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Management of systemic autoimmune diseases is challenging for physicians in their clinical practice. Although not common, they affect thousands of patients in Spain. The family doctor faces patients with symptoms and non-specific cutaneous, mucous, joint, vascular signs or abnormal laboratory findings at the start of the disease process and has to determine when to refer patients to the specialist. To aid in disease detection and better referral, the Spanish Society of Rheumatology and the Spanish Society of Family Medicine has created a group of experts who selected 26 symptoms, key signs and abnormal laboratory findings which were organized by organ and apparatus. Family doctors and rheumatologists with an interest in autoimmune systemic diseases were selected and formed mixed groups of two that then elaborated algorithms for diagnostic guidelines and referral. The algorithms were then reviewed, homogenized and adapted to the algorithm format and application for cell phone (apps) download. The result is the current Referral document of systemic autoimmune diseases for the family doctor in paper format and app (download). It contains easy-to-use algorithms using data from anamnesis, physical examination and laboratory results usually available to primary care, that help diagnose and refer patients to rheumatology or other specialties if needed. (C) 2019 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. and Sociedad Espanola de Reumatologia y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatologia. All rights reserved.

El diagnóstico y tratamiento de las enfermedades autoinmunes sistémicas (EAS) constituye un reto. Aunque infrecuentes, afectan a cientos de miles de pacientes en España. El médico de familia (MF) se enfrenta a síntomas o signos inespecíficos que hacen sospechar EAS al inicio del proceso, y tiene que decidir a quiénes debería derivar. Para facilitar su reconocimiento y mejorar su derivación, expertos de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria y de la Sociedad Española de Reumatología seleccionaron 26 síntomas/signos-guía y alteraciones analíticas. Se escogieron parejas de MF y reumatólogo para elaborar algoritmos diagnósticos y de derivación. Posteriormente se revisaron y adaptaron al formato de aplicación para móviles (app) descargable. El resultado es el presente documento de derivación de EAS para MF en formato de papel y app. Contiene algoritmos de fácil manejo utilizando datos de la anamnesis, exploración física y pruebas analíticas accesibles en atención primaria para orientar el diagnóstico y facilitar la derivación a reumatología o a otras especialidades. Management of systemic autoimmune diseases is challenging for physicians in their clinical practice. Although not common, they affect thousands of patients in Spain. The family doctor faces patients with symptoms and non-specific cutaneous, mucous, joint, vascular signs or abnormal laboratory findings at the start of the disease process and has to determine when to refer patients to the specialist. To aid in disease detection and better referral, the Spanish Society of Rheumatology and the Spanish Society of Family Medicine has created a group of experts who selected 26 symptoms, key signs and abnormal laboratory findings which were organized by organ and apparatus. Family doctors and rheumatologists with an interest in autoimmune systemic diseases were selected and formed mixed groups of two that then elaborated algorithms for diagnostic guidelines and referral. The algorithms were then reviewed, homogenized and adapted to the algorithm format and application for cell phone (apps) download. The result is the current Referral document of systemic autoimmune diseases for the family doctor in paper format and app (download). It contains easy-to-use algorithms using data from anamnesis, physical examination and laboratory results usually available to primary care, that help diagnose and refer patients to rheumatology or other specialties if needed. Sin financiación No data JCR 2020 0.271 SJR (2020) Q4, 50/58 Rheumatology No data IDR 2020 UEM

Objective To describe the variability of the day care hospital units (DCHUs) of Rheumatology in Spain, in terms of structural resources and operating processes. Material and methods Multicenter descriptive study with data from a self-completed questionnaire of DCHUs self-assessment based on DCHUs quality standards of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology. Structural resources and operating processes were analyzed and stratified by hospital complexity (regional, general, major and complex). Variability was determined using the coefficient of variation (CV) of the variable with clinical relevance that presented statistically significant differences when was compared by centers. Results A total of 89 hospitals (16 autonomous regions and Melilla) were included in the analysis. 11.2% of hospitals are regional, 22.5% general, 27% major and 39.3% complex. A total of 92% of DCHUs were polyvalent. The number of treatments applied, the coordination between DCHUs and hospital pharmacy and the post graduate training process were the variables that showed statistically significant differences depending on the complexity of hospital. The highest rate of rheumatologic treatments was found in complex hospitals (2.97 per 1000 population), and the lowest in general hospitals (2.01 per 1000 population). The CV was 0.88 in major hospitals; 0.86 in regional; 0.76 in general, and 0.72 in the complex. Conclusions There was variability in the number of treatments delivered in DCHUs, being greater in major hospitals and then in regional centers. Nonetheless, the variability in terms of structure and function does not seem due to differences in center complexity.

