Overall and site-specific cancer before and after diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: A nationwide study 2002-2016

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) and cancer before and after IIM diagnosis.

METHODS

We used prospectively collected nationwide register data to design a case-control study to investigate the occurrence of cancer before IIM, and a cohort study to investigate the occurrence of cancer after IIM. Patients diagnosed with IIM between 2002 and 2016 in Sweden, were compared to the general population. The association between cancer and IIM was estimated before and after IIM diagnosis via logistic regression and Cox regression models, respectively.

RESULTS

We included 1419 patients with IIM and 7045 individuals from the general population. The overall odds of cancer before IIM diagnosis were increased in IIM compared to the general population, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-1.8. This association was also noted after IIM diagnosis, adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.7 (95% CI 1.4-2.0), or one additional cancer in every 125 IIM patients per year. Colorectal (AOR 2.1), lung (AOR 5.4) and ovarian (AOR 7.0) cancers were associated with IIM before diagnosis. Oropharyngeal (AHR 9.1) and cervical (AHR 3.8) cancers, malignant melanoma (AHR 3.2) and non-melanoma skin cancer (AHR 3.1) were associated with IIM after diagnosis. Adenocarcinomas were associated with dermatomyositis before diagnosis and squamous cell cancers after IIM diagnosis. Lymphatic hematopoietic cancers were associated with IIM both before and after diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The cancer types that occur before IIM diagnosis differ from the ones that occur after diagnosis. This may have an impact on screening decisions for IIM.

Factors associated with treatment response in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. A registry-based study

Objective

To identify predictors of response to immunosuppressive therapy after 1 year, with a focus on autoantibodies, in patients newly diagnosed with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) followed longitudinally in an electronic registry.

Methods

We assessed the association between autoantibody‐defined groups and improvement according to American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2016 response criteria.

Results

We identified 156 patients; of those, 111 (71%) were positive for any autoantibody tested, 90% received glucocorticoid treatment at baseline, and 78% received immunosuppressive drugs at some follow‐up point. After 1 year from the index date, the overall median improvement score was 27.5 (interquartile range 10–51). No differences were observed in the total improvement score between the autoantibody‐defined groups. Overall, 62% of patients (n = 96) showed a minimal response, 38% (n = 60) achieved a moderate response, and 19% (n = 30) achieved a major response. Regarding the different levels of response, dermatomyositis‐specific autoantibodies were associated with a moderate response versus the seronegative group (reference), odds ratio 4.12 (95% confidence interval 1.2–16.5). In addition, dysphagia, time from symptom onset to diagnosis, and initial glucocorticoid dose were significant predictors of response after 1 year of follow‐up.

Conclusion

Patients with DM‐specific autoantibodies achieved better levels of response compared to other autoantibody‐defined groups. Dysphagia, a shorter time span from symptom onset to diagnosis, and intensive initial immunosuppressive treatment were associated with a higher response rate after 1 year of pharmacologic treatment from the index date, regardless of autoantibody status.

Assessing the content validity of patient-reported outcome measures in adult myositis: A report from the OMERACT myositis working group

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the content validity of several patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM).

METHODS

Seven individual PROM instruments were selected by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Myositis Working Group relating to the following domains: pain, fatigue, physical function and physical activity. Twenty patients from the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center were selected for one-on-one face-to-face or phone interviews for cognitive interviewing of individual PROMs to assess comprehension and content validity. Additionally, patients were asked if they thought muscle symptoms, an area originally identified in qualitative studies, were encapsulated by the other four domains.

RESULTS

The majority of patients (>70%) felt that each of the instruments was clear, easy to read and understand, and could be used for assessment of its domain. Two-thirds (66%) of patients felt that 'muscle symptoms' were captured by the other domains.

CONCLUSIONS

We provided evidence to support adequate content validity for several PROMs. Further research is needed to determine whether 'muscle symptoms' warrant a separate domain.

Reproductive Pattern in Women with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy: A Population-based Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the reproductive pattern of women with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) compared to the general population.

METHODS

Population-based, nationwide registers were used to identify offspring of women with IIM and comparators.

RESULTS

Women with IIM in general had similar reproductive patterns as the comparators, whereas in those diagnosed between 26 and 45 years of age, there was an overall trend for fewer children as well as a higher proportion of nulliparity and a lower fertility rate in women with dermatomyositis than their comparators.

CONCLUSION

Reproductive attention should be paid to patients with IIM diagnosed during the childbearing period.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Chemical Probes in Human Whole Blood: Focus on Prostaglandin E2 Production

We screened 57 chemical probes, high-quality tool compounds, and relevant clinically used drugs to investigate their effect on pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion in human whole blood. Freshly drawn blood from healthy volunteers and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or dermatomyositis was incubated with compounds at 0.1 or 1 µM and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 µg/ml) to induce a pro-inflammatory condition. Plasma was collected after 24 h for lipid profiling using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and IL-8 quantification using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Each compound was tested in at least four donors at one concentration based on prior knowledge of binding affinities and in vitro activity. Our screening suggested that PD0325901 (MEK-1/2 inhibitor), trametinib (MEK-1/2 inhibitor), and selumetinib (MEK-1 inhibitor) decreased while tofacitinib (JAK inhibitor) increased PGE2 production. These findings were validated by concentration-response experiment in two donors. Moreover, the tested MEK inhibitors decreased thromboxane B2 (TXB2) production and IL-8 secretion. We also investigated the lysophophatidylcholine (LPC) profile in plasma from treated whole blood as these lipids are potentially important mediators in inflammation, and we did not observe any changes in LPC profiles. Collectively, we deployed a semi-high throughput and robust methodology to investigate anti-inflammatory properties of new chemical probes.

