Polymyositis following varicella and mumps infection in adults: report of two cases

Idiopathic immune myopathies (IIMs) are autoimmune diseases caused by immune-mediated muscle damage. The etiology remains unclear. Epidemiological and experimental studies, both in animals and humans, hint at viruses as major environmental factors able to trigger aberrant immune responses through many different mechanisms. However, only a few cases of either dermatomyositis or polymyositis following a specific viral infection have been reported in the literature. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical features and the treatment strategy of 2 cases of polymyositis developing shortly after chickenpox and mumps, respectively, and to review the existing literature on the topic. The clinical records of the 2 patients suspected to have developed inflammatory myositis following a viral infection were reviewed. Their clinical history, main laboratory findings, and treatment outcome are presented here. Moreover, a literature search was performed in the PubMed and MEDLINE databases to identify reports describing the association between viral infections and IIMs in patients aged ≥18. The 2 patients reported here developed polymyositis shortly after chickenpox and mumps, respectively, suggesting a causal role for viruses in triggering autoimmunity. Only a few reports published between 1990 and 2020 were found in the literature, possibly linking infections to myositis development. Intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab were effective for the treatment of viral-triggered polymyositis.

The data project: a shared approach between stakeholders of the healthcare system in definition of a therapeutic algorithm for inflammatory arthritis

Rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases or RMD [rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA)] are systemic inflammatory diseases for which there are no biomarkers capable of predicting treatments with a higher likelihood of response in naive patients. In addition, the expiration of the anti-TNF blocking drugs' patents has resulted in the availability of anti-TNF biosimilar drugs with the same efficacy and safety than originators but at significantly reduced prices. To guarantee a personalized therapeutic approach to RMD treatment, a board of rheumatologists and stakeholders from the Campania region, Italy, developed a clinically applicable arthritis therapeutic algorithm to guide rheumatologists (DATA project). The general methodology relied on a Delphi technique forecast to produce a set of statements that summarized the experts' consensus. Selected clinical scenarios were discussed in light of the available evidence, and there were two rounds of voting on the therapeutic approaches. Separate discussions were held regarding rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The decision-making factors for each disease were clinical presentation, demographics, and comorbidities. In this paper, we describe a virtuous process between rheumatologists and healthcare system stakeholders that resulted in the development of a shared therapeutic algorithm for RMD patients naive to bDMARDs.

Exercise Training in Elderly Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

Due to the aging of the population, in 70% of cases, a new cancer diagnosis equals a cancer diagnosis in a geriatric patient. In this population, beyond the concept of mortality and morbidity, functional capacity, disability, and quality of life remain crucial. In fact, when the functional status is preserved, the pathogenetic curve towards disability will stop or even regress. The present systematic review investigated the effectiveness of physical exercise, as part of a holistic assessment of the patient, for preventing disability and improving the patient’s quality of life, and partially reducing all-cause mortality. This evidence must point towards decentralization of care by implementing the development of rehabilitation programs for elderly cancer patients either before or after anti-cancer therapy.

Potential Role of Global Longitudinal Strain in Cardiac and Oncological Patients Undergoing Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation (CORE)

Although shown to be effective in improving survival and quality of life in patients with cancer, some treatments are well-known causes of cardiotoxicity, such as anthracyclines, monoclonal antibodies against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and radiotherapy. To prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients living with cancer, cardiologists and oncologists promoted the development of cardio-oncology, an interdisciplinary field which aims to further improving life expectancy in these patients. Cardio-oncology rehabilitation (CORE), through correction of risk factors, prescription of drug therapies and structured exercise programs, tries to improve symptoms, quality of life, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and survival in patients with cancer. Different imaging modalities can be used to evaluate the real effectiveness of exercise training on cardiac function. Among these, the global longitudinal strain (GLS) has recently aroused interest, thanks to its high sensitivity and specificity for cardiac dysfunction detection due to advanced ultrasound programs. This review summarizes the evidence on the usefulness of GLS in patients with cancer undergoing cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors Use for Atherogenic Dyslipidemia in Solid Organ Transplant Patients

Dyslipidemia is a widespread risk factor in solid organ transplant patients, due to many reasons, such as the use of immunosuppressive drugs, with a consequent increase in cardiovascular diseases in this population. PCSK9 is an enzyme mainly known for its role in altering LDL levels, consequently increasing cardiovascular risk. Monoclonal antibody PCSK9 inhibitors demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the general population in reducing LDL cholesterol levels and preventing cardiovascular disease. In transplant patients, these drugs are still poorly used, despite having comparable efficacy to the general population and giving fewer drug interactions with immunosuppressants. Furthermore, there is enough evidence that PCSK9 also plays a role in other pathways, such as inflammation, which is particularly dangerous for graft survival. In this review, the current evidence on the function of PCSK9 and the use of its inhibitors will be discussed, particularly in transplant patients, in which they may provide additional benefits.

POS0890 NINTEDANIB REAL-LIFE EFFICACY AND SAFETY IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (SSc)-INTERTISTIAL LUNG DISEASE (ILD): AN ITALIAN MULTICENTRE PRELIMINARY STUDY

Background

Nintedanib (NTD) has been approved for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc)-Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) following the positive results of the SENSCIS trial.

Objectives

to describe the efficacy and safety of NTD in SSc-ILD in a real-life setting.

Methods

The clinical data of SSc-ILD patients treated with NTD from 10 Italian SSc centres were retrospectively evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months: SSc clinical features, NTD tolerability, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) were recorded.

Results

69 SSc-ILD patients (22 males [32%], mean age 60±12 years, disease onset 50±13 years, 4 [6%] anti-centromere, 53 [77%] anti-topoisomerase I, 3 [4%] anti-RNA-polimerase III) were identified. The vast majority (84%) was previously treated with immunosuppressants: 27 (39%) cyclophosphamide, 45 (65%) mycophenolate mofetil, 6 (9%) methotrexate, 9 (13%) azathioprine, 6 (9%) tocilizumab and 22 (32%) rituximab. In 11 (16%) patients, NTD was the first treatment for SSc-ILD. At baseline, 57 patients (83%) were on corticosteroids (mean daily prednisone dose 6±5 mg), 58 (84%) on immunosuppressants, 47 (68%) on mycophenolate mofetil, 14 (20%) on rituximab, 3 (4%) on tocilizumab, 2 on methotrexate (3%) and 1 (1%) on azathioprine. At baseline HRCT showed UIP pattern in 27 (39%) and NSIP pattern in 42 (61%) patients. The modifications of PFTs and mRSS over time are shown in Table 1. Since NTD introduction, gastro-intestinal (GI) side effects were recorded in 34 (49%) patients, with diarrhoea being the most common complaint (35%), followed by nausea/vomiting (23%) and weight loss (16%). In 21 (30%) patients, after a mean time of 2.6±3.4 months, NTD was maintained after dose adjustment. In 5 (7%) patients NTD was stopped after a median time of 5 (1-6) months due to subocclusion and persistent diarrhoea in 3 patients, untreatable nausea and vomiting in one patient and liver toxicity in 1 patient. During the follow-up after a median time of 10 (6 – 33) months, 4 patients died.

Table 1.

Pulmonary function tests and mRSS at baseline, 6 and 12 months in SSc-ILD on NTD.

Baseline6 monthsP valueBaseline12 monthsP valueFVC (% predicted)64 ± 1865 ± 18 (33 pts)0.63870 ± 1969 ± 18 (20 pts)0.586TLC (% predicted)64 ± 1561 ± 14 (27 pts)0.15464 ± 1465 ± 18 (16 pts)0.944DLCO (% predicted)40 ± 1741 ± 18 (29 pts)0.66040 ± 1838 ± 18 (20 pts)0.304mRSS9 ± 68 ± 6 (26 pts)0.0027 ± 48 ± 6 (15 pts)0.334

pts= patients

Conclusion

Our preliminary data confirm that in a real-life clinical scenario NTD, in combination with immunosuppressants, may stabilize PFT. However, despite the fact that GI side effects are frequent, they may be controlled with NTD dose adjustment thus retaining the drug in SSc-ILD patients. The NTD efficacy on skin involvement needs to be thoroughly evaluated on a larger SSc population.

Disclosure of Interests

Corrado Campochiaro Speakers bureau: Boeboehringer ingelheim, Giacomo De Luca Speakers bureau: boehringer ingelheim, Maria Grazia Lazzaroni Grant/research support from: boehringer ingelheim, Giuseppe Armentaro: None declared, Amelia Spinella: None declared, Barbara Vigone: None declared, Barbara Ruaro: None declared, Anna Stanziola: None declared, Devis Benfaremo: None declared, Enrico De Lorenzis: None declared, Francesco Benvenuti: None declared, Silvia Laura Bosello Speakers bureau: boehringer ingelheim, Gianluca Moroncini: None declared, Giovanna Cuomo: None declared, Marco Confalonieri: None declared, Lorenzo Beretta: None declared, Elisabetta Zanatta: None declared, Dilia Giuggioli: None declared, Nicoletta Del Papa: None declared, Paolo Airò: None declared, Lorenzo Dagna: None declared, Marco Matucci-Cerinic Speakers bureau: boehringer ingelheim

POS1267 LONG-TERM SURVEY STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SYSTEMIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. LOW DEATH RATE DESPITE THE INCREASED PREVALENCE OF SYMPTOMATIC INFECTION. ROLE OF PRE-EXISTING INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE AND ONGOING TREATMENTS

Background

Patients with autoimmune systemic diseases (ASDs) can be counted among frail populations as regards the predisposition to COVID-19 due to the frequent visceral organ involvement and comorbidities, as well as the ongoing immunomodulating treatments.

Objectives

Our long-term multicenter telephone survey prospectively investigated the prevalence, prognostic factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in Italian ASD patients during the first 3 pandemic waves.

Methods

A large series of 3,918 ASD patients (815 M, 3103 F; mean age 59±12SD years) was consecutively recruited at the 36 referral centers of COVID-19 & ASD Italian Study Group. In particular, ASD series encompassed the following conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (n: 981), psoriatic arthritis (n: 471), ankylosing spondylitis (n: 159), systemic sclerosis (n: 1,738), systemic lupus (172), systemic vasculitis (n: 219), and a miscellany of other ASDs (n: 178). The development of COVID-19 was recorded by means of telephone survey using standardized symptom-assessment questionnaire (1).

Results

A significantly increased prevalence of COVID-19 (8.37% vs 6.49%; p<0.0001) was observed in our ASD patients, while the cumulative death rate revealed statistically comparable to the Italian general population (3.65% vs 2.95%; p: ns). In particular, among the 328 ASD patients complicated by COVID-19, 57 (17%) needed hospitalization, while mild-moderate manifestations were observed in the large majority of individuals (83%). In addition, 12/57 hospitalized patients died due to severe interstitial pneumonia and/or cardiovascular manifestations.

Interestingly, a significantly higher COVID-19-related death rate was observed in systemic sclerosis patients compared to the Italian general population (6.29% vs 2.95%; p=0.018). Other adverse prognostic factors to develop COVID-19 were the patients’ older age, male gender, pre-existing ASD-related interstitial lung involvement, and chronic steroid treatment. Conversely, patients treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) showed a significantly lower prevalence of COVID-19 compared to those without (3.58% vs 46.99%; p=0.000), as well as the chronic administration of low dose aspirin in a subgroup of SSc patients (with 5.57% vs without 27.84%; p=0.000).

Conclusion

The cumulative impact of COVID-19 on ASD patients after the first 3 pandemic waves revealed less severe than that observed during the first phase of pandemic (1), especially with regards to the death rate that was comparable to the Italian general population in spite of the increased prevalence of complicating COVID-19 in the same ASD series.

Ongoing long-term treatments, mainly csDMARDs, might usefully contribute to generally positive outcomes of in this frail patients’ population.

Of note, a significantly increased COVID-19-related mortality was recorded in only SSc patients’ subgroup, possibly favored by pre-existing lung fibrosis. Among different ASD, SSc deserves special attention, since it shares the main pathological alterations with COVID-19, namely the interstitial lung involvement and the endothelial injury responsible for diffuse microangiopathy.

Besides SSc, the patients’ subgroups characterized by older age, chronic steroid treatment, pre-existing interstitial lung disease, and/or impaired COVID-19 vaccine response (1-3), may deserve well-designed prevention and management strategies.

References

[1]Ferri C, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Oct 14 doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-219113.

[2]Ferri C et al. J Autoimmun. 2021 Dec;125:102744. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102744.

[3]Visentini M et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Nov 24. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221248

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0694 VITAMIN D LEVELS IN SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS AND VERY-EARLY SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (VEDOSS)

Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic disease characterized by autoimmunity, vasculopathy, and visceral and cutaneous fibrosis and very-early systemic sclerosis VEDOSS is characterized by Raynaud’s phenomenon with SSc marker autoantibodies and typical capillaroscopic finding. Vitamin D has several functions in the immunological system, and different studies have suggested a potential role in triggering autoimmune diseases. (1,2)

Objectives

Our goal was to verify the difference of Vitamin D levels causal in SSC definite and VEDOSS population, and relationship between hypovitaminosis D and SSc characteristics

Methods

42 adults with SSc were recruited: 24 with American College of Rheumatology criteria were affected by diffuse systemic sclerosis (4) and limited systemic sclerosis (20); 18

with VEDOSS criteria.

Patients were evaluated from medical history and physical examination (modified Rodnan skin score and the presence / number of ulcers), biohumoral evaluation of routine, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, pulmonary function tests, high resolution computed tomography of the chest, capillaroscopy. For the determination of total vitamin D levels (25-OH), the serum samples were suitably centrifuged at 4 ° C at 3500g. Vitamin D levels were then determined by a two-step chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLIA), with a maximum limit of 100 ng / ml.

Results

The 42 subjects recruited (4 men and 38 women); age 48.2 ± 11.5 years (mean ± SD). All subjects were ANA positive, with anti-Scl70 positivity in dcSSc patients (4) and anti-centromere lcSSc patients (18). Patients with VEDOSS showed optimal serum levels of vitamin D (33.93 ± 3.5 ng / ml). Conversely, patients with systemic sclerosis showed serum levels of vitamin D at the limit of sufficiency (21.75 ± 4.0 ng / ml). (Figure 1) In particular, in the group of patients with systemic sclerosis, vitamin D levels were significantly reduced by 1.5 times (P <0.05) compared to VEDOSS group. In patients with SSc the serum levels of vitamin D were inversely proportional to the presence of mega capillaries. Furthermore, a directly proportional correlation of the serum levels of vitamin D with the age of the patient. It is therefore possible to assume that higher levels of vitamin D delay the onset of the disease, while lower levels of vitamin D favor the onset of the same.

Conclusion

Considering our findings from this work, it is possible to consider the Vitamin D supplement in patients suffering from sclerosis, especially as an adjuvant in the initial phase of the disease, thus hypothesizing a slowdown in the progression of the disease and an improvement in prognosis.

References

[1]S. Bellando-Randone, F.Del Galdo, G. Lepri, t al. Progression of patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon to systemic sclerosis: a five-year analysis of the European Scleroderma Trial and Research group multicentre, longitudinal registry study for Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (VEDOSS). Lancet Rheumatol 2021; 3: e834–43

[2]Rosen Y, Daich J, Soliman I, Brathwaite E, Shoenfeld Y. Vitamin D and autoimmunity. .Scand J Rheumatol. 2016 Nov;45(6):439-447.

Figure 1.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0893 FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR MEASURING THE EFFECT OF LUNG FUNCTION ON PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOMES IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS PATIENTS: ANALYSIS OF THE EUSTAR DATABASE

Background

Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) are central to measure how patients feel and function especially when determining the effect of disease modifying agents. In patients with Systemic Sclerosis associated Interstitial Lung Disease (SSc-ILD), dyspnea is the main driver of HAQ decline but the effect of reduced lung function on both generic and specific measures of functional impairment is not well defined, and there are many potential confounding biases that could distort the apparent extent and direction of this relationship. Moreover, collider biases potentially induced by selection into the cohort and in clinical trials can also play a role.

Objectives

To define within the EUSTAR database, the correlation of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and functional impairment PROs and identify potential confounders to be considered in casual inference studies.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis included for each patient with SSc-ILD (by X-ray and/or HRCT) in the EUSTAR registry the last visit with at least one PRO (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index [HAQ-DI], Cochin hand function scale [CHFS] and/or dyspnoea visual analogue scale [VAS]) and % predicted FVC (%pFVC), if available. Patients with LVEF≤50% or pulmonary arterial hypertension at RHC were excluded. SSc-ILD with restricted lung volume was defined as %pFVC≤70 [1]. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed. Results of this analysis and literature review were integrated to design a directed acyclic graph (DAG) and identify the appropriate confounder adjustment set for the total causal effect of FVC on functional impairment PROs.

Results

Among 17.338 SSc patients in the EUSTAR registry (extracted in November 2019), 727 SSc-ILD patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (median %pFVC 90 (IQR 74-104), median %pDLCO 60 (IQR 47-52)). Patients with %pFVC<70 (n=149), as compared to those with %pFVC≥70 (n=578) had worse HAQ-DI, CHFS and VAS-dyspnoea scores (Table 1). In unadjusted analysis, %pFVC showed a weak correlation with HAQ-DI (r=-0.21) and CHFS (r=-0.17), but a stronger correlation with VAS dyspnoea (r=-0.33).

Table 1.

Results are reported as number/number available (%) for dichotomic variables, or as median (IQR) (n available) for continuous variables.

%pFVC≥70 (n=578)%pFVC<70 (n=149)Age at disease onset (years)60.6 (52.3-69.3) (546)52.5 (45.6-63-7) (137)Disease duration (months)134.4 (77.5-212.2) (546)110.3 (66.3-199.7) (137)Male sex84/578 (14.5)32/149 (21.5)Anti-Scl70+231/468 (40.7)81/122 (66.4)Smoker ever52/389 (13.4)17/107 (15.9)Caucasian ethnicity545/569 (95.8)131/145 (90.3)dcSSc167/559 (29.9)74/147 (50.3)Oesophageal symptoms319/571 (55.9)93/147 (63.3)Muscle weakness78/565 (13.8)37/149 (24.8)CRP elevation141/540 (26.1)53/134 (39.6)Elevated sPAP (ECHO)45/456 (9.9)21/121 (17.2)Pericardial effusion2/448 (0.4)4/110 (3.6)Diastolic function abnormality151/431 (35.0)31/102 (30.4)Conduction blocks78/480 (16.3)35/120 (29.2)%pDLCO62 (52-74) (527)42 (35-53) (118)CHFS7 (1-23) (493)16 (2-34.8) (114)HAQ-DI0.63 (0.13-1.13) (578)1.25 (0.38-2) (139)VAS dyspnoea (0-100)15 (10-45) (391)40 (20-70) (109)NYHA stage 3/447/561 (8.4)37/143 (25.9)

Subsequently, we created a DAG showing the proposed causal pathway considered relevant to the relationship between FVC and HAQ (Figure 1).

Conclusion

Lung function as measured by FVC appears to correlate with worse patient-reported function in our unadjusted analysis of the large multicentre EUSTAR dataset. However, to estimate the total causal effect we must consider a multitude of potentially confounding factors, which need to be integrated and analysed in a causal inference framework. The proposed DAG will inform the development of simulations of the potential impact of bias (confounding, collider and omitted variable) on effect estimates we could obtain from EUSTAR cohort.

References

[1]Goh NS, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2008.

Disclosure of Interests

Maria Grazia Lazzaroni Grant/research support from: Research grant from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Michelle Wilson Grant/research support from: Research grant from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Elizabeth Hensor: None declared, Jörg H.W. Distler: None declared, Giovanna Cuomo: None declared, Elise Siegert: None declared, Ulf Müller-Ladner: None declared, Yannick Allanore: None declared, Maria Joao Salvador: None declared, Branimir Anic: None declared, Ulrich Walker: None declared, László Czirják: None declared, Camillo Ribi: None declared, Cristina-Mihaela Tanaseanu: None declared, Armando Gabrielli: None declared, Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold: None declared, Oliver Distler: None declared, Francesco Del Galdo: None declared

AB1412 IMPORTANCE OF TELEMEDICINE IN THE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2), also called COVID-19 disease, was firstly reported in December 2019 in China and soon declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020 (1). As a result, patients’ visits to medical facilities are affected. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by vascular damage, autoimmunity, and fibrosis. In these patients, a tight follow-up is crucial to verify the specific cases and clinical needs. In particular, the infection risk in SSc might also be related not only to disease activity but also to possible flares due to therapy discontinuation. Telemedicine has demonstrated as a valid alternative to improve the quality of rheumatic patients’ care during COVID-19 pandemic, thus reducing hospitalizations only to urgent admissions (2)

Objectives

In december 2020 the Azienda Policlincio Vanvitelli approved telemedicine by IRPLUS platform as a particular measure in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on visit status of SSc patients at our centre and the patient benefits of telemedicine

Methods

In this study, we retrospectively enrolled 480 SSc patients who visited in our centre between January and December 2021. Of the patients included in the study, 198 patients (18 males and 180 females) used telemedicine, while 282 patients (20 males and 262 females) did not use it

Results

During televisites, we assessed possible contacts with COVID-19 patients and/or potential risk of COVID-19, investigating about the occurrence of typical symptoms in the last 15 days. No significant differences in background data, such as the severity of the disease, type of treatment and frequency of complications were found between these two groups. In more detail, SSc is associated interstitial lung disease was complicated by 35.4% and 31.3% of patients in the telemedicine and non-telemedicine groups, respectively (p=0.9). Besides, 53.7% of patients in the telemedicine group and 49.9% of patients in the non-telemedicine group were treated with prednisone (p=0.344). 74.1% of patients in the telemedicine group were administered immunosuppressive drugs, compared to 78.5% of patients in the non-telemedicine group (p=1.000). The number of patients who discontinued treatment was significantly lower in the telemedicine group, with 14 patients (7%) compared to 30 patients (11.4%) in the non-telemedicine group (p=0.003). These patients who voluntarily discontinued treatment were finally resumed. However, the time required to resume treatment differed between the two groups. This means that the duration of treatment interruption was significantly shorter in the telemedicine group, with a mean (± standard deviation) of 1.85 (5.5) days compared to 7.5 (12.1) days in the non-telemedicine group (p=0.001). There was no difference in the amount of change in laboratory data between the groups receiving telemedicine and those not receiving telemedicine.

Conclusion

This study confirmed the data published by Norimatsu et al (3), as that telemedicine may help SSc patients to continue and/or resume treatment under the COVID-19 pandemic.

SSc is associated to interstitial lung disease, cardiac involvement, vascular injury and prednisone and immunosuppressive agents have been used as treatment.

Thus, disruptions in treatment can lead to worsening of symptoms and missed opportunities for early interventions for complications. Patients who use telemedicine may be more motivated to treat, and this retrospective study demonstered it. This study suggests that telemedicine can be useful in treating SSc and other diseases that require ongoing treatment in the COVID-19 infection.

References

[1]ZHU N, N Engl J Med 2020

[2]CONTRERAS CM, et al. Telemedicine. J Gastrointest Surg 2020

[3]Y. Norimatsu et al, Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2021

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

OP0125 THE MANAGEMENT OF PREGNANCY IN AUTOIMMUNE RHEUMATIC DISEASES: ANALYSIS OF 758 PREGNANCIES FROM THE PROSPECTIVE NATIONWIDE P-RHEUM.IT STUDY (THE ITALIAN REGISTRY OF PREGNANCY IN THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES)

Background

Pregnancy is a topic of fundamental importance for women living with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD). Efforts at national and international levels have been put in the collection and harmonization of data in order to implement an evidence-based management of pregnant patients.

Objectives

The P-RHEUM.it study was designed as a nationwide, web-based longitudinal observational cohort study to collect data about pregnancy in ARD in 26 centers in Italy. The study started in May 2018 and has been supported by the Italian Society for Rheumatology.

Methods

Pregnant patients with a definite rheumatic disease according international criteria were enrolled up to gestational week (GW) 20. The course of maternal disease activity, the use of medications, fetal and maternal complications, and the quality of life (EuroQoL questionnaire) were collected for each trimester, as well as pregnancy outcome, mode of delivery, neonatal complications, and maternal and children’s follow-up to 6 months after delivery, including the screening for post-partum depression by means of EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale).

Results

As of December 2021, 758 pregnancies had been enrolled, 205 (27%) ongoing and 553 (73%) with outcome. Pregnancy loss occurred in 54 (9.8%) cases (40 spontaneous miscarriages; 6 voluntary terminations). Live births were 495 (89.5%), perinatal death occurred in 4 (0.7%) cases. Table 1 reports on the group of 495 live births, along with subgroups of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the two most represented diseases. Regarding treatments, 166 (30%) pregnancies were exposed to corticosteroids, 239 (43%) to hydroxychloroquine, 59 (10.7%) to csDMARDs, 84 (15.2%) to TNF inhibitors, 1 (0.2%) to non-TNFi bDMARDs, 299 (54%) to low dose acetylsalicylic acid, and 126 (22.8%) to heparin.

Table 1.PREGNANCIES WITH LIVE BIRTHS, EXCLUDING PERINATAL DEATHSTotal pregnancies (n=495)RA pregnancies (n=69)SLE pregnancies (n=93)Age at conception (years)34 (31 - 37)34.5 (32 - 38)34 (31 - 36)Disease duration (years)6.1 (2.2 - 11.1)7.1 (4.3 - 11.6)9.3 (5.9 - 15.9)Caucasian431 (87.8%)53 (79.1%)75 (80.6%)Never smokers358 (73.8%)53 (80.3%)66 (71.7%)Body Mass Index >3045 (9.5%)7 (10.3%)5 (5.6%)Arterial Hypertension6 (1.2%)0 (0%)2 (2.2%)Time to pregnancy (months)3 (1 - 6)3 (1 - 6)3 (0 - 10)Physician-reported flares in the 12 months prior to conception107 (23%)22 (34.4%)13 (14.8%)Physician global assessment at enrolment (VAS 0-100)5 (0 - 17)5 (0 - 20)4 (0 - 10)Patient global health at enrolment (VAS 0-100)18 (7 - 30)10 (5 - 29)10 (5 - 25)EuroQoL at enrolment (-1.6 – 1)1 (0.8 - 1)1 (0.8 - 1)1 (0.8 - 1)Flares during pregnancy35 (7.1%)6 (8.7%)7 (7.5%)Hypertensive disturbances*8 (1.7%)1 (1.6%)6 (6.6%)Delivery at term (≥37 GW)410 (85.1%)53 (77.9%)74 (80.4%)Spontaneous vaginal delivery173 (35.9%)23 (33.8%)23 (25.3%)Congenital malformations11 (2.4%)2 (3.1%)1 (1.1%)Small for gestational age (SGA) neonate24 (4.9%)1 (1.4%)9 (9.9%)Breastfeeding in the first 4 weeks after delivery341 (79.7%)45 (77.6%)59 (76.6%)EPDS score at risk for post-partum depression22 (14.1%)0 (0%)3 (10.3%)

Continuous variables are expressed as median (interquartile range); *gestational hypertension/preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome/eclampsia.

Conclusion

Multiple factors may have contributed to the high rate of live births, including good disease control before and during pregnancy thanks to the use of anti-rheumatic drugs and low frequency of general risk factors. SLE pregnancy was affected by a higher frequency of complications (hypertensive disturbances, SGA babies) as compared to RA pregnancy. Nearly 80% of patients breastfed in the first month after delivery. For the first time, data about the screening questionnaire for post-partum depression were collected, showing at least 1 out 10 patients can be at risk.

References

[1]Meissner Y et al. Arthritis Res Ther;21(1):241; Ann Rheum Dis. 2021;80(1):49-56.

Acknowledgements

P-RHEUM.it study is supported by the Italian Society for Rheumatology (SIR). All the Investigators are acknowledged for their contribution.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Predictors of in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients and the role of telemetry in an internal medicine ward during the third phase of the pandemic

OBJECTIVE

The first pandemic phase of COVID-19 in Italy was characterized by high in-hospital mortality ranging from 23% to 38%. During the third pandemic phase there has been an improvement in the management and treatment of COVID-19, so mortality and predictors may have changed. A prospective study was planned to identify predictors of mortality during the third pandemic phase.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 15 December 2020 to 15 May 2021, 208 patients were hospitalized (median age: 64 years; males: 58.6%); 83% had a median of 2 (IQR,1-4) comorbidities; pneumonia was present in 89.8%. Patients were monitored remotely for respiratory function and ECG trace for 24 hours/day. Management and treatment were done following the timing and dosage recommended by international guidelines.

RESULTS

79.2% of patients necessitated O2-therapy. ARDS was present in 46.1% of patients and 45.4% received non-invasive ventilation and 11.1% required ICU treatment. 38% developed arrhythmias which were identified early by telemetry and promptly treated. The in-hospital mortality rate was 10%. At multivariate analysis independent predictors of mortality were: older age (R-R for≥70 years: 5.44), number of comorbidities ≥3 (R-R 2.72), eGFR ≤60 ml/min (RR 2.91), high d-Dimer (R-R for≥1,000 ng/ml:7.53), and low PaO2/FiO2 (R-R for <200: 3.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Management and treatment adherence to recommendations, use of telemetry, and no overcrowding appear to reduce mortality. Advanced age, number of comorbidities, severe renal failure, high d-Dimer and low P/F remain predictors of poor outcome. The data help to identify current high-risk COVID-19 patients in whom management has yet to be optimized, who require the greatest therapeutic effort, and subjects in whom vaccination is mandatory.

Exercise Training: The Holistic Approach in Cardiovascular Prevention

Nowadays, there are robust clinical and pathophysiological evidence supporting the beneficial effects of physical activity on cardiovascular (CV) system. Thus, the physical activity is considered a key strategy for CV prevention. In fact, exercise training exerts favourable effects on all risk factors for CV diseases (i.e. essential hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome, etc…). In addition, all training modalities such as the aerobic (continuous walking, jogging, cycling, etc.) or resistance exercise (weights), as well as the leisure-time physical activity (recreational walking, gardening, etc) prevent the development of the major CV risk factors, or delay the progression of target organ damage improving cardio-metabolic risk. Exercise training is also the core component of all cardiac rehabilitation programs that have demonstrated to improve the quality of life and to reduce morbidity in patients with CV diseases, mostly in patients with coronary artery diseases. Finally, it is still debated whether or not exercise training can influence the occurrence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. In this regard, there is some evidence that exercise training is protective predominantly for atrial arrhythmias, reducing the incidence of atrial fibrillation. In conclusion, the salutary effects evoked by physical acitvity are useful in primary and secondary CV prevention.

POS1248 SAFETY PROFILE OF PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES: PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT

Background:

Efficacious vaccines are urgently needed to contain the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On December 11, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to prevent COVID-19, administered as 2 doses separated by 21 days (1)

On December 27, 2020, Italy started use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and initial doses were reserved for health care personnel

Objectives:

The primary end points were the safety of each administered dose in patients with Rheumatic diseases (RD’s)

Methods:

In this multicenter, observational study, we interviewed by phone 27 patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs) and 30 healthy subjects receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (0.3 ml i.m. in two doses 21 days apart, time 0 and 3 weeks).

Results:

As of 30 January 2021, 57 subjects (27 patients and 30 healthy subjects) were interviewed. The epidemiological and clinical features of the 27 patients are reported in Table 1. Among the whole population, 35 subjects (16 patients and 19 healthy subjects) complained of an adverse event after the first vaccine dose, with symptom onset occurring within 1 day of vaccination. All adverse events (100%) were classified as nonserious and included: injection site pain (17), fatigue (5), headache (16), fever (3), tachycardia (2), and paresthesia (2).

After 21 days, 6 patients and 11 healthy subjects received the second vaccine dose. Fifteen (5 patients and 10 healthy subjects) of them (88%) reported adverse events, again categorized as nonserious. Specifically, injection site pain (7), fatigue (10), headache (10), fever (10), paresthesia (1), cutaneous vasculitis (1), itchy and scratchy throat (1), diarrhea (4), lymph node enlargement (1) were recorded. No differences were noted between patients with RDs and healthy subjects in terms of adverse events.

Conclusion:

This preliminary study shows that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is as safe in patients with RDs as in healthy subjects. Whether patients with RDs will develop protective titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies as compared to healthy subjects will be evaluated in further, ongoing studies.

References:

[1]Dooling K et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020; 69:1857

Table 1.

Acknowledgements:

I thank the Italian League of Systemic Sclerosis for launching a survey for ssc patients.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

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.

POS1246 COVID-19 IN ITALIAN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC AUTOIMMUNE SYSTEMIC DISEASES: RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY STUDY

Background:

SARS-CoV-2 infection poses a serious challenge for patients with rheumatic autoimmune systemic diseases (ASD), characterized by marked immune-system dysregulation and frequent visceral organ involvement.

Objectives:

To evaluate the impact of Covid-19 pandemic in a large series of Italian patients with ASD.

Methods:

Our multicenter telephone survey (8-week period, March-April 2020) included a large series of 2,994 patients (584 M, 2,410 F, mean age 58.9±13.4SD years) with ASD followed at 34 tertiary referral centers of 14 regions of northern, central, and southern Italian macro areas, characterized by different prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. According to currently used criteria, Covid-19 was classified as definite Covid-19 (signs or symptoms of Covid-19 confirmed by positive oral/nasopharyngeal swabs at PCR testing) or highly suspected Covid-19 (signs or symptoms highly suggestive of Covid-19, but not confirmed by PCR testing due to limited availability of virological tests in that period). The results were analyzed performing the Odds Ratio by Java-Stat 2-way Contingency Table Analysis.

Results:

The main findings of the survey study revealed a significantly increased prevalence of Covid-19 in:

a.the whole series of ASD patients (definite Covid-19: 22/2994, 0.73%; p=0.0007;

definite Covid-19 plus highly suspected Covid-19: 74/2,994, 2.47%; p<0.0001) when compared to Italian general population of Covid-19 infected individuals (349/100000 = 0.34%; data from Italian Superior Institute of Health;

https://www.epicentro.iss.it/en/coronavirus/sars-cov-2-national-surveillance-system).

b.the subgroup of patients with connective tissue diseases or systemic vasculitis (n = 1,901) compared to the subgroup of inflammatory arthritis (n = 1,093), namely rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (definite Covid-19: 19/1,901, 0.99%, vs 3/1,093, 0.27%; p=0.036; definite Covid-19 plus highly suspected Covid-19: 69/1,901, 3.6%, vs 5/1,093, 0.45%; p<0.0001)

c.the subgroup of patients with pre-existing interstitial lung involvement (n = 526) compared to those without (n = 2,468) (definite Covid-19: 10/526, 1.90%, vs 12/2,468, 0.48%; p=0.0015; definite Covid-19 plus highly suspected Covid-19: 33/526, 6.27%, vs 41/2,468, 1.66%; p<0.0001).

Of interest, the prevalence of Covid-19 did not correlate with presence/absence of different comorbidities, mainly diabetes, cardio-vascular and/or renal disorders, as well as of ongoing treatments with biological DMARDs; while patients treated with conventional DMARDs showed a significantly lower prevalence of Covid-19 compared to those without. Covid-19 was more frequently observed in the patients’ populations from northern and central compared to southern Italian macro area with lower diffusion of pandemic. Clinical manifestations of Covid-19, observed in 74 patients, were generally mild or moderate; 4/9 individuals requiring hospital admission died for severe pneumonia.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of Covid-19 observed in ASD patients during the first wave of pandemic was significantly higher than that observed in Italian general population; moreover, the actual prevalence of Covid-19 might be underestimated due to the high number of mild variants as well as the possible clinical overlapping between these two conditions. Patients with ASD should be invariably regarded as ‘frail patients’ during the pandemic course, considering the risk of worse outcome in the acute phase of Covid-19, as well as the potential long-term effects of viral infection.

The statistically significant association of Covid-19 with connective tissue diseases/systemic vasculitis, as well as with pre-existing interstitial lung involvement, suggests the presence of distinct clinico-pathological ASD subsets, characterized by markedly different patients’ vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0905-HPR TELEMEDICINE IN RHEUMATOLOGY AT TIME OF COVID PANDEMIC

Background:

The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has imposed considerable restrictions on people’s mobility in order to limit infection transmission. Before the COVID -19 pandemic tele-rheumatology was proposed to patients living in remote areas. Currently, the use of telemedicine has increased significantly. We report on the implementation of a telemedicine program for the evaluation and treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases (1).

Objectives:

The aim of the study is to evaluate telemedicine as a viable approach for routine follow-up and management of rheumatic disease.

Methods:

Sixty-six patients were evaluated online by the remote rheumatologist in four weeks. The population of rheumatology patients was evaluated using a IARPLUS platform Information collected included demographic information consisting of age, gender, and primary rheumatologic diagnosis. Results: The average age of patients who were seen was 54 years and 85% of patients were women.

The most common disorders included rheumatoid arthritis (22, 33%), axial spondyloarthropathies (7, 11%), and psoriatic arthritis (15,23%), systemic sclerosis (13, 20%), lupus (6, 9%), UCTD (2,3%), Sjogren and fibromyalgia (1, 1.5%).

Results:

All patients were given recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine administration. Therapy was remodeled in 13 patients (in particular in 5 patients with anemia intravenous iron infusion was scheduled; 1 started immunosuppressant therapy for proteinuria, 4 increased methotrexate for disease activity, 2 discontinued Methotrexate for adverse events (hypertransaminasemia), 1 suspended OH-chloroquine due to retinal accumulation; 2 biologic-naive patients, after a three-month of waiting due to inability to come to the hospital, started the biologic drug; 22 patients received a renewal of the therapeutic plan; 25 patients had a regular six-month follow up; 2 ticket exemption for illness; 13 consultations and/or laboratory tests (1 pneumological consultation, 1 ophthalmological consultation, 1 request for sacro-iliac MRI, 3 nailfold videocapillaroscopies, 3 FKT, 1 musculotendinous ultrasound, 1 antibodies for celiac disease, 2 antibodies anti Sars-CoV-2).

Conclusion:

Telemedicine is becoming more prevalent. We report the successful use of this service in evaluation and management of rheumatic diseases in a period with limited access to rheumatologic care. We have shown that patients can be seen, evaluated, and successfully treated with a variety of medications, including biologic agents, and evaluated for both chronic inflammatory arthropaties and connective tissue diseases.

References:

[1]Rheumatology Care Using Telemedicine Michael M. Rezaian; Telemedicine and e-Health, 2020.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0844 HAND GRIP STRENGTH EVALUATION IN RHEUMATOLOGIC DISEASES

Background:

Handgrip muscle strength test describes the strength of the hand muscles used to grasp or grip. Currently, hand grip evaluation is often used in clinical practice, as a marker of function and disability. In fact, it has already been applied as an outcome measure in arthritis rheumatoid clinical trials, to demonstrate the benefits of several treatments [1]. However, hand disability should also be considered in all other rheumatological diseases.

Objectives:

The main aim of this study is to assess the handgrip muscle strength test in a rheumatological cohort of patients as compared to a control group.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional pilot study. We considered eligible 35 rheumatological consecutive female patients followed at our outpatients’ clinic of Internal Medicine (I Policlinico of Naples) and 35 healthy control females (HC). Both groups included only right-handed individuals. Rheumatological patients were distributed as follows: 5 rheumatoid arthritis (14,3%), 9 psoriatic arthritis (25,7%), 4 systemic lupus erythematosus (11,4%), 10 systemic sclerosis (28,6%), 4 fibromyalgia (11,4%), 3 juvenile idiopathic arthritis (8,6%). The course of disease was under optimal treatment in all patients.

The type of hand grip used is the power grip, in which an object is held firmly by wrapping the fingers around it, pressing the object against the palm, and using the thumb to apply counter-pressure. We considered as either right or left hand valid measure the mean of three consecutive tests per arm. Between-groups differences were tested both by a uni- and multivariable analysis.

Results:

The two subgroups were homogeneously distributed for age (median age 42 yrs. [IQR 33-48] vs. 36 yrs. [IQR 30-52] in HC; p=0.902). At univariate analysis, hand grip strength was significantly lower in the rheumatological patients, both at right hand (right 19.5 kg [IQR 13.6-24.8] vs. 24.5 kg [IQR 20.8-29] in HC; p=0.004) and left hand (18.5 kg [IQR 13.9-22.5] vs. 23.7 kg [IQR 19-27.3] in HC; p=0.002), as compared to HC. This finding was further confirmed at multivariable analysis only as for the left hand (OR 0.919, 95%CI: 0.858-0.984; p=0.016).

Conclusion:

Rheumatological diseases are burdened by hand disability, mostly affecting daily activities performance [2,3]. Beyond an optimal disease control, our pilot study shows a decrease in left hand strength as compared to healthy controls. This might be due to a reduced use of the non-dominant hand, which may lead over time to a higher deficit of strength. As such, these patients should be prescribed to a left hand exercise to improve both mobility and strength and, consequently, hand function.

References:

[1]Eberhardt K, Sandqvist G, Geborek P (2008) Hand function tests are important and sensitive tools for assessment of treatment response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol 37(2):109–112.

[2]Feced Olmos CM, Alvarez-Calderon O, Hervás Marín D, et al. Relationship between structural damage with loss of strength and functional disability in psoriatic arthritis patients. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2019 Aug;68:169-174. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.06.009.

[3]Maddali-Bongi S, Del Rosso A, Mikhaylova S, et al. Impact of hand and face disabilities on global disability and quality of life in systemic sclerosis patients. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2014 Nov-Dec;32(6 Suppl 86):S-15-20.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Clinical application of lung ultrasound score on COVID-19 setting: a regional experience in Southern Italy

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the correlation between LUS Soldati proposed score and clinical presentation, course of disease and the possible need of ventilation support/intensive care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All consecutive patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalized in two COVID Centers were enrolled. All patients performed blood gas analysis and lung ultrasound (LUS) at admission. The LUS acquisition was based on standard sequence of 14 peculiar anatomic landmarks with a score between 0-3 based on impairment of LUS picture. Total score was computed with their sum with a total score ranging 0 to 42, according to Soldati LUS score. We evaluated the course of hospitalization until either discharge or death, the ventilatory support and the transition in intensive care if needed.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-six patients were included in the final analysis. Most of patients presented moderate-to-severe respiratory failure (FiO2 <20%, PaO2 <60 mmHg) and consequent recommendation to invasive mechanic ventilation (CPAP/NIV/OTI). The median ultrasound thoracic score was 28 (IQR 18-36) and most of patients could be ascertained either in a score 2 (40%) or score 3 pictures (24.4%). The bivariate correlation analysis displayed statistically significant and high positive correlations between the LUS score and the following parameters: ventilation (rho=0.481, p<0.001), lactates (rho=0.464, p<0.001), dyspnea (rho=0.398, p=0.001) mortality (rho=0.410, p=0.001). Conversely, P/F (rho= -0.663, p<0.001), pH (rho = -0.363, p=0.003) and pO2 (rho = -0.400 p=0.001) displayed significant negative correlations.

CONCLUSIONS

LUS score improve the workflow and provide an optimal management both in early diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 related lung pathology.

Carotid Atherosclerosis, Ultrasound and Lipoproteins

Carotid artery plaques are considered a measure of atherosclerosis and are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, particularly ischemic strokes. Monitoring of patients with an elevated risk of stroke is critical in developing better prevention strategies. Non-invasive imaging allows us to directly see atherosclerosis in vessels and many features that are related to plaque vulnerability. A large body of evidence has demonstrated a strong correlation between some lipid parameters and carotid atherosclerosis. In this article, we review the relationship between lipids and atherosclerosis with a focus on carotid ultrasound, the most common method to estimate atherosclerotic load.

Frailty in Acute and Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients Entering Cardiac Rehabilitation

Worldwide population ageing is partly due to advanced standard of care, leading to increased incidence and prevalence of geriatric syndromes such as frailty and disability. Hence, the age at the onset of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) keeps growing as well. Moreover, ageing is a risk factor for both frailty and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Frailty and CVD in the elderly share pathophysiological mechanisms and associated conditions, such as malnutrition, sarcopenia, anemia, polypharmacy and both increased bleeding/thrombotic risk, leading to a negative impact on outcomes. In geriatric populations ACS is associated with an increased frailty degree that has a negative effect on re-hospitalization and mortality outcomes. Frail elderly patients are increasingly referred to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs after ACS; however, plans of care must be tailored on individual's clinical complexity in terms of functional capacity, nutritional status and comorbidities, cognitive status, socio-economic support. Completing rehabilitative intervention with a reduced frailty degree, disability prevention, improvement in functional state and quality of life and reduction of re-hospitalization are the goals of CR program. Tools for detecting frailty and guidelines for management of frail elderly patients post-ACS are still debated. This review focused on the need of an early identification of frail patients in elderly with ACS and at elaborating personalized plans of care and secondary prevention in CR setting.

Inhibitors of Protein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 (PCSK9) and Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS): The State-of-the-Art

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) remains one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Although the age- and gender-adjusted incidence of ACS is decreasing, the mortality associated with this condition remains high, especially 1-year after the acute event. Several studies demonstrated that PCSK9 inhibitors therapy determine a significant reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in post-ACS patients, through a process of plaque modification, by intervening in lipid metabolism and platelet aggregation and finally determining an improvement in endothelial function. In the EVACS (Evolocumab in Acute Coronary Syndrome) study, evolocumab allows >90% of patients to achieve LDL-C < 55 mg/dL according to ESC/EAS guidelines compared to 11% of patients who only receive statins. In the EVOPACS (EVOlocumab for Early Reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol Levels in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes) study, evolocumab determined LDL levels reduction of 40.7% (95% CI: 45.2 to 36.2; p < 0.001) and allowed 95.7% of patients to achieve LDL levels <55 mg/dL. In ODYSSEY Outcome trial, alirocumab reduced the overall risk of MACE by 15% (HR = 0.85; CI: 0.78-0.93; p = 0.0003), with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.85; CI: 0.73-0.98: nominal p = 0026), and fewer deaths for coronary heart disease (CHD) compared to the control group (HR = 0.92; CI: 0.76-1.11; p = 0.38). The present review aimed at describing the beneficial effect of PCSK9 inhibitors therapy early after ACS in reducing LDL circulating levels (LDL-C) and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, which was very high in the first year and persists higher later after the acute event.

The core components of cardio-oncology rehabilitation

The increased efficacy of cancer therapy has resulted in greater cancer survival and increasing number of people with cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The sharing of risk factors, the bidirectional relationship between cancer and cardiovascular diseases and the cardiotoxic effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are the cause of the rapid expansion of cardio-oncology. All strategies to preserve cardiovascular health and mitigate the negative effect of cancer therapy, by reducing the cardiovascular risk, must be pursued to enable the timely and complete delivery of anticancer therapy and to achieve the longest remission of the disease. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation is an easy-to-use model, even in cancer care, and is the basis of Cardio-Oncology REhabilitation (CORE), an exercise-based multi-component intervention. In addition, CORE, besides using the rationale and knowledge of cardiac rehabilitation, can leverage the network of cardiac rehabilitation services to offer to cancer patients exercise programs, control of risk factors, psychological support, and nutrition counseling. The core components of CORE will be discussed, describing the beneficial effect on cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life, psychological and physical well-being, and weight management. Furthermore, particular attention will be paid to how CORE can counterbalance the negative effect of therapies in those at heightened cardiovascular risk after a cancer diagnosis. Barriers for implementation, including personal, family, social and of the health care system barriers for a widespread diffusion of the CORE will also be discussed. Finally, there will be a call-to-action, for randomized clinical trials that can test the impact of CORE, on morbidity and mortality.

Pronounced dys-autonomic symptoms announcing a primary Sjögren's syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that involves the nervous system in about 20% of cases. In 25-92% of patients affected by Sjögren's syndrome, neurological symptoms may precede the sicca syndrome. A 65-year-old male presented with a seven-month history of episodes of near-syncope, constipation, anhidrosis, disabling fatigue and asthenia. Physical examination was unremarkable, whilst the ECG revealed sinus bradycardia. Laboratory tests showed lymphopenia and normal inflammatory markers. In order to assess a potential autonomic neuropathy, "Deep Breathing Test" (E/I 1.02), "Lying to Standing Test" (R/R' 0.95), and "Orthostatic Hypotension Tests" (T 120s Systolic reduction >20 mmHg and Diastolic reduction >10 mmHg) were performed, all of which were abnormal. ECG Holter monitoring revealed sinus bradycardia, and right bundle branch block with 24-h blood pressure monitoring revealing a diurnal hypotensive profile. The patient reported a three-month history of worsening dry mouth. On physical examination, the patient had anisocoria in response to light stimulation. Auto-antibody testing was performed to evaluate the presence of any autoimmune disease. The results of these studies included an abnormal elevation of ANA (1:320 speckled pattern), Ro/SS-a (>240U/l), and La/SS-b (162 U/ml) antibodies. The patient was discharged with a diagnosis of "Autonomic Neuropathy Most Likely Due to Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS)" and started the immunotherapy. After one month, he reported a significant improvement in his symptoms with a concomitant normalization of his "Orthostatic Hypotension Tests." This case underlines the potential for dys-autonomic symptoms to precede the onset of sicca syndrome in patients with Sjogren's Syndrome.

A comprehensive individual patient data meta-analysis of the effects of cardiac contractility modulation on functional capacity and heart failure-related quality of life

Aims

Cardiac contractility modulation, also referred to as CCM™, has emerged as a promising device treatment for heart failure (HF) in patients not indicated for cardiac resynchronization therapy. We performed a comprehensive individual patient data meta‐analysis of all non‐confounded prospective randomized controlled trials of CCM vs. control that have measured functional capacity and/or quality of life questionnaires in patients with HF.

Methods and results

The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were searched in January 2020 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials. We also asked the sole manufacturer of the device for their list of known trials. Primary outcomes of interest were peak oxygen consumption (peak VO₂), 6 min walk test distance, and quality of life measured by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ), and all data were received as individual patient and individual time point data‐points. Mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for continuous data using a fixed‐effects model. Five trials were identified, four randomized studies enrolling 801 participants for all endpoints of interest, and for peak VO₂ alone (n = 60), there was an additional single arm non‐randomized trial (FIX‐HF‐5C2) with a prospective comparison of its 24 week peak VO₂ data compared with the control group of the FIX‐HF‐5C control patients. Pooled analysis showed that, compared with control, CCM significantly improved peak VO₂ (mean difference +0.93, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.30 mL/kg/min, P < 0.00001), 6 min walk test distance (mean difference +17.97, 95% CI 5.48 to 30.46 m, P = 0.005), and quality of life measured by MLWHFQ (mean difference −7.85, 95% CI −10.76 to −4.94, P < 0.00001). As a sensitivity analysis, we excluded the FIX‐HF‐5C2 trial (only relevant for peak VO₂), and the result was similar, mean difference +0.65, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.08 mL/kg/min, P = 0.004.

Conclusions

This comprehensive meta‐analysis of individual patient data from all known randomized trials has shown that CCM provides statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefits in measures of functional capacity and HF‐related quality of life.

SAT0321 CURRENT PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOMES (PROS) POORLY REFLECT CHANGES IN LUNG FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Background:

Lung involvement is very common is systemic sclerosis (SSc). Approximately one quarter of patients develops pulmonary problems within the first 3 years of diagnosis and still represents the leading cause of death in these patients. In a recent clinical trail, the reduction of FVC was not accompanied by a benefit with respect to health-related quality of life and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Objectives:

To assess how the change in Pulmonary Function Test (PFTs) parameters correlates with the Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) in an observational cohort of patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective study of 330 clinic episodes from 121 unselected patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis according to EULAR/ACR 2013 criteria, in annual follow-up (for a total of 165 patients/year) with PFTs, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (sHAQ), Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (Borg) and Cochin Hand Function Score (CHFS). We assessed the correlation between the HAQ and the Visual Analogical Scale 1-7 at baseline (VAS1 pain, VAS2 disease severity, VAS3 arthritis activity, VAS4 intestinal problems, VAS5 dyspnea, VAS6 Raynaud’s phenomenon, VAS7 digital ulcers). We evaluated the correlation of PFTs with PROs at every time period and the correlation between the change of PFTs parameters (δFVC, δDLCO) with the change of the PROs over a year of follow-up. Following analysis of distribution, Spearman or Pearson Test were used to determine correlation coefficients, as appropiate (Prism 7).

Results:

The median disease duration was 5 years (IQR 3-10). The median of 12 months δFVC% and δDLCO% were 0 (IQR -5.81 to 3.28) and -2.439 (IQR -8.76 to 5.98), respectively. The analysis evidenced a strong positive correlation between VAS1-7 and HAQ. We observed also significant correlation between FVC%, DLCO% and HAQ-DI (r= - 0.355 and -0.266, respectively; p<0.0001 for both), Borg (r= -0.403 and -0.379, respectively; p<0.0001) and CHFS (r = -0.355 and -0.256, respectively; p<0.0001). Nevertheless, in longitudinal setting there was no significant correlation between δPROs and changes lung function, as continuous variables, neither there was any significant PROs difference in patients that did or did not lose more than 10% of FVC and DLCO over a year of follow-up.

Conclusion:

This analysis of a monocentric non-selected population evidenced that the current commonly used PROs in SSc while showing a good correlation with lung function are poorly sensitive to change or to reflect changes in lung function over 12 months. In this sense, prudent interpretation of the lack of correlation between FVC and patient-reported outcomes in studies of phase 3 is warranted.

References:

[1]Rahimi S., Nintedanib for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease, Lancet Respiratory Medicine (2020)

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

THU0341 DIGITAL ARTERY VOLUME INDEX (DAVIX©) PREDICTS THE ONSET OF FUTURE DIGITAL ULCERS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Background:

Neointima proliferation is a key pathologic feature of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), causing arterial vessel narrowing and being the recognised culprit pathological lesion in Digital Ulcers (DUs), pulmonary artery hypertension and renal crisis. Nevertheless, there are no validated imaging techniques to assess the severity of vascular involvement in SSc. Digital Artery Volume index (DAVIX ©) is an MRITime of flight angiographybased quantitative score of digital arteries flow, without the need to administer contrast.

Objectives:

To determine the value of DAVIX in predicting the onset of digital ulcers (DUs), the worsening of patient reported outcomes (PROs) and clinical parameters in SSc patients.

Methods:

We enrolled 91 consecutive patients affected by Raynaud’s phenomenon, 63 of which fulfilled the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc and 28 had a score <9. The data collected included: pulmonary function tests (PFTs), nailfold capillaroscopy, modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS), and Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (sHAQ-DI). DAVIX of the dominant hand was calculated as % mean of the 4 fingers, employing IAG proprietary algorithm. The distribution was analysed with D’Agostino-Pearson normality test. Medians were compared by Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test, correlation with clinical parameters was performed using Spearman’s or Pearson test, as appropriate (Prism 7).

Results:

78/91 patients were females and median disease duration was 4 years (IQR1.91-9). Complete historical and prospective follow-up data were available for 68 patients. DAVIX© correlated with mRSS (r=-0.258, p=0.017), DLCO% (r=0.338, p=0.008) and capillaroscopy pattern (r=-0.388, p=0.001). In patients with DUs, DAVIX© showed a stronger correlation with DLCO% (r=0.786, p=0.048). DAVIX© predicted the worsening of HAQ-DI (r=-0.295, p=0.029), sHAQ (r =-0.333, p=0.029) and VAS pain (r=-0.269, p=0.038) independently of the presence of DUs. In the context of DU, 7 patients had DUs at baseline (5 with a positive history for DUs). 12 patients developed DUs within 12 months, 3 of them had DUs at baseline. 38 patients did not have either previous or current DUs, neither did they develop new DUs within 12 months. DAVIX of patients with current DUs was 3-fold lower than DAVIX of patients without DUs (0.18 vs 0.63 p=0.0093). Further, DAVIX of patients with positive history of DUs was 50% lower than in patient with a negative history (median 0.34 vs 0.64, p=0.0052). In patients without current DUs, DAVIX of patients who developed new DUs within 12 months of follow-up was 3-fold lower than in patients who didn’t develop DU (0.21 vs 0.65, p=0.0156). ROC curve analysis indicated that DAVIX threshold <0.49 conferred a 4 times higher risk of developing new DUs (67%) compared to overall risk of our population 17.6%.

Conclusion:

Outcome measures of vascular involvement in SSc are scanty. We demonstrated that DAVIX© is a promising and feasible surrogate outcome measure of neointima proliferation in SSc and a useful imaging biomarker of vascular disease activity. The predictive value of DAVIX for the future onset of DU could be employed as a useful stratification tool in clinical trials. The value of DAVIX in predicting the worsening of PROs and clinical parameters in overall patients, may offer insights on the role of vascular disease activity in the overall progression of SSc.

References:

[1]Lettieri G, Abignano G, et al Digital artery volume index: the first objective, automated, non-invasive imaging diagnostic of macrovascular involvement in ssc.Annals Rheum Dis2018

Disclosure of Interests:

Klodian Gjeloshi: None declared, Fiammetta Danzo: None declared, Giovanni Lettieri: None declared, Giuseppina Abignano: None declared, Mark Hinton: None declared, Anne-Maree Dean: None declared, Giovanna CUOMO: None declared, Olga Kubassova Shareholder of: IAG, Image Analysis Group, Consultant of: Novartis, Takeda, Lilly, Employee of: IAG, Image Analysis Group, Francesco Del Galdo: None declared

AB0160 CARDIAC AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY PREVALENCE IN A COHORT OF SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (SSC) PATIENTS

Background:

Systemic sclerosis is a rare disease determining a damage to the connective tissue and, consequently, an involvement of several organs. Besides the damage of the connective tissue, preminent is also the small vessels injury, detectable by videocapillaroscopy. Some authors report that the vascular damage may be also responsible of a cardiovascular impairment as cardiac autonomic disease (CAN) and heart rate variability [1].

Objectives:

Our study aims to assess the presence and entity of CAN in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods:

This is a pilot prospective cohort study. We enrolled 28 patients in a period of six months, from May 2019 to November 2019, afferent to the outpatient clinic of internal medicine and immunology of the Primo Policlinico of Naples, with definite SSc diagnosis in absence of other comorbidities. All patients underwent diagnostic tests for autonomic cardiac neuropathy (NAC) and videocapillaroscopy. In particular, four test were performed to search for the presence of NAC: orthostatic hypotension, deep breathing, lying to standing and Valsalva maneuver. Each test was corrected for age and diagnosis was made in the case at least two tests resulted positive. Primary endpoint of the study was the assessment of the prevalence of autonomic cardiac neuropathy in the study population.

Results:

Our cohort was mainly characterized by females (92.9%), with a median age of 58.5 years [IQR: 49-64.8 yrs.] and a median duration of the disease of 4 years [IQR 2-13 yrs.]. The observed prevalence of NAC was equal to the 46.4% (13 cases). In addition, we evaluated the potential association of NAC with age, duration of disease, gastrointestinal dysmotility, sicca syndrome, cutaneous involvement and type of videocapillaroscopy pattern, from which no statistically significant result emerged. Hence, a further analysis, by using a time-dependent Cox regression model (with the duration of disease as time covariate), was performed on the same variables. From this model a significant association emerged in particular between the presence of NAC and the active videocapillaroscopy pattern (OR 6.23; 95% CI: 1.058-36.71, p=0.043).

Conclusion:

Though current data in the literature on this topic are poor, cardiac autonomic neuropathy is among the clinical manifestations of SSc. In our study population, though the limited sample size, we observed a high percentage of patients with autonomic cardiac neuropathy, which seems much more frequent with the increase in the duration of disease and based on the type of videocapillaroscopy pattern.

References:

[1]Ferri C, Emdin M, Giuggioli D, Carpeggiani C, Maielli M, Varga A, Michelassi C, Pasero G, L’Abbate A. Autonomic dysfunction in systemic sclerosis: time and frequency domain 24 hour heart rate variability analysis. Br J Rheumatol. 1997

[2]Adler BL, Russell JW, Hummers LK, McMahan ZH. Symptoms of Autonomic Dysfunction in Systemic Sclerosis Assessed by the COMPASS-31 Questionnaire. J Rheumatol. 2018 Aug;45(8):1145-1152. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.170868. Epub 2018 Jun

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

FRI0241 INFLUENCE OF PATIENT REPORTED ‘’ARTHRITIS ACTIVITY’’ IN DETERMINING SHAQ, HAQ-DI AND COCHIN SCORES IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Background:

Arthritic involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a common manifestation impacting on the quality of life. A wide range of articular involvement is recognised including from arthralgia to inflammatory joint and tendon disease.

Objectives:

To assess the weight of patient reported ‘’arthritis activity’’ in determining Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in an observational cohort of SSc patients.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective study of 330 clinic episodes from 121 unselected patients diagnosed with SSc according to EULAR/ACR 2013 classification criteria, in annual follow-up (for a total of 165 patients/year) with Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (sHAQ) and Cochin Hand Function Score (CHFS). Hand disability index was assessed by CHFS and global disability index was assessed by HAQ and sHAQ. Patient reported arthritis activity was assessed by Visual Analogical Scale for Arthritis Activity (VAS3). Based on the median of VAS3, patients were classified in two groups and the evaluation of global and hand disability index was performed for each group. Furthermore, we assessed the correlation between the change of VAS3 and the modification of disability scores (ΔHAQ, ΔSHAQ, ΔCHFS) over 12 months of follow-up. Following analysis of distribution, Spearman or Pearson Test were used to determine correlation coefficients, as appropriate (Prism 7).

Results:

The median disease duration was 5 years (IQR 3-10). The median of VAS3 was 35 (IQR 2 - 66). In patients with VAS3 <35 and VAS ≥35 the HAQ-DI medians were 0.625 (IQR 0.25 - 1.5) and 1.75 (IQR 1.125-2.25) respectively, (p<0.0001); the sHAQ medians were 0.628 (IQR 0.255 - 1.114) and 1.701 (IQR 1.234-2.059), respectively, (p<0.0001); and the CHFS medians were 4 (IQR 0 – 19) and 28 (IQR 10 – 46) respectively, (p<0.0001). A significant correlation was observed between VAS3 and HAQ (r= 0.463, p<0.0001), SHAQ (r=0.651, p<0.0001), CHFS (r=0.497, p<0.0001); between ΔVAS3 and ΔSHAQ (r=0.493, p<0.0001).

Conclusion:

This analysis of a monocentric non-selected population supports the key role of joint involvement in determining global patient reported functional and hand disability in SSc. Severity of musculoskeletal involvement should be carefully considered when interpreting PROs in patients with SSc.

References:

[1]Sandler RD, Matucci-Cerinic M, Hughes M. Musculoskeletal hand involvement in systemic sclerosis. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (2019)

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0800 CLINICAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN URIC ACID/25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D SERUM LEVELS RATIO IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Background:

The association between hyperuricemia and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is actually generally accepted. Previous studies have demonstrated that uric acid suppress 25(OH)D metabolism [1]. More evidence is required to demonstrate the immune modulatory effects in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. In particular, the potential association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels and PsA still remains unknown.

Objectives:

To assess a clinical association between uric acid/25(OH)D serum levels ratio related to PASI, BASDAI and DAPSA, if any, in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Methods:

We retrospectively observed 61 patients with psoriatic arthritis referred to our outpatients clinic, independently from already being on therapy or naïve. All selected patients underwent only conventional non-biological therapy at baseline and none received vitamin D supplementation and either allopurinol or febuxostat previously. Blood samples were drawn from all participants for assessment of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and uric acid serum levels. Disease activity of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis were assessed by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), the Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). We assessed the covariates of interest by the Wilcoxon non parametric test, through the SPSS 24 Software.

Results:

We observed 61 patients, mainly females (83.6%). At the univariate analysis, the uric acid/25(OH)D serum levels ratio revealed significantly associated with DAPSA and BASDAI indexes (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), whilst no significant association emerged with the PASI index (p=0.462).

Conclusion:

Data in the literature about these associations in the context of psoriatic arthritis are really poor. As a consequence, our findings, though preliminary, suggest us to hypothesize a potential role of uric acid/25(OH)D serum levels ratio as potential inflammation marker in order to better assess the disease activity. However, future larger studies are needed to investigate more in depth this association.

[1]Charoenngam N, Ponvilawan B, Ungprasert P. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are associated with a higher level of serum uric acid: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mod Rheumatol. 2019 Mar 4:1-6.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

SAT0553 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF IMAGING FEATURES AT CHEST CT OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL AND VENOUS COMPONENTS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS-INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE (SSc-ILD)

Background:

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension carry a negative impact on SSc prognosis. Chest CT is the gold standard in assessing ILD and helps in evaluating associated vascular involvement.

Objectives:

As qualitative analysis of CT scans is limited by low reproducibility and time constraints, we aimed at evaluating parenchymal and vascular features in SSc-ILD by quantitative analysis (QA) of CT scans and testing the relationship with clinical-functional data.

Methods:

We prospectively enrolled 80 patients who underwent PFTs and chest CT scan spirometry gated at TLC on the same day. Clinical, lung functional and diffusion data, as well as disability indexes were collected. CT images were analyzed by a computational platform for texture analysis of ILD patterns (CALIPER), through Imbio LTA. It quantified the extent of normal pattern (NP %), ground glass opacities (GG %), reticulation (RET %), honeycombing (HC %), total ILD extent (ILD EXT %) and hyperlucent (HL %). Low density areas, representing emphysematous area, were also quantified (LDA %). For lung vessel analysis, a software program developed by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research was used. This software determined total, arterial, and venous vascular volumes (TV, AV, VV), and relative volumes (TV%, AV%, VV%), as well as density and number for total, arterial and venous vessels.

Results:

43/80 patients/CT scans were eligible for both software analyses, while 36/43 for arterial and venous separation. TV% and total vessel density were correlated positively with mRSS and negatively with %FVC (r=-0.537 and r=-0.382) and %TLC (r=-0.511 and r=-0.648), while vessel tortuosity correlated positively with %DLco. This was confirmed when separately analyzing arterial vessels, while VV% negatively correlated with %FVC, %TLC and %DLco. There was a positive correlation between %ILD patterns and %vascular volumes, being significant for TV%-AV%, total vessels and arterial density. Conversely, %ILD patterns were negatively correlated with VV and number of veins detected, despite positive correlation between VV% and ILD_EXT%. When clustering patients according to %FVC and %DLco with 80% normal cutoff, %FVC allowed clustering according to significantly different ILD patterns extents and vascular features, while %DLCO for vascular features only. Moreover, the consecutive addition of functional impairment and worsening of ILD (from both normal %FVC and %Dlco, to %DLco impairment only to both %FVC and %Dlco impairment), there was a significant increase in %TV, % AV and %VV, with the exception of decrease in %VV and venous density in patients with double impairment versus DLco single impairment.

Conclusion:

This is the first study showing in SSc a direct correlation between ILD and the increase in lung vascular volume, which is characterized by increase in arterial volume and density and reduction in venous volume and number. These results might be explained by the reduction of pulmonary volume due to fibrosis. However, also a para-physiological mechanism of redistribution of blood flow in lung areas, less involved by ILD, might be considered. Further studies on lung vessel quantification and distribution are ongoing.

Disclosure of Interests:

Cosimo Bruni Speakers bureau: Actelion, Eli Lilly, Mariaelena Occhipinti Consultant of: Imbio, Gianna Camiciottoli: None declared, Maurizio Bartolucci: None declared, Michael Pienn: None declared, Gemma Lepri: None declared, Alessio Fabbrizzi: None declared, Alessandra Tottoli: None declared, Giuglia Ciardi: None declared, Dilia Giuggioli: None declared, Giovanna CUOMO: None declared, Francesco Masini: None declared, Horst Olschewski: None declared, Federico Lavorini: None declared, Linda Calistri: None declared, Marco Matucci-Cerinic Grant/research support from: Actelion, MSD, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Speakers bureau: Acetelion, Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim

OP0181 FUNCTIONAL CUT-OFFS TO DISTINGUISH PULMONARY VASCULAR AND PARENCHYMAL INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (SSC): A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF IMAGING FEATURES AT CHEST COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT)

Background:

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension represent the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in SSc, with chest CT representing the gold standard in ILD assessment, while FVC and DLco allow functional assessment.

Objectives:

As qualitative analysis of given chest CT scans is hampered by low reproducibility, we aimed to perform a quantitative analysis (QA) of CT scans able to investigate the parenchymal and vascular features in SSc-ILD and thus testing the relationship with clinical-functional data.

Methods:

We prospectively enrolled 80 patients who underwent PFTs and spirometry-gated chest CT scan at TLC on the same day. Clinical, lung functional and diffusion data, as well as disability indexes were collected. CT images were analyzed by a computational platform for texture analysis of ILD patterns (CALIPER) through Imbio LTA. It quantified the extent of normal lung (%N), ground-glass opacities (%GG), reticulation (%RET), honeycombing (%HC), hyperlucent (%HL), absolute (PVV, cm3) and normalized (PVV/LV, %) pulmonary vascular volumes. Cut-offs of normality for %FVC and %DLco of 80% and 70% were tested to differentiate parenchymal and vascular features.

Results:

73 patients/CT scans were eligible for both software analyses. CALIPER showed GG% as the most frequent radiological pattern (mean 5.5±10.4%). %FVC and % TLC negatively correlated with all ILD patterns, while %DLco with RET% only; PVV and PVV/LV negatively correlated with %FVC and %TLC, while %DLco with PVV/LV only. Positive correlations were found between all ILD patterns and vascular volumes (Table 1).

LV (cm3)%N%GG%RET%HC%HLPVV (cm3)% PVV/LVFVC%r.60-.19-.40-.34-.30.35-.26-.44p<.001-<.001.004.01.003.04<.001FEV1%r.58-.02-.38-.25-.24.23-.35-.49p<.001-.002.04.05-.004<.001FEV1/FVCr-.16.33.22.16.21-.35-.15-.08p-.02------TLC%r.71-.14-.42-.37-.48.40-.43-.64p<.001-.001.01<.001.002<.001<.02DLco%r.38-.05-.21-.31-.22.30-.21-.33p.01--.01---.006FVC/DLcor.03-.08-.06-.003-.09.08-.06-.08p--------

Cut-offs equal to 80 for %FVC and 70 for %DLco distinguished both parenchymal and vascular features, while 80 for %DLco characterized vascular features only. These results were confirmed also when patients were stratified according to absent/single/combined %FVC and %DLCO impairments with 80% cut-offs (Table 2).

FVC<80%FVC ≥80%pDLco<80%DLco ≥80%pDLco <70%DLco ≥70%p%N82.7 (9.6)86.2 (14.7)-86.6 (12.7)80.8 (15.8)-84.1 (13.9)86.4 (13.5)-%GG10.3 (8.9)2.4 (3.9)<.0015.0 (6.7)3.9 (6.9)-6.2 (7.5)2.4 (4.8).002%RET2.9 (2.9)0.8 (1.3)<.0011.6 (2.1)0.7 (0.9)-1.9 (2.4)0.6 (0.8).007%HC0.4 (0.6)0.1 (0.1)<.0010.2 (0.3)0.1 (0.1)-0.2 (0.4)0.05 (0.2).010%HL3.6 (6.8)8.9 (12.1)-5.4 (8.8)14.1 (15.4).0506.3 (10.1)9.2 (12.7)-PVV125.6 (39.1)90.9 (26.9)<.001101.9 (34.8)84.7 (19.4).016106.9 (38.3)87.5 (20.5).012PVV/LV3.8 (1.6)2.0 (0.7)<.0012.51 (1.3)1.7 (0.6).0022.76 (1.4)1.83 (0.6).001

Conclusion:

In SSc a cut-off at 80 for %DLco may help identifying vascular changes as automatically assessed on chest CT scan, without any underlying ILD. The 80% cut-off for %DLco may be proposed to identify isolated vascular involvement, while %FVC at 80% or %DLco at 70% to identify significant parenchymal involvement. These results need to be confirmed in larger multi-centric cohorts.

Disclosure of Interests:

Cosimo Bruni Speakers bureau: Actelion, Eli Lilly, Mariaelena Occhipinti Consultant of: Imbio, Gianna Camiciottoli: None declared, Maurizio Bartolucci: None declared, Gemma Lepri: None declared, Alessio Fabbrizzi: None declared, Alessandra Tottoli: None declared, Anna Bassetto: None declared, Giuglia Ciardi: None declared, Dilia Giuggioli: None declared, Giovanna CUOMO: None declared, Francesco Masini: None declared, Federico Lavorini: None declared, Linda Calistri: None declared, Marco Matucci-Cerinic Grant/research support from: Actelion, MSD, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Speakers bureau: Acetelion, Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim

Clinical Evidence for Q10 Coenzyme Supplementation in Heart Failure: From Energetics to Functional Improvement

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are hallmarks of heart failure (HF). Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like organic compound widely expressed in humans as ubiquinol (reduced form) and ubiquinone (oxidized form). CoQ10 plays a key role in electron transport in oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria. CoQ10 acts as a potent antioxidant, membrane stabilizer and cofactor in the production of adenosine triphosphate by oxidative phosphorylation, inhibiting the oxidation of proteins and DNA. Patients with HF showed CoQ10 deficiency; therefore, a number of clinical trials investigating the effects of CoQ10 supplementation in HF have been conducted. CoQ10 supplementation may confer potential prognostic advantages in HF patients with no adverse hemodynamic profile or safety issues. The latest evidence on the clinical effects of CoQ10 supplementation in HF was reviewed.

Tibialis anterior muscle needle biopsy and sensitive biomolecular methods: a useful tool in myotonic dystrophy type 1

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by a CTG repeat expansion in 3'UTR of DMPK gene. This mutation causes accumulation of toxic RNA in nuclear foci leading to splicing misregulation of specific genes. In view of future clinical trials with antisense oligonucleotides in DM1 patients, it is important to set up sensitive and minimally-invasive tools to monitor the efficacy of treatments on skeletal muscle. A tibialis anterior (TA) muscle sample of about 60 mg was obtained from 5 DM1 patients and 5 healthy subjects through a needle biopsy. A fragment of about 40 mg was used for histological examination and a fragment of about 20 mg was used for biomolecular analysis. The TA fragments obtained with the minimally-invasive needle biopsy technique is enough to perform all the histopathological and biomolecular evaluations useful to monitor a clinical trial on DM1 patients.

Glucocorticoids in systemic sclerosis: patients' beliefs and treatment adherence

OBJECTIVES

To investigate how chronic intake of glucocorticoids (GCs) is perceived by patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in terms of necessity and concerns, and whether such beliefs influence treatment adherence.

METHOD

Ninety-eight consecutive SSc patients who they had been taking oral GCs for > 3 months prior to the study were enrolled. All patients underwent a clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations, and were asked to complete four self-administered questionnaires: the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (Specific-BMQ), the four-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4), the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Moreover, patients answered two additional questions investigating their knowledge about GC-related adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

Seventy-seven patients (83.6%) believed in the necessity of GCs for maintaining health but 72.8% also reported concerns about potential AEs to GCs. A high adherence rate was recorded in 64.1% of patients. Only about 20% of patients reported knowing that a daily GC dose and treatment duration influence the burden of GC-related AEs. Patients who believed that GC-related AEs were influenced by the dose scored lower concerns (p = 0.043) and were more frequently labelled as accepting (perceiving high necessity and low concerns) (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients taking GCs perceived them as necessary, but high concerns about chronic GC use exist. Patients with a poorer knowledge of the factors associated with GC-related AEs and those with a poorer quality of life were the most worried about these compounds. Experimental studies assessing the efficacy of educational programmes aiming to increase the adherence to GC therapy should be planned in these patients.