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Bertrand D, Joly J, Neerinckx B, Durez P, Lenaerts J, Joos R, Thevissen K, Zwaenepoel T, Vanhoof J, Di Romana S, Taelman V, Van Essche E, Corluy L, Ribbens C, Vanden Berghe M, Devinck M, Ajeganova S, Durnez A, Boutsen Y, Margaux J, Peene I, Van Offel J, Doumen M, Pazmino S, De Meyst E, Kulyk M, Creten N, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Effectiveness of methotrexate and bridging glucocorticoids with or without early introduction of a 6-month course of etanercept in early RA: results of the 2-year, pragmatic, randomised CareRA2020 trial. RMD Open 2024; 10:e004535. [PMID: 39117445 PMCID: PMC11409310 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate if patients with early rheumatoid arthritis responding insufficiently to initial methotrexate (MTX) and bridging glucocorticoids (GCs) could benefit from early but temporary etanercept introduction as a second remission-induction attempt. METHODS CareRA2020 (NCT03649061) was a 2-year, open-label, multicentre, pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Treatment-naïve patients started MTX and GC bridging (COBRA-Slim: CS). Within a time window from week (W) 8 until W32, early insufficient responders (28-joint Disease Activity Score - C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) >3.2 between W8 and W32 or ≥2.6 at W32) were randomised to a Standard-CS strategy (adding leflunomide first) or Bio-induction-CS strategy (adding etanercept for 24 weeks). Additional treatment adaptations followed the treat-to-target principle. Longitudinal disease activity (DAS28-CRP) over 104 weeks (primary outcome), achievement of DAS28-CRP <2.6 28 weeks after randomisation, and biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD) use at W104 were compared between randomisation groups. RESULTS Following CS treatment, 142 patients were early responders; 55 early insufficient responders received Standard-CS and 55 Bio-induction-CS. Superiority of Bio-induction-CS over Standard-CS could not be demonstrated (ß=-0.204, (95% CI -0.486 to 0.078), p=0.157) for the primary outcome. More patients on Bio-induction-CS achieved DAS28-CRP <2.6 at 28 weeks after randomisation (59% (95% CI 44% to 72%) vs 44% (95% CI 31% to 59%) in Standard-CS) and they were treated less frequently with b/tsDMARDs at W104 (19/55, 35%) compared with Standard-CS (29/55, 53%). CONCLUSION Half of the patients responded well to initial COBRA-Slim induction therapy. In early insufficient responders, adding etanercept for 6 months did not improve disease control over 104 weeks versus adding leflunomide first. However, temporary introduction of etanercept resulted in improved disease control early after randomisation and less patients on b/tsDMARDs at W104. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03649061. CTR PILOT APPROVAL BELGIUM S59474, EudraCT number: 2017-004054-41.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Bertrand
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
| | - Johan Joly
- Department of Rheumatology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
| | - Barbara Neerinckx
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Department of Rheumatology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
| | - Patrick Durez
- Department of Rheumatology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Jan Lenaerts
- Department of Rheumatology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
- Reuma Instituut, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Rik Joos
- Department of Rheumatology, ZNA Jan Palfijn, Merksem, Belgium
| | - Kristof Thevissen
- Reumacentrum, Genk, Belgium
- Department of Rheumatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Limburg, Belgium
| | - Tom Zwaenepoel
- Department of Rheumatology, OLV Ziekenhuis, Aalst, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
| | | | - Silvana Di Romana
- Department of Rheumatology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Veerle Taelman
- Department of Rheumatology, Regionaal Ziekenhuis Heilig Hart Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams Brabant, Belgium
| | - Els Van Essche
- Department of Rheumatology, Imeldaziekenhuis, Bonheiden, Belgium
| | - Luk Corluy
- Department of Rheumatology, AZ Herentals, Herentals, Belgium
| | - Clio Ribbens
- Department of Rheumatology, CHU de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marc Vanden Berghe
- Department of Rheumatology, Grand Hôpital de Charleroi Site Saint-Joseph, Gilly, Hainaut, Belgium
| | - Mieke Devinck
- Department of Rheumatology, AZ Sint-Lucas Brugge, Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
| | - Sofia Ajeganova
- Department of Rheumatology, UZ Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne Durnez
- Department of Rheumatology, AZ Jan Portaels, Vilvoorde, Vlaams Brabant, Belgium
| | - Yves Boutsen
- Department of Rheumatology, CHU UCL Namur, Yvoir, Namur, Belgium
| | - Joëlle Margaux
- Department of Rheumatology, Hôpital Erasme, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Peene
- Department of Rheumatology, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge AV, Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
| | - Jan Van Offel
- Department of Rheumatology, UZA, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michaël Doumen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Department of Rheumatology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
| | - Sofia Pazmino
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
| | - Elias De Meyst
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Department of Rheumatology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
| | - Myroslava Kulyk
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Bogomolets National Medical University, Kiiv, Ukraine
| | | | - René Westhovens
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Department of Rheumatology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
| | - Patrick Verschueren
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Department of Rheumatology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
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Hao Y, Oon S, Nikpour M. Efficacy and safety of treat-to-target strategy studies in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2024; 67:152465. [PMID: 38796922 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of treat-to-target (T2T), a treatment strategy in which treatment is directed to reach and maintain a defined goal such as remission or low disease activity (LDA), has been explored for several diseases including rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, a comprehensive review of T2T in all rheumatic diseases has not recently been undertaken. OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of a T2T strategy in the management of adult patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. METHODS PUBMED, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched from January 1990 to December 2023 using key words related to a T2T strategy and rheumatic diseases; T2T strategy clinical trials or observational studies were included. Clinical, physical function and radiologic outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and adverse events (AEs) of the T2T strategies were investigated and a random-effect meta-analysis was conducted for the most commonly used outcomes in RA studies. RESULTS The search identified 7896 studies, of which 66 fit inclusion criteria, including 50 in RA, 3 in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 1 in spondyloarthritis (SpA) and 12 in gout. For the studies comparing a T2T strategy with usual care (UC) in RA, 83.3% (20/24) showed a T2T strategy could achieve significantly better clinical outcomes, and the meta-analysis showed that patients treated with a T2T strategy were more likely to be in remission (pooled RR: 1.68 (1.47-1.92), p<0.001] and achieve DAS-28 response (pooled standardised mean difference (SMD): 0.47 (0.26-0.69), P<0.001] at 1 year than patients treated with UC. Sensitivity analyses showed that a T2T strategy with a predefined treatment protocol had better clinical efficacy than that without protocol. In terms of improving physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), 11/19 (57.9%) studies found a T2T strategy was significantly more likely to achieve these than UC, with the meta-analysis for the mean change of HAQ score supporting this conclusion (pooled SMD: 1.48 (0.46-2.51), p=0.004). Five out of 9 studies (55.6%) demonstrated greater benefit regarding radiographic progression from a T2T strategy. In terms of cost-effectiveness and AEs, 2/2 studies found a T2T strategy was more cost-effective than UC and 8/8 studies showed no tendency for AEs to occur more often with a T2T strategy. For the studies in PsA and SpA, a T2T strategy was also demonstrated to be more effective than UC in clinical and functional benefits, but not in radiologic outcomes. All gout studies showed that sUA level could be controlled more effectively with a T2T strategy, and 2 studies revealed that the T2T strategy could inhibit erosion development or crystal deposition. CONCLUSIONS For patients with active RA, a T2T strategy has been shown in mulitple studies to increase the likelihood of achieving clinical response and improving HRQoL without increasing economic costs and AEs. Limited studies have shown clinical and functional benefits from T2T strategies in active PsA and SpA. A T2T strategy has also been found to improve clinical and radiologic outcomes in gout. T2T trials in other rheumatic diseases are lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Hao
- The University of Melbourne at St Vincent's Hospital, 29 Regent Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Shereen Oon
- The University of Melbourne at St Vincent's Hospital, 29 Regent Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia; Department of Rheumatology, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, 35 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia.
| | - Mandana Nikpour
- The University of Melbourne at St Vincent's Hospital, 29 Regent Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia; Department of Rheumatology, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, 35 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia; Sydney MSK Research Flagship Centre, The University of Sydney School of Public Health, Room 132, Edward Ford Building, Fisher Road, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Institute of Rheumatology and Orthopedics, 59 Missenden Rd, Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia.