Neutrophil dysregulation is pathogenic in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are characterized by muscle inflammation and weakness, myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs), and extramuscular organ damage. The role of neutrophil dysregulation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in IIM is unclear. We assessed whether pathogenic neutrophil subsets (low-density granulocytes [LDGs]) and NETs were elevated in IIM, associated with clinical presentation and MSAs, and their effect on skeletal myoblasts and myotubes. Circulating NETs and LDGs were quantified and correlated with clinical measures. Specific MSAs were tested for their ability to induce NETs. NETs and neutrophil gene expression were measured in IIM biopsies. Whether NETs damage skeletal myoblasts and myotubes was tested. Circulating LDGs and NETs were increased in IIM. IIM LDGs had an enhanced ability to form NETs. LDGs and NETs correlated with IIM disease activity and muscle damage. The serum MSA anti-MDA5 correlated with circulating and tissue NETs and directly enhanced NET formation. An enhanced neutrophil gene signature was present in IIM muscle and associated with muscle injury and tissue IFN gene signatures. IIM NETs decreased the viability of myotubes in a citrullinated histone-dependent manner. Dysregulated neutrophil pathways may play pathogenic roles in IIM through their ability to directly injure muscle cells and other affected tissues.

Features of repeated muscle biopsies and phenotypes of monocytes in paired blood samples and clinical long-term response to treatment in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES

In a pilot study we aimed to identify biomarkers in repeated muscle biopsies and paired blood samples, taken before and after conventional immunosuppressive therapy, in order to predict long-term therapeutic response in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM).

METHODS

Muscle biopsies were selected from 13 new onset patients, six responders and seven non-responders. Repeated muscle biopsies after a median of 11 months follow-up were available from 9 patients and paired peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 5 patients. Treatment response after 3 years was defined by MMT-8 measuring muscle strength and the ACR/EULAR 2016 improvement criteria. Frozen biopsy sections were immunohistochemically stained for expression of CD3, CD66b, IL-15, CD68, CD163 and myosin heavy chain neonatal (MHCn). PBMCs were analysed by flow cytometry for monocyte phenotypes (CD14, CD16, CD68, CX3CR1, and CCR2).

RESULTS

Before treatment there were no significant differences in any clinical or muscle biopsy variables or monocyte subsets between responders and non-responders. MMT-8 was significantly higher compared to baseline in the responders at 3-year follow-up. In responders the expression of CD68 in the repeated biopsies was significantly lower compared to non-responders (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline biopsy, monocyte profile or clinical data did not predict long-term treatment response, but in the repeated biopsy within 1 year of immunosuppressive treatment, the lower number of macrophages (CD68+) seemed to predict a more favourable long-term clinical response with regard to improved muscle strength.

Anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1 gamma antibodies in cancer-associated myositis: a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate anti-TIF1-γ antibodies in longitudinally followed patients with myositis and cancer.

METHODS

Serum levels of anti-TIF1-γ antibodies at different time-points in relation to myositis and cancer diagnosis were analysed by ELISA in 79 patients from a Swedish cohort with polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) and a Spanish cohort restricted to DM patients. Anti-TIF1-γ positive and negative patients were compared with Fisher's exact test, student t-tests and Wilcoxon test.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients (17 from cohort 1 and 19 from cohort 2) with myositis and cancer were anti-TIF1-γ antibody positive; all had DM. In 88% of anti-TIF1-γ positive patients, cancer was diagnosed within 3 years from DM diagnosis compared to 63% in anti-TIF1-γ negative. Four DM patients, anti-TIF1-γ positive at cancer diagnosis had positive serum samples even antedating cancer diagnosis up to five years. In cohort 1 the median (interquartile range) antibody level was higher, 2.13 au (1.82-2.15), in the seven patients who died <1 year after cancer diagnosis, compared to the seven that died >1 year after cancer diagnosis, 1.34 au (0.92-1.59), (p=0.004). Three patients were still alive and in remission from cancer and DM 14-16 years after cancer treatment of whom two became negative for anti-TIF1-γ antibodies. In the second cohort remission of cancer coincided with remission of DM and low or negative serum levels of autoantibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-TIF1-γ antibodies may be detected before clinical symptoms of cancer and may disappear after successful treatment of cancer with remission of DM supporting DM being a paramalignant phenomenon.

Expression of interleukin-18 in muscle tissue of patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis and effects of conventional immunosuppressive treatment

Objectives

To investigate the expression of IL-18 in symptomatic and asymptomatic muscle tissues of patients with PM and DM and the effects of conventional immunosuppressive treatment on such expression.

Methods

Two cohorts of patients were included in this study. The first cohort consisted of 10 new-onset myositis patients. IL-18 expression was compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic muscle biopsies that were taken prior to treatment. The second cohort consisted of another 10 patients with repeated muscle biopsies before and after 8 months with conventional immunosuppressive treatment. Using immunohistochemistry, IL-18 expression in muscle tissues was compared before and after treatment. Biopsies from seven healthy individuals were included as controls.

Results

IL-18 expression was predominantly localized to inflammatory cells and capillaries in patients and mostly to capillaries in healthy controls. Total IL-18 expression in muscle tissues from the new-onset patients, at both symptomatic and asymptomatic sites, was significantly higher compared with healthy controls (P = 0.007 and P = 0.002) with no statistical difference in appearances between symptomatic and asymptomatic sites. The number of IL-18 positive capillaries was not different among symptomatic, asymptomatic and healthy muscles. Total IL-18 expression appeared lower in biopsies from patients receiving and improving with immunosuppressive treatment, particularly the number of IL-18 positive inflammatory cells but not the number of IL-18 positive capillaries, which was consistent with significantly decreased expression of CD68+ macrophages (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

IL-18 is highly expressed in muscle tissue in the context of inflammatory myopathies and based on its plausible effector functions could provide a novel therapeutic target in future.

