Inflammatory and angiogenic serum profile of refractory rheumatoid arthritis.

The objective was to pinpoint specific circulating angiogenic and inflammatory markers of refractory and active RA. We used Luminex technology to measure the concentrations of 17 RA-representative serum angiogenic and inflammatory markers in 211 RA patients categorized into three groups: refractory (failure of 2 or more targeted therapies) active (persistence of objective signs of disease activity) RA, non-refractory (failure of ≥ 1 csDMARDs or a first line of targeted therapy) active RA and non-active RA (DAS28 ≤ 3.2).

Comparison of two strategies of glucocorticoid withdrawal in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in low disease activity (STAR): a randomised, placebo- controlled, double-blind trial.

Objectives: To compare two strategies-a hydrocortisone replacement strategy and a prednisone tapering strategy-for their success in glucocorticoid discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with low disease activity (LDA).

Methods: The Strategies for glucocorticoid TApering in Rheumatoid arthritis (STAR) study was a double- blind, double-placebo randomised controlled trial including patients with RA receiving a stable dose of glucocorticoid 5 mg/day for ≥3 months and were in LDA for ≥3 months. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either replace prednisone with 20 mg/day of hydrocortisone for 3 months, then reduce to 10 mg/day for 3 months before discontinuation or to taper prednisone by 1 mg/day every month until complete discontinuation, contingent on maintaining LDA.

Changes in Descending Pain Modulation During Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy: A Prospective Study in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA), managing persistent pain remains challenging. Little is known regarding impaired pain pathways in these patients and the impact of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). The objective of the Rheumatism Pain Inhibitory Descending Pathways study was to assess pain thresholds and descending pain modulation in patients with active RA or SpA following introduction of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi).

Relevance of circulating Semaphorin 4A for rheumatoid arthritis response to treatment.

The lack of validated tools to predict rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease course warrants the development of new reliable biomarkers. Our aim was to evaluate the merit of circulating SEMA4A for the prediction of outcomes in patients with RA. In a first cohort of 101 consecutive RA patients followed up for 41 ± 15 months, increased baseline SEMA4A levels were identified as an independent predictor of treatment failure (hazard ratio, HR 2.

Evaluation of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Teleconsultation During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To describe which variables were collected by rheumatologists to monitor patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during teleconsultation and identify which ones have more impact on clinician intervention.

Methods: Retrospective monocentric, routine care cross-sectional study including patients with RA seen in teleconsultation between March and September 2020. Available variables assessing disease status were collected in teleconsultation files.

Efficacy of zoledronic acid in Erdheim-Chester disease: A case report.

Erdheim-Chester disease is rare form of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by organ infiltration of CD68+ CD1a- histiocytes. Between 500 and 600 cases have been reported. It is a multifaceted disease ranging from a solely asymptomatic bone to a fatal multisystem pattern.

All-cause Mortality Associated with TNF-α Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: To compare mortality data obtained from randomized controlled trials for the 5 tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: A systematic review of articles published up to November 2014 was performed using electronic databases. We included randomized, controlled trials, with a follow-up period of at least 24 weeks, comparing TNF-α inhibitors to placebo or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.