Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Detection Of Subclinical Rheumatic Heart Disease In Children Using A Deep Learning Algorithm On Digital Stethoscope: A Study Protocol, Fatima Ali, Babar Hasan, Huzaifa Ahmad, Zahra Hoodbhoy, Zainab Bhuriwala, Muhammad Hanif, Shahab U. Ansari, Devyani Chowdhury

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: Rheumatic heart diseases (RHDs) contribute significant morbidity and mortality globally. To reduce the burden of RHD, timely initiation of secondary prophylaxis is important. The objectives of this study are to determine the frequency of subclinical RHD and to train a deep learning (DL) algorithm using waveform data from the digital auscultatory stethoscope (DAS) in predicting subclinical RHD.
Methods and analysis: We aim to recruit 1700 children from a group of schools serving the underprivileged over a 12-month period in Karachi (Pakistan). All consenting students within the age of 5-15 years with no underlying congenital heart disease will be eligible …

Perceptions And Challenges Experienced By African Physicians When Prescribing Methotrexate For Rheumatic Disease: An Exploratory Study, Carol A Hitchon, Girsh M Mody, Candace H Feldman, Yan Lau, Steven Shi, Michele Meltzer, Rosie Scuccimarri, Michael E Weinblatt, Ines Colmegna

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Objective: Guidelines for methotrexate (MTX) use in rheumatic disease may not be feasible for physicians practicing in the least developed countries. We aimed to understand the experiences of MTX prescribers relating to MTX use for rheumatic disease in African countries to inform the development of culturally and geographically appropriate recommendations.

Methods: African physicians who self-identified as MTX prescribers from countries classified as having a low versus a medium or high Human Development Index (L-HDI versus MH-HDI) participated in semistructured interviews between August 2016 and September 2017. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded thematically, and stratified by HDI.

Results: Physicians (23 rheumatologists; …

Perceptions And Challenges Experienced By African Physicians When Prescribing Methotrexate For Rheumatic Disease: An Exploratory Study, Carol A Hitchon, Girsh M Mody, Candace H Feldman, Yan Lau, Steven Shi, Michele Meltzer, Rosie Scuccimarri, Michael E Weinblatt, Ines Colmegna

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Guidelines for methotrexate (MTX) use in rheumatic disease may not be feasible for physicians practicing in the least developed countries. We aimed to understand the experiences of MTX prescribers relating to MTX use for rheumatic disease in African countries to inform the development of culturally and geographically appropriate recommendations.

METHODS: African physicians who self-identified as MTX prescribers from countries classified as having a low versus a medium or high Human Development Index (L-HDI versus MH-HDI) participated in semistructured interviews between August 2016 and September 2017. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded thematically, and stratified by HDI.

RESULTS: Physicians (23 rheumatologists; …

Enhanced Arthrocentesis Of The Flexed Knee With Pneumatic Compression, Sumir Brahmbhatt, Maheswari Muruganandam, Ahsan Iqbal, David Cisneros, Adnan Kiani, Nicole Suzanne Emil, Sharon Nunez, William Hayward, Philip Band, Wilmer Sibbitt Jr.

Quality Improvement/Patient Safety Symposium

Background/Objective: To explore an alternative to standard extended knee arthrocentesis using pneumatic compression of the flexed knee.

Methods: Using a paired sample design, 41 consecutive effusive knees underwent arthrocentesis in the flexed knee position first without and then with pneumatic compression of suprapatellar bursa. Arthrocentesis success and fluid yield in milliliters (ml) were measured. For comparison 41 consecutive patients who had undergone extended knee arthrocentesis without and with compression were also studied.

Results: Successful diagnostic arthrocentesis (≥ 3 ml) of the effusive flexed knee was 85% (35/41) without compression and increased significantly to 100% (41/41) with pneumatic compression (p=0.027). Synovial …

Cardiovascular Complications Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Impact Of Risk Factors And Therapeutic Efficacy--A Tertiary Centre Experience In An Appalachian State, Elise Danielle Mcveigh, Amna Batool, Arnold J. Stromberg, Ahmed K. Abdel-Latif, Nayef Mohammed Kazzaz

Statistics Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular complications became a notable cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with lupus as therapeutic advancements became more efficient at managing other complications. The Appalachian community in Kentucky has a higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, predisposing them to cardiovascular events. Namely, the mean body mass index of the members of the Kentucky Appalachian community was reported at 33 kg/m² and 94.3% of male members of this community use tobacco. We sought to identify risk factors that predispose patients with lupus to cardiovascular morbidities and examine the effect of immunomodulatory drugs.

METHODS: We identified 20 UKHS …

Pediatric Rheumatology In Africa: Thriving Amidst Challenges, Angela Migowa, Djohra Hadef, Wafa Hamdi, Oscar Mwizerwa, Madeleine Ngandeu, Yassmin Taha, Faleye Ayodele, Kate Webb, Christiaan Scott

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Pediatric Rheumatology is an orphan specialty in Africa which is gradually gaining importance across the continent.

Main body: This commentary discusses the current state of affairs in the sphere of Pediatric Rheumatology across Africa and offers practical strategies to navigate the challenges encountered in research, models of care, education and training. We outline the establishment, opportunities of growth and achievements of the Pediatric Society of the African League Against Rheumatism (PAFLAR).

Conclusion: This commentary lays the foundation for establishment of a formidable framework and development of partnerships for the prosperity of Pediatric Rheumatology in Africa and beyond.

Igg4-Related Disease With Multiorgan Involvement: A Case-Based Review, Nikhil N. Tarte, Chandana Shilpa Ravipati, Jose A. Leon De La Rocha, Elizabeth Rinker, Nirupa J. Patel

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated multi-organ inflammatory disorder caused by tissue infiltration of lymphocytes with IgG4-secreting plasma cells. Herein, we discuss a case of a patient with IgG4-RD who had involvement of multiple organs: the kidneys, lymph nodes, bone marrow (biopsy performed), lungs, liver, and small intestine (imaging abnormalities). Although several case reports and series of IgG4-RD involving different organ involvement are in the literature, our patient has extensive simultaneous multi-organ involvement. We utilized the four domains (serologic, pathologic, radiologic, and pathologic) as discussed in the new 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria to provide a useful framework in considering an …

Need For Clinical Guidelines For Management Of Osteoporosis And Way Forward For Pakistan, Aysha Habib Khan, Manju Chandran

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Down Syndrome-Associated Arthritis: A Survey Of Down Syndrome Clinic Providers., Jordan T. Jones, Chelsey Smith, Nasreen Talib

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Challenges In Medicine: The Odyssey Of A Patient With Isolated Igg4-Related Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis Presenting As A Locally Destructive Sinonasal Mass, Snigdha Nutalapati, Richard O'Neal, William O'Connor, Brett T. Comer, Gerhard C. Hildebrandt

Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery Faculty Publications

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is an exceeding rare clinical entity and is considered a part of the spectrum of IgG4-related disease (IgG4RD). We hereby present such an unusual case of a 60-year-old female who presented to us with recurrent sinonasal mass, after a decade long haul of multiple clinical evaluations, biopsies, and debulking surgery without a definitive diagnosis. Over this period, the mass eroded through the ethmoid cells along with nasal septal destruction leading to saddle nose deformity, extended superiorly through the cribriform plates to right frontal lobe, and compressed the optic nerve leading to visual loss. Although initial biopsy …

Exploring Pediatric Tele-Rheumatology Practices During Covid-19: A Survey Of The Prcoin Network., Y Ingrid Goh, Danielle R. Bullock, Janalee Taylor, Rajdeep Pooni, Tzielan C. Lee, Sheetal S. Vora, Cagri Yildirim-Toruner, Esi M. Morgan, Nancy Pan, Julia G. Harris, Andrew Warmin, Kendra Wiegand, Jon M. Burnham, Fatima Barbar-Smiley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Healthcare providers were rapidly forced to modify the way they practiced medicine during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Many providers transitioned from seeing their patients in person to virtually using telemedicine platforms with limited training and experience using this medium. In pediatric rheumatology, this was further complicated as musculoskeletal exams typically require hands-on assessment of patients. The objective of this study was to examine the adoption of telemedicine into pediatric rheumatology practices, to assess its benefits and challenges, and to gather opinions on its continued use. A survey was sent to the lead representatives of each Pediatric Rheumatology Care …

Association Of Vitamin D Deficiency And Disease Activity In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: Two-Year Follow-Up Study, Ainan Arshad, Saad Bin Zafar Mahmood, Ahmed Ayaz, Adil A. Manji, Akash Kumar Ahuja

Section of Internal Medicine

Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Pakistani systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the severity and outcomes of SLE.
Patients and methods: This retrospective study evaluated SLE patients presenting to our hospital between January 2009 and December 2018. A total of 98 patients (13 males, 85 females; mean age 39.8±14.9 years; range, 16 to 73 years) with vitamin D levels available at the time of diagnosis were included in the study. Disease activity was measured using SLE disease activity score at the time of diagnosis and …

Engaging Patients And Parents To Improve Mental Health Intervention For Youth With Rheumatological Disease., Oluwatunmise A. Fawole, Michelle V. Reed, Julia G. Harris, Aimee Hersh, Martha Rodriguez, Karen Onel, Erica Lawson, Tamar Rubinstein, Kaveh Ardalan, Esi Morgan, Anne Paul, Judy Barlin, R Paola Daly, Mitali Dave, Shannon Malloy, Shari Hume, Suzanne Schrandt, Laura Marrow, Angela Chapson, Donna Napoli, Michael Napoli, Miranda Moyer, Vincent Delgaizo, Ashley Danguecan, Emily Von Scheven, Andrea Knight, Carra Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders are common in youth with rheumatological disease yet optimal intervention strategies are understudied in this population. We examined patient and parent perspectives on mental health intervention for youth with rheumatological disease.

METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods cross-sectional study, via anonymous online survey, developed by researchers together with patient/parent partners, to quantitatively and qualitatively examine youth experiences with mental health services and resources in North America. Patients ages 14-24 years with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, or systemic lupus erythematous, and parents of patients ages 8-24 with these diseases were eligible (not required to participate in …

Duration Of Rheumatoid Arthritis And The Risk Of Developing Interstitial Lung Disease, Michael P. Mohning, Isabelle Amigues, M. Kristen Demoruelle, Evans R. Fernández Pérez, Tristan J. Huie, Rebecca K. Keith, Amy L. Olson, Zulma X. Yunt, Jonathan H. Chung, Stephen B. Hobbs, Jeffrey J. Swigris, Joshua J. Solomon

Radiology Faculty Publications

Age of ILD onset is similar in patients with RA-UIP and RA-NSIP but duration of RA before ILD onset differs.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Data In Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis From A Randomised Trial Of Etanercept And Methotrexate As Monotherapy Or In Combination., Vibeke Strand, Philip Mease, Ervant J Maksabedian Hernandez, Bradley S Stolshek, Lyrica X H Liu, David H Collier, Gregory Kricorian, Joseph F Merola

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVES: We examined patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in The Study of Etanercept And Methotrexate in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA); a 48-week, phase 3, randomised controlled trial that compared outcomes with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy, etanercept monotherapy, and MTX+ etanercept in patients with PsA.

METHODS: Efficacy endpoints included: mean changes from baseline and proportion of patients who reported improvements≥minimal clinically important difference (MCID) at week 24 in treatment groups for Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, Patient Global Assessment (PtGA), Patient Global Assessment of Joint Pain (PtGAJP) and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Questionnaire (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS), and Mental Component Summary, and …

The Quality Of Intervention Reporting In Trials Of Therapeutic Exercise For Hip Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis Of A Systematic Review, Louise C. Burgess, Thomas C. Wainwright, Khara A. James, Johan Von Heideken, Maura D. Iversen

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Therapeutic exercise is recommended as a core treatment for hip osteoarthritis (HOA). Whilst it is widely accepted that exercise can improve pain and disability, optimal type and dose of exercise are yet to be agreed upon. This may, in part, be attributed to the wide variation and inadequate reporting of interventions within the literature. This study evaluates the quality of intervention reporting among trials of therapeutic exercise in HOA.

Methods: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were sourced in a systematic review, completed in August 2020. Two raters independently used the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) and Consensus on …

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis In The Setting Of Chronic Cutaneous Lupus Erythmatosus: A Case Report, Andrew Cappiello, Seba Issa, Sana Khan, Kenneth Crager

Rheumatology

No abstract provided.

Measures Of Pediatric Function And Physical Activity In Arthritis, Anna E. Greer, Maura D. Iversen

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Physical function can be assessed through physical examination with the use of performance-based measures and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Each form of assessment provides a unique contribution to the understanding of the impact of rheumatologic conditions on the patient. PROMs of physical function (PF) are an important component of the assessment of children with arthritis and have been included in the recommended core set of measures for childhood arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. These measures provide the child’s or parent’s perspective of function within the context of daily living. Measures of PF include both generic measures, which are designed for use …

Prosthetic Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction In A Cohort Of Adolescent Females With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis., Michael Lypka, Karina Shah, Jordan T. Jones

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis and involvement is commonly seen in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Therapy includes conservative measures, but also includes intraarticular corticosteroid injections (IASI) and systemic immunosuppressive therapy. Despite aggressive medical therapy, some patients develop arthritic changes and frank TMJ ankylosis that can result in persistent pain and limitation in range of motion (ROM). A surgical option is prosthetic TMJ replacement with concurrent correction of dentofacial deformities, which can be performed simultaneously. The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of prosthetic TMJ replacement in a cohort of adolescent females with JIA and severe TMJ involvement. …

African League Against Rheumatism (Aflar) Preliminary Recommendations On The Management Of Rheumatic Diseases During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Richard Oluyinka Akintayo, Rachid Bahiri, Yasser El Miedany, Hakeem Olaosebikan, Asgar Ali Kalla, Adewale Olukayode Adebajo, Angela Migowa, Samy Slimani, Ouma Devi Koussougbo, Ben Abdelghani Kawther

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objectives: To develop recommendations for the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: A task force comprising of 25 rheumatologists from the 5 regions of the continent was formed and operated through a hub-and-spoke model with a central working committee (CWC) and 4 subgroups. The subgroups championed separate scopes of the clinical questions and formulated preliminary statements of recommendations which were processed centrally in the CWC. The CWC and each subgroup met by several virtual meetings, and two rounds of voting were conducted on the drafted statements of recommendations. Votes were online-delivered and …

Physical Activity For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Benchmark Study, Lauren Nicholson

MSN Capstone Projects

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition that affects the joints; without proper treatment and management, RA leads to the destruction of joint function. The standard of care for RA includes medications such as biologic therapy and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. An often-overlooked area of disease management is the implementation of exercise programs for patients with RA. Exercise is known to decrease systemic inflammation, symptoms of depression, and combat fatigue – all common symptoms reported by patients with RA.

Standard of care for patients with RA does not currently include lifestyle management factors such as diet, exercise, and cessation of …

Assessing The Effect Of Interventions For Axial Spondyloarthritis According To The Endorsed Asas/Omeract Core Outcome Set: A Meta-Research Study Of Trials Included In Cochrane Reviews., Rikke A Andreasen, Lars E Kristensen, Xenofon Baraliakos, Vibeke Strand, Philip Mease, Maarten De Wit, Torkell Ellingsen, Inger Marie J Hansen, Jamie Kirkham, George A Wells, Peter Tugwell, Lara Maxwell, Maarten Boers, Kenneth Egstrup, Robin Christensen

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) has defined core sets for (i) symptom-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (SM-ARD), (ii) clinical record keeping, and (iii) disease-controlling anti-rheumatic therapy (DC-ART). These include the following domains for all three core sets: "physical function," "pain," "spinal mobility," "spinal stiffness," and "patient's global assessment" (PGA). The core set for clinical record keeping further includes the domains "peripheral joints/entheses" and "acute phase reactants," and the core set for DC-ART further includes the domains "fatigue" and "spine radiographs/hip radiographs." The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) endorsed the core sets in 1998.Using empirical evidence from axSpA trials, we investigated …

Long-Term Safety And Tolerability Of Apremilast Versus Placebo In Psoriatic Arthritis: A Pooled Safety Analysis Of Three Phase Iii, Randomized, Controlled Trials., Philip Mease, Dafna D Gladman, Juan J Gomez-Reino, Stephen Hall, Arthur Kavanaugh, Eric Lespessailles, Georg Schett, Maria Paris, Nikolay Delev, Lichen Teng, Jürgen Wollenhaupt

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVE: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) requires long-term treatment, yet safety concerns and monitoring requirements make maintenance a challenge. This analysis of pooled Psoriatic Arthritis Long-term Assessment of Clinical Efficacy (PALACE) 1, 2, and 3 data describes 3-year apremilast safety and tolerability in PsA.

METHODS: Patients with active PsA were randomized (1:1:1) to placebo, apremilast 30 mg twice daily, or apremilast 20 mg twice daily. Placebo patients were re-randomized to apremilast 30 mg twice daily or 20 mg twice daily at week 16 (early escape) or 24. Double-blind treatment continued to week 52; patients could continue apremilast during an open-label, long-term treatment …

Assessment And Treatment Of Down Syndrome-Associated Arthritis: A Survey Of Pediatric Rheumatologists., Anna Nicek, Nasreen Talib, Daniel Lovell, Chelsey Smith, Mara L. Becker, Jordan T. Jones

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background: Inflammatory arthritis in children with Down syndrome (DS) was first described in 1984 and is now termed Down syndrome-associated arthritis (DA). Studies have shown that DA is under-recognized with a 19-month average delay in diagnosis. Additionally, most patients present with polyarticular, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) negative disease. Current therapies for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have been used, but appear to be poorly tolerated, more toxic and less effective in patients with DA. There is currently no standardized approach to the assessment or management of DA. The objective of this study was to describe provider perspectives toward …

Characterization Of Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis By Enthesitis Presence: Data From The Corrona Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondyloarthritis Registry., Philip Mease, Mei Liu, Sabrina Rebello, Winnie Hua, Robert R Mclean, Esther Yi, Yujin Park, Alexis Ogdie

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVE: To compare the characteristics of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who had enthesitis versus those without enthesitis.

METHODS: This study included adult patients with axSpA enrolled in the Corrona Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondyloarthritis Registry (March 2013 to August 2018). Enthesitis was assessed at enrollment via the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Enthesitis Index. Characteristics were compared between patients with and without enthesitis using t tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous variables and χ

RESULTS: Of 477 patients with axSpA, 121 (25.4%) had enthesitis (mean, 3.9 sites) at enrollment. Higher proportions of patients with enthesitis were female and had nonradiographic axSpA …

Secukinumab Provides Sustained Low Rates Of Radiographic Progression In Psoriatic Arthritis: 52-Week Results From A Phase 3 Study, Future 5., Désirée Van Der Heijde, Philip Mease, Robert B M Landewé, Proton Rahman, Hasan Tahir, Atul Singhal, Elke Boettcher, Sandra Navarra, Xuan Zhu, Gregory Ligozio, Aimee Readie, Shephard Mpofu, Luminita Pricop

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of secukinumab on radiographic progression through 52 weeks in patients with PsA from the FUTURE 5 study.

METHODS: Patients with active PsA, stratified by prior anti-TNF use (naïve or inadequate response), were randomized to s.c. secukinumab 300 mg load (300 mg), 150 mg load (150 mg), 150 mg no load regimens or placebo at baseline, at weeks 1, 2 and 3 and every 4 weeks starting at week 4. Radiographic progression was assessed by change in van der Heijde-modified total Sharp score (vdH-mTSS; mean of two readers). Statistical analysis used a linear mixed-effects model (random …

Inhibition Of Radiographic Progression Across Levels Of Composite Index-Defined Disease Activity In Patients With Active Psoriatic Arthritis Treated With Intravenous Golimumab: Results From A Phase-3, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial., Philip Mease, M Elaine Husni, Shelly Kafka, Soumya D Chakravarty, Diane D Harrison, Kim Hung Lo, Stephen Xu, Elizabeth C Hsia, Arthur Kavanaugh

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND: In the GO-VIBRANT trial of intravenous golimumab in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), golimumab significantly inhibited radiographic progression. In post hoc analyses, we evaluated changes in total PsA-modified Sharp/van der Heijde scores (SHS) across levels of composite index-defined disease activity following treatment.

METHODS: In this phase-3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 480 bio-naïve patients with active PsA randomly received intravenous golimumab 2 mg/kg (N = 241; week 0, week 4, every 8 weeks [q8w]) or placebo (N = 239; week 0, week 4, week 12, week 20) followed by golimumab (week 24, week 28, q8w) through week 52. Week 24 and week 52 …

Enthesitis In Psoriatic Arthritis (Part 3): Clinical Assessment And Management., Philip Mease

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Enthesitis is a common clinical feature of PsA, which is characterized by inflammation at the site of insertion of tendons, ligaments and joint capsule fibres into bone. Enthesitis is relatively unique to the spondyloarthritides, setting this group of diseases apart from other rheumatological conditions. The pathophysiological underpinnings of this clinical domain, and the imaging assessment of it, are described in accompanying articles in this supplement. The focus of this article is on the assessment of enthesitis by physical examination, the impact of enthesitis on function and quality of life, the impact of concomitant FM on clinical assessment, and the evidence …

Preface To The Psoriatic Arthritis Supplement., Philip Mease

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Acthar Gel (Repository Corticotropin Injection) For Persistently Active Sle: Study Design And Baseline Characteristics From A Multicentre, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, A. D. Askanase, E. Zhao, J. Zhu, E. Connolly-Strong, R. A. Furie

Journal Articles

© 2020 Author(s). Objective SLE is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterised by the excessive production of autoantibodies, immune complexes and proinflammatory cytokines. Repository corticotropin injection (RCI) is a naturally sourced complex mixture of adrenocorticotropic hormone analogues and other pituitary peptides. RCI is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in select cases of SLE. This paper discusses the design and baseline characteristics of a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, 24-week clinical trial evaluating the effect of RCI in reducing disease activity for patients with persistently active SLE despite moderate-dose corticosteroid …