No abstract

Urinary and serological markers play an essential role in the diagnostic process of autoimmune diseases. However, to date, specific and reliable biomarkers for diagnosing Behçet’s disease (BD) are still lacking, negatively affecting the management of these patients. To analyze the currently available literature on serological and urinary BD biomarkers investigated in the last 25 years, we performed a systematic literature review using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes (PICO) strategy. One hundred eleven studies met the eligibility criteria (6301 BD patients,5163 controls). Most of them were retrospective, while five (5%) were prospective. One hundred ten studies (99%) investigated serological biomarkers and only two (2%) focused on urinary biomarkers. One hundred three studies (93%) explored the diagnostic potential of the biomolecules, whereas sixty-two (56%) tested their effect on disease activity monitoring. Most articles reported an increase in inflammatory markers and pro-oxidant molecules, with a decrease in antioxidants. Promising results have been shown by the omics sciences, offering a more holistic approach. Despite the vast number of investigated markers, existing evidence indicates a persistent gap in BD diagnostic/prognostic indices. While new steps have been taken in the direction of pathogenesis and disease monitoring, international efforts for the search of a diagnostic marker for BD are still needed.

ObjectivesWhen treating Behçet’s disease (BD), anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α agents have become a second-line therapy when conventional immunosuppressive drugs have failed. However, in the case of failure of treatment with anti-TNFα drugs, further options are limited. Based on previous reports of the efficacy of vedolizumab (VDZ) in inflammatory bowel diseases, we decided to administer VDZ to treat a patient with intestinal BD.MethodsWe present the case of a 49-year-old female patient with BD. Her clinical manifestations included erythema nodosum, oro-genital ulcers, positive Pathergy test, positive HLA-B51, and biopsy-proven intestinal BD. The patient was unsuccessfully treated with conventional immunosuppressive and several biological agents.ResultsTreatment with VDZ was started intravenously at a dose of 300 mg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and then every 4 weeks. After the second dose of VDZ, the patient reported a marked improvement of intestinal BD and a concomitant amelioration of arthralgia, erythema nodosum lesions and aphthosis. Clinical remission was achieved at 6 months after starting VDZ.ConclusionVDZ might represent a valid option to treat patients with BD who are non-responsive to standard treatments or anti-TNFα agents, particularly, those cases with intestinal involvement.

BackgroundMedication non-adherence has a significant impact on the health and well-being of individuals with chronic diseases. Indeed, with respect to important risk factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), such as cardiovascular risk factors, it is known that up to 50% of patients will stop taking medication for these conditions during the first year of prescription [1].ObjectivesTo support the management of RA patients treated with Tofacitinib, we designed the TuTOR (Tailoring Tofacitinib Oral therapy in Rheumatoid arthritis) Mobile App.MethodsA prospective-controlled study evaluated the impact of TuTOR App on medical adherence in 20 RA patients, that began treatment with Tofacitinib jointly with the App. We used a crossover design alternating Paper-Diary and TuTOR App, with monthly clinical assessments.ResultsSeventeen patients with RA (mean age at inclusion 59±13yrs; 88% females) the study. A statistically significant decrease of DAS28 was observed since the first month of therapy with Tofacitinib (mean DAS28 at baseline 3.9±1 vs. 1° month 3.1±1, p=0.0016). Similarly, Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) of perceived activity of disease (5.8±2.1 vs.3.7±2.5, p=0.02), and subjective fatigue (6.1±2.3 vs 4.3±2.6; p=0.01) progressively decreased. No differences were reported in DAS28 and in all the NRS between the use of the TuTOR App and the Paper-Diary. A significant decrease was observed also in HAQ during the follow-up (baseline 1.38±1.11 vs.six months 0.83±0.9; p=0.01).Most of the patients (82%) when filling out the self-reporting questionnaires preferred the TuTOR App in helping them to remember to take the pills. Further 82% of patients used the TuTOR App regularly (vs.53% Paper-Diary) and 76% of patients would use it in the future (vs.53% Paper-Diary). Three patients suspended the therapy with Tofacitinib due to gastrointestinal intolerance.ConclusionBoth digital- and paper-devices can help maximize the adherence to therapy, leading to an improvement in disease’s activity, highlighting the need of supports for medication adherence.References[1]BJ van den B, HE Z, CH van den E. Medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a critical appraisal of the existing literature. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2012;8:337–351. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22607180/. Accessed July 13, 2021.Table 1.Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients enrolled in the study, who completed follow-up. RA – Rheumatoid ArthritisPatients with RA(N=17)DEMOGRAPHICSAge (mean ± S.D.)59,4 ± 13,5Sex (n; %)M (2; 11,8), F (15; 88,2)Etnicity (caucasian; n; %)16; 94Etnicity (Hispanic; n; %)1; 6CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICSAge at diagnosis (mean ± S.D.)44,7±14,47Follow-up length (years; mean ± S.D.)6,33± 5,17Positive Rheumatoid Factor (n; %)17; 100Positive Anti-Cyclic citrullinated peptides (n;%)15; 88.2Structural articular damage at radiography (n; %)11; 7Figure 1.Decrease of disease activity assessed by DAS28 in the paper-diary and TuTOR App groups.Disclosure of InterestsMassimo Radin Grant/research support from: The study is supported by the Investigator-Initiated Research Studies Grant—CREARE (Pfizer)., Marta Arbrile: None declared, Irene Cecchi Grant/research support from: The study is supported by the Investigator-Initiated Research Studies Grant—CREARE (Pfizer)., Alice Barinotti: None declared, Simone Baldovino: None declared, Elisa Menegatti: None declared, Daniela Rossi Grant/research support from: The study is supported by the Investigator-Initiated Research Studies Grant—CREARE (Pfizer)., Savino Sciascia Grant/research support from: The study is supported by the Investigator-Initiated Research Studies Grant—CREARE (Pfizer)., Dario Roccatello Grant/research support from: The study is supported by the Investigator-Initiated Research Studies Grant—CREARE (Pfizer).