Secukinumab retention rate is greater in patients with psoriatic arthritis presenting with axial involvement

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease characterized by peripheral and axial involvement. Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are the mainstream treatment for PsA and bDMARDs retention rate is a proxy for the drug's overall effectiveness. However, it is unclear whether IL-17 inhibitors can have a higher retention rate than tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, in particular in axial or peripheral PsA. A real-life observational study was conducted on bDMARD naïve PsA patients initiating TNF inhibitors or secukinumab. Time-to-switch analysis was carried out with Kaplan-Meyer curves (log-rank test) truncated at 3 years (1095 days). Sub-analyses of Kaplan-Meyer curves between patients presenting with prevalent peripheral PsA or prevalent axial PsA were also conducted. Cox regression models were employed to describe predictors of treatment switch/swap. Data on 269 patients with PsA naïve to bDMARD starting either TNF inhibitors (n=220) or secukinumab (n=48) were retrieved. The overall treatment retention at 1 and 2 years was similar for secukinumab and TNF inhibitors (log-rank test p NS). We found a trend towards significance in the Kaplan-Meyer at 3 years in favor of secukinumab (log-rank test p 0.081). Predominant axial disease was significantly associated with a higher chance of drug survival in secukinumab users (adjusted hazard ratio 0.15, 95% confidence interval = 0.04-0.54) but not in TNF inhibitor users. In this real-life, single-center, study on bDMARD naïve PsA patients, axial involvement was associated with longer survival of secukinumab but not of TNF inhibitors. Drug retention of secukinumab and TNF inhibitors were similar in predominantly peripheral PsA.

Systematic study on nail plate assessment: differences in nail plate shape, thickness, power Doppler signal and scanning approach

Ultrasonography (US) of the nail is raising interest in the last years and its feasibility, quickness and amount of descriptive data may provide valuable information. Different authors presented several scanning approaches to nail complex in different pathological conditions, such as psoriasis, but no scanning protocol was ever proposed using healthy subjects as population of reference. The aim of the study was to establish a protocol for the US of nail plate and to assess whether the measurement of the nail plate is influenced by longitudinal vs transverse scan, sex, digit and hand dominance. Using high frequency probe and a Canon Aplio i800 machine, ultrasonographers took scans of nail plates of the hands from healthy subjects. Nail plate shape, thickness and power Doppler signal (PDUS) were evaluated and scans were taken both on longitudinal and transverse axis, at distal, middle and proximal portion of the nail plate or at a fixed angles of - 45°, 0° or + 45°. All the images were then revised and scored using a DICOM software, in order to allow good standards of accuracy and reproducibility. A total of 27 subjects (14 females and 13 males) were assessed. The measures did not result to differ in different portions or angles. Furthermore, no difference appears in sex or dominant vs not dominant hand. A decreasing and significant trend for nail plate thickness was found from the first to the fifth finger. Doppler signal was found in all but one subjects, with a range from almost absent to very evident. No difference was found between groups regarding PDUS. The data provided suggest that a proper scan protocol should include all the nails and evaluation should be done both on longitudinal and transverse axis. Since Doppler signal is highly variable in healthy subjects, its presence should be carefully considered as pathological finding. Observations provided by this study clarify important points of the scanning technique and solve doubts related to which nails should be scanned and where to evaluate quantitative parameters.

AB1365 PROPOSAL FOR A STANDARDIZED ULTRASOUND SCANNING PROTOCOL OF THE NAIL PLATE

Background

Ultrasonography of the nails with high frequency linear transducers can properly perform morphological images, achieving highly descriptive power but the lack of standardization may hesitate in lack of reproducibility and scarce usefulness.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to provide a detailed scan protocol of nail plate, including comparison of scan planes and probe positioning.

Methods

Transversal and longitudinal ultrasound scans were performed on each fingernail of both hands in healthy subjects. Nail plate thickness and Power Doppler of the nail bed were recorded. All the images were acquired using Canon Aplio i800 with a linear transducer of 22 MHz (i22LHB). Two different operators performed evaluation of thickness at distal, middle and proximal portion of nail in longitudinal view and at 0°, -45° and +45° for transverse view (Figure 1). ANOVA for repeated measures was used to determine differences between nail of the different digits.

Figure 1.

Longitudinal and transverse view of the nail. In yellow the position and angles of the caliper used for acquiring the measures

Results

The study sample was composed of 27 healthy subjects between 25- and 40- year old with no rheumatological or dermatological nail issues. A total of 270 nails were scanned; none of them was excluded due to comorbidity, trauma or other conditions which can interfere in the evaluation. A decrease in nail thickness was observed from first to fifth digit, regardless the hand (dominant or not), that resulted significant for the ANOVA. No differences were found regarding the thickness in the different segments of nail plate and this occurred both for longitudinal and transverse scans.

Conclusion

We demonstrated the absence of a statistically significant difference between thickness at proximal, middle and distal portion of the nail in longitudinal view or at any different angle in transverse view, concluding the fastest and easiest way to measure the nail plate thickness is in the longitudinal view at the middle segment, avoiding potential issues in positioning the probe in the transverse view or in positioning the caliper at proximal or distal segment in longitudinal view. All the nails should be scanned per protocol, since the thickness is variable and the fifth may be the most interesting in order to consider its highest variance.

References

[1]Fassio A. et al.; Clin Rheumatol. 2020 May;39(5):1391-1404. doi: 10.1007/s10067-019-04748-2. Epub 2019 Aug 22.

Table 1.

ANOVA for repeated measures of the nail plate thickness. A trend in decreasing P value is clearly visible from first to fifth. P considered statistically significant when ≤ 0.05

LONGITUDINALTRANSVERSEPROXIMAL-45°Row-mean1234Row-mean123421.00020.73130.7651.00030.2641.00040.0280.8881.00040.0000.0560.18750.0000.0010.0030.15850.0000.0050.0231.000MIDDLE0°Row-mean1234Row-mean123421.00020.71931.0001.00030.0561.00040.0701.0001.00040.0000.1581.00050.0000.0010.0020.09550.0000.0250.3891.000DISTAL+45°Row-mean1234Row-mean123421.00021.00030.8541.00030.7651.00040.0060.0930.75440.0500.5831.00050.0000.0000.0000.11450.0000.0010.0160.323

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0-T in postmenopausal osteoporosis: a prospective study and review of the literature

Objective

To promote advanced research using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of and screening for osteoporosis by looking for correlations among the T-scores measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and the T1-weighted signal intensity values.

Materials and Methods

This was a prospective study of postmenopausal women with no contraindications to MRI and no history of cancer who underwent DEXA within 30 days before or after the MRI examination. A 3.0-T scanner was used in order to acquire sagittal sequences targeting the lumbar spine.

Results

Thirteen women underwent DEXA and MRI. In two cases, the MRI was discontinued early. Therefore, the final sample comprised 11 patients. The ADC values and T1-weighted signal intensity were found to be higher in patients with osteoporosis. However, among the patients > 60 years of age with osteoporosis, ADC values were lower and T1-weighted signal intensity was even higher.

Conclusion

It is unlikely that MRI will soon replace DEXA for the diagnostic workup of osteoporosis. Although DWI and ADC mapping are useful for understanding the pathophysiology of osteoporosis, we believe that T1-weighted sequences are more sensitive than is DWI as a means of performing a qualitative analysis of vertebral alterations.

P274 The effect of ixekizumab versus adalimumab on individual components of the ACR composite score, with and without concomitant methotrexate or other conventional synthetic DMARDs, at 52 weeks in patients with psoriatic arthritis

Background/Aims

It is useful to evaluate individual American College of Rheumatology (ACR) components in large trials for active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) because individual patient domains may influence treatment choice. SPIRIT-H2H showed superiority of ixekizumab (IXE) over adalimumab (ADA) in patients with PsA and inadequate response (IR) to conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs). This analysis describes the effect of IXE and ADA on individual ACR components at week (Wk) 52, with and without concomitant methotrexate (MTX) and csDMARDs.

Methods

Patients from SPIRIT-H2H (NCT03151551, 52 Wk randomized multicenter study) who met Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) (N = 566), were randomized (1:1, stratified by baseline concomitant csDMARDs and moderate-to-severe PsO) to IXE or ADA on-label PsA or PsO dosing. Patients were bDMARD-naïve with IR to csDMARDs, active PsA (≥3 tender joints [TJC] and ≥3 swollen joints [SJC]) and had psoriasis (PsO) ≥3% BSA (body surface area). Patient’s Global Assessment (PtGA) and Physicians Global Assessment (PGA), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and joint pain were assessed by visual analog scale, and TJC and SJC as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed. All post-hoc analyses were performed on the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Change from baseline (CFB) in individual ACR components was analyzed using an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) model, for overall as well as with and without concomitant therapies (e.g., MTX or csDMARD). Least square mean (LSM) and standard error (SE) are presented. Missing data were imputed using modified baseline observation carried forward (mBOCF). Nine patients with active PsO and BSA≥3% were assessed as Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)=0 at baseline, a medical inconsistency that was resolved using medical judgment. These patients were considered PASI100 responders if PASI=0 and BSA=0 at post baseline visits.

Results

A total of 566 patients received either IXE (N = 283) or ADA (N = 283). Baseline values for individual ACR components were balanced between IXE and ADA. At Wk 52, IXE demonstrated efficacy across all individual ACR components in the ITT population, specifically in PGA, PtGA and Joint Pain; ADA also demonstrated numerical efficacy. Improvements from baseline for IXE were observed across ACR components, with or without MTX or csDMARD. The effect of MTX (with or without) was notably different between IXE and ADA in TJC68, PGA, Joint Pain, and PtGA.

Conclusion

In this analysis, there was improvement with IXE in all components of the ACR composite score at Wk 52, irrespective of MTX or csDMARD use (with or without). In the ITT population, IXE showed comparable efficacy to ADA at Wk 52 in all components of ACR, demonstrating improvement across musculoskeletal domains. These results may provide further confidence of the clinical benefits of ixekizumab across musculoskeletal domains in patients with PsA, regardless of MTX or csDMARD use.

Disclosure

A. Kiprianos: None. E. Husni: Consultancies; AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen, Novartis, and UCB Pharma. S. Kamat: Member of speakers’ bureau; AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly and Company, and Exogen. K. Stenger: Shareholder/stock ownership; Eli Lilly and Company. R. Bolce: Shareholder/stock ownership; Eli Lilly and Company. T. Holzkaemper: Shareholder/stock ownership; Eli Lilly and Company. C.C. Helt: Shareholder/stock ownership; Eli Lilly and Company. S. Park: Shareholder/stock ownership; Eli Lilly and Company. J.R. Lisse: Shareholder/stock ownership; Eli Lilly and Company. L. Idolazzi: Member of speakers’ bureau; AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly and Company, and Janssen.

Association Between Short-term Exposure to Environmental Air Pollution and Psoriasis Flare

IMPORTANCE

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a relapsing-remitting course. Selected environmental factors such as infections, stressful life events, or drugs may trigger disease flares. Whether air pollution could trigger psoriasis flares is still unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether short-term exposure to environmental air pollution is associated with psoriasis flares.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This observational study with both case-crossover and cross-sectional design retrospectively analyzed longitudinal data from September 2013 to January 2020 from patients with chronic plaque psoriasis consecutively attending the outpatient dermatologic clinic of the University Hospital of Verona. For the case-crossover analysis, patients were included who had at least 1 disease flare, defined as Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) increase of 5 or greater between 2 consecutive assessments in a time frame of 3 to 4 months. For the cross-sectional analysis, patients were included who received any systemic treatment for 6 or more months, with grade 2 or higher consecutive PASI assessment.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

We compared the mean and cumulative (area under the curve) concentrations of several air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, other nitrogen oxides, benzene, coarse particulate matter [PM; 2.5-10.0 μm in diameter, PM10] and fine PM [<2.5 μm in diameter, PM2.5]) in the 60 days preceding the psoriasis flare and the control visits.

