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Background:The treatment of rheumatoid hand, which is characterized by thumb deformity, finger deformities, and ulnar drift (UD), is challenging. Its pathophysiology is complex, and a comprehensive understanding of the optimal intervention for this condition requires high technical skill and extensive clinical experience. Moreover, the natural course of rheumatoid hand itself remains unclear.Objectives:This study was performed to comprehensively evaluate rheumatoid hand through the specific parameters of each deformity.Methods:A rheumatoid hand cohort was established in 2004. In total, 134 hands of 67 patients were registered and underwent clinical evaluations. All hands surgically treated during follow-up were excluded from the study, but the contralateral hands were assessed. Evaluations were repeated in 2009 (100 hands of 52 patients) and in 2015 (63 hands of 37 patients) among all available patients. Therefore, among the data obtained from the 3 study endpoints, 297 hands were available for the cross-sectional analysis and 43 hands were available for the longitudinal analysis.Thumb deformities and finger deformities (swan-neck and boutonnière) were semi-quantitated by the Nalebuff classification score, and UD was quantified using a metacarpophalangeal joint condition scoring method1). A two-step cluster analysis was performed with entered parameters, and the distribution of each parameter was considered to clarify the characteristics of each cluster. The hands with different clusters at each endpoint were recruited for the following longitudinal analysis. The natural course of rheumatoid hand was considered based on the cluster change.Results:Seven clusters were used in this study to emphasize the impact of thumb deformity on function. The characteristics of each cluster were as follows. Cluster 1: mild finger deformities and various severities of UD; Cluster 2: type 1 thumb deformity and various severities of UD; Cluster 3: type 2 thumb deformity and severe UD; Cluster 4: type 3 or 4 thumb deformity, low or moderate level of swan-neck deformity, and various severities of UD; Cluster 5: various types of thumb deformity, severe boutonnière deformity, and various severities of UD; Cluster 6: type 1 thumb deformity, severe swan-neck deformity, and various severities of UD; and Cluster 7: type 6 thumb deformity.The longitudinal analysis showed that Cluster 1 mainly changed to Cluster 2 or 4, indicating progression of thumb deformity. Cluster 2 changed to Cluster 3, indicating that thumb type 1 progressed to type 2 (Figure 1). When the affected period was shorter than 10 years, the incidence of severe hand deformity (including two or more affected joint areas and low hand function) was 30% (Figure 2).Figure 1.Figure 2.Conclusion:This study suggests the presence of seven patterns of deformity enabling a comprehensive understanding of rheumatoid hand. Furthermore, the results of the longitudinal analysis suggest a natural course of rheumatoid hand progression. Therefore, from the distribution of parameters of each deformity and its severity, rheumatologists can easily classify rheumatoid hand and determine its pathophysiology to choose the most effective intervention.References:[1]Toyama S, Oda R, Tokunaga D et al. A new assessment tool for ulnar drift in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using pathophysiological parameters of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Modern rheumatology 2019, 29: 113-8.Acknowledgments:This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP19K19914.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Background:Sarcopenia is a progressive systemic skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased likelihood of adverse outcomes including physical disability, falls, and mortality. The muscle mass of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is lower than that of age-matched healthy individuals, and a high prevalence rate of sarcopenia has been reported1). In particular, foot deformities may increase the prevalence rate of sarcopenia because of inactivity due to foot pain on walking. Treatment with a foot orthosis (FO) can reportedly reduce pain2); however, whether a FO can resolve inactivity and sarcopenia is unclear.Objectives:To elucidate the effectiveness of a FO on physical activity and sarcopenia in patients with RA.Methods:Thirty patients with RA with foot deformities were enrolled from April 2017 to December 2019. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the algorithm of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, and the cut-off values of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia were applied. We also collected the clinical variables of patients with concurrent RA and sarcopenia who continued to use a FO for 6 months. The primary outcome was physical activity determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The secondary outcomes were foot pain measured with a visual analog scale; activities of daily living (ADL) measured with the Health Assessment Questionnaire; and body mass index, body fat percentage, and the skeletal muscle mass index measured with a body composition device. The clinical variables were compared between baseline and 6 months after continuous treatment with a FO.Results:The prevalence rate of sarcopenia was 76.6% (23/30), and nine patients with RA continued to use the FO for 6 months. Table 1 shows outcomes at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with a FO. The only clinical variable that showed a significant difference was foot pain. Physical activities, ADL, and body compositions were maintained after 6 months.Table 1.Outcomes of 6-month treatment with FOBaseline6 monthsp valuePhysical activityIPAQWalking, MET-min/weekModerate, MET-min/weekVigorous, MET-min/week132 (66, 594)0 (0, 0)0 (0, 0)594 (396, 2376)0 (0, 0)0 (0, 0)0.071.000.32Foot painVAS