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.

Corticosteroids with or without Conventional Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug as First-Line Therapy in Nonanterior Sarcoidosis Uveitis.

Purpose: Sarcoidosis is one of the leading causes of noninfectious uveitis. Systemic immunosuppressive treatment is required in 45% to 70% of patients for severe intermediate or posterior uveitis, and relapses are frequent (30%-60%) during follow-up. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of systemic corticosteroid therapy alone versus corticosteroid plus conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (C-DMARDs) as first-line therapy in patients with nonanterior sarcoidosis uveitis.

Comparative Effectiveness of Intravenous versus Subcutaneous Tocilizumab for Refractory Uveitis: A Retrospective Analysis.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of IV and subcutaneous tocilizumab in the treatment of noninfectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis.

Design: Multicenter, retrospective, observational study.

Participants: Adult patients with noninfectious uveitis treated with tocilizumab.

Deep Immunophenotyping and Clustering Identifies Biomarkers Predictive of Lymphoma in Primary Sjögren Disease.

Objective: Patients with primary Sjögren disease (pSD) are prone to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but relevant biomarkers are lacking. We aimed to determine new biomarkers predictive of NHL in patients with pSD.

Methods: Two hundred six patients with pSD fulfilling American College of Rheumatology/EULAR 2016 criteria were included and divided into three groups: pSD, lymphoproliferative pSD (Arl-pSD), and NHL-pSD.

SARS-CoV-2 lineage-dependent temporal phylogenetic distribution and viral load in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals.

Objectives: Mutational dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised hosts, although well documented, remain a relatively unexplored mechanism. This study aims to compare the viral replication load and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised patients and non-immunocompromised individuals (NICs) from two major hospitals in Paris from January 2021 to May 2023.

Methods: Cycle threshold (CT) values were measured by TaqPath COVID-19 RT-PCR (Thermo Fisher Scientific).

Treatment of mixed connective tissue disease: A multicenter retrospective study.

Introduction: Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare systemic disorder that belongs to connective tissue diseases (CTD). Few studies are available on MCTD treatment.

Methods: We conducted an observational study within the French MCTD cohort.

Unusual coronary artery disease presentation: take the time to bury the hatchet and the stent, a case report.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) secondary to coronary arteritis (CA) is a rare and challenging condition to diagnose, often resulting in poor clinical outcomes. Conventional coronary angiography lacks the sensitivity to identify inflammatory causes, leading to underdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Advanced imaging techniques, particularly cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA), appear to be invaluable tools to correctly identifying CA as the underlying cause of atypical CAD.

Diseases associated with anti-centromere protein F (anti-CENP-F) antibodies: Insights from a large cohort study.

Introduction: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) exhibit diverse specificities and are crucial biomarkers in autoimmune disease assessment. Among ANA, anti-centromere protein-F (CENP-F) antibodies have garnered interest due to their association with malignancies. This study aims to characterize the clinical and biological profiles of a large cohort of anti-CENP-F positive patients and evaluate associated diagnoses.

Evaluation of the effects of pre-exposure treatment with hydroxychloroquine on the risk of COVID-19 infection and on the efficacy of anti-COVID-19 vaccination during lupus or Gougerot-Sjögren's disease: Prepcov multicentre trial.

Objectives: Some patients with SLE or Gougerot-Sjögren's disease (GSD) receive long-term treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), sometimes combined with immunosuppressive therapy (IS). This study sought to assess whether long-term HCQ therapy that had been initiated long before the COVID-19 pandemic had a protective or adverse effect on COVID-19 risk, severity of infection or immunity protection.

Methods: This prospective multicentre study included 547 patients with SLE, GSD, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis or cured viral hepatitis C divided into four groups according to HCQ (+/-) and IS (+/-) intake prior to the pandemic: HCQ+IS+ (n=112), HCQ+IS- (n=121), HCQ-IS+ (n=115) and HCQ-IS- (n=199).

Histological pattern of non-infectious thoracic aortitis impacts mortality.

Background: Non-infectious aortitis encompasses various histological patterns, but their specific cardiovascular outcomes remain unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the mortality associated with non-infectious surgical thoracic aortitis.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery and had histological evidence of aortitis.

Clinical correlates of lifetime and current comorbidity patterns in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Background: Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (AIDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders with diverse etiopathogenic mechanisms. This study explores the potential utility of family history, together with present and past comorbidities, in identifying distinct etiopathogenic subgroups. This approach may facilitate more accurate diagnosis, prognosis and personalized therapy.

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.

Induction of regulatory T cells and efficacy of low-dose interleukin-2 in systemic sclerosis: interventional open-label phase 1-phase 2a study.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease, with impaired immune response, increased fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are essential to control inflammation, tissue repair and autoimmunity, have a decreased frequency and impaired function in SSc patients. Low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) can expand and activate Tregs and has, therefore, a therapeutic potential in SSc.

Laboratory tests for investigating anemia: From an expert system to artificial intelligence.

Objective: To compare the laboratory tests conducted in real-life settings for patients with anemia with the expected prescriptions derived from an optimal checkup.

Methods: A panel of experts formulated an "optimal laboratory test assessment" specific to each anemia profile. A retrospective analysis was done of the laboratory tests conducted according to the type of anemia (microcytic, normocytic or macrocytic).