Venous Thromboembolic Events in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy: Occurrence and Relation to Disease Onset

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), to compare the incidence of VTEs in IIM to the incidence in the general population, and to identify patient categories at high risk and investigate the development of risk in relation to a diagnosis of IIM.

METHODS

Using nationwide registers, we identified a cohort of 440 individuals with newly diagnosed IIM and 4,459 individuals from the general population. Patients with IIM were diagnosed between 2005 and 2011. The start of follow-up was the date of IIM diagnosis and the corresponding date in the general population. VTE was defined as hospital care with an International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision code indicating VTE, with a filled prescription for anticoagulant medication. Incidence rates including 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the risk of VTE in patients with IIM to the risk in the general population.

RESULTS

The incidence of VTEs was higher in patients with IIM than in the general population and was highest in patients who previously had cancer, who were ages >71 years when diagnosed with IIM, or who had dermatomyositis. The overall hazard ratio (HR) of VTE comparing the IIM cohort to the general population was 7.81 (95% CI 4.74, 12.85). The HR was highest the first year after IIM diagnosis, with HR 26.6 (95% CI 10.4, 68.0).

CONCLUSION

Patients with IIM are at increased risk of VTE compared to the general population, especially during the first year after the diagnosis. Preventive measures should be focused on patients who previously have had cancer, who are ages >71 years when diagnosed, or who have dermatomyositis.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and role of harakiri in the pathogenesis of myositis

The etiology of myositis is unknown. Although attempts to identify viruses in myositis skeletal muscle have failed, several studies have identified the presence of a viral signature in myositis patients. Here we postulate that in individuals with susceptible genetic backgrounds, viral infection alters the epigenome to activate the pathological pathways leading to disease onset. To identify epigenetic changes, methylation profiling of Coxsackie B infected human myotubes and muscle biopsies from polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) patients were compared to changes in global transcript expression induced by in vitro Coxsackie B infection. Gene and protein expression analysis and live cell imaging were performed to examine the mechanisms. Analysis of methylation and gene expression changes identified that a mitochondria-localized activator of apoptosis - harakiri (HRK) - is upregulated in myositis skeletal muscle cells. Muscle cells with higher HRK expression have reduced mitochondrial potential and poor ability to repair from injury as compared to controls. In cells from myositis patient toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) activates and sustains high HRK expression. Forced over expression of HRK in healthy muscle cells is sufficient to compromise their membrane repair ability. Endurance exercise that is associated with improved muscle and mitochondrial function in PM and DM patients decreased TLR7 and HRK expression identifying these as therapeutic targets. Increased HRK and TLR7 expression causes mitochondrial damage leading to poor myofiber repair, myofiber death and muscle weakness in myositis patients and exercise induced reduction of HRK and TLR7 expression in patients is associated with disease amelioration. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Focused HLA analysis in Caucasians with myositis identifies significant associations with autoantibody subgroups

Objectives

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a spectrum of rare autoimmune diseases characterised clinically by muscle weakness and heterogeneous systemic organ involvement. The strongest genetic risk is within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Since autoantibody presence defines specific clinical subgroups of IIM, we aimed to correlate serotype and genotype, to identify novel risk variants in the MHC region that co-occur with IIM autoantibodies.

Methods

We collected available autoantibody data in our cohort of 2582 Caucasian patients with IIM. High resolution human leucocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and corresponding amino acid sequences were imputed using SNP2HLA from existing genotyping data and tested for association with 12 autoantibody subgroups.

Results

We report associations with eight autoantibodies reaching our study-wide significance level of p<2.9×10^–5. Associations with the 8.1 ancestral haplotype were found with anti-Jo-1 (HLA-B*08:01, p=2.28×10^–53 and HLA-DRB1*03:01, p=3.25×10^–9), anti-PM/Scl (HLA-DQB1*02:01, p=1.47×10^–26) and anti-cN1A autoantibodies (HLA-DRB1*03:01, p=1.40×10^–11). Associations independent of this haplotype were found with anti-Mi-2 (HLA-DRB1*07:01, p=4.92×10^–13) and anti-HMGCR autoantibodies (HLA-DRB1*11, p=5.09×10^–6). Amino acid positions may be more strongly associated than classical HLA associations; for example with anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies and position 74 of HLA-DRB1 (p=3.47×10^–64) and position 9 of HLA-B (p=7.03×10^–11). We report novel genetic associations with HLA-DQB1 anti-TIF1 autoantibodies and identify haplotypes that may differ between adult-onset and juvenile-onset patients with these autoantibodies.

Conclusions

These findings provide new insights regarding the functional consequences of genetic polymorphisms within the MHC. As autoantibodies in IIM correlate with specific clinical features of disease, understanding genetic risk underlying development of autoantibody profiles has implications for future research.

Frequency, mutual exclusivity and clinical associations of myositis autoantibodies in a combined European cohort of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy patients

Objectives

To determine prevalence and co-existence of myositis specific autoantibodies (MSAs) and myositis associated autoantibodies (MAAs) and associated clinical characteristics in a large cohort of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) patients.

