Rheumatology Commons^™

Barriers To The Diagnosis, Care, And Management Of Pediatric Patients With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome In The United States: A Qualitative Analysis., William R. Black, Lora L. Black, Jordan T. Jones

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Objectives: Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a family of heritable connective tissue diseases. Primary practitioners are capable of diagnosing and managing EDS; however, few are knowledgeable and comfortable enough to see patients with EDS, resulting in delays in diagnosis and care. This study explores the barriers physicians experience with diagnosing, managing, and caring for patients with EDS, and potential resolutions to those barriers. Methods: As part of a larger online study, providers (n = 107) in the United States were asked to specify "What information would improve (their) comfort" in diagnosing, caring for, and managing EDS via open-ended questions. Results …

Treatment Of Severe Swallowing Dysfunction In Systemic Sclerosis With Ivig: Role Of Antimuscarinic Antibodies, Fabian A Mendoza, Anthony J. Dimarino, Sidney Cohen, Christopher Adkins, Shady Abdelbaki, Satish Rattan, Christopher Cao, Susie Denuna-Rivera, Sergio A. Jimenez

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Oropharyngeal and esophageal dysmotility can cause serious clinical complications such as aspiration pneumonia, cachexia, and sarcopenia, with a resulting increase in mortality and disability. The current standard of care for the treatment of SSc-associated swallowing dysfunction is mainly supportive, although severe cases are usually refractory to conventional management. Recent studies have shown that the abnormal production of functional autoantibodies such as anti-cholinergic muscarinic receptor III antibodies may participate in the pathogenesis of SSc-associated gastrointestinal dysmotility and may provide a novel target for therapeutic intervention. We describe two patients with severe and rapid onset of SSc-associated severe swallowing dysfunction and esophageal …

Gout: Current Considerations, Alexandria Fappiano, Wilson Crone

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Gout is a treatable chronic inflammatory condition that can cause severe joint pain and disfigurement. Commonly, it affects the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint as a monoarticular process. It is typically caused by hyperuricemia and genetic mutations of the uricase gene. Gout is definitively diagnosed with the presence of negative birefringent needle-shaped crystals in the synovial fluid of the affected joint. Classically, seafood and alcohol are risk factors for developing gout. However, given current population trends, obesity is another major risk factor. While weight loss is the best conservative management, medications can also be used to manage gout. The treatment is …

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 …

The Effectiveness Of Cannabidiol In Rheumatic Disease Pain: A Systematic Review, Mary C. Wiczek

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Cannabinoids have long been a part of human culture and medicine, and more recently have been rediscovered for their potential use in the management of rheumatic disease pain. The objective of this review was to evaluate the known clinical effectiveness of cannabidiol treatment for rheumatic disease related pain. The legality and current regulation of these products was also reviewed to establish the current status of federal and state rules regarding their clinical use. Basic definitions of the terms used to differentiate cannabidiol from other cannabinoid products was also outlined. A systematic literature search was then conducted to explore the current …

Secukinumab Improves Active Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms And Inhibits Radiographic Progression: Primary Results From The Randomised, Double-Blind, Phase Iii Future 5 Study., Philip Mease, Désirée Van Der Heijde, Robert Landewé, Shephard Mpofu, Proton Rahman, Hasan Tahir, Atul Singhal, Elke Boettcher, Sandra Navarra, Karin Meiser, Aimee Readie, Luminita Pricop, Ken Abrams

Philip Mease, MD

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of subcutaneous (s.c.) secukinumab, an interleukin-17A inhibitor, on clinical signs and symptoms and radiographic progression in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS: Adults (n=996) with active PsA were randomised 2:2:2:3 to s.c. secukinumab 300 mg or 150 mg with loading dose (LD), 150 mg without LD or placebo. All groups received secukinumab or placebo at baseline, weeks 1, 2 and 3 and then every 4 weeks from week 4. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response at week 16.

RESULTS: Significantly more patients achieved an …

Tofacitinib Or Adalimumab Versus Placebo: Patient-Reported Outcomes From Opal Broaden-A Phase Iii Study Of Active Psoriatic Arthritis In Patients With An Inadequate Response To Conventional Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs., Vibeke Strand, Kurt De Vlam, Jose A Covarrubias-Cobos, Philip Mease, Dafna D Gladman, Daniela Graham, Cunshan Wang, Joseph C Cappelleri, Thijs Hendrikx, Ming-Ann Hsu

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Objectives: Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We evaluated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with PsA refractory to ≥1 conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD-IR) and tumour necrosis factor inhibitor-naïve in a 12-month, phase III randomised controlled trial (OPAL Broaden [NCT01877668]).

Methods: Patients (N=422) received tofacitinib 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily, adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks or placebo advancing to tofacitinib 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily at month 3. Least squares mean changes from baseline and percentages of patients reporting improvements ≥minimum clinically important differences (MCID); and …

Effect Of Tofacitinib On Patient-Reported Outcomes In Patients With Active Psoriatic Arthritis And An Inadequate Response To Tumour Necrosis Factor Inhibitors In The Phase Iii, Randomised Controlled Trial: Opal Beyond., Vibeke Strand, Kurt De Vlam, Jose A Covarrubias-Cobos, Philip Mease, Dafna D Gladman, Linda Chen, Elizabeth Kudlacz, Joseph Wu, Joseph C Cappelleri, Thijs Hendrikx, Ming-Ann Hsu

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Objectives: Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were evaluated in patients with PsA with inadequate responses to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR) in a 6-month, phase III randomised controlled trial (OPAL Beyond [NCT01882439]).

Methods: Patients (N=394) received tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily or placebo (advancing to tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily at month 3). Least squares mean changes from baseline and percentages of patients reporting improvements ≥minimum clinically important differences and scores ≥normative values were determined in Patient Global Assessment of disease activity (PtGA), Pain, Patient …

Consensus Treatment Plans For Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis Refractory To Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs And/Or With Active Spinal Lesions., Yongdong Zhao, Eveline Y. Wu, Melissa S. Oliver, Ashley M. Cooper, Matthew L. Basiaga, Sheetal S. Vora, Tzielan C. Lee, Emily Fox, Gil Amarilyo, Sara M. Stern, Jeffrey A. Dvergsten, Kathleen A. Haines, Kelly A. Rouster-Stevens, Karen B. Onel, Julie Cherian, Jonathan S. Hausmann, Paivi Miettunen, Tania Cellucci, Farzana Nuruzzaman, Angela Taneja, Karyl S. Barron, Matthew C. Hollander, Sivia K. Lapidus, Suzanne C. Li, Seza Ozen, Hermann Girschick, Ronald M. Laxer, Fatma Dedeoglu, Christian M. Hedrich, Polly J. Ferguson, Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis/Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis Study Group And The Childhood Arthritis And Rheumatology Research Alliance Scleroderma, Vasculitis, Autoinflammatory And Rare Diseases Subcommittee

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To develop standardized treatment regimens for chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO), also known as chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO), to enable comparative effectiveness treatment studies.

METHODS: Virtual and face-to-face discussions and meetings were held within the CNO/CRMO subgroup of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). A literature search was conducted, and CARRA membership was surveyed to evaluate available treatment data and identify current treatment practices. Nominal group technique was used to achieve consensus on treatment plans for CNO refractory to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) monotherapy and/or with active spinal lesions.

RESULTS: Three consensus treatment plans (CTPs) were developed …

Secukinumab Improves Active Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms And Inhibits Radiographic Progression: Primary Results From The Randomised, Double-Blind, Phase Iii Future 5 Study., Philip Mease, Désirée Van Der Heijde, Robert Landewé, Shephard Mpofu, Proton Rahman, Hasan Tahir, Atul Singhal, Elke Boettcher, Sandra Navarra, Karin Meiser, Aimee Readie, Luminita Pricop, Ken Abrams

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of subcutaneous (s.c.) secukinumab, an interleukin-17A inhibitor, on clinical signs and symptoms and radiographic progression in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS: Adults (n=996) with active PsA were randomised 2:2:2:3 to s.c. secukinumab 300 mg or 150 mg with loading dose (LD), 150 mg without LD or placebo. All groups received secukinumab or placebo at baseline, weeks 1, 2 and 3 and then every 4 weeks from week 4. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response at week 16.

RESULTS: Significantly more patients achieved an …

Persistence Of Low Disease Activity After Tumour Necrosis Factor Inhibitor (Tnfi) Discontinuation In Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis., D H Huynh, T A Boyd, C J Etzel, V Cox, J Kremer, P Mease, A Kavanaugh

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVE: To determine the duration of clinical benefit among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) discontinuing tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapy while in low disease activity (LDA), and to identify patient characteristics associated with prolonged clinical benefit.

METHODS: We performed an observational cohort study assessing patients with PsA from the Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America (CORRONA) registry who had discontinued TNFi after achieving LDA, defined as clinical disease activity index (CDAI) score ≤10 and physician's global assessment (PGA) of skin psoriasis ≤20/100. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the duration of clinical benefit.

RESULTS: Of the 5945 patients …

The Changing Landscape Of Biosimilars In Rheumatology, Thomas Dorner, Vibeke Strand, Paul Cornes, Joao Goncalves, Laszlo Gulacsi, Jonathan Kay, Tore K. Kvien, Josef S. Smolen, Yoshiya Tanaka, Gerd R. Burmester

Jonathan Kay

Biosimilars remain a hot topic in rheumatology, and some physicians are cautious about their application in the real world. With many products coming to market and a wealth of guidelines and recommendations concerning their use, there is a need to understand the changing landscape and the real clinical and health-economic potential offered by these agents. Notably, rheumatologists will be at the forefront of the use of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies/soluble receptors. Biosimilars offer cost savings and health gains for our patients and will play an important role in treating rheumatic diseases. We hope that these lower costs will compensate for inequities …