Severe Extraarticular Manifestations in a Community-based Cohort of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Risk Factors and Incidence in Relation to Treatment with Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors

Incidence and predisposing factors of extra-articular manifestations in contemporary rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Rheumatoid arthritis [RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease, with potential for extra-articular manifestations (ExRA). The incidence and predisposing factors for ExRA and the mortality were evaluated in an early RA inception cohort.

METHODS

Patients (n = 1468; 69 % females, mean age (SD) 57.3(16.3) years) were consecutively included at the date of diagnosis, between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2016, and assessed prospectively. In December 2016 development of ExRA was evaluated by a patient questionnaire and a review of medical records. Cumulative incidence and incidence rates were compared between 5-year periods and between patients included before and after 1 January 2001. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify predictors for ExRA, and models with ExRA as time-dependent variables to estimate the mortality.

RESULTS

After a mean (SD) follow-up of 9.3(4.9) years, 238 cases (23.3 %) had ExRA and 151 (14.7 %) had ExRA without rheumatoid nodules. Most ExRA developed within 5 years from diagnosis. Rheumatoid nodules (10.5 %) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (7.1 %) were the most frequent manifestations, followed by pulmonary fibrosis (6.1 %). The ExRA incidence among more recently diagnosed patients was similar as to the incidence among patients diagnosed before 2001. Seropositivity, smoking and early biological treatment were associated with development of ExRA. After 15 years 20 % had experienced ExRA. ExRA was associated with increased mortality, HR 3.029 (95 % CI 2.177-4.213).

CONCLUSIONS

Early development of ExRA is frequent, particularly rheumatoid nodules. Predisposing factors were age, RF positivity, smoking and early biological treatment. The patients with ExRA had a 3-fold increase in mortality.

Updates on interstitial lung disease and other selected extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss changes in epidemiology, recent advances in understanding of the pathogenesis and management of selected extraarticular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (ExRA).

RECENT FINDINGS

The incidence of ExRA overall and subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules in particular is declining after 2000. These trends reflect improved RA disease activity with early effective immunosuppressive treatments; changing environmental risk factors can be contributing. ExRA continues to carry a two-fold increased mortality risk. RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is a major contributor to mortality, with no decline in incidence and scant therapeutic options. Individualized risk stratification for RA-ILD based on patient-level risk factors and biomarker profile is evolving with MUC5B as a major genetic risk factor. Clinical trials are underway to evaluate the benefits of novel antifibrotic therapies and targeted therapies for RA-ILD. The risk of cardiovascular disease in RA is generally amendable to treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, although cardiovascular risk associated with JAK inhibition is not fully understood.

SUMMARY

Despite reduction in incidence of ExRA overall, the incidence of RA-ILD shows no significant decline and remains a major therapeutic challenge. The use of novel antifibrotics and immunosuppressive drugs shows promise in slowing the progression of RA-ILD.

Osteoporosis-related fractures in men and women with established and early rheumatoid arthritis: predictors and risk compared with the general population

OBJECTIVES

To study the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures in a community-based sample of men and women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) overall, as well as early (< 1 year of disease duration, follow-up time maximum 10 years) and established (RA diagnosis since ≥ 5 years on July 1, 1997) RA, compared with the general population. To study potential risk factors for fractures in patients with RA from baseline questionnaire data.

METHODS

A community-based cohort of patients with RA (n = 1928) was studied and compared to matched general population controls. Information on osteoporosis-related fractures (hip, proximal upper arm, distal forearm and vertebral fractures) during the period July 1, 1997 to December 31, 2017 was obtained by linkage to the Swedish National Inpatient Register and the Cause of Death Register. The incidence of fractures was estimated in patients and controls. Cox regression models were used to assess the relation between RA and the risk of fractures and to assess potential predictors of fractures in RA patients. Analyses were stratified by sex, and performed in all patients with RA, and in subsets with early and established RA.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures in the RA cohort was 10.6 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 9.31; 12.0). There was an increased risk of fractures overall in both men (hazard ratio (HR) 1.55, 95% CI 1.03; 2.34) and women (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.27; 1.83) with RA compared to controls, with significantly increased risk also in the hip. No increased risk of osteoporosis-related fractures overall was seen in patients with early RA (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.69; 1.49). Higher age, longer duration of RA, higher HAQ scores and higher scores in the visual analogue scale for global health were predictors of fractures.

