Increased prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in systemic sclerosis patients, including in men and young women- a case-control study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis prevalence and systemic sclerosis (SSc) specific associations of BMD in SSc patients compared with background population.

METHODS

In total, 211 SSc patients (182 women, 29 men; mean age 61.3 and 62.2 respectively) and 505 age and sex matched controls from the same geographic area participated. BMD and T-score at total hip and lumbar spine was measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Osteopenia was defined as T-score -1.0 to -2.5; osteoporosis as T-score ≤-2.5. Associates of low BMD were identified by multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

Women with SSc had lower BMD for total hip (p< 0.001) and spine (p= 0.011), equivalent to ΔT-score -0.56 and -0.35 compared with controls. Osteopenia was present in 51.6% and 16.5% had osteoporosis (p= 0.001, compared with controls). Already in women below age 45, differences in hip BMD were apparent (ΔT-score -0.93, p= 0.005). In addition to expected risk factors for osteoporosis (older age, lower BMI and menopause), finger ulcers (p= 0.009) and diffuse skin involvement (p= 0.027) were associated with lower hip BMD in women. In men with SSc, more than half displayed osteopenia or osteoporosis and had numerically lower hip BMD than their age matched counterparts.

CONCLUSION

SSc patients, including men and younger women, have lower BMD than the background population. Finger ulcers and diffuse skin involvement, in addition to older age, lower BMI and being post-menopausal, are associated with lower BMD in women. The data emphasizes the importance of performing bone health assessment of all SSc patients, including men and young subjects.

Arrhythmia in patients with systemic sclerosis: incidence, risk factors and impact on mortality in a Swedish register-based study

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study are to study the risk of developing cardiac arrhythmia and its subtypes over time in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), to assess potential risk factors for arrhythmia in SSc and to explore whether arrhythmia is associated with mortality.

METHODS

We used nationwide Swedish registers to identify patients with incident SSc 2004-2019 and matched general population comparators (1:10). The primary outcome was incident arrhythmia. Follow-up started at the date of SSc diagnosis and ended at the primary outcome, death, emigration or 31 December 2019. We estimated the incidence of arrhythmia overall and stratified by subtype and explored the relative risk in relation to time since diagnosis using flexible parametric models. We used Cox regression to study risk factors for arrhythmia and the association of arrhythmia with mortality.

RESULTS

We identified 1565 patients and 16 009 comparators. The overall incidence of arrhythmia was 255 (95% CI 221 to 295) and 119 (95% CI 112 to 127) per 10 000 person years in patients with SSc and comparators, respectively, corresponding to an IRR of 2.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.5). The greatest hazard difference between patients with SSc compared with the comparators was seen in the first year of follow-up (HR for arrhythmia 3.0; 95% CI 2.3 to 3.8). Atrial fibrillation and flutter were the most common arrhythmia subtypes. Male sex, index age and pulmonary arterial hypertension were significant risk factors for arrhythmia in SSc. Incident arrhythmia was significantly associated with mortality (HR 2.2; 95% CI 1.6 to 3.0).

CONCLUSION

SSc is associated with higher incidence of cardiac arrhythmia compared with general population. Arrhythmia seems to be an early manifestation of SSc and is associated with higher mortality.

Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Associated With Alterations in the Gastrointestinal Microbiota

OBJECTIVE

Emerging research suggests that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with intestinal dysbiosis. This prospective pilot study evaluates changes in intestinal microbial composition in patients with RA initiating treatment with either methotrexate (MTX) or a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi).

METHODS

Consecutive patients, fulfilling the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/EULAR classification criteria for RA, who started treatment with either MTX or TNFi delivered a stool sample upon initiation of immunosuppression and 3 months later. A 16S ribosomal RNA gene-based validated microbiota test (GA-map Dysbiosis Index Score [DIS], Genetic Analysis, Oslo, Norway) was used to evaluate for the presence and degree of dysbiosis. Fecal levels of Prevotella copri (P. copri) were analyzed by custom-made quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Changes in microbial composition were analyzed in relation to changes in disease activity, as measured by the disease activity score based on 28-joint counts, using C-reactive protein.

RESULTS

At baseline, dysbiosis was present in 33 of 50 (66%) participants and more common in participants with more than 2 years of disease duration (P = 0.019). At the 3-month follow-up, 27 of 50 (54%) were good treatment responders and the DIS had improved in 14 of 50 (28%). Participants initiating TNFi more often exhibited improvement in the DIS compared with those initiating MTX (P = 0.031). P. copri was identified in 32 of 50 (64%) at baseline. An improvement in disease activity score based on 28-joint counts, using C-reactive protein was associated with a simultaneous decrease in P. copri abundance (rs = 0.30, P = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

This study affirms that dysbiosis is a feature of RA. Although patients were not randomized to MTX or TNFi, the findings suggest that specific therapies may differentially modulate the gastrointestinal microbiota in RA. The association between P. copri and treatment response requires further study.

Treatment with mycophenolate mofetil is associated with improved nailfold vasculature in systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the evolution of nailfold capillary density in patients with SSc in relation to immunosuppressive treatment and autoantibodies.

METHODS

This was a prospective study cohort. Consecutive newly diagnosed SSc patients were included into this study who, in a retrospective review, had at least two nailfold capillary microscopy measurements performed during the first 48 months of follow-up. Capillary density per 3 mm was measured with widefield nailfold capillary microscopy. Improvement of capillary density per finger and mean capillary density were analysed. Longitudinal measurements of mean capillary density were analysed by generalized estimating equation.

RESULTS

Eighty patients (68 women, 12 men) met the inclusion criteria. The median follow-up time was 27 months. Twenty-eight patients had an improved capillary density in per-finger analysis. MMF was associated with fewer numbers of fingers that had worsened in capillary density. Anti-topoisomerase antibodies were associated with low mean capillary density. Anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies were associated with improvement and anti-centromere antibodies with worsening of capillary density in per-finger analysis. MMF treatment was associated with less steep capillary density decline in a moderated generalized estimating equation model including presence of anti-topoisomerase antibodies and the interaction of MMF with follow-up time.

CONCLUSION

Nailfold capillary density improved over time in a substantial proportion of SSc patients. MMF treatment had a positive impact on the evolution of capillary density in these patients. SSc autoantibody phenotype may affect the capillary density development. The data support previous hypotheses that early immunosuppression may favourably affect vascular regeneration in SSc.

Anti-Ro52 positivity is associated with progressive interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis-an exploratory study

BACKGROUND

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most common cause of death in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Prognostic biomarkers are needed to identify SSc-ILD patients at risk for progressive pulmonary fibrosis. This study investigates autoantibodies measured in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and in serum in reference to the clinical disease course of SSc-ILD.

METHODS

Fifteen patients with new onset SSc-ILD underwent bronchoscopy. Autoantibody levels were analyzed using addressable laser bead immunoassay from BAL fluid and the serum. In a separate longitudinal cohort of 43 patients with early SSc-ILD, autoantibodies in serum were measured at baseline and pulmonary function tests were performed at least 2 times over the course of at least 2 or more years. Linear mixed effect models were created to investigate the relationship between specific autoantibodies and progression of SSc-ILD. Finally, lung tissue from healthy controls and from subjects with SSc was analyzed for the presence of the Ro52 antigen using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Among SSc-ILD patients who were positive for anti-Ro52 (N = 5), 3 (60%) had enrichment of anti-Ro52 in BAL fluid at a ratio exceeding 50x. In the longitudinal cohort, 10/43 patients (23%) were anti-Ro52 positive and 16/43 (37%) were anti-scl-70 positive. Presence of anti-Scl-70 was associated with a lower vital capacity (VC) at baseline (-12.6% predicted VC [%pVC]; 95%CI: -25.0, -0.29; p = 0.045), but was not significantly associated with loss of lung function over time (-1.07%pVC/year; 95%CI: -2.86, 0.71; p = 0.230). The presence of anti-Ro52 was significantly associated with the loss of lung function over time (-2.41%pVC/year; 95% CI: -4.28, -0.54; p = 0.013). Rate of loss of lung function increased linearly with increasing anti-Ro52 antibody levels (-0.03%pVC per arbitrary units/mL and year; 95%CI: -0.05, -0.02; p < 0.001). Immunohistochemical staining localized the Ro52 antigen to alveolar M2 macrophages in peripheral lung tissue both in subjects with and without SSc.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that antibodies targeting Ro52 are enriched in the lungs of patients with new-onset SSc-ILD, linking Ro52 autoimmunity to the pulmonary pathology of SSc. Clinical and immunohistochemical data corroborates these findings and suggest that anti-Ro52 may serve as a potential biomarker of progressive SSc-ILD.

Plasma TRAIL and ANXA1 in diagnosis and prognostication of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare vasculopathy, with high morbidity and mortality. The sensitivity of the current european society of cardiology/european respiratory society (ESC/ERS) risk assessment strategy may be improved by the addition of biomarkers related to PAH pathophysiology. Such plasma-borne biomarkers may also reduce time to diagnosis, if used as diagnostic tools in patients with unclear dyspnea, and in guiding treatment decisions. Plasma levels of proteins related to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), inflammation, and immunomodulation were analyzed with proximity extension assays in patients with PAH (n = 48), chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (PH; CTEPH, n = 20), PH due to left heart failure (HF) with preserved (HFpEF-PH, n = 33), or reduced (HFrEF-PH, n = 36) ejection fraction, HF without PH (n = 15), and healthy controls (n = 20). TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) were lower in PAH versus the other disease groups and controls (p < 0.0082). In receiver operating characteristics analysis, TRAIL levels identified PAH from the other disease groups with a sensitivity of 0.81 and a specificity of 0.53 [area under the curve: 0.70; (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.61-0.79; p < 0.0001)]. In both single (p < 0.05) and multivariable Cox regression models Annexin A1 (ANXA1) [hazard ratio, HR: 1.0367; (95% CI: 1.0059-1.0684; p = 0.044)] and carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 8 [HR: 1.0603; (95% CI: 1.0004-1.1237; p = 0.0483)] were significant predictors of survival, adjusted for age, female sex and ESC/ERS-initial risk score. Low plasma TRAIL predicted PAH among patients with dyspnea and differentiated PAH from those with CTEPH, HF with and without PH; and healthy controls. Higher plasma ANXA1 was associated with worse survival in PAH. Larger multicenter studies are encouraged to validate our findings.

Survival in Swedish patients with systemic sclerosis: a nationwide population-based matched cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To conduct the first-ever nationwide, population-based cohort study investigating survival patterns of all patients with incident SSc in Sweden compared with matched individuals from the Swedish general population.

METHODS

We used the National Patient Register to identify patients with incident SSc diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 and the Total Population Register to identify comparators (1:5), matched on sex, birth year and residential area. We followed them until death, emigration or the end of 2016. Follow-up of the general population comparators started the same date as their matched patients were included. We estimated all-cause survival using the Kaplan-Meier method, crude mortality rates and hazard ratios (HRs) using flexible parametric models.

RESULTS

We identified 1139 incident patients with SSc and 5613 matched comparators. The median follow-up was 5.0 years in patients with SSc and 6.0 years for their comparators. During follow-up, 268 deaths occurred in patients with SSc and 554 in their comparators. The 5-year survival was 79.8% and the 10-year survival was 67.7% among patients with SSc vs 92.9% and 84.8%, respectively, for the comparators (P < 0.0001). The mortality rate in patients with SSc was 42.1 per 1000 person-years and 15.8 per 1000 person-years in their comparators, corresponding to an HR of 3.7 (95% CI 2.9, 4.7) at the end of the first year of follow-up and 2.0 (95% CI 1.4, 2.8) at the end of the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Despite advances in understanding the disease and in diagnostic methods over the past decades, survival is still severely impacted in Swedish patients diagnosed with SSc between 2004 and 2015.

The validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Satisfaction with appearance scale for individuals with systemic sclerosis

Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) can lead to visible changes in appearance which could generate concerns among patients. Thus, valid questionnaires that capture these concerns are valuable to identify and communicate appearance concerns.

Objective

To determine aspects of the validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Satisfaction with Appearance scale for individuals with SSc (SWAP-Swe in SSc).

Methods

Content validity was assessed by interviews. In a cross-sectional design, construct validity was evaluated by comparing the self-reported questionnaire SWAP-Swe in SSc to the Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SSc HAQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), RAND-36, modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), disease duration and age using Spearman's rank correlations (r_s ). Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and corrected item-to-total correlations. Test-retest reliability was investigated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

Eleven patients and 10 health professionals participated in the assessment of content validity. For the other aspects of validity and reliability 134 patients (median age 62 years, women 81%, limited cutaneous SSc 75%) participated. Overall, the content validity was satisfactory. The SWAP-Swe in SSc correlated with SSc HAQ (HAQ-DI r_s  = 0.50, visual analogue scales r_s  = 0.24-0.41), PHQ-8 (r_s  = 0.46), RAND-36 (r_s  = -0.21 to -0.47), mRSS (r_s  = 0.28), disease duration (r_s  = -0.01) and age (r_s  = -0.15). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92, corrected item-to-total correlations ⩾ 0.45 and the ICC 0.82.

Conclusion

The SWAP-Swe in SSc showed satisfactory content validity, sufficient and good internal consistency and sufficient test-retest reliability. It was more strongly associated with self-reported questionnaires than with physician-assessed skin involvement and age, indicating that appearance concerns in SSc seem to be multidimensional as earlier reported. Our study contributes with a thorough investigation of validity and reliability including aspects that have not been investigated before. However, evaluation of more validity aspects of the SWAP-Swe in SSc is suggested.

Autoantibodies associated with systemic sclerosis in three autoimmune diseases imprinted by type I interferon gene dysregulation: a comparison across SLE, primary Sjögren's syndrome and systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

SLE, primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) are heterogeneous autoimmune diseases with a dysregulated type I interferon (IFN) system. The diseases often show overlapping clinical manifestations, which may result in diagnostic challenges. We asked to which extent SSc-associated autoantibodies are present in SLE and pSS, and whether these link to serum IFN-α, clinical phenotypes and sex. Samples with clinical data from patients with SSc and healthy blood donors (HBDs) served as controls. Finally, the diagnostic performance of SSc-associated autoantibodies was evaluated.

METHODS

Samples from well-characterised subjects with SLE (n=510), pSS (n=116), SSc (n=57) and HBDs (n=236) were analysed using a commercially available immunoassay (EuroLine Systemic Sclerosis Profile (IgG)). IFN-α was quantified by ELISA. Self-reported data on Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) were available.

RESULTS

With exceptions for anti-Ro52/SSA and anti-Th/To, SSc-associated autoantibodies were more frequent in SSc than in SLE, pSS and HBDs regardless of sex. IFN-α levels correlated with the number of positive SSc-associated autoantibodies (r=0.29, p<0.0001) and associated with Ro52/SSA positivity (p<0.0001). By using data from SLE, SSc and HBDs, RP was significantly associated with topoisomerase I, centromere protein (CENP)-B, RNA polymerase III 11 kDa, RNA polymerase III 155 kDa and PM-Scl100 whereas Ro52/SSA associated inversely with RP. In SLE, CENP-A was associated with immunological disorder, CENP-B with serositis and Ku with lupus nephritis. By combining analysis of ANA (immunofluorescence) with SSc-associated autoantibodies, the diagnostic sensitivity reached 98% and the specificity 33%.

CONCLUSIONS

The 13 specificities included in the EuroLine immunoassay are commonly detected in SSc, but they are also frequent among individuals with other diseases imprinted by type I IFNs. These findings are valuable when interpreting serological data on patients with suspected SSc, especially as patients may present with disease manifestations overlapping different rheumatological diseases. In SLE, we observed associations between manifestations and SSc-associated autoantibodies which have not previously been reported.

Atrioventricular plane displacement and regional function to predict outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension

To investigate if left and right atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) or regional contributions to SV are prognostic for outcome in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Seventy-one patients with PAH and 20 sex- and age-matched healthy controls underwent CMR. Myocardial borders and RV insertion points were defined at end diastole and end systole in cine short-axis stacks to compute biventricular volumes, lateral (SVlat%) and septal (SVsept%) contribution to stroke volume. Eight atrioventricular points were defined at end diastole and end systole in 2-, 3- and 4-chamber cine long-axis views for computation of AVPD and longitudinal contribution to stroke volume (SVlong%). Cut-off values for survival analysis were defined as two standard deviations above or below the mean of the controls. Outcome was defined as death or lung transplantation. Median follow-up time was 3.6 [IQR 3.7] years. Patients were 57 ± 19 years (65% women) and controls 58 ± 15 years (70% women). Biventricular AVPD, SVlong% and ejection fraction (EF) were lower and SVlat% was higher, while SVsept% was lower in PAH compared with controls. In PAH, transplantation-free survival was lower below cut-off for LV-AVPD (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.1, 95%CI 1.2-3.9, p = 0.02) and RV-AVPD (HR = 9.8, 95%CI 4.6-21.1, p = 0.005). In Cox regression analysis, lower LV-AVPD and RV-AVPD inferred lower transplantation-free survival (LV: HR = 1.16, p = 0.007; RV: HR = 1.11, p = 0.01; per mm decrease). LV-SVlong%, RV-SVlong%, LV-SVlat%, RV-SVlat%, SVsept% and LV- and RVEF did not affect outcome. Low left and right AVPD were associated with outcome in PAH, but regional contributions to stroke volume and EF were not.

Five year risk assessment and treatment patterns in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

AIMS

Repeated risk assessments and treatment patterns over long time are sparsely studied in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH); thus, we aimed to investigate changes in risk status and treatment patterns in incident patients with CTEPH over a 5 year period.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Descriptive and explorative study including 311 patients diagnosed with CTEPH 2008-2019 from the Swedish pulmonary hypertension registry, stratified by pulmonary endarterectomy surgery (PEA). Risk and PH-specific treatment were assessed in surgically treated (PEA) and medically treated (non-PEA) patients at diagnosis and up to 5 years follow-up. Data are presented as median (Q1-Q3), count or per cent. Prior to surgery, 63% in the PEA-group [n = 98, age 64 (51-71) years, 37% female] used PH-specific treatment and 20, 69, and 10% were assessed as low, intermediate or high risk, respectively. After 1 year post-surgery, 34% had no PH-specific treatment or follow-up visit registered despite being alive at 5 years. Of patients with a 5 year visit (n = 23), 46% were at low and 54% at intermediate risk, while 91% used PH-specific treatment. In the non-PEA group [n = 213, age 72 (65-77) years, 56% female], 28% were assessed as low, 61% as intermediate and 11% as high risk. All patients at high risk versus 50% at low risk used PH-specific treatment. The 1 year mortality was 6%, while the risk was unchanged in 57% of the patients; 14% improved from intermediate to low risk, and 1% from high to low risk. At 5 years, 27% had a registered visit and 28% had died. Of patients with a 5 year visit (n = 58), 38% were at low, 59% at intermediate and 1% at high risk, and 86% used PH-specific treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk status assessed pre-surgery did not foresee long-term post-PEA risk and pre-surgery PH-specific treatment did not foresee long-term post-PEA treatment. Medically treated CTEPH patients tend to remain at the same risk over time, suggesting a need for improved treatment strategies in this group.

Recommendations for the execution and reporting of skin ultrasound in systemic sclerosis: an international collaboration under the WSF skin ultrasound group

Objective

Ultrasound is a promising tool to foster much-needed improvement of skin assessment in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our aim was to develop evidence and expert opinion-based recommendations to promote the standardisation and harmonisation of technical execution and reporting of skin ultrasound studies in SSc.

Methods

A multidisciplinary task force of 16 members from five European countries and Japan was convened under the auspices of World Scleroderma Foundation. First, a systematic literature review (SLR) was performed. Then, each member proposed and formulated items to the overarching principles, recommendations and research agenda. Two rounds of mails exchange for consensus as well as an on-line meeting were performed to debate and refine the proposals. Two Delphi rounds of voting resulted in the final recommendations. Levels of evidence and strengths of recommendations were assigned, and task force members voted anonymously on the level of agreement with each of the items.

Results

Five overarching principles and seven recommendations were developed, based on an SLR and expert opinion, through consensus procedures. The overarching principles highlight the promising role of skin ultrasound in SSc assessment, the need for standardisation of technical aspects, sufficient training and adequate equipment. The recommendations provide standards for the execution and reporting of skin ultrasound in SSc. The research agenda includes the need for more research into unmet needs according to Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Algorithm requirements.

Conclusion

These are the first recommendations providing guidance on the execution and reporting of skin ultrasound in SSc patients, aiming at improving the interpretability, reliability and generalisability of skin ultrasound, thus consolidating its role in research and practice.

AB0714 Low bone mineral density and increased frequency of osteoporosis in patients with systemic sclerosis – A case-control study

Background

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and vascular involvement. Osteoporosis, as a comorbidity among patients with systemic sclerosis is poorly described.

Objectives

The aim of this cross sectional case-control study was to investigate bone mineral density and prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with systemic sclerosis compared to controls.

Methods

We included 211 patients, 182 females and 29 males, with systemic sclerosis and 506 controls, individually matched for age and sex and from the same catchment area in the very south of Sweden. All participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2) and T-score were measured in lumbar spine L1-L4 and total hip. For patients, disease characteristics were obtained. Students T-test, one-way ANOVA or Chi-square test were used to compare groups and Pearson´s test for correlations. Osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5) and osteopenia (T-score -1.0‒ -2.5) were defined using WHOs definitions.

Results

Systemic sclerosis patients had a mean (SD) age of 61.5 (13.5) and a mean (SD) disease duration from diagnosis of 9.2 (8.0) years. BMD (g/cm2) was significantly lower in patients compared to controls: Total hip (SD) 0.874 (0.147) vs 0.941 (0.145) (p=<0.0001); lumbar spine 1.089 (0.170) vs 1.126 (0.195) (p=0.015). Total hip mean T-score difference between groups was -0.52 (95 % CI -0.67‒ -0.34). The frequency of osteoporosis was 14.7% vs 9.7% and of osteopenia 51.2% vs 41.2% in patients compared with controls (p=0.001). Only one (3.4%) of the male patients had osteoporosis but nearly half of them had osteopenia. In patients, we evaluated vascular features. Those with telangiectasias had lower total hip BMD than those without (p=0.026). Among patients with early disease (<2 years), a higher total hip BMD was observed compared to patients with longer disease duration (p=0.001). The difference was not seen in spine BMD. Features of fibrosis were not associated with BMD, ie there were no difference in BMD between patients with diffuse or limited disease or antibody status.

Conclusion

Patients with systemic sclerosis have lower BMD and osteoporosis is more frequent than among controls matched for age and sex.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Disease Features and Gastrointestinal Microbial Composition in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis from Two Independent Cohorts

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to examine alterations in gastrointestinal (GI) microbial composition in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to investigate the relationship between SSc features and GI microbiota using two independent, international cohorts.

METHODS

Prospective patients with SSc from Lund University (LU), Sweden, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), United States, and control subjects provided stool specimens for 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Alpha and beta diversity analyses were performed. Multivariate negative binomial models identified differentially abundant genera between groups.

RESULTS

Patients from LU with SSc (n = 106) with recent SSc diagnosis (median disease duration 2.0 years) had lower abundance of commensal genera (eg, Faecalibacterium) and higher abundance of pathobiont genera (eg, Desulfovibrio) than LU-controls (n = 85). Patients from UCLA with SSc (n = 71) had a similar prevalence of females, a similar body mass index, and similar age but an increased disease duration (median 7.1 years) compared with patients from LU with SSc. Factors associated with beta diversity in patients with SSc from both LU and UCLA included disease duration (P = 0.0016), interstitial lung disease (P = 0.003), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (P = 0.002), and immunosuppression use (P = 0.014). In multivariable analysis, the UCLA-SSc cohort had higher abundance of specific pathobiont genera (eg, Streptococcus) compared with the LU-SSc cohort.

CONCLUSION

Enrichments and depletions in certain microbial genera were observed in patients recently diagnosed with SSc, suggesting that dysbiosis is present in early SSc. Specific disease features were independently associated with fecal microbial composition in both cohorts. After controlling for these factors, the abundance of several pathobiont bacteria differed between the cohorts, suggesting that environmental factors, along with disease manifestations, should be considered in future SSc studies.

Incidence and prevalence of systemic sclerosis in Sweden, 2004-2015, a register-based study

OBJECTIVES

we aim to present an in-depth report of the incidence and prevalence of systemic sclerosis (SSc) in Sweden in a nation-wide register-based study covering the entire Swedish population METHODS: each individual residing in Sweden is given a unique personal identity number. We linked the National Patient Register and the Total Population Register to identify 1) patients with prevalent SSc on 2015-12-31 and 2) patients with incident SSc during the time period 2004-2015 based on ICD-10 codes. We estimated prevalence and incidence overall and stratified on age, sex, and county.

