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Boeren AMP, Verstappen M, Looijen AEM, de Jong PHP, van der Helm-van Mil AHM. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis presenting with mono- or oligo-arthritis and high VAS-ratings remain the most fatigued during 5 years of follow-up. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2024; 63:1574-1581. [PMID: 37632771 PMCID: PMC11147540 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The severity of fatigue in RA has improved very little in recent decades, leaving a large unmet need. Fortunately, not all RA patients suffer from persistent fatigue, but the subgroup of patients who suffer the most is insufficiently recognizable at diagnosis. As disease activity is partly coupled to fatigue, DAS components may associate with the course of fatigue. We aimed to identify those RA patients who remain fatigued by studying DAS components at diagnosis in relation to the course of fatigue over a 5-year follow-up period in two independent early RA cohorts. METHODS In all, 1560 consecutive RA patients included in the Leiden Early Arthritis Cohort and 415 RA patients included in the tREACH trial were studied. Swollen joint count, tender joint count, ESR and Patient Global Assessment (PGA) [on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)] were studied in relation to fatigue (VAS, 0-100 mm) over a period of 5 years, using linear mixed models. RESULTS Higher tender joint count and higher PGA at diagnosis were associated with a more severe course of fatigue. Furthermore, patients with mono- or oligo-arthritis at diagnosis remained more fatigued. The swollen joint count, in contrast, showed an inverse association. An investigation of combinations of the aforementioned characteristics revealed that patients presenting with mono- or oligo-arthritis and PGA ≥ 50 remained the most fatigued over time (+20 mm vs polyarthritis with PGA < 50), while the DAS course over time did not differ. This subgroup comprised 14% of the early RA population. Data from the tREACH trial showed similar findings. CONCLUSION The RA patients who remain the most fatigued were those characterized by mono- or oligo-arthritis and high PGA (VAS ≥ 50) at diagnosis. This understanding may enable early-intervention with non-pharmacological approaches in dedicated patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M P Boeren
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marloes Verstappen
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Annette H M van der Helm-van Mil
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Sagawa F, Yamada H, Ayano M, Kimoto Y, Mitoma H, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Kondo M, Nakashima Y, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H. Determination of the factors associated with antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell responses to BNT162b2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. RMD Open 2024; 10:e003693. [PMID: 38216287 PMCID: PMC10806600 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Understanding interpatient variation in CD4+T-cell responses is the bases for understanding the pathogenesis and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a cohort of patients with RA and determined factors associated with the responses. METHODS Four hundred and thirty-one patients with RA having received two doses of BNT162b2, a messenger RNA-based vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, were included. Vaccine antigen-specific IgG was detected by ELISA, and antigen-specific CD4+T cells were detected by CD154 expression in response to antigenic stimulation. Expression of cytokines was concomitantly detected by intracellular staining. Associations among background variables, antigen-specific antibody production and the CD4+T-cell responses were analysed. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was performed based on the profiles of antigen-specific cytokine production by CD4+T cells to stratify patients with RA. RESULTS Multivariate analysis indicated that ageing negatively affects CD4+T-cell response as well as antibody production. No association was detected between the presence or the levels of rheumatoid factor/anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and anti-vaccine immune responses. Methotrexate and prednisolone reduced B cell but not T-cell responses. Conventional immunophenotyping by the expression of chemokine receptors was not associated with the actual CD4+T-cell response, except for T helper cells (Th1). Functional immunophenotyping based on the profiles of antigen-specific cytokine production of CD4+T cells stratified patients with RA into three clusters, among which Th1-dominant type less frequently underwent joint surgery. CONCLUSIONS Clinical and immunological variables that are associated with antigen-specific CD4 T-cell responses in patients with RA were determined by analysing immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Sagawa
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hisakata Yamada
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ayano
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Kimoto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Beppu, Japan
| | - Hiroki Mitoma
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Ono
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yojiro Arinobu
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masakazu Kondo
- Kondo Clinic for Rheumatology and Orthopaedics, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Koichi Akashi
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Hiroaki Niiro
- Department of Medical Education, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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Hammam N, Tharwat S, M Elsaman A, Bakhiet A, Mahmoud MB, Ismail F, El Saadany H, R ElShereef R, F Mohamed E, I Abd Elazeem M, Eid A, Ali F, Hamdy M, El Mallah R, Ha Mohammed R, M Gamal R, Fawzy S, Senara S, Hammam O, M Fathi H, Aboul Fotouh A, A Gheita T. Unsupervised cluster analysis of clinical and ultrasound features reveals unique gout subtypes: Results from the Egyptian College of Rheumatology (ECR). Diabetes Metab Syndr 2023; 17:102897. [PMID: 37979221 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2023.102897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gout comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders; however, comorbidities have been the focus of most efforts to classify disease subgroups. OBJECTIVES We applied cluster analysis using musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) combined with clinical and laboratory findings in patients with gout to identify disease phenotypes, and differences across clusters were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with gout who complied with the ACR/EULAR classification criteria were enrolled in the Egyptian College of Rheumatology (ECR)-MSUS Study Group, a multicenter study. Selected variables included demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings. MSUS scans assessed the bilateral knee and first metatarsophalangeal joints. We performed a K-mean cluster analysis and compared the features of each cluster. RESULTS 425 patients, 267 (62.8 %) males, mean age 54.2 ± 10.3 years were included. Three distinct clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (n = 138, 32.5 %) has the lowest burden of the disease and a lower frequency of MSUS characteristics than the other clusters. Cluster 2 (n = 140, 32.9 %) was mostly women, with a low rate of urate-lowering treatment (ULT). Cluster 3 (n = 147, 34.6 %) has the highest disease burden and the greatest proportion of comorbidities. Significant MSUS variations were found between clusters 2 and 3: joint effusion (p < 0.0001; highest: cluster 3), power Doppler signal (p < 0.0001; highest: clusters 2), and aggregates of crystal deposition (p < 0.0001; highest: cluster 3). CONCLUSION Cluster analysis using MSUS findings identified three gout subgroups. People with more MSUS features were more likely to receive ULT. Treatment should be tailored according to the cluster and MSUS features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevin Hammam
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.
| | - Samar Tharwat
- Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M Elsaman
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Egypt
| | - Ali Bakhiet
- Computer Science Department, Higher Institute of Computer Science and Information Systems, Culture & Science City, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Bakrey Mahmoud
- Computer Science Department, Higher Institute of Computer Science and Information Systems, Culture & Science City, Giza, Egypt
| | - Faten Ismail
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt
| | | | | | - Eman F Mohamed
- Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Egypt
| | | | - Ayman Eid
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Egypt
| | - Fatma Ali
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt
| | - Mona Hamdy
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt
| | - Reem El Mallah
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt
| | - Reem Ha Mohammed
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Rania M Gamal
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt
| | - Samar Fawzy
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Soha Senara
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt
| | - Osman Hammam
- Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, New Valley University, New Valley, Egypt
| | - Hanan M Fathi
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt
| | - Adham Aboul Fotouh
- Egyptian School for Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (EgySMUS), Egyptian Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuromuscular Sonography (ESMNS), Egypt
| | - Tamer A Gheita
- Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
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Kalweit M, Burden AM, Boedecker J, Hügle T, Burkard T. Patient groups in Rheumatoid arthritis identified by deep learning respond differently to biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011073. [PMID: 37267387 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cycling of biologic or targeted synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients due to non-response is a problem preventing and delaying disease control. We aimed to assess and validate treatment response of b/tsDMARDs among clusters of RA patients identified by deep learning. We clustered RA patients clusters at first-time b/tsDMARD (cohort entry) in the Swiss Clinical Quality Management in Rheumatic Diseases registry (SCQM) [1999-2018]. We performed comparative effectiveness analyses of b/tsDMARDs (ref. adalimumab) using Cox proportional hazard regression. Within 15 months, we assessed b/tsDMARD stop due to non-response, and separately a ≥20% reduction in DAS28-esr as a response proxy. We validated results through stratified analyses according to most distinctive patient characteristics of clusters. Clusters comprised between 362 and 1481 patients (3516 unique patients). Stratified (validation) analyses confirmed comparative effectiveness results among clusters: Patients with ≥2 conventional synthetic DMARDs and prednisone at b/tsDMARD initiation, male patients, as well as patients with a lower disease burden responded better to tocilizumab than to adalimumab (hazard ratio [HR] 5.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.76-16.94], and HR 8.44 [3.43-20.74], and HR 3.64 [2.04-6.49], respectively). Furthermore, seronegative women without use of prednisone at b/tsDMARD initiation as well as seropositive women with a higher disease burden and longer disease duration had a higher risk of non-response with golimumab (HR 2.36 [1.03-5.40] and HR 5.27 [2.10-13.21], respectively) than with adalimumab. Our results suggest that RA patient clusters identified by deep learning may have different responses to first-line b/tsDMARD. Thus, it may suggest optimal first-line b/tsDMARD for certain RA patients, which is a step forward towards personalizing treatment. However, further research in other cohorts is needed to verify our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kalweit
- Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andrea M Burden
- ETH Zurich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joschka Boedecker
- Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Hügle
- Department of Rheumatology, Lausanne University Hospital, and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Theresa Burkard
- ETH Zurich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Zurich, Switzerland
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