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Bugatti S, Schett G. Prevention of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis: an entity of its own. THE LANCET. RHEUMATOLOGY 2024:S2665-9913(24)00226-1. [PMID: 39303732 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(24)00226-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Bugatti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics and Division of Rheumatology, University of Pavia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy.
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology and Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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Khidir SJH, Krijbolder DI, Glas HK, van Mulligen E, van der Helm-van Mil AHM. Patient burden and joint inflammation during development of RA from arthralgia: is it similar in ACPA-positive and ACPA-negative disease? Rheumatology (Oxford) 2024; 63:2336-2344. [PMID: 38261628 PMCID: PMC11371371 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae044] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES ACPA-positive and ACPA-negative RA differ in underlying risk factors but have a similar clinical presentation at RA diagnosis. It is unknown what the ACPA-associated differences or similarities are during the symptomatic at-risk stage of RA, i.e. clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA). To deepen insights into these differences/similarities, we compared the course of symptoms/impairments and subclinical joint inflammation in the CSA phase during progression to inflammatory arthritis (IA) or to CSA resolution. METHODS A total of 845 CSA patients were followed for a median of 24 months; 136 patients developed IA and an additional 355/505 patients had resolution of CSA according to rheumatologists. Patient burden (pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, functional disabilities, presenteeism) was assessed at baseline and 4, 12 and 24 months and at IA development. Subclinical joint inflammation in the hands and feet was assessed over time with 1.5T MRI. Linear and Poisson mixed models were used. RESULTS In both ACPA-positive and ACPA-negative patients, patient burden increased towards IA development and decreased towards CSA resolution. However, patient burden was lower in ACPA-positive vs ACPA-negative disease at all timepoints. Conversely, subclinical joint inflammation tended to increase more rapidly during development of ACPA-positive IA [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.52 (95% CI 0.94, 2.47), P = 0.089] and remained higher over time in ACPA-positive CSA patients achieving resolution compared with ACPA-negative patients [IRR 1.52 (95% CI 1.07, 2.15), P = 0.018]. Although correlation coefficients between changes in patient burden and subclinical joint inflammation during progression to IA were weak, they were consistently higher in ACPA-positive than ACPA-negative disease, e.g. ρ = 0.29 vs 0.12 for functional disabilities. CONCLUSION During RA development and CSA resolution, ACPA-positive CSA patients have lower patient burden but more subclinical joint inflammation than ACPA-negative CSA patients. These data strengthen the notion that the development of ACPA-positive and ACPA-negative RA is pathophysiologically different and encourage further research on these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J H Khidir
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Doortje I Krijbolder
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Herman K Glas
- Department of Rheumatology, Reumazorg ZWN, Goes, The Netherlands
| | - Elise van Mulligen
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annette H M van der Helm-van Mil
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Guaracha-Basáñez GA, Contreras-Yáñez I, Ortiz-Haro AB, Pascual-Ramos V. Differences in referral path, clinical and radiographic outcomes between seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis Mexican Mestizo patients: A cohort study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304953. [PMID: 38843126 PMCID: PMC11156376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study compared the referral path, the first two-year clinical outcomes, and the first five-year radiographic outcomes between seronegative patients (SNPs) from a recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis dynamic cohort initiated in 2004 and seropositive patients (SPPs). Predictors of incidental erosive disease were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS Up to March 2023, one independent observer reviewed the charts from 188 patients with at least two years of clinical assessments and up to five years of annual radiographic assessments. SNPs were defined when baseline RF and ACPA serum titers were within local normal ranges. The erosive disease was defined on hand and/or foot radiographs when at least one unequivocal cortical bone defect was detected. The incidental erosive disease was defined in baseline erosive disease-free patients who developed erosions at follow-ups. Multivariate Cox regression analyses identified hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for factors to predict incidental erosive disease. RESULTS There were 17 (9%) SNPs, and they had a shorter time from symptoms onset to first physician evaluation, visited a lower number of physicians, and received less intensive treatment at referral and during the first years of follow-up than SPPs. Also, they had fewer 0-66 swollen joints and were less frequently persistent on therapy. The erosive disease was detected only in SPPs, and its frequency increased from 10.1% at baseline to 36.1% at the five-year radiographic assessment. There were 53 (31.4%) patients with incidental erosive disease, and differences between SPPs and SNPs were statistically significant at the feet location. Incidental erosive disease was predicted by baseline ACPA, ESR, substantial morning stiffness, and cumulative CRP. CONCLUSIONS SNPs showed mild differences in their referral path and clinical outcomes compared to SPPs. However, erosive disease was detected only in SPPs and was predicted by baseline and cumulative clinical and serologic variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Arturo Guaracha-Basáñez
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador-Zubirán (INCMyN-SZ), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Irazú Contreras-Yáñez
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador-Zubirán (INCMyN-SZ), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ana Belén Ortiz-Haro
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador-Zubirán (INCMyN-SZ), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Virginia Pascual-Ramos
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador-Zubirán (INCMyN-SZ), Mexico City, Mexico
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De Stefano L, Bugatti S, Mazzucchelli I, Rossi S, Xoxi B, Bozzalla Cassione E, Luvaro T, Montecucco C, Manzo A. Synovial and serum B cell signature of autoantibody-negative rheumatoid arthritis vs autoantibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2024; 63:1322-1331. [PMID: 37481716 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Autoantibody-negative RA differs from autoantibody-positive RA in several clinical aspects, possibly underpinned by pathogenetic differences. At present, the role of adaptive immune responses in autoantibody-negative RA remains unclear. Here, we investigated the synovial and serum immunophenotype indicative of B lymphocyte involvement across the spectrum of autoantibody-positive and -negative chronic arthritides. METHODS Ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies were retrieved from 131 patients: 43 autoantibody-positive RA, 35 autoantibody-negative RA, 25 polyarticular PsA and 28 oligoarticular PsA. Samples were analysed for the degree of histological inflammation, B lymphocyte infiltration and the distribution of different pathotypes (lympho-myeloid, myeloid, pauci-immune). Serum levels of the B cell chemoattractant CXCL13 were compared among groups. RESULTS Synovitis scores and CD68+ sublining macrophage infiltration were comparable irrespective of clinical diagnosis and disease subtype. In contrast, the degree of B lymphocyte infiltration and the frequency of lympho-myeloid synovitis in autoantibody-negative RA were lower than those of autoantibody-positive RA (mean [s.d.] 1.8 [1] vs 2.4 [0.6], P = 0.03, and 38.2% vs 62.9%, P = 0.07, respectively), and similar to polyarticular PsA. Oligoarticular PsA had the lowest B cell scores. Serum CXCL13 was associated with lympho-myeloid synovitis and followed a similar gradient, with the highest levels in autoantibody-positive RA, intermediate and comparable levels in autoantibody-negative RA and polyarticular PsA, and low levels in oligoarticular PsA. CONCLUSIONS The synovial and serum immunophenotype indicative of B lymphocyte involvement in autoantibody-negative RA differs from that of autoantibody-positive RA and more closely resembles that observed in polyarticular PsA. The pathobiological stratification of chronic inflammatory arthritides beyond clinical diagnosis may fuel personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovico De Stefano
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Bugatti
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Iolanda Mazzucchelli
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Rossi
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Blerina Xoxi
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Bozzalla Cassione
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Terenzj Luvaro
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlomaurizio Montecucco
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Manzo
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
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Bugatti S, De Stefano L, Gandolfo S, Ciccia F, Montecucco C. Autoantibody-negative rheumatoid arthritis: still a challenge for the rheumatologist. THE LANCET. RHEUMATOLOGY 2023; 5:e743-e755. [PMID: 38251565 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(23)00242-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Increased research over the past 30 years has greatly improved the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical aspects of autoantibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis, resulting in improved management and outcomes. In contrast, the subset of rheumatoid arthritis that does not have autoantibodies (such as rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies) remains less well defined in its pathogenic mechanisms. Autoantibody-negative rheumatoid arthritis continues to pose diagnostic challenges, might respond differently to therapies, and appears to be burdened with different comorbidities and outcomes. The clear separation of rheumatoid arthritis according to serotypes is still a subject of uncertainty and controversy, and studies specifically focused on comparing rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis-like arthritides that do not have autoantibodies remain scarce. The purpose of this Review is to summarise the peculiarities that make autoantibody-negative rheumatoid arthritis different from its autoantibody-positive counterpart, with the aim of generating debate and stimulating further research on this challenging condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Bugatti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Ludovico De Stefano
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Saviana Gandolfo
- UOSD di Reumatologia, Ospedale San Giovanni Bosco, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Ciccia
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università della Campania L Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
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Suardi I, Posio C, Luconi E, Boracchi P, Caporali R, Ingegnoli F. Disease activity and disease-related factors are drivers of patient global assessment in rheumatoid arthritis: a real-life cross-sectional study. Rheumatol Int 2023; 43:1885-1895. [PMID: 37454308 PMCID: PMC10435653 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05383-6] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Despite that the Patient Global Assessment (PGA) is widely used for measuring Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) disease activity to define the remission state of the disease, the primary contributors influencing patients' ratings are still debated. This study aims to determine which clinical, sociodemographic and lifestyle-related contextual factors might be key drivers of PGA in RA. This single-center cross-sectional study recruited 393 consecutive adult RA patients. Median age 60 years, females 306 (77.9%). Data related to disease activity were assessed by using Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), severity by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and impact by RA Impact of Disease (RAID). Sociodemographic/lifestyle features were collected. Disease remission was calculated using Boolean-based criteria 1.0 and 2.0. Quantile regression models were used for univariate and multivariate analysis. The remission rate progressively increased from 15% by using SDAI with a Boolean 1.0-based definition to 43.5% using a Boolean 2.0-based remission. Among factors related to disease activity, the use of low-dose corticosteroids, the RAID items pain and sleep difficulties were predictive for worse PGA scores (p = 0.01). Among factors related to disease severity HAQ score and RAID total were independent factors associated with higher median PGA (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001). RAID's physical well-being was related to PGA scores (p = 0.01). An increasing trend in PGA was observed in longstanding diseases (> 15 years). Our results confirmed that there is no unambiguous interpretation of the PGA score. It is a measure related to some disease activity parameters, but it is also influenced by contextual factors related to disease severity and impact. These data highlighted that PGA should have a broad interpretation, thus supporting the proposal of a dual targets (biological and impact) approach to obtain a more accurate estimate of disease activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Suardi
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Posio
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ester Luconi
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”, Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Boracchi
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Caporali
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Ingegnoli
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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De Stefano L, Bozzalla Cassione E, Bottazzi F, Marazzi E, Maggiore F, Morandi V, Montecucco C, Bugatti S. Janus kinase inhibitors effectively improve pain across different disease activity states in rheumatoid arthritis. Intern Emerg Med 2023; 18:1733-1740. [PMID: 37500945 PMCID: PMC10504158 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-023-03350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Pain remains one of the most difficult-to-treat domains in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In clinical trials, the Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) have demonstrated good efficacy in pain relief. Aim of our study was to evaluate the real-life effectiveness of JAKis in improving pain in patients with RA in different states of baseline disease activity. A monocentric prospective cohort of 181 RA patients starting treatment with JAKis was studied. Pain was evaluated on a 0-100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Clinically meaningful improvements over 24 weeks were defined as follows: proportion of patients achieving ≥ 30%, ≥ 50%, and ≥ 70% pain relief, and remaining pain ≤ 20 or ≤ 10 mm. Results were analysed after stratification for baseline inflammatory activity; patients with swollen joints and C-reactive protein ≤ 1 at treatment start were considered pauci-inflammatory. Proportion of patients who achieved ≥ 30%, ≥ 50% and ≥ 70% pain improvement at 24 weeks was 61.4%, 49.3% and 32.9%. Furthermore, 40.6% and 28.5% of the patients achieved thresholds of remaining pain equivalent to mild pain or no/limited pain. Pain improvements were more evident in patients naive to previous biologics, although nearly 30% of multiple failures achieved VAS ≤ 20 mm. No significant differences were observed in relation to monotherapy. Pauci-inflammatory patients at treatment start achieved good outcomes, with 40.4% experiencing ≥ 70% pain improvement, and 35.7% VAS ≤ 10 mm. JAKis show efficacy in pain relief in real life. The improvement of painful symptoms also in those patients with limited objective inflammation may open new perspectives on the management of difficult-to-treat RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovico De Stefano
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Bozzalla Cassione
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Bottazzi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Marazzi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesco Maggiore
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Valentina Morandi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlomaurizio Montecucco
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Serena Bugatti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
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