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Abstract Background Despite existing extensive literature, a comprehensive and clinically relevant classification system for osteoarthritis (OA) has yet to be established. In this study, we aimed to further characterize four knee OA (KOA) inflammatory phenotypes (KOIP) recently proposed by our group, by identifying the inflammatory factors associated with KOA severity and progression in a phenotype-specific manner. Methods We performed an analysis within each of the previously defined four KOIP groups, to assess the association between KOA severity and progression and a panel of 13 cytokines evaluated in the plasma and synovial fluid of our cohort’s patients. The cohort included 168 symptomatic female KOA patients with persistent joint effusion. Results Overall, our analyses showed that associations with KOA outcomes were of higher magnitude within the KOIP groups than for the overall patient series (all p-values < 1.30e−16) and that several of the cytokines showed a KOIP-specific behaviour regarding their associations with KOA outcomes. Conclusion Our study adds further evidence supporting KOA as a multifaceted syndrome composed of multiple phenotypes with differing pathophysiological pathways, providing an explanation for inconsistencies between previous studies focussed on the role of cytokines in OA and the lack of translational results to date. Our findings also highlight the potential clinical benefits of accurately phenotyping KOA patients, including improved patient stratification, tailored therapies, and the discovery of novel treatments.

Background: Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) is the most frequent extra-musculoskeletal manifestation in spondyloarhtritis (SpA). Previous data on AAU focused on axial disease; therefore, it is not well known whether the clinical characteristics of patients with AAU and recurrent AAU differ between patients with axial and peripheral SpA. Objective: Primary objective was to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with AAU from patients without AAU in axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients. Secondary objectives were to describe the clinical features of patients with AAU in the subset of patients with peripheral SpA (pSpA) and the clinical characteristics of patients with recurrent AAU in SpA patients. Design: This is an ancillary analysis of the ASAS-PerSpA study which included 3152 patients, 2719 patients with axSpA and 433 with pSpA according to rheumatologist judgement. Methods: Recurrent AAU was defined as the presence of two or more episodes of AAU ever. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with the presence of AAU ever and the presence of recurrent AAU. Results: Overall, 663 patients (21%) presented AAU. Of them, 444 (66.9%) presented recurrent episodes. In patients with SpA, HLA-B27 positivity is the most important factor linked to the presence of AAU, odds ratio (OR) = 2.70 (95% CI = 2.04–3.6). In patients with pSpA, HLA-B27 positivity was also the most relevant factor linked to the presence of AAU, OR = 6.08 (95% CI = 2.72–15.68). Moreover, disease duration, younger age and higher body mass index (BMI) were the only factors slightly linked to the presence of recurrent episodes, OR = 1.03 (95% CI = 1.01–1.04), OR = 1.01 (95% CI = 1.00–1.03) and OR = 1.04 (95% CI = 1.01–1.08), respectively. Conclusion: HLA-B27 positivity is the most relevant factor linked to AAU risk in SpA patients, and this association is even stronger in those patients with pSpA. Moreover, our study did not find an association between HLA-B27 positivity and recurrent AAU in SpA patients.

Abstract Objective To assess HLA-B27 influence on the clinical phenotype of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) patients. Method An observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study of AS patients from the Spanish REGISPONSER database was performed. Demographic, clinical, disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)), and radiographic data (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI) score) were compared regarding HLA-B27 status. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify variables independently related to the presence of HLA-B27. Results Data from 1235 patients (74.8% male) were analyzed; 1029 were HLA-B27 positive (83%). HLA-B27-positive patients showed higher family aggregation and an earlier onset of disease compared with those who were HLA-B27 negative. HLA-B27-negative patients presented statistically higher BASDAI and BASFI scores and higher prevalence of arthritis, dactylitis, and extra-articular manifestations (psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)) but not anytime uveitis compared with those who were HLA-B27 positive. In the multivariate analysis, family history (odds ratio (OR) 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–3.49), younger age at diagnosis (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96–0.98), presence of peripheral arthritis (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32–0.89), dactylitis (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.05–0.56), psoriasis (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.78), and IBD (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.12–0.40) were the main variables independently related to the presence or not of HLA-B27. Conclusion In Caucasian AS patients, the presence of HLA-B27 is related to an earlier disease onset and higher family aggregation. Absence of HLA-B27 is related to a higher frequency of peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, and extra-articular manifestations. Being HLAB27 positive is not related to a higher burden of disease or anytime uveitis.

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