THE PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS C IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH VAGUE RHEUMATIC SYMPTOMS IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Objective: This study has been conducted to highlight the prevalence of chronic hepatitis in patients presenting with vague symptoms such as generalized body aches and weakness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Sharaqpur, Sheikhupura, Pakistan. During a period of two and a half months, 751 patients presenting to general outdoor department with vague symptoms were selected through random sampling. They were tested for Anti Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, and Anti Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibodies with Rapid Immunochromatographic Test Kits. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Results: Of the 751 randomly selected patients, 28 were eliminated due to missing data. Out of 723 included participants, 36% were male and 64% were female with a mean age of 53.11±11.2 years. 26.42% people were screened positive for Hepatitis C (N=191). 1.7% people were screened positive for Hepatitis B (N=13). Whereas only 0.12% (N=1) were HIV positive. Conclusion: This study established that Chronic Hepatitis often presents with mild and vague symptoms. Also, the prevalence of HCV is significantly higher in our population in spite of the ongoing hepatitis control programs and is rising in contrast to the global decline.

Peningkatan Pengetahuan tentang Jenis Penyakit di Usia Lansia pada Kelompok Lansia

The success of national development, especially national development in the health sector, can be seen from the increasing life expectancy of the Indonesian people. Eleven percent of the world's 6.9 billion population are elderly. Indonesia experienced an increase in the number of elderly people from 18 million (7.56%) in 2010, to 25.9 million (9.7%) in 2019, and is expected to continue to increase where in 2035 to 48.2 million people (15.77%). The elderly are identical with various decreases in health status, especially physical health status. In general, it is quite difficult to recognize health problems early on, especially diseases that usually arise in old age. Health problems can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle, so it is necessary to increase knowledge about diseases that commonly occur in old age. The method used in this community service activity is through a lecture to the Elderly Aisyiyah group in Pekalongan City. The results of this activity increased knowledge of the elderly by 36.3% for the causes of rheumatic disease, 27.3% for rheumatic symptoms and 30.3% in the diet of rheumatic diseases; 27.3% for the causes and diet of gout, and 36.3% for the symptoms of gout; 33.3% for causes of hypertension, 36.3% for symptoms and 27.3% for hypertension disease diet; as much as 27% about the cause of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), 27.3% symptoms and 30.3% for diets with diabetes mellitus.

POS1374 RHEUMATOLOGIC DISEASES AS PRESENTATIONS OF PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISEASES

Background:Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) occur on average with a frequency of 1: 100 000 of the population. In accordance with the classification of PIDS of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) 9 different groups of innate errors of immunity are distinguished [1]. The polymorphism of the clinical picture, difficulties in recognizing PID cause their late diagnosis and the associated development of irreversible organ damage, complications and high mortality. According to the traditional view, the clinical marker of PID is an infectious syndrome. However, in some cases, PID is detected as a rheumatologic disease.Objectives:The aim of the study is to analyze the frequency of rheumatologic diseases in adult patients with PID living in one of the subjects of Russia –Chuvashia.Methods:The material of the study was patient data obtained during a retrospective analysis of 49 outpatient records included in the Republican Register of PID. Diagnosis of various forms of PIDS was carried out in accordance with the criteria developed by the IUIS [1].Results:During the period from 1993 to January 2020, 49 cases of PID were registered in the adult population of Chuvashia. According to the frequency of PID, сommon variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common in Chuvashia (26 people). In the second place there is selective IgA deficiency (10 people); in third place there are X-linked agammaglobulinemia (4 people) and hereditary angioedema (4 people). The remaining forms of PID account for 5 cases: 2 cases of Louis-Bar syndrome, 1 case of DiGeorge syndrome, 1 case of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and 1 case of Hyper IgE syndrome. The main symptom of PID in 35 (71.4%) patients was heightened susceptibility to infection. In 14 (28.6%) patients, the clinical picture was dominated by non-infectious presentations (autoimmune, lymphoproliferative and oncological diseases). In 9 patients (18.3%), it was manifested by rheumatologic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma-like syndrome). These symptoms were more characteristic of CVID. With selective IgA deficiency and X-linked agammaglobulinemia, rheumatic symptoms were observed only in isolated cases. CVID debuted in 2 cases as rheumatoid arthritis, resulting in the delay in the diagnosis of an average of 5.2 years. Only the detailed immunological and genetic study made it possible to diagnose PID and prescribe adequate treatment – replacement immunoglobulin therapy. This treatment reduced the frequency of infectious manifestations of the disease and it did not significantly improve the course of rheumatological diseases. Therefore, the use of methotrexate and targeted therapy was continued.Conclusion:In the clinical picture of PID, rheumatic symptoms predominate in 28.6% of cases, which requires a thorough immunological and genetic examination of patients with rheumatic diseases in order to diagnose PID in a timely manner.References:[1]Picard C, Bobby Gaspar H, Al-Herz W, et al. J Clin Immunol. 2018;38(1):96-128.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Rheumatic manifestations of Chikungunya virus infection: Prevalence, patterns, and enthesitis

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. CHIKV infection causes various rheumatic symptoms, including enthesitis; however, these effects are rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to describe the rheumatic manifestations in CHIKV infection, estimate the prevalence of enthesitis in CHIKV-infected patients, and determine the factors associated with CHIKV-induced enthesitis. We conducted a prospective, observational study in patients with CHIKV infection confirmed by positive RT-PCR or IgM assay from October 2019 to March 2020. Patients with pre-existing inflammatory rheumatic diseases were excluded. A rheumatologist evaluated the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, including the number of inflamed joints, enthesitis sites, tendinitis, and tenosynovitis. The Leeds enthesitis index (LEI) and the Maastricht ankylosing spondylitis enthesis score (MASES) were used to evaluate enthesitis sites. Factors associated with enthesitis were determined using logistic regression analysis. One hundred and sixty-four participants diagnosed with CHIKV infection were enrolled. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 48.2 (14) years. The most common pattern of rheumatic manifestations was polyarthritis with or without enthesitis. Enthesitis was observed in 63 patients (38.4%). The most common site of enthesitis was the left lateral epicondyle as assessed by LEI and the posterior superior iliac spine as assessed by MASES. Multivariate analysis indicated that the number of actively inflamed joints and Thai-HAQ score at the initial evaluation were significantly associated with the presence of enthesitis. The main rheumatic manifestations of CHIKV infection were arthritis/arthralgia, with enthesitis as a prominent extraarticular feature. CHIKV infection can cause enthesitis at peripheral and axial sites. We found that enthesitis was associated with a high number of inflamed joints and reduced physical function. These results indicate that the assessment of enthesitis should be considered when monitoring disease activity and as a treatment response parameter in CHIKV-infected patients.

Differential diagnostic value of rheumatic symptoms in patients with Whipple’s disease

Most patients with Whipple’s disease have rheumatic symptoms. The aim of our prospective, questionnaire-based, non-interventional clinical study was to assess whether these symptoms are useful in guiding the differential diagnosis to the rheumatic disorders. Forty patients with Whipple’s disease, followed by 20 patients for validation and 30 patients with rheumatoid-, 21 with psoriatic-, 15 with palindromic- and 25 with axial spondyloarthritis were recruited for the present investigation. Patients with Whipple’s disease and patients with rheumatic disorders were asked to record rheumatic symptoms on pseudonymized questionnaires. The data obtained were subjected to multiple logistic regression analysis. Episodic pain with rapid onset, springing from joint to joint was most common in patients with palindromic arthritis and second most common and somewhat less conspicuous in Whipple’s disease. Continuous pain in the same joints predominated in patients with rheumatoid-, psoriatic-, and axial spondyloarthritis. Multiple logistic equations resulted in a predicted probability for the diagnosis of Whipple’s disease of 43.4 ± 0.19% (M ± SD) versus a significantly lower probability of 23.8 ± 0.19% (M ± SD) in the aggregate of patients with rheumatic disorders. Mean area under the curve (AUC) ± SD was 0.781 ± 0.044, 95% CI 0.695–0.867, asymptotic significance p < 0.001. The logistic equations predicted probability for the diagnosis of Whipple’s disease in the initial series of 40 patients of 43.4 ± 0.19% was not significantly different in the subsequent 20 patients of 38.2 ± 0.28% (M ± SD) (p = 0.376). The data may be useful in a predictive algorithm for diagnosing Whipple’s disease. The project is registered as clinical study DRK S0001566.

