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and nonspecific back pain (NBS). The issues discussed are: the efficacy and tolerability of the combined use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) of predominantly selective action (aceclofenac) and a centrally acting muscle relaxant (tolperisone) in the treatment of OA and NBS. Two clinical observations are presented that confirm the benefits of combined administration of NSAIDs and muscle relaxants in the treatment of OA and NBS. The efficacy and favorable safety profile of aceclofenac has been demonstrated in patients with comorbid diseases. Tolperisone has shown its efficacy both as a mean of controlling pain associated with muscle tension, and as an element of combination therapy not only for NBS, but also for OA.

Pharmacogenomics and Rheumatological Practice

Pharmacogenomics, the study of the effect of genetics on the variation in drug response, is designed to maximize drug efficacy and minimize adverse effects. It is assuming increasing importance in clinical practice. Rheumatologists, who manage patients with complex diseases with unpredictable outcomes over long periods of time, should embrace tools that help customize treatment for their patients. In this article, the basis for pharmacogenomics is presented, followed by description of the tests relevant to drugs encountered in rheumatology practice, concluding with ideas about implementation and future developments.

Telerheumatology: A Narrative Review

Telemedicine (TM), the delivery of health care using telecommunication technologies, has been in use in rheumatology practice for over two decades to maximize access and optimize care. As a direct consequence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020, rheumatology practice shifted from traditional in-person encounters to TM to ensure the safety of both healthcare professionals and patients. However, there is limited literature on the acceptance, feasibility, and effectiveness of TM in the management of rheumatic diseases. Additionally, there is limited guidance on the implementation of telerheumatology (TR) for both patient care and clinical trials. Here we reviewed the most recent publications related to the application of TR, in the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), assessed the perceptions of patients and physicians on TM in rheumatology, and identified several key barriers to TR.

Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis of Hypereosinophilia in Rheumatology Practice

<b><i>Background:</i></b> There has been no investigation so far on the prevalence or causes of hypereosinophilia during rheumatic diseases. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The study aimed to identify the prevalence and causes of hypereosinophilia among the patients followed in a rheumatology department. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The patients aged 18 years or over followed in our rheumatology department between January 2010 and December 2019 who had at least one AEC ≥1,500/µL measurement in their peripheral blood count were identified retrospectively. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Over the 10 years, a total of 130,769 peripheral blood counts were performed, of which 3.9% showed eosinophilia and 0.065% showed hypereosinophilia. Hypereosinophilia was identified in 85 patients. The underlying rheumatic disease was determined in 89.4% (<i>n</i> = 76) of patients. Of these, the most frequent one was rheumatoid arthritis at a ratio of 40.8%, followed by eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) at a ratio of 10.5%. Hypereosinophilia was in primary form in 3.5% of the patients, whereas secondary to another condition in 91.8% (<i>n</i> = 78) of the cases and idiopathic in 4.7% (<i>n</i> = 4) of patients. The most common cause of secondary hypereosinophilia was drug induced, as detected in 61.2%, followed by allergic conditions in 11.5% and EGPA in 9.4%. In 15.2% (<i>n</i> = 13) of the cases, hypereosinophilia was associated with an underlying rheumatic disease. In the cases with drug-induced hypereosinophilia, most often (in 28.8%) methotrexate was the offending agent. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Rheumatologists should be cognizant that hypereosinophilia concurrent to rheumatic diseases is usually not due to the underlying rheumatic disease, except for the conventional eosinophil-related rheumatic diseases.

Improving patient care from the rheumatology perspective

In early 2000, the Institute of Medicine of the United States published the results of an investigation carried out on medical errors in hospital patients. The report, entitled “To Err is Human”, concluded that between 44,000 and 98,000 people died annually in U.S. hospitals as a result of errors that occurred in the care process. This figure was even higher than the mortality caused by traffic accidents, breast cancer or HIV at the time. Since then, highly effective interventions have been developed and adopted to prevent these safety-related outcomes for our patients, extending beyond the hospital setting to include outpatient care and, of course, the rheumatology practice.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatology practice in Latin America

