Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology Recommendations for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is chronic disease that compromises multiple domains and might be associated with progressive joint damage, increased mortality, functional limitation, and considerably impaired quality of life. Our objective was to generate evidence-based recommendations on the management of PsA in Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) countries.

METHODS

We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-ADOLOPMENT approach to adapt the 2019 recommendations of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology. A working group consisting of rheumatologists from various countries in Latin America identified relevant topics for the treatment of PsA in the region. The methodology team updated the evidence and synthesized the information used to generate the final recommendations. These were then discussed and defined by a panel of 31 rheumatologists from 15 countries.

RESULTS

Theses guidelines report 15 recommendations addressing therapeutic targets, use of antiinflammatory agents and corticosteroids, treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (conventional synthetic, biologic, and targeted synthetic), therapeutic failure, optimization of biologic therapy, nonpharmacological interventions, assessment tools, and follow-up of patients with PsA.

CONCLUSION

Here we present a set of recommendations to guide decision making in the treatment of PsA in Latin America, based on the best evidence available, considering resources, medical expertise, and the patient's values and preferences. The successful implementation of these recommendations should be based on clinical practice conditions, healthcare settings in each country, and a tailored evaluation of patients.

Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) comprises a spectrum of chronic inflammatory manifestations affecting the axial skeleton and represents a challenge for diagnosis and treatment. Our objective was to generate a set of evidence-based recommendations for the management of axSpA for physicians, health professionals, rheumatologists and policy decision makers in Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) countries. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation-ADOLOPMENT methodology was used to adapt existing recommendations after performing an independent systematic search and synthesis of the literature to update the evidence. A working group consisting of rheumatologists, epidemiologists and patient representatives from countries within the Americas prioritized 13 topics relevant to the context of these countries for the management of axSpA. This Evidence-Based Guideline article reports 13 recommendations addressing therapeutic targets, the use of NSAIDs and glucocorticoids, treatment with DMARDs (including conventional synthetic, biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs), therapeutic failure, optimization of the use of biologic DMARDs, the use of drugs for extra-musculoskeletal manifestations of axSpA, non-pharmacological interventions and the follow-up of patients with axSpA.

Recommendations on the management of adult patients with rheumatic diseases in the context of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection. Colombian Association of Rheumatology

Objective

To produce recommendations for patients with rheumatological diseases receiving immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies (conventional drugs, biologicals, and small molecules) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and methods

The recommendations were determined using the Delphi method as an agreement tool. A panel of experts was formed, with academic backgrounds and research experience in rheumatology. A literature search was conducted and 42 questions were generated. The level of agreement was made with 80% of approval by the participants.

Results

A group of eleven rheumatologists from 7 cities in the country participated. The response rate was 100% for the three consultation rounds. In the first round, agreement was reached on 35 questions, on 37 in the second round, and on 42 questions in the third round.

Conclusion

The recommendation for the majority of the pharmacological treatments used in rheumatology is to continue with immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapies in patients who do not have the infection, and to suspend it in patients with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.

Recommendations on the management of adult patients with rheumatic diseases in the context of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection. Colombian Association of Rheumatology

Objetivo

Generar las recomendaciones para la atención de pacientes con enfermedades reumáticas que reciben terapias inmunomoduladoras e inmunosupresoras (fármacos convencionales, biológicos y moléculas pequeñas) durante la pandemia por COVID-19.

Materiales y métodos

Las recomendaciones se realizaron utilizando el método Delphi como herramienta de acuerdo. Se conformó un panel de expertos con trayectoria académica y experiencia en investigación en reumatología. Se realizó la búsqueda de la literatura y se generó el cuestionario del ejercicio Delphi conformado por 42 preguntas. El grado de acuerdo se logró con el 80% de aprobación de los participantes.

Resultados

Se conformó un grupo de 11 reumatólogos de 7 ciudades del país. La tasa de respuesta fue del 100% para las 3 rondas de consulta. En la primera ronda se logró acuerdo en 35 preguntas, en la segunda ronda 37 y en la tercera ronda se logró el acuerdo de las 42 preguntas.

Conclusión

La recomendación para la mayoría de los tratamientos inmunomoduladores utilizados en reumatología es continuar con las terapias en pacientes que no tengan la infección y suspenderlas en aquellos con diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.

Recomendaciones sobre el manejo de pacientes adultos con enfermedades reumáticas en el contexto de la infección por SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Asociación Colombiana de Reumatología

Objetivo

Generar las recomendaciones para la atención de pacientes con enfermedades reumáticas que reciben terapias inmunomoduladoras e inmunosupresoras (fármacos convencionales, biológicos y moléculas pequeñas) durante la pandemia por COVID-19.

Materiales y métodos

Las recomendaciones se realizaron utilizando el método Delphi como herramienta de acuerdo. Se conformó un panel de expertos con trayectoria académica y experiencia en investigación en reumatología. Se realizó la búsqueda de la literatura y se generó el cuestionario del ejercicio Delphi conformado por 42 preguntas. El grado de acuerdo se logró con el 80% de aprobación de los participantes.

