Sjögren's disease (SjD) was first described in a middle-aged female patient with chronic rheumatism in 1930. Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most commonly identified type of glomerulonephritis in older adults with nephrotic syndrome. One of the autoimmune diseases that causes secondary MN is SjD. A 68-year-old female patient with a medical history of 25 years of hypertension, 9 years of SjD, depressive mood disorder, and intracoronary stent placement applied with peripheral edema. Hypoalbuminemia, hypothyroidism, hematuria, proteinuria, and albuminuria were also detected. In the autoantibody panel, antinuclear antibodies, anti-Ro-52 antibody, anti-Ro/SS-related antigen A antibody, and anticentromere antibody were positive. Kidney biopsy revealed MN. Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody was negative. Methylprednisolone, cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine, nifedipine, metoprolol, valsartan, L-thyroxine, acetylsalicylic acid, artificial tear drops, and fluoxetine were administered. Partial remission was detected in the first month of treatment. However, the patient, who had all vaccinations, developed swine flu infection and subsequently widespread candidiasis, and despite amphotericin B treatment and discontinuation of immunosuppressives, died in the fifth month due to septic shock. Anti-PLA2R antibody negative MN is one of the kidney manifestations of SjD. The poor prognosis of our patient was due to high SjD disease activity and severe infectious complications, which are independent risk factors for overall mortality.

To assess the frequency of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and alternative diagnoses in patients with suspected DVT when evaluated by a rheumatologist. Secondly, to describe the distribution of different diagnoses across three Wells score categories (low, moderate, and high). This is an observational study of patients evaluated at a DVT clinic for suspected DVT, with a rheumatologist-supervised evaluation, performing ultrasound scans on the affected limbs and assessing their results. The obtained diagnoses were noted along with the initial Wells scores performed by the rheumatologist. 649 patients were included. DVT was confirmed in 119/649 (18.3%) cases, with musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders, particularly arthritis and knee-related conditions, being the most common alternative diagnoses (166/649, 25.6%). 288/649 (44.4%) patients did not receive a definitive diagnosis. Higher Wells scores were more common in confirmed DVT cases, while patients with MSK disorders generally had lower Wells scores, likely due to clinical assessments that identified alternative diagnoses early. MSK disorders frequently present with symptoms mimicking DVT, underscoring the value of rheumatologist-led evaluations in suspected DVT cases. Further research is needed to refine diagnostic approaches for patients with DVT-like symptoms, particularly regarding the role of MSK expertise in both physical and ultrasound assessments.

This study aimed to investigate the correlated risk factors and presence of radiological enthesopathies of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in patients with axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA). 242 patients (121 female and 121 male) with axSpA were included in this study. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI), the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), and CRP were evaluated in all patients. The lateral foot X-rays of the patients were assessed for enthesopathies of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia attachments. Calcaneal spur and Achilles enthesopathies were present in 57.4% of the patients. 39.3% of patients had enthesopathies in both regions. The male and female groups differed statistically in terms of weight, height, body mass index (BMI), positive family history, and duration since diagnosis (p<0.05). The presence of calcaneal spur and Achilles enthesopathies was found to be significantly correlated with age, weight, BMI, symptom duration, and the scores of BASDAI, BASFI, ASDAS-CRP, BASRI, and MASES (p<0.05). The presence of enthesopathies appears to be associated with age, weight, BMI, symptom duration, and disease activity. Conventional radiography can be used as an auxiliary tool in the evaluation of entheseal abnormalities in patients with SpA, especially in patients with advanced age, long symptom duration, and high BMI.

Visceral muscle dysmotility syndrome (VMDS) is a rare syndrome described in the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical course. It is characterized by diffuse thickened intestinal wall and gastrointestinal-genitourinary-hepatobiliary hollow viscera dilatation and dysmotility. Due to the rarity and the heterogeneity of the clinical characteristics of this syndrome, it is not entirely clear which is the best diagnostic imaging technique for the diagnosis and/or follow-up, even if, in all the described cases, computed tomography (CT) was generally used to study visceral involvement. However, there are no cases describing the visceral metabolic activity by 18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-CT (18FDG-PET-CT). Here, we reported the first clinical case of VMDS studied by 18FDG-PET-CT, characterizing the metabolic activity of this rare syndrome during SLE flare. We found a high intestinal metabolic burden, hyper-fixation in duodenum, and high hepatic metabolic activity. Moreover, we reviewed the literature on VMDS in SLE, focusing on imaging techniques in different anatomical sites (bowel, urinary tract, bile ducts), patients' symptoms, and treatment.

The journey to a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis (SpA) can be difficult for women, who often experience delays in receiving the correct diagnosis as their symptoms are frequently misinterpreted due to other conditions like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, or other psychosomatic disorders. The purpose of this article is to examine the challenges in the diagnosis of SpA in women and the possible role of musculoskeletal ultrasound in early diagnosis and in avoiding misdiagnosis. We have performed a narrative review of the currently available literature on the subject. The complexity of diagnosing SpA in women is compounded by the misconception that the disease predominantly affects men. To facilitate early diagnosis and prevent misdiagnosis, it is crucial not to overlook gender differences in the clinical presentation of SpA. Since women have more peripheral and enthesitic involvement, performing an ultrasound of entheses, tendons, and joints in women with musculoskeletal symptoms that could refer to SpA may help both in the early and differential diagnosis. There is a need to increase awareness among physicians of the existence of a different clinical presentation of SpA between men and women. The use of musculoskeletal ultrasound, which allows the detection of even subclinical inflammation and structural damage since early disease at the level of joints, tendons, and entheses can help make an early diagnosis and avoid misdiagnosis. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of SpA are crucial to reducing irreversible damage.

To evaluate the association of the rs11125908 polymorphism in the COMMD1 gene in the Cuban population with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this case-control study, 161 RA patients and 150 control subjects were genotyped for rs11125908 by the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction method. DNA sequencing was used to verify the assignation of the polymorphism. The odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence interval were calculated by logistic regression to determine the associations between genotypes and RA using the SNPStats software. An association of the single nucleotide polymorphism with the disease was found in the overdominant model (p=0.025; OR=1.91) for the AG genotype. Our analyses revealed an association between rs11125908 and the subgroup of patients with swollen joints < median under the codominant model for AG (p=0.034; OR=2.30) and GG genotype (p=0.034; OR=0.82) and with the overdominant model (p=0.01; OR=2.38). The subgroup of patients with an age of onset lower than the mean and AG genotype showed an association in the overdominant model (p=0.027; OR=2.27). Disease activity score 28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate and disease duration variables were not associated with the rs11125908 polymorphism. rs11125908 was associated with RA and with the number of swollen joints and age of onset subgroup analyses. We provide concepts for treatments for RA, based on pharmacological management of COMMD1 expression.

In the last decades, the number of foreigners in Tuscany has considerably increased with a multiethnic distribution. We reviewed the main rheumatic diseases in the foreign population resident in Tuscany and also reported the experience at the Rheumatology Division of the University Hospital of Careggi, Florence, in order to identify the areas of origin of these patients and the main rheumatic diseases observed in them. The collaboration with the Tuscan Region provided data about foreign patients residing in Tuscany on January 1, 2021 (country of origin, chronic diseases). Moreover, we conducted a retrospective review of the clinical charts of our Rheumatologic Division from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. In Tuscany, on January 1, 2021, there were 61,373 patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, and 3994 of them (6.51%) were foreigners. Most patients were born in Europe (39.03%), followed by the Balkans (15%), South America (11.27%), and North Africa (10.31%). Inflammatory joint diseases, Sjögren syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus were the most frequent diseases. In the period 2019-2020, 511 foreign patients visited our Rheumatology Division and mainly originated from the Balkans (34.64%), South America (18%), and European countries (16.44%). In these patients, chronic inflammatory joint diseases and connective tissue diseases (systemic sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus) were the most prevalent diseases. This study provides a picture of the rheumatic diseases affecting foreign patients residing in Tuscany that are in agreement with the epidemiological data previously provided.

Following the restrictions on the reimbursability of Janus kinase inhibitors introduced by the Italian Medicines Agency, the Italian Society of Rheumatology has drafted this document to shed light on the clinical conditions and reimbursability criteria set out in the prescription forms.

Renal biopsy contributes to the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment of many rheumatic conditions. This study assessed the diagnostic role and safety of renal biopsies in a tertiary rheumatology clinic. Renal biopsies performed between June 2020 and December 2022 were screened, and demographic, clinical, histopathological, and safety data were collected from patient records. In this study, 33 males and 38 females were included. Except for 1 patient who received acetylsalicylic acid, antiaggregant, and/or anticoagulant drugs were stopped before the biopsy. Complications included a decrease of hemoglobin in 8 patients (11.3%) and microscopic hematuria in 40 patients (56.3%). Control ultrasonography was performed in 16 patients (22.5%), and a self-limiting hematoma was found in 4 of them (5.6%) without additional complications. While less than 10 glomeruli were obtained in 9 patients (9.9%), diagnosis success was 94.4%. Histopathological data were consistent with one of the pre-biopsy diagnoses in 54 of 67 cases (80.6%) but showed discrepancies in 19.4% (n=13) of patients. A repeat biopsy was performed in 7 patients for re-staging or insufficient biopsy. Renal biopsy significantly contributes to rheumatology practice, especially in patients with complex clinical and laboratory findings or in whom different treatments can be given according to the presence, severity, and type of renal involvement. Although the possibility of obtaining insufficient tissue and the need for re-staging and repeat biopsy in the follow-up might be expected, complication risk does not seem to be a big concern. Renal biopsy often evidenced discrepancies between pre-biopsy diagnosis and histopathological findings.

We report a case of eosinophilic fasciitis in a teenage auto mechanic who was most likely affected by occupational exposure to organic solvents, including the aromatic hydrocarbons benzene, trimethylbenzene, naphthalene, toluene, and xylene. The patient presented with an 8-month history of painful induration of his extremities and an abnormal gait. A deep excisional biopsy of the fascia was obtained, demonstrating subcutaneous fibrosis with perivascular and interstitial inflammation, with lymphocytes and plasma cells spilling into the sclerosed fascia, and focal fibrinoid necrosis. Treatment was begun with intravenous pulse doses of methylprednisolone, prednisone (20 mg daily), and subcutaneous methotrexate (25 mg weekly), and the patient's painful induration had resolved and gait had normalized at the 6-month follow-up. Our case suggests that exposure to organic solvents could be implicated in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic fasciitis and highlights the importance of a thorough occupational history to prevent repeat exposures to potentially causative agents.