OBJECTIVE: To study the cytokine patterns in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy individuals and identify candidate serum biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of RA. METHODS: This study was conducted among 59 patients diagnosed with RA in our hospital from 2015 to 2019 with 46 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects who received regular physical examinations in our hospital as the control group. Serological autoimmune profiles of 5 RA patients and 5 healthy control subjects were obtained from human cytokine microarrays. We selected 4 differentially expressed cytokines (LIMPII, ROBO3, Periostin and IGFBP-4) and 2 soluble cytokine receptors of interest (2B4 and Tie-2) and examined their serum levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 54 RA patients and 41 healthy control subjects. Spearman correlation test was performed to assess the correlation of serum cytokine and soluble receptor expression levels with the clinical features including rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), disease activity score (DAS28) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic capability of these cytokines. RESULTS: We identified 6 dysregulated cytokines and soluble receptors (2B4, LIMPII, Tie-2, ROBO3, periostin and IGFBP-4) in RA patients (P < 0.01). The serum levels of LIMPII, ROBO3 and periostin were significantly correlated with the disease activity indicators including RF (P < 0.001), CRP (P < 0.001), DAS28 (P < 0.001) and HAQ (P < 0.001) in RA patients. Among the 6 candidate cytokines, 2B4 showed the largest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.861 for RA diagnosis (P < 0.001), followed then by LIMPII, ROBO3, periostin, Tie-2 and IGFBP-4. CONCLUSION Serum levels of LIMPII, ROBO3 and periostin can be indicative of the disease activity of RA, and serum 2B4, LIMPII, periostin, ROBO3, IGFBP-4 and Tie-2 levels may serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis* ; Biomarkers ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 ; Protein Array Analysis ; Receptors, Cell Surface

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Pollard' s classification criteria(2010) for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients withfibromyalgia (FM) in Chinese patients, and to assess the clinical features and psychological status of RA-FM patients in a real-world observational setting. METHODS: Two hundred and two patients with rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled from the outpatients in Rheumatology and Immunology Department in Peking University People' s Hospital. All the patients were evaluated whether incorporating fibromyalgia translation occured using the 1990 American College of Rheumatolgy (ACR)-FM classification criteria. Forty two RA patients were concomitant with FM, while the other one hundred and sixty RA patients without FM were set as the control group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in general demography between the two groups (P>0.05). In this study, the Pollard' s classification criteria (2010) for RA-FM in Chinese patients had a high sensitivity of 95.2% and relatively low specificity of 52.6%. Compared with those patients without FM, RA patients with FM (RA-FM patients) had higher Disease Activity Scale in 28 joints (DAS-28) score (5.95 vs. 4.38, P=0.011) and much more 28-tender joint counts (TJC) (16.5 vs.4.5, P < 0.001).RA-FM patients had worse Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score (1.24 vs. 0.66, P < 0.001) and lower SF-36 (28.63 vs. 58.22, P < 0.001). Fatigue was more common in RA-FM patients (88. 1% vs. 50.6%, P < 0.001) and the degree of fatigue was significantly increased in RA-FM patients (fatigue VAS 5.55 vs. 3.55, P < 0.001). RA-FM patients also had higher anxiety (10 vs.4, P < 0.001) and depression scores (12 vs.6, P < 0.001). erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), morning stiffness time and 28-swollen joint counts (SJC) showed no difference between these two groups. CONCLUSION The Pollard' s classification criteria (2010) for RA-FM are feasible in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis patients. The Pollard' s classification criteria is highly sensitive in clinical application, while the relativelylow specificity indicates that various factors need to be considered in combination. RA patients with FM result in higher disease activity, worse function aland psychological status. RA patients with FM also have poorer quality of life. DAS-28 scores may be overestimated in RA patients with FM. In a RA patient thatdoes not reach remission, the possibility of fibromyalgia should be con-sidered.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis* ; Fatigue/etiology* ; Fibromyalgia/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Severity of Illness Index

