Review
Rheumatology
Casper Webers, Augusta Ortolan, Alexandre Sepriano, Louise Falzon, Xenofon Baraliakos, Robert B. M. Landewe, Sofia Ramiro, Desiree van der Heijde, Elena Nikiphorou
Summary: This study aims to provide updated evidence on the efficacy and safety of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) for the revision of management recommendations. The results showed significant efficacy of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and interleukin-17 inhibitors (IL-17i), while IL-23 inhibitors failed to demonstrate relevant effects. Observational studies are required to confirm the long-term safety of IL-17i.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Rheumatology
Augusta Ortolan, Casper Webers, Alexandre Sepriano, Louise Falzon, Xenofon Baraliakos, Robert B. M. Landewe, Sofia Ramiro, Desiree van der Heijde, Elena Nikiphorou
Summary: This study updated the evidence of non-biological treatments for axSpA, providing a basis for the 2022 ASAS-EULAR recommendations. The results showed that education, exercise, and NSAIDs were efficacious in axSpA.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Victoria Navarro-Compan, Diego Benavent, Dafne Capelusnik, Desiree van der Heijde, Robert B. M. Landewe, Denis Poddubnyy, Astrid van Tubergen, Xenofon Baraliakos, Filip E. van den Bosch, Floris A. van Gaalen, Lianne Gensler, Clementina Lopez-Medina, Helena Marzo-Ortega, Anna Molto, Rodolfo Perez-Alamino, Martin Rudwaleit, Marleen van de Sande, Raj Sengupta, Ulrich Weber, Sofia Ramiro
Summary: This study developed a consensual definition for 'early axial spondyloarthritis-axSpA' and 'early peripheral spondyloarthritis-pSpA' through a systematic literature review and Delphi survey. The results indicated that early axSpA should be based on symptom duration only, without considering the presence of radiographic damage.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Sofia Ramiro, Elena Nikiphorou, Alexandre Sepriano, Augusta Ortolan, Casper Webers, Xenofon Baraliakos, Robert B. M. Landewe, Filip E. Van den Bosch, Boryana Boteva, Ann Bremander, Philippe Carron, Adrian Ciurea, Floris A. van Gaalen, Pal Geher, Lianne Gensler, Josef Hermann, Manouk de Hooge, Marketa Husakova, Uta Kiltz, Clementina Lopez-Medina, Pedro M. Machado, Helena Marzo-Ortega, Anna Molto, Victoria Navarro-Compan, Michael J. Nissen, Fernando M. Pimentel-Santos, Denis Poddubnyy, Fabian Proft, Martin Rudwaleit, Mark Telkman, Sizheng Steven Zhao, Nelly Ziade, Desiree van der Heijde
Summary: The ASAS-EULAR recommendations provide updated guidance on the management of axial spondyloarthritis, including treatment targets, non-pharmacological interventions, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as the first-line pharmacological treatment. For patients with comorbidities, the use of biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) is recommended. The recommendations also cover the management of extramusculoskeletal manifestations, tapering of bDMARDs, and surgical interventions.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Marta Arevalo Salaet, Clementina Lopez-Medina, Mireia Moreno, Victoria Navarro-Compan, Joan Calvet Fontova, Maria Llop, Maxime Dougados, Jordi Gratacos
Summary: This study analyzed the influence of HLA-B27 in the phenotypical expression of pSpA. The results showed that HLA-B27-positive patients had an earlier disease onset and higher axial involvement, tarsitis, and uveitis, but no association with other EMM, fibromyalgia, or peripheral structural damage was observed.
Article
Rheumatology
Haseeb Chaudhary, Clementina Lopez-Medina, Muhammad Asim Khan, Maxime Dougados, Marina Magrey
Summary: In a global axSpA cohort, HLA-B*27 (-) patients had a longer delay in diagnosis, more frequently had peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, IBD, and psoriasis, and were more often treated with csDMARDs compared to the HLA-B*27 (+) subgroup.
Article
Rheumatology
Xenofon Baraliakos, Mikkel Ostergaard, Robert G. W. Lambert, Iris Eshed, Pedro M. Machado, Susanne Juhl Pedersen, Ulrich Weber, Manouk de Hooge, Joachim Sieper, Denis Poddubnyy, Martin Rudwaleit, Desiree van der Heijde, Robert B. M. Landewe, Walter Maksymowych
Summary: This study updated and validated the definitions of spinal MRI lesions associated with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), focusing on inflammatory and structural lesions in terms of localization, extension, and extent, with new classifications based on lesion maturity. The reliability assessment confirmed VC fat lesion and VC monomorphic inflammatory lesion as the most reliably assessed lesions.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Rheumatology
Elena Nikiphorou, Eduardo Jose Ferreira Santos, Andrea Marques, Peter Boehm, Johannes W. J. Bijlsma, Claire Immediato Daien, Bente Appel Esbensen, Ricardo J. O. Ferreira, George E. Fragoulis, Pat Holmes, Hayley McBain, George S. Metsios, Rikke Helene Moe, Tanja A. Stamm, Annette de Thurah, Condruta Zabalan, Loreto Carmona, Ailsa Bosworth
Summary: The recommendations focus on empowering patients to become active partners in their care, including patient education and key self-management interventions. Patient organizations and healthcare providers play a crucial role in promoting and signposting patients to available resources, emphasizing the importance of digital healthcare in supporting self-management.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Zena Chen, Xuqi Zheng, Xinyu Wu, Jialing Wu, Xiaomin Li, Qiujing Wei, Xi Zhang, Linkai Fang, Ou Jin, Jieruo Gu
Summary: The study found that the gut microbiome was significantly restored in AS patients after adalimumab therapy, with a higher abundance of Comamonas in non-responders compared to responders, although no statistical difference was observed. These results suggest the potential of gut microbiome as biomarkers for therapeutic evaluation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Anne C. Regierer, Anja Weiss, Uta Kiltz, Joachim Sieper, Ilka Schwarze, Martin Bohl-Buehler, Herbert Kellner, Denis Poddubnyy, Angela Zink, Juergen Braun, Joachim Listing, Anja Strangfeld
Summary: The study aimed to assess the sensitivity to change of ASAS HI in comparison with established variables of disease activity, function, and mental health in patients with axSpA. The results showed that ASAS HI had moderate sensitivity to changes in physical function and mental health, but lower sensitivity to changes in disease activity.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Rheumatology
Jonas J. W. Kuiper, Joerg C. Prinz, Efstratios Stratikos, Piotr Kusnierczyk, Akiko Arakawa, Sebastian Springer, Dillon Mintoff, Ivan Padjen, Russka Shumnalieva, Secil Vural, Ina Koetter, Marleen G. van de Sande, Ayse Boyvat, Joke H. de Boer, George Bertsias, Niek de Vries, Charlotte L. M. Krieckaert, Ines Leal, Natasa Vidovic Valentincic, Ilknur Tugal-Tutkun, Hanane el Khaldi Ahanach, Felicie Costantino, Simon Glatigny, Danijela Mrazovac Zimak, Fabian Loetscher, Floor G. Kerstens, Marija Bakula, Elsa Viera Sousa, Peter Boehm, Kees Bosman, Tony J. Kenna, Simon J. Powis, Maxime Breban, Ahmet Gul, John Bowes, Rik J. U. Lories, Johannes Nowatzky, Gerrit Jan Wolbink, Dennis G. McGonagle, Franktien Turkstra
Summary: The 'MHC-I-opathy' concept describes a group of inflammatory diseases with overlapping clinical manifestations and a strong genetic link to the MHC-I antigen presentation pathway. However, the understanding and treatment of these disorders is limited due to patient heterogeneity and lack of systematic investigation. Therefore, interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to decipher the underlying disease mechanisms.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Clementina Lopez-Medina, Anna Molto, Joachim Sieper, Tuncay Duruoz, Uta Kiltz, Bassel Elzorkany, Najia Hajjaj-Hassouni, Ruben Burgos-Vargas, Jose Maldonado-Cocco, Nelly Ziade, Meghna Gavali, Victoria Navarro-Compan, Shue-Fen Luo, Sara Monti, Kim Tae-Jong, Mitsumasa Kishimoto, F. M. Pimentel-Santos, Jieruo Gu, Ruxandra Schiotis, Floris A. van Gaalen, Pal Geher, Marina Magrey, Sebastian E. Ibanez Vodnizza, Wilson Bautista-Molano, Walter Maksymowych, Pedro M. Machado, Robert Landew, Desiree van der Heijde, Maxime Dougados
Summary: This study included 4465 patients with SpA from 24 countries around the world, showing quantitative differences in peripheral manifestations among different subtypes but no significant qualitative differences. It was found that a high proportion of patients with SpA had both axial and peripheral manifestations coinciding.
Article
Rheumatology
Diego Benavent, Dafne Capelusnik, Sofia Ramiro, Anna Molto, Clementina Lopez-Medina, Maxime Dougados, Victoria Navarro-Compan
Summary: Female gender is associated with less favorable outcomes in patients with spondyloarthritis, especially in terms of BASDAI, while ASDAS is only associated with gender in pSpA and PsA.
Article
Rheumatology
Michael Nissen, Benedicte Delcoigne, Daniela Di Giuseppe, Lennart Jacobsson, Merete Lund Hetland, Adrian Ciurea, Lucie Nekvindova, Florenzo Iannone, Nurullah Akkoc, Tuulikki Sokka-Isler, Karen Minde Fagerli, Maria Jose Santos, Catalin Codreanu, Manuel Pombo-Suarez, Ziga Rotar, Bjorn Gudbjornsson, Irene Van der Horst-Bruinsma, Anne Gitte Loft, Burkhard Moeller, Herman Mann, Fabrizio Conti, Gozde Yildirim Cetin, Heikki Relas, Brigitte Michelsen, Pedro Avila Ribeiro, Ruxandra Ionescu, Carlos Sanchez-Piedra, Matija Tomsic, Arni Jon Geirsson, Johan Askling, Bente Glintborg, Ulf Lindstroem
Summary: This multicenter study of axSpA patients found similar one-year treatment outcomes between TNFi monotherapy and csDMARD co-therapy. Heterogeneity across countries limited the identification of specific subgroups, such as peripheral arthritis, that may benefit from co-therapy.
Review
Rheumatology
Andrea Marques, Eduardo Santos, Elena Nikiphorou, Ailsa Bosworth, Loreto Carmona
Summary: This systematic review examined the effectiveness of self-management interventions in patients with inflammatory arthritis and found that specific components and interventions of self-management have beneficial effects on outcomes. Further research is needed to isolate the effectiveness of different components in self-management.
Article
Rheumatology
Desiree van der Heijde, Atul Deodhar, Xenofon Baraliakos, Matthew A. Brown, Hiroaki Dobashi, Maxime Dougados, Dirk Elewaut, Alicia M. Ellis, Carmen Fleurinck, Karl Gaffney, Lianne S. Gensler, Nigil Haroon, Marina Magrey, Walter P. Maksymowych, Alexander Marten, Ute Massow, Marga Oortgiesen, Denis Poddubnyy, Martin Rudwaleit, Julie Shepherd-Smith, Tetsuya Tomita, Filip van den Bosch, Thomas Vaux, Huji Xu
Summary: The BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2 trials demonstrated that bimekizumab, a dual IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor, improved efficacy outcomes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and was well tolerated. These findings support the use of bimekizumab as a potential treatment option for axSpA.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Rheumatology
Andreas Kerschbaumer, Alexandre Sepriano, Sytske Anne Bergstra, Josef S. Smolen, Desiree van der Heijde, Roberto Caporali, Christopher John Edwards, Patrick Verschueren, Savia de Souza, Janet E. Pope, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Kimme L. Hyrich, Kevin L. Winthrop, Daniel Aletaha, Tanja A. Stamm, Jan W. Schoones, Robert B. M. Landewe
Summary: This study aimed to update the evidence on the efficacy of DMARDs and provide information for the 2022 update of EULAR recommendations for RA management. A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate the efficacy of cs, b, biosimilar, and tsDMARDs in RA patients. The results showed that csDMARDs combined with short-term glucocorticoids in early RA were as effective as bDMARD+MTX combination therapy. JAK inhibitors were effective in different patient populations. Tapering of DMARDs was feasible for some patients who could maintain low disease activity or achieve remission.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Rheumatology
Alexandre Sepriano, Andreas Kerschbaumer, Sytske Anne Bergstra, Josef S. Smolen, Desiree van der Heijde, Roberto Caporali, Christopher J. Edwards, Patrick Verschueren, Savia de Souza, Janet Pope, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Kimme Hyrich, Kevin L. Winthrop, Daniel Aletaha, Tanja Stamm, Jan W. Schoones, Robert B. M. Landewe
Summary: This study conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to evaluate the safety of synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results indicated that bDMARDs were associated with an increased risk of serious infections compared to csDMARDs, while JAK inhibitors (JAKi) showed higher risk of herpes zoster infections. The risks of malignancies, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and venous thromboembolism (VTE) were similar among different treatments.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Juergen Braun, Uta Kiltz, Xenofon Baraliakos
Summary: This review focuses on two emerging drugs, bimekizumab and filgotinib, for the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Unlike other IL-17 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors are also effective in rheumatoid arthritis. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
EXPERT OPINION ON BIOLOGICAL THERAPY
(2023)
Letter
Rheumatology
Juergen Braun
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Letter
Rheumatology
Sofia Ramiro, Elena Nikiphorou, Alexandre Sepriano, Augusta Ortolan, Casper Webers, Xenofon Baraliakos, Robert B. M. Landewe, Desiree van der Heijde
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Victoria Navarro-Compan, Diego Benavent, Dafne Capelusnik, Desiree van der Heijde, Robert B. M. Landewe, Denis Poddubnyy, Astrid van Tubergen, Xenofon Baraliakos, Filip E. van den Bosch, Floris A. van Gaalen, Lianne Gensler, Clementina Lopez-Medina, Helena Marzo-Ortega, Anna Molto, Rodolfo Perez-Alamino, Martin Rudwaleit, Marleen van de Sande, Raj Sengupta, Ulrich Weber, Sofia Ramiro
Summary: This study developed a consensual definition for 'early axial spondyloarthritis-axSpA' and 'early peripheral spondyloarthritis-pSpA' through a systematic literature review and Delphi survey. The results indicated that early axSpA should be based on symptom duration only, without considering the presence of radiographic damage.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Alessia Alunno, Tadej Avcin, Catherine Haines, Sofia Ramiro, Francisca Sivera, Sara Badreh, Xenofon Baraliakos, Johannes W. J. Bijlsma, Frank Buttgereit, Kaushik Chaudhuri, Jose A. P. Da Silva, Jean Dudler, Ricardo J. O. Ferreira, Tania Gudu, Eric Hachulla, Mette Holland-Fischer, Annamaria Iagnocco, Tue Wenzel Kragstrup, Gyoergy Nagy, Vasco C. Romao, Simon R. Stones, Marloes van Onna, Christopher J. Edwards
Summary: This study aimed to define competences and standards for the training of rheumatologists. Through collaboration and analysis of international training documents, an overall framework, 7 domains, 8 core themes, and 28 competences were established. The results suggest that these standards can contribute to harmonizing rheumatology training across European countries.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Correction
Rheumatology
Atul Deodhar, Denis Poddubnyy, Proton Rahman, Jeorg Ermann, Tetsuya Tomita, Rebeca Bolce, Soyi Liu Leage, Andris Kronbergs, Caroline Johnson, Joana Araujo, Ann Leung, Desiree van der Heijde
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Rosalinde Stal, Sofia Ramiro, Xenofon Baraliakos, Juergen Braun, Monique Reijnierse, Rosaline van den Berg, Desiree van der Heijde, Floris A. van Gaalen
Summary: The objective of this study was to assess the construct validity of the CT Syndesmophyte Score (CTSS) for measuring structural spinal damage in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. The study compared the scores of CTSS and modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) in detecting syndesmophytes and their correlation with spinal mobility. The results demonstrated good agreement between CTSS and mSASSS in detecting syndesmophytes, and higher correlation of CTSS with spinal mobility measures.
Article
Rheumatology
Ioana Andreica, Iulia Roman, Imke Redeker, Xenofon Baraliakos, Juergen Braun, Uta Kiltz
Summary: This study investigated the attitudes and perceived factors towards vaccination in patients with rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases, including pneumococci, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The study found that most patients had good knowledge about vaccination and the facilitators were more important than barriers. Patients generally indicated that healthcare professionals' recommendations were a major motivation for vaccination. There were more barriers towards SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, with personal intrapersonal issues being the most common.
Article
Rheumatology
Mary Lucy Marques, Nuno Pereira da Silva, Desiree van der Heijde, Rosalinde Stal, Xenofon Baraliakos, Juergen Braun, Monique Reijnierse, Caroline Bastiaenen, Sofia Ramiro, Floris A. van Gaalen
Summary: The study investigated the association between inflammation and lower trabecular bone density (TBD) in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA), and whether a lower TBD increases the likelihood of 2-year bone formation at the same vertebra. The study found that inflammation was associated with lower TBD, but lower TBD itself did not increase the risk of new bone formation at the same vertebra.
Article
Rheumatology
David Kiefer, Juergen Braun, Uta Kiltz, Varvara Chatzistefanidi, Daniela Adolf, Ilka Schwarze, Maria Kabelitz, Uwe Lange, Jan Brandt-Juergens, Edgar Stemmler, Sabine Sartingen, Xenofon Baraliakos
Summary: This study demonstrates the impact of disease-specific patient-reported outcomes on global functioning in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), while objectively assessed spinal mobility scores have limited impact on patient-reported global functioning. The results also suggest that global functioning in this cohort is not highly dependent on the degree of structural damage in the axial skeleton.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Jiancong Wang, Sabrina Tulka, Stephanie Knippschild, Matthias Schneider, Joerg H. W. Distler, Xenofon Baraliakos, Ralph Brinks, Philipp Sewerin
Summary: The study aimed to estimate the population-based prevalence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in Germany until 2050 using the illness-death model and historical data. Analysis of health insurance data for 65 million people in Germany between 2009 and 2012 revealed a conservative estimate of PsA prevalence in 2019 as 0.31% (95% CI 0.28-0.36%). Women had a higher prevalence than men in all scenarios. In scenarios with increased incidence, PsA prevalence at age 60 could rise to over 3% in 2050, particularly for women. However, in scenarios with decreasing incidence, the prevalence may decrease to less than 1% by 2050. This research provides important data for public health stakeholders to prepare interventions and highlights the need for preventive strategies to address the rising burden of PsA.
RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Andreas Reich, Anja Weiss, Lisa Lindner, Xenofon Baraliakos, Denis Poddubnyy, Silke Zinke, Carsten Stille, Anja Strangfeld, Anne C. Regierer
Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis and identify associated factors. The analysis showed that 8% of patients had moderate depressive symptoms and 21% had severe symptoms. Patients with moderate or severe depressive symptoms were less likely to engage in sports, had more comorbidities, and higher scores for disease activity, functional limitations, fatigue, and pain.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)