RESULTS

A total of 957 patients with plaque psoriasis with 4398 follow-up visits were included in the study. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 61 (15) years and 602 (62.9%) were men. More than 15 000 measurements of air pollutant concentration from the official, open-source bulletin of the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) were retrieved. Among the overall cohort, 369 (38.6%) patients with psoriasis flare were included in the case-crossover study. We found that concentrations of all pollutants were significantly higher in the 60 days before psoriasis flare (median PASI at the flare 12; IQR, 9-18) compared with the control visit (median PASI 1; IQR, 1-3, P < .001). In the cross-sectional analysis, exposure to mean PM10 over 20 μg/m3 and mean PM2.5 over 15 μg/m3 in the 60 days before assessment were associated with a higher risk of PASI 5 or greater point worsening (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.55; 95% CI, 1.21-1.99; and aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.0-1.57, respectively). Sensitivity analyses that stratified for trimester of evaluation, with various lag of exposure and adjusting for type of treatment, yielded similar results.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The findings of this case-crossover and cross-sectional study suggest that air pollution may be a trigger factor for psoriasis flare.

Persistence, effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab compared to TNF inhibitors in psoriatic arthritis within the Italian PsABio cohort

OBJECTIVES

To compare real-world persistence, effectiveness and tolerability of ustekinumab versus TNF inhibitors (TNFi) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS

One-year data from Italian subjects enrolled in the PsABio study (PsA patients receiving 1st- to 3rd-line treatment with ustekinumab or TNFi) were evaluated. Treatment persistence was analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves; hazard ratios (HR) of stopping treatment, and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI), were computed through Cox regression models. Proportions of patients reaching clinical effectiveness endpoints were analysed using logistic regression, including propensity score (PS) adjustment for imbalanced baseline covariates, and non-response imputation if treatment was stopped/switched.

RESULTS

Among 222 participants with follow-up data (effectiveness set), 101 received ustekinumab and 121 TNFi. In the ustekinumab group, 74.3% continued treatment up to 12±3 months compared to 63.6% in the TNFi group. Ustekinumab showed better persistence than TNFi, overall and in specific subgroups (females, monotherapy without methotrexate, BMI <25 or >30 kg/m2, patients receiving ustekinumab as 2nd-line treatment instead of a second TNFi). Overall, the PS-adjusted HR of treatment discontinuation was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.26-0.82) for ustekinumab vs. TNFi. cDAPSA LDA/remission was achieved in 43.5% of ustekinumab and 43.6% of TNFi-treated patients, while MDA was achieved in 24.2% and 28.0% of patients, respectively. After PS adjustment, odds ratios of clinical effectiveness did not differ significantly. Both treatments showed an acceptable safety profile.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective, real-life study found a better persistence of ustekinumab than TNFi in PsA patients. At 1 year, both treatments showed similar effectiveness.

Higher body mass index is associated with a lower iloprost infusion rate tolerance and higher iloprost-related adverse events in patients with systemic sclerosis

Background:

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vasospasm and microvascular involvement. Iloprost (ILO), a prostaglandin analogous, is used for the treatment of SSc-related Raynaud’s phenomenon and digital ulcers. The suggested dose is 0.5–2 ng/kg/min for 6–8 h, and the maximum dose is decided upon the patient’s tolerance.

Objectives:

This study aims to analyze ILO infusion tolerance and possible predictive factors in patients with SSc.

Design:

This is a retrospective observational study.

Method:

We evaluated 113 patients with SSc beginning ILO intravenous (IV) infusion treatment between 2004 and 2021. We assessed the maximum tolerated ILO IV infusion rate, the incidence of adverse events (AEs), and the need for symptomatic therapy during the dose-finding sessions. We collected relevant demographic and medical and employed generalized linear models to assess possible predictors of maximum tolerated ILO infusion rate and AEs and logistic regression to assess predictors of AEs.

Results:

The median ILO infusion rate at the end of the dose-finding process was 0.88 ng/kg/min [interquartile range (IQR) = 0.37]. We found a significant inverse correlation between ILO infusion rate and body mass index (BMI) at the beginning of treatment. BMI was negatively associated with ILO infusion rate ( β = −0.21, p = 0.02) after correction for relevant confounding factors. Overweight patients (BMI >26) presented a 13-fold increased risk of developing AEs during ILO titration [adjusted odds ratio = 13.979, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.359–82.845]. AEs during ILO titration occurred in 47.8% of patients, of whom 22.2% presented hypotension. Other AEs were headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and edema. Symptomatic therapy was needed in half of the patients at least once.

Conclusion:

This study showed that higher BMI was statistically associated with lower ILO infusion rate tolerance and higher AEs rate, underlying a possible BMI-dependent endothelial dysfunction. Individual ILO regimens still need to be tailored to the patient.

Plain Language Summary

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis is a rare a rheumatic disease characterized by skin thickening, vasospasm, and digital ulcers (DUs), as well as other organs involvement. Iloprost, which is administered as intravenous infusion, is one of the main treatments for this disease, and it is effective in reducing vasospasm and the frequency of DUs. Even if there is a suggested dose range, the exact dose must be tailored on each patient, because the tolerance to the drug is variable. Tolerance is limited by dose-dependent unwanted effects, as headache, low blood pressure, dizziness, and sickness. This study aimed to identify possible predictors of such tolerance. Materials and Methods: We collected data from our patients with systemic sclerosis beginning the treatment with iloprost between January 2004 and November 2021 at our hospital facility in Verona, Italy, and analyzed different factors that could be associated with a better tolerance, as age, sex, disease duration, smoking habit, body mass index (a measure of body fatness), blood pressure, concomitant medications, and different patterns of the disease. Results: We found that a higher body mass index was associated with lower iloprost tolerance and higher adverse events rate in patients with systemic sclerosis, while we did not find a correlation with other factors. We believe overweight and obese patients (who have a higher body mass index) have a defect in the vasodilatation mechanism and can therefore be more susceptible to the effect of this medication. Conclusions: While preliminary, our results could provide a good starting point to develop a predictive tool to limit adverse events during this therapy.

Predictors, Risk Factors, and Incidence Rates of Psoriatic Arthritis Development in Psoriasis Patients: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Agreement on how to identify psoriasis (PsO) patients at risk of developing psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is lacking.

Objective

To identify predictors, risk factors and incidence rate (IR) of PsA development in PsO patients through a systematic literature review (SLR) and meta-analyses (MA).

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched. Cohort studies were used to assess the predictors, while case–control studies for PsA risk factor determination.

Results

We screened 4698 articles for eligibility, and 110 underwent a full reading and 26 were finally included. Among skin and nail phenotypes, PsO severity and nail pitting were selected as predictors of PsA development. Furthermore, PsO patients with arthralgia (pooled RR 2.15 [1.16; 3.99]) and/or with imaging-MSK inflammation (pooled RR 3.72 [2.12; 6.51]) were at high risk of PsA. Higher categories of BMI and a family history of PsA were other predictors. In outpatient-based cohort studies, the IR of PsA per 100 patient-years varied from 1.34 to 17.4.

Limitations

Despite the strength of the overall results, the heterogeneity and the number of the cohort studies could be considered a limitation.

Conclusions

This study provides a tentative profile of the PsO patient at risk of PsA and will help the design of PsA prevention trials.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40744-021-00378-w.

Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs may mitigate the risk of psoriatic arthritis in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the incidence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis who had received a continuous treatment with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) compared with phototherapy.

METHODS

A retrospective non-randomised study involving patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, who were prescribed at least 5 years of bDMARDs or at least three narrow-band ultraviolet light B (nb-UVB) phototherapy courses, and did not have a diagnosis of PsA at enrolment. Development of PsA in each patient was assessed by a rheumatologist according to the Classification for Psoriatic Arthritis criteria. The annual and cumulative incidence rate of PsA was estimated by using an event per person-years analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were undertaken to assess the hazard risk (HR) of PsA after adjustment for confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 464 psoriatic patients (bDMARDs, n=234 and nb-UVB, n=230) were followed between January 2012 and September 2020 (corresponding to 1584 and 1478 person year of follow-up for the two groups, respectively). The annual incidence rate of PsA was 1.20 cases (95% CI 0.77 to 1.89) versus 2.17 cases (95% CI 1.53 to 3.06) per 100 patients/year in the bDMARDs versus phototherapy group, respectively (HR 0.29, 0.12-0.70; p=0.006). The variables independently associated with higher risk of PsA were older age (adjusted HR 1.04, 1.02-1.07), nail psoriasis (adjusted HR 3.15, 1.63-6.06) and psoriasis duration >10 years (adjusted HR 2.02, 1.09-3.76); notably, bDMARDs treatment was associated with a lower risk of incident PsA (adjusted HR 0.27, 0.11-0.66).

CONCLUSIONS

bDMARDs treatment may delay or reduce the risk of incident PsA in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

Sex-Specific Association of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objectives: Clinical expression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) varies by gender, but whether cardiovascular disease (CVD) is gender related in RA is unknown. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) is a hallmark of CVD in RA patients. We investigated whether the association of LVH with RA is gender driven.

Methods: Consecutive outpatients with established RA underwent echocardiography with measurement of LVH at baseline and one follow-up. All participants had no prior history of CVD or diabetes mellitus. We assessed CVD risk factors associated with LVH at follow-up, including sex, age, arterial blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI). We also evaluated inflammatory markers, autoimmunity, disease activity, and the use of RA medications as predictors of LVH.

Results: We recruited 145 RA patients (121 females, 83%) and reassessed them after a median (interquartile range) of 36 months (24–50). At baseline, women were more dyslipidemic but otherwise had fewer CVD risk factors than men, including less prevalent smoking habit and hypertension, and smaller waist circumference. At follow-up, we detected LVH in 42/145 (44%) RA patients. LV mass significantly increased only in women. In multiple Cox regression analysis, women with RA had the strongest association with LVH, independently from the presence of CVD risk factors (OR, 6.56; 95% CI, 1.34–30.96) or RA-specific characteristics (OR, 5.14; 95% CI, 1.24–21.34). BMI was also significantly and independently associated with LVH.

Conclusion: Among established RA patients, women carry the highest predisposition for LVH.

Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors reduce aortic stiffness progression in patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Aortic stiffness index (AoSI) has to be considered a proxy outcome measure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to comparatively describe AoSI progression in two groups of RA patients on long-term treatment with conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) with or without tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi).

METHODS

AoSI was evaluated by Doppler echocardiography at the level of the aortic root, using a two-dimensional guided M-mode evaluation. Eligible participants were assessed at baseline and after 12 months. Changes in serum lipids, glucose and arterial blood pressure were assessed. All patients who did not change DMARD treatment during follow-up were consecutively selected for this study.

RESULTS

We included 107 (64 TNFi and 43 csDMARDs) RA patients. Most patients (74%) were in remission or low disease activity and had some CVD risk factors (45.8% hypertension, 59.8% dyslipidaemia, 45.3% smoking). The two groups did not differ significantly for baseline AoSI (5.95±3.73% vs 6.08±4.20%, p=0.867). Follow-up AoSI was significantly increased from baseline in the csDMARDs group (+1.00%; p<0.0001) but not in the TNFi group (+0.15%, p=0.477). Patients on TNFi had significantly lower follow-up AoSI from baseline than the csDMARDs group (-1.02%, p<0.001; ANCOVA corrected for baseline AoSI, age and systolic blood pressure). Furthermore, follow-up AoSI was significantly lower in TNFi than in csDMARDs users with an increasing number of CVD risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Long-term treatment with TNFi was associated with reduced aortic stiffness progression in patients with established RA and several CVD risk factors.

POS0145 PREDICTORS OF PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS DEVELOPMENT IN PSORIASIS PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Background:

Up to 30% of Psoriasis (PsO) patients are prone to develop Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). Agreement on how to identify PsO patients at risk of developing PsA is still lacking (1).

Objectives:

To identify predictors of PsA development in PsO patients through a systematic literature review (SLR) and meta-analyses (MA).

Methods:

MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE databases were searched (up to February 22nd, 2020). The PICO framework (population = PsO patients; intervention = clinical, environmental, imaging and genetic features; comparator = not applicable; outcome = PsA development) was used to design searches and define the eligibility of studies for inclusion. The MA focuses on 3 major features as possible predictors: i) PsO skin and nail involvement; ii) musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints; iii) inflammation and structural damage detected by imaging (Table 1). The sample estimates of the relative risk were pooled only when the studies were homogeneous in terms of cohort of patients, follow-up, study design and metrics.

Results:

4698 articles were screened for eligibility, 110 underwent a full reading and 29 were finally included. Figure 1 shows the study flow-chart for article selection. Though pooling was judge not appropriate, 5/7 prospective studies significantly support a predictive value of PsA development in patients with severe PsO (n=174635). While the predictive value of nail involvement is not well defined (n=2202), the pooled estimate from two cohort studies (n=474) supports nail pitting as predictor of PsA (RR=2.14 [1.32; 3.46]). Moving to the MSK complaints, the risk of developing PsA is about two times greater in PsO with than without arthralgia (pooled RR: 2.15 [1.16, 3.99]) within 2 years. Lastly, PsO patients with inflammation or structural damage detected by imaging are nearly four times more likely to develop PsA within 1-2 years (pooled RR from 4 cohort studies (n=247): 3.72 [2.12; 6.51]) (Table 1). The incidence rate of PsA varies from 1.34 to 5.9/100 p-ys in PsO and from 10.9 to 12.5/100 p-ys in PsOAr.

Table 1.

Studies reporting the major features as possible predictors of PsA development.

PsO skin – severityPsO nail involvementPsO nail lesionsVariablesRelative Risk [95%CI]Follow-upWilson, 2009PsO nail involvementHRadjusted: 2.24 [1.26; 3.98]13.1±8.8 ysFaustini, 2015PASI score + PsO nail involvement/σ= -0.18[-0.84; 0.48] RR: 0.95 [0.37; 2.47]1.2±0.2 ysEder, 2016PASI score PsO nail involvement Type of PsO nail lesionsHR (>20vs<10): 5.39 [1.64; 17.7] HRunadjusted: 1.36 [0.76; 2.45] HRunadjusted: 2.21 [1.24; 3.92]4.1±2.1 ysEder, 2017PASI score + Type of PsO nail lesionsHRunadjusted: 1.05 [1.01; 1.09] HRunadjusted: 1.98 [0.83; 4.74]3.8±2.1 ysLewinson, 2017PsO severity defined from medicationsHRadjusted (moderate/severe vs mild): 5.02 [4.18; 6.04]5.1 ysEgeberg, 2018PsO severity defined from medicationsRR (severe vs mild): 1.31 [1.18; 1.46]18 ysElnady, 2019PASI score + PsO nail Involvement/σ= 0.79[-0.37; 1.95] RR: 1.43 [0.38; 5.31]2 ysGreen, 2020PsO severity defined from medicationRR (severe vs mild): 2.79 [2.49; 3.13]5.8 ysMSK-complaintsVariablesIncident-PsA casesFollow-upFaustini, 2015ArthralgiaRR: 1.98 [0.75; 5.19]1.2±0.2 ysEder, 2017ArthralgiaHRadjusted: 2.59 [1.15; 5.88]3.8±2.1 ysZabotti, 2019ArthralgiaRR: 4.44 [0.54; 36.72]1.6±0.5 ysSimon D, 2020ArthralgiaRR: 2.04 [0.86; 4.86]2.4±1.5 ysSub-clinical inflammation or structural damage detected by imagingVariablesIncident-PsA casesFollow-upFaustini, 2015MRIRR: 2.10 [0.75; 5.90]1.2±0.2 ysElnady, 2019MSK-USRR: 5.38 [1.17; 24.63]2 ysZabotti, 2019MSK-USRR: 6.86 [0.83; 56.63]1.6±0.5 ysSimon D, 2020HR-pQCTRR: 4.32 [1.96; 9.55]2.3±1.4 ys

Conclusion:

Arthralgia and inflammation and/or structural damage detected by imaging are predictive features, likely prodromal, of PsA development. PsO severity and nail pitting are clinical manifestations related to PsA development.

Figure 1.

References:

[1]Zabotti A, et al. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2020 May 16;22(6):24. doi: 10.1007/s11926-020-00891-x.

Disclosure of Interests:

Alen Zabotti Speakers bureau: UCB, Novartis, Janssen, Paid instructor for: Amgen, Consultant of: Janssen, Orazio De Lucia Speakers bureau: Not relevant for this type of study, Consultant of: Not relevant for this type of study, Grant/research support from: Not relevant for this type of study, Garifallia Sakellariou Consultant of: AbbVie, Novartis, Alberto Batticciotto Speakers bureau: Not relevant for this type of study, Consultant of: Not relevant for this type of study, Grant/research support from: Not relevant for this type of study, Gilberto Cincinelli: None declared, Ivan Giovannini: None declared, Luca Idolazzi Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly, UCB, Celgene, MSD, Abbvie, Novartis, Paid instructor for: UCB, Gabriella Maioli Speakers bureau: Not relevant for this type of study, Consultant of: Not relevant for this type of study, Grant/research support from: Not relevant for this type of study, Ilaria Tinazzi Speakers bureau: Not relevant for this type of study, Consultant of: Not relevant for this type of study, Grant/research support from: Not relevant for this type of study, Daniel Aletaha Speakers bureau: not relevant for this type of study, Consultant of: not relevant for this type of study, Grant/research support from: not relevant for this type of study, Salvatore De Vita Consultant of: GSK, Roche, Grant/research support from: Not relevant for this type of study, Antonio Marchesoni Speakers bureau: not relevant for this type of study, Consultant of: not relevant for this type of study, Grant/research support from: not relevant for this type of study, Josef S. Smolen Speakers bureau: Not relevant for this type of study, Consultant of: Not relevant for this type of study, Grant/research support from: Not relevant for this type of study, Annamaria Iagnocco Speakers bureau: not relevant for this type of study, Paid instructor for: not relevant for this type of study, Consultant of: not relevant for this type of study, Grant/research support from: not relevant for this type of study, Dennis McGonagle Speakers bureau: ABBVIE, CELGENE, PFIZER, MSD, NOVARTIS, JANSSEN, UCB, GILEAD, BMS, LILLY, Grant/research support from: ABBVIE, CELGENE, PFIZER, MSD, NOVARTIS, JANSSEN, UCB, GILEAD, BMS, LILLY, Roberto Caporali Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Gilead, Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Sanofi, Fresenius Kabi, Samsung bioepis, MSD, Consultant of: Galapagos, Gilead, Lilly, Janssen, MSD

POS1173 A SHORT DELAY IN ARTHRITIS CARE IS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER DISEASE ACTIVITY - LESSONS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 19 (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

Background:

Although disease activity is a significant outcome in rheumatology, few studies have investigated the relationship between routine care of rheumatic conditions and disease activity control.

Objectives:

To determine the association between delay in routine care of chronic inflammatory arthritides (CIAs) and disease activity during the first wave of coronavirus disease 19 pandemic in Verona, Italy.

Methods:

This study enrolled patients with an established diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and undifferentiated arthritis (UA). Between 01/04/2020 and 30/06/2020, participants were emailed an online questionnaire. Items comprised multiple or single-choice questions evaluating routine rheumatology care disruptions/delays and disease characteristics, treatments, comorbidities, and demographics. Compliance to anti-rheumatic medications was evaluated with I-CQR5. Disease activity was assessed with RAPID3, and active disease was defined as a RAPID3 score>1. Study period referred to the time between the last rheumatology assessment and the date of enrolment.

Results:

Of 1210 patients contacted, 450 participated, of whom 219 CIAs patients were included (RA 55.3%, PsA 35.2%, AS 15.1%, UA 3.7%). One hundred twenty-five patients (57.1%) had their routine clinical assessment delayed (median days 68.4; IQR 66.8, 85.9). Patients in this group had significantly higher MDHAQ (p=0.001) and RAPID3 (p=0.031) scores, while they did not differ for disease severity, medications or compliance. Most (87.7%) reported good compliance to therapy; only 5.9% had difficulties in supplying anti-rheumatic medications, and 13.2% discontinued medications for at least four weeks for any reason. However, several patients (37.9%) reported moderate-to-high worse disease activity perception due to routine care delay, and 31.1% self-reported a disease flare (median RAPID3 score 3.8; IQR 2.0, 5.4). One hundred one patients (46.1%) had high disease activity, while only 15.1% were in remission. In logistic regression, active disease was significantly associated with delay of scheduled routine care visit, independent of disease duration, time from last rheumatology assessment, therapy with b/tsDMARDs, and compliance (Table 1, Figure 1 below).

Table 1.PredictorActive(n=186)Remission(n=33)ORP-value95% CIInf.95% CISup.Routine care delay (yes vs no)113(60.8%)12(36.4%).0302.4591.0915.543Disease duration (years)10(4.0, 20.0)10.5(7.0, 19.8).6951.007.9721.044Time since last rheumatology assessment (days)68.4(66.8, 75.8)71.2(66.9, 74.9).8541.002.9781.027b/tsDMARDs (yes vs no)105(56.5%)15(45.5%).6531.202.5382.687I-CPR5 (likely low vs likely high adherent)36(19.4%)10(30.3%).187.563.2401.321Figure 1.

Conclusion:

In patients with established CIAs, a relatively short delay in routine assessment by a rheumatologist resulted in higher disease activity. Frequent rheumatology referrals appear to be a critical factor for disease activity control in CIAs.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared.

OP0223 DEVELOPMENT AND PRELIMINARY VALIDATION OF ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DISEASE ACTIVITY AND DAMAGE SCORES IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM THE UPSTREAM (ULTRASOUND IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS TREATMENT) STUDY

Background:

The UPSTREAM (NCT03330769) is a 24-month multi-center prospective cohort study that primarily aims to evaluate the additional value of musculoskeletal ultrasound (msk-US) over clinical examination in predicting 6-month minimal disease activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). (1)

Objectives:

To develop and preliminarily validate an activity msk-US score and a damage msk-US score for PsA using the UPSTREAM database.

Methods:

Patients classified with PsA according to CASPAR criteria and starting a new course of therapy for clinically active peripheral joint disease were eligible. The information regarding objectives, study design, clinical and US assessment has already been published (1). The msk-US examination was performed in 42 joints, 36 tendons, 12 entheses and 2 bursae defined through a web-based exercise (2). The sonographic elementary lesions were allocated to disease activity [i.e. synovitis (sy), tenosynovitis (ts), peritendinitis (pt), bursitis (bs) all evaluated both in Grey Scale (GS) and Power Doppler (PD) and active enthesitis (en)] and to damage (i.e. joint erosion, bone proliferation, tendon tear, enthesophyte, calcification and irregular enthesis bone profile). Hands and feet X-ray were assessed using the modified Sharp-Van der Heijde (mSVH) score. A principal component (PC) analysis (PCA) was performed for each score and the number of PCs was defined by means of parallel analysis using baseline data. Each PC was normalized (n) taking into account the proportion between the observed value (e.g. sy-GS count) and the maximum expected value (e.g. 42 for sy-GS). Spearman’ correlation was used to investigate the construct and discrimination validity of the new scores.

Results:

Between February 2017 and May 2020, 312 PsA patients (155 men), with a mean (SD) age of 52.8 13.4, were enrolled from 19 centers; 22 expert sonographers were involved with substantial agreement for US lesions evaluated (k ≥0.7). The median [IQR] disease duration was 1.3 [0.1-6.1] years and the median [IQR] tender joint and swollen joint counts were 6 [3-13] and 2 [1-5], respectively. The weight derived from PCA for each sonographic lesions and the final equation for calculating the scores are reported in Figure 1 (1A activity and 1B damage). The final msk-US activity score [n(ts-GS + ts-PD)*2.87] + [n(bs-GS + bs-PD)*1.76] + [n(pt-GS + pt-PD)*1.43] + [n(active en)*1.00] + [n(sy-GS)*0.83] + [n(sy-PD)*0.45] has the best construct and discrimination validities according to a significant correlation with all clinical variables usually related to clinical activity (Table 1). The msk-US damage score correlated with mSVH score, HAQ and other clinical variables (Table 1).

Table 1.VariablesMsk-US activity scoreMsk-US damage scoreSpearman correlationP-valueSpearman correlationP-valueESR0.1960.0020.0750.235CRP0.209<0.0010.0680.254TJC0.338<0.0010.286<0.001SJC0.338<0.0010.0720.221Dactylitis count0.284<0.001-0.0610.306LEI0.1940.0010.214<0.001Physician GA0.150.0120.0160.793Patient GA activity0.1380.018-0.0730.221Patient GA pain0.1990.001-0.0270.648HAQ0.238<0.0010.1460.014BASDAI0.237<0.0010.1750.003PSAID-90.70.0040.1480.013DAPSA0.392<0.0010.228<0.001Sharp van Der Heijde score0.1150.20.2660.003Figure 1.

Conclusion:

These newly developed and preliminary validated msk-US activity and damage scores could be used in patients with PsA in the context of observational and controlled trials.

References:

[1]Canzoni M et al. BMJ Open. 2018;8:e021942.

[2]Zabotti A et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2018;77:1537–1538.

Acknowledgements:

Alberto Batticciotto; Oscar Massimiliano Epis; Luisa Arcarese; Luca Navarini; Marta Caprioli; Mirco Magnani; Roberta Ramonda; Marco Amedeo Cimmino

Disclosure of Interests:

Alen Zabotti: None declared, Matteo Piga: None declared, Anna Zanetti: None declared, Marco Canzoni: None declared, nicola boffini: None declared, valentina picerno: None declared, Giovanni Zanframundo: None declared, Ettore Silvagni: None declared, Ivan Giovannini: None declared, BERND RAFFEINER: None declared, Palma Scolieri: None declared, Paola Mancini: None declared, Simone Parisi: None declared, Alessandra Bortoluzzi Grant/research support from: GSK, Garifallia Sakellariou Consultant of: Consultant for Abbvie and Novartis, Orazio De Lucia: None declared, Ilaria Tinazzi: None declared, Fabiana Figus: None declared, Luca Idolazzi Speakers bureau: Received grants as speaker for Eli Lilly, UCB, Celgene, MSD, Abbvie, Novartis, Paid instructor for: Paid instructor for UCB during Product specialist Meeting, Mariagrazia Lorenzin: None declared, Sara Zandonella Callegher: None declared, Alberto Cauli: None declared, Greta Carrara: None declared, Carlo Alberto Scirè: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco: None declared

Clinical profile and outcome of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis and metabolic syndrome

Systemic chronic inflammation may favor the onset of metabolic syndrome (MetS) which represents a risk factor for CV events. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are disorders with high prevalence of MetS. We assessed the factors associated with MetS and its prognostic role in non-selected RA/AS/PsA patients. Between March 2014 and April 2016, 458 patients (228 RA, 134 PsA, 96 AS) selected for a primary prevention program for cardiovascular diseases were analyzed. Primary and co-primary end points were a composite of all-cause death/all-cause hospitalization and CV death/CV hospitalization, respectively. MetS was diagnosed according to the IDF Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention. Patients were divided into MetS + (73 = 16%) and MetS - (385 = 84%). At multivariate logistic analysis, cancer, moderate/high disease activity, higher LV mass (LVM) and degree of LV diastolic dysfunction were independently associated with MetS. At 36-month follow-up, the event rate for primary/co-primary end point was 52/15% in MetS + vs 23/7% in MetS - (both p < 0.001). At multivariate Cox regression analysis, MetS was related to primary end point (HR 1.52 [CI 1.01-2.47], p = 0.04) together with higher LVM, disease duration and higher prevalence of biologic DMARDs refractoriness, and to co-primary end point (HR 2.05 [CI 1.16-3.60], p = 0.01) together with older age and higher LVM. The RA/AS/PsA phenotype MetS + is a subject with moderate/high disease activity, LV structural and functional abnormalities at increased risk for cancer. MetS + identifies RA/AS/PsA patients at higher risk for CV and non-CV events, independently of traditional CV risk factors analyzed individually and traditional indexes of inflammation.

POS1021 THE PsABio STUDY IN ITALY: A REAL-WORLD COMPARISON OF THE PERSISTENCE, EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF USTEKINUMAB AND TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR INHIBITORS IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Background:

There are still unmet needs in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), including in terms of treatment persistence, which is a function of effectiveness, safety and patient satisfaction. Ustekinumab (UST) was the first new biologic drug to be developed for the treatment of PsA after tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi).

Objectives:

To compare treatment persistence, effectiveness and safety of UST and TNFi in Italian patients within the PsABio cohort.

Methods:

PsABio (NCT02627768) is an observational study of 1st/2nd/3rd-line UST or TNFi treatment in PsA in 8 European countries. The current analysis set includes 222 eligible patients treated in 15 Italian centres, followed to Month 12 (±3 months). Treatment persistence/risk of stopping was analysed using Kaplan−Meier (KM) and Cox regression analysis. Proportions of patients reaching minimal disease activity (MDA)/very low disease activity (VLDA) and clinical Disease Activity Index for PsA (cDAPSA) low disease activity (LDA)/remission were analysed using logistic regression, including propensity score (PS) adjustment for imbalanced baseline covariates, and non-response imputation of effectiveness endpoints if treatment was stopped/switched before 1 year. Last observation carried forward data are reported.

Results:

Of patients starting UST and TNFi, 75/101 (74.3%) and 77/121 (63.6%), respectively, persisted with treatment at 1 year. The observed mean persistence was 410 days for UST and 363 days for TNFi. KM curves and PS-adjusted hazard ratios confirmed significantly higher persistence (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)]) for UST versus TNFi overall (0.46 [0.26; 0.82]; Figure 1). Persistence was also higher for UST than TNFi in patients receiving monotherapy without methotrexate (0.31 [0.15; 0.63]), in females (0.41 [0.20; 0.83]), and in patients with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2 (0.34 [0.14; 0.87]) or >30 kg/m2 (0.19 [0.06; 0.54]). There was no significant difference in persistence between treatments in patients with BMI 25−30 kg/m2. While patients receiving 1st- and 3rd-line UST or TNFi showed similar risk of discontinuation (0.60 [0.27; 1.29] and 0.36 [0.10; 1.25], respectively), patients receiving 2nd-line UST showed better persistence than those receiving 2nd-line TNFi (0.33 [0.13; 0.87]). Other factors added to the PS-adjusted Cox model did not show significant effects. In patients with available follow-up data, the mean (standard deviation) baseline cDAPSA was 26.3 (15.4) for UST and 23.5 (12.3) for TNFi; at 1-year follow-up, 43.5% of UST- and 43.6% of TNFi-treated patients reached cDAPSA LDA/remission. MDA was reached in 24.2% of UST- and 28.0% of TNFi-treated patients, and VLDA in 12.5% of UST- and 10.2% of TNFi-treated patients. After PS adjustment (stoppers/switchers as non-responders), odds ratios (95% CI) at 1 year did not differ significantly between UST and TNFi groups for reaching cDAPSA LDA/remission (1.08 [0.54; 2.15]), MDA (0.96 [0.45; 2.05]) or VLDA (0.98 [0.35; 2.76]). In total, 23 (20.4%) patients reported ≥1 treatment emergent adverse event with UST and 30 (22.2%) with TNFi; 6 (5.3%) and 10 (7.4%) patients, respectively, discontinued treatment because of an adverse event.

Conclusion:

In the Italian PsABio cohort, UST had better overall persistence compared with TNFi, as well as in specific subgroups: females, patients on monotherapy without methotrexate, with BMI <25 or >30 kg/m2, and patients receiving UST as 2nd-line treatment. At 1 year, both treatments showed similar effectiveness, as measured by cDAPSA responses and MDA/VLDA achievement.

Acknowledgements:

This study was funded by Janssen. Contributing author: Prof. Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Italy

Disclosure of Interests:

Elisa Gremese: None declared, Francesco Ciccia Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Abiogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Consultant of: Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Grant/research support from: Celgene, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Carlo Selmi Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Alfa-Wassermann, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi-Genzyme, Consultant of: AbbVie, Alfa-Wassermann, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi-Genzyme, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Janssen, Pfizer, Giovanna CUOMO: None declared, Rosario Foti Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Lilly, MSD, Janssen, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Lilly, MSD, Janssen, Roche, Sanofi, Marco Matucci Cerinic Speakers bureau: Actelion, Biogen, Janssen, Lilly, Consultant of: Chemomab, Grant/research support from: MSD, Fabrizio Conti Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Galapagos, Lilly, Pfizer, Enrico Fusaro Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Lilly, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer, Giuliana Guggino Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Celgene, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Grant/research support from: Celgene, Pfizer, Florenzo Iannone Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, UCB, Andrea Delle Sedie: None declared, Roberto Perricone: None declared, Luca Idolazzi Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sandoz, Paolo Moscato: None declared, Elke Theander Employee of: Janssen, Wim Noel Employee of: Janssen, Paul Bergmans Shareholder of: Johnson & Johnson, Employee of: Janssen, Silvia Marelli Employee of: Janssen, Laure Gossec Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Biogen, Celgene, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi-Aventis, UCB, Grant/research support from: Amgen, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi, Josef S. Smolen Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Astro, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Chugai, Gilead, ILTOO, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis- Sandoz, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung, Sanofi, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Novartis, Roche.

POS0218 TUMOR-NECROSIS FACTOR INHIBITORS IMPROVE AORTIC STIFFNESS IN PATIENTS WITH LONGSTANDING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background:

Major cardiovascular disease (CVD) benefits of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) therapy occur in early RA patients with treat-to-target strategy. However, it is unknown whether long-term DMARDs treatment in established RA could be useful to improve CVD risk profile.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to comparatively describe aortic stiffness progression in patients with longstanding and established RA treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) or conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs).

Methods:

Ultrasound aortic stiffness index (AoSI) has to be considered a proxy outcome measure in established RA patients. We measured AoSI in a group of RA patients on long-term treatment with TNFi or csDMARDs. Eligible participants were assessed at baseline and after 12 months; changes in serum lipids, glucose and arterial blood pressure were assessed. All patients were on stable medications during the entire follow-up.

Results:

We included 107 (64 TNFi and 43 csDMARDs) RA patients. Most patients (74%) were in remission or low disease activity and had some CVD risk factors (45.8% hypertension, 59.8% dyslipidemia, 45.3% smoking; table 1). The two groups did not differ significantly for baseline AoSI (5.95±3.73% vs 6.08±4.20%, p=0.867). Follow-up AoSI was significantly increased from baseline in the csDMARDs group (+1.00%; p<0.0001) but not in the TNFi group (+0.15%, p=0.477). Patients on TNFi had significantly lower follow-up AoSI from baseline than the csDMARDs group (-1.02%, p<0.001; ANCOVA corrected for baseline AoSI, age and systolic blood pressure). Furthermore, follow-up AoSI was significantly lower in TNFi users with 1-2 or >2 CVD risk factors than in those without (figure 1).

Conclusion:

Long-term treatment with TNFi was associated with reduced aortic stiffness in patients with established RA and several CVD risk factors.