Methods

Adult patients with confirmed IIM recruited to the EuroMyositis registry (n = 1637) from four centres were investigated for the presence of MSAs/MAAs by radiolabelled-immunoprecipitation, with confirmation of anti-MDA5 and anti-NXP2 by ELISA. Clinical associations for each autoantibody were calculated for 1483 patients with a single or no known autoantibody by global linear regression modelling.

Results

MSAs/MAAs were found in 61.5% of patients, with 84.7% of autoantibody positive patients having a sole specificity, and only three cases (0.2%) having more than one MSA. The most frequently detected autoantibody was anti-Jo-1 (18.7%), with a further 21 specificities each found in 0.2–7.9% of patients. Autoantibodies to Mi-2, SAE, TIF1, NXP2, MDA5, PMScl and the non-Jo-1 tRNA-synthetases were strongly associated (p < 0.001) with cutaneous involvement. Anti-TIF1 and anti-Mi-2 positive patients had an increased risk of malignancy (OR 4.67 and 2.50 respectively), and anti-SRP patients had a greater likelihood of cardiac involvement (OR 4.15). Interstitial lung disease was strongly associated with the anti-tRNA synthetases, anti-MDA5, and anti-U1RNP/Sm. Overlap disease was strongly associated with anti-PMScl, anti-Ku, anti-U1RNP/Sm and anti-Ro60. Absence of MSA/MAA was negatively associated with extra-muscular manifestations.

Conclusions

Myositis autoantibodies are present in the majority of patients with IIM and identify distinct clinical subsets. Furthermore, MSAs are nearly always mutually exclusive endorsing their credentials as valuable disease biomarkers.

•

Myositis specific autoantibodies very rarely coexist in the one individual allowing endotypes to be more precisely defined.

•

The association of anti-TIF1 and cancer-associated myositis is confirmed with a cut-off age of over 58 years.

•

In a large combined European myositis cohort associations of anti-SRP with carditis and anti-Mi-2 with cancer have emerged.

•

Myositis associated autoantibodies are strongly associated with having myositis in association with another connective tissue disease.

Acute Coronary Syndrome in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: A Population-based Study

Objective.

Evidence suggests an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of ACS in an incident IIM cohort compared to the general Swedish population.

Methods.

A cohort of 655 individuals with incident IIM and 6813 general population comparators were identified from national registries. IIM subjects were diagnosed from 2002 to 2011. Followup started at IIM diagnosis and corresponding date in the general population. ACS, CV comorbidities, and CV risk factors were defined using International Classification of Diseases codes. Incidence rates including 95% CI were calculated. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the risk of ACS in patients with IIM and the general population. The competing risk of death was accounted for using competing risk regression models.

Results.

The incidence rate of ACS in IIM was higher than in the general population, particularly within the first year of diagnosis and in older individuals. The overall ACS incidence rate in IIM was 15.6 (95% CI 11.7–20.4) per 1000 person-years, with an HR of 2.4 (95% CI 1.8–3.2) compared with the general population. When accounting for the competing risk of death, the risk of ACS in IIM remained increased with a cumulative incidence of 7% at 5 years compared to 3.3% in the general population.

Conclusion.

IIM individuals are at higher risk of ACS, particularly within the first year after diagnosis.

OMERACT 2018 Modified Patient-reported Outcome Domain Core Set in the Life Impact Area for Adult Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies

OBJECTIVE

To present and vote on a myositis modified patient-reported outcome core domain set in the life impact area at the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 2018.

METHODS

Based on results from international focus groups and Delphi surveys, a draft core set was developed.

RESULTS

Domains muscle symptoms, fatigue, level of physical activity, and pain reached ≥ 70% consensus and were mandatory to assess in all trials. Domains lung, joint, and skin symptoms were mandatory in specific circumstances. This core set was endorsed by > 85% at OMERACT 2018.

CONCLUSION

We propose a life impact core set for patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and will proceed with instrument selections.

Enhanced ventricular-arterial coupling during a 2-year physical activity programme in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective substudy of the physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis 2010 trial

OBJECTIVE

To establish how guided physical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) without known cardiovascular disease affected vascular and cardiac function, and how these two entities were prospectively interconnected in this patient group.

METHODS

Prospective substudy of 29 participants in the Physical Activity in RA (PARA) 2010 trial. All subjects were examined at baseline, at year 1 and 2 with measures of pulse wave velocity and arterial augmentation index, as well as echocardiographic evaluation of diastolic parameters and ventricular-arterial coupling. Muscle strength and aerobic exercise capacity were assessed at baseline and yearly. All participants performed physiotherapist-guided aerobic and muscle strength exercise during 2 years and were reminded through SMS to report physical activity progress.

RESULTS

This cohort of patients with RA exhibited increased vascular stiffness despite normal blood pressure. At baseline, lower muscle strength was associated with increased vascular stiffness (β = 0.68; P = 0.004), whereas lower aerobic working capacity was associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (β = 0.85; P = 0.03). There was a significant positive correlation between vascular stiffness and diastolic dysfunction at baseline (R²  = 0.64) and for the changes in those parameters observed during 2 years of guided physical activity. Finally, a significant improvement in ventricular-arterial coupling was observed after exercise (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that although differentially associated with physical capacity parameters, improved vascular stiffness and improved diastolic dysfunction are interrelated, and that an optimization of the ventricular-arterial coupling may contribute to the beneficial effects of physical activity in patients with RA.