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Yoshida A, Kim M, Kuwana M, Ravichandran N, Makol A, Sen P, Lilleker JB, Agarwal V, Kardes S, Day J, Milchert M, Joshi M, Gheita T, Salim B, Velikova T, Gracia-Ramos AE, Parodis I, Nikiphorou E, Chatterjee T, Tan AL, Nune A, Cavagna L, Saavedra MA, Shinjo SK, Ziade N, Knitza J, Distler O, Chinoy H, Agarwal V, Aggarwal R, Gupta L. Gender differences in patient experience in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: Subanalysis from the COVAD dataset. Mod Rheumatol 2024; 34:756-766. [PMID: 37769200 DOI: 10.1093/mr/road094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the gender-based differences in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), with a particular focus on patient-reported outcomes, utilizing the data obtained through the international COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease e-survey. METHODS Patient-reported outcomes including fatigue, pain, and physical function were extracted from the COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease database and compared between genders, adjusting for demographics and IIM subgroups by multivariable analysis. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) was analysed separately because of the substantial differences in outcomes. RESULTS A total of 1197 complete responses from patients with IIMs as of 31 August 2021 were analysed. Seventy percent were women. Women were younger (58 [48-68] vs. 69 [58-75] years old, median [interquartile range], P < .001) and were more likely to suffer from autoimmune multimorbidity, defined as three or more autoimmune diseases in an individual patient (11.4% vs. 2.8%, P < .001). In non-IBM IIMs, fatigue visual analogue scale scores were higher in women (5 [3-7] vs. 4 [2-6], median [interquartile range], P = .004), whereas no significant gender-based differences were noted in IBM. Multivariable analysis in non-IBM IIMs revealed that women, residence in high-income countries, overlap myositis, and autoimmune multimorbidity were independently associated with increased fatigue. CONCLUSIONS Women with IIMs suffer from autoimmune multimorbidity and experience increased fatigue compared to men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yoshida
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Nippon Medical School Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minchul Kim
- Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL, USA
| | - Masataka Kuwana
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Nippon Medical School Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naveen Ravichandran
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Ashima Makol
- Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - James B Lilleker
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Neurology, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK
| | | | - Sinan Kardes
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, Turkey
| | - Jessica Day
- Department of Rheumatology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Marcin Milchert
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Diabetology, Geriatrics and Clinical Immunology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Mrudula Joshi
- Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, India
| | - Tamer Gheita
- Rheumatology Department, Kasr Al Ainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Babur Salim
- Rheumatology Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | | | - Abraham Edgar Gracia-Ramos
- Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital, National Medical Center 'La Raza', Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ioannis Parodis
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Elena Nikiphorou
- Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King's College London, London, UK
- Rheumatology Department, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Tulika Chatterjee
- Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL, USA
| | - Ai Lyn Tan
- NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Arvind Nune
- Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, Southport, UK
| | - Lorenzo Cavagna
- Department of Rheumatology, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit, Dipartimento di Medicine Interna e Terapia Medica, Università degli studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Miguel A Saavedra
- Departamento de Reumatología Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Antonio Fraga Mouret, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Samuel Katsuyuki Shinjo
- Division of Rheumatology, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nelly Ziade
- Rheumatology Department, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Rheumatology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Johannes Knitza
- Medizinische Klinik 3 - Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Deutschland
| | - Oliver Distler
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hector Chinoy
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Rheumatology, Salford Royal Hospital, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK
| | - Vikas Agarwal
- Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Rohit Aggarwal
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Latika Gupta
- Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Rheumatology, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
- Department of Rheumatology, City Hospital, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
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Zhou J, Wang W, Gao W, Xu Y, Zang Y. Fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis patients: The status, independent risk factors, and consistency of multiple scales. Immun Inflamm Dis 2024; 12:e1313. [PMID: 38874275 PMCID: PMC11177286 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fatigue is a common symptom that negatively affects the outcomes and functions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This study aimed to assess the fatigue by two scales and validate their consistency, also to comprehensively evaluate fatigue-related risk factors in RA patients. METHODS In this case-control study, the fatigue of 160 RA patients and 60 healthy controls was evaluated by the Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire (BRAF-MDQ) and the Chinese version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-C). The 28-joint disease activity score using erythrocyte sedimentation rate of RA patients was assessed. RESULTS The BRAF-MDQ and BFI-C scores were elevated in RA patients versus healthy controls (all p < .001). Interestingly, BRAF-MDQ global fatigue score positively correlated with BFI-C global fatigue score in both RA patients (r = .669, p < .001) and healthy controls (r = .527, p < .001); meanwhile, Kendall's tau-b test showed a high consistency between BRAF-MDQ and BFI-C global fatigue scores in RA patients (W = 0.759, p < .001) and healthy controls (W = 0.933, p < .001). Notably, higher education level (В = -4.547; 95% confidence interval: -7.065, -2.029; p < .001) and swollen joint count (В = 1.965; 95% confidence interval: 1.375, 2.554; p < .001) independently related to BRAF-MDQ global fatigue score; higher education level (В = -0.613; 95% confidence interval: -0.956, -0.269; p = .001) and clinical disease activity index (В = 0.053; 95% confidence interval: 0.005, 0.102; p = .032) independently linked with BFI-C global fatigue score. CONCLUSION Fatigue commonly occurs in RA patients, which independently relates to education level and disease activity. Furthermore, BRAF-MDQ and BFI-C scales exhibit a high consistency in assessing fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, China
| | - Wenjia Gao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, China
| | - Yinshan Zang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, China
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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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Doumen M, Pazmino S, Verschueren P, Westhovens R. Viewpoint: Supporting mental health in the current management of rheumatoid arthritis: time to act! Rheumatology (Oxford) 2023; 62:SI274-SI281. [PMID: 37871921 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Although clinical outcomes of RA have vastly improved in recent years, the disease's mental health impact has seemingly not decreased to the same extent. Even today, learning to live with RA is an active process involving several psychological, cognitive, behavioural and emotional pathways. Consequently, mental health disorders are more common in the context of RA than in the general population, and can be particularly detrimental both to patients' quality of life and to clinical outcomes. However, mental health is a spectrum and represents more than the absence of psychological comorbidity, and supporting patients' psychological wellbeing should thus involve a more holistic perspective than the mere exclusion or specific treatment of mental health disorders. In this viewpoint article, we build on mechanistic and historical insights regarding the relationship between RA and mental health, before proposing a practical stepwise approach to supporting patients' mental health in daily clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Doumen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, Leuven
| | - Sofia Pazmino
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Verschueren
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, Leuven
| | - René Westhovens
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, Leuven
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Felis-Giemza A, Massalska M, Roszkowski L, Romanowska-Próchnicka K, Ciechomska M. Potential Mechanism of Fatigue Induction and Its Management by JAK Inhibitors in Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:3949-3965. [PMID: 37706062 PMCID: PMC10497048 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s414739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that fatigue is a highly disabling symptom commonly observed in inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs). Fatigue is strongly associated with a poor quality of life and seems to be an independent predictor of job loss and disability in patients with different rheumatic diseases. Although the pathogenesis of fatigue remains unclear, indirect data suggest the cooperation of the immune system, the central and autonomic nervous system, and the neuroendocrine system in the induction and sustainment of fatigue in chronic diseases. Fatigue does not correspond with disease activity and its mechanism in IRDs. It is suggested that it may change over time and vary between individuals. Abnormal production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferons (IFNs), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), TNF, IL-15, IL-17 play a role in both IRDs and subsequent fatigue development. Some of these cytokines such as IL-6, IFNs, GM-CSF, and common gamma-chain cytokines (IL-15, IL-2, and IL-7) activate the Janus Kinases (JAKs) family of intracellular tyrosine kinases. Therapy blocking JAKs (JAK inhibitors - JAKi) has been recently proven to be an effective approach for IRDs treatment, more efficient in pain reduction than anti-TNF. Therefore, the administration of JAKi to IRDs patients experiencing fatigue may find rational implications as a therapeutic modulator not only of disease inflammatory symptoms but also fatigue with its components like pain and neuropsychiatric features as well. In this review, we demonstrate the latest information on the mechanisms of fatigue in rheumatic diseases and the potential effect of JAKi on fatigue reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Felis-Giemza
- Biologic Therapy Center, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation (NIGRiR), Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Massalska
- Department of Pathophysiology and Immunology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation (NIGRiR), Warsaw, Poland
| | - Leszek Roszkowski
- Department of Outpatient Clinics, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation (NIGRiR), Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Romanowska-Próchnicka
- Department of Biophysics, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marzena Ciechomska
- Department of Pathophysiology and Immunology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation (NIGRiR), Warsaw, Poland
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8
