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Abstract Background Behcet’s disease (BD) is a systemic disease characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers. The underlying disease pathway likely involves interleukin (IL)-17 A, a proinflammatory cytokine that is implicated in Behcet’s uveitis. Secukinumab is an anti-IL-17 A drug that may have an emerging role in the treatment of refractory BD. This is the first known case report of gastrointestinal BD flare up after anti-IL-17 A therapy. Case presentation We presented a case of BD with cutaneous and articular features being treated with secukinumab. After the third dose of loading secukinumab, the patient developed acute lower abdominal pain required hospital admission. Urgent computer tomography (CT) abdomen showed fatty stranding of caecum. Colonoscopy with caecal showed increased number of inflammatory cells in lamina propria. Secukinumab was stopped and patient was started on medium dose steroid. His abdominal symptoms resolved after treatment. Conclusions This case report illustrates a case of gastrointestinal (GI) BD presenting as acute inflammatory colitis after the use of secukinumab. Therefore, anti-IL-17 A agents should be used cautiously in patients with GI BD, and preferably guided by a phenotype-tailored approach.

Objectives: To investigate the risk of flare-ups after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with rheumatic disease. Methods: A total of 1,617 patients with rheumatic diseases were identified from three rheumatology clinics. Patients were interviewed for demographic data, disease activity, and vaccination status. Disease flare-up was determined clinically by independent rheumatologists. Change of serum markers and medications were retrieved from medical records. The risk of exacerbation of rheumatic disease, change in serum markers, and escalation of rheumatic medications between vaccinated and nonvaccinated patients were determined using Cox, linear, and logistic regression models, respectively. Possible confounding factors were also taken into consideration. Results: Among 562 (34.76%) patients who received COVID-19 vaccination, rheumatic disease (HR = 2.10, [Formula: see text] 0.001), inflammatory arthritis (HR = 2.71, [Formula: see text] 0.001), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (HR = 2.03, [Formula: see text] = 0.002), spondyloarthritis (SpA) (HR = 4.78, [Formula: see text] 0.001), autoimmune disease (HR = 1.77, [Formula: see text] = 0.01), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (HR = 1.99, [Formula: see text] = 0.02) were associated with postvaccination clinical flare-up. Adult Still’s disease (B = 12.76, [Formula: see text] = 0.03) was associated with increased serum C-reactive protein (CRP). No association was found between vaccination and escalation of rheumatic medication. Subgroup analyses showed that only the mRNA vaccine was associated with flare-ups. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination was associated with minor disease flare-up but not escalation of rheumatic medications. In the absence of absolute contraindications, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended in patients with rheumatic disease. KEY MESSAGES 1. Vaccination is effective in the prevention of morbidity due to COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune diseases. 2. The mRNA vaccine was associated with mild rheumatic disease flare-up. 3. Inactivated virus vaccine is preferable to mRNA vaccine in patients with active autoimmune disease.

Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a spectrum of inflammatory conditions predominantly involving the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints. The development of biological therapies has revolutionized the treatment paradigm in SpA. This has led to a great improvement in clinical outcomes, including inflammation suppression, symptom alleviation, and functional improvement. Despite its usefulness, the question regarding the optimal duration of therapy remains unanswered. This is particularly important given the cost associated with biological therapies, and the potential side effects related to immune suppression. Currently, guideline and data regarding dose reduction of biologics treatment in axial SpA has not been well established. This randomized controlled trial aims to study the possibility of biologic dose reduction in patients with axial SpA. The primary measure will be the occurrence of disease flare up in participants undergoing biologics tapering compared with participants on standard dose of treatment. The study also aims to evaluate the role of anti-drug antibodies in disease flare, the effect of biologics dose reduction on structural changes, and the cost effectiveness of biologics dose reduction. The results of this study will be crucial for clinical decisions and establishing future guidelines regarding dose reduction of biologics in SpA.