CONCLUSION

Both men and women with RA were at increased risk of osteoporosis-related fractures. Patients with early RA did not have significantly increased risk during the first 10 years of disease in this study.

Rheumatoid vasculitis in 2023: Changes and challenges since the biologics era

BACKGROUND

Significant changes in the epidemiology and natural history of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) have occurred with the introduction of biological therapies such as TNF inhibitors (TNFi) and rituximab.

PURPOSE

This scoping review aims to address the key current challenges and propose updated criteria for RV. This will aid future descriptive observational studies and prospective therapeutic trials.

METHODOLOGY

The MEDLINE database was searched for eligible articles from inception through December 2022. Articles were selected based on language and publication date after 1998, corresponding to the approval of the first TNFi in rheumatic diseases.

RESULTS

Sixty articles were included in the review. The mean incidence of RV has decreased since the approval of biologic therapies in RA, from 9.1 (95% CI: 6.8-12.0) per million between 1988 and 2000 to 3.9 (95% CI: 2.3-6.2) between 2001 and 2010, probably due to significant improvement in RA severity and a decrease in smoking habits. Factors associated with an increased risk of RV include smoking at RA diagnosis, longer disease duration, severe RA, immunopositivity, and male gender (regardless of age). Homozygosity for the HLA-DRB104 shared epitope is linked to RV, while the presence of HLA-C3 is a significant predictor of vasculitis in patients without HLA-DRB104. Cutaneous (65-88%), neurologic (35-63%), and cardiac (33%) manifestations are common in RV, often associated with constitutional symptoms (70%). Histologic findings range from small vessel vasculitis to medium-sized necrotizing arteritis, but definite evidence of vasculitis is not required in the 1984 Scott and Bacon diagnostic criteria. Existing data on RV treatment are retrospective, and no formal published guidelines are currently available.

CONCLUSION

The understanding of RV pathogenesis has improved since its initial diagnostic criteria, with a wider range of clinical manifestations identified. However, a validated and updated criteria that incorporates these advances is currently lacking, impeding the development of descriptive observational studies and prospective therapeutic trials.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor-related immune disorders

Biotechnological monoclonal antibodies and receptor antagonists capable of targeting specific inflammatory actors, such as cytokines, cytokines receptors, co-stimulatory molecules or leukocyte populations, have emerged as an alternative to conventional therapies for treating systemic inflammatory diseases with immune pathogenesis. However, there is no doubt that, with a frequency that is not exceptionally high but also not negligible, immunotherapies can favour the development of systemic and organ-specific immune-mediated disorders. It has become increasingly evident that interference with a specific immune pathway may favour the activation of opposing compensatory signalling, which may exacerbate underlying subclinical disorders or cause immune-mediated diseases completely different from the underlying disease. The 'compensatory immunological switch' has emerged primarily in patients treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α inhibitors, the first biological drugs approved for treating systemic inflammatory diseases with immune pathogenesis. In this Review, we describe the clinical features and predisposing factors of the main TNF-α inhibitor-related immune disorders, organising them into subclinical serological autoimmunity, autoimmune disorders other than those for which TNF-α inhibitors are indicated, and paradoxical reactions. We also discuss the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms and precautions for use in the therapeutic management of these patients. Better understanding of the complex phenomenon of the 'compensatory immunological switch', which TNF-α inhibitors and other biological drugs might trigger, can help not only appropriately managing immune-mediated disorders, but also better interpreting the heterogeneity of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying certain chronic inflammatory conditions that, although different from each other, are arbitrarily placed in the context of overly generic nosological entities.