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Doumen M, Pazmino S, Bertrand D, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis: Balancing benefits and harm by leveraging the therapeutic window of opportunity. Joint Bone Spine 2022; 90:105491. [PMID: 36410680 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2022.105491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids have been available since the early 1950s and have since become an integral part of the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Due to their rapid effect, glucocorticoids have an appealing profile for treating flares or as "bridging" agents in early RA. The efficacy of glucocorticoids to treat RA has been well established, both to control disease activity and to delay the progression of joint damage. However, despite their benefits, glucocorticoids have equally well-known adverse effects. It is generally accepted that long-term use of glucocorticoids, particularly at higher doses, is not advisable, and recent guidelines for the management of RA therefore either recommend against the use of glucocorticoids or suggest using them only as bridging therapy. Perceptions on the harmful effects of glucocorticoids remain, although mainly based on observational studies. Prolonged glucocorticoid therapy at low doses is still highly prevalent in clinical practice, but recent data suggest a rather favourable risk-benefit balance for this strategy, even in senior patients. Balancing the benefits and risks of treating RA with glucocorticoids thus remains a somewhat controversial topic. This narrative review outlines the historical and current position of glucocorticoids in the management of RA, while summarising recent evidence on their beneficial and detrimental effects. Furthermore, practical strategies for the current use and tapering of glucocorticoids in RA are formulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Doumen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Rheumatology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofia Pazmino
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Delphine Bertrand
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rene Westhovens
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Rheumatology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Verschueren
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Rheumatology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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9
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Kozłowska KA, Formanowicz D, Bączyk G. The Link between the Demographic and Clinical Factors and Fatigue Symptoms among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14681. [PMID: 36429400 PMCID: PMC9690362 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic disease of connective tissue with periods of exacerbation and remission. Fatigue is excessive strain throughout the body that is disproportionate or unrelated to an activity or lifestyle. Fatigue is an integral part of RA in most patients. The study aimed to assess the level of fatigue in RA patients and establish the relationship between fatigue and demographic and clinical factors. The study group consisted of 128 RA patients according to European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue and -Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) vitality scores were used to assess the severity of fatigue symptoms. The analyzed variables were gender, age, disease duration, education, marital status, place of residence, work and residence status, pharmacological treatment, pain, morning stiffness, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), compression soreness, Richie Articular Index, and DAS28 disease activity. The examined patients experience chronic fatigue-the mean value on the FACIT-F scale was 24.1 ± 9.1 points and on the SF-36 Vitality score was 14.2 ± 1.8 points. There is a relationship between the level of fatigue and pain, long-lasting morning stiffness, active disease, increased soreness of joints, and low hemoglobin values. When analyzing the symptom of fatigue, each patient should be approached individually, using the existing questionnaires or asking key questions to recognize the situation. The presence of fatigue symptoms should be considered during therapy and patient care by searching for and eliminating additional, intensifying stimuli and increasing its level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dorota Formanowicz
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
| | - Grażyna Bączyk
- Department of Nursing Practices, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
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10
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Tański W, Dudek K, Adamowski T. Work Ability and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13260. [PMID: 36293837 PMCID: PMC9603111 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduced work participation has social implications (sickness absence, economic impact) and consequences for the individual patient (impoverishment, depression, limited social interaction). As patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to experience job loss and/or at-work productivity loss and are at higher risk of sickness absence and, ultimately, permanent work productivity, consideration should be given to the association between work productivity or partial work capacity and quality of life (QoL). The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between QoL and the risk of work disability, as well as to estimate the risk of a future event and identify factors affecting the risk of work disability in RA inpatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cross-sectional study included 142 inpatients (65 male) aged 47 (38-58) years, who met the established criteria for a diagnosis of RA and treatment with biologic drugs. Only standardized tools were used to examine the patients: WHOQOL-BREF, MFIS and AS-WIS. RESULTS An analysis of the QoL scores on the WHOQOL-BREF demonstrated that the patients' QoL was lowest in the physical health domain and highest in the social relationships domain. The median WHOQOL-BREF total score in the group studied was 62.8, which indicates a moderate QoL. The median total score for the risk of work disability (AS-WIS) was 10.1, which indicates that the level of risk of work disability in the patients was higher than the average level reported in the literature. A multivariate analysis showed that the following were significant independent determinants of a higher risk of work disability: low QoL in the WHOQOL-BREF physical health (β = 0.961; p = 0.029) and psychological health (β = 1.752; p = 0.002) domains, being in a relationship (β = 0.043; p = 0.005) and the use of opioids for pain (β = 3.054; p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS RA patients presented with moderate QoL, moderate fatigue (MFIS) and high risk of disability (AS-WIS). There is an association between a high risk of work disability and lower QoL, especially in the physical and psychological health domains. The lower the QoL in those domains, the higher the risk of work disability. The identification of factors increasing the risk of work disability will help in planning tailored interventions to improve at-work productivity loss and thus prevent work disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Tański
- Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, R. Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Dudek
- Department of Transport Systems, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz Adamowski
- Department of Nursing and Obstetrics, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-618 Wrocław, Poland
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11
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Doumen M, Pazmino S, Bertrand D, De Cock D, Joly J, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Longitudinal trajectories of fatigue in early RA: the role of inflammation, perceived disease impact and early treatment response. Ann Rheum Dis 2022; 81:1385-1391. [PMID: 35725296 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-222517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fatigue is common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to explore its longitudinal course, predictors and association with disease activity in early RA. METHODS Data came from the 2-year treat-to-target trial CareRA (Care in early RA) and its 3-year extension. Fatigue was measured on Visual Analogue Scale, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and Short Form-36 (SF-36) vitality. Longitudinal fatigue trajectories were identified with multivariate growth mixture modelling. Early predictors of fatigue and the association of fatigue and its trajectories with disease activity and clinical/psychosocial outcomes were studied with linear mixed models and multilevel mediation. RESULTS We included 356 and 244 patients in the 2-year and 5-year analyses, respectively. Four fatigue trajectories were identified: rapid, gradual, transient improvement and early deterioration, including 10%, 14%, 56% and 20% of patients. Worse pain, mental health and emotional functioning were seen in the early deterioration group. Higher pain, patient global assessment (PGA) and disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire), lower SF-36 mental components, and fewer swollen joints at baseline predicted higher fatigue over 5 years, while early disease remission strongly improved 5-year fatigue. The association between Simple Disease Activity Index and fatigue was mediated by PGA, pain, mental health and sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS Although fatigue evolves dynamically over time in early RA, most patients do not achieve sustained fatigue improvement despite intensive disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy. Higher 5-year fatigue levels were seen in patients with more perceived disease impact and fewer swollen joints at baseline. Conversely, early inflammatory disease control strongly improved long-term fatigue, pointing towards an early window of opportunity to prevent persistent fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Doumen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium .,Rheumatology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofia Pazmino
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Delphine Bertrand
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diederik De Cock
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Public Health, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Johan Joly
- Rheumatology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - René Westhovens
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Rheumatology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Verschueren
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Rheumatology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Smesam HN, Qazmooz HA, Khayoon SQ, Almulla AF, Al-Hakeim HK, Maes M. Pathway Phenotypes Underpinning Depression, Anxiety, and Chronic Fatigue Symptoms Due to Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Precision Nomothetic Psychiatry Analysis. J Pers Med 2022; 12:476. [PMID: 35330475 PMCID: PMC8950237 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12030476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorder which affects the joints in the wrists, fingers, and knees. RA is often associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)-like symptoms. This paper examines the association between depressive symptoms (measured with the Beck Depression Inventory, BDI), anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, HAMA), CFS-like (Fibro-fatigue Scale) symptoms and immune-inflammatory, autoimmune, and endogenous opioid system (EOS) markers, and lactosylcer-amide (CD17) in RA. The serum biomarkers were assayed in 118 RA and 50 healthy controls. Results were analyzed using the new precision nomothetic psychiatry approach. We found significant correlations between the BDI, FF, and HAMA scores and severity of RA, as assessed with the DAS28-4, clinical and disease activity indices, the number of tender and swollen joints, and patient and evaluator global assessment scores. Partial least squares analysis showed that 69.7% of the variance in this common core underpinning psychopathology and RA symptoms was explained by immune-inflammatory pathways, rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, CD17, and mu-opioid receptor levels. We constructed a new endophenotype class comprising patients with very high immune-inflammatory markers, CD17, RA, affective and CF-like symptoms, and tobacco use disorder. We extracted a reliable and replicable latent vector (pathway phenotype) from immune data, psychopathology, and RA-severity scales. Depression, anxiety, and CFS-like symptoms due to RA are manifestations of the phenome of RA and are mediated by the effects of the same immune-inflammatory, autoimmune, and other pathways that underpin the pathophysiology of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Najah Smesam
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Kufa, Kufa 540011, Iraq; (H.N.S.); (H.K.A.-H.)
| | - Hasan Abbas Qazmooz
- Department of Ecology, College of Science, University of Kufa, Kufa 540011, Iraq;
| | - Sinan Qayes Khayoon
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Kufa, Kufa 540011, Iraq;
| | - Abbas F. Almulla
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf 54001, Iraq;
| | - Hussein Kadhem Al-Hakeim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Kufa, Kufa 540011, Iraq; (H.N.S.); (H.K.A.-H.)
| | - Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, P.O. Box 281, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
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