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of systemic chronic progressive inflammatory disorders based on immunological disharmonies. Poorly controlled systemic inflammation in RA often leads to renal diseases such as secondary amyloidosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old man complained of swelling and tenderness of multiple joints gradually worsened the past 7 years. His laboratory examination showed anemia, positive rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA). C-reactive protein (CRP) was 48.7 mg/L (Normal value is <5 mg/L), increase in serum creatinine and protein was +3 in urine. His estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) was 58.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 Radiologic examinations of joints revealed features that support the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Renal biopsy was done revealed amyloid deposit. He was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and secondary renal amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: Early proper diagnosis of RA is important and immunosuppressive drugs might slow disease progression by controlling the inflammatory process We discussed the importance of early diagnosis and the use of better treatment in managing RA to prevent renal amyloidosis.
Amyloidosis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Early Diagnosis

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of relapsing polychondritis(RP)patients presented with arthropathy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 201 RP patients who were hospitalized in our center between December 2005 and February 2019.After 16 patients with co-existing other autoimmune diseases and malignancies were ruled out,185 RP patients entered the final analysis,among whom 16 RP patients were presented with arthropathy and 169 without arthropathy.The demographic data,clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,and prognosis were compared between these two groups. Results Five of the 16 RP patients with arthropathy at presentation were misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis.Compared with RP patients without arthropathy at presentation,RP patients with arthropathy at presentation had a longer disease course[(37.50±66.50)months
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Joint Diseases/diagnosis* ; Polychondritis, Relapsing/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

diagnosis and management of systemic rheumatic disease. Currently, no gold standard tests are available for detecting anti-ENAs. To address this gap, we aimed to identify an assay that exhibits satisfactory diagnostic performance in the detection of five common anti-ENAs by comparing two commonly used assays, an automated fluorescent enzyme immunoassay (FEIA) and a microplate ELISA assay.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sera from 100 patients with systemic rheumatic disease were collected and assayed with FEIA and microplate ELISA to detect anti-ENAs. Statistical analyses were performed to check the agreement rate between the two platforms using kappa coefficients. Analytical sensitivity and specificity for each assay were calculated.RESULTS: The concordance rates between ELISA and FEIA ranged from 89% for anti-RNP to 97% for anti-Scl-70, and the kappa coefficients of the two assays were in the range of 0.44 to 0.82. Between the two assays, a significant difference in sensitivity and specificity was seen only for anti-Sm and anti-RNP, respectively.CONCLUSION: In this study, FEIA and ELISA showed comparable efficiency for detecting anti-ENAs.]]>
Antigens, Nuclear ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoantibodies ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We reported a case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) combined with pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) from Peking University People's Hospital. The clinical data were introduced and the related literature was reviewed. The clinical features, treatment and prognosis of the disease were summarized to improve clinicians' understanding of this rare disease and avoid misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis. A 45-year-old female, with 15 years of RA history and unregular treatment, was admitted to the hospital with the complaint of aggravating pain and swelling in the right knee for 3 months. The puncture of the right knee was performed and there was a large amount of bloody synovial fluid that could not be explained by her RA history. Moreover, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the right knee revealed hemosiderin deposition with low-intensity signals on both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images which suggested PVNS to us. Then, the patient underwent knee arthroscopy and biopsy to assist in diagnosis. The arthroscopic appearance and pathology were consistent with PVNS and the hyperplastic synovium was removed during arthroscopy. After the operation, she did active functional exercises and took disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs to control RA. She recovered well and remained asymptomatic after half a year of follow-up. Also, there was no recurrence of the right knee. As we all know, RA is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic synovitis and joint damage. And PVNS is characterized by synovial proliferation and infiltrative process. Both of them are synovial involvement and the clinical manifestations are quite similar. PVNS has occasionally been reported in association with RA. So it is difficult to make a clear diagnosis of RA combined with PVNS. Literature was searched with RA+PVNS in the WanFang Medical Network Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure and there were no related Chinese cases. Then we searched literature from PubMed with RA+PVNS. The cases were still rare and eventually 2 related articles were yielded including 2 similar patients. It is necessary to fully understand the disease development, complicated MRI appearance and various pathological morpho-logy. They can contribute to making a correct diagnosis which is effective to guide the proper treatment.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis* ; Arthroscopy ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint/diagnostic imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to involve the cervical spine up to 86%. It often causes cervical instability like atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS), subaxial subluxation, and vertical subluxation (VS). In order to find the relation between RA and cord compression, we will evaluate the characteristics and risk factors of basilar invagination (BI) and cervicomedullary junction (CMJ) compression.METHODS: From January 2007 to May 2015, 12667 patients administrated to Hanyang University Medical Center. Four thousand three hundred eighty-six patients took cervical X-ray and 250 patients took cervical computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Radiologic parameters, medication records were obtained from 242 patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with correlation of CMJ compression, basin-dental interval (BDI), basin-posterior axial line interval (BAI), pannus formation, BI, and AAS.RESULTS: In the point of CMJ compression, atlantodental interval (ADI), posterior-atlantodental interval, BAI, AAS, and BI are relatively highly correlated. Patients with BI have 82 times strong possibility of radiologic confirmed CMJ compression, while AAS has 6-fold and pannus formation has the 3-fold possibility. Compared to the low incidence of BI, AAS and pannus formation have more proportion in CMJ compression. Furthermore, wrist joint erosion was correlated with VS and AAS.CONCLUSION: BI has a very strong possibility of CMJ compression, while AAS and pannus formation have a high proportion in CMJ compression. Hence bilateral wrist joint erosion can be used as an indicator for the timing of screening test for cervical involvement. We suggest the early recommendation of cervical spine examination for the diagnosis of cervical involvement in order to prevent morbidity and mortality.
Academic Medical Centers ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Wrist Joint

Connective tissue disease (CTD) is a collection of disorders characterized by various signs and symptoms such as circulation of autoantibodies in the entire system causing damage to internal organs. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) which is associated with CTD is referred to as CTD-ILD. Patients diagnosed with ILD should be thoroughly examined for the co-occurrence of CTD, since the treatment procedures and prognosis of CTD-ILD are vary from those of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. The representative types of CTD which may accompany ILD include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis (SSc), Sjögren's syndrome, mixed CTD, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, and systemic lupus erythematous. Of these, ILD most frequently co-exists with SSc. If an ILD is observed in the chest, high resolution computed tomography and specific diagnostic criteria for any type of CTD are met, then a diagnosis of CTD-ILD is made. It is challenging to conduct a properly designed randomized study on CTD-ILD, due to low incidence. Therefore, CTD-ILD treatment approach is yet to been established in absence of randomized controlled clinical trials, with the exception of SSc-ILD. When a patient is presented with acute CTD-ILD or if symptoms occur due to progression of the disease, steroid and immunosuppressive therapy are generally considered.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autoantibodies ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Connective Tissue ; Diagnosis ; Disease Management ; Guidelines as Topic ; Humans ; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias ; Incidence ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Myositis ; Prognosis ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Thorax

Follicular bronchiolitis (FB) is an uncommon pulmonary lymphoproliferative disorder that is characterized by the presence of peribronchiolar hyperplastic lymphoid follicles with reactive germinal centers. FB could be associated with systemic illnesses including immunodeficiency, infection, and autoimmune diseases. In Korea, a single case of FB with rheumatoid arthritis was recently described but there has been no report on FB associated with other rheumatic diseases. Herein, we describe the first case of FB presenting nodular ground-glass opacities (GGO), which mimicked lung cancer, in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The differential diagnosis of nodular GGO lesions should include FB although it is a rare manifestation in SS patients.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Bronchiolitis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Germinal Center ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Rheumatic Diseases

Pigmented villonodular synovitis is a benign tumor arising from synovial fibroblasts or histiocytes. There are diffuse and localized forms: the former involves the entire synovium and the latter consists of nodules, small tumefactions, or pedunculated masses. The knee is the joint most commonly affected and the clinical diagnosis is difficult, so initial misdiagnosis is common. We report a case of pigmented villonodular synovitis developing in the knee of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient, mistaken for an RA flare-up.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fibroblasts ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Synovial Membrane ; Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular