ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Uncovering specific genetic-respiratory disease endotypes for rheumatoid arthritis risk
Kronzer VL, Williamson KA, Hayashi K, Atkinson EJ, Crowson CS, Wang X, Cui J, Cerhan JR, Sletten JA, McDermott GC, Joerns EK, Vassallo R, Davis JM and Sparks JA
We aimed to identify specific genetic-respiratory disease endotypes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk.
Results from the international collaborative systematic literature review informing the 2023 EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis
Lescoat A, Bertoldo E, Čolić J, Santiago T, Suliman YA, Emmel J, Conaghan PG, Allanore Y and Del Galdo F
The EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc) were updated in 2017, informed by a systematic literature review (SLR) completed in 2014.
Psoriatic arthritis phenotype clusters and their association with treatment response: a real-world longitudinal cohort study from the psoriatic arthritis research consortium
Karmacharya P, Crofford LJ, Byrne DW, Stephens-Shields A, Husni ME, Scher JU, Craig E, Fitzsimmons R, Reddy SM, Magrey MN, Walsh JA and Ogdie A
To identify phenotype clusters and their trajectories in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and examine the association of the clusters with treatment response in a real-world setting.
Shared lung and joint T cell repertoire in early rheumatoid arthritis driven by cigarette smoking
Venken K, Jarlborg M, Stevenaert F, Malfait TLA, Vlieghe C, Abraham Y, Manuello T, Decruy T, Vanhee S, Wils H, Peeters PJ, Carron P, Van den Bosch F, Van Tendeloo V, Lambrecht BN, Wittoek R, Jacques P and Elewaut D
Smoking has been associated with an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in individuals carrying shared epitope (SE) HLA-DRB1 alleles. Yet, little is known about the regional and systemic T cell dynamics of smoking and a potential link to T cell infiltration in inflamed synovia. In this study, we, therefore, sought to study T cell features in lung and inflamed joints in smoking versus non-smoking patients.
Dynamics of the gut microbiome in individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional and longitudinal observational study
Rooney CM, Jeffery IB, Mankia K, Wilcox MH and Emery P
This work aimed to resolve the conflicting reports on Prevotellaceae abundance in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to observe structural, functional and temporal changes in the gut microbiome in RA progressors versus non-progressors.
Cure as a treatment target in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis-achievable aim or mission impossible? FOREUM stimulates new industry-academia collaboration
Baker KF, Spierings J, Brom M, Radstake T, Smith E, Weiss R, Burmester GR and
Influence of study characteristics on harm estimates from randomised controlled trials in patients with inflammatory arthritis receiving biological or synthetic antirheumatic drugs: a meta-epidemiological study
Berg JI, Nielsen SM, Malm E, Ioannidis JPA, Furst DE, Smolen JS, Taylor PC, Kristensen LE, Tarp S, Ellingsen T and Christensen R
To examine the association between study characteristics and the harms reported in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA).
EULAR points to consider for patient education in physical activity and self-management of pain during transitional care
Courel-Ibáñez J, Prieto-Moreno R, Briones-Vozmediano E, Ariza-Vega P, Angevare S, Anton J, Bini I, Clemente D, Correia M, Costello W, De Cock D, Domján A, Leon L, Marques A, Minden K, Mourão AF, Najm A, Ozen S, Pimentel G, Saleem Z, Vetrovsky T, Wulffraat NM, Zacarias Crovato A, Prior Y, Carmona L and Estévez-López F
A EULAR task force was convened to develop points to consider (PtC) for patient education in physical activity and self-management of pain in young people with juvenile-onset rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases during transitional care.
Evaluation and prediction of relapse risk in stable systemic lupus erythematosus patients after glucocorticoid withdrawal (PRESS): an open-label, multicentre, non-inferiority, randomised controlled study in China
Fei Y, Zhao L, Wu L, Zuo X, Li R, Cheng J, Luo H, Wu X, Sun L, Xu J, Zhu Y, Wang Y, Chen Z, Li X, Wang X, Zhang X and
To explore the relapse rate after glucocorticoid (GC) withdrawal with or without hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) maintenance in sustained clinically inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
News from EULAR
ITGA5 synovial fibroblasts orchestrate proinflammatory niche formation by remodelling the local immune microenvironment in rheumatoid arthritis
Zheng L, Gu M, Li X, Hu X, Chen C, Kang Y, Pan B, Chen W, Xian G, Wu X, Li C, Wang C, Li Z, Guan M, Zhou G, Mobasheri A, Song W, Peng S, Sheng P and Zhang Z
To investigate the phenotypic heterogeneity of tissue-resident synovial fibroblasts and their role in inflammatory response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Molecular basis for the disease-modifying effects of belimumab in systemic lupus erythematosus and molecular predictors of early response: blood transcriptome analysis implicates the innate immunity and DNA damage response pathways
Moysidou GS, Garantziotis P, Sentis G, Nikoleri D, Malissovas N, Nikoloudaki M, Stergioti EM, Polia S, Paschalidis N, Filia A, Grigoriou M, Nikolopoulos D, Kapsala N, Katechis S, Fanouriakis A, Bertsias G and Boumpas DT
Belimumab is a putative disease-modifying agent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), yet the molecular underpinnings of its effects and the ability to predict early clinical response remain unexplored. To address these, we undertook a longitudinal, in-depth blood transcriptome study.
