Effectiveness of intravenous infliximab versus subcutaneous adalimumab in Takayasu arteritis: multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives: In this large multicentre study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of intravenous infliximab vs subcutaneous adalimumab in patients with Takayasu arteritis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentre study across referral centers in France, Italy, Spain, Armenia, Israel, Japan, Tunisia, and Russia, analyzing biological-targeted therapies in TAK from January 2017 to September 2019.

Results: A total of 135 TAK patients who received adalimumab (n = 34) or infliximab (n = 101) for at least 3 months were included.

Methotrexate versus conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the treatment of non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis.

Aims: To compare the safety and efficacy of methotrexate (MTX), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine (AZA) in non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis.

Methods: Retrospective study including non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis according to the revised International Workshop on Ocular Sarcoidosis criteria. The primary outcome was defined as the median time to relapse or occurrence of serious adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation.

Impact of conventional and biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on arterial lesions in Takayasu arteritis.

Background: The definition of Takayasu arteritis (TAK) remission and disease activity is still unclear. Vascular imaging is an essential tool for following-up patients. Herein, we aimed to compare the evolution of vascular lesions (i.

Anti-SAE autoantibody in dermatomyositis: original comparative study and review of the literature.

Objective: Among specific autoantibodies in DM, the anti-small ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme (SAE) antibody is rare. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics, cancer prevalence, and muscle pathology of anti-SAE-positive DM.

Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of DM and sera positive for the anti-SAE antibody were recruited from 19 centres in this retrospective observational study.

Tocilizumab in Behçet Disease: A Multicenter Study of 30 Patients.

Objective: To evaluate tocilizumab (TCZ) efficacy in patients with refractory Behçet disease (BD).

Methods: This is a multicenter study of 30 patients fulfilling the international criteria for BD and treated with TCZ at different European referral centers. The clinical response was evaluated at 6 months from TCZ initiation.

Vascular Behçet's disease: a comparative study from Turkey and France.

Objectives: Vascular Behçet's disease (VBD) is a systemic vasculitis involving both arterial and venous vessels of all sizes and occurring in up to 40% of patients with BD. VBD is the main cause of mortality in BD. Although commonly seen around the Mediterranean region, comparative studies in VBD are lacking.

Correlation between Ultra-Wide-Field Retinal Imaging Findings and Vascular Supra-Aortic Changes in Takayasu Arteritis.

(1) Background: Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory large-vessel vasculitis. Ultra-wide-field imaging allows describing the retinal lesions in these patients and correlating them with vascular supra-aortic stenosis. (2) Methods: In total, 54 eyes of 27 patients diagnosed with TA were included, and a complete ophthalmological examination was performed, including UWF color fundus photography (UWF-CFP), fluorescein angiography (UWF-FA), and computed tomography angiography measuring supra-aortic stenosis.

Spectrum and Outcome of Noninfectious Aortitis.

Objective: To assess the spectrum and long-term outcome of patients with noninfectious aortitis.

Methods: We performed a retrospective multicenter study of 353 patients (median age at diagnosis was 62 [IQR 46-71] yrs and 242 [68.6%] patients were women) with noninfectious aortitis.

SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: the Euro-COVIMID multicentre cross-sectional study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised numerous questions among patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases regarding potential reciprocal effects of COVID-19 and their underlying disease, and potential effects of immunomodulatory therapy on outcomes related to COVID-19. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and factors associated with symptomatic COVID-19 in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases are still unclear. The Euro-COVIMID study aimed to determine the serological and clinical prevalence of COVID-19 among patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, as well as factors associated with COVID-19 occurrence and the impact of the pandemic in its management.

Apremilast in Refractory Behçet's Syndrome: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Objective: Mucocutaneous and joint disorders are the most common manifestations in Behçet's syndrome (BS) and are frequently clustered in the so-called minor forms of BS. There remains a need for safe and effective treatment for joint lesions in BS. We report the long-term safety and effectiveness of apremilast in refractory joint and mucocutaneous manifestations of BS.

Medium- and Large-Vessel Vasculitis.

Systemic vasculitides are multisystem blood vessel disorders, which are defined by the size of the vessel predominantly affected, namely small, medium, or large vessels. The term "large vessel" relates to the aorta and its major branches; "medium vessel" refers to the main visceral arteries and veins and their initial branches. The most common causes of large-vessel vasculitis are giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis, and those of medium-vessel arteritis are polyarteritis nodosa and Kawasaki disease.

Rituximab plus belimumab in non-infectious refractory cryoglobulinemia vasculitis: A pilot study.

Objective: To report the efficacy of rituximab plus belimumab in patients with refractory cryoglobulinemia vasculitis (CV).

Methods: Belimumab was administered intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/kg on days 0, 14, 28 and then every month in association with rituximab in 4 patients with refractory CV. Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment modalities and outcomes were recorded.

Performance of serum apolipoprotein-A1 as a sentinel of Covid-19.

Background: Since 1920, a decrease in serum cholesterol has been identified as a marker of severe pneumonia. We have assessed the performance of serum apolipoprotein-A1, the main transporter of HDL-cholesterol, to identify the early spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the general population and its diagnostic performance for the Covid-19.

Methods: We compared the daily mean serum apolipoprotein-A1 during the first 34 weeks of 2020 in a population that is routinely followed for a risk of liver fibrosis risk in the USA (212,297 serum) and in France (20,652 serum) in relation to a local increase in confirmed cases, and in comparison to the same period in 2019 (266,976 and 28,452 serum, respectively).

Relationship between change in physical activity and in clinical status in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in clinical status on daily life physical activity (PA) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM).

Methods: Patients with dermatomyositis (DM), immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) or overlap myositis (OM) who presented either a new-onset or relapsing IIM, stable disease on maintenance therapy or were undergoing immunosuppressant tapering were included. Patients were evaluated at inclusion (V0), and at two follow-up visits (V1, 94±12 days from V0; V2, 96±17 days from V1).