Introduction: To investigate the relationship between spondyloarthritis (SpA) and osteoporosis including any association or prediction, and hence suggesting a plan of screening and management for osteoporosis in SpA. Methods: 168 and 538 research articles with keywords “osteoporosis” and “spondyloarthritis” or “ankylosing spondylitis” conducted between 1990 and 2021 were collected in Medline and PubMed, respectively. Focused review was conducted in 34 articles. Results: Osteoporosis is a common comorbidity in both ankylosing spondylitis and spondyloarthropathy as suggested by multiple studies across different countries, with a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) and altered bone microarchitecture in vertebrae and cortical bone of proximal femur, leading to an increased risk of vertebral fractures and sarcopenia. Associated factors include male sex, advanced age, long disease duration, high serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), decreased femoral and lateral lumbar BMD, and high radiological indices. It is likely to be related to chronic systemic inflammation and immobility. Serum uric acid level, certain genes and antibodies may also contribute to the pathology. The likelihood of osteoporosis in SpA can be evaluated by trabecular bone score, which are negatively correlated with serum levels of ESR and C-reactive protein (CRP). Alendronate with adequate dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D is the recommended management. Conclusion: The prevalence of osteoporosis is higher in patients with SpA due to the chronic presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines, functional impairment, and steroid therapy. With the help of inflammatory markers, imaging and radiological indices, the risk of osteoporosis, and vertebral fractures can be predicted. The management plan should be modified to include prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

The Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology (HKSR) has developed evidence-based position statements on the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). A special interest group (SIG) developed the statements based on the literature review of the following research questions: 1) In whom should SI joint MRI be done to diagnose axSpA? 2) Should spine MRI be performed for diagnosis of axSpA? 3) Should spine and SI joint MRI be used in the assessment and monitoring of disease activity? 4) Which MRI sequence(s) should be used in axSpA? These statements have at least 75% agreement from voting rheumatology fellows of HKSR, and are developed to serve as local practice guidelines for rheumatologists and musculoskeletal radiologists in the management of axSpA.

Objectives To assess the associations of hepatic injury and fibrosis in patients with psoriasis (PsO) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods A total of 318 patients attending dermatology and/or rheumatology out-patient clinics in Queen Mary Hospital, with clinical diagnosis of PsO, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or RA were consecutively recruited from July 2020 to August 2022. Demographic data, comorbidities, and medications were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) was measured. Serum biomarkers for hepatic injury including autotaxin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3, MMP 8, and MMP 9 were determined. Transient elastography (TE) was performed to determine liver stiffness measure (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). Regression models were built to determine the association between methotrexate and leflunomide cumulative dosage, serum biomarkers and TE scores. Results A total of 67 (20.4%) patients had LSM>7.1 kPa. Multivariate linear regression showed methotrexate cumulative dosage was associated with autotaxin level (B=4.77, 95% CI 1.39; 8.15, p=0.001). There was no association between methotrexate cumulative dosage and MMP 3, MMP 8, MMP 9, LSM, CAP. There was also no association between leflunomide cumulative dosage and autotaxin, MMP 3, MMP 8, MMP 9, LSM, CAP. BMI (B=6.18, 95% CI 4.95; 7.41, p

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is a frequent investigation for low back pain (LBP). Applications in axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) include diagnosis and assessment of disease activity. Sacroiliitis on MRI is a known diagnostic criterion. Other MRI lesions such as corner inflammatory lesions (CIL) and fatty corner lesions (FCL) may have potential roles in aiding diagnosis1,2 and in predicting the formation of syndesmophytes. Facet joint and costovertebral lesions are associated with limited spinal mobility and functional impairment3. Other lesions described include discovertebral lesions (DVL), Modic type I and II lesions. Identification of individual lesions helps rheumatologists to understand disease progression and guide treatment.

