Publications

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216 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 216
Diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of myositis: recent advances

Abstract (Expand)

Dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), necrotizing myopathy (NM) and inclusion body myositis (IBM) are four distinct subtypes of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies - in short myositis. Recent studies … have shed some light on the unique pathogenesis of each entity. Some of the clinical features are distinct, but muscle biopsy is indispensable for making a reliable diagnosis. The use of magnetic resonance imaging of skeletal muscles and detection of myositis-specific autoantibodies have become useful additions to our diagnostic repertoire. Only few controlled trials are available to substantiate current treatment approaches for myositis and hopes are high that novel modalities will become available within the next few years. In this review we provide an up-to-date overview of the pathogenesis and diagnostic approach of myositis. We aim to present a guide towards therapeutic and general management.

Authors: P. O. Carstens, J. Schmidt

Date Published: 2014

Publication Type: Journal Article

[Trends in rehabilitation of patients with rheumatic diseases in Germany]

Abstract (Expand)

Recent Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Rheumatologie (DGRh, German Society of Rheumatology) guidelines emphasized the significance of coordinated multidisciplinary care and rehabilitation of patients with … inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Nationwide data from the German pension insurance funds showed that inpatient rehabilitation due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) varied by a factor of 2.6 between the different German states. From 2000 to 2012 rehabilitation measures were reduced by one third, most significantly in men with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Rehabilitation measures because of RA or AS were provided up to 14 times more frequently by the German statutory pension insurance scheme compared with a large compulsory health insurance which is responsible for rehabilitation measures after retirement. In rehabilitation centers with high numbers of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, higher structural and process quality were demonstrated. In 2011 a total of 40 % of RA patients in the national database of the collaborative arthritis centers showed medium or severe functional limitations. Among these disabled RA patients inpatient rehabilitation was reduced by about 50 % between 1995 and 2011. Out of all RA patients from outpatient rheumatology care with severe functional limitations 38 % had no functional restoration therapy within the previous 12 months with a high variation between rheumatologists. Experiences from other European countries may inspire German rheumatologists and other involved health professionals to initiate a wider range of rehabilitative interventions in the future.

Authors: W. Mau, W. Beyer, I. Ehlebracht-Konig, J. M. Engel, E. Genth, W. H. Jackel, U. Lange, K. Thiele

Date Published: 2014

Publication Type: Journal Article

[Trends of work force participation of patients with rheumatic diseases : results from German social insurance data and the national database of the German collaborative arthritis centers]

Abstract (Expand)

Positive therapeutic effects on the work force participation derived from international clinical trials may not be directly transferable to the community based care in Germany. Therefore recent changes … of data regarding sick leave (SL), work disability pension (WDP) and employment from the social insurance and from the national database of the German collaborative arthritis centers were analyzed covering a time period of at least 10 years. Health insurance data showed a steeper decline in the average duration of SL caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with all other diseases. In RA patients from the collaborative arthritis centers the mean duration of SL was much more reduced than the average duration of SL for members of the compulsory health insurance. The proportion of gainfully employed RA patients in collaborative arthritis centers has particularly increased in women. According to data from the pension insurance fund less incident cases of WDP due to RA, AS, and SLE have been observed than WDP caused by all other diseases. Thus different nationwide data show positive changes of the work force participation of individuals suffering from inflammatory rheumatic diseases in Germany.