Long-term, health-enhancing physical activity is associated with reduction of pain but not pain sensitivity or improved exercise-induced hypoalgesia in persons with rheumatoid arthritis

Background

We aimed to evaluate the 1-year and 2-year outcome of a health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) support program on global pain, pressure pain sensitivity, and exercise-induced segmental and plurisegmental hypoalgesia (EIH) in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Thirty participants (27 women and 3 men) were recruited from a larger intervention cohort that engaged in strength training and moderate-intensity aerobic activity. Assessments were performed before the HEPA intervention and at 1-year and 2-year follow-ups. Global pain was assessed on a visual analogue scale (0–100). Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and suprathreshold pressure pain at rest corresponding to 4/10 (medium pain) (SP4) and 7/10 (strong pain) (SP7) on Borg CR 10 scale were assessed by algometry. In a subsample (n = 21), segmental and plurisegmental EIH were assessed during standardized submaximal static contraction (30% of the individual maximum), by algometry, alternately at the contracting right M. quadriceps and the resting left M. deltoideus.

Results

Global pain decreased from before the intervention to 2-year follow-up (median 11 to median 6, P = 0.040). PPTs and SP4 pressure pain at rest did not change from before the intervention to 2-year follow-up, while SP7 decreased from mean 647 kPa to mean 560 kPa (P = 0.006). Segmental EIH during static muscle contraction increased from the assessment before the intervention (from mean 1.02 to mean 1.42, P = 0.001), as did plurisegmental EIH (from mean 0.87 to mean 1.41, P <0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in segmental or plurisegmental EIH from before the intervention to 2-year follow-up.

Conclusion

Participation in a long-term HEPA support program was associated with reduced global pain, whereas pressure pain sensitivity at rest was not reduced and EIH did not change. Thus, our results do not favor the hypothesis that long-term HEPA reduces pain by improving descending pain inhibition in persons with RA.

Trial registration

ISRCTN25539102, ISRCTN registry, date assigned March 4, 2011. The trial was retrospectively registered.

Effect of CTLA4-Ig (abatacept) treatment on T cells and B cells in peripheral blood of patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis

We aimed to evaluate in vivo effects of abatacept on phenotypes of T and B cells in the circulation of myositis patients in a sub-study of the ARTEMIS trial. Twelve patients with paired frozen PBMCs before and after 6-month abatacept treatment were included in this sub-study where mass cytometry (CyTOF) was chosen as a technology to be tested for its utility in a real-life clinical immune monitoring setting. Using CyTOF, the peripheral T cell phenotypes demonstrated considerable variation over time and between individuals precluding the identification of treatment-specific changes. We therefore conclude that studies of patient cohorts displaying wide clinical heterogeneity using mass cytometry must be relatively large in order to be suited for discovery research and immune monitoring. Still, we did find some correlations with functional muscle outcome, namely positive correlations between the ratio of CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells (CD4/CD8) in peripheral blood samples both at baseline and after treatment with muscle endurance improvement as assessed by the functional index-2 (FI-2) test. Our data suggest that the CD4/CD8 ratio in circulation at time of active disease may be a predictor of treatment efficacy in myositis patients.

Perceptions of Patients, Caregivers, and Healthcare Providers of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: An International OMERACT Study

OBJECTIVE

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) that incorporate the patient perspective have not been well established in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). As part of our goal to develop IIM-specific PROM, the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Myositis special interest group sought to determine which aspects of disease and its effects are important to patients and healthcare providers (HCP).

METHODS

Based on a prior qualitative content analysis of focus groups, an initial list of 24 candidate domains was constructed. We subsequently conducted an international survey to identify the importance of each of the 24 domains to be assessed in clinical research. Patients with IIM, their caregivers, and HCP treating IIM completed the survey.

RESULTS

In this survey, a total of 638 respondents completed the survey, consisting of 510 patients, 101 HCP, and 27 caregivers from 48 countries. Overall, patients were more likely to rank "fatigue," "cognitive impact," and "difficulty sleeping" higher compared with HCP, who ranked "joint symptoms," "lung symptoms," and "dysphagia" higher. Both patients and providers rated muscle symptoms as their top domain. In general, patients from different countries were in agreement on which domains were most important. One notable exception was that patients from Sweden and the Netherlands ranked lung symptoms significantly higher compared to other countries including the United States and Australia (mean weighted rankings of 2.86 and 2.04 vs 0.76 and 0.80, respectively; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Substantial differences exist in how IIM is perceived by patients compared to HCP, with different domains prioritized. In contrast, patients' ratings across the world were largely similar.

Current Treatment for Myositis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review was to give an update on treatment modalities for patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, or shortly myositis, excluding the subgroup inclusion body myositis, based on a literature survey on therapies used in myositis. Few controlled trials have been performed in patients with myositis; therefore, we also included a summary of open-label trials, case series, and case reports.

RECENT FINDINGS

Glucocorticoid (GC) in high doses is still the first-line treatment of patients with myositis. There is a general recommendation to combine GCs with another immunosuppressive agent in the early phase of disease to better control disease activity and possibly to reduce the risk for GC-related side effects. Furthermore, combining pharmacological treatment with individualized and supervised exercise can be recommended based on evidence. There is some evidence for the effect of rituximab in patients with certain myositis-specific autoantibodies, whereas other biologic agents are currently being tested in clinical trials.

SUMMARY

Immunosuppressive treatment in combination with exercise is recommended for patients with myositis to reduce disease activity and improve muscle performance. Subgrouping of patients into clinical and serological subtypes may be a way to identify biomarkers for response to specific immunosuppressive and biological agents and should be considered in future trials.

