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Abstract Introduction Psoriasis (PsO) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disease that results in severe outcomes that impact the patient’s quality of life and work productivity. We investigated the effectiveness of secukinumab in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) over a 12-month period. Methods This was a longitudinal, retrospective study of the medical records of 81 patients with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis who had been treated with secukinumab for at least 12 weeks. Results The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Body Surface Area (BSA) percentage, and Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) among patients with PsO and PsO-PsA showed a statistically significant decrease from baseline over 12 months by approximately 9.86, 19.3%, and 9.7, respectively (p values

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that may be associated with other autoimmune disorders. To date, limited data are available on thyroid dysfunction and SLE in Saudi Arabia. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the cases of 151 patients with SLE. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was 17.2%: 4% in the hyperthyroid group and 11.9% in the hypothyroid group. Euthyroid sick syndrome was found in 1.3% of patients. Moreover, 57% of patients with hypothyroidism were positive for antibodies to thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase. No correlation was found between the presence of thyroid dysfunction and higher SLE disease activity, according to the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus National Assessment–Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) score.

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa is a rare subtype of polyarteritis nodosa that lacks significant internal organ involvement. It has a relapsing remitting nature and usually is less responsive to conventional treatments. We report a case of refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa who failed three immunosuppressive therapies and three different biological agents. He was successfully treated with two rituximab 1000 mg infusions with a good efficacy and tolerance. This case demonstrates the safety and efficacy of rituximab in treatment of refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa.

There is increasing interest in rituximab (RTX) as an alternative to cyclophosphamide for the treatment of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, no report has addressed its efficacy in Saudi patients with SSc-ILD. To assess the efficacy of RTX treatment in Saudi patients with SSc-ILD, hospital records were reviewed between 2013 and 2016. Four female patients received at least 4 cycles of RTX (I cycle, consisting of two infusions of 1000 mg 2 weeks apart). Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were performed before and after treatment to assess the response. HRCT revealed improvement in one patient, stable disease in two patients, and worsening in one patient. Moreover, RTX prevented the further decline of forced vital capacity significantly in PFT. These results provide further evidence that RTX is an effective treatment for SSc-ILD.

Background and Objective: Neuropsychiatric disorders including depression are common clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Depression in patients with SLE is under-recognized, although it is a treatable clinical entity. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and identify the relationship between depression and SLE disease characteristics. Patients and Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in the rheumatology clinics of four tertiary referral hospitals in Saudi Arabia between April and September 2014. Patients' demographic data and SLE disease characteristics such as disease duration, severity and drug treatments were collected. A validated Arabic Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score was used to estimate the prevalence of depression. Results: A total of 68 patients with SLE (64 women, 4 men) were enrolled in the study. Forty-six (67.6%) patients were found to have BDI scores indicating depression; of them, only four patients (8.7%) were receiving antidepressant treatments. Higher prevalence of depression was associated with steroid treatment (P = 0.046). Conclusions: The study results revealed high prevalence of depression among Saudi patients with SLE. Most of the study population were not adequately treated, suggesting inadequate recognition and treatment of depression in SLE.

In recent years, biological drugs have been widely administered to treat rheumatic diseases including psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, the safety of these drugs has not been adequately established in pregnancy. We report a case of a pregnant PsA patient treated with etanercept, an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) agent. She continued to receive etanercept treatment during pregnancy without any complications, finally giving successful birth to a baby girl at 39 weeks. This suggests that etanercept may be selected to treat PsA patients with active arthritis who desire pregnancy with lower risks.