RESULTS

we identified 1774 prevalent cases, median age was 65 years (IQR 19.2) and 84% were women. The point prevalence estimate was 22.7 per 100,000 (95%CI 13.3-32.0). 1139 individuals were newly diagnosed with SSc during 2004-2015 with a median age of 60 years (IQR 20.6) and 80% were women. The mean standardized incidence was 11.9 per 1,000,000 person-years (95%CI 5.1-18.7). The annual incidence remained stable over the study period. Women had five times higher incidence and prevalence than men. The highest prevalence stratified by age strata was observed in the group aged 70-79.

CONCLUSION

SSc incidence and prevalence in Sweden are comparable to estimates from southern Europe, as opposed to the previous assumption of lower occurrence in northern Europe. We further observe that SSc incidence has been rather constant throughout recent years in Sweden with no obvious increase.

N-Formyl Methionine Peptide-Mediated Neutrophil Activation in Systemic Sclerosis

Exaggerated neutrophil activation and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are reported in systemic sclerosis (SSc) but its involvement in SSc pathogenesis is not clear. In the present study we assessed markers of neutrophil activation and NET formation in SSc patients in relation to markers of inflammation and disease phenotype. Factors promoting neutrophil activation in SSc remain largely unknown. Among the neutrophil activating factors, mitochondrial-derived N-formyl methionine (fMet) has been reported in several autoinflammatory conditions. The aim of the current study is to assess whether SSc patients have elevated levels of fMet and the role of fMet in neutrophil-mediated inflammation on SSc pathogenesis. Markers of neutrophil activation (calprotectin, NETs) and levels of fMet were analyzed in plasma from two SSc cohorts (n=80 and n=20, respectively) using ELISA. Neutrophil activation assays were performed in presence or absence of formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) inhibitor cyclosporin H. Elevated levels of calprotectin and NETs were observed in SSc patients as compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001) associating with SSc clinical disease characteristics. Further, SSc patients had elevated levels of circulating fMet as compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001). Consistent with a role for fMet-mediated neutrophil activation, fMet levels correlated with levels of calprotectin and NETs (r=0.34, p=0.002; r=0.29, p<0.01 respectively). Additionally, plasma samples from SSc patients with high levels of fMet induced de novo neutrophil activation through FPR1-dependent mechanisms. Our data for the first time implicates an important role for the mitochondrial component fMet in promoting neutrophil-mediated inflammation in SSc.

Ultrasound and elastography in the assessment of skin involvement in systemic sclerosis: A systematic literature review focusing on validation and standardization - WSF Skin Ultrasound Group

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the published evidence in the literature on the role of ultrasound and elastography to assess skin involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

METHODS

A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed within the "Skin Ultrasound Working Group" of the World Scleroderma Foundation, according to the Cochrane Handbook. A search was conducted in Pubmed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases from 1/1/1979 to 31/5/2021, using the participants, intervention, comparator and outcomes (PICO) framework. Only full-text articles involving adults, reported in any language, assessing ultrasound to quantify skin pathology in SSc patients. Two reviewers performed the assessment of risk of bias, data extraction and synthesis, independently.

RESULTS

Forty-six studies out of 3248 references evaluating skin ultrasound and elastography domains were included. B-mode ultrasound was used in 30 studies (65.2%), elastography in nine (19.6%), and both methods in seven (15.2%). The ultrasound outcome measure domains reported were thickness (57.8%) and echogenicity (17.2%); the elastography domain was stiffness (25%). Methods used for image acquisition and analysis were remarkably heterogeneous and frequently under-reported, precluding data synthesis across studies. The same applies to contextual factors and feasibility. Our data syntheses indicated evidence of good reliability and convergent validity for ultrasound thickness evaluation against mRSS and skin histological findings. Stiffness and echogenicity have limited evidence for validity against histological findings. Evidence for sensitivity to change, test-retest reliability, clinical trial discrimination or thresholds of meaning is limited or absent for reported ultrasound domains.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound is a valid and reliable tool for skin thickness measurement in SSc but there are significant knowledge gaps regarding skin echogenicity assessment by ultrasound and skin stiffness evaluation by elastography in terms of feasibility, validity and discrimination. Standardization of image acquisition and analysis is needed to foster progress.