Baseline characteristics of the study population.csDMARDs(n=43)TNFi(n=64)P valueAge, median years (IQR)58.6 (53.0, 66.0)58.1 (49.3, 67.0)0.839Female sex33 (76.7)54 (84.4)0.321Obesity5 (11.6)7 (10.9)0.999Hypertension19 (44.2)30 (46.9)0.784Anti-hypertensive drug17 (39.5)28 (43.8)0.784Smoking status, ever18 (42.9)30 (46.9)0.684Dyslipidemia30 (40.2)34 (59.8)0.085Current statin use13 (34.2)10 (15.9)0.033Diabetes mellitus3 (7.0)3 (4.7)0.676Anti-diabetic medication1 (2.3)1 (1.5)0.999CVD risk factors, median (IQR)2 (1, 3)2 (1, 3)0.199RF and/or ACPA positive28 (65.1)33 (51.6)0.165Disease duration, median years (IQR)14.1 (11.5)15.4 (10.5)0.538Methotrexate38 (88.4)52 (81.3)0.192Leflunomide5 (17.9)12 (19.0)0.999Hydroxychloroquine9 (31.0)5 (7.8)0.009Prednisone > 5 mg daily7 (7.7)5 (5.5)0.823NSAIDs6 (20.7)22 (34.4)0.227

ACPA, anti-citrullinated peptides antibodies; csDMARDs, conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; IQR, interquartile range; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; RF, rheumatoid factor; TNFi, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. All data reported as absolute numbers (percentage) otherwise specified. P-value refers to Chi-squared or Fisher test for categorical variables or ANOVA for continuous variables.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

The troubling liaison between cancer and metabolic syndrome in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Background

Several studies on community populations found that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with higher risk for total incident cancer with a predisposition for specific types of cancer. These findings have never been analyzed in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD). We assessed prevalence/incidence and factors related to the development of cancer in a large cohort of these patients and evaluate whether MetS and its components were associated with cancer independent of traditional markers of inflammation.

Methods

Between March 2014 and April 2016, 474 patients with RMD involved in a cardiovascular primary prevention program were consecutively recruited into this ambispective (combination of retrospective/prospective) study. They underwent clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic evaluations. MetS was diagnosed according to the ATPIII criteria.

Results

Duration of follow-up was 42 [18–60] months. Patients with a diagnosis of cancer (made before recruitment or during follow-up) were 46 (9.7%). Cancer was diagnosed in 22/76 patients (29%) with MetS and in 24/398 patients (6%, p < 0.001) without MetS; nearly two thirds of malignancies belonged to those traditionally related to MetS. MetS was the strongest cancer risk factor. Cancer was positively associated with the number of MetS components identified in each patient. Beyond MetS, cancer was associated to older age and increased inflammatory disease activity; this information allowed to build a simple performance indicator highly sensitive for cancer development.

Conclusion

In light of our results, an increasingly accurate assessment of MetS would be required in patients with RMD as potential measure of clinical outcomes including the risk of cancer.

Is central sensitization an important determinant of functional disability in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritides?

Background

Central sensitization (CS) is a condition characterized by a disproportionate response to pain stimuli. We sought to investigate the prevalence of CS in patients with inflammatory arthritides and its association with measures of disease activity and functional disability.

Methods

We conducted an observational retrospective study in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We administered to all the subjects in the study the CS inventory (CSI), a questionnaire that has been used for the diagnosis of CS. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected as well as measures or disease activity [i.e. Simple Disease Activity Index, Disease Activity Score in PsA (DAPSA)] and functional disability [Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI)]. Patients with fibromyalgia were excluded from the analyses. The primary outcome measure was the presence of functional disability as assessed by HAQ-DI >1.

Results

We enrolled 150 patients with inflammatory arthritides (78 PsA and 72 RA). Prevalence of CS was observed in 35.3% of the overall sample (29% in RA, 42.9% in PsA). Binary logistic regressions showed a strong, independent and linear association between functional disability and CS in both PsA and RA patients. The strength of this association was greater in PsA than in RA.

Conclusion

CS is an important determinant of functional disability in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritides. PsA appeared to be more vulnerable to CS. In addition, in the presence of CS, DAPSA did not adequately capture the occurrence of functional disability. Therefore, special attention should be paid to PsA patients, in whom the concomitant diagnosis of CS should be routinely ruled out.

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) in Type 2 Diabetes: A New Imaging Possibility and a New Biomarker

We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) through Dual-Energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA) in a group of post-menopausal women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). We also explored several biomarkers of bone turnover metabolism, including Wnt pathway modulators. DXA-VFA was performed to detect the presence of DISH. Serum samples were collected from all patients at the time of study recruitment. 16 different serum biomarkers were tested between the two subgroups. Given the exploratory nature of the study, we did not adjust for multiplicity. At VFA analysis, among 96 individuals enrolled in the study 20 (20.8%) showed features of DISH. No statistically significant difference was found for BMD values, between the DISH and NO-DISH subgroups. Concerning blood biomarkers, DISH patients showed a significant difference only in the sclerostin serum levels (32 vs 35.5 pmol/L, for the DISH and NO-DISH subgroup, respectively; p = 0.010). After adjustment for confounding factors, sclerostin serum levels remained significantly lower in DISH group (p = 0.002). We demonstrated a non-negligible prevalence of DISH in a population of post-menopausal women affected by T2DM and suggested low serum sclerostin as a possible key feature associated with DISH presence. In addition, we propose DXA-VFA analysis, whose radiation dose is considerably lower than conventional radiography, as a viable diagnostic and prognostic mean to obtain data not only on bone health, but also for the screening for DISH in subjects at risk.

Vitamin D and disease severity in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)

The role of 25-OH-vitamin D in the assessment of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has not been investigated. We sought to investigate the prevalence of 25-OH-vitamin D deficiency among COVID-19 patients, and to determine the associations between 25-OH-vitamin D status and the severity of the disease. We have conducted a retrospective observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted to the University of Verona Hospital Trust. Demographic, clinical and biochemical parameters were collected at hospital admission, and serum 25-OH-vitamin D levels were measured. The following outcomes were assessed: arterial partial oxygen pressure (PaO2); C-reactive protein (CRP); length of hospitalization; requirement of oxygen therapy; non-invasive ventilation (NIV); mechanical ventilation; and death. Among 61 patients enrolled, 72.1% was 25-OH-vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/mL) and 57.4% had 25-OHvitamin D <15 ng/mL. Patients with arterial PaO2 <60 mmHg had significantly lower mean 25-OH-vitamin D levels compared to patients with PaO2 ≥60 mmHg (13.3 ng/mL vs 20.4 ng/mL respectively, p=0.03). Vitamin D deficiency was associated with 3-fold higher risk of having arterial pO2 <60 mmHg. 25-OH-vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased CRP and dyspnea. 25-OH-vitamin D deficiency was associated with more severe systemic inflammatory response and respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients.

Sensitivity to change and clinical correlations of the novel DACtylitis glObal Sonographic (DACTOS) score in psoriatic arthritis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to assess the performance of the DACTOS (DACtylitis glObal Sonographic) score in a PsA dactylitis clinical setting. In particular, we evaluated the ability of DACTOS to identify the affected fingers, its sensitivity to change after treatment, the correlations between DACTOS and clinical parameters, and the capacity of the score to identify the treatment responders.

METHODS

Forty-six consecutive patients with symptomatic PsA hand dactylitis were enrolled. A total of seventy-three dactylitic digits were evaluated clinically and sonographically before and after treatment in this observational and prospective study. Clinical assessment included the Leeds Dactylitis Index-basic (LDI-b) score and visual analogue scales for pain (VAS-p) and functional impairment (VAS-FI). Sonographic lesions were investigated using high-frequency ultrasound with grey scale and power Doppler features according to the DACTOS score. Correlations between the DACTOS score and the clinical parameters were assessed at baseline, 1 month (T1) and 3 months (T3).

RESULTS

We observed significant improvements in all of the assessed clinical parameters and the DACTOS scores after dactylitis treatment. There was a statistically significant correlation between the variation of all clinical parameters (VAS-p, VAS-FI and LDI-b) and the DACTOS score at T1 and T3 evaluations. We found statistically significant differences in the DACTOS score between clinical responder and non-responder groups (P < 0.001) and between clinical remission and non-remission groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The DACTOS score performs well in real-life clinical settings in terms of sensitivity to change and correlations with clinical features in PsA dactylitis.

Recent Advances in Imaging for Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Prognosis of Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory condition characterized by a strong heterogeneity and multifaceted behavior. PsA manifests in two types—axial and peripheral—which may be present at the same time. Peripheral manifestations can be further divided into the articular (arthritis) and extra-articular (i.e., enthesitis and dactylitis) subgroups. In such a complex disease, imaging is often required to characterize the type of involvement and to evaluate the radiological damage and progression of PsA. In addition, imaging plays a pivotal role in clinical practice; that is, for axial involvement. Conventional radiology has been the main standard of reference for many years. However, in recent years, there has been growing interest in different imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All these techniques play a role in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with PsA and cover all the types of the disease. US and MRI have good sensitivities and specificities for detecting synovitis, and this may be helpful for differential diagnosis with other musculoskeletal diseases and useful in the early or preclinical phases of the disease. However, US is not useful in the diagnosis of axial PsA. In addition, other modalities have been investigated in the field of PsA imaging. Computed tomography (CT), in particular, dual energy-CT and high-resolution peripheral CT (HRpQ-CT) might play an important role in the assessment of bone damage, erosions, and new bone formation. Regarding advanced functional imaging, FDG PET/CT is another interesting technique for exploring disease activity.

Wnt Inhibitors and Bone Turnover Markers in Patients With Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Acute Effects of Glucocorticoid Treatment

Background: In polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), data on bone turnover markers (BTM), on Wnt inhibitors (Dkk-1, sclerostin) and their changes induced by glucocorticoids (GC) are lacking. The aims of our study were to compare the baseline levels of Wnt inhibitors and BTM in PMR patients with healthy controls (HC) and to study their changes over the first 4 weeks of GC treatment.

Materials and Methods: We enrolled 17 treatment-naïve patients affected by PMR and 17 age and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) from retired hospital personnel. PMR patients were administered methylprednisolone 16 mg daily for 4 weeks. Blood samples were taken at baseline and at week 4 for the PMR group, a single sample was taken for HC. N-propeptide of type I collagen (PINP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), sclerostin, Dkk-1, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were dosed.

Results: At baseline, Dkk-1 was significantly higher in the PMR group as compared to HC (p = 0.002) while PINP, CTX-I and sclerostin levels were comparable between PMR patients and HC, After 4 weeks of GC treatment we found in the PMR group a decrease of PINP (mean ± SD percentage decrement as compared to baseline −40 ± 18.6%, p < 0.001), CTX-I (−23.5 ± 41.3%, p = 0.032), Dkk-1 (−22.4 ± 39.6, p = 0.033), and sclerostin (−32.49 ± 20.47, p < 0.001) as compared to baseline levels.

Conclusions: In treatment-naïve PMR, systemic inflammation is associated with a dysregulation of the Wnt system (increased Dkk-1). Within the 1st month, treatment with GC showed noteworthy effects on bone resorption, formation, and on Wnt pathway modulators.

THU0479 ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CENTRAL SENSITIZATION AND CLINICAL AND ULTRASONOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIDES

Background:

Central sensitization (CS) is an important feature of patients with chronic pain, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. CS might interfere with the clinical evaluation of inflammation. Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) is a validated instrument for assessing central sensitization.

Objectives:

We seek to investigate the inference of central sensitization (assessed with the CSI) on clinical (disease activity scores) and ultrasound parameters (US 7-joints score) in RA and PsA patients.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on patients with an established diagnosis of RA or polyarticular PsA. Demographic, anamnestic and clinical parameters were collected. Disease activity was measured with SDAI in RA patients and with DAPSA in PsA patients. The presence and severity of synovitis was measured with the US 7-joints score. Exclusion criteria included: diagnosis of fibromyalgia, depression and patients with PsA with enthesitis predominant and/or spondylitis subtypes. Differences between variables were analysed with t-test and ANOVA for multiple comparisons. Correlation between continuous variables was analysed with Pearson correlation. CSI was analysed either as positive\negative (threshold 40 points) or divided in four categories, i.e., subclinical (≤29), mild (30-39), moderate (40-49), severe (50-59) and extreme (≥60).

