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Objective: To evaluate the adipokine levels in early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) and first‐degree relatives (FDR) of patients with RA and establish their association with rheumatic disease activity and periodontal variables. Method: A cross‐sectional study with eRA patients, FDR and a healthy population. Adipokine levels, clinical, joint radiological indexes and periodontal variables were evaluated. A descriptive, bivariate analysis was performed based on the adipokine levels by χ2, Fisher's test and Mann–Whitney U test. A logistic regression was made for associations. Results: High leptin levels were associated with the diagnosis of eRA (odds ratio [OR] = 2.79; 95% CI 1.54‐5.07). Early rheumatoid arthritis with high adiponectin levels was less likely to have Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire score >3, body mass index (BMI) >25 and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 score >12 (OR = 0.16; 95% CI 0.03‐0.72). Early rheumatoid arthritis was more likely to present high leptin and interleukin (IL)6 levels with low adiponectin simultaneously (OR = 5.03; 95% CI 1.05‐24.0). High leptin levels were associated with the FDR adjusted for IgG2 Porphyromonas gingivalis, swollen joints, P gingivalis and low IL6 (OR = 2.57; 95% CI 1.14‐5.95). Conclusion: High adipokine levels in eRA may modulate the disease activity. Having more than 1 adipokine at high serum levels is associated with increased disability, disease activity and BMI, indicating that RA is controlled by adiponectin levels in the early stages of the disease. High leptin levels, presence of P gingivalis and swollen joints may be the factors associated with the development of RA in FDR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose In the last three decades, major advances in the spondyloarthritis (SpA) field have been achieved leading to new terminology. Whilst this terminology is well established in English, there is concern about the disparity of translated words and acronyms in Spanish, which is used by more than 437 million people in 21 countries. Our aim was to develop a consensus to standardize the use of Spanish terms, abbreviations and acronyms in the field of Spondyloarthritis (SpA). Methods An international task force comprising all ASAS Spanishspeaking native members, the executive committee of GRESSER, two methodologists, two linguists from Real Academia Nacional de la Medicina Espanola (RANM) and two patients from CEADE was established. A literature review was performed to identify the conflicting terms/abbreviations/acronyms in SpA. This review examined written sources in Spanish including manuscripts, ICF and ICD, guidelines, recommendations and consensus A nominal group meeting and three-round Delphi was followed. The recommendations from the RANM based on the Panhispanic dictionary were followed throughout the process. Results Consensus was reached for 46 terms, abbreviations or acronyms related to the field of SpA. A Spanish translation was accepted for 6 terms and 6 abbreviations to name or classify the disease, and for 6 terms and 4 abbreviations related to SpA (Table 1). In addition, it was agreed not to translate into Spanish 15 acronyms because these are very well established. However, when mentioning these, it was decided to recommend following this structure: type of acronym in Spanish and acronym and expanded form in English (Table 2). With regards to 7 terms or abbreviations attached to acronyms, it was agreed to translate only the expanded form and a translation was also selected for all of them. Conclusion Through this standarisation, it is expected to establish a common use of the Spanish nomenclature for SpA. The implementation of this consensus across the community will be of substantial benefit, avoiding misunderstandings and time-consuming procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Both reactive arthritis (ReA) and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (uSpA) belong to the group of autoinflammatory diseases called spondyloarthritis (SpA). Hypotheses have been proposed about a relationship between the intestinal mucosa and inflammation of joint tissues. The role of immunoglobulin IgA or secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in the inflammatory and/or clinical activity of patients with SpA remains poorly understood. Objective: To evaluate the status of total IgA and SIgA, and the association among the levels of SIgA, IgA, IgA anti-Chlamydia trachomatis, and anti-Shigella spp. with the disease activity measures, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, was compared in a cohort of patients with ReA and uSpA and healthy subjects. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The serum concentrations of SIgA, IgA anti-C. trachomatis, anti-Shigella spp., and total IgA were measured. Disease activity was measured in each patient by means of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS). Statistical analysis did include as bivariate evaluation, comparisons by Student's t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and U Mann-Whitney test, with a multivariate evaluation by principal components analysis (PCA). A correlation analysis was carried out using the Pearson correlation coefficient and a linear regression models. All analysis were made using Stata version 11.2® for Windows, R V3.3.21. Statistical significance was defined a p-value <0.05. Results: In all, 46 patients (78.2% men; mean age, 34.8 ± 12.3 years) and 53 controls (41% men; mean age, 32 ± 11.4 years) were included in the study. The mean serum levels of SIgA were higher in SpA patients than in healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Only SIgA levels correlated with disease activity: BASDAI (r = -0.42, p = 0.0046), ASDAS-CRP (r = -0.37, p = 0.014), and ASDAS-ESR (r = -0.45, p = 0.0021). The negative correlation between SIgA and all activity indices was higher in HLA-B27-positive patients (BASDAI r = -0.70, p = 0.0009, ASDAS-CRP r = -0.58, p = 0.0093, and ASDAS-ESR r = -0.57, p = 0.0083). The PCA showed three factors: the first component was constituted by variables referred as clinical activity measures, the second did include the serological activity markers, and the last component was compounded by age and symptoms time. Conclusion: Elevated serum levels of SIgA were found to be related with low disease activity in patients with ReA and uSpA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent consensus emphasizes the importance of studying individuals at risk for rheumatoid arthritis (pre-RA) and those with early RA (eRA). Periodontal tissues have been recently evaluated, but these studies are limited. To evaluate the periodontal condition, immunoglobulin (Ig)G subclasses against Porphyromonas gingivalis in individuals with pre-RA and eRA were compared with controls to establish an association between periodontal infection markers and rheumatic activity.Methods: Rheumatologic and periodontal condition was evaluated in 119 individuals with pre-RA, 48 patients with eRA, and matched controls. P. gingivalis IgG1 and IgG2 were analyzed. C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor, anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), and RA activity were measured. The groups were compared with McNemar test and paired t-test. Conditional logistic regression was performed for pre-RA confounders, and χ(2) test was used to evaluate periodontal variables and RA activity indices.Results: Pre-RA individuals showed significantly higher levels of plaque index (P = 0.01) and bleeding on probing (P = 0.03) and higher severity of periodontal disease (P = 0.02). Periodontitis was associated with pre-RA (odds ratio, 3.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.64 to 7.01) but not with eRA. In pre-RA, P. gingivalis-specific IgG2 was associated with ACPAs (P = 0.049) and disease severity visual analog scale (P = 0.03). In eRA, IgG2 against P. gingivalis was associated with ESR (P = 0.046) and ACPAs (P = 0.04). P. gingivalis was associated with ACPAs (P = 0.04).Conclusions: This study shows that individuals with pre-RA have significant inflammatory periodontal involvement. There was a significant association between IgG against P. gingivalis and ACPAs in pre-RA and markers of RA activity in individuals with eRA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of osteoporosis in premenopausal women along with associated risk factors has not been well elucidated. Recent studies have shown that poverty is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Objective: To determine the prevalence of osteoporosis and its risk factors in a group of premenopausal women of poor economic background in Colombia. Materials and methods: The study comprised 1483 women between 35 and 53 years of age with at least one risk factor for osteoporosis. Demographic characteristics, reproductive factors, comorbidities, and risk factors for osteoporosis were evaluated. Lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4) and the femur neck were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Of the 1483 patients, 1443 (97.3%) had at least one risk factor for osteoporosis and 40 (2.7%) had no risk factors. Patients with one risk factor were referred to have a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, which 795 women completed. Osteopenia was found in 30.5% and osteoporosis in 4.8% of these women. The majority of these women were homemakers, and 18.5% of the patients with osteoporosis were also illiterate (P < 0.001). The risk factors identified in this population were: hypothyroidism (odds ratio [OR] = 5.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.6-16), age over 45 years old (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.0-1.2), a history of malnutrition or low birth weight (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.0-5.2), or early-onset menopause (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.6-7.2). Conclusion: Premenopausal Colombian women from impoverished areas showed increased rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis compared with the data described in the current literature. Hypothyroidism was an outstanding risk factor in Colombian premenopausal women with osteoporosis. This shows the influence of poverty and other risk factors on the onset of osteoporosis in women aged 35-53 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis and its related manifestations, including psoriatic arthritis, are prevalent disorders in the Western world, particularly among Caucasians. The study of these disorders in Latin America lags way behind the study of other more common rheumatic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. From the scarce evidence available, however, it appears that the prevalence and incidence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are lower than in other parts of the Western world and almost negligible among natives from the Andean region, although confirmatory epidemiologic studies are lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]