Objective To describe the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Latin American rheumatologists from a professional, economic, and occupational point of view. Methods We conducted an observational cross-sectional study using an online survey sent to rheumatologists of each non-English-speaking country member of the Pan American League of Rheumatology Associations (PANLAR). A specific questionnaire was developed. Results Our survey included 1097 rheumatologists from 19 Latin American countries. Median (IQR) age of respondents was 48 (40-59) years and 618 (56.3%) were female. Duration of practice since graduation as rheumatologist was 17 years, and 585 (53.3%) were under 50 years of age. Most rheumatologists worked in private practice (81.8%) and almost half worked in institutional outpatient centers (55%) and in-patient care (49.9%). The median number of weekly hours (IQR) of face-to-face practice before the pandemic was 27 (15-40) but it was reduced to 10 (5- 20) during the pandemic. Telehealth was used by 866 (78.9%) respondents during the pandemic. Most common methods of communication were video calls (555; 50.6%), telephone calls (499; 45.5%) and WhatsApp voice calls (423; 38.6%). A reduction in monthly wages was reported by 946 (86.2%) respondents. Consultation fees also were reduced and 88 (8%) rheumatologists stated they had lost their jobs. A reduction in patient adherence to medication was reported by nearly 50% of respondents. Eighty-one (7.4%) rheumatologists received a COVID-19 diagnosis and 7 (8.6%) of them were hospitalized. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped rheumatology practice in Latin America and has had a profound impact on rheumatologists' behaviors and clinical practice.

AB0460 THE UTILITY OF USB CAPILLAROSCOPE FOR ASSESSMENT OF RAYNAUD’S PHENOMENON PATIENTS

Background:Videocapillaroscopy is the gold standard for evaluation of nailfold capillaries and the major tool used for differentiation of primary and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in rheumatology practice. However, nowadays, there are also accessible alternatives such as USB capillaroscopes, which offer the opportunity to apply capillaroscopic examination at a significantly lower price.Objectives:The aim of the current study was to study the utility of USB capillaroscope (Dinolite) via assessment of capillaroscopic images obtained by patients with primary and secondary RP in rheumatic diseases.Methods:The study represents analysis of capillaroscopic images of 32 patients with RP – primary and secondary in the context of SSc or other rheumatic diseases i.e., undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). All the patients had signed an informed consent for participation in a study of their capillaroscopic, laboratory and clinical associations. The study represents retrospective analysis of the capillaroscopic images obtained from 8 fingers (II-V bilaterally) using USB capillaroscope (Dinolite) at magnification 200x. Capillary diameters were measured (arterial, venous and apical loop) as well as the number of capillaries per millimeter. The capillaroscopic images were categorized into the following groups i.e., I. Absence of microangiopathy: i) normal pattern, ii) nonspecific changes (dilated capillaries with arterial diameter > 0.015mm, venous > 0.020mm; haemorhhages and/or other nonspecific changes), II. Presence of microangiopathy i.e., “scleroderma”/”scleroderma-like” pattern. Presence of giant capillaries with capillary diameter >0.050mm was considered as a sufficient criterion for classifying the image as “scleroderma”/”scleroderma-like” pattern. For “scleroderma” type images in SSc patients staging of Cutolo et al (2000) was used i.e., “early”, ”active”, ”late” phase (1).Results:Images suitable for analysis with good visibility that permits analysis of the major capillaroscopic parameters were available in all patients. Among 32 included patients, 9 patients were with SSc, 12 cases with primary RP, and 10 patients with secondary RP in other CTD (7 patients with UCTD and 3 patients with SLE). „Scleroderma“ pattern was detected in 6 patients with SSc and in all these cases the capillaroscopic images were classifiable into one of the three distinct phases i.e., “early”, ”active” and ”late” phase. Presence of microvascular changes (“scleroderma-like” pattern) was detected also in 5 among the 10 patients with other CTD i.e., UCTD and SLE. In primary RP patients capillaroscopy revealed either normal pattern or nonspecific findings but without features of microangiopathy.Conclusion:Good capillaroscopic images, which could be analyzed and interpreted, are usually obtained using USB capillaroscope. This permits evaluation of the major capillaroscopic parameters. The available software although less sophisticated vs those of videocapillaroscopes, gives the opportunity for measurement of capillary diameters, mean capillary density, etc. The images received from USB capillaroscope are easily classified into “scleroderma”, “scleroderma-like”, non-specific changes and normal pattern. The most important conclusion from capillaroscopy is about presence or absence of microangiopathy. This was easily detected via USB capillaroscope that could be suggested as an ideal alternative for videocapillaroscopes in every day rheumatology practice especially at low budget cases. Measurements of capillary diameters and capillary density provide quantitative data that make these devises also appropriate for scientific research.References:[1]Cutolo M, Sulli A, Pizzorni C AS. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy assessment of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis. J Rheumatol. 2000;27(1):155–60.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

POS1495-HPR THE EXPERIENCE OF A RHEUMATOLOGY UNIT DURING THE COVID19 LOCKDOWN: TELEMEDICINE ALLOWS A SAFE FOLLOW UP OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Background:In March this year, most of the routine activities were cancelled during the streaming of the pandemic in Italy. This prompted a pragmatic reorganization of the traditional care model of nursing and medicine, to quickly give an efficient clinical response. During the first phase of the pandemic, outpatient visits dropped by more than 60%, forcefully shifting to telemedicine to assure continuity of care despite the lockdown.Objectives:The aim of the present work was to describe the strategy adopted during and immediately after the lockdown to assure the follow up of patients and the maintenance of their treatment in an outpatient “virtual” telemedicine clinic dedicated to RDs.Methods:the patient flow to a rheumatology division during the lockdown was evaluated retrospectively from March to September 2020 in accordance with local restrictions, and three periods are described.Results:653/913 (71.5%), 542/542 (100%) and 1.048/1.048 (100%) infusion activities scheduled were performed at the centre for daily infusion and pre-infusion assessment, respectively during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd period. In the outpatient clinic during the 1st period, 96.96% of the cases was shifted to Telemedicine, which decreased to 52.45% in the 2nd period; while in the 3rd period, 97.6% of the performances were carried out at the clinic. Diagnostic procedures, such as ultrasound, capillaroscopy, and joint injection were generally postponed during the 1st period, reduced drastically during the 2nd and performed regularly during 3rd period. Ulcer treatment and the Clinical Trial Unit never stopped their activity. The flow of the activity of the outpatient clinic and the day hospital is represented as monthly trends in graph 1 (See Graph 1).Conclusion:Our data show the feasibility of Telemedicine in a lockdown condition. Shifting stable patients to Telemedicine has the potentiality to minimize the risk of contagion and allow continuity of care. In the future, the use of Telemedicine for specific clinical uses might assure patient assistance also in non-pandemic conditions.References:[1]Rawaf S, Allen LN, Stigler FL et al. Lessons on the COVID-19 pandemic, for and by primary care professionals worldwide. Eur J Gen Pract. 2020 Dec;26(1):129-133. doi: 10.1080/13814788.2020.1820479. PMID: 32985278.[2]McDougall JA, Ferucci ED, Glover J, et al. Telerheumatology: A Systematic Review. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017 Oct;69(10):1546-1557. doi: 10.1002/acr.23153. Epub 2017 Aug 22. PMID: 27863164; PMCID: PMC5436947.[3]Romão VC, Cordeiro I, Macieira C, Oliveira-Ramos F, Romeu JC, Rosa CM, Saavedra MJ, Saraiva F, Vieira-Sousa E, Fonseca JE. Rheumatology practice amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: a pragmatic view. RMD Open. 2020 Jun;6(2):e001314. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2020-001314. PMID: 32584782; PMCID: PMC7425193.Characters from table content including title and footnotes:Graph 1.Monthly trend for telemedicine and visits during the SARS Cov2 emergencyAcknowledgements:The project (Telereuma) has been supported by an unrestricted grant of Biogen, BMS, and Novartis.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Scottish rheumatology sonography course: five-year experience of delivering a mentorship-model rheumatology ultrasound training programme accredited by the consortium for the accreditation of sonographic education

Background and aims Ultrasound training for rheumatology practice in the UK is variable. Currently, there is no agreed minimum standard for training in ultrasound applied to rheumatology patient management. We present our experiences of implementing a competency driven ultrasound training, focused on hands and feet. Methods and results The Rheumatology Sonography Course (RSC) was developed by the Scottish Rheumatology Ultrasound Group in collaboration with Glasgow Caledonian University. The RSC is delivered via a blended learning approach and includes training workshops, mentorship and clinical competency assessments. Mentors are supported and developed within their role. 31 trainees have enrolled on the course between 2014 and 2019. To date, 22 (71%) have completed. Change of job role was the main factor leading to non-completion. Thirteen mentors have supported the training and assessment of RSC trainees. All trainees reported positively that ultrasound training via the RSC model fulfilled their learning needs. Conclusion The RSC is a feasible ultrasound training model for rheumatology practitioners. Whilst it provides a robust training framework, mentorship fees and university overheads increase the cost. The RSC provides motivation to mentors to train external trainees and supports the development of new ultrasound-based rheumatology services.