Validity of the ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS) in patients with early spondyloarthritis from the Esperanza programme

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the validity of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) in early spondyloarthritis (SpA) in comparison with conventional clinical measures of disease activity.

METHODS

Six hundred and seventy-six incident cases of early SpA from the Esperanza programme were included. Patients were categorised into high and low disease activity states based on patient and physician global assessment scores and on the physician's decision to start treatment with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug or tumour necrosis factor blocker. The discriminant ability of ASDAS-C-reactive protein (CRP) and ASDAS-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was tested using standardised mean differences between patients with high and low disease activity. Convergent validity was tested by Pearson correlation between ASDAS versions and other measures of disease activity.

RESULTS

ASDAS-ESR and ASDAS-CRP showed good correlation with BASDAI (r=0.79 and 0.74, respectively). Both indices correlated well with the patient global assessment (r=0.70 in both indices) and moderately with the physician global score (r=0.46 and 0.47, respectively). CRP and ESR showed poor correlation with patient- and physician-derived measures. ASDAS performed similarly across the global SpA sample, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), non-radiographic axial SpA and peripheral SpA.

CONCLUSIONS

ASDAS performed as a valid activity score even being slightly better than the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index in its ability to discriminate between high and low disease activity in early SpA. ASDAS performed similarly in AS, early forms of SpA, non-radiographic axial SpA and peripheral SpA.

Risk variants for psoriasis vulgaris in a large case-control collection and association with clinical subphenotypes

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified >20 new loci associated with the susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris (PsV) risk. We investigated the association of PsV and its main clinical subphenotypes with 32 loci having previous genome-wide evidence of association with PsV (P < 5e-8) or strong GWAS evidence (P < 5e-5 in discovery and P < 0.05 in replication sample) in a large cohort of PsV patients (n = 2005) and controls (n = 1497). We provide the first independent replication for COG6 (P = 0.00079) and SERPINB8 (P = 0.048) loci with PsV. In those patients having developed psoriatic arthritis (n = 955), we found, for the first time, a strong association with IFIH1 (P = 0.013). Analyses of clinically relevant PsV subtypes yielded a significant association of severity of cutaneous disease with variation at LCE3D locus (P = 0.0005) in PsV and nail involvement with IL1RN in purely cutaneous psoriasis (PsC, P = 0.007). In an exploratory analysis of epistasis, we replicated the previously described HLA-C-ERAP1 interaction with PsC. Our findings show that common genetic variants associated with a complex phenotype like PsV influence different subphenotypes of high clinical relevance.

Dermatomyositis and meningioma in the same patient

The association between dermatomyositis (DM) and neoplasm has been widely described, especially in elder patients; this entity can be associated with many different types of tumours, more frequently lung, ovary, and gastric cancers. There is no clear association with central nervous system tumours. We present the case of a 64-year-old woman diagnosed simultaneously of DM with a difficult clinical control and a meningioma, being the course of the two illnesses linked. The activity of the DM was controlled after the meningioma was removed.

Prevalence of vertebral fractures by semiautomated morphometry in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease mainly affecting the axial skeleton and characterized by ossification of the spinal disc, joints, and ligaments leading to progressive ankylosis. Vertebral osteoporosis is a recognized feature of AS. Studies have confirmed a moderate to high prevalence of vertebral fractures with extremely varying ranges in patients with AS. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of vertebral fractures in a representative Spanish population of patients with AS using a validated semiquantitative method, MorphoXpress(®).

METHODS

Patients were randomly selected from the 10 initial participating centers of the Spanish National Registry of Spondyloarthropathies (REGISPONSER) by consecutive sampling. All patients fulfilled the New York modified criteria for AS and had a baseline thoracolumbar radiograph. A prevalent vertebral fracture was defined according to the Genant classification criteria.

RESULTS

The estimated prevalence of vertebral fractures was 32.4% (95% CI 25.5%-39.3%). The majority of fractures were localized in the thoracic segment (n = 100; 82.%) and were mild (n = 79; 64.8%). In logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio per year 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.08, p < 0.001), disease duration (OR per year 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, p = 0.011), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index score (OR per score 1.16, 95% CI 1.03-1.30, p = 0.015), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiographic Index-TS (OR per score 1.25, 95% CI 1.12-1.39, p < 0.001), and wall-occiput distance (OR per cm 1.15, 95% CI 1.08-1.23, p < 0.001) were all associated with prevalent fracture.

CONCLUSION

Semiquantitative methods are needed to improve the diagnosis of vertebral fractures in AS in order to start early treatment and to avoid complications arising from osteoporosis.