Resultados

Se conformó un grupo de 11 reumatólogos de 7 ciudades del país. La tasa de respuesta fue del 100% para las 3 rondas de consulta. En la primera ronda se logró acuerdo en 35 preguntas, en la segunda ronda 37 y en la tercera ronda se logró el acuerdo de las 42 preguntas.

Conclusión

La recomendación para la mayoría de los tratamientos inmunomoduladores utilizados en reumatología es continuar con las terapias en pacientes que no tengan la infección y suspenderlas en aquellos con diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.

Risk factors associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension in Colombian patients with systemic sclerosis: review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Considering the significant morbidity and mortality of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the lack of precise information on disease in Latin America, we investigated the clinical and laboratory characteristics associated with PAH in Colombian patients with SSc and review the literature.

METHODS

This multicenter study included patients followed at 5 rheumatology units that were systematically assessed using a pretested questionnaire on clinical and immunological variables, focusing on PAH. Conditional logistic regression was employed to assess association between PAH and specific clinical characteristics. A systematic review of the literature was performed through electronic databases.

RESULTS

Of a total of 349 patients with SSc, 61 (17%) met the criteria for PAH. Pulmonary fibrosis [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 7.37, 95% CI 3.67-14.81, p < 0.0001], microstomia (AOR 3.3, 95% CI 1.70-6.28, p < 0.0001), gastroesophageal reflux (AOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.31-4.43, p = 0.005), dysphagia (AOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.49-4.77, p = 0.001), hyperpigmentation (AOR 2.15, 95% CI 1.11-4.16, p = 0.02), and hypopigmentation (AOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.26-4.64, p = 0.008) were the most prevalent clinical characteristics associated with PAH, while anemia (AOR 5.4, 95% CI 1.98-14.93, p = 0.001) was observed as the unique laboratory risk factor. Association between subtypes of SSc and PAH was not observed. Significant differences in both clinical and laboratory data were observed among different series.

CONCLUSION

PAH may be a frequent complication of SSc in the Colombian population regardless of disease subtype. The identified clinical and laboratory risk factors might assist earlier diagnosis and guide decisions on therapeutic interventions on this critical complication of SSc. The reasons underlying the reported divergences among patients from different ethnicities are not fully understood, but it is most likely that both genetic and environmental factors are responsible for them.

[Anatomy of the splenic artery]

Due to the importance and permanent improvements as regards the treatment of different diseases involving abdominal organs such as the abdomen, pancreas and spleen. I was indined to investigate, both from the anatomic and surgical point of view, one of the collateral arterial branches of the celiac trunk, which is possibly considered to be one the least studied and, historically one of the most forgotten by the vessels irrigating the liver and stomach. Considering the fact that anatomic understanding is the starting point of medical knowledge, and that its conquests give it permanently new fundaments, I was determined to do research, intensely and thoroughly on splenic artery. This research work relates in detail, on the corresponding chapters, the material and methods used, which consist on human bodies and foetus fixed with formol and in a fresh condition. These human bodies and foetus were submitted to dissection techniques of inter-arterial injection with resin, and then they were corroded with acid and angiographic studies. Finally selective arteriographic tests were performed on living beings by means of digitalis removal of the splenic artery. The following chapter deals with the results obtained from saied research work, showing that the splenic artery originates, in all cases, from the celiac trunk, and this artery is the most important with an average length of 10.6 centimeters and of 2.3 flexuosities in all. This chapter also enumerates the relationships existing between the splenic artery and neighboring organs, the homonymous vein, its collateral and terminal branches which in the hundred percent of cases showed one superior and one inferior, to immediately subdivide in different ones at the level of the splenic pedide. The collateral branches found were the following: arterial pancreatic branches found in the 73% of the cases with an average of 1.8 arteries in all. posterior esophaguscardiotuberosity artery appearing in a 33% of the cases. superior polar artery appearing in a 53% of the cases. inferior polar artery appearing in a 33% of the cases. the short vessels appeared in the 100% of the cases, from which in a 73% were superior short vessels and in the remaining 27% inferior short vessels. the left gastroepiploon artery appeared in all the cases considered. I have discussed the anatomic importance of the splenic artery and gland with their multiple variations and relationships. I have also considered the splenic pedicle, depending on the rear fixation which has the extremity of the pancreas and the splenic hillum of 2.2 centimeters, with final figures ranging from 0 to 4 centimeters. I have also mentioned the appearance of a 10% of super numerary spleens. Finally in our experience with splenic segmentation and with corrosion pharmaceutical preparation and arteriographic studies as the basic ingredients, we have found that in a 62.5% they have two segments, in a 17% they have three segments, in a 12.5% they have four segments, in a 12.5% they have four segments and in an 8% they have five segments in all, in these cases generally due to the high importance of the polar arteries. Likewise, it is a truth universally accepted that splenic circulation is terminal and that spleen division into segments is separated by non-vascular levels.