Results:

We enrolled 42 patients in the study. Descriptive characteristics of the study population are presented in table 1. We found no difference in clinical parameters between diseases, sex or age. Women had a higher CSI score compared to men (mean 39.3 vs 26.7 p=0.005). We found a correlation between CSI score and DAPSA (r20.39, p =0.001), number of tender joints (r20.13, p=0.02) and HAQ (r20.47, p<0.001) (Figure 1) while we found no correlation between CSI score and SDAI or other clinical parameters. We found a significant difference in DAPSA, tender joints count and HAQ between CSI categories (ANOVA p=0.01, p=0.02 and p<0.001 respectively). US 7-joints score was associated with SDAI (r20.33, p=0.03), number of swollen joints (r20.28, p=0.002) and disease duration (r20.35, p<0.001) but not with DAPSA or tender joints.

Table 1.

Descriptive characteristics of the study population

Age (mean, SD in years)55.9 (12.3)BMI25.9 (3.9)CSI questionnaire score (mean)35 (16)CSI categories (n, %)Subclinical18 (42.9%)Mild9 (21.4%)Moderate8 (19.0%)Severe4 (9.5%)Extreme3 (7.1%)Diagnosis (n, %)PsA 52.4%9 men 13 womenRA 47.6%2 men 18 womenCSI score in PsA (mean, SD)34.4 (16.5)CSI score in RA (mean, SD)34.8 (15.5)CRP (median, IQR in mg/L)1.85 (1.0-4.6)Tender joints (mean, SD)2 (2)Swollen joints (mean, SD)1 (2)SDAI categories (n, %)Remission4 (20.0%)Low disease activity8 (40.0%)Moderate disease activity7 (35.0%)Severe disease activity1 (5.0%)DAPSA categories (n, %)Remission6 (33.3%)Low disease activity4 (22.2%)Moderate disease activity7 (38.9%)Severe disease activity1 (5.6%)US 7-joints score (mean, SD)6 (7)HAQ (mean, SD)0.6 (0.6)Prednisone equivalent (mean, SD in mg/day)1.47 (3.2)Biological DMARD (n, %)No15 (35.7%)Yes27 (64.3%)Conventional DMARD (n, %)No13 (31.0%)Yes29 (69.0%)Figure 1.

Correlation between DAPSA score and CSI score and between HAQ and CSI score

Conclusion:

We found an association between CS and sex, functional disability, tender joints count and disease activity score in PsA patients while there was no correlation between RA disease activity and central sensitization. US 7-joints score was associated with swollen joints count, disease duration and disease activity in RA patients but not in PsA patients. In PsA patients, DAPSA might be more influenced by central sensitization, especially in female individuals.

Disclosure of Interests:

Giovanni Adami: None declared, Elisabetta Gerratana: None declared, Alessandro Giollo: None declared, Camilla Benini: None declared, Elisabetta Vantaggiato: None declared, Denise Rotta: None declared, Luca Idolazzi: None declared, Davide Gatti Speakers bureau: Davide Gatti reports personal fees from Abiogen, Amgen, Janssen-Cilag, Mundipharma, outside the submitted work., Maurizio Rossini Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Abiogen, Amgen, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sandoz and UCB, Angelo Fassio Speakers bureau: Angelo Fassio reports personal fees from: Abiogen and Novartis, outside the submitted work.

AB1094 SCAR IMAGING ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY WITH ULTRASOUND MULTI-PULSE SCHEME [eSCAR] FOR THE DETECTION OF MYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Background:

Myocardial fibrosis is a severe complication of immune-mediated diseases, occurring in up to 30% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging allows myocardial scar detection in SLE patients, but it is costly, time consuming, and unfit for patients with renal disease. Scar imaging echocardiography with ultrasound multi-pulse scheme (eSCAR) is a novel and promising technique that proved to be effective in detecting ischemic myocardial scars in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objectives:

To evaluate if the eSCAR technique is feasible and to better characterize SLE patients with cardiac involvement by eSCAR.

Methods:

We recruited consecutive patients with SLE classified according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR recommendations. Patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity, prior cardiovascular (CV) disease or anti-phospholipid (aPL) syndrome were excluded. Eligible participants underwent a thorough clinical assessment and a full echocardiography examination, including the eSCAR technique. Data on clinical variables were collected; disease activity was estimated by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score. Lupus flare was defined as new/worse clinical signs and symptoms and/or lab measurements and a change/increase in treatment. Patients were compared according to the presence or absence of eSCAR. In this preliminary report, only descriptive analyses are provided. Continuous data are reported as median [25th; 75thpercentile].

Results:

We enrolled fifteen patients diagnosed with SLE (age 45 years [36; 47], disease duration 14 years [12; 20]), 13 (87%) were females. Median SLEDAI was 5 [2; 8]. The most frequent disease involvement included arthritis (73%), skin and mucous membranes (60%), lupus nephritis (47%) and cytopenias (47%). Patients had received treatment for lupus with 5 drugs [5; 8]. Cumulative prednisone dosage was 25 g [20; 44], whilst the current daily dosage of prednisone was 4 mg [0.0; 5.0]. Hypertension was present in 4 (27%) and hypercholesterolemia in 2 (13%) subjects; 4 patients (27%) were current or past smokers. The eSCAR technique was feasible in all participants with no adverse effects. Myocardial scars were detected in 2 patients (eSCAR-positive 13%; figure and table); eSCAR positive patients were females and had no history of cardiovascular involvement (including pericarditis); they had at least one relapse within the prior 12 months before enrollment; at least one cardiovascular risk factor was found in both patients (one was a smoker and the other one had hypertension); none received prior treatment with cyclophosphamide or rituximab; they had no renal involvement; arthritis and cytopenia were the prominent features of disease; anti-dsDNA titer was higher than eSCAR-negative patients.

Conclusion:

Echocardiography allowed detection of myocardial scars in patients with SLE. Our preliminary data show that eSCAR is feasible and well tolerated in a SLE population. Further data from this ongoing study will help investigate whether eSCAR might improve risk stratification, by identifying myocardial involvement in SLE patients with a more active disease.

eSCAR positivePatient 1eSCAR positivePatient 2eSCAR negativeSLE patients (n=13)Age, years324545SexFemaleFemale11 F / 2 MESR mm/h29715CRP mg/L30.62Anti-dsDNA (IF)PositivePositivePositive 7 (47)Anti-dsDNA (CLIA)10514934 [7; 66]C3 (mg/L)618085 [70; 94]C4 (mg/L)41310 [9; 16]P-Cr (mg/dL)0.60.80.7 [0.6; 0.7]aPLPositiveNegative7 (47)Disease duration, years152814 [12; 15]SLEDAI1205 [2; 8]Lupus flare in the past 12 monthsyesyes5 (33)Cumulative prednisone dosage (g)606124 [19, 32]Previous use of cyclophosphamideNoNo3 (20)Previous use of rituximabNoNo1 (1)

Acknowledgments:

This study was granted by Gruppo LES Italia Onlus

Disclosure of Interests:

Alessandro Giollo: None declared, Giulia Vinco: None declared, Giovanni Orsolini: None declared, Giovanni Cioffi: None declared, Giovanni Adami: None declared, Angelo Fassio Speakers bureau: Angelo Fassio reports personal fees from: Abiogen and Novartis, outside the submitted work., Luca Idolazzi: None declared, Davide Gatti Speakers bureau: Davide Gatti reports personal fees from Abiogen, Amgen, Janssen-Cilag, Mundipharma, outside the submitted work., Flavio Luciano Ribichini: None declared, Maurizio Rossini Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Abiogen, Amgen, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sandoz and UCB, Ombretta Viapiana: None declared

OP0063 QUANTITATIVE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY PREDICTS 10-YEAR MORTALITY IN INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE RELATED TO SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Background:

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the main cause of death in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Chest CT is the gold standard in detecting ILD although it is not easy to understand its prognostic value. ILD qualitative assessment is almost worthless. Goh et al. semi quantitative score of ILD extent is related to mortality risk but it is burdened by relevant inter/intra-readers variability. An operator independent algorithm based on voxel-wise analysis proved to identify SSc patients with an increased risk of mortality according to prediction models.

Objectives:

To verify if quantitative analysis of chest CT (QCT) predict 10 years-mortality in SSc patients.

Methods:

SSc patients with availability of a chest CT were enrolled in 13 different centers. The CT voxel-wise analysis with a free software (www.horosproject.com) provided QCT indexes: kurtosis, skewness, mean lung attenuation and standard deviation. Patients characteristics, autoimmune profile and pulmonary function test were collected. The follow-up interval lasted from the date of chest CT to the one of the last visit or death. Each QCT index cutoff, established in a previous study (1), clustered patients in two groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis estimated and compared survival in the above mentioned groups. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

Five hundred sixty three SSc patients were enrolled (35938 patient-months); 52.4% had ILD detectable at CT scan. For each QCT index cutoff the cohort was split in two subgroups without differences in terms of sex, age, disease duration, autoimmune profile. All QCT indexes’ cutoff selected subgroups with statistically different survival rate (e.g in Figure 1).

Figure 1

Conclusion:

QCT can arise as the new gold standard in identifying SSc patients with poor prognosis. The real possibility to stratify SSc subjects according mortality risk will have a pivotal role in ILD treatment decisional process with the incoming anti-fibrotic drugs.

References:

[1]Ariani A et al. Rheumatology 2017

Disclosure of Interests:

Alarico Ariani: None declared, Elena Bravi: None declared, Maria De Santis: None declared, Vanessa Hax: None declared, Simone Parisi: None declared, Federica Lumetti: None declared, Francesco Girelli: None declared, Marta Saracco: None declared, Fabio De Gennaro: None declared, Alessandro Giollo: None declared, Masen Abdel Jaber: None declared, Francesco Bozzao: None declared, Mario Silva: None declared, Maria Chiara Ditto: None declared, Claudia Lomater: None declared, Flavio Mozzani: None declared, Daniele Santilli: None declared, eleonora Di Donato: None declared, Andrea Becciolini Speakers bureau: Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB and AbbVie, Francesco Pucciarini: None declared, Lorenzo Canziani: None declared, Flavio Cesare Bodini: None declared, eugenio arrigoni: None declared, M Bredemeier: None declared, Rafael Mendonça da Silva Chakr: None declared, Amelia Spinella: None declared, Luca Idolazzi: None declared, Roberto Bortolotti: None declared, Paola Tomietto: None declared, Elisa Baratella: None declared, Saverio Tollot: None declared, Dilia Giuggioli: None declared, Fabio Fischetti: None declared, Enrico Fusaro: None declared, Nicola Sverzellati: None declared, Carlo Alberto Scirè: None declared

Psoriatic Arthritis and Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory spondyloarthropathy associated with psoriasis. PsA is frequently associated with metabolic disorders including, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 2 DM is among the most common metabolic disorders, with a prevalence ranging from 2.4 to 14.8% in the general population.

METHODS

We conducted a narrative review of the English-language studies from January 1989 to September 2019 investigating the risk of type 2 DM in patients with PsA, the pathogenic mechanism linking DM to PsA, and the effects on insulin sensitivity exerted by systemic therapies for PsA.

RESULTS

The prevalence of type 2 DM in patients with PsA ranges from 6.1 to 20.2%, generally higher when compared to the general population. The higher risk of DM is reported in women with more severe forms of PsA. Elevated serum levels of adipokines, including TNF-α, which inhibits the autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor and suppresses the expression of glucose transporter 4, favor insulin resistance and could partially explain the association between PsA and DM. Moreover, adiponectin and omentin, with insulin-sensitizing and anti-atherogenic properties, are decreased in patients with PsA. Some of the treatments for PsA could affect the glucose homeostasis. Systemic corticosteroids are known to impair insulin resistance, whereas apremilast (phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor) and TNF-α inhibitors could exert neutral effect or reduce the insulin-resistance. The role of IL-17 or IL-23 inhibitors has been marginally investigated.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients affected by PsA have a higher prevalence of type 2 DM compared with the general population. The mechanism linking PsA with DM has not been completely clarified, but some of the principal mediators could be TNF-α and adipokine, especially adiponectin and omentin. Apremilast and TNF-α inhibitor may have a favorable effect and could be safely used in patients with DM.

