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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 Jul 29;117(28):16465-16474. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Metaorganism Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892;

Under steady-state conditions, the immune system is poised to sense and respond to the microbiota. As such, immunity to the microbiota, including T cell responses, is expected to precede any inflammatory trigger. How this pool of preformed microbiota-specific T cells contributes to tissue pathologies remains unclear. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 50 Esperou Street, 175-61 P. Faliro, Athens, Greece.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients are at a higher risk of systemic inflammatory sequelae, leading to microalbuminuria, cardiovascular (CVD) and neuropsychiatric (NPD) disease. Our aim is to present the existing literature about the relationship between CVD, kidney and NPD in PsA. The literature evaluation of PsA revealed that chronic T-cell activation and increased levels of circulating immune complexes can cause glomerular injury leading to microalbuminuria, which predicts CVD and all-cause mortality in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2020 5;7:204. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, "Carlo Urbani" Hospital, Jesi, Ancona, Italy.

To determine the prevalence of grey scale and power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US) features of A1 pulley inflammation in a cohort of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients compared with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Sixty patients (30 with PsA and 30 with RA) were consecutively enrolled. The main clinimetric indexes were recorded, and US assessment of A1 pulleys from second to fifth fingers bilaterally was carried out. Read More

RMD Open 2020 02 11;6(1). Epub 2020 Feb 11.

Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark.

Objective: Assessment of enthesitis, a key feature in spondyloarthritis (SpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), using objective and sensitive methods is pivotal in clinical trials. MRI allows detection of both soft tissue and intra-osseous changes of enthesitis. This article presents an atlas for the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Heel Enthesitis Magnetic Resonance ImagingMRI Scoring System (HEMRIS). Read More

Curr Rheumatol Rep 2020 Jun 19;22(8):39. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 50 Esperou Street, 175-61 P.Faliro, Athens, Greece.

Purpose Of Review: To present the interaction between brain/heart and emphasize the role of combined brain/heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SNA).

Recent Findings: Both traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and intrinsic RA/SNA features contribute to the increased CVD-related morbidity/mortality. CVD in RA usually occurs a decade earlier than age- and sex-matched controls, and RA patients are twice more likely to develop myocardial infarction irrespective of age, history of prior CVD, and traditional CVD risk factors. Read More

Adv Rheumatol 2020 Jun 17;60(1):33. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Pediatric Dermatology Division of the Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Background: The severity of nail disease, the presence of arthralgia and fatigue are predictors of development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis (Pso). In children, little is known about the musculoskeletal (MSK) impairment in patients with Pso and its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Objectives: To determine the frequencies of pain and MSK inflammation (i. Read More

J Clin Rheumatol 2020 Jun 12. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

From the Departments of Pediatric Rheumatology.

Background/objectives: Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is an inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks and remissions due to sterile bone inflammation. The CNO may be accompanied by various inflammatory diseases. The aims of our study were to determine the clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of children with CNO, and to investigate the possible effect of concomitant diseases on the course of CNO. Read More

J Rheumatol 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

From the Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center, affiliated to the Sacker School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Department of Rheumatology, Skaraborg Hospital, Skövde, Sweden; Department of Radiology, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, Herlev, Denmark. Corresponding author: Anna Poulsen, Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Nordre Ringvej 57, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark, telephone +4528738113, email:

Objective: Whole-body MRI (WBMRI) is promising for monitoring patients' global disease activity in inflammatory joint diseases. The validation of WBMRI is limited; no studies have evaluated the test-retest agreement (interscan agreement) and only few have assessed the intra- and interreader agreement. Therefore we examined the interscan agreement of WBMRI in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls (HC); and secondly evaluated the intraand interreader agreement and agreement with conventional hand MRI and determined the distribution of lesions. Read More

J Rheumatol Suppl 2020 Jun;96:53-57

From the Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford; UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Leeds; Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; University of Toronto and Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Conway Institute for Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Bradford Hospitals UK NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK; Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, Singapore; Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Rheumatology Research, Swedish Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA; University of Copenhagen and National Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark; Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Dublin, Ireland; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and German Rheumatism Research Centre, Berlin, Germany; Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA; University of Toronto, Krembil Research Institute, Psoriatic Arthritis Program, University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

At the 2019 annual meeting of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), members received updates on several ongoing efforts. Among them were updates on research, including the trainee symposium, pilot research grants, and the Collaborative Research Network; GRAPPA's patient research partners; education, including the slide collection; treatment recommendations; and additional work related to advancing the understanding of disease aspects, including the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT)-GRAPPA outcome measure, axial involvement, and ultrasound enthesitis projects; as well as the early psoriatic disease systematic literature review and magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2020 05 29;22(1):124. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department and Hiller Research Unit for Rheumatology, UKD, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Background: Even though cartilage loss is a known feature of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), little is known about its role in the pathogenesis of PsA. Using delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) as a non-invasive marker of the tissue's proteoglycan content, such early (i.e. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2020 7;7:141. Epub 2020 May 7.

UOC e Sezione di Reumatologia - Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

Differential diagnosis in early arthritis is challenging, especially early after symptom onset. Several studies applied musculoskeletal ultrasound in this setting, however, its role in helping diagnosis has yet to be clearly defined. The purpose of this work is to systematically assess the diagnostic applications of ultrasonography in early arthritis in order to summarize the available evidence and highlight possible gaps in knowledge. Read More

Br J Clin Pharmacol 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

GRC 08, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et Santé Publique, AP-HP, Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.

Aim: To assess persistence with subcutaneous (SC) tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors as well as the impact of persistence on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in patients with chronic inflammatory joint diseases.

Methods: In this cohort study using population-based French claims data (from 2011 to 2014), we measured persistence with SC TNF inhibitors within 12 months (M0-12) following treatment initiation in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced users (divided into three cohorts: rheumatoid arthritis [RA], ankylosing spondylitis [AS] and psoriatic arthritis [PsA]). Persistent patients were propensity score matched to nonpersistent patients at M12. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2020 06;79(6):700-712

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Wien, Austria.

Objective: To update the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: According to the EULAR standardised operating procedures, a systematic literature review was followed by a consensus meeting to develop this update involving 28 international taskforce members in May 2019. Levels of evidence and strengths of recommendations were determined. Read More

Acta Radiol Open 2020 Apr 27;9(4):2058460120920797. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Centre for Rheumatology Research, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis mutilans (PAM) is the most severe phenotype of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Purpose: To describe the radiological features in PAM and explore whether existing scoring systems for radiological damage in psoriatic arthritis are applicable for PAM.

Material And Methods: Radiographs were scored according to the modified Sharp-van der Heijde (mSvdH) and the Psoriatic Arthritis Ratingen Score (PARS) systems for PsA. Read More

Curr Rheumatol Rep 2020 May 16;22(6):24. Epub 2020 May 16.

Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.

Purpose Of Review: To describe the recent advances in the field towards the prevention and early recognition of Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA).

Recent Findings: Defining the preclinical phase of PsA remains challenging since up to 50% of subjects with psoriasis have subclinical imaging enthesopathy, but many of these do not progress to PsA. Nevertheless, there is evidence that subjects with subclinical imaging enthesopathy are at increased risk of developing PsA. Read More

Curr Opin Rheumatol 2020 Jul;32(4):380-386

Division of Rheumatology, Women's College Hospital.

Purpose Of Review: Enthesitis is a hallmark feature of the spondyloarthropathies (SpA). This review provides an overview of recent insights on diagnosis and management of enthesitis.

Recent Findings: Recent studies support the use of imaging for diagnosis because of its higher sensitivity and specificity compared with clinical examination. Read More

Curr Vasc Pharmacol 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

Third Department of Cardiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Ippokrateio Hospital, Vas. Sofias 114, Athens 115 27. Greece.

In the current Thematic Issue of Current Vascular Pharmacology (CVP), entitled "Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases and Cardiology", presented in two parts, Part 1 and Part 2, review articles are included from specialists in cardiology, rheumatology, immunology and related fields. These reviews discuss the cardiovascular complications of the main systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). For example, the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms, the role of cardiovascular imaging and recommendations for prevention and management. Read More

RMD Open 2020 05;6(1)

Rheumatology, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.

Peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) refers to a number of seemingly different spondyloarthritis subsets in which psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is the most common, and symptoms of arthritis, enthesitis or dactylitis predominate the clinical presentation. Although formal classification criteria for pSpA have been introduced in 2011, only a minority of epidemiological and clinical studies addressed this clinical entity as a separate disease. Moreover, research on outcome measures and treatment modalities in pSpA has been mainly focused on PsA. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2020 06 7;79(6):778-786. Epub 2020 May 7.

Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.

Objective: To perform an update of a review of the efficacy and safety of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: This is a systematic literature research of 2015-2018 publications on all DMARDs in patients with PsA, searching Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Efficacy was assessed in randomised controlled trials. Read More

Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2020 May;46(2):241-257

Division of Pediatric Dermatology and Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H8L1, Canada.

This article provides an overview of juvenile spondyloarthritis and important differences in the classification criteria, clinical presentation, outcomes, and pathology in juvenile versus adult-onset disease. Key differences in classification criteria between children and adults with spondyloarthritis are important to understand, as they can make transition from pediatric to adult care challenging. MRI and ultrasonography are increasingly relied on for the assessment of adult-onset disease activity and change over time in the pediatric population. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020 Apr 2;21(1):203. Epub 2020 Apr 2.

FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Internal Medicine 3, and Universitätsklinikum, Erlangen, Germany.

Background: Psoriasis (Pso), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are inflammatory diseases. PsA and RA are characterized by bone and muscle loss. In RA, bone loss has been extensively characterized, but muscle loss has, to the best of our knowledge, not been quantified to date. Read More

Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2020 Mar 20. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Internal Medicine Unit, 98122, Italy.

Chronic inflammation represents the cornerstone of the raised cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD). Standardized mortality ratios are increased in these patients compared to the general population, which can be explained by premature mortality associated with early atherosclerotic events. Thus, IRD patients need appropriate CV risk management in view of this CV disease (CVD) burden. Read More

Clin Immunol 2020 May 18;214:108390. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Psoriatic Disease Program, Centre for Prognosis Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Electronic address:

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic heterogeneous inflammatory musculoskeletal disease. The non-specific and often subtle manifestations make early diagnosis and subsequent treatment challenging. In the absence of diagnostic criteria and biomarkers, the diagnosis is often delayed leading to poor long-term outcomes. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2020 04;79(4):490-498

Rheumatology Research Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of golimumab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX monotherapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) dactylitis.

Methods: Multicentre, investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-design phase 3b trial in 11 Portuguese rheumatology centres. Patients with PsA along with active dactylitis and naive to MTX and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were randomly assigned to golimumab or placebo, both in combination with MTX. Read More

Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019 Mar 28;30(1):51-53. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece.

Spondyloarthritides (SpA) are a group of interrelated rheumatic disorders that includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), arthritis related to inflammatory bowel disease and reactive arthritis. Since the latest classification criteria published from the ASAS (Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society), patients with these diagnoses can be classified either as having axial or peripheral SpA. In this study, these new criteria of ASAS will be applied to all patients with a clinical diagnosis of SpA that are followed in the Rheumatology Clinic of University Hospital of Heraklion. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020 Mar 11. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Department of Academic Rheumatology, Liverpool University Hospitals, Liverpool, UK.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of extra-articular manifestations-enthesitis, dactylitis, nail disease, uveitis and IBD-in PsA, and their impact on longitudinal disease outcomes.

Methods: We searched Medline, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science using a predefined protocol in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies using imaging to define extra-articular manifestations (EAMs) were excluded. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020 Mar;59(Supplement_1):i21-i28

Rheumatology Division, Swedish Medical Center/Providence St. Joseph Health, Seattle, WA, USA.

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. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020 Mar;59(Supplement_1):i15-i20

Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA.

Enthesitis is a hallmark finding in PsA and may predate the onset of synovitis. Clinical examination of enthesitis provides no structural information, relies on eliciting tenderness at entheseal sites and may not be sensitive or specific. Soft tissue imaging techniques such as musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI can depict ultrastructural and inflammatory changes. Read More

J Clin Med 2020 Mar 6;9(3). Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.

Background: Ocular involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) patients is mainly associated with uveitis but there remains a paucity of data on dry eye and retinal abnormalities. We aimed to analyze dry eye and subclinical retinal abnormalities in a cohort of PsA patients sine-psoriasis (PsO).

Methods: PsA patients sine-PsO were enrolled. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Mar;99(10):e18954

Department of Dermatology, China Medical University Hospital.

Rationale: In patients receiving biological therapies, serious infections are a major concern. Infections associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody therapy include tuberculosis, viral, fungal, and bacterial infections. Likewise, severe infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, lung, skin and soft tissue, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, joint, and bone have also been reported previously. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2020 03 2;22(1):40. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Policlinic and Hiller Research Unit for Rheumatology, UKD, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Background: To evaluate the value of 3 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of flexor tendon pulleys for the differentiation of psoriatic (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), using a novel 16-channel high-resolution hand coil.

Methods: Seventeen patients with active PsA, 20 patients with active RA, and 16 healthy controls (HC) underwent high-resolution 3 T MRI using the dedicated 16-channel hand coil. Images were analyzed by three independent readers for the degree of inflammatory changes, thickness of flexor tendon pulleys, and comparison to the outcome measures for RA clinical trials (OMERACT) PsA MRI score (PsAMRIS) and to its sub-scores. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020 Feb 21;21(1):116. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

Department of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Maximiliansplatz 3, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.

Background: Seven T ultra-high field MRI systems have recently been approved for clinical use by the U.S. and European regulatory agencies. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2020 Jan 21. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

University of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation; Scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute, ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Objective: Information about the pre-diagnosis period in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is limited. We compared health care utilization related to musculoskeletal issues during a 5-year period prior to the diagnosis of PsA versus subjects with no prior inflammatory arthritis within a primary care setting.

Methods: We conducted a population-based, matched cohort study using electronic medical records and administrative data in Ontario, Canada. Read More

Quant Imaging Med Surg 2020 Jan;10(1):86-95

Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

Background: The aim of this study was to find out the most commonly involved sites and the most important ultrasonic features in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: In total, 120 PsA patients and 320 psoriasis vulgaris (non-PsA) patients were assessed by grayscale and power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US). Joints, tendons, enthesis, and bursa changes were observed. Read More

Osteoporos Int 2020 May 14;31(5):941-950. Epub 2020 Jan 14.

Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Human cadaveric study has indicated that the metacarpal head (MCH) is intracapsular in location. We hypothesized that exposure to the intra-articular inflammatory milieu in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) will lead to bone loss in the MCH.

Introduction: To compare the bone structure and microstructure in the MCH between patients with PsA and healthy controls by high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT), and to ascertain factors associated with bone loss in PsA patients. Read More

Z Rheumatol 2020 Feb;79(1):40-52

Poliklinik, Funktionsbereich und Hiller Forschungszentrum für Rheumatologie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a heterogeneous multifactorial disease with musculoskeletal involvement, which can be manifested as monoarthritis, oligoarthritis or polyarthritis and in some patients can also affect the axial skeleton. The most frequent indications of inflammation are bone marrow edema and enthesitis. The early and differential diagnosis of PsA is a clinical challenge, particularly as a differential diagnosis from other inflammatory or degenerative diseases of joints. Read More

J Ultrason 2019 Nov 30;19(78):212-221. Epub 2019 Sep 30.

University Surgical Clinic "St. Naum Ohridski" Skopje, University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius", Skopje, Macedonia.

High-resolution ultrasonography has many advantages in the imaging of the musculoskeletal system, when compared to other imaging methods, particularly in superficial, easily accessible parts of the body. It is a perfect diagnostic tool for visualizing the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, including the bursae. Inflammation of bursae is frequent, and it can mimic other diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 12 4;21(1):265. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Background: Although the short-term effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibition on the structural changes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) have been reported, no studies have investigated the long-term structural changes in PsA patients receiving routine care. We reported longitudinal changes of erosions and enthesiophytes using HR-pQCT and their relationship with treatments in PsA patients over a 5-year period.

Methods: HR-pQCT examination at the second and third metacarpal heads (MCH2 and MCH3) was performed in 60 PsA patients at baseline and after 5 years. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2019 Nov-Dec;37(6):889-898. Epub 2019 Nov 28.

Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, Germany.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is the umbrella term for a broad spectrum of inflammatory rheumatic diseases with typical but also rather different clinical manifestations, limited laboratory abnormalities and characteristic imaging features. For classification purposes, a so-called non-radiographic form (nr-axSpA) is differentiated from a radiographic one (r-axSpA) which is almost identical to the classical ankylosing spondylitis (AS) that is genetically strongly associated with the major histocompatibility complex class 1 antigen HLA-B27. In axSpA, the axial skeleton is affected by both inflammation and new bone formation, and joints might be affected. Read More

Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2020 Jan 10;16(1):23-36. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Division and Epidemiology, Genetics and Atherosclerosis Research Group on Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, Rheumatology Division, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain.

: Increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality is observed in inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. However, the management of CV disease in these conditions is far from being well established.: This review summarizes the main epidemiologic, pathophysiological, and clinical risk factors of CV disease associated with IJDs. Read More

Med Ultrason 2019 Nov;21(4):414-421

Academic Rheumatology Centre, Università degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy.

Aim: To define and score finger soft tissue oedema in psoriatic dactylitis by ultrasound.

Material And Methods: A systematic literature review (SLR) on ultrasound-detected finger soft tissue oedema was performed. Subsequently, based on the SLR, a Delphi survey was developed and circulated among a group of 13 expert sonographers, in order to obtain agreement on detection, definition and scoring of finger oedema by B-mode and power Doppler ultrasound. Read More

J Clin Rheumatol 2019 Dec;25(8):e133

From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 2019 Nov;109(6):467-470

Psoriatic arthritis is an uncommon, chronic inflammatory disease. Laboratory testing for psoriatic arthritis, although necessary for a complete work-up, is generally nondiagnostic for most patients. We present a case of a 26-year-old woman with unilateral plantar forefoot pain and swelling that was diagnosed as psoriatic arthritis. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020 May;59(5):1031-1040

Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the use of the enthesis ultrasound Madrid Sonographic Entesis Index (MASEI) from its publication.

Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register databases was performed. The search strategy was constructed to identify publications containing terms related to enthesis and ultrasound. Read More

RMD Open 2019 23;5(2):e001067. Epub 2019 Oct 23.

Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University Hospital 'Santa Maria della Misericordia', Udine, Italy.

Objective: Non-specific musculoskeletal pain is common in subjects destined to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We evaluated psoriatic patients with arthralgia (PsOAr) compared with psoriasis alone (PsO) and healthy controls (HCs) using ultrasonography (US) to investigate the anatomical basis for joint symptoms in PsOAr and the link between these imaging findings and subsequent PsA transition.

Methods: A cross-sectional prevalence analysis of clinical and US abnormalities (including inflammatory and structural lesions) in PsOAr (n=61), PsO (n=57) and HCs (n=57) was performed, with subsequent prospective follow-up for PsA development. Read More

J Rheumatol 2020 Jul 1;47(7):973-982. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

From the Intermountain Healthcare Medical Group, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), California, USA; Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) affects up to 30% of patients with psoriasis and may include musculoskeletal manifestations such as enthesitis. Enthesitis is associated with joint damage, and early detection and treatment are essential to management of the disease. Traditionally assessed by clinical examination and conventional radiography, entheseal inflammation can now be more accurately assessed earlier in the disease using techniques such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and molecular imaging. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Nov 1. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

From the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds; Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford; Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Bradford; York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Scarborough General Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, Scarborough, UK. The TICOPA study was supported by Arthritis Research UK (grant no 18825) and Pfizer. This study presents independent research supported by the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, or the UK Department of Health and Social Care. P.S. Helliwell, MA, PhD, DM, FRCP, Professor of Clinical Rheumatology, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; L.C. Coates, MBChB, MRCP, NIHR Clinician Scientist, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford; N.S. Chew, MRCP, FRCR, Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist, Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust; G. Lettieri, MD, Honorary Consultant Radiologist, Clinical Research Fellow, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust; A.R. Moverley, MBBS, BSc, FRCP, Consultant Rheumatologist, York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Scarborough General Hospital, Department of Rheumatology; J.E. Freeston, MA, MD, MRCP, Consultant Rheumatologist and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; J. Nam, MBBCh FCP, PhD, Consultant in Rheumatology and Honorary Lecturer, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; R. Waxman, MPH, Research Coordinator, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; P. Emery, MA, MD, FRCP, FMedSci, Arthritis Research UK Professor of Rheumatology, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; P.G. Conaghan, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, FRACP, Professor of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Address correspondence to Dr. P.S. Helliwell, LIRMM, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4SA, UK. E-mail: Accepted for publication October 18, 2019.

Objective: The Tight Control of inflammation in Psoriatic arthritis (TICOPA; isrctn.com: ISRCTN30147736) trial compared standard care (StdC) and tight control (TC) in early psoriatic arthritis (PsA), demonstrating better outcomes for TC. This substudy evaluated the performance metrics of modern imaging outcomes and compared them to the clinical data. Read More

Curr Health Sci J 2019 Apr-Jun;45(2):198-203. Epub 2019 Jun 30.

Department of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania.

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis, usually involving peripheral joints, associated with cutaneous psoriasis, in the absence of rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies.

Material And Methods: The study included 28 patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis according to CASPAR criteria, presenting pain or swelling of the small joints of the hands and wrists, hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Craiova during 2016-2018.

Results: In the 28 patients, a total of 840 joints were examined clinically and by ultrasound. Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2019 Oct;29(5):565-566

Universidade Federal de Goiás, Emilio Povoa N. 51, 74.845-250 Goiania, Brazil.

RMD Open 2019 18;5(2):e000990. Epub 2019 Aug 18.

Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ustekinumab by prior treatment exposure and disease duration in tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNF)-naïve patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the PSUMMIT 1 and PSUMMIT 2 studies.

Methods: In the phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled PSUMMIT 1 and PSUMMIT 2 studies, adults with active PsA for ≥6 months despite conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (PSUMMIT 1) or csDMARDs, NSAIDs and/or anti-TNF agents (PSUMMIT 2) were enrolled. Patients were randomised to subcutaneous injections of placebo, ustekinumab 45 mg or ustekinumab 90 mg at weeks 0 and 4 and every 12 weeks. Read More