Fibromyalgia in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: prevalence and utility of the measures of activity, function and radiological damage

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). To evaluate the effect of FM on the measures of activity in AS. To analyse predictive factors in order to identify this group of patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study based on 462 patients with definite ankylosing spondylitis included in the REGISPONSER. Sociodemographic data, clinical features, Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath AS functional index (BASFI), Bath AS radiology index (BASRI), Stoke modified index (Sasss-m), laboratory data, Short-Format 12 (SF-12), AS specific quality of life (ASQoL), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and treatments used were all documented. To diagnose FM, the ACR 1990 criteria had to be fulfilled. All statistical tests were performed using STATA.

RESULTS

The prevalence of fibromyalgia in all AS was 4.11%. Among the women with AS, the prevalence of FM increased to 10.83%. The BASDAI, BASFI and total BASRI were strongly influenced by the presence of FM. The inverse relationship between BASDAI or BASFI and total BASRI was taken to generate a ratio. Accordingly, if the patient presented BASDAI/BASRI ≥1.5 or BASFI/BASRI ≥1.08, the probability of having FM was very high.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an increased risk of FM in females with AS. The fact of having FM distorts the measures of activity and functional damage of AS. As a result, it is possible that some patients with AS and FM are being overtreated. The BASDAI/BASRI and BASFI/BASRI ratios are very useful to identify these patients.

Usefulness of a centralized system of data collection for the development of an international multicentre registry of spondyloarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To present the usefulness of a centralized system of data collection for the development of an international multicentre registry of SpA.

METHOD

The originality of this registry consists in the creation of a virtual network of researchers in a computerized Internet database. From its conception, the registry was meant to be a dynamic acquiring system.

RESULTS

REGISPONSER has two developing phases (Conception and Universalization) and gathers several evolving secondary projects (REGISPONSER-EARLY, REGISPONSER-AS, ESPERANZA and RESPONDIA). Each sub-project answered the necessity of having more specific and complete data of the patients even from the onset of the disease so, in the end, obtaining a well-defined picture of SpAs spectrum in the Spanish population.

CONCLUSION

REGISPONSER is the first dynamic SpA database composed of cohorts with a significant number of patients distributed by specific diagnosis, which provides basic specific information of the sub-cohorts useful for patients' evaluation in rheumatology ambulatory consulting.

Association of the intergenic single-nucleotide polymorphism rs10865331 (2p15) with ankylosing spondylitis in a Spanish population

OBJECTIVE

A recent genome-wide association study has identified 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), rs10865331 (2p15) and rs2242944 (21q22). We assessed the association of these SNP with AS in a Spanish population.

METHODS

Four hundred fifty-six patients with AS fulfilling the modified New York Criteria and 300 healthy donors were analyzed. Result. SNP rs10865331 (allele A: p = 0.039; genotype: p = 0.016) was significantly associated with AS, while no association was found for rs2242944.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study that replicates in an independent cohort the association of the intergenic SNP rs10865331 with susceptibility to AS.

Work disability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of work disability in Spanish patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to identify factors related to it.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study based on data from Regisponser (National Spanish Registry of Patients with Spondyloarthropathy). Demographic and disease-related variables were collected. AS patients were classified as work-disabled according to the Spanish Social Security System criteria. Variables that discriminated between AS patients with and those without work disability were identified using chi-square test or unpaired t test when appropriate. Multiple logistic regression was performed.

RESULTS

In total 699 AS patients, age 48.7 +/- SD 12.7 years and with disease duration 14.1 +/- 10.1 years, were analyzed; 179 patients (25.6%) had permanent work disability. Several variables had significantly different values in patients with compared to those without work disability. In the regression model (pseudo R(2) = 0.26, p < 0.0001), age (p = 0.001), sex (p = 0.04), disease duration (p = 0.006), total Bath AS Radiological Index (p = 0.007), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI; p = 0.007), and chest expansion (p = 0.03) retained an independent association with work disability. When BASFI was excluded from the model the independent association with sex did not remain, and a significant association with finger to floor distance was found (p = 0.040).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of permanent work disability in Spanish patients with AS is significant, and the main factors related to it are age, disease duration, structural damage, and physical functioning. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results.

Relationship between spinal mobility and disease activity, function, quality of life and radiology. A cross-sectional Spanish registry of spondyloarthropathies (REGISPONSER)

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between anthropometric measurements and disease activity, functional capacity, quality of life and radiology in Spanish patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was made of 842 patients with definite ankylosing spondylitis (REGISPONSER). Sociodemographic data, spinal mobility measurements, Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), nocturnal pain, Bath AS radiology index (BASRI), Bath AS functional index (BASFI), the Short-Format 12 (SF-12) and the AS specific quality of life (ASQoL) questionnaire were applied. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis and regression models were constructed.