Objective To develop a deep learning algorithm for grading sacroiliitis based on SPARCC in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Method A total of 996 images with inflammatory lesions from 210 participants with MRI sacroiliitis were used for training and validation. The testing cohort consisted of 18 participants with and 19 without MRI sacroiliitis. One hundred and fifty four images from the testing cohort had inflammatory lesions identified by a pre-trained algorithm from our previous study[1]. The ground truth was defined by manually outlined regions of interests (ROIs) consisting of bone marrow edema (BME) at the sacroiliac joint. The performance of the deep learning pipeline in predicting the SPARCC score was compared to manual interpretation by two experienced readers. Result The intra-observer reliability and the Pearson coefficient between the SPARCC scores from two experienced readers and the deep learning pipeline were 0.83 and 0.86, respectively. The sensitivities in identifying all inflammatory lesions, deep lesions, and intense lesions were 0.83, 0.79 and 0.81, respectively. The Dice coefficients of the sacrum and ilium segmentation were 0.82 and 0.80, respectively. The accuracies of identifying the SI joint and reference vessel were 0.90 and 0.88, respectively. Conclusion The performance of AI algorithms in SPARCC scoring was compatible with manual scoring by experienced readers. This proposed deep learning pipeline could be the first demonstration of a complete and SPARCC-informed deep-learning approach in scoring STIR images in SpA.

Uveitis is the most common ophthalmological disorder in the field of rheumatology, accounting for a significant proportion of visual morbidity, both locally and internationally. Causative factors can be divided into infectious and noninfectious etiologies. The diagnosis of uveitis is a major challenge due to heterogeneity in presentation. The disease course may be acute monophasic, recurrent, or chronic relapsing. Complications include posterior synechiae, secondary cataract, ocular hypertension or glaucoma, macular edema, retinal vascular occlusion, epiretinal membrane, and so on, and ultimately visual loss. Antimicrobial therapy is indicated for infection, whereas noninfectious uveitis warrants a combination of steroids, immunosuppressives, and anti-inflammatory agents. With the advancement of biologics, treatment strategies in chronic, noninfectious uveitis have had multiple breakthroughs, particularly in treatment-resistant cases. This article provides a review of the diagnostic approach to uveitis based on symptomatology and ophthalmological findings, and discussion of relevant treatment modalities and strategies.

Abstract Background Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic infection affecting immunocompromised individuals. However, evidence regarding the burden and effectiveness of prophylaxis among rheumatic patients remains limited. Delineating the epidemiology and efficacy of prophylaxis among rheumatic patients is urgently needed. Methods We performed a territory-wide cohort study of rheumatic patients in Hong Kong. All patients with a diagnosis of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), immune-mediated myositis (IMM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), or spondyloarthritis (SpA) between 2015 and 2019 were included. Prevalence, frequency of prophylaxis and mortality of PJP were calculated. Number needed to treat (NNT) analysis was also performed. Results Out of 21,587 patients (54% RA, 25% SLE, 13% SpA, 5% IMM, 2% AAV and 1% SSc), 1141 (5.3%) patients were prescribed PJP prophylaxis. 48/21,587 (0.2%) developed PJP. No patients who developed PJP received prophylaxis prior to infection. The incidence of PJP was highest among SSc, AAV, and IMM patients. Among these diseases, the majority of PJP occurred while patients were on glucocorticoids at daily prednisolone-equivalent doses of 15 mg/day (P15) or above. PJP prophylaxis was effective with NNT for SSc, AAV and IIM being 36, 48 and 114 respectively. There were 19 PJP-related mortalities and the mortality rate was 39.6%. Conclusion PJP is an uncommon but important infection among rheumatic patients, PJP prophylaxis is effective and should be considered in patients with SSc, AAV and IMM, especially those receiving glucocorticoid doses above P15.

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is commonly used to accelerate recovery of neutropenia in patients with marrow suppression. We hereby report a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed diffuse lupus nephritis and impending cytokine storm after G-CSF therapy. The exact mechanisms by which G-CSF leads to lupus flares remains enigmatic. Increased neutrophil apoptosis and release of cytokines have been postulated. The use of G-CSF in patients with autoimmune disease should be cautious.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is important in the management of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA). However, many MRI lesions are not exclusive to axial SpA. Further characterization of these lesions may lead to better clinical decisions. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the frequency of individual spinal MRI lesions between axial SpA and noninflammatory back pain. The factors associated with individual lesions in participants with axial SpA were also determined. Design: This was a cross-sectional observational study. Methods: MRI lesions in 447 participants with axial SpA and 122 participants with noninflammatory back pain were compared using the propensity score adjustment method. Individual lesions included discovertebral lesions (DVL), Modic type 1 lesions, DVL without Modic type 1 lesions, facet joint lesions, costovertebral joint lesions, corner inflammatory lesions (CIL), and fatty corner lesions (FCL). The factors associated with the lesions were determined using regression analyses. Results: Among participants with axial SpA, 81.9% were HLA-B27-positive, 55.0% had radiographic axial SpA, and 60.5% had radiographic features of spinal damage (mSASSS >2). Almost half (48.6% in axial SpA versus 31.1% in noninflammatory back pain) had inflammatory lesions on spinal MRI. In propensity score matching with noninflammatory back pain, axial SpA had an increased occurrence of DVL without Modic type 1 lesion (OR = 3.43, p = 0.01), costovertebral lesion (OR = 11.89, p = 0.02), number of CIL ( B = 1.19, p

Abstract Background Spondyloarthritis (SpA) has a significant impact on patients’ quality of life due to functional impairments. Generic health instruments like the EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-5D) is important for cost-utility analysis of health care interventions and calculation of quality-adjusted life-years. It has been validated in patients with SpA. However, its responsiveness property is unclear. Hence, the aim of study is to test the responsiveness properties of the EQ-5D health measure for Chinese patients with SpA. Methods Prospective and consecutive recruitment of 151 Chinese patients with SpA was conducted with follow-up assessments 6 months later. Demographic data including smoking and drinking habits, education level, income and occupation was collected. Disease-associated data including disease duration, presence of back pain, peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, enthesitis, uveitis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease was also recorded. Questionnaires regarding disease activity and functional disability (BASDAI, BASFI, BASGI, BASMI, ASDAS), mental health (HADS) and the EQ-5D scores were recorded. Responsiveness was tested against the global rating of change scale (GRC) and changes in disease activity using BASDAI and ASDAS-CRP. Results A total of 113 (74.8%) patients completed the follow-up assessments. Most patients (61.6%) had low disease activity level with BASDAI

Abstract Objectives To compare the risk of five nonpulmonary infections leading to hospitalization between spondyloarthritis (SpA) and nonspecific back pain (NSBP), and to identify the risk factors. Methods A total of 3018 patients with SpA and 2527 patients with NSBP were identified. Data from December 1995 to June 2019 was retrieved from a centralized electronic medical record system. The date of onset of five types of nonpulmonary infections including: urinary tract infection (UTI), skin infection, gastroenteritis (GE), septic arthritis, and pancreato‐hepatobiliary tract infection were identified. Demographic data, comorbidities, and medications used were also retrieved. Comparative risk of each type of infection between SpA and NSBP was determined using propensity score adjustment method. Cox regression model was used to identified risk factors. Results Patients with SpA were younger in age, predominantly male, with fewer comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM), renal impairment, and depression. Compared with NSBP, patients with SpA had higher risk of UTI (hazard ratio [HR] 1.91; p 6 months (HR 2.22; p