T-cell transcriptomics from peripheral blood highlights differences between polymyositis and dermatomyositis patients

BACKGROUND

Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are two distinct subgroups of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, a chronic inflammatory disorder clinically characterized by muscle weakness and inflammatory cell infiltrates in muscle tissue. In PM, a major component of inflammatory cell infiltrates is CD8+ T cells, whereas in DM, CD4+ T cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and B cells predominate. In this study, with the aim to differentiate involvement of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subpopulations in myositis subgroups, we investigated transcriptomic profiles of T cells from peripheral blood of patients with myositis.

METHODS

Total RNA was extracted from CD4+ T cells (PM = 8 and DM = 7) and CD8+ T cells (PM = 4 and DM = 5) that were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells via positive selection using microbeads. Sequencing libraries were generated using the Illumina TruSeq Stranded Total RNA Kit and sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform, yielding about 50 million paired-end reads per sample. Differential gene expression analyses were conducted using DESeq2.

RESULTS

In CD4+ T cells, only two genes, ANKRD55 and S100B, were expressed significantly higher in patients with PM than in patients with DM (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05, model adjusted for age, sex, HLA-DRB1*03 status, and RNA integrity number [RIN]). On the contrary, in CD8+ T cells, 176 genes were differentially expressed in patients with PM compared with patients with DM. Of these, 44 genes were expressed significantly higher in CD8+ T cells from patients with PM, and 132 genes were expressed significantly higher in CD8+ T cells from patients with DM (FDR < 0.05, model adjusted for age, sex, and RIN). Gene Ontology analysis showed that genes differentially expressed in CD8+ T cells are involved in lymphocyte migration and regulation of T-cell differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data strongly suggest that CD8+ T cells represent a major divergence between PM and DM patients compared with CD4+ T cells. These alterations in the gene expression in T cells from PM and DM patients might advocate for distinct immune mechanisms in these subphenotypes of myositis.

Serum levels of B-cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) correlate with anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies levels and disease activity in patients with anti-Jo-1positive polymyositis and dermatomyositis

BACKGROUND

B-cell activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) plays a role in autoantibody production and is elevated in dermatomyositis (DM) and anti-Jo-1-positive polymyositis (PM). We investigated the inter-relationships between serum levels of BAFF, anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies, and disease activity.

METHODS

Serum levels of BAFF and anti-Jo-1 antibodies measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were compared to levels of myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), aminotransferases (alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST)), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity assessed by the Myositis Disease Activity Assessment Tool in 63 anti-Jo-1 antibody-positive DM/PM patients. Serial serum samples collected at 2 (46 cases) and 3-5 time points (23 cases) were included. Relationships between BAFF, anti-Jo-1, disease activity, CRP, and their longitudinal changes were evaluated using correlation analysis, multiple regression (MR), path analysis (PA), and hierarchical linear models (HLM).

RESULTS

Cross-sectional assessment demonstrated significant correlations between the levels of BAFF and anti-Jo-1 antibodies which were associated with levels of CK, myoglobin, AST, and CRP, as well as multivariate associations between BAFF, anti-Jo-1 antibodies, and CK levels. PA revealed direct effects of anti-Jo-1 antibodies on CK (β = 0.41) and both direct (β = 0.42) and indirect (through anti-Jo-1 antibodies; β = 0.17) effects of BAFF on CK. Changes in levels of both BAFF and anti-Jo-1 between two time points (Δ) were associated with Δmyoglobin and Δaminotransferases and changes of BAFF correlated with ΔCK, Δcutaneous, Δmuscle, Δglobal, and Δskeletal disease activities. The longitudinal analysis showed a high intra-individual variability of serum levels of BAFF over time (97%) which could predict 79% of the variance in anti-Jo-1 levels. The anti-Jo-1 variability was explained by inter-individual differences (68%). The close longitudinal relationship between levels of BAFF, anti-Jo-1, and disease activity was supported by high proportions of their variance explained with serum levels of CK and CRP or pulmonary and muscle activities.

CONCLUSION

Our findings of associations between levels of BAFF and anti-Jo-1 antibodies in serum and myositis activity suggest a role of this cytokine in disease-specific autoantibody production as part of disease mechanisms, and support BAFF as a potential target for intervention in anti-Jo-1-positive myositis patients.

Targeted lipidomics analysis identified altered serum lipid profiles in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis

BACKGROUND

Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are severe chronic autoimmune diseases, characterized by muscle fatigue and low muscle endurance. Conventional treatment includes high doses of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs; however, few patients recover full muscle function. One explanation of the persistent muscle weakness could be altered lipid metabolism in PM/DM muscle tissue as we previously reported. Using a targeted lipidomic approach we aimed to characterize serum lipid profiles in patients with PM/DM compared to healthy individuals (HI) in a cross-sectional study. Also, in the longitudinal study we compared serum lipid profiles in patients newly diagnosed with PM/DM before and after immunosuppressive treatment.

METHODS

Lipidomic profiles were analyzed in serum samples from 13 patients with PM/DM, 12 HI and 8 patients newly diagnosed with PM/DM before and after conventional immunosuppressive treatment using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a gas-chromatography flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Functional Index (FI), as a test of muscle performance and serum levels of creatine kinase (s-CK) as a proxy for disease activity were analyzed.

RESULTS

The fatty acid (FA) composition of total serum lipids was altered in patients with PM/DM compared to HI; the levels of palmitic (16:0) acid were significantly higher while the levels of arachidonic (20:4, n-6) acid were significantly lower in patients with PM/DM. The profiles of serum phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol species were changed in patients with PM/DM compared to HI, suggesting disproportionate levels of saturated and polyunsaturated FAs that might have negative effects on muscle performance. After immunosuppressive treatment the total serum lipid levels of eicosadienoic (20:2, n-6) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5, n-3) acids were increased and serum phospholipid profiles were altered in patients with PM/DM. The correlation between FI or s-CK and levels of several lipid species indicate the important role of lipid changes in muscle performance and inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum lipids profiles are significantly altered in patients with PM/DM compared to HI. Moreover, immunosuppressive treatment in patients newly diagnosed with PM/DM significantly affected serum lipid profiles. These findings provide new evidence of the dysregulated lipid metabolism in patients with PM/DM that could possibly contribute to low muscle performance.

An Outsourced Health-enhancing Physical Activity Program for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Maintenance Phase

OBJECTIVE

To describe changes of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA), health perception, and functioning during the second year of a 2-year support program, determine aspects of adherence and response, and describe perceptions of the program.

METHODS

Out of 220 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 177 participated in the followup. Group support, strength training, and moderate-intensity aerobic activity were encouraged. Data collection included HEPA, perceived health, functioning, and perceptions of the program. Participants with unchanged/improved general health perception and at least 2 of aerobic capacity, grip strength, or timed standing were considered responders.

RESULTS

Current and maintained HEPA decreased from 82% to 75% (p = 0.0141) and from 41% to 27% (p < 0.0001) during the second year. Minor declines in quality of life and activity limitation occurred (p = 0.0395 and 0.0038, respectively), while outcome expectations for benefits of physical activity increased (p = 0.0010 and 0.0186) and waist circumference tapered off (p = 0.0070). Strength training was performed on average 41 and 35 times among responders (n = 54) and nonresponders (n = 105), respectively (p = 0.2708); HEPA 194 and 171 days, respectively (p = 0.0828); and support group meetings 12 and 10 times, respectively (p = 0.0943). Strength training, aerobic activity, and short text message reminders were perceived as most valuable; step registration and the self-monitoring walk tests were less appreciated.

CONCLUSION

About one-fourth of the originally sedentary individuals with RA sustained their new HEPA behaviors after 2 years and most improvements of health and functioning were sustained. Structured use of behavior change techniques and a second year to support maintenance with a reduced program might help patients with RA to sustain HEPA behavior.

New Myositis Classification Criteria-What We Have Learned Since Bohan and Peter

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) classification criteria have been a subject of debate for many decades. Despite several limitations, the Bohan and Peter criteria are still widely used. The aim of this review is to discuss the evolution of IIM classification criteria.

RECENT FINDINGS

New IIM classification criteria are periodically proposed. The discovery of myositis-specific and myositis-associated autoantibodies led to the development of clinico-serological criteria, while in-depth description of IIM morphological features improved histopathology-based criteria. The long-awaited European League Against Rheumatism and American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) IIM classification criteria were recently published. The Bohan and Peter criteria are outdated and validated classification criteria are necessary to improve research in IIM. The new EULAR/ACR IIM classification criteria are thus a definite improvement and an important step forward in the field.

Mortality and Causes of Death in Patients with Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis: Survey Study Based on the Clinical Experience of Specialists in Australia, Europe and the USA

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of data on mortality and causes of death (CoDs) in patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM), a rare, progressive, degenerative, inflammatory myopathy that typically affects those aged over 50 years.

OBJECTIVE

Based on patient records and expertise of clinical specialists, this study used questionnaires to evaluate physicians' views on clinical characteristics of sIBM that may impact on premature mortality and CoDs in these patients.

METHODS

Thirteen physicians from seven countries completed two questionnaires online between December 20, 2012 and January 15, 2013. Responses to the first questionnaire were collated and presented in the second questionnaire to seek elaboration and identify consensus.

RESULTS

All 13 physicians completed both questionnaires, providing responses based on 585 living and 149 deceased patients under their care. Patients were reported to have experienced dysphagia (60.2%) and injurious falls (44.3%) during their disease. Over half of physicians reported that a subset of their patients with sIBM had a shortened lifespan (8/13), and agreed that bulbar dysfunction/dysphagia/oropharyngeal involvement (12/13), early-onset disease (8/13), severe symptoms (8/13), and falls (7/13) impacted lifespan. Factors related to sIBM were reported as CoDs in 40% of deceased patients. Oropharyngeal muscle dysfunction was ranked as the leading feature of sIBM that could contribute to death. The risk of premature mortality was higher than the age-matched comparison population.

CONCLUSIONS

In the absence of data from traditional sources, this study suggests that features of sIBM may contribute to premature mortality and may be used to inform future studies.

Pain sensitivity at rest and during muscle contraction in persons with rheumatoid arthritis: a substudy within the Physical Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis 2010 study

Background

We aimed to explore pressure pain sensitivity and the function of segmental and plurisegmental exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with healthy control subjects (HC).

Methods

Forty-six participants with RA (43 female, 3 male) and 20 HC (16 female, 4 male) participated in the study. Pressure pain thresholds, suprathreshold pressure pain at rest, and segmental and plurisegmental EIH during standardised submaximal contractions were assessed by algometry. Assessments of EIH were made by performing algometry alternately at the contracting (30% of the individual maximum) right m. quadriceps and the resting left m. deltoideus.

Results

Participants with RA had higher sensitivity to pressure pain (RA, 318 kPa; HC, 487 kPa; p < 0.001), suprathreshold pressure pain 4/10 (RA, 433 kPa; HC, 638 kPa; p = 0.001) and suprathreshold pressure pain 7/10 (RA, 620 kPa; HC, 851 kPa; p = 0.002) than HC. Segmental EIH (RA, 0.99 vs 1.27; p < 0.001; HC, 0.89 vs 1.10; p = 0.016) and plurisegmental EIH (RA, 0.95 vs 1.36; p < 0.001; HC, 0.87 vs 1.31; p < 0.001) increased significantly during static muscle contraction in both groups alike (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Our results indicate a generally increased pain sensitivity but normal function of EIH among persons with RA and offer one possible explanation for pain reduction observed in this group of patients following clinical exercise programmes.

Trial registration

ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN25539102. Retrospectively registered on 4 March 2011.

Increasing Reasoning Awareness: Video Analysis of Students' Two-Party Virtual Patient Interactions

BACKGROUND

Collaborative reasoning occurs in clinical practice but is rarely developed during education. The computerized virtual patient (VP) cases allow for a stepwise exploration of cases and thus stimulate active learning. Peer settings during VP sessions are believed to have benefits in terms of reasoning but have received scant attention in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to thoroughly investigate interactions during medical students' clinical reasoning in two-party VP settings.

METHODS

An in-depth exploration of students' interactions in dyad settings of VP sessions was performed. For this purpose, two prerecorded VP sessions lasting 1 hour each were observed, transcribed in full, and analyzed. The transcriptions were analyzed using thematic analysis, and short clips from the videos were selected for subsequent analysis in relation to clinical reasoning and clinical aspects.

RESULTS

Four categories of interactions were identified: (1) task-related dialogue, in which students negotiated a shared understanding of the task and strategies for information gathering; (2) case-related insights and perspectives were gained, and the students consolidated and applied preexisting biomedical knowledge into a clinical setting; (3) clinical reasoning interactions were made explicit. In these, hypotheses were followed up and clinical examples were used. The researchers observed interactions not only between students and the VP but also (4) interactions with other resources, such as textbooks. The interactions are discussed in relation to theories of clinical reasoning and peer learning.

CONCLUSIONS

The dyad VP setting is conducive to activities that promote analytic clinical reasoning. In this setting, components such as peer interaction, access to different resources, and reduced time constraints provided a productive situation in which the students pursued different lines of reasoning.

Muscle Strength and Muscle Endurance During the First Year of Treatment of Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis: A Prospective Study

Objective.

To investigate muscle impairment (isometric and dynamic) and disease activity during the first year after diagnosis of polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM), and to study the relationship between muscle impairment, patient-reported health, and disease activity.

Methods.

Seventy-two patients enrolled in the Swedish Myositis Register, 2003–2010, were followed prospectively. The Manual Muscle test (MMT-8; isometric muscle strength), the Functional Index of myositis test (FI-2; dynamic, repetitive muscle function), and disease activity (6-item core set) were retrieved at the time of diagnosis, and after 6 and 12 months. Self-reported health (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36; SF-36) was retrieved at 12 months.

Results.

At the time of diagnosis, median (Q1–Q3) for the FI-2 was 27.2% (7.9–60.5%) of maximal score compared to 93.8% (92.5–98.8%) of maximal MMT-8. At 12 months, the FI-2 and the MMT-8 improved to 29.4% (16.5–60.7%; p < 0.05) and 96.1% (88.1–99.4%), respectively (p < 0.01). At 12 months, 45% of patients improved ≥ 20%, and 27% worsened ≥ 20% in FI-2 score, while 10% improved ≥ 20% in MMT-8. Physician’s global visual analog scale (VAS), Health Assessment Questionnaire, and creatine phosphokinase levels improved significantly at 12 months (p < 0.05–0.001) while patient’s global and extramuscular VAS remained unchanged. The SF-36 physical function correlated strongly with the FI-2 (rs = 0.74; CI 0.55–0.85) and moderately with the MMT (rs = 0.54; CI 0.27–0.73), with lower correlations between muscle function and other SF-36 domains.

Conclusion.

Patients with PM/DM were characterized by impaired dynamic repetitive muscle function (DRMF) that correlated well with patient-reported physical function. Assessment of DRMF adds information regarding muscle impairment in these patients.

The EuroMyositis registry: an international collaborative tool to facilitate myositis research

AIMS

The EuroMyositis Registry facilitates collaboration across the idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) research community. This inaugural report examines pooled Registry data.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of IIM cases from 11 countries was performed. Associations between clinical subtypes, extramuscular involvement, environmental exposures and medications were investigated.

RESULTS

Of 3067 IIM cases, 69% were female. The most common IIM subtype was dermatomyositis (DM) (31%). Smoking was more frequent in connective tissue disease overlap cases (45%, OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.90, p=0.012). Smoking was associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.65, p=0.013), dysphagia (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.77, p=0.001), malignancy ever (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.33, p<0.001) and cardiac involvement (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.60 to 3.60, p<0.001).Dysphagia occurred in 39% and cardiac involvement in 9%; either occurrence was associated with higher Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores (adjusted OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.23, p<0.001). HAQ scores were also higher in inclusion body myositis cases (adjusted OR 3.85, 95% CI 2.52 to 5.90, p<0.001). Malignancy (ever) occurred in 13%, most commonly in DM (20%, OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.57, p<0.001).ILD occurred in 30%, most frequently in antisynthetase syndrome (71%, OR 10.7, 95% CI 8.6 to 13.4, p<0.001). Rash characteristics differed between adult-onset and juvenile-onset DM cases ('V' sign: 56% DM vs 16% juvenile-DM, OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.36, p<0.001). Glucocorticoids were used in 98% of cases, methotrexate in 71% and azathioprine in 51%.

CONCLUSION

This large multicentre cohort demonstrates the importance of extramuscular involvement in patients with IIM, its association with smoking and its influence on disease severity. Our findings emphasise that IIM is a multisystem inflammatory disease and will help inform prognosis and clinical management of patients.