Real-life use of the PEXIVAS reduced-dose glucocorticoid regimen in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis
Nagle S, Nguyen Y, Guerry MJ, Quemeneur T, Titeca-Beauport D, Crépin T, Mesbah R, Boudhabhay I, Pugnet G, Lebas C, Néel A, Karras A, Hachulla E, Woessner J, Pestre V, Borie R, Vinzio S, Gouin JB, Melboucy-Belkhir S, Outh R, Subran B, Gerfaud-Valentin M, Humbert S, Kerschen P, Uzunhan Y, Goulenok T, Beydon M, Costedoat-Chalumeau N, Puechal X and Terrier B
The PEXIVAS (Plasma exchange and glucocorticoids in severe antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis) trial showed that a reduced-dose glucocorticoid regimen (redGC) was non-inferior to a standard-dose regimen (standGC) with respect to death or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). However, the primary endpoint did not include disease progression or relapse, cyclophosphamide was the main induction therapy and rituximab (RTX)-treated patients tended to have a higher risk of death or ESKD with redGC. We aimed to evaluate the real-world use of redGC.
Efficacy, safety and tolerability of GSK3858279, an anti-CCL17 monoclonal antibody and analgesic, in healthy volunteers and patients with knee osteoarthritis pain: a phase I, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-mechanism and proof-of-concept study
Nijjar JS, Abbott-Banner K, Alvarez Y, Aston N, Bass D, Bentley JH, Ellis J, Ellson C, Emery EC, Feeney M, Fernando D, Inman D, Kaur R, Modis LK, Munoz Vicente S, Muya C, Nistala K, Panoilia E, Ray R, Siederer S, Smith JE, Weir L and Wisniacki N
The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy, safety and tolerability of the first-in-class, anti-CCL17 monoclonal antibody, GSK3858279, in treating knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain.
Correction: Ensuring tight control in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with targeted therapies during the COVID-19 pandemic using a telehealth strategy
Microbiome research in autoimmune and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: lessons, advances and unmet needs
Scher JU, Nayak R and Clemente JC
The increasing prevalence of autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases (AIMDs) underscores the need to understand environmental factors that contribute to their pathogenesis, with the microbiome emerging as a key player. Despite significant advancements in understanding how the microbiome influences physiological and inflammatory responses, translating these findings into clinical practice remains challenging. This viewpoint reviews the progress and obstacles in microbiome research related to AIMDs, examining molecular techniques that enhance our understanding of microbial contributions to disease. We discuss significant discoveries linking specific taxa and metabolites to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and spondyloarthritis, highlighting the role of gut dysbiosis and host-microbiome interactions. Furthermore, we explore the potential of microbiome-based therapeutics, including faecal microbiota transplantation and pharmacomicrobiomics, while addressing the challenges of identifying robust microbial targets. We advocate for integrative, transdisease studies and emphasise the need for diverse cohort research to generalise findings across populations. Understanding the microbiome's role in AIMDs will pave the way for personalised medicine and innovative therapeutic strategies.
Stratification according to autoantibody status in systemic sclerosis reveals distinct molecular signatures
Rouvière B, Le Dantec C, Bettacchioli E, Beretta L, Foulquier N, Cao C, Jamin C, Pers JO, Kerick M, Martin J, , , Alarcón-Riquelme ME, de Moreuil C, Cornec D and Hillion S
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous disease, complicating its management. Its complexity and the insufficiency of clinical manifestations alone to delineate homogeneous patient groups further challenge this task. However, autoantibodies could serve as relevant markers for the pathophysiological mechanisms driving the disease. Identifying specific immunological mechanisms based on patients' serological statuses might facilitate a deeper understanding of the diversity of the disease.
Imaging mass cytometry-based characterisation of fibroblast subsets and their cellular niches in systemic sclerosis
Rius Rigau A, Liang M, Devakumar V, Neelagar R, Matei AE, Györfi AH, Bergmann C, Filla T, Fedorchenko V, Schett G, Distler JHW and Li YN
Transcriptomic data demonstrated that fibroblasts are heterogeneous with functionally diverse subpopulations. Although fibroblasts are key effector cells of fibrotic diseases such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), they have not yet been characterised spatially at the cellular level. Here, we aimed to investigate fibroblast subpopulations using imaging mass cytometry (IMC) as a proteomic-based, spatially resolved omics approach.
Comparison of two strategies of glucocorticoid withdrawal in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in low disease activity (STAR): a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial
Ruyssen-Witrand A, Brusq C, Masson M, Bongard V, Salliot C, Poiroux L, Nguyen M, Roux CH, Richez C, Saraux A, Vergne-Salle P, Morel J, Flipo RM, Piperno M, Gottenberg JE, Marotte H, Soubrier M, Gossec L, Dieudé P, Lassoued S, Zabraniecki L, Couture G, Boyer JF, Jamard B, Degboe Y and Constantin A
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).
Evidence that autoantibody production may be driven by acute Epstein-Barr virus infection in Sjögren's disease
Hudson E, Yang L, Chu EK, Zhuang H, Arja RD, Betancourt BY, Bhattacharyya I, Han S, Cha S, Chan EKL, Sebastian M, Stalvey C, Fritzler MJ and Reeves WH
Sjögren's disease (SD) is an autoimmune disease affecting the exocrine glands that is associated with autoantibodies against Ro60/SS-A, anti-Ro52/TRIM21, La/SS-B and others. We examined the role of acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the pathogenesis of these autoantibodies in a previously healthy patient (patient 1) with primary EBV infection who developed SD with anti-Ro/La and anti-Smith/U1 ribonucleoprotein (Sm/U1RNP) autoantibodies and had lymphoplasmacytic foci on labial salivary gland biopsy.
Vascular occlusion for optimising the functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial
Jacobs E, Stroobant L, Victor J, Elewaut D, Tampere T, Wallaert S, Witvrouw E, Schuermans J and Wezenbeek E
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of global disability with conventional exercise yielding only modest improvements. Here we aimed to investigate the benefits of integrating blood flow restriction (BFR) into traditional exercise programmes to enhance treatment outcomes.