Authors: W. Mau, K. Thiele, J. Lamprecht

Date Published: 2014

Publication Type: Journal Article

The epidemiology of Sjogren’s syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Sjogren’s syndrome is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands. It can present as an entity by itself, primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS), or in … addition to another autoimmune disease, secondary Sjogren’s syndrome (sSS). pSS has a strong female propensity and is more prevalent in Caucasian women, with the mean age of onset usually in the 4th to 5th decade. Clinical presentation varies from mild symptoms, such as classic sicca symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and xerostomia, to severe systemic symptoms, involving multiple organ systems. Furthermore, a range of autoantibodies can be present in Sjogren’s syndrome (anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies, rheumatoid factor, cryoglobulins, antinuclear antibodies), complicating the presentation. The heterogeneity of signs and symptoms has led to the development of multiple classification criteria. However, there is no accepted universal classification criterion for the diagnosis of Sjogren’s syndrome. There are a limited number of studies that have been published on the epidemiology of Sjogren’s syndrome, and the incidence and prevalence of the disease varies according to the classification criteria used. The data is further confounded by selection bias and misclassification bias, making it difficult for interpretation. The aim of this review is to understand the reported incidence and prevalence on pSS and sSS, the frequency of autoantibodies, and the risk of malignancy, which has been associated with pSS, taking into account the different classification criteria used.

Authors: R. Patel, A. Shahane

Date Published: 2014

Publication Type: Journal Article

[Healthcare research in rheumatology. Current state]

Abstract (Expand)

Health services research in rheumatology investigates the healthcare needs, the quality of care and trends in healthcare for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Using rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as … an example, key results of health services research during the last 25 years are summarized. There are currently approximately 540,000 persons with RA in Germany of which some two thirds are regularly seen by rheumatologists. The data from the national database of the German collaborative arthritis centres show that patients are now seen earlier and to a greater extent. The intensity of drug treatment with synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has increased continuously. At the same time, the mean disease activity (DAS28) has decreased from 4.7 to 3.3 and approximately 50 % of patients treated early achieve remission. Physician-rated disease severity has considerably improved and fewer patients suffer from erosive disease. This corresponds with improvements in functional capacity and work participation. Health services research impressively shows the advances in rheumatological care. Further improvements at the population level are limited by the low numbers of rheumatologists in outpatient care.

Author: A. Zink

Date Published: 2014

Publication Type: Journal Article

Sustainability of rituximab therapy in different treatment strategies: results of a 3-year followup of a German biologics register

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVE: To compare the approved treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using rituximab + methotrexate (RTX + MTX) versus the off-label treatment variants of RTX in monotherapy or RTX in combination with … leflunomide (RTX + LEF). METHODS: We included RTX-naive patients enrolled in the German biologics register RABBIT (Rheumatoid Arthritis: Observation of Biologic Therapy) between 2007 and 2012 (n = 907) who started treatment with RTX. Three treatment regimens (RTX + MTX, RTX + LEF, and RTX monotherapy) were analyzed regarding therapy discontinuation, dropout, RTX retreatment, and concomitant glucocorticoid therapy. Effectiveness was evaluated with linear mixed models. RESULTS: Baseline patient characteristics were similar across treatment regimens, except for poorer functional status and more comorbidities in RTX monotherapy. Average doses of glucocorticoids were lower in RTX + LEF compared to the 2 other groups. The frequency and timing of RTX retreatment (P > 0.62) as well as improvement in the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) over time (P > 0.15) were similar in all treatment regimens. Within the first 12 months of treatment, the DAS28 decreased by 1.5 units, and between months 12 and 36, by a further 0.4 unit equally in all groups. Nevertheless, therapy discontinuation and dropout were significantly increased on RTX monotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.7 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2-2.3]), and additionally when patients were rheumatoid factor negative (HR 1.5 [95% CI 1.0-2.1]). CONCLUSION: In patients who continue therapy, RTX + LEF, RTX monotherapy, and RTX + MTX seem to be equally effective. However, given the lower adherence rates on monotherapy, this treatment option is not sufficient for all patients. Since many patients are intolerant to MTX, more licensed RTX treatment options are needed.

Authors: A. Richter, A. Strangfeld, P. Herzer, E. Wilden, A. Bussmann, J. Listing, A. Zink

Date Published: 2014

Publication Type: Journal Article

[Safety of biologic therapy - results from the German biologics register RABBIT]

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: A. Strangfeld, A. Zink

Date Published: 2014

Publication Type: Journal Article

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