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The lung is a common site of involvement both in TB and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease, caused by disease itself or therapy. After completion of antiTB treatment, post TB lung disease (PTLD) residual changes persist and affect heath, survival and quality of life, mainly in patients with associated collagen diseases, as RA. Bronchiectasis are described in both RA and PTLD. The purpose of this prevalence study of bronchiectasis, performed among 92 RA hospitalized patients, from June 2017 to June 2019, consists in a pictorial assessment of the lung involvement changes, noticed on chest radiography and/or computed tomography, described in relation with TB sequelae, severity and duration of RA disease. Results. A high prevalence of imagistic abnormalities was found in 77.2% of cases (n=71/92). Bronchiectasis was a frequent imagistic chest finding (24/71; 33.8%), having a lower frequency among all study group patients (n=24/92; 26%), mostly older nonsmoker females. Conclusions. In a high TB burden, as Romania, the prevalence of bronchiectasis is related with advanced RA disease, being strongly correlated with persistent respiratory symptoms (p=0.009), and coexisting PTLD calcified nodular lung sequelae (p=0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate extraarticular manifestations (EAMs) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and assess their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among these patients. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study was carried out on 117 patients with JIA. EAMs were identified clinically by history and examination. Sicca symptoms, peripheral neuropathy, enthesitis, and skin lesions were picked up during clinical examination. Pulmonary involvement was evaluated by high-resolution CT chest. Patients were assessed by abdominal ultrasonography to assess the size of liver and spleen. Atlantoaxial subluxation was evaluated by cervical spine x-rays. Patients were evaluated by Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-4 (PedsQL-4) and PedsQL-3 arthritis module. Results: The median age of patients was 14 years with a median disease duration 4 years, 82.9% were females. Of the studied 117 JIA patients, 85 patients (72.6%) had at least one EAM. Persistent fatigue (51.3%) was the most prevalent EAM, followed by recurrent skin rash (16.2%), enthesitis (15.4%), recurrent fever (13.7%), and uveitis (12%). Patients with EAMs scored significantly lower in physical functioning (p = 0.001), emotional functioning (p < 0.001), social functioning (p = 0.005), and school functioning (p = 0.001). Regarding PedsQL arthritis module, patients with EAM had also significantly lower scores than did patients without EAM on the domains of pain and hurt (p < 0.001), daily activities (p = 0.008), and worry (p = 0.001). Results: EAMs are prevalent among JIA patients and have a negative impact on their HRQoL. So, early identification and treatment are highly recommended. Key Points • A large percentage of JIA patients experienced at least one extraarticular manifestation (EAM). • Persistent fatigue and recurrent skin rash are the most prevalent EAMs in JIA patients. • JIA patients with EAMs have worse scores in almost all domains of HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The therapeutic armamentarium for spondyloarthritis has expanded considerably in recent years, and there is growing evidence to support the increasing use of IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)., Areas Covered: This literature review provides an update on the role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of axSpA, efficacy and safety from clinical trials and real-life studies on the use of IL17i in axSpA. We also review the impact of extra-musculoskeletal manifestations on the decision to treat with IL17i and the efficacy of IL17i on structural progression., Expert Opinion: There are still some unanswered questions concerning the use of IL-17i in axSpA in clinical practice such as their respective place in the management of axSpA compared to TNFα inhibitors (TNFi). Their main differences rely on their specific efficacy in extra-articular manifestations such as psoriasis, uveitis, and inflammatory bowel diseases leading to the choice of the best treatment in a given patient. Regarding their real impact on structural progression, the rate of progression under IL-17i appears to be low and presumably similar to TNFi. One final question is the advantage of blocking the two IL-17 isoforms A and F compared to the single inhibition of IL-17A.