Plasma matrix metalloproteinase 2 is associated with severity and mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life‐threatening disease characterized by vasoconstriction and remodeling of the pulmonary vessels. Risk stratification in PAH could potentially be improved by including novel biomarkers related to PAH pathobiology. We aimed to investigate the relationship between extracellular matrix (ECM)‐related proteins, survival, and European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) risk stratification scores in patients with PAH. Plasma samples and hemodynamics were collected from PAH patients during right heart catheterizations at diagnosis (n = 48) and early follow‐up, after treatment initiation (n = 33). Plasma levels of 14 ECM‐related proteins, with altered levels in PAH compared to healthy controls, were analyzed with proximity extension assays, and related to hemodynamics, transplant‐free survival time, and ESC/ERS risk score. Glypican‐1 levels were higher before versus after treatment initiation (p = 0.048). PAH patients with high plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) ‐2, MMP‐7, MMP‐9, MMP‐12, perlecan, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 4 (TIMP‐4) at baseline, had worse transplant‐free survival (p < 0.03) than patients with low levels. Hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was for MMP‐2 1.126 (1.011–1.255), perlecan 1.0099 (1.0004–1.0196), and TIMP‐4 1.037 (1.003–1.071) in age and sex‐adjusted Cox‐regression model. MMP‐2 correlated with ESC/ERS risk scores (r_s = 0.34, p = 0.019), mean right atrial pressure (r_s = 0.44, p = 0.002), NT‐proBNP (r_s = 0.49, p ≤ 0.001), and six‐minute walking distance (r_s = −0.34, p = 0.02). The present study indicates that high levels of MMP‐2, perlecan, and TIMP‐4 are associated with poor survival in PAH. High plasma MMP‐2, correlated with poor prognosis in PAH. Further validation in larger studies is needed to better determine this association.

Identifying unmet needs in SSc-ILD by semi-qualitative in-depth interviews

OBJECTIVES

Interstitial lung disease is frequent in SSc (SSc-ILD) and associates with significantly reduced quality of life. Here we aimed to analyse patient pathways, and experiences of patients and healthcare providers (HCPs) in order to identify unmet needs in the management of SSc-ILD patients.

METHODS

Semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted in eight European countries looked at HCP (n = 95) and patient perspectives (n = 47) using two sets of 70 research questions. Pre-diagnostic, diagnostic and post-diagnostic phases of the patient pathway were systematically explored.

RESULTS

(i) In the pre-diagnostic phase several gaps were identified by HCPs and patients in all participating countries: limited disease knowledge among primary care physicians and specialists, lack of accurate patient information, and delayed and/or inappropriate referral. (ii) The diagnostic phase is in most countries coordinated by rheumatologists, who are also the main point of care. Depending on the local health system, organization of multidisciplinary collaboration varies. HCPs issued lack of national guidelines, while patients stated difficulties obtaining disease-related information. (iii) In the post-diagnostic phase, HCPs and patients indicated lack of curative treatment, specialized nurses, and paramedical  and psychological support. Patients and caregivers additionally expressed the need for clear information on SSc-ILD.

CONCLUSION

Lack of disease specific knowledge, gaps in national healthcare systems and insufficient information and support for patients and caregivers were identified as unmet needs to ensure timely diagnosis, provide better patient management and to improve quality of life in SSc-ILD patients.

Development and validation of a patient-reported outcome measure for systemic sclerosis: the EULAR Systemic Sclerosis Impact of Disease (ScleroID) questionnaire

OBJECTIVES

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are important for clinical practice and research. Given the high unmet need, our aim was to develop a comprehensive PROM for systemic sclerosis (SSc), jointly with patient experts.

METHODS

This European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)-endorsed project involved 11 European SSc centres. Relevant health dimensions were chosen and prioritised by patients. The resulting Systemic Sclerosis Impact of Disease (ScleroID) questionnaire was subsequently weighted and validated by Outcome Measures in Rheumatology criteria in an observational cohort study, cross-sectionally and longitudinally. As comparators, SSc-Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), EuroQol Five Dimensional (EQ-5D), Short Form-36 (SF-36) were included.

RESULTS

Initially, 17 health dimensions were selected and prioritised. The top 10 health dimensions were selected for the ScleroID questionnaire. Importantly, Raynaud's phenomenon, impaired hand function, pain and fatigue had the highest patient-reported disease impact. The validation cohort study included 472 patients with a baseline visit, from which 109 had a test-retest reliability visit and 113 had a follow-up visit (85% female, 38% diffuse SSc, mean age 58 years, mean disease duration 9 years). The total ScleroID score showed strong Pearson correlation coefficients with comparators (SSc-HAQ, 0.73; Patient's global assessment, Visual Analogue Scale 0.77; HAQ-Disability Index, 0.62; SF-36 physical score, -0.62; each p<0.001). The internal consistency was strong: Cronbach's alpha was 0.87, similar to SSc-HAQ (0.88) and higher than EQ-5D (0.77). The ScleroID had excellent reliability and good sensitivity to change, superior to all comparators (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.84; standardised response mean 0.57).

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed and validated the EULAR ScleroID, which is a novel, brief, disease-specific, patient-derived, disease impact PROM, suitable for research and clinical use in SSc.

Atrioventricular plane displacement and regional contribution to stroke volume to predict outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) exhibit high mortality, partially related to right heart failure. Right ventricular (RV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) can be measured accurately with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), but EF is a crude measure of cardiac function. Additional methods for risk assessment and prognosis are of value. Stroke volume (SV) is generated by longitudinal, lateral and septal myocardial contraction. Longitudinal contribution to SV (SVlong%) generated from the atrioventricular displacement (AVPD) is the major contributor to SV in both the left ventricle (LV) and RV. AVPD in both sides and LVSVlong% are lower in patients with PAH compared to controls. However, it is unknown if altered AVPD or regional contributions to SV are prognostic in patients with PAH. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate if AVPD, longitudinal, lateral or septal contribution to LVSV and RVSV are associated with death or lung transplantation in patients with PAH.

Purpose

To evaluate if biventricular AVPD, and regional contributions to SV are associated with outcome in patients with PAH.

Methods

Seventy-one patients with PAH and 20 sex and age-matched healthy controls underwent CMR. Endocardial and epicardial borders and RV insertion points were defined in end diastole and end systole in cine short-axis stacks to compute biventricular volumes, SVlat% and SVsept%. Eight atrioventricular points were defined in end diastole and end systole in 2-, 3- and 4-chamber cine long-axis views, for computation of AVPD and SVlong%. Cut-off values for survival analysis were defined as above or below mean ± 2 standard deviations from the healthy controls. Outcome was defined as death or lung-transplantation.

Results

Median follow-up time was 3.6 [IQR 3.7] years. AVPD, SVlong%, SVlat% in both ventricles and SVsept% were altered in PAH compared to controls. Transplantation-free survival was lower with values below cut-off for LV-AVPD (hazard ratio (HR)=2.1, 95% CI: 1.2–3.9, p=0.02) and RV-AVPD (HR=9.8, 95% CI: 4.6–21.1, p=0.005) (fig 1). In cox regression analysis, decreased LV-AVPD and RV-AVPD inferred lower transplantation-free survival (LV: HR=1.16 per mm decrease, p=0.007; RV: HR=1.11 per mm decrease, p=0.01) (table 1). LVEF, RVEF, LV-SVlong%, RV-SVlong%, LV-SVlat%, RV-SVlat% or SVsept% did not affect outcome (table 1).

Conclusions

Decreased left and right AVDP were associated with decreased transplantation-free survival in patients with PAH. There were no associations between ejection fraction, longitudinal, lateral or septal contribution to stroke volume.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Skåne University Hospital, Region of Skåne Southern Healthcare Region of Sweden

Early risk prediction in idiopathic versus connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: call for a refined assessment

Despite systematic screening and improved treatment strategies, the prognosis remains worse in patients with connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) compared to patients with idiopathic/hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We aimed to investigate differences in clinical characteristics, outcome and performance of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/ European Respiratory Society (ERS) risk stratification tool in these patient groups.  This retrospective analysis included incident patients with CTD-PAH (n=197, of which 64 had interstitial lung disease, ILD) or IPAH (n=305) enrolled in the Swedish PAH Register (SPAHR) 2008-2019. Patients were classified as low, intermediate or high risk at baseline, according to the "SPAHR-equation". One-year survival, stratified by type of PAH, was investigated by Cox proportional regression.  At baseline, CTD-PAH patients had lower diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and lower haemoglobin but, at the same time, lower N-terminal prohormone-brain natriuretic peptide, longer 6 min walk distance, better haemodynamics and more often a low-risk profile. No difference in age, World Health Organisation functional class (WHO-FC) or renal function between groups was found. One-year survival rates were 75, 82 and 83% in patients with CTD-PAH with ILD, CTD-PAH without ILD and IPAH, respectively. The 1-year mortality rates for low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups in the whole cohort were 0, 18 and 34% (p<0.001), respectively. Corresponding percentages for CTD-PAH with ILD, CTD-PAH without ILD and IPAH patients were: 0, 26, 67% (p=0.008); 0, 19, 39% (p=0.004); and 0, 16, 29% (p=0.001), respectively.  The ESC/ERS risk assessment tool accurately identified low-risk patients but underestimated the 1-year mortality rate of CTD-PAH and IPAH patients assessed as having intermediate risk at diagnosis.

An open-label study to evaluate biomarkers and safety in systemic sclerosis patients treated with paquinimod

Objectives

To evaluate the changes in disease-related biomarkers and safety of paquinimod, an oral immunomodulatory compound, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods

In this open-label, single-arm, multicenter study, SSc patients with a rapidly progressive disease received paquinimod for 8 weeks. Blood and skin biopsies were collected at baseline, during treatment, and at follow-up for the analyses of type I interferon (IFN) activity, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and the number of myofibroblasts. The safety of paquinimod was evaluated throughout the study.

Results

Nine SSc patients were enrolled and completed the study treatment with paquinimod at 3 mg/day for 8 weeks. After the treatment, a reduction of type I IFN activity in the plasma from one patient with elevated baseline IFN activity was recorded. A trend towards reduced IFN activity in the skin after treatment was also observed in patients. The serum level of CCL2 was reduced in 7 of 9 patients after paquinimod treatment. There was a median reduction of 10% of the number of myofibroblasts in skin biopsies at week 8 compared to baseline. No change in modified Rodnan skin score and quality of life was detected in the study. Reported adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate and expected with the most common being arthralgia (n = 3) and headache (n = 3), and C-reactive protein (CRP) increase.

Conclusions

Analysis of biomarkers before and after treatment suggest reduced type I IFN activity and reduced number of myofibroblasts in lesional skin. Paquinimod was overall well tolerated with mild to moderate and expected AEs.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01487551. Registered on 7 September 2011

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-021-02573-0.