SAT0412 ACCURACY OF AN INSTRUMENT FOR SCREENING PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AMONG PSORIATIC PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM THE MULTICENTRE ITALIAN STUDY HERACLES (SCREENING STRATEGIES FOR RHEUMATOLOGICAL REFERRAL OF PSORIATIC SUBJECTS AIMED TO DISCLOSE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS)

Background:

Identifying psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among people with psoriasis is often challenging due to low specificity of symptoms at early PsA stage and/or delayed referral to the rheumatologist. Screening instruments -assisting the dermatologist to decide when rheumatological assessment is beneficial- have potential to reduce the diagnostic delay.

Objectives:

To evaluate the accuracy of a dermatologist-filled-out questionnaire designed for screening PsA among psoriatic patients under dermatology care.

Methods:

HERACLES is a multicentre, cross-sectional study running at 9 Italian dermatology and rheumatology tertiary centres. All participants were under dermatology care for skin psoriasis. Previous diagnosis of PsA precluded eligibility. Dermatologists at each site assessed consecutive psoriatic subjects, filled in the specifically-designed HERACLES questionnaire (HQ, Figure 1) and finally referred the participants to rheumatologists for clinical evaluation. All participants filled in the ToPAS, PASE, PEST and EARP questionnaires. Rheumatologists assessed the participants regardless of the questionnaires’ scores. The gold standard applied to assess the instruments’ accuracy was the diagnosis of PsA as established by the rheumatologists. ROC curve analysis evaluated the performance of the scores associated with the clinical criteria listed in the HQ, estimating the sensitivity and specificity of different cut-off levels. Further exploratory ROC curve analysis compared HQ performance to that of the other four questionnaires tested.

Figure 1.

Results:

Out of 759 subjects enrolled, 524 (69%) attended rheumatology assessment. Rheumatologists diagnosed PsA in 73/524 patients (13.9%, Figure 2). Mean age was 53 (SD 16) years and 46% were female. Mean psoriasis duration was 20 (SD 19) years. The area under the ROC curve of HQ was 0.775. The HQ score cut-off value of 2 yielded a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 47%; a cut-off value of 3 yielded a sensitivity of 66% and a specificity of 75%. The comparison between the ROC curve of the HQ and those of the other four questionnaires evaluated did not show any significant difference (p=0.523 versus TOPAS; p=0.201 versus PASE; p=0.345 versus PEST and p=0.240 versus EARP).

Figure 2.

Conclusion:

The HERACLES questionnaire, a tool designed for dermatologists, showed good sensitivity and specificity in identifying PsA cases among subjects with cutaneous psoriasis.

Acknowledgments:

The HERACLES project was supported by a research grant from FIRA and Pfizer Italia SRL

Disclosure of Interests:

Gabriele De Marco: None declared, Maria Manara Consultant of: Consultant and/or speaker for Eli-Lilly, MSD, Sanofi-Genzyme, Novartis, Alfa Wasserman and Cellgene, Speakers bureau: Consultant and/or speaker for Eli-Lilly, MSD, Sanofi-Genzyme, Novartis, Alfa Wasserman and Cellgene, Paolo Gisondi: None declared, Luca Idolazzi: None declared, Roberta Ramonda Speakers bureau: Novartis, Celgene, Janssen, Pfizer, Abbvie, Lilly, Stefano Piaserico: None declared, Alberto Cauli: None declared, Marco Amedeo Cimmino: None declared, Veronica Tomatis: None declared, Carlo Salvarani: None declared, Rosanna Scrivo: None declared, Anna Zanetti: None declared, Greta Carrara: None declared, Carlo Alberto Scirè: None declared, Angelo Cattaneo: None declared, Antonio Marchesoni Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, UCB, Novartis, Celgene, Eli Lilly

AB0765 CAN A 6-JOINT ULTRASOUND SCORE DIFFERENTIATE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FROM PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS? A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Background:

Ultrasonography (US) is a well established technique both for diagnosis and follow up in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PSA)1. To date, there is no consensus regarding a standardized US evaluation of joint involvement by a validated score to be used for differential diagnosis.

Objectives:

1) To differentiate the ultrasound features of patients affected by active RA or active PSA by using a 6-joints score2. 2) To analyze correlations between those findings and clinical patterns of PSA disease.

Methods:

68 RA and 38 PSA patients (divided in two equal subgroups according to the clinical involvement i.e. polyarticular or oligoarticular) were enrolled in a multi-center cross-sectional study. All patients underwent clinical evaluation including demographic data, disease characteristics, laboratory test and tender/swollen joints count. SDAI and DAPSA were calculated in accordance to the disease and standard of care. The sonographic evaluation of wrists, II MCFs and knees, was performed using a multifrequency linear probe (13-18 MHz) with power Doppler (7.5 MHz, PRF500 Hz). High-end equipment was used and the scanning technique as well as the lesion assessment was previously agreed among the participants, who performed a consensus session 100 images. A validated ultrasound score2, which included effusion, synovial hypertrophy and synovial hypervascularization at 6 joints sites was used. Those lesions were assessed according to OMERACT definitions and semi-quantitatively graded (0-3). By summing the scores obtained at each joint site and globally, a joint score for articular involvement, a score for the severity of each lesion and a global 6-joint score for all abnormalities were calculated.

Results:

Clinical evaluation showed no statistically significant differences between RA and PSA (table I). Ultrasound detected significant differences in the score of joint effusion (SE) (p<0.021), synovial hypertrophy (SH) (p<0.001) and Doppler signal (p<0.011) between oligoarticular PSA and RA. Significant differences in the joint score of II MCF (p<0.000) and wrist (p<0.032) were also found between oligoarticular PSA and RA. The global 6-joint score was 10,88 in RA, 6,05 in PSA oligoarticular, 16,32 in PSA polyarticular. No differences were found between RA and polyarticular PSA.

Conclusion:

Ultrasound evaluation of 6 target joints might help to discriminate RA and PSA oligoarticular subset. The study of a limited number of joints is therefore a complementary tool to the clinic, fast and well integrated into the overall assessment of the arthritic patient.

References:

[1]Zabotti A. et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2018; 36:519-525.

[2]Perricone C et al. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2012; 51:866-73.

Table 1.Dependent variablesStudy Populationp valuesUS_SEScoreRAPSA OLIGO.021PSA POLY.356PSARA.021OLIGOPSA POLY.014PSARA.356POLYPSA OLIGO.014US_SHScoreRAPSA OLIGO.001PSA POLY.336PSARA.001OLIGOPSA POLY.004PSARA.336POLYPSA OLIGO.004US_PDScoreRAPSA OLIGO.011PSA POLY.102PSARA.011OLIGOPSA POLY.006PSA POLYRA.102PSA OLIGO.006US_MCP2ScoreRAPSA OLIGO.000PSA POLY.276PSARA.000OLIGOPSA POLY.002PSA POLYRA.276PSA OLIGO.002US_WRISTScoreRAPSA OLIGO.032PSA POLY.610PSARA.032OLIGOPSA POLY.047PSA POLYRA.610PSA OLIGO.047US_KNEEScoreRAPSA OLIGO1.000PSA POLY.133PSA OLIGORA1.000PSA POLY.180PSA POLYRA.133PSA OLIGO.180US_KNEEScoreRAPSA OLIGO1.000PSA POLY.133PSARA1.000OLIGOPSA POLY.180PSA POLYRA.133PSA OLIGO.180

US: ultrasound; SE synovial effusion; SH synovial hypertrophy;

PD power Doppler; MCP metacarpophalangeal; PSA psoriatic arthritis;

OLIGO oligoarticular; POLYpolyarticular

Disclosure of Interests:

Fabiana Figus: None declared, Luca Idolazzi: None declared, Porin Perić: None declared, Alen Zabotti Speakers bureau: Celgene, Janssen, Ilaria Tinazzi: None declared, Irene Azzolin: None declared, ERIKA MONTABONE: None declared, Tanya Sapundzhieva: None declared, Anastas Batalov: None declared, PLAMEN TODOROV: None declared, Rositsa Karalilova: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Alfasigma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Abiogen, Alfasigma, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi and Sanofi Genzyme, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Alfasigma, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi

Novel and reliable DACTylitis glObal Sonographic (DACTOS) score in psoriatic arthritis

OBJECTIVES

Dactylitis is one of the most typical features of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with a high lifetime prevalence and inclusion in PsA clinical indices. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography (Msk-US) can readily detect inflammatory involvement of finger anatomical structures particular to dactylitis and monitor therapeutic effects. In this study, we aim to identify the characteristic lesions in PsA dactylitis of the hands, assess the reliability of Msk-US in scoring those lesions and develop a DACTylitis glObal Sonographic (DACTOS) score.

METHODS

After a systematic literature review on the use of Msk-US in PsA dactylitis, 12 rheumatologists participated in a three-round Delphi procedure and consensus meeting to agree on the sonographic elementary lesions characterising dactylitis and on the composition of a global sonographic score. Then, a web-based and a patient-based intra-rater and inter-rater reliability exercise was performed to assess those lesions included in the score.

RESULTS

DACTOS score was obtained by summing the scores of each lesion selected in the Delphi survey: subcutaneous soft tissue oedema, flexor tenosynovitis, peritendon extensor inflammation and synovitis. The DACTOS score ranges from 0 to 25. In the reliability exercises, we obtained moderate-to-excellent agreement for the sonographic lesions included in the score.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel DACTOS score is a reliable measure to interpret the multiple characteristic sonographic features of dactylitis. The DACTOS score provides a useful global analysis of dactylitis of the hand and can represent a support to clinical diagnosis as well as a useful tool for the management and research in patients with PsA with dactylitis.

Differential Diagnosis of Inflammatory Arthropathies by Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography: A Systematic Literature Review

Background: Differential diagnosis in early arthritis is challenging, especially early after symptom onset. Several studies applied musculoskeletal ultrasound in this setting, however, its role in helping diagnosis has yet to be clearly defined. The purpose of this work is to systematically assess the diagnostic applications of ultrasonography in early arthritis in order to summarize the available evidence and highlight possible gaps in knowledge. Methods: In December 2017, existing systematic literature reviews (SLR) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), and gout were retrieved. Studies on ultrasound to diagnose the target conditions and detecting elementary lesions (such as synovitis, tenosynovitis, enthesitis, bone erosions, osteophytes) were extracted from the SLRs. The searches of the previous reviews were updated and data from new studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria extracted. Groups of reviewers worked separately for each disease, when possible diagnostic accuracy (sensitivities, specificities) was calculated from primary studies. When available, the reliability of ultrasound to detect elementary lesions was extracted. Results: For all the examined disease, recent SLRs were available. The new searches identified 27 eligible articles, with 87 articles included from the previous SLRs. The diagnostic performance of ultrasound in identifying diseases was addressed by 75 studies; in most of them, a single elementary lesion was used to define diagnosis, except for PMR. Only studies on RA included consecutive patients with new onset of arthritis, while studies on gout and CPPD often focused on subjects with mono-arthritis. Most of the remaining studies enrolled patients with a defined diagnosis. Synovitis was the most frequently detected lesion; clinical diagnosis was the most common reference standard. The diagnostic performance of ultrasound across different conditions was extremely variable. Ultrasound to identify elementary lesions was assessed in 38 studies in OA, gout and CPPD. Its performance in OA was very variable, with better results in CPPD and gout. The reliability of ultrasound was moderate to good for most lesions. Conclusions: Although a consistent amount of literature investigated the diagnostic application of ultrasound, in only a minority of cases its additional value over clinical diagnosis was tested. This SLR underlines the need for studies with a pragmatic design to identify the placement of ultrasound in the diagnostic pathway of new-onset arthritis.

Incidence and predictors of adverse clinical events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction

OBJECTIVES

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are exposed to impairment in left ventricular (LV) function, which is a prognosticator of poorer clinical outcomes. In this study we assessed prevalence and factors associated with adverse outcomes in patients with RA and asymptomatic LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD).

