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Objectives The aim was to compare the accuracy of colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and temporal artery biopsy (TAB) to establish the final diagnosis of GCA and to determine how the GCA probability score (GCAPS) performs as a risk stratification tool. Methods Descriptive statistics were performed on a retrospective cohort of patients referred to our vasculitis referral centre between 1 July 2017 and 1 October 2020 for suspected GCA. CDUS, TAB, centre-specific TAB (vasculitis centre vs referring hospitals) and GCAPS were compared against the final diagnosis of GCA as determined by a GCA expert; CDUS was also compared with TAB results. Results Data from 198 patients were included: 60 patients with GCA and 138 patients without GCA. Sixty-two patients had a TAB. Using the final diagnosis by a GCA expert as a reference, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 93.3%, 98.5%, 96.6% and 97.1% for CDUS and 69.2%, 100%, 100% and 81.8% for TAB, respectively. The false-negative rate was 6.7% for CDUS and 30.8% for TAB. False-negative TAB mostly occurred when performed in referring hospitals (57.1%) as opposed to our vasculitis centre (21.1%). With a cut-off at 9.5 points, sensitivity for GCAPS was 98.3% and specificity 74.3%. Conclusion CDUS of the temporal and axillary arteries showed a high sensitivity and specificity and helped to diagnose GCA in patients with negative TAB. We validated that GCAPS is a useful clinical tool, with a score of

ObjectiveTo describe systemic sclerosis (SSc) with myopathy in patients without classic SSc-specific and SSc-overlap autoantibodies (aAbs), referred to as seronegative scleromyositis.MethodsTwenty patients with seronegative scleromyositis diagnosed by expert opinion were analysed retrospectively for SSc features at myositis diagnosis and follow-up, and stratified based on HEp-2 nuclear patterns by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) according to International Consensus of Autoantibody Patterns. Specificities were analysed by protein A−assisted immunoprecipitation. Myopathy was considered an organ involvement of SSc.ResultsSSc sine scleroderma was a frequent presentation (45%) at myositis diagnosis. Myositis was the most common first non-Raynaud manifestation of SSc (55%). Lower oesophagal dysmotility was present in 10 of 11 (91%) investigated patients. At follow-up, 80% of the patients met the American College of Rheumatology/EULAR SSc classification criteria. Two-thirds of patients had a positive HEp-2 IIF nuclear pattern (all with titers ≥1/320), defining three novel scleromyositis subsets. First, antinuclear antibody (ANA)-negative scleromyositis was associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and renal crisis. Second, a speckled pattern uncovered multiple rare SSc-specific aAbs. Third, the nuclear dots pattern was associated with aAbs to survival of motor neuron (SMN) complex and a novel scleromyositis subset characteriszed by calcinosis but infrequent ILD and renal crisis.ConclusionsSSc skin involvement is often absent in early seronegative scleromyositis. ANA positivity, Raynaud phenomenon, SSc-type capillaroscopy and/or lower oesophagal dysmotility may be clues for scleromyositis. Using HEp-2 IIF patterns, three novel clinicoserological subsets of scleromyositis emerged, notably (1) ANA-negative, (2) ANA-positive with a speckled pattern and (3) ANA-positive with nuclear dots and anti-SMN aAbs.

Primary systemic vasculitides are rare diseases that may manifest similarly to more commonly encountered conditions. Depending on the size of the vessel affected (large vessel, medium vessel, or small vessel), different vasculitis mimics must be considered. Establishing the right diagnosis of a vasculitis mimic will prevent unnecessary immunosuppressive therapy.

Objective To describe successful therapeutic strategies in statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy. Methods Retrospective data from a cohort of 55 patients with statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy, sequentially stratified by the presence of proximal weakness, early remission, and corticosteroid and IVIG use at treatment induction, were analyzed for optimal successful induction and maintenance of remission strategies. Results A total of 14 patients achieved remission with a corticosteroid-free induction strategy (25%). In 41 patients treated with corticosteroids, only 4 patients (10%) failed an initial triple steroid/IVIG/steroid-sparing immunosuppressant (SSI) induction strategy. Delay in treatment initiation was independently associated with lower odds of successful maintenance with immunosuppressant monotherapy (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.97, P = 0.015). While 22 patients (40%) presented with normal strength, only 9 had normal strength at initiation of treatment. Conclusion While corticosteroid-free treatment of anti-HMGCR myopathy is now a safe option in selected cases, initial triple steroid/IVIG/SSI was very efficacious in induction. Delays in treatment initiation and, as a corollary, delays in achieving remission decrease the odds of achieving successful maintenance with an SSI alone. Avoiding such delays, most notably in patients with normal strength, may reset the natural history of anti-HMGCR myopathy from a refractory entity to a treatable disease.