Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, often involving a neuropathic component. While pathophysiology remains vague, increasing evidence suggests that small fiber pathology (SFP) may be present in a significant subset of patients, indicating a peripheral nervous system contribution. This systematic review aims to evaluate the utility of skin biopsy as a diagnostic tool for patients with FMS, with special focus on SFP. A comprehensive database search was conducted to identify studies assessing intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) via skin biopsy in individuals diagnosed with FMS. The included studies demonstrated a reduction in IENFD in a substantial proportion of FMS patients, with reported prevalence ranging widely from 30% to over 85%. Small fiber pathology occurs in a significant proportion of individuals with FMS. Skin biopsy emerges as a valuable diagnostic tool. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanism of SFP in FMS.

Anti-synthetase syndrome (ASyS) is a rare autoimmune disorder defined by anti-synthetase antibodies. While malignancy is established in DM, its association with ASyS remains unclear. We aimed to estimate malignancy prevalence in ASyS and assess whether autoantibody subtype, age, sex or clinical features influence malignancy risk.

Timely referral in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is critical for early diagnosis and initiation of treatment, which are crucial to improve patient outcomes and limit radiographic progression. Optimized referral criteria, whether applied by clinicians or healthcare artificial intelligence systems, can facilitate faster and more accurate decisions regarding patient assessment by a Rheumatologist. Despite this need, a validated and widely adopted referral tool for RA is still lacking.

To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and Janus kinase(JAK) inhibitors in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Biological treatments are indicated in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients with colchicine resistance or intolerance. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitors may not yield sufficient efficacy and safety. Interleukin-6 inhibitors (tocilizumab - TCZ) have been suggested to be potentially beneficial. This systematic literature review aimed to evaluate the existing data on the efficacy and safety of IL-6 inhibitors in the treatment of FMF.

Biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) have improved outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, heterogeneity in treatment response remains a significant challenge. Machine learning (ML) may enable improved prediction, but the comprehensive review of ML applications in RA is fragmented and limited. This scoping review synthesizes the literature on ML methods for predicting treatment response to b/tsDMARDs in RA.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a prevalent extraintestinal symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), impacting up to 20% of patients and considerably contributing to the disease burden. The coexistence of inflammatory bowel disease and spondyloarthritis poses therapeutic problems due to the necessity for simultaneous management of intestinal and musculoskeletal inflammation.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) exhibits notable sex-related differences, particularly in Asian populations, influenced by genetic, cultural, and healthcare factors. This systematic review and meta-analysis assess sex-specific disparities in axSpA among Asian patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that increases the risk of systemic complications, particularly metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS, defined by central obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, not only raises cardiovascular risk but also worsens the prognosis of RA. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the global prevalence of MetS in RA patients and identify clinical factors contributing to its occurrence.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a dangerous autoimmune condition that usually requires high-dose glucocorticoids with immunosuppressive agents. Although effective, long-term glucocorticoid use is associated with significant toxicity. Avacopan, a selective inhibitor of C5a receptors, has emerged as a possible glucocorticoid-sparing drug for AAV, potentially offering a safer, more specific approach to treat the disease. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of avacopan and conventional glucocorticoid-containing regimens for the treatment of AAV.

Sedentary behaviour (SB) is receiving increasing attention as a potential target for behavioural change interventions in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), to improve RA outcomes. The primary aim of this review was to describe the design and content of existing SB interventions in RA with a focus on the use of digital technology and Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs). Secondary aims were to understand how SB is conceptualised in intervention studies, and report data on participants' perceptions of acceptable and/or engaging components, adherence, and intervention efficacy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including ICI associated vasculitis (ICI-vasculitis) and ICI associated PMR (ICI-polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)-like syndromes). We sought to describe the characteristics of ICI-vasculitis and ICI-PMR in individuals treated with ICIs through a systematic review and local case series.

Anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies (ARA) are frequent in systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, the reported prevalence is variable among studies and some clinical associations are debated. We aimed (i) to update the recent data on overall ARA prevalence in SSc and heterogeneity between centres; and (ii) to describe their clinical associations.

The aim of this study was to develop a systematic review of quantitative studies focused on identifying factors associated with delay in diagnosing and treating adult patients with SLE. Electronic searches were conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science for studies published up to 15 July 2024. Inclusion criteria were studies in adult patients that estimated delay in diagnosis and/or treatment, and associated barriers and facilitators. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Checklist was used to assess the quality of the studies. A total of 25 studies were included. The estimated median delay in diagnosis was 18 months [interquartile range (IQR) 0-32.3], and the time to treatment from diagnosis was 2.09 months (IQR 0.0-5.05). The median delay in diagnosis was 14.09 months (IQR 0.0-18.5) in men and 29.55 months (IQR 1.1-144.0) in women (n = 5). Early-onset SLE had a median delay of 3.88 months (IQR 1.5-9.1), while late-onset SLE had a median delay of 10.10 months (IQR 3.0-38.0) (n = 3). The barriers identified were the number of physicians consulted, misdiagnoses, lack of prompt access to a specialist, and lack of knowledge of the disease. The average quality of the studies was 6.4. The factors associated with diagnostic delay were being female, White, or of multiple races, having a less severe disease presentation, and older age. The reported median delays in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE are 18 months and 2.09 months, respectively. There is no consensus on defining diagnosis and/or treatment in SLE patients or a unified estimation method.

The incidence of autoimmune diseases in cold environments has been a topic of interest due to the observed geographical patterns and potential environmental influences on disease development. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of five main autoimmune diseases in 201 countries according to average annual temperatures.

Many outcomes relevant to rheumatoid arthritis are measured as continuous variables. Judging whether the results of those measurements are clinically significant requires determining the minimal important difference (MID) estimate. Therefore, valid MID estimate(s) are essential for the purposes of clinical decision-making and developing clinical recommendations. Our objective is to present the MID estimates for instruments used to measure outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis studies.