Resumen Objetivos Describir la variabilidad de las unidades de hospitalizacion de dia (UHdD) de Reumatologia en Espana, en terminos de recursos estructurales y procesos de funcionamiento. Material y metodos Estudio descriptivo, multicentrico, con evaluacion de las UHdD mediante cuestionario autocumplimentado a partir de estandares de calidad de la Sociedad Espanola de Reumatologia. Se analizaron recursos estructurales y procesos de las UHdD estratificados por complejidad del hospital (comarcal, general, mayor y complejo), y se determino la variabilidad mediante el coeficiente de variacion (CV) de la variable con relevancia clinica que presentara diferencias estadisticamente significativas al comparar por centros. Resultados Un total de 89 centros (16 comunidades autonomas y Melilla) se incluyeron en el analisis. El 11,2% de los hospitales son comarcales; el 22,5%, generales; el 27%, mayores, y el 39,3%, complejos. El 92% de las UHdD son polivalentes. El numero de tratamientos aplicados, la coordinacion entre las UHdD y farmacia hospitalaria y la presencia de formacion posgrado fueron las variables de proceso que presentaron diferencias estadisticamente significativas en funcion del nivel de complejidad del hospital. La tasa de tratamientos mas alta se hallo en hospitales complejos (2,97 por 1.000 habitantes), y la mas baja, en hospitales generales (2,01 por 1.000 habitantes). El CV fue de 0,88 en hospitales mayores, de 0,86 en comarcales, de 0,76 en generales y de 0,72 en los complejos. Conclusiones Existe una mayor variabilidad en el numero de tratamientos de UHdD en los hospitales mayores, seguido de los comarcales. Sin embargo, la variabilidad en estructura y funcionamiento no parece deberse a diferencias de complejidad de los centros.

Las infecciones virales cronicas en un paciente reumatico constituyen un reto diagnostico y terapeutico. Algunos de los farmacos antirreumaticos modificadores de la enfermedad (FAME) mas utilizados en la artritis reumatoide, como el metotrexato y la leflunomida, presentan riesgo de hepatotoxicidad. Con la terapia biologica, que es hoy en dia ampliamente utilizada en pacientes refractarios a estos y otros FAME, se han descrito casos de reactivacion de hepatitis B, incluso fulminante, especialmente con los antagonistas del TNF y rituximab, por lo que su utilizacion ha de ser cuidadosamente valorada y, generalmente, administrada junto con tratamiento antiviral. Sin embargo, no se han descrito casos de reactivacion de hepatitis C tras terapia inmunosupresora. En los pacientes con serologia VIH la administracion de tratamiento inmunosupresor conlleva un elevado riesgo de infecciones oportunistas, aunque la nueva terapia antiviral altamente activa permite utilizar algunos farmacos en casos seleccionados

Chronic viral infections in rheumatic patients are a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Some of the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) commonly used in rheumatoid arthritis, such as methotrexate and leflunomide, are hepatotoxic. With biological therapy, which is now widely used in patients refractory to these and other DMARD, some cases of reactivation of hepatitis B, even fulminant cases, have been reported, especially when employing TNF antagonists and rituximab, so their use must be carefully assessed and usually accompanied by antiviral therapy. However, there have not been reports of reactivation of hepatitis C after immunosuppressive therapy. In patients with HIV infection, administration of immunosuppressive therapy carries a high risk of opportunistic infections, although the new highly active antiviral therapy allows the use of some drugs in selected cases.