New Druggable Targets for Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on Insights From Synovial Biology

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and destruction of multiple small joints which may lead to systemic complications. Altered immunity via pathogenic autoantibodies pre-date clinical symptom development by several years. Incompletely understood range of mechanisms trigger joint-homing, leading to clinically evident articular disease. Advances in therapeutic approaches and understanding pathogenesis have improved prognosis and likely remission. However, partial/non-response to conventional and biologic therapies witnessed in a subset of patients highlights the need for new therapeutics. It is now evident that joint disease chronicity stems from recalcitrant inflammatory synovial environment, majorly maintained by epigenetically and metabolically reprogrammed synoviocytes. Therefore, interference with effector functions of activated cell types seems a rational strategy to reinstate synovial homeostasis and complement existing anti-inflammatory interventions to mitigate chronic RA. Presenting this newer aspect of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and myeloid cells underlying the altered synovial biology in RA and its potential for identification of new druggable targets is attempted in this review. Major leads from i) molecular insights of pathogenic cell types from hypothesis free OMICS approaches; ii) hierarchy of their dysregulated signaling pathways; and iii) knowledge of druggability of molecular nodes in these pathways are highlighted. Development of such synovial biology-directed therapeutics hold promise for an enriched drug repertoire for RA.

Rituximab therapy in pericarditis associated with rheumatoid arthritis

In rheumatoid arthritis, pericarditis is commonly asymptomatic, but rarely, it progresses to a morbid complication, like cardiac tamponade or restrictive pericarditis. Current studies have indicated that conventional drugs have limited ability to reverse these lethal conditions. To date, invasive surgical measures remain the only definitive therapy for patients who are unresponsive to drugs. Recently, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α and anti-interleukin-1 antibody-based drugs have shown limited success. Consequently, given the importance of pericarditis, we need new treatment methods. Here, we describe a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and effusive pericarditis, which progressed to life-threatening cardiac tamponade. The patient responded very well to rituximab. Thus, rituximab represents a potential new therapy for this rarely treated complication of rheumatoid arthritis.

A 30-Day Adjunct Wellness Intervention for the Management of Extra-Articular Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Formative Study

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) continually fall short of treatment targets using standard drug therapies alone. There is growing evidence that emphasizing physical and mental wellness is equally crucial for improving functioning among people with RA. The purpose of this formative study is to examine the feasibility of offering the wellness-based intervention (“KickStart30”) in patients with RA. Thirteen individuals with RA on targeted immune modulators (a biologic or JAK inhibitor) enrolled in the KickStart30 program. Participants completed self-report measures of RA-specific disability (eg, pain) and other functional areas (eg, mood) in a pre- versus post- intervention design. Paired samples t-tests (and Related-Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests for non-normal distributions) detected statistically significant results for 10 of 12 measures, including reductions in pain (M = 4.54 to M = 3.54; p = .025; BPI), functional disability (M = 0.94 to M = 0.73, p = .032; HAQ-II), cognitive and physical dysfunction (M = 25.46 to M = 13.54, p < .001; CPFQ), depressive symptoms (M = 9.31 to M = 5.54, p = .003; PHQ-9), anxiety (M= 5.69 to M = 3.23, p = .005; GAD-7), insomnia (M = 11.62 to M = 17.32, p = .007; Note: higher scores on the SCI indicate less insomnia), stress-related eating (M = 75.46 to M = 84.54, p = .021; Note: higher scores on the EADES indicate less stress-related eating), along with significant increases in mindfulness (M = 62.54 to M = 67.85, p = .040; MAAS), mental wellness (M = 4.46 to M = 5.69; HERO), and well-being (M_d = 8.00 to M_d = 5.00, p = .004; WHO-5). All significant measures had medium to large effect sizes (Cohen's d). The study gives preliminary support for the possibility that the adjunct intervention may have an effect.

Ischemic Heart Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis-Two Conditions, the Same Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most frequent inflammatory rheumatic diseases, having a considerably increased prevalence of mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). RA patients have an augmented risk for ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease. Increased cardiovascular (CV) risk is related to disease activity and chronic inflammation. Traditional risk factors and RA-related characteristics participate in vascular involvement, inducing subclinical changes in coronary microcirculation. RA is considered an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Endothelial dysfunction is a precocious marker of atherosclerosis (ATS). Pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNFα, IL-1, and IL-6) play an important role in synovial inflammation and ATS progression. Therefore, targeting inflammation is essential to controlling RA and preventing CVD. Present guidelines emphasize the importance of disease control, but studies show that RA- treatment has a different influence on CV risk. Based on the excessive risk for CV events in RA, permanent evaluation of CVD in these patients is critical. CVD risk calculators, designed for the general population, do not use RA-related predictive determinants; also, new scores that take into account RA-derived factors have restricted validity, with none of them encompassing imaging modalities or specific biomarkers involved in RA activity.

