A high prevalence of comorbidities in SpA has been shown. Rigorous application of systematic evaluation of comorbidities may permit earlier detection, which may ultimately result in an improved outcome of patients with SpA.

Objective: Adults with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) may suffer from skeletal symptoms leading to functional disability. No data on their quality of life (QoL) have been reported so far. Our objectives were to evaluate the QoL and its determinants in XLH adults. Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective study in XLH adults, who consulted for musculoskeletal symptoms between 2013 and 2014. We assessed their QoL using HAQ, RAPID3 and SF36, and analysed the variables associated with low QoL. We compared their QoL to that of patients affected with axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) (paired on age and gender), a rheumatologic disorder with a known low QoL. Results: Fifty-two XLH adults (37 women (71.1%); mean age 41.8G13.3 years) were included; 44 (84.6%) patients had an altered QoL. Increased age and presence of structural lesions were significantly associated with worse QoL (HAQ, RAPID3) (P!0.05). Presence of enthesopathies was significantly associated with worse RAPID3 (ORZ4.45 (1.09-18.29), PZ0.038). Treatment with phosphate supplements and vitamin D in XLH adults were significantly associated with a better SF36-mental component score (ORZ0.14 (0.03-0.57), PZ0.007 and ORZ0.26 (0.07-0.98), PZ0.047 respectively). QoL was significantly worse in XLH than in ax-SpA adults (VAS pain, SF36-PCS, RAPID3) (P!0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed i) QoL of XLH adults is altered and significantly worse than that of ax-SpA patients (VAS pain, SF36-PCS and RAPID3), ii) structural lesions and especially enthesopathies are associated with a worse QoL and iii) treatment using phosphate supplements and/or vitamin D is associated with a better mental health score.

This study confirms that FM coexists in patients with axSpA and that its presence seems to have a negative impact on TNFb response, which seems more related to the self-reported instruments used in its evaluation, rather than a different treatment effect of the molecule in this subgroup of patients.

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BackgroundFibromyalgia (FM) can coexist with Spondyloarthritis (SpA) leading to diagnostic and treatment dilemmas, especially in the presence of enthesitis. With this study we aimed to estimate the prevalence of FM in SpA and to compare the clinical/disease features and TNF inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with/without FM.MethodFM was defined by a score = > 5/6 of the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST). SpA patients (according to the rheumatologist) and consecutively consulting in the day care hospital but also in the outpatient clinic at the rheumatology department of a tertiary care university hospital were included.Demographics, disease characteristics, activity and severity and TNFi treatment were compared in patients with and without FM; retention rate of the first TNFi and associated factors were explored (Kaplan Meier and Cox regression).ResultsOf the 196 enrolled SpA patients, 42 (21.4 %) were positively screened for FM. No statistically significant differences in the prevalence of FM were found with regard to the fulfillment of the ASAS criteria for peripheral/axial SpA, nor with regard to the fulfillment of the imