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
Medicine, General & Internal
Ji-Chen Huang, Bang-Ping Qian, Yong Qiu, Bin Wang, Yang Yu, Shi-Zhou Zhao
Summary: This study proposed the concept of occult Andersson lesions (ALs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, which are ALs that cannot be detected on plain radiographs but can be seen on computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Occult ALs, especially in extensive cases, may present with subtle radiographic changes and could severely affect the spine stability.
CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
X. Baraliakos, A. Ghadir, M. Fruth, U. Kiltz, I Redeker, J. Braun
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of MRI SI joint findings on the identification of axial SpA by radiologists, finding that structural changes in the SI joint, alone or in combination with BME, had the highest diagnostic value in patients with suspected axial SpA. The presence of bone marrow edema in combination with erosions had the highest positive predictive value for diagnosing axial SpA.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
X. Baraliakos, A. Ghadir, M. Fruth, U. Kiltz, I. Reddeker, J. Braun
Summary: Pathologic sacroiliac joint changes on MRI are important for the classification of axial SpA. Radiologists play a major role in interpreting imaging findings. Bone marrow edema and sclerosis have the highest sensitivity, while erosions and fatty lesions have the highest specificity for axial SpA diagnosis.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
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.
Article
Rheumatology
Desiree van der Heijde, Mikkel Ostergaard, John D. Reveille, Xenofon Baraliakos, Andris Kronbergs, David M. Sandoval, Xiaoqi Li, Hilde Carlier, David H. Adams, Walter P. Maksymowych
Summary: This study evaluates the long-term effect of IXE on radiographic changes in the spine in patients with r-axSpA and identifies potential predictors of progression. The majority of patients had no radiographic progression in the spine through 2 years of treatment.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Mark C. Hwang, MinJae Lee, Lianne S. Gensler, Matthew A. Brown, Amirali Tahanan, Mohammad H. Rahbar, Theresa Hunter, Mingyan Shan, Mariko L. Ishimori, John D. Reveille, Michael H. Weisman, Thomas J. Learch
Summary: This study identified four distinct patterns of spinal disease progression in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Factors associated with higher spinal disease burden groups include male gender, longer disease duration, elevated CRP and smoking history. Independent confirmation in other AS cohorts is needed to confirm these radiographic patterns.
Article
Rheumatology
Maria Konsta, Michael T. Nurmohamed, Alexios Iliopoulos, Petros P. Sfikakis, J. Christiaan van Denderen, Ingrid Visman, Grigorios T. Sakelariou, Irene E. van der Horst-Bruinsma
Summary: The study aims to examine the prevalence of hip involvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and estimate the effect of TNFi on radiographic progression of hip involvement compared to the spine. The results showed that approximately one-third of AS patients had hip involvement, which seemed to stabilize with TNFi treatment. There were no sex differences in the prevalence or progression of this manifestation.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jiayong Ou, Min Xiao, Yefei Huang, Liudan Tu, Zena Chen, Shuangyan Cao, Qiujing Wei, Jieruo Gu
Summary: This study investigated the systemic metabolic shifts associated with AS and TNF inhibitors treatment using LC-MS technology. A diagnostic panel comprising five metabolites was developed, capable of distinguishing HCs from AS with high accuracy. The study also revealed the metabolic pathways involved in AS and the effects of TNF inhibitors therapy on metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Orthopedics
S. Jo, J. S. Lee, B. Nam, Y. L. Lee, H. Kim, E. Y. Lee, Y-S Park, T-H Kim
Summary: This study identified the presence of granular tissue and cartilage in the subchondral bone of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and found co-expression of the transcription factor SOX9 and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) in these tissues. SOX9 plays an important role in inflammation and promotes mineralization features in entheseal tissue. These findings emphasize the importance of SOX9 in enthesis cells.
OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Alexandre Sepriano, Sofia Ramiro, Stephanie Wichuk, Praveena Chiowchanwisawakit, Joel Paschke, Desiree van der Heijde, Robert Landewe, Walter P. Maksymowych
Summary: The study found that TNFi can slow down spinal radiographic progression in patients with radiographic axial SpA, which may be partially related to their effects on inflammation as measured by the ASDAS.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
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)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Cui Ren, Qiao Zhu, Huishu Yuan
Summary: In AS patients, the most frequent spinal fractures are type B3 and type C fractures. CT is more accurate in detecting the exact anatomic involvement of transverse fractures compared to MRI. Lower cervical spine fractures are more likely to be associated with neurological injury, and MRI can detect epidural hematoma in cases of lower cervical spine fractures.
QUANTITATIVE IMAGING IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sahar Gelfman, Arden Moscati, Santiago Mendez Huergo, Rujin Wang, Veera Rajagopal, Neelroop Parikshak, Vijay Kumar Pounraja, Esteban Chen, Michelle Leblanc, Ralph Hazlewood, Jan Freudenberg, Blerta Cooper, Ann J. Ligocki, Charles G. Miller, Tave Van Zyl, Jonathan Weyne, Carmelo Romano, Botir Sagdullaev, Olle Melander, Aris Baras, Eli A. Stahl, Giovanni Coppola
Summary: In this study, the authors performed genome-wide association analysis and whole-exome analysis to uncover the underlying genetics of HLA-B*27 positive and negative forms of anterior uveitis (AU).
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Jessica A. Walsh, Shaobo Pei, Gopi K. Penmetsa, Rebecca S. Overbury, Daniel O. Clegg, Brian C. Sauer
Summary: The study evaluated the performance of axSpA identification methods in the general VA population, including algorithm-based patient identification, sensitivities, positive predictive values, and F1 scores. Performance was estimated using unweighted and inverse probability weighted outcomes, showing a range of performance attributes and differences among the methods used.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Rheumatology
Xenofon Baraliakos, Adrian Richter, Carsten O. Schmidt, Juergen Braun
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
T. Rusman, M. A. C. van der Weijden, M. T. Nurmohamed, C. J. van Denderen, R. B. M. Landewe, P. M. Bet, C. M. A. van der Bijl, C. J. Van der Laken, I. E. van der Horst-Bruinsma
Summary: The study found that 16 weeks of etanercept treatment did not have an impact on disease activity, the chance of biological treatment, or radiographic progression in patients with suspected non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Victoria Navarro-Compan, Anne Boel, Annelies Boonen, Philip J. Mease, Maxime Dougados, Uta Kiltz, Robert B. M. Landewe, Xenofon Baraliakos, Wilson Bautista-Molano, Praveena Chiowchanwisawakit, Hanne Dagfinrud, Lara Fallon, Marco Garrido-Cumbrera, Lianne Gensler, Bassel Kamal ElZorkany, Nigil Haroon, Yu Heng Kwan, Pedro M. Machado, Walter Maksymowych, Anna Molto, Natasha de Peyrecave, Denis Poddubnyy, Mikhail Protopopov, Sofia Ramiro, In-Ho Song, Salima van Weely, Desiree van der Heijde
Summary: This study aims to define the instruments for the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society-Outcomes Measures in Rheumatology core domain set for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The study selected core outcome instruments through a systematic literature review and assessment of the instruments' psychometric properties. Additionally, the study endorsed additional instruments to enhance the evaluation of axSpA trials.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Rheumatology
Dafne Capelusnik, Diego Benavent, Desiree van der Heijde, Robert Landewe, Denis Poddubnyy, Astrid van Tubergen, Louise Falzon, Victoria Navarro-Compan, Sofia Ramiro
Summary: This study conducted a systematic literature review to summarize the relationship between early treatment and treatment clinical response in patients with SpA. It found that early treatment was associated with better outcomes in patients with non-radiographic axSpA and symptom duration of less than 5 years, but no differences in response to treatment were found in radiographic axSpA or in patients with longer symptom duration.
Article
Rheumatology
Kevin L. Winthrop, John D. Isaacs, Philip J. Mease, Dimitrios T. Boumpas, Xenofon Baraliakos, Jacques-Eric Gottenberg, Stefan Siebert, Marta Mosca, Neil Basu, Dana Orange, R. Lories, Daniel Aletaha, Iain B. McInnes, Tom W. J. Huizinga, Reinhard E. Voll, Ellen M. Gravallese, Ferry C. Breedveld, Josef S. Smolen
Summary: This article summarizes the unmet clinical and scientific needs in the field of rheumatology. It highlights the importance of clinical trial design innovation and the need to better understand the natural history of rheumatic diseases. The article also identifies the specific unmet needs in different rheumatological disease-specific groups and emphasizes the importance of developing therapies and therapeutic strategies for treatment-refractory disease.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
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
Rheumatology
Christian Dejaco, Robert B. M. Landewe
Summary: Telemedicine is increasingly used in rheumatology for triage, disease activity monitoring, and patient education. While it offers convenience, there are risks of losing essential information and challenges in building trusting relationships. It is important to complement telemedicine with traditional face-to-face visits for more efficient healthcare.
Article
Rheumatology
Katinka Albrecht, Anja Strangfeld, Ursula Marschall, Johanna Callhoff
Summary: This study investigates the prevalence, incidence, and medication of interstitial lung disease (ILD) among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Germany. It finds that RA-ILD is rare and mainly affects elderly individuals. Although there is no trend in incidence, treatment strategies have expanded, and specialist care is necessary to provide disease-specific therapies.
Article
Rheumatology
Katinka Albrecht, Anne Constanze Regierer, Anja Strangfeld, Ursula Marschall, Johanna Callhoff
Summary: This study examined the use of multiple medications in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and found that the frequency of medication use was significantly higher compared to the control group, particularly for musculoskeletal, immunomodulatory, cardiovascular, alimentary tract/metabolic, and nervous system drugs. Polypharmacy was common in PsA and increased with age and comorbidity, affecting both men and women equally.
Article
Rheumatology
Caroline Ensslin, Raphael Micheroli, Seraphina Kissling, Andrea Gotschi, Kristina Burki, Rene Bram, Manouk de Hooge, Xenofon Baraliakos, Michael J. Nissen, Burkhard Moller, Pascale Exer, Michael Andor, Oliver Distler, Almut Scherer, Adrian Ciurea
Summary: This study investigated sex differences in spinal radiographic progression in axial spondyloarthritis. The results showed that spinal radiographic progression was more severe in men compared to women, with three times higher odds of progression in male patients, and this difference was mediated in part through an increase in baseline radiographic damage.
Article
Rheumatology
Rosalinde Stal, Sofia Ramiro, Desiree van der Heijde, Floris A. van Gaalen, Xenofon Baraliakos, Pedro M. Machado, Manouk de Hooge, Rosaline van den Berg, Monique Reijnierse, Juergen Braun, Robert Landewe, Alexandre Sepriano
Summary: In patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, vertebral corner inflammation can lead to the development of syndesmophytes, but only a small portion of this effect is explained by vertebral corner fat deposition.
Correction
Rheumatology
Janne W. Bolt, Caroline J. Aalbers, Laura Walet, Leonieke J. J. van Mens, Christiaan van Denderen, Irene van der Horst-Bruinsma, Lisa G. M. van Baarsen, Robert Landewe, Marleen G. H. van de Sande
Letter
Rheumatology
Sofia Ramiro, Robert B. M. Landewe, Remy Mostard
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)