Triggers of Cardiovascular Diseases in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is higher than that in patients without RA, and it is even higher than that in patients with diabetes. Autoimmune-mediated inflammation is observed in patients with RA, resulting in endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and activation, and vascular migration of white blood cells. Traditionally, RA-associated CVD was assumed to be mediated by disease-related inflammation, resulting in atherosclerosis (AS). However, this concept has been challenged because treatment with anti-rheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate or proinflammatory cytokine antagonists, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, did not reduce the risk of CVD in patients with RA. Current cardiovascular guidelines recommend screening and treatment of CVD risk factors in patients with RA but without clear biomarkers and treatment goals. There is no scientific basis for establishing therapeutic targets for cardiovascular risk factors in RA. Numerous studies have shown that the mechanism of early cardiac dysfunction in patients with RA may occur prior to AS. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the related mechanisms to prevent early cardiac dysfunction in patients with RA.

Cardiac manifestations of rheumatic diseases

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases are inflammatory disorders that can involve multiple organs, including the heart. The high risk of cardiovascular pathology in these patients is not only due to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, but also to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. All cardiac structures may be affected during the course of systemic autoimmune diseases (valves, the conduction system, the myocardium, endocardium and pericardium, and coronary arteries), and the cardiac complications have a variety of clinical manifestations. As these are all associated with an unfavourable prognosis, it is essential to detect subclinical cardiac involvement in asymptomatic systemic autoimmune disease patients and begin adequate management and treatment early. In this review, we examine the multiple cardiovascular manifestations in patients with rheumatological disorders and available management strategies.

Beyond the joints, the extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease typically affecting the joints, but the systemic inflammatory process may involve other tissues and organs. Many extra-articular manifestations are recognized, which are related to worse long outcomes. Rheumatoid nodules are the most common extra-articular feature, found in about 30% of patients. Secondary Sjögren's syndrome and pulmonary manifestations are observed in almost 10% of patients, also in the early disease. Active RA with high disease activity has been associated with an increased risk of such features. Male gender, smoking habit, severe joint disease, worse function, high pro-inflammatory markers levels, high titer of rheumatoid factor, and HLA-related shared epitope have been reported as clinical predictors of occurrence of these rheumatoid complications. In addition, there is a little evidence deriving from randomized controlled trials in this field, thus the therapeutic strategy is mainly empiric and based on small case series and retrospective studies. However, considering that these extra-articular manifestations are usually related to the more active and severe RA, an aggressive therapeutic strategy is usually employed in view of the poor outcomes of these patients. The extra-articular features of RA remain, despite the improvement of joint damage, a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, since these are associated with a poor prognosis and need to be early recognized and promptly managed.

Clinical characteristics and social productivity levels of patients with malignant rheumatoid arthritis based on a nationwide clinical database in Japan: annual survey from 2003 to 2013

OBJECTIVES

Malignant rheumatoid arthritis (MRA) is defined as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with systemic vasculitis or other severe extra-articular manifestations. Japan has a nationwide database for MRA. We analyzed the characteristics of Japanese patients with MRA based on data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

METHODS

We were permitted to use data on 43,108 patients who were registered in the MHLW database from 2003 to 2013.

RESULTS

Median age was 65 (interquartile range, 57-72) years. Patients consisted of 71% females. Proportions of patients who had or had experienced interstitial pneumonia and pleuritis were increased, episcleritis was stable, and other MRA manifestations were decreased over time. The number of positive symptoms per patient also decreased over time. The median dose of glucocorticoid, percentage of patients undergoing surgery, and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and apheresis decreased year by year. Steinbrocker stage and class improved over time. Median C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate also decreased. Regarding social productivity levels of patients with MRA, the proportion of patients who were working or working from home increased and the proportion of patients recuperating or hospitalized decreased.

CONCLUSION

In patients with MRA, disease activity decreased and social productivity improved from 2003 to 2013.

When rheumatoid arthritis is mentioned, should only dryness come to mind?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate corneal parameters of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients by corneal topography.

METHODS

One hundred two RA patients and 60 control subjects were enrolled. Corneal topography measurements and ophthalmologic findings were examined from all participants' files.

RESULTS

Corneal thickness measurements were significantly lower in the RA group (p = 0.025). All values of corneal curvatures (K1, K2, Kmean) in 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm zones were found statistically significantly higher in the RA group compared with the control group. Forty-five RA patients had a dry eye. Disease duration was correlated with dry eye in the RA group. There was a significant correlation between the duration of disease in RA patients and mean corneal curvatures (p 0.012/0.010/0.007, 3/5/7 mm respectively) and central corneal thickness (p 0.025). There is no statistical difference between other topographic measurements.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that RA patients have thinner and steeper corneas compared with control subjects. These parameters change in negative correlation as the duration of the disease increases. Key Points • Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with systemic involvement. • In rheumatoid arthritis, systemic involvement is affected in the eyes. • When it comes to eye involvement, it comes to mind that it makes the eyes more dryness. • In addition to dryness in the eyes, rheumatoid arthritis makes morphological changes in the cornea.

Anti-carbamylated proteins antibody repertoire in rheumatoid arthritis: evidence of a new autoantibody linked to interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the association between anti-carbamylated protein antibodies (Anti-CarP) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study including RA patients fulfilling the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria. The main population comprised two groups: (1) RA patients diagnosed with RA-ILD (RA-ILD group); (2) RA patients without ILD (non-ILD RA group). Non-ILD RA patients in whom ILD was suspected underwent a diagnostic work-up and, if ILD was diagnosed, were switched to the RA-ILD group. ILD was diagnosed by high-resolution computed tomography and confirmed by a multidisciplinary committee. An independent replication sample was also obtained. Three Anti-CarP IgG autoantibodies against fetal calf serum (Anti-FCS), fibrinogen (Anti-Fib) and chimeric fibrine/filagrine homocitrullinated peptide (Anti-CFFHP) and one Anti-CarP IgA against FCS (Anti-FCS-IgA) were determined by home-made ELISA. Associations between Anti-CarP and ILD were analysed using multivariable logistic regression adjusted by smoking, sex, age, RA disease duration, rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibodies.

RESULTS

We enrolled 179 patients: 37 (21%) were finally diagnosed with RA-ILD. Anti-CarP specificities were more frequent in RA-ILD patients (Anti-FCS 70% vs 43%; Anti-Fib 73% vs 51%; Anti-CFFHP 38% vs 19%; Anti-CarP-IgA 51% vs 20%, p<0.05 for all comparisons). Serum titers of Anti-CarP were significantly higher in RA-ILD patients. Anti-CarP specificities showed a robust effect towards increasing the odds of ILD in the multivariate analysis (Anti-FCS (OR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.13 to 10.40), Anti-Fib (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 0.83 to 9.70), Anti-CFFHP (OR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.06 to 9.14) and Anti-FCS-IgA (OR: 4.30; 95% CI: 1.41 to 13.04)). Similar findings were observed in the replication sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-CarP were strongly associated with ILD. The role of homocitrullination in RA-ILD merits further investigation.

[Epidemiology and outcome of patients with rheumatic diseases in the intensive care unit]

Patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased risk for admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) compared with individuals without these diseases. Besides cardiovascular events, infection complications are frequently the reason for ICU treatment. For autoimmune systemic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), it is not uncommon for the disease to be first diagnosed during intensive medical care. In addition, flares of these diseases can necessitate ICU admission of the patients. The mortality of patients with rheumatic diseases on the ICU is increased compared with control collectives, especially in patients suffering from life-threatening infections. Treatment with corticosteroids is associated with an increased risk for ICU admission as well as a poorer survival rate. In contrast, patients treated with conventional and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) are less likely to need ICU treatment, compared with rheumatism patients without these medications. Among the established scoring systems applied to estimate the prognosis of ICU patients, the APACHE II score is the best investigated system in patients suffering from rheumatic diseases. This score probably reflects the condition of these patients better than other scoring systems.

Extra-articular Manifestations and Comorbidity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Potential Impact of Pre-Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevention

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a wide variety of extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities, several of which can be organ- or even life-threatening. These extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities can also contribute to the physical disability and psychological morbidity of RA that lead to reduced quality of life, higher direct and indirect costs, and societal burden of the disease. Although the expansion of RA treatment options and adoption of treat-to-target approaches has reduced the incidence and severity of several nonarticular manifestations of RA, such as rheumatoid vasculitis and cardiovascular disease events, this does not seem to be shared by all RA comorbidities. Moreover, a number of highly prevalent and impactful RA-driven comorbidities, such as accelerated atherosclerosis, interstitial lung disease, and sarcopenia, can present clinically in the years before the manifestation of joint pain or observable synovitis. A larger proportion of patients with RA have atherosclerosis, myocardial dysfunction, interstitial lung disease, and sarcopenia that is subclinical in the preclinical and earliest clinical phases of RA, emphasizing the importance of targeting the pre-RA phase for the prevention of comorbidities that are often poorly responsive to treatment once they develop. Herein, we review the potential impact of pre-RA prevention on the incidence and burden of extra-articular manifestations and nonarticular comorbidities.

EXTRA-ARTICULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune inflammatory (autoimmune) rheumatic disease of unknown etiology, which is characterized by chronic erosive arthritis and systemic damage to the viscera, and leads to early disability and reduced survival in patients. For its diagnosis, it is currently recommended to use the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for RA, which should be applied in clinical trials to identify at least one swollen joint, i.e. the presence of arthritis; therefore, the problem of extra-articular manifestations of RA is apparent to stay in the background.

[Getting older with rheumatoid arthritis-is there a burnout of the disease?]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Synovitis is the main pathology and can lead to a progressive destruction of the joints. It is often said that RA "burns out", implying that the inflammation decreases spontaneously in the long term, mostly severe course of RA and reaches a stage with a stable absence of joint inflammation, even without treatment. To test this concept we analyzed the published evidence. Data of historic long-term inception cohorts of patients who have never been treated with antirheumatic drugs and patients who received conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), show that the disease stays active with sustained radiological progression in the majority of patients. At best, the disease can show a milder course with time or a stage of absence of joint inflammation can be reached if patients responded very well to initial drug treatment. Terminating DMARD treatment in this situation bears the risk of a latent progressive joint destruction, the appearance of extra-articular manifestations and an increase in the cardiovascular risk. Hence there is no evidence for the existence of a "burnt out" RA with stable inactive disease without drug treatment in the long-term course. In a modern treatment strategy of RA following the treat-to-target principle and aiming at remission, the term "burnt out" RA should no longer be used.

The involvement of Kav001 in inhibition of LPS/P. gingivalis-induced

TNF-a is an important cytokine mediator of inflammation which suggests that inhibition of TNF activity may provide potential for clinical application. Recent data indicated that treatment of both human and mouse cells with Kavain significantly modulates P. gingivalis- and LPS-induced TNF-α expression. In order to obtain a selective analog with optimized biological activity and structural physico-chemical properties of Kavain, Kavain analogs were designed and synthesized and found one Kavain analogue (named Kav001) that is similar to Kavain but soluble and does not induce a significant toxicity. Both studies in vitro and in vivo treatment by Kav001 showed stronger biological function as compared to Kavain. Furthermore, most mouse bone marrow macrophages up-regulated Bcl-6 while down-regulating LITAF expression after treatment with Kav001 for 36 h. Consequently, this led to an extension of macrophage pseudopods due to its immune response to P.g. infection/LPS stimulation.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints and is associated with autoantibodies that target various molecules including modified self-epitopes. The identification of novel autoantibodies has improved diagnostic accuracy, and newly developed classification criteria facilitate the recognition and study of the disease early in its course. New clinical assessment tools are able to better characterize disease activity states, which are correlated with progression of damage and disability, and permit improved follow-up. In addition, better understanding of the pathogenesis of RA through recognition of key cells and cytokines has led to the development of targeted disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Altogether, the improved understanding of the pathogenetic processes involved, rational use of established drugs and development of new drugs and reliable assessment tools have drastically altered the lives of individuals with RA over the past 2 decades. Current strategies strive for early referral, early diagnosis and early start of effective therapy aimed at remission or, at the least, low disease activity, with rapid adaptation of treatment if this target is not reached. This treat-to-target approach prevents progression of joint damage and optimizes physical functioning, work and social participation. In this Primer, we discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of RA.