score4.6 (3.1, 7.4)2.8 (1.1, 4.7)0.02ADLHAQ1.5 (1.1, 2.3)1.1 (0.9, 1.5)0.07Body compositionBMI, kg/m2BFP, %SMI, kg/m221.4 (20.7, 22.7)31.1 (24.2, 37.6)5.2 (4.8, 5.3)20.7 (19.3, 22.1)32.9 (26.3, 36.5)5.2 (5.0, 5.2)0.890.820.61IPAQ: International Physical Activity Questionnaire, VAS: visual analog scale, ADL: activities of daily living, HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire, BMI: body mass index, BFP: body fat percentage, SMI: skeletal muscle mass indexData are presented as median (lower quartile, upper quartile)Conclusion:The prevalence rate of sarcopenia in patients with RA with foot deformities was much higher than previous reported1). However, 6 months of treatment with a FO not only reduced foot pain but also maintained physical activity and muscle mass. Physical therapy has recently been recommended for patients with inflammatory arthritis. physical activity and muscle mass of patients with RA and concurrent foot deformities may be increased by combining physical therapy with orthotic treatment.References:[1]Tada M, et al. Matrix metalloprotease 3 is associated with sarcopenia in rheumatoid arthritis - results from the CHIKARA study. Int J Rheum Dis. 2018; 21 (11): 1962-9.[2]Hennessy K, et al. Custom foot orthoses for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012; 64 (3): 311-20.Acknowledgments:This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP19K11420.Disclosure of Interests:None declaredDOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.3143

Background It is well known that synovial fluid pH is decreased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (1), but the meaning and mechanism remain unclear. Objectives We investigate the correlation between synovial fluid pH and the disease activity of RA. We reveal the mechanism by which synovial fluid pH is regulated and explore the novel therapeutic strategy of RA by applying this mechanism. Methods We measured the values of pH and the concentration of L-lactate in synovial fluid of RA patients. Next, we investigated the expression of ion transporters regulating intracellular and extracellular pH in RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) obtained from the inflamed joints using quantitative RT-PCR and Western Blotting. Finally, we suppressed the ion transporter expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) against the ion transporter increased in RASFs, and analyzed their viability and proliferative capacity of RASFs. Results Synovial fluid pH was decreased as the disease activity score (DAS)-28 CRP increased in RA patients (graph A, n=17, r = -0.81, p

Background Among the thumb deformities observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), boutonniere deformities are the most common and account for 70% of all deformities present. However, it is difficult to determine the proper timing for interventions due to progressive limitations in range of motion (ROM) and instability of the thumb joints in these patients. Objectives We hypothesized that ROM limitation above a certain level would result in functional hand deficiencies. In this study, we assessed the ROM and function of the thumb joint in patients having rheumatoid arthritis-related boutonniere deformities. Methods This study included 50 thumbs with boutonniere deformities in 31 patients. Of the 50 thumbs, we were able to measure the ROM of 27 thumbs in 18 patients. The patients available for assessment (all females) had a mean age of 65.0 (range, 51 to 76) and a mean disease duration of 21.8 years (range, 14 to 33). The active and passive ROM at the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint and interphalangeal (IP) joint was measured, and the differences between the active and passive ROM of each joint were calculated as an index for joint instability. Functional evaluations were completed according to the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) for upper limb function and modified Kapandji index (MKI) for finger function. Results The average ROM at the MP joint was as follows; active flexion, 56.8 degrees (range, 0 to 90); passive flexion, 65.3 degrees (range, 0 to 100); active extension, -22.6 degrees. (range, -84 to 20); passive extension, -3.2 degree (range, -50 to 40). The average ROM at the IP joint was as follows; active flexion, 23.0 degrees (range, -84 to 70); passive flexion, 38.1 degrees (range, -70 to 86); active extension, 43.7 degrees (range, 0 to 90); passive extension, 59.1 degrees (range, 10 to 100). MP joint extension and IP joint flexion had strong correlations with functional evaluations. MP joint extension strongly correlates with IP joint flexion in both active and passive motion. ROM limitations progressed markedly when active MP joint extension became less than -30 degrees and active IP joint flexion became less than 30 degrees. Upper limb function deteriorated with a decrease of active extension at the MP joint, but the overall finger function markedly deteriorated when the active extension at the MP joint became less than -30 degrees. The upper limb function and the finger motion were deteriorating with the decrease of active flexion at the IP joint. Conclusions Decreased finger extension mobility is reported to impact the working space in the hand, resulting in functional deficiencies. Boutonniere deformities result in functional deficiencies in the same manner, as a result of subluxation of the MP joint due to synovitis. Furthermore, boutonniere deformities result in hyperextension or joint instability at the IP joint and leads to deteriorating finger function. From the result of this study, active ROM at the MP joint less than -30 degrees impaired the mobility of the IP joint and destabilized the IP joint, resulting in huge impacts in activities of daily living. We considered that active ROM at the MP joint less than -30 degrees might be a threshold for therapeutic intervention. Disclosure of Interest None Declared