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- Bengtsson, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Cardiac conduction disturbances in patients with ankylosing spondylitis : results from a 5-year follow-up cohort study
- 2019
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In: RMD Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2056-5933. ; 5:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To describe electrocardiographic (ECG) development in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and identify associations between baseline characteristics and cardiac conduction disturbances (CCD) at 5-year follow-up.Methods: In a longitudinal cohort study, 172 patients (54% men, mean age (SD) of 50 (13) years at baseline) with AS underwent ECG, physical examination, questionnaires and laboratory testing at baseline and at 5-year follow-up. Descriptive statistics and univariate and age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression analyses were used. CCD included both atrioventricular and intraventricular blocks.Results: Twenty-three of the 172 patients (13.4%) had a CCD at follow-up. Eight patients had developed a new CCD and eight had normalised their ECG. In the age- and sex-adjusted analyses, CCD at baseline (OR 24.8, 95% CI 7.3 to 84.5), male sex (OR 6.4, 95% CI 2.0 to 20.8), history of anterior uveitis (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.3 to 14.5), higher ASDAS-CRP (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.0), greater waist circumference (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.6, per 5 cm), and medication with antiplatelets (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 31.8) and beta-blockers (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 11.5) were associated with a CCD at follow-up. Higher age and longer symptom duration were highly correlated and were both associated with a CCD at follow-up.Conclusions: The presence of CCD in AS is in part dynamic and associated with both AS and non-AS characteristics. Our results suggest that patients especially prone to present with CCDs are older men with a previous CCD, longer symptom duration, higher AS disease activity, a history of anterior uveitis and medication reflecting cardiovascular disease.
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| 3. |
- Deminger, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Hepatocyte growth factor is a predictor of development of new syndesmophytes in men with ankylosing spondylitis. A five year prospective study
- 2019
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In: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 78, s. 1240-1240
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have an increased risk of spinal new bone formation characterized by the development of syndesmophytes. Knowledge of predictors for development of syndesmophytes is limited. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has regulatory effects on a variety of cells in many different organs. HGF signaling can affect both osteoclast and osteoblast lineages and has been shown to promote osteogenesis. Cross-sectional association between increased HGF and increased modified Stoke Ankylosing Spine Score (mSASSS) has previously been shown [1], whereas knowledge of HGF as a predictor for new bone formation is lacking.Objectives: To study serum HGF as a predictor for development of new syndesmophytes in patients with AS followed for five years.Methods: Serum levels of HGF was analyzed using ELISA in patients with AS (modified NY-criteria) and in healthy controls (HC) at baseline. Spinal lateral radiographs were obtained at baseline and at the 5-year follow-up and assessed for development of new syndesmophytes using mSASSS. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess predictors for development of ≥ 1 new syndesmophyte.Results: Serum HGF and radiographs at baseline and follow-up were available for 163 patients, 88 men and 75 women, baseline mean age 50±12 years. AS patients had higher serum HGF than HC (n=80), p=0.050. In the AS group, 36 patients (22%) developed ≥ 1 syndesmophyte, 27 men and 9 women. In the total AS group, neither did baseline serum HGF differ between those who developed ≥ 1 new syndesmophyte and those who did not progress, nor did it predict development of ≥ 1 new syndesmophyte in the univariate analysis, p=0.25. Interestingly, men who developed ≥1 new syndesmophyte had higher serum HGF than the non-progressors (1706±454 vs 1420±338 pg/mL, p=0.001) and increased serum HGF at baseline predicted development of ≥ 1 syndesmophyte (OR per 1 SD HGF 2.39, 95% CI 1.31 to 4.36) in the univariate analysis. Serum HGF did not predict new syndesmophytes in women, p=0.13. Multivariable analysis for men including age, smoking, baseline syndesmophyte and serum HGF showed high HGF (OR per 1SD 1.90, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.59) and ≥1 baseline syndesmophyte (OR 3.48, 95% CI 1.09 to 11.07) to independently predict development of ≥ 1 new syndesmophyte. If baseline CRP was included in the multivariable model, serum HGF and baseline syndesmophytes remained the significant predictors.Conclusion: High baseline serum HGF was shown to independently predict the development of at least one new syndesmophyte over five years in men with AS.
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| 4. |
- Gron, KL, et al.
(author)
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Risk of serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated in routine care with abatacept, rituximab and tocilizumab in Denmark and Sweden
- 2019
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In: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 78:3, s. 320-327
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To estimate (1) crude and age-and gender-adjusted incidence rates (IRs) of serious infections (SI) and (2) relative risks (RR) of SI in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating treatment with abatacept, rituximab or tocilizumab in routine care.MethodsThis is an observational cohort study conducted in parallel in Denmark and Sweden including patients with RA in Denmark (DANBIO) and Sweden (Anti-Rheumatic Treatment in Sweden Register/Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register) who started abatacept/rituximab/tocilizumab in 2010–2015. Patients could contribute to more than one treatment course. Incident SI (hospitalisations listing infection) and potential confounders were identified through linkage to national registries. Age- and gender-adjusted IRs of SI per 100 person years and additionally adjusted RRs of SI during 0–12 and 0–24 months since start of treatment were assessed (Poisson regression). Country-specific RRs were pooled using inverse variance weighting.ResultsWe identified 8987 treatment courses (abatacept: 2725; rituximab: 3363; tocilizumab: 2899). At treatment start, rituximab-treated patients were older, had longer disease duration and more previous malignancies; tocilizumab-treated patients had higher C reactive protein. During 0–12 and 0–24 months of follow-up, 456 and 639 SI events were identified, respectively. The following were the age- and gender-adjusted 12-month IRs for abatacept/rituximab/tocilizumab: 7.1/8.1/6.1 for Denmark and 6.0/6.4/4.7 for Sweden. The 24-month IRs were 6.1/7.5/5.2 for Denmark and 5.6/5.8/4.3 for Sweden. Adjusted 12-month RRs for tocilizumab versus rituximab were 0.82 (0.50 to 1.36) for Denmark and 0.76 (0.57 to 1.02) for Sweden, pooled 0.78 (0.61 to 1.01); for abatacept versus rituximab 0.94 (0.55 to 1.60) for Denmark and 0.86 (0.66 to 1.13) for Sweden, pooled 0.88 (0.69 to 1.12); and for abatacept versus tocilizumab 1.15 (0.69 to 1.90) for Denmark and 1.14 (0.83 to 1.55) for Sweden, pooled 1.13 (0.91 to 1.42). The adjusted RRs for 0–24 months were similar.ConclusionFor patients starting abatacept, rituximab or tocilizumab, differences in baseline characteristics were seen. Numerical differences in IR of SI between drugs were observed. RRs seemed to vary with drug (tocilizumab < abatacept < rituximab) but should be interpreted with caution due to few events and risk of residual confounding.
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| 5. |
- Klingberg, Eva, et al.
(author)
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Weight loss improves disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis and obesity: an interventional study
- 2019
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In: Arthritis Res Ther. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354 .- 1478-6362. ; 21:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundObesity is over-represented in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and associated with higher disease activity, poorer effect of treatment and increased cardiovascular morbidity. Studies on the effects of weight loss are however needed. This study aimed to prospectively study the effects of weight loss treatment with very low energy diet (VLED) on disease activity in patients with PsA (CASPAR criteria) and obesity (body mass index BMI 33kg/m(2)).MethodsVLED (640kcal/day) was taken during 12-16weeks, depending on pre-treatment BMI. Afterwards, an energy-restricted diet was gradually reintroduced. Weight loss treatment was given within a structured framework for support and medical follow-up.Treatment with conventional synthetic and/or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs was held constant from 3months before, until 6months after baseline.Patients were assessed with BMI, 66/68 joints count, Leeds enthesitis index, psoriasis body surface area (BSA), questionnaires and CRP at baseline, 3 and 6months. Primary outcome was the percentage of patients reaching minimal disease activity (MDA) and secondary outcomes were reaching Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria (PsARC) and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria.ResultsTotally 41/46 patients completed the study, 63% women, median age 54years (IQR 48-62). At baseline increased BMI was associated with higher disease activity and poorer function.The median weight loss was 18.7kg (IQR 14.6-26.5) or 18.6% (IQR 14.7-26.3) of the baseline weight. A majority of the disease activity parameters improved significantly after weight loss, including 68/66 tender/swollen joints count, CRP, BSA, Leeds enthesitis index, HAQ and patient VAS for global health, pain and fatigue. A larger weight loss resulted in more improvement in a dose-response manner. The percentage of patients with MDA increased from 29 to 54%, (p=0.002). PsARC was reached by 46.3%. The ACR 20, 50 and 70 responses were 51.2%, 34.1% and 7.3% respectively.ConclusionsShort-term weight loss treatment with VLED was associated with significant positive effects on disease activity in joints, entheses and skin in patients with PsA and obesity. The study supports the hypothesis of obesity as a promotor of disease activity in PsA.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02917434, registered on September 21, 2016retrospectively registered
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