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Objectives: This cross-sectional study was designed to assess the clinical profile and frequency of associated autoantibodies in all consecutive patients classified as systemic sclerosis (SSc) at Medanta—the Medicity Hospital, Gurgaon, India. Methods: Between August 2017 and July 2019, we identified a total of 119 consecutive patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) 2013 criteria for SSc and 106 patients consented to this study. Their clinical and serological data at the time of enrolment were analysed. Results: Our cohort had a mean age at symptom onset of 40 ± 13 years with a median symptom duration of 6 years. We had 76 patients (71.7%) with interstitial lung disease (ILD), which was a higher proportion compared to European cohorts. 62 pa- tients (58.5%) had diffuse cutaneous involvement which was significantly associated with anti-Scl70 antibodies (p < 0.001), digital ulcers (p = 0.039) and the presence of ILD (p = 0.004). 65 patients (61.3%) had anti-Scl70 and 15 patients (14.2%) had anti-centromere (anti-CENP) antibodies. Scl70 positivity was associated with the presence of ILD (p < 0.001) and digital ulcers (p = 0.01). Centromere antibodies had a negative association with ILD (p < 0.001), but was a risk factor for calcinosis (p < 0.001) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (p = 0.01). The combination of diffuse cutaneous disease and Scl70 antibodies was the strongest predictor of ILD and digital ulcers (p = 0.015). sm/RMP, RNP68 and Ku antibodies correlated with musculoskeletal involvement (p < 0.01), while all seven of the patients with Pm/Scl antibodies had ILD. Renal involve- ment was noted in only two patients. Limitations: A single-centre study may not capture the true prevalence of disease characteristics in the population. Referral bias for patients with diffuse cutaneous disease has been noted. Data on RNA-Polymerase antibodies have not been provided. Conclusion: North Indian patients have some characteristic differences in disease phenotype as compared to their Caucasian counterparts with a larger proportion of patients presenting with ILD and Scl70 antibodies. Antibodies against Ku, RNP and Pm/Scl occur in a minority of patients, but may be associated with musculoskeletal features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are limited data on the real-world utilization of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in Indian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of a multicentric observational cohort of RA patients across rheumatology clinics at six centers across India. Patients who met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2010 criteria for RA were included. The demographics, disease-related parameters, and current therapy in terms of DMARDs were analyzed using a structured paper or electronic case record form., Results: This study included 4,061 patients with RA across six centers in India. A majority were female (female-to-male ratio, 6:1), and their mean [standard deviation (SD)] age at the time of enrollment was 51 (12.2) years. Rheumatoid factor and/or anti-CCP were positive in 79 and 77%, respectively. Data on DMARDs were available for 3,550 RA patients. Conventional synthetic DMARDs alone were being used in 3,289 (93%), targeted synthetic DMARDs in 203 (6%), and biological DMARDs in 67 (2%). A total of at least 18 separate types or combinations of DMARDs were being prescribed, with the most common being a combination of methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine (22%), methotrexate monotherapy (17%), and a combination of methotrexate and leflunomide (16%). Overall, the most common DMARD prescribed (as monotherapy or in combination) was methotrexate (86%), followed by hydroxychloroquine (52%) and leflunomide (37%)., Conclusion: Cs-DMARDs remain the mainstay in the treatment of Indian patients with RA in this study, with the majority being treated with methotrexate alone or in combination with other DMARDs., (© Journal of The Association of Physicians of India 2024.)