RESULTS

There was moderate correlation between fingertip-to-floor distance and lateral cervical rotation with the BASFI (p<0.01). Good correlation was evident between wall-occiput distance and lateral cervical rotation with the BASRI (p<0.01). Moderate correlation was found between chest expansion, the Schober modified test and fingertip-to-floor distance with the total BASRI (p<0.01). The anthropometric measurement with the lowest correlation value was lateral lumbar flexion. Significant association was found between the Schober modified test and BASFI, BASDAI and BASRI (R(2) = 0.37; p<0.001); chest expansion and BASFI, BASDAI and BASRI (R(2) = 0.25; p<0.001); wall-occiput distance and BASFI, BASRI and ASQoL (R(2) = 0.44; p<0.001); fingertip-to-floor distance and BASFI and BASRI (R(2) = 0.30; p<0.001); and lateral cervical rotation and BASFI and BASRI (R(2) = 0.34; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In our study, wall-occiput distance and lateral cervical rotation showed the strongest correlation to BASRI. Similarly, fingertip-to-floor distance and lateral cervical rotation exhibited the closest correlation to BASFI.

First signs and symptoms of spondyloarthritis--data from an inception cohort with a disease course of two years or less (REGISPONSER-Early)

OBJECTIVE

To determine the first signs and symptoms, and the clinical, biological and radiological characteristics of patients with early SpA.

METHODS

A total of 150 SpA patients were selected from 2367 listed in REGISPONSER (Registro Español de Espondiloartritis de la Sociedad Española de Reumatología). The inclusion criterion was a disease course of

RESULTS

Forty-six patients had AS, 51 psoriatic SpA (Ps-SpA), 43 uSpA, 5 ReA, 4 IBD arthropathy and 1 JCA. The mean age at onset of symptoms and at diagnosis was higher in Ps-SpA group (48.1 +/- 13.6 and 48.5 +/- 13.6 yrs) than in AS group (38.1 +/- 12.8 and 38.9 +/- 12.7 yrs) and uSpA group (36.3 +/- 11.5 and 36.9 +/- 11.4 yrs). The most frequent signs or symptoms were back pain: 72% AS group and 56% uSpA group. Lower limb arthritis was the first symptom in 57% Ps-SpA patients, 35% uSpA patients and 20% AS patients; upper limb arthritis was the first symptom in 53% Ps-SpA group and <16% of the remainder. Compared with longer duration disease, at onset, AS patients report upper limb arthritis more frequently and uSpA patients report more of enthesitis. Early radiological sacroiliitis was observed in all AS patients, of whom 54% had Grade II, 39% had Grade III and 7% had Grade IV.

CONCLUSIONS

In our population, the first manifestations of SpA were low back pain and SI syndrome in AS and uSpA patients and peripheral arthritis in the Ps-SpA group. We can find early SI joint affectation in AS patients.

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Key Words

• spas
• as
• uspa
• spa's cohort
• epidemiology
• disease registry

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MESH Headings

• Adult
• Age of Onset
• Analysis of Variance
• Arthritis/diagnosis
• Arthritis/diagnostic imaging
• Arthritis, Psoriatic/diagnosis
• Arthritis, Psoriatic/diagnostic imaging
• Back Pain/diagnosis
• Back Pain/diagnostic imaging
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diagnosis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diagnostic imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prohibitins
• Radiography
• Sacroiliac Joint/diagnostic imaging
• Spondylarthritis/diagnosis
• Spondylarthritis/diagnostic imaging
• Spondylitis, Ankylosing/diagnosis
• Spondylitis, Ankylosing/diagnostic imaging

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Grants Collapse

Retrograde atrial kick in acute aortic regurgitation. Study of mitral and pulmonary venous flow velocities by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

The purpose of this study was the comprehensive evaluation of the changes in pulmonary venous and mitral flow velocities of patients with acute and chronic severe aortic regurgitation. Transmitral flow velocities obtained with pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography have been used to provide information on left ventricular (LV) filling and diastolic function. Pulmonary venous flow tracings are an important adjunct to LV inflow pattern in assessing LV diastolic function.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with severe aortic regurgitation (8 chronic and 6 acute) and in sinus rhythm were examined by transthoracic and transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Mitral and pulmonary flow velocities were recorded and compared. All patients had ejection fractions > 40%.

RESULTS

Early mitral flow peak velocity was higher in patients with acute regurgitation (p < 0.001). The mitral A wave was absent in five patients with acute regurgitation. In contrast, a prominent reverse atrial pulmonary systolic wave AR was demonstrated in these patients. Peak diastolic velocity of the pulmonary venous flow was greater in patients with acute aortic regurgitation (0.76 +/- 0.13) than in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (0.40 +/- 0.09) (p < 0.001). Peak systolic velocity did not differ significantly between the two groups. The systolic fraction of pulmonary venous flow in patients with acute aortic regurgitation was lower (0.43 +/- 0.05) than that of patients with chronic regurgitation (0.63 +/- 0.1) (p < 0.01). All patients with acute aortic regurgitation had an S/D ratio < 1, while those with chronic regurgitation had an S/D > 1 (p < 0.001) and an E/A < 1.

CONCLUSION

Patients with severe acute aortic regurgitation showed a retrograde atrial kick (absence of transmitral A wave with prominent pulmonary AR wave). These patients had an S/D ratio < 1 (restrictive Doppler pattern). Patients with chronic aortic regurgitation exhibited a Doppler pattern of abnormal LV relaxation (E/A < 1, S/D > 1).

Disease pattern of spondyloarthropathies in Spain: description of the first national registry (REGISPONSER) extended report

OBJECTIVE

The national registry of spondyloarthropathies (REGISPONSER) is launched to classify patients with this group of diseases treated in Spanish rheumatology clinics. This manuscript describes the methodological and organizational background as well as characteristics of patients finally included, and provides a comparative analysis between characteristics of both ankylosing spondylitis and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy groups of patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twelve members of the GRESSER group have participated in the registry, for a one-year recruitment period. All consecutively registered adult patients treated in their clinics met the classification criteria of the European Spondyloarthropathies Study Group (ESSG). Data collected reflect the socio-demographic characteristics, as well as disease activity and functional status, clinical form at onset, treatment used and quality of life; all measured by standard instruments.

RESULTS

Throughout 1 yr, 1385 patients have been included in the registry: 939 males (68%) and 440 females (32%), with an average age of 47 +/- 13 years (mean +/- s.d.), and an average disease duration of 12 +/- 9 years. Diagnoses of the included patients were: AS (n = 842, 61%), PsA (n = 290, 21%), u-SpA (n = 205, 15%), reactive arthritis (n = 16, 1.2%), inflammatory bowel disease arthritis (n = 13, 0.9%) and JCA-spondyloathropathy (n = 13, 0.9%). Regarding clinical form, 54% had axial disease, 20% peripheral disease, 24% mixed disease and 0.6% isolated enthesitic form. Low-back pain was the first symptom reported in 53% of the patients, and most common extra-articular disease manifestations were psoriasis (25%), anterior uveitis (16%) and intestinal inflammatory disease (4%). Some kind of work disability was reported by 353 patients (25.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Such databases are very useful to obtain information about characteristics of SpA patients treated in a certain location or following a specific treatment practice, and provide a tool for assessing the impact of the disease. Data collected in this registry provide an appropriate clinical and demographic profile of patients suffering from SpA in Spain.

Pulmonary sarcoidosis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis treated with infliximab

We present a case of a 34 year-old male diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. After two years of treatment with infliximab, the patient developed a clinical picture compatible with stage II thoracic sarcoidosis. These findings resulted in the interruption of infliximab therapy. The patient was not administered new treatment since respiratory function testing did not confirm harmful repercussions. After a follow-up of 1 year, the patient is asymptomatic and radiologic tests show complete resolution of pulmonary infiltrates and mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymphad- enopathy.

Effectiveness of reducing infliximab dose interval in non-responder patients with refractory spondyloarthropathies. An open extension of a multicentre study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of reducing the infliximab dose interval to 6 weeks in spondyloarthropathy patients not responding to 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks.

METHODS

After 30 weeks of infliximab therapy, 25 patients were classified as responders [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Activity Index (BASDAI) <4 cm or ESR <30 mm/h and CRP <5 mg/l, n = 15; group A] or non-responders (patients who did not achieve the response established for group A; n = 10; group B). Responders continued on 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks and non-responders decreased the dose interval to 6 weeks. BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), ESR, CRP and ankylosing spondylitis assessment (ASAS) criteria were used to assess response.

RESULTS

At 62 weeks, 11 of 15 patients (73.3%, 95% confidence interval = 44.9-92.2%) from group A and three of 10 patients (30%, 95% confidence interval = 6.7-65.2) from group B were responders (P = 0.049). Eighty per cent (eight of 10 patients from group A) and 22.2% (two of 9 patients from group B) achieved 50% BASDAI improvement (P = 0.023), and nine of 11 patients (81.8%) and four of 10 (40%) from groups A and B, respectively, reached ASAS20 at 62 weeks (P = 0.08).

CONCLUSION

Patients on infliximab 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks with persistent disease activity may benefit from reducing the dose interval to 6 weeks.