Adult-onset Still's disease: an Italian multicentre retrospective observational study of manifestations and treatments in 245 patients

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory condition of unknown aetiology characterized by typical episodes of spiking fever, evanescent rash, arthralgia, leukocytosis and hyperferritinemia. Given the lack of data in Italian series, we promote a multicentric data collection to characterize the clinical phenotype of Italian patients with AOSD. Data from 245 subjects diagnosed with AOSD were collected by 15 centres between March and May 2013. The diagnosis was made following Yamaguchi’s criteria. Data regarding clinical manifestations, laboratory features, disease course and treatments were reported and compared with those presented in other published series of different et…

THU0395 Adult Onset Still's Disease: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study of 233 Italian Patients

Background Adult onset Still9s disease (AOSD) is a rare rheumatic disease with an estimated prevalence of less than 1 case per 100,000 population. The diagnosis is difficult and is often delayed due to the lack of specific diagnostic tests and the need to rule out other pathological entities. Objectives To describe the clinical characteristics of a multicenter Italian case series of patients with AOSD. Methods 14 Italian University Hospital centers participated in the study. A standardized medical record containing clinical data, laboratory investigations, disease patterns and the different therapies has been sent to all participating centers. Each center collected data retrospectively. Res…

AISF position paper on HCV in immunocompromised patients.

Abstract This report summarizes the clinical features and the indications for treating HCV infection in immunocompromised and transplanted patients in the Direct Acting Antiviral drugs era.

Efficacy and safety of rituximab with and without methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients: Results from the GISEA register

Abstract Introduction Rituximab (RTX) is a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in association with methotrexate (MTX). Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of RTX–MTX combination therapy compared with RTX alone in the treatment of RA. Methods We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study, the Italian biologic register GISEA, to investigate the efficacy and safety of rituximab. Moreover, the adverse events (AE) and the causes of discontinuation therapy were analyzed. Results We identified 338 RA patients, 162 treated with RTX and 176 with RTX–MTX. After 52 and 104 weeks of therapy the disease activity score in 28 joints and the H…

Indirect Cost of Rheumatoid Arthritis Before and After Successful Initiation of Treatment With Biological Anti-TNFα Drugs: The GISEA Study

AB0465 Etanercept therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients with moderate or severe disease activity

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is conventionally defined as moderate when the disease activity score assessed in 28 joints (DAS28) is ≥3.2, and high disease with DAS28 >5.1 Objectives Aim of this analysis was to evaluate the rate of remission and LDA (low disease activity), in RA patients starting etanercept therapy with moderate disease activity in the real world settings Methods The clinical records were retrospectively analysed from the Italian nationwide registry, called GISEA (Gruppo Italiano Studio Early Arthritis). RA patients with moderate (Mod-RA) and high (H-RA) disease activity (DAS28 >3.2) with incomplete response to conventional DMARDs and beginning a treatment with etane…

Predictive role of capillaroscopic skin ulcer risk index in systemic sclerosis: A multicentre validation study

IntroductionThe early detection of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients at high risk of developing digital ulcers could allow preventive treatment, with a reduction of morbidity and social costs. In 2009, a quantitative score, the capillaroscopic skin ulcer risk index (CSURI), calculated according to the formula ‘D×M/N2’, was proposed, which was highly predictive of the appearance of scleroderma digital ulcers within 3 months of capillaroscopic evaluation.ObjectivesThis multicentre study aims to validate the predictive value and reproducibility of CSURI in a large population of SSc patients.MethodsCSURI was analysed in 229 unselected SSc patients by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). All pati…

Predictors of Remission in RA Patients Treated With TNF Alpha Blockers at a Community Level: The GISEA Study

Longterm Retention of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor Therapy in a Large Italian Cohort of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis from the GISEA Registry: An Appraisal of Predictors.

Objective.To evaluate 4-year retention rates of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab among patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as derived from an Italian national registry.Methods.The clinical records of 853 adult patients with RA in the GISEA (Gruppo Italiano Studio Early Arthritis) registry were prospectively analyzed to compare drug survival rates and the baseline factors that may predict adherence to therapy.Results.In 2003 and 2004, 324 patients started treatment with adalimumab, 311 with etanercept, and 218 with infliximab. After 4 years, the global retention rate of anti-TNF-α therapy was 42%. Etanercept survival (51.4%) …