Abstract Background/ objective Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most infectious comorbidities in spondyloarthritis (SpA). Our goals were to determine the crude incidence rate of and risk factors for TB in SpA. Method Clinical data of 2984 patients with SpA from 11 rheumatology centres were reviewed. This included demographics, duration of follow-up, comorbidities including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, stroke and malignancies, date of diagnosis of tuberculosis, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, duration of glucocorticoid therapy for more than 6 months, conventional (cDMARD) and biological (bDMARD) disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapies. Crude incidence rates were reported. Cox regression models were used to determine the risk factors for TB in patients with SpA. Results Forty-three patients had TB, of which 4 (9.3%) were extra-pulmonary. The crude incidence rate of TB was 1.57 in patients with SpA, compared with 0.58 in the general population in Hong Kong. Independent risk factors identified from the multivariate Cox regression model were: alcohol use (HR 2.62; p = 0.03), previous TB (HR 13.62; p

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have forged a new direction for the treatment of cancer. However, ICIs – programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors – are also known to cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Rheumatological adverse events are uncommon and often low grade, but flares of underlying rheumatological diseases may be triggered. Guidelines are available for the effective management of the rheumatological adverse events that more frequently arise from the use of ICIs, such as inflammatory arthritis, inflammatory myopathies, Sjogren syndrome, scleroderma, and polymyalgia rheumatica and eosinophilic fasciitis.

Abstract Introduction To investigate the vaccination rate, reported side effects, and patient concerns for COVID‐19 vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods A multicentre cross‐sectional study from rheumatology clinics in two major hospitals in Hong Kong was conducted between June 3, 2021 and October 8, 2021. Patient interviews for demographics, clinical characteristics, vaccination status, reported side effects, and factors influencing decisions about vaccination were supplemented with structured questionnaires. Results Out of 1367 patients, 413 (30.2%) had received COVID‐19 vaccination. Side effects were reported in 335 (81.1%) of patients, of which the most common were injection site pain or swelling (66.3%), fatigue (57.1%), fever (19.9%), and headache (19.6%). Multivariate logistic regression models showed that males (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80; p

Background: Cardiovascular (CVS) diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide and patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased CVS. CVS risk factors and CVS events are common in spondyloarthritis (SpA). Delineating the CVS risk in patients with SpA and identifying modifiable risk factors would be useful. Methods: Patients with SpA and patients with non-specific back pain (NSBP) were identified in rheumatology and orthopedics clinics, respectively. Clinical information and CVS events were retrieved. Baseline characteristics and incidence rates of CVS events were compared between two groups of patients using an age- and sex-matched cohort. Propensity score adjustment and Cox regression analysis were performed to determine the CVS risk associated with SpA. Results: A total of 5046 patients (SpA 2616 and NSBP 2430) were included from eight centers. Over 56,484 person-years of follow up, 160 strokes, 84 myocardial infarction (MI) and 262 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were identified. Hypercholesterolemia was more prevalent in SpA (SpA 34.2%, NSBP 28.7%, p

Introduction: To study the dose-response relationship between smoking and axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) disease outcome. Method: One hundred and sixty participants with axSpA were recruited from a single rheumatology center. All of them fulfilled the classification criteria for axSpA by the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS). Clinical, demographic and biochemical data was collected. Participants were asked for detailed smoking histories including past and current smoking, smoking duration and quantity. Radiographs of cervical and lumbar spine were performed for modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS) and modified New York (MNY) criteria for radiological sacroiliitis. Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) was calculated based on C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Univariate and multivariate regression models were performed to determine the associations between pack-year smoking and different disease outcomes. Results: Among the participants, 62 (38.7%) were either current (N = 39) or former smokers (N = 23). Ex-smokers quit smoking by 18.8 ± 12.4 years. The mean pack-year for patients who had ever smoked was 19.4 ± 23.1. In univariate analyses, pack-year smoking was associated with BASFI (p

