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Ultrasound-detected joint inflammation and B cell count: related variables for rituximab-treated RA patients?

  • Observational Research
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Abstract

This cross-sectional observational study aimed to explore the relationship between B cell count and ultrasound (US)-detected synovitis, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with rituximab. Thirty-seven consecutive RA patients treated with RTX were recruited for the study. The patients underwent clinical [i.e., Disease Activity Score 28 joints (DAS28)], laboratory, and US assessment of 12 joints. Each joint was semiquantitatively (0–3) scored on B-mode and power Doppler mode. The scores were summed, and a global index was created for BM (BMS) and PD scores (PDI) synovitis. BM subclinical synovitis was evident in all patients, with PD synovial signal detected in 16 patients (43.2 %). No correlation was found between DAS28 and US scores. B cells were detected in 27 (72.9 %) patients, but there was no association in the mean B cell count and disease activity as measured by DAS28 (DAS28 < 2.6 = 34.53, DAS28 > 2.6 = 49.45, p = 0.52) and PDI score (PDI < 1 = 49.48, PDI > 1 = 35.44, p = 0.54). There was no correlation between the B cell count and DAS28, BMS, and PDI (r = 0.020, p = 0.907; r = −0.151, p = 0.371; r = −0.099, p = 0.558, respectively). In RTX-treated RA patients, no relationship could be established between US-detected synovitis and peripheral blood B cell count.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the participation of all patients and would like to thank Eduardo Estrada for his statistical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain

    Lara Valor, Lina Martínez-Estupiñán, Iustina Janta, Juan Carlos Nieto, Juan Gabriel Ovalles-Bonilla, Carlos González-Fernández, Tamara del Rio, Diana Hernández-Flórez, Indalecio Monteagudo, Francisco Javier López-Longo & Esperanza Naredo

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  1. Lara Valor
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  2. Lina Martínez-Estupiñán
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  3. Iustina Janta
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  4. Juan Carlos Nieto
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  5. Juan Gabriel Ovalles-Bonilla
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  6. Carlos González-Fernández
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  7. Tamara del Rio
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  8. Diana Hernández-Flórez
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  9. Indalecio Monteagudo
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  10. Francisco Javier López-Longo
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  11. Esperanza Naredo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lara Valor.

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Conflict of interest

LV has received speaker fees from Abbvie, Roche Farma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, UCB. EN has received speaker fees from Abbvie, Roche Farma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, UCB, General Electric Healthcare, and Esaote. EN has received research funding from UCB and MSD. IM has received speaker fees from Abbvie, Roche Farma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, UCB. JCN has received speaker fees from Abbvie, Roche Farma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, MSD. FJLL has received speaker fees from Abbvie, Roche Farma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, UCB, MSD, Actelion. FJLL has received research funding from Abbvie and GSK.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Valor, L., Martínez-Estupiñán, L., Janta, I. et al. Ultrasound-detected joint inflammation and B cell count: related variables for rituximab-treated RA patients?. Rheumatol Int 36, 793–797 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-016-3477-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-016-3477-4

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