METHODS

We prospectively analysed 102 RA patients with asymptomatic LVSD consecutively selected by a pool of 418 RA patients referred to the Division of Rheumatology, University of Verona, between March 2014 and March 2015. LVSD was defined as impaired global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured by echocardiography. The pre-specified study end-points were all-cause death/hospitalisation, and death/hospitalisation for cardiovascular cause.

RESULTS

During a follow-up of 35 [13-54] months, all-cause death/hospitalisation occurred in 40 patients (39%). No patient died during the follow-up, 18 patients (18% of the study population) had a cardiovascular event which required hospitalisation, while 22 (22% of patients) required hospitalisation, but this was unrelated to CV. Multiple Cox regression analysis identified worse renal function, more frequent use and a higher number of biologic DMARDs used before enrolment as independent predictors of all-causes hospitalisation. The same variables together with higher LV mass predicted CV hospitalisation. Prognostic cut-off points were 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 for glomerular filtration rate and 49 g/m2.7 for LV mass.

CONCLUSIONS

RA patients with asymptomatic LVSD have a very high rate of all-cause and cardiovascular hospitalisation at mid-term follow-up, predicted by worse renal function, higher LV mass, more frequent use and higher number of biologic DMARDs used before enrolment, suggesting that biologic DMARDs refractory is a proxy of adverse events.

Disease Activity and Anticitrullinated Peptide Antibody Positivity Predict the Worsening of Ventricular Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective

This prospective study was designed to analyze the incidence and the factors associated with impairment in left ventricular systolic function (LVSF) overtime in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) without overt cardiac disease. In particular, we verified the hypothesis that a relationship between worsening of LVSF and markers of RA disease activity exists.

Methods

One hundred forty outpatients with RA without overt heart disease underwent clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic evaluation at baseline and after 35 (interquartile range [IQR] 23‐47) months of follow‐up. A clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score greater than 10 indicated the presence of moderate‐high RA disease activity; data on anticitrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) positivity were recorded at baseline. Stress‐corrected midwall fractional shortening (sc‐MFS) was used as a measure of LVSF and was considered impaired if less than 86.5%.

Results

At 36 (IQR 23‐47) months follow‐up, impaired sc‐MFS was detected in 60 of 140 (43%) patients, compared with 80 patients with normal sc‐MFS. Disease duration and activity, ACPA positivity, inflammatory markers, cardiovascular and antirheumatic therapies, and sc‐MFS were similar between the two groups at baseline. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed ACPA positivity, moderate‐high disease activity (CDAI greater than 10), and disease duration as independent predictors of impaired sc‐MFS at follow‐up. Finally, a simple clinical score to predict worsening of LVSF at midterm was built (area under the curve of 0.80, with a sensibility and specificity of 78% and 82%, respectively).

Conclusion

Disease duration, ACPA positivity, and moderate‐high disease activity are independent prognosticators of LVSF impairment in RA. Adverse changes in heart function could be prevented by good control of inflammation and modulation of autoimmunity.

Acute Effects of Glucocorticoid Treatment, TNFα or IL-6R Blockade on Bone Turnover Markers and Wnt Inhibitors in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α and Interleukin (IL)-6 play a fundamental role in bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), partly due to the inhibition of the Wnt canonical pathway. The aim of our study was to investigate the short-term effects of three different treatments on Wnt inhibitors (Dkk-1 and sclerostin) and on bone turnover markers (BTMs): N-propeptide of type I collagen (PINP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX-I). We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. We enrolled women affected by early RA (< 12 months) with active disease (DAS28 ≥ 2.6) despite a 6-month treatment with methotrexate (10-15 mg/week), who then started certolizumab pegol, tocilizumab, or methyl-prednisolone (8 mg/daily). Patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment. Blood samples were collected at baseline, week 1, and week 4. We selected 14 patients treated with certolizumab pegol, 14 patients with tocilizumab, and 20 patients with methyl-prednisolone. No difference between any of the tested parameters was found at baseline. β-CTX-I, Dkk-1, and sclerostin decreased after 1 week of treatment with certolizumab pegol (- 27% ± 21.5, - 50% ± 13.2, and - 30% ± 30.4, respectively, p < 0.05). Methyl-prednisolone induced similar changes, albeit less marked, on β-CTX-I and Wnt inhibitors, with a decrease in PINP (- 16.1% ± 16.5, p < 0.05). Tocilizumab did not significantly affect BTMs or Wnt inhibitors. No significant changes were found for PTH and 25OHD. In the first four weeks of treatment, TNFα inhibition showed strong effects on BTMs and Wnt inhibitors, differently from IL-6 blockade. Glucocorticoids induced similar changes; nonetheless, they showed undesired effects on bone formation.

Correction to: The ultrasonographic study of the nail reveals differences in patients affected by inflammatory and degenerative conditions

The original published version of this article contained the incorrect Table 2 and are now presented correctly in this article.

Ultrasonographic detection, definition and quantification of soft tissue oedema in psoriatic dactylitis

AIM

To define and score finger soft tissue oedema in psoriatic dactylitis by ultrasound.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic literature review (SLR) on ultrasound-detected finger soft tissue oedema was performed. Subsequently, based on the SLR, a Delphi survey was developed and circulated among a group of 13 expert sonographers, in order to obtain agreement on detection, definition and scoring of finger oedema by B-mode and power Doppler ultrasound. Agreement was considered achieved when each statement was approved by >75% of participants.

RESULTS

At the first Delphi round, 91 % agreement was obtained for the scanning technique to adopt, including the most appropriate area to evaluate. At the second round, 76% agreement was achieved on the definition of soft tissue finger oedema. At the third round, 76% agreement was obtained for B-mode and power Doppler scores. The volar aspect of the finger and comparisons with the contralateral side were agreed to be the most appropriate in terms of scanning technique. Agreed ultrasound definition of finger soft tissue oedema was "abnormal hypoechoic/anechoic areas, diffused or localized within the subcutaneous tissue between the epidermidis and the tendon-related anatomic structures (i.e. flexor tendon sheath, peritenonium, tendon pulleys), with local thickening, with or without local abnormal Doppler signal, visualised in two perpendicular planes and not evident on the contralateral side". Semiquantitative (0-3) scores for both B-mode and power Doppler were agreed to be the most appropriate to be used.

CONCLUSION

Our work produced, for the first time, technical indications, definition and scoring for the ultrasound assessment of soft tissue oedema in psoriatic dactylitis.

Transition phase towards psoriatic arthritis: clinical and ultrasonographic characterisation of psoriatic arthralgia

Objective

Non-specific musculoskeletal pain is common in subjects destined to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We evaluated psoriatic patients with arthralgia (PsOAr) compared with psoriasis alone (PsO) and healthy controls (HCs) using ultrasonography (US) to investigate the anatomical basis for joint symptoms in PsOAr and the link between these imaging findings and subsequent PsA transition.

Methods

A cross-sectional prevalence analysis of clinical and US abnormalities (including inflammatory and structural lesions) in PsOAr (n=61), PsO (n=57) and HCs (n=57) was performed, with subsequent prospective follow-up for PsA development.

Results

Tenosynovitis was the only significant sonographic feature that differed between PsOAr and PsO (29.5% vs 5.3%, p<0.001), although synovitis and enthesitis were numerically more frequent in PsOAr. Five patients in PsOAr and one in PsO group developed PsA, with an incidence rate of 109.2/1000 person-years in PsOAr vs 13.4/1000 person-years in PsO (p=0.03). Visual Analogue Scale pain, Health Assessment Questionnaire, joint tenderness and US active enthesitis were baseline variables associated with PsA development.

Conclusion

Tenosynovitis was associated with arthralgia in subjects with psoriasis. Baseline US evidence of enthesitis was associated with clinical PsA development in the longitudinal analysis. These findings are relevant for enriching for subjects at risk of imminent PsA development.

Serum IFI16 and anti-IFI16 antibodies in psoriatic arthritis

Nuclear interferon-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and anti-IFI16 antibodies have been detected in subjects with several rheumatic diseases, often correlating with disease severity, and in this study we investigated their prevalence and clinical associations in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared to psoriasis (Pso). We tested sera and synovial fluids of patients with PsA for IFI16 protein levels by capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for anti-IFI16 immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA by ELISA, protein radio-immunoprecipitation and immunoprecipitation-Western blot of IgG. Sera from patients with Pso and healthy subjects were used as controls, and in a subgroup of patients with PsA we also studied sera after treatment with etanercept. IFI16 was detectable in the sera of 66% of patients with Pso, 46% with PsA and 19% of controls. Among PsA cases, 51% of IFI16-positive cases had elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) compared to 31% of patients with undetectable IFI16. Anti-IFI16 of both IgG and IgA isoforms were detected with significantly higher frequency in PsA and Pso compared to healthy controls, with higher IgG titres in patients with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0·015). Immunoprecipitation confirmed the presence of anti-IFI16 IgG antibodies and these preferentially recognized epitopes outside the N-terminus of the protein. Lastly, IFI16 was detected in one of seven and anti-IFI16 in three of seven synovial fluids from patients with PsA. Therefore, IFI16 and anti-IFI16 are detectable in serum and synovial fluid of PsA patients, especially in cases of elevated CRP.

Incidence and predictors of new onset left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with rheumatoid arthritis without overt cardiac disease

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with higher risk of heart failure. Several studies report that left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), a silent precursor of heart failure, is widely present in RA patients. Very little is known about the factors related to the development of LVDD in this disease. In this study we assessed the incidence and the predictors of new-onset LVDD in RA patients. Two-hundred-ninety-five adults with RA without overt cardiac disease were prospectively analyzed from March 2014 to March 2015 by Doppler echocardiography. Among the 295 subjects evaluated, 217 (73.6%) had normal LV diastolic function and represented the final study population. At 1-year follow-up, 53 of 217 patients (24%) developed LVDD, which was of degree I (mild dysfunction) in all of them. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, lower E/A ratio of transmitral flow (ratio between the peak velocity of early diastolic “E” wave and late diastolic “A” wave of transmitral flow) was independently associated with new-onset LVDD [OR 0.17 (CI 0.09-0.57)], together with older age and higher systolic blood pressure. In a clinical predictive model derived from multivariate analysis, the new-onset LVDD rate event ranged from 0% (patients without any factor) to 75% (patients in whom the three predictors coexisted). A significant portion of patients with RA without overt cardiac disease develop LVDD at 1-year follow-up. This condition can be predicted by a simple clinical model which could improve the clinical management and the prognostic stratification of patients with RA.

Nail ultrasonography for psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis patients: a systematic literature review

To systematically review the role of ultrasound (US) in the assessment of the joint-enthesial-nail apparatus in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or psoriasis (PSO) in terms of prevalence, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and treatment. A systematic literature review was conducted through medical databases (PubMed, Embase) and the grey literature up to February 2018. The main areas of application of nail US were first identified, allowing the development of research questions, which were rephrased following the PICOs methodology to develop inclusion criteria. Of the 585 studies produced by PubMed and Embase searches, 17 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Five additional studies were included: 1 from the hand search and 4 from the 2016-2017 ACR and EULAR congresses. The prevalence of nail plate changes varied from < 10 to 97%, for power Doppler signal from 20-30 to 96% and distal interphalangeal joint (DIJ) involvement from 8.9 to 100%. The performance of US nail/DIJ abnormalities in the diagnosis of PsA and PSO elementary lesions was analysed by five studies, with a wide heterogeneity. Reproducibility and reliability of US nil/DIJ were assessed by interclass correlation coefficient or Cohen's k and their values ranged from 0.6 to 0.9. The value of US nail/DIJ in the monitoring of the lesions was analysed only by a single study. The analysis revealed applications for US nail/DIJ in PsA and PSO and highlights limitations. Validation is strongly needed to demonstrate its appropriateness in the clinical practice and to define its diagnostic and prognostic role.