Objective: To investigate the associations between age and clinical and radiological disease activities in axial SpA. Methods: One hundred and twenty-one patients fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Classification Criteria for axial SpA were included in analyses. Patient demographics, disease activity and radiographic scores, as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion weighted imaging derived apparent diffusion coefficient values (DWI(ADC)), were compared between patients aged > 40 and ≤ 40 years at a cross-sectional level. Variables with significant differences in univariate analyses were used as dependent variables in multivariate linear regression models adjusted for potential confounding/contributing factors. Results: Multivariate analysis showed that increasing age was significantly associated with higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (B = 0.04, p < 0.01) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index scores (B = 0.04, p < 0.01); as well as higher modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (B = 0.41, p < 0.01). On MRI, increasing age was associated with a lower DWI(ADC) (B = (-0.01), p < 0.01) of the SI joints, but higher DWI(ADC) values of the axial spine (B = 0.01, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Increasing age in SpA was associated with greater functional impairment and structural damage, more inflammation of the axial spine, but less inflammation of the SI joints. Our findings are consistent with the traditional belief that SpA is an “ascending disease” and highlights the importance of different modalities of MRI in the diagnosis and disease monitoring of SpA.

Abstract Background A fatty corner lesion (FCL) is a well-demarcated fat infiltration in the corner of a vertebral body on T1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence. It has been reported to be useful in the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Our objective is to systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FCLs in tertiary centre patients with chronic back pain. Method Two hundred and thirty eight axSpA patients and 62 non-axSpA patients with back pain were recruited from five rheumatology centres. Clinical, biochemical, and radiological parameters were collected and all patients underwent a MRI of the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints. FCLs in vertebral bodies from C4 to L5 were scored. The number and location of FCLs were clustered together to determine an optimal combination for diagnosis. Results were compared with expert diagnosis as the “gold standard”. Results FCLs of the anterior whole spine (AUC 0.62; p = 0.003) and anterior thoracic spine (AUC 0.64; p = 0.001) had diagnostic significance. Incorporating at least 5 whole spine FCLs into the imaging criteria of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria for axSpA yielded a sensitivity of 91.6% and specificity of 91.9%. Similarly, applying at least 3 anterior thoracic FCLs to the imaging criteria of the ASAS axial SpA criteria yielded a sensitivity of 92.0% and specificity of 93.5%. Conclusion FCLs could be used to diagnose axial SpA. The presence of at least 3 anterior thoracic FCLs in T1-weighted MRI spine suggests a diagnosis of axial SpA without additional MRI of the SI joints. Trial registration The cohort has been registered in the clinical trial registry of the University of Hong Kong (HKUCTR-2087).

Abstract Background Spondyloarthritis (SpA) has a significant impact on patients’ quality of life due to functional impairments. Generic health instruments like the EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-5D) is important for the cost-utility analysis of health care interventions and calculation of quality-adjusted life years. However, the applicability of the EQ-5D health measure in Chinese patients with SpA is currently unknown. Hence, the aim of the study is to test the psychometric properties and to validate the use of the EQ-5D health measure for utility analyses in Chinese patients with SpA. Methods Prospective and consecutive recruitment of 220 Chinese patients with SpA was conducted. Demographic data including smoking and drinking habits, education level, income, and occupation was collected. Disease-associated data including disease duration, the presence of back pain, peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, enthesitis, uveitis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease was also recorded. Questionnaires regarding disease activity and functional disability (BASDAI, BASFI, BASGI, BASMI, ASDAS, ODI), mental health (HADS depression and anxiety), and the EQ-5D scores were recorded. SF-36 scores were used to verify the findings. Baseline correlations were performed along with test-retest reliability, validity, and internal consistency tests. Specifically, the relationship between EQ-5D and disease activity and functional scores was studied. Results EQ-5D scores achieved acceptable internal consistency and reliability. A ceiling effect was observed for all domains of the EQ-5D except for pain/discomfort. No floor effect was observed. Significant negative correlations were observed between ODI, HADS, BASFI, BASMI, BASDAI, and ASDAS-CRP and with EQ-5D. A higher disease activity was well-differentiated by EQ-5D, as with the disability and mental health scores. Conclusions The EQ-5D demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties for assessment of SpA patients. It has high utility for demonstrating changes in disease activity and disability.

Background: The presence of ⩾3 corner inflammatory lesions has been proposed as the definition of a positive spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), but subsequent studies showed inconclusive findings. Our objective was to evaluate whether locations of corner inflammatory lesions (CILs) would affect the diagnostic utility of MRI in axSpA. Method: Two groups were consecutively recruited from eight rheumatology centers in Hong Kong. The ‘axSpA’ group included 369 participants with a known diagnosis of axSpA. The ‘non-specific back pain’ (NSBP) control group consisted of 117 participants. Clinical, biochemical, and radiological parameters were collected and all patients underwent MRI of the spine and sacroiliac joints. CILs were assessed based on their locations (cervical, thoracic or lumbar) to determine the optimal cutoff for diagnosis. Results: The cutoff of ⩾5 whole spine CILs (W-CILs) and ⩾3 thoracic spine CILs (T-CILs) had comparable specificity to MRI sacroiliitis. Of 85/369 axSpA patients without sacroiliitis on conventional radiograph or MRI, 7 had ⩾5 W-CILs and 11 had ⩾3 T-CILs. Incorporating the proposed cutoffs into Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society axSpA criteria, ⩾5 W-CILs and ⩾3 T-CILs had similar performance when added to the imaging criteria for sacroiliitis (sensitivity 0.79 versus 0.80, specificity 0.92 versus 0.91). Conclusion: Spinal MRI provided little incremental diagnostic value in unselected axSpA patients. However, in patients without sacroiliitis on MRI or radiographs, 8–13% might be diagnosed by spinal MRI. Thoracic and whole spine MRI had similar diagnostic performance using the proposed cutoff of ⩾5 W-CILs and ⩾3 T-CILs.

Aims: Thiopurines are believed to increase cancer risks, but data from Asian patients are sparse. We determined the risks of malignancies in thiopurine users with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or other indications from Hong Kong. Methods: All patients who had received thiopurines between 2005 and 2009 in Hong Kong were identified from local electronic healthcare database. Patients were followed from the start date of thiopurines until death or end of study in 2017. We excluded patients with baseline malignancy. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of all malignancies were computed against matched local general population from the cancer registry. Patients in the same diagnosis category but not exposed to thiopurines were included as controls. Results: There were 7452 thiopurines users (median age 47.0 years), including 595 IBD patients, with a median follow-up of 11.2 years. Of them, 684 (9.2%) developed malignancies with an overall SIR of 2.30 (95% CI 2.13–2.48). The SIR in IBD patients who used thiopurines was 2.37 (95% CI 1.71–3.18) as compared with non-users (SIR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05–1.72). Highest risk of malignancies was observed in post-transplant patients (SIR 3.83, 95% CI 3.34–4.35), and lower risks were seen in patients with rheumatological diseases (SIR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02–2.02). Conclusion: IBD patients in Hong Kong who used thiopurines had 2.37-fold increase in risk of malignancies than the general population, which was higher than non-users and different from thiopurine users for other indications.

Aims: To compare the risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalization in spondyloarthritis (SpA) and non-specific back pain (NSBP), and to identify the risk factors for CAP in SpA. Methods: A total of 2984 patients with SpA from 11 rheumatology centers and 2526 patients with NSBP from orthopedic units were reviewed from the centralized electronic database in Hong Kong. Incidence of CAP requiring hospitalization and demographic data including age, gender, smoking and drinking status, use of sulfasalazine, individual biological-disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used, micro-organisms, other immunosuppressants or immunosuppressive states, use of steroid for more than ½ year, and co-morbidities were identified. Risks of CAP in SpA were compared with those in NSBP using propensity score regression method. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to identify the risk factors in SpA. Results: CAP requiring hospitalization was found in 183 patients with SpA and 138 patients with NSBP. Increased risk for CAP was found in the following groups with SpA: all subgroups (hazard ratio (HR) 2.14, p

We report a 49-year-old lady with ulcerative colitis (UC) who subsequently developed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) ten years later. By reviewing the drug history and serum autoimmune panel, we hypothesize that systemic lupus erythematosus may occur in a patient with a history of inflammatory bowel disease as a coexisting disease, or triggered by drugs used in inflammatory bowel disease, such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). This case raises the discussion that patients with Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may have a genetic predisposition for developing other autoimmune diseases, and explores the possibility of drugs used in the treatment of IBD as a trigger for SLE development. Being able to differentiate the two has important implications in management and prognosis.

Background: Drug allergies (DA) are immunologically mediated adverse drug reactions and their manifestations depend on a variety of drug- and patient-specific factors. The dysregulated immune system underpinning rheumatological diseases may also lead to an increase in hypersensitivity reactions, including DA. The higher prevalence of reported DA, especially anti-microbials, also restricts the medication repertoire for these already immunocompromised patients. However, few studies have examined the prevalence and impact of reported DA in this group of patients. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were recruited from the rheumatology clinics in a tertiary referral hospital between 2018 and 2019. Prevalence and clinical outcomes of reported DA among different rheumatological diseases were calculated and compared to a cohort of hospitalized non-rheumatology patients within the same period. Results: A total of 6081 patients (2541 rheumatology patients: 1286 RA, 759 SpA, and 496 SLE; and 3540 controls) were included. DA was more frequently reported among rheumatology patients compared to controls (23.8% vs. 13.8%, p < 0.01). Antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the two most commonly reported categories of DA with a prevalence of 12.0% and 5.1%, respectively. Reported antibiotics allergies were more frequent in patients with RA (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.02–1.62, p = 0.03) and SLE (OR = 4.69, 95% CI = 3.69–5.95, p < 0.01); and associated with increased infection-related admissions among rheumatology patients (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.09–2.95, p = 0.02). Among the subgroup of patients referred for allergy testing, 85.7% of beta-lactam antibiotic allergy labels were found to be inaccurate and de-labelled after negative drug provocation testing. Conclusion: The prevalence of reported DA was significantly higher in rheumatology patients. Reported antibiotic allergy was associated with increased rate of infection-related admissions. However, the rate of genuine antibiotic allergy was low. Further studies are needed to guide proper assessment of reported DA and impact of comprehensive allergy testing in this group of patients.

OBJECTIVE:To compare the utility of Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) with short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequence in the diagnosis of early axial spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS:Three hundred and five patients with chronic back pain were recruited consecutively from 3 rheumatology centers. Clinical, radiological and blood parameters were recorded. Patients with back pain duration no more than 3 years were classified as having early disease. STIR sequence and DWI of the sacroiliac joints were obtained and assessed using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) method. The Assessment in Spondyloarthritis international Society definition was used to define positive STIR and DWI. Results were compared to expert diagnosed axial SpA. RESULTS:When compared to STIR sequence, DWI had similar sensitivity (STIR 0.29, DWI 0.30) and specificity (STIR 0.97, DWI 0.92) in diagnosing sacroiliitis. However, STIR sequence had better reliability (STIR 0.78, DWI 0.61). In early disease group, DWI was not better than STIR sequence in detecting active sacroiliitis (sensitivity DWI vs STIR: 0.34 vs 0.36; specificity DWI vs STIR: 0.93 vs 0.93; positive predictive value DWI vs STIR: 0.92 vs 0.92; negative predictive value DWI vs STIR: 0.36 vs 0.37). Using the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification criteria, 67/98 patients with early disease (sensitivity 0.91 specificity 0.90) and 221/305 overall (sensitivity 0.90; specificity 0.92) were classified as axial SpA. Among the expert diagnosed axial SpA patients who did not meet the ASAS criteria, only 2 had positive DWI. CONCLUSION:DWI and STIR have similar sensitivity in diagnosing axSpA in early disease. However, the use of DWI is limited by poorer reliability when compared with STIR.