ObjectiveTo estimate the 6-year radiographic progression of sacroiliitis in patients with early spondyloarthritis (SpA).Patients and methodsSacroiliac joint (SIJ) radiographs (baseline and 6 years) of 94 patients with recent-onset SpA from the Esperanza cohort were scored, blindly and in a random order, by nine readers. The modified New York criteria were used to define the presence of sacroiliitis. As the gold standard for radiographic (r) sacroiliitis, the categorical opinion of at least five readers was used. Progression was defined as the shift from non-radiographic (nr) to r-sacroiliitis.ResultsIn the 94 SIJ radiographs (baseline and 6 years), 78/94 (83%) pairs of radiographs had not changed from baseline to 6 years. Sacroiliitis was present in 20 patients at baseline (21.3%) and in 18 (19.2%) patients at 6 years; 11 patients had sacroiliitis at both the baseline and final visits; 9 patients changed from baseline r-sacroiliitis to nr-sacroiliitis at 6 years, and 7 changed from baseline nr-sacroiliitis to r-sacroiliitis at 6 years. The mean continuous change score (range: −8 to +8) was 2.80 at baseline and 2.55 at 6 years (mean net progression of −0.25). The reliability of the readers was fair (mean inter-reader kappa of 0.375 (0.146–0.652) and mean agreement of 73.7% (58.7–90%)).ConclusionIn the early SpA Esperanza cohort, progression from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA over 6 years was not observed, although the SIJ radiographs scoring has limitations to detect low levels of radiographic progression.

Background:Synovial inflammation is part of the pathophysiological process of PsoA although it is considered secondary to enthesitis. It is of interest to assess the synovial joint, peritendinous and enthesic response of patients with PsoA in remission under controlled mechanical stress.Objectives:Our aim is to present our observational experience in patients with APso in remission or low activity of the disease exposed to controlled manual physical efforts adapted to the own grasping capacity of each subject.Methods:Before-after study of a consecutive cohort of patients with PsoA (CASPAR criteria), of at least two years d evolution and DAPSA≤14 at present. Patients with positive rheumatoid factor, patients with exclusively axial forms and patients on biological therapy at the beginning of the study were excluded. All patients underwent controlled basal ultrasound and post-dynamometric exercise (CAMRY EH101-17) of the dominant hand which included the carpus, MCFs, IFPs and IFDs of the 2nd to 5th fingers. The ultrasound findings were scored according to EULAR recommendations in grey scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) for synovitis, enthesitis and tenosynovitis (maximum scores 71 and 87, respectively). For statistical analysis, comparisons were made with the results of their baseline and post-exercise ultrasound scores between subjects diagnosed with PsoA and controls. The Student’s T test was used for related and unrelated data according to correspondence.Results:Nineteen patients and controls were included, of which 73.7% were male. Mean age: 42.2 SD 6.6 and 42.21 SD 8.28, respectively. Basal DAPSA among patients: 7.26 SD 4.53. Mean traction strength of patients and controls: 23.8 SD 7.3 and 26.1 SD 6.9 kg, respectively (P=0.336). In the group of patients, the post exercise DAPSA had a mean of 7.52 SD 4.62 (P=0.021, with respect to the basal DAPSA). The mean total GS score in the patient group was 3.94 SD 2.36 and 7.31 SD 3.3, pre- and post-exercise, respectively (P<0.001). The mean total score in the PD study was 0.73 SD 0.73 and 2.57 SD 1.16, respectively (P<0.001). In patients with PsoA there were no detectable enthesic changes. In the control group, no ultrasound changes were statistically significant, although the score for tenosynovitis ranged from 0.1 SD 0.31 to 0.42 SD 0.6 (P=0.055).Conclusion:Patients with APso in clinical remission or low disease activity develop ultrasound changes after controlled exercise. These changes are appreciable in the joint synovium and tendon but not at an enthesic level. Although these changes are also detectable in a healthy population, their prevalence is much lower. Our interpretation is that control of the disease correlates with an absence of enthesic inflammatory activity although synovial susceptibility remains less evident. This reinforces the idea that PsoA is an inflammatory enthesitis with associated arthritis and not its opposite.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Background:Physiologically, the joint synovium responds to physical activity according to the frequency and intensity of the efforts, producing slight effusion without detectable hyperemia. In patients with RA in remission, a similar response can be expected, since it is understood that the immune-mediated inflammatory component has been controlled physiopathologically. Our interest is to determine whether once clinical remission has been reached, treatment with MTX or antiTNF produces the same normalization of the synovial behaviour. Our interest is to determine whether once clinical remission has been reached, treatment with MTX or antiTNF produces the same normalization of the synovial behavior.Objectives:The aim of the present study is to compare the synovial response to mechanical stress of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in remission treated with Methotrexate (MTX) or Etanercept (ETN).Methods:Descriptive observational study. We included patients with RA in remission (DAS28<2.6) for at least 6 months on MTX or MTX and anti-TNF-alpha therapy (ETN). An ultrasound examination protocol was developed for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th MCP and non-dominant hand carpus for gray scale (GS) and power Doppler signal detection (sPD) according to EULAR/OMERACT definitions. Two ultrasound examinations were performed on each patient, before and 24 hours after starting a manual digital flexure exercise program against resistance measured by a handheld dynamometer CAMRY™ model EH101-17. Total synovitis scores in EG (0-12) and sPD (0-12) were compared.Results:We included 37 patients on MTX treatment (median dose 15mg/week, range 7.5-25mg/week) and 16 patients on ETN treatment (median dose 50mg/week, range 25-50 mg/week). The baseline ultrasound score in the MTX treatment group was 1.6 SD 1.4 in EG and 2.2 SD 0.5 in PDs. After carrying out the controlled dynamometric effort, the score was 2.4 SD 1.9 in GS and 4.4 SD 1.5 in PDs (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). In patients treated with TNEs, the basal score in GS was 1.3 SD 0.6 in GS and 0.6 SD 0.3 in PDs. After the controlled dynamometric effort, the score was 1.8 DE 0.9 in EG and 0.7 DE 0.4 in PDs (P=0.07 and P<0.001, respectively). In the group of patients treated with MTX, four subjects reported joint tenderness after physical effort.Conclusion:Our observations are congruent with previous experiences in which it has been observed that physical stress translates into synovial changes detectable by ultrasonographic studies. Our results, although modest in patient volume, suggest that TNF-alpha activity is crucial in the development and maintenance of exercise-induced hyperemia. The clinical significance of our observation may be useful as a tool to predict the response to anti-TNF therapy in patients with RA, however specific methodological designs are needed for such associations.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Background:Longitudinal studies about the change from non-radiographic axial Spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) to r-axSpA (radiographic axial Spondyloarthritis) are scarce but show a 9-10% progression rate over 2 years (1-2) and a 24% progression rate over 10 years in another study (3). However, in early cohorts such as DESIR, this only represents a 5% over 5 years (4).Objectives:The aim of this study was to know the rate of progression from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA over 6 years in the early Esperanza cohort.Methods:This study included 94 patients of the Spanish early spondyloarthritis (SpA) Esperanza cohort, 60 fulfilled the ASAS classification criteria for SpA. Every patient had a baseline and a six years sacroiliac X-ray. Nine readers, blinded for the diagnosis, participated in the reliability exercise, all of them experienced rheumatologists and members of the Spanish spondyloarthritis working group (GRESSER). Patients with SpA were classified as having r-axSpA, at baseline or after 6 years of follow-up, if they fulfilled the radiographic item of the modified New York criteria (mNY) (presence of radiographic changes in the sacroiliac joints -SIJ- of at least grade II bilaterally or grade III or IV unilaterally). The gold standard of SIJ X-Ray was the categorical opinion of at least five of the expert readers. For the statistical analysis, the Chi-square and Kappa tests were performed.Results:Demographic data of the SpA patients were: mean age 33.4±7.5 years; 37 (61.7%) male; mean CRP 6.4±6.5 mg/dl and ESR 10.3±10.6. Present smokers 30.6%; and past smokers 16.3%. HLA-B27 (+) 56.7%. Regarding the presence of X-Ray sacroilitis: 20 patients had baseline sacroilitis and 18 at the final visit; 11 had sacroiliitis at both baseline and final visits; 9 patients changed from baseline sacroiliitis to no-sacroiliitis and 7 changed from baseline no-sacroiliitis to sacroiliitis at the 6 year visit. The reliability of the readers was fair with a mean inter-reader kappa test of 0.375 (range 0.146 - 0.652) and a mean agreement of 73.7% (range 58.7% - 90%).Conclusion:In this group of patients with early SpA no progression from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA over 6 years was observed. It appears that early diagnosis and standard treatment seem to reduce SIJ radiographic progression.References:[1]Poddubnyy D, Rudwaleit M, Haibel H, et al. Rates and predictors of radiographic sacroiliitis progression over 2 years in patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2011;70:1369–74.[2]Sampaio-Barros PD, Conde RA, Donadi EA, et al. Undifferentiated spondyloarthropathies in Brazilians: importance of HLA-B27 and the B7-CREG alleles in characterization and disease progression. J Rheumatol 2003;30:2632–7.[3]Sampaio-Barros PD, Bortoluzzo AB, Conde RA, et al. Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis: a longterm followup. J Rheumatol 2010;37:1195–9.[4]Dougados M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76:1823–1828.Disclosure of Interests:Carolina Tornero: None declared, María del Carmen Castro Villegas: None declared, Xavier Juanola-Roura: None declared, Maria Luz García-Vivar: None declared, Cristina Fernández-Carballido Consultant of: Yes, I have received fees for scientific advice (Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly and Novartis), Speakers bureau: Yes, I have received fees as a speaker (Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis), Jose Francisco Garcia LLorente: None declared, Beatriz Joven-Ibáñez Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, E. Galindez: None declared, Claudia Urrego-Laurín: None declared, Eugenio de Miguel Grant/research support from: Yes (Abbvie, Novartis, Pfizer), Consultant of: Yes (Abbvie, Novartis, Pfizer), Paid instructor for: yes (AbbVie, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, BMS, UCB, Roche, Grunental, Janssen, Sanofi), Speakers bureau: yes (AbbVie, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, BMS, UCB, Roche, Grunental, Janssen, Sanofi)

Background:There are few studies focused on the development of structural damage over time in patients with early SpAObjectives:The aim of this study is to analyze the mSASSS radiographic progression of spine in patients with early spondyloarthritis (SpA) in the Esperanza cohort.Methods:In this longitudinal study, 49 patients of the Spanish early spondyloarthritis (SpA) Esperanza cohort were included. Every patient had a baseline and a six years lateral X-Ray of the cervical and lumbar of spine. The assessment of spine structural damage was done by the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS). Nine readers, blinded for the diagnosis, participated in the reliability exercise, all of them experienced rheumatologists and members of the Spanish spondyloarthritis working group (GRESSER). The mSASSS progression and development of new syndesmophytes was analyzed. The gold standard of every elemental lesion of the mSASSS and the total mSASSS score was the agreement achieved by the independent categorical opinion of at least five of the nine readers. For reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) two-way mixed, absolute agreement was used.Results:Forty-nine patients were included, 69 % were males and 49%, HLA B27 positive. Mean ± SD baseline ESR, CRP, BASDAI, BASFI and mSASSS were 10.7±11.7, 5.4±7.1, 3.7±2.5, 2.1±2.0 and 0.326±0.85, respectively. Inter-reader ICC reliability of the 9 readers was 0.812 (CI 95%; 0.764-0.857). The mSASSS score at the six-year visit was 0.67 ± 1.6: thirty-nine patients did not present any changes in this score at the end of the follow-up, two patients had Δ mSASSS of – 1 and eight patients, an increase in this score (four patients, +1; three patients, +2 and one patient, +9 points).At baseline, five patients presented one syndesmophyte; at the six-year visit, seven had one syndesmophyte; one patient, two syndesmophytes and another one, one bone bridge. Only 2/5 patients (40%) with syndesmophytes at baseline showed an increase in Δ mSASSS; the two patients with a Δ mSASSS of -1 did not have syndesmophytes at baseline. Five out of eight patients (62.5%) with an increase of the Δ mSASSS presented this lesion at the six-year visit but only two of them showed syndesmophytes at baseline. On the other hand, two of the three patients who showed an increase of the ΔmSASSS without syndesmophytes at baseline presented an erosion in the anterior vertebral corner and the patient with the bone bridge had a previous syndesmophyte. Our results indicate that in early SpA much of the progression appears in patients without previous syndesmophytes.Conclusion:Spinal radiographic progression was very low in our early SpA cohort, with a mean progression of 0.3 mSASSS units. Only eight patients (16.3%) presented spinal structural progression, most of them not showing syndesmophytes at baseline. It is reasonable to consider that an early diagnosis and monitoring could result in a low radiographic progression.Disclosure of Interests:Eugenio de Miguel Grant/research support from: Yes (Abbvie, Novartis, Pfizer), Consultant of: Yes (Abbvie, Novartis, Pfizer), Paid instructor for: yes (AbbVie, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, BMS, UCB, Roche, Grunental, Janssen, Sanofi), Speakers bureau: yes (AbbVie, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, BMS, UCB, Roche, Grunental, Janssen, Sanofi), Jose Francisco Garcia LLorente: None declared, Claudia Urrego-Laurín: None declared, Maria Luz García-Vivar: None declared, Cristina Fernández-Carballido Consultant of: Yes, I have received fees for scientific advice (Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly and Novartis), Speakers bureau: Yes, I have received fees as a speaker (Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis), María del Carmen Castro Villegas: None declared, Beatriz Joven-Ibáñez Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Xavier Juanola-Roura: None declared, Carolina Tornero: None declared, E. Galindez: None declared