AB1021 CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT OF RHEUMATIC MANIFESTATION UNDER ESTROGEN RECEPTOR-TARGETING CANCER THERAPIES, DATA FROM A PROSPECTIVE REGISTRY

Background:The knowledge about interdependencies between rheumatic manifestations and malignancies is limited. Further, reliable data on the occurrence of rheumatic symptoms as side effects of specific cancer therapies beyond checkpointinhibitor-induced immune-related adverse events are sparse. In this regard, although arthralgia under estrogen receptor-targeting therapies (aromatase inhibitors and the estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen) has been frequently reported in oncological clinical trials and case reports, prospective data including an assessment of rheumatic manifestations by rheumatologists are lacking.Objectives:To contribute to a better understanding of interdependencies between rheumatic manifestations and cancer/ estrogen blockade and potentially improve the management of both entities, pilot data were analysed.Methods:Data on characteristics and treatment of rheumatic manifestations and cancer as well as their timely association were systematically, prospectively collected and analysed in the MalheuR (´malignancy and rheumatic disease´) registry, a long-term, observational study designed to study patients suffering from concomitant rheumatic disease and malignancy and/or premalignant lesions.Results:We identified 11 patients with rheumatic manifestations under estrogen receptor-targeting therapies (3 anastrozol, 4 letrozol, 8 tamoxifen) as part of breast cancer treatment. In addition to breast cancer one patient had a lymphoma 3 years after and another patient had a non-small cell lung cancer 2 years before breast cancer diagnosis. The patients had different cancer stages (5 IA, 3 IIA, 1 IIB, and 1 IVA). Their mean age at cancer diagnosis was 60.4 ± 11.6 years and all patients are females. The time interval between diagnosis of cancer and onset of systemic/ rheumatic symptoms was 49.5 ± 34.0 months. Of interest, the time interval between onset of rheumatic symptoms and first assessment by a rheumatologist was 16.9 ± 22.3 months. The following systemic and rheumatic symptoms were reported: arthralgia in 10, arthritis in 8 (small joints in 5, large joints in 3 affected), morning stiffness (>30 min) in 7, IBP in 1, myalgia in 7, sicca symptoms in 2, fever in 1 (new-onset FMF with heterozygous M694U mutation), class IV glomerulonephritis and polyserositis in 1 (with new-onset SLE) patient(s). Disease burden at baseline was rather high with a mean VAS pain of 65 (±12.9)/100. Laboratory analyses revealed an increased CRP in 6/11 (55%) with a mean of 10.3 ± 8.2 mg/l (<5). Autoantibody positivity was observed for ANAs in 5/10 (50%, titers ranging from 1:80 to 1:160), anti-dsDNA in 1, rheumatoid factor in only 1/10 (10%) patients, none was anti-CCP positive. Before consulting a rheumatologist, patients were treated with NSAR 3/11 (27%), 10/11 systemic glucocorticoids (91%) with an initial dose of 17.5 ± 19.5 mg and intra-articular glucocorticoids 1/11 (9%). Rheumatological assessment lead to initiation of csDMARDs (3/11 MTX, 1/11 SSZ, 1/11 HCQ, 1/11 AZA (later MMF/ rituximab in the SLE patient) 1/11 colchicine) as corticosteroid-sparing agents with good response in the majority of patients.Conclusion:Our data demonstrate heterogeneous rheumatic manifestations, partially with severe manifestations beyond arthralgia, so far not reported by oncological studies including follow-up, which might suggest an underreporting. Furthermore, despite close monitoring in tumor aftercare, our data show a considerable delay in referral to a rheumatologist and initiation of suitable treatment. The prospective design of the MalheuR registry enables future validation of our pilot data.Disclosure of Interests:Alina Dr. Patroi Consultant of: Advisory board Novartis, Leonore Diekmann: None declared, Hanns-Martin Lorenz Grant/research support from: Consultancy and/or speaker fees and/or travel reimbursements: Abbvie, MSD, BMS, Pfizer, Celgene, Medac, GSK, Roche, Chugai, Novartis, UCB, Janssen-Cilag, Astra-Zeneca, Lilly. Scientific support and/or educational seminars and/or clinical studies: Abbvie, MSD, BMS, Pfizer, Celgene, Medac, GSK, Roche, Chugai, Novartis, UCB, Janssen-Cilag, Astra-Zeneca, Lilly, Baxter, SOBI, Biogen, Actelion, Bayer Vital, Shire, Octapharm, Sanofi, Hexal, Mundipharm, Thermo Fisher., Consultant of: see above, Bernhard. Kraemer: None declared, Karolina Benesova Grant/research support from: Study grants for SCREENED study by Abbvie, Novartis and Rheumaliga Baden-Württemberg, Consultant of: One-time participation in Novartis advisory board., Jan Leipe Grant/research support from: Consultancy and speaker fees: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celgene, Hospira, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB. Scientific support: Novartis, Pfizer., Consultant of: Consultancy and speaker fees: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celgene, Hospira, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB. Scientific support: Novartis, Pfizer., Speakers bureau: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celgene, Hospira, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB

Vedolizumab Treatment in Extra-Intestinal Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review

Background and AimsWe aimed to summarize existing data on the effectiveness of vedolizumab in extra-intestinal manifestations [EIMs] in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD].MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed and the Cochrane Library, up to October 2018. Interventional and non-interventional studies as well as case-series studying vedolizumab and EIMs in adult patients with IBD were considered eligible.ResultsThree interventional studies [one randomized trial, n = 1032; and two open-label trials, n = 347], five non-interventional studies [n = 1496] and three case-series [n = 17] were included. Vedolizumab did not show any effectiveness in primary sclerosing cholangitis [PSC]. While no effect was seen in pre-existing manifestations regarding arthralgia and arthritis, the occurrence of new rheumatic symptoms was lower among vedolizumab users compared to placebo; occurrence was higher, however, with vedolizumab than with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors. Finally, vedolizumab appears not to be efficacious for the treatment of cutaneous manifestations.ConclusionsThere is no strong evidence to suggest that vedolizumab may be efficacious for the treatment of pre-existing EIMs [especially PSC, rheumatic and cutaneous manifestations], although it may reduce the occurrence of new EIMs.

The Clinical Features, Pathogenesis and Methotrexate Therapy of Chronic Chikungunya Arthritis

Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) is an emerging viral infection that has spread widely, along with its Aedes vectors, throughout the tropics and beyond, causing explosive epidemics of acute illness and persistent disabling arthritis. The rheumatic symptoms associated with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection include polyarthralgia, polyarthritis, morning stiffness, joint edema, and erythema. Chronic CHIK arthritis (CCA) often causes severe pain and associated disability. The pathogenesis of CCA is not well understood. Proposed hypotheses include the persistence of a low level of replicating virus in the joints, the persistence of viral RNA in the synovium, and the induction of autoimmunity. In this review, we describe the main hypotheses of CCA pathogenesis, some of which support methotrexate (MTX) treatment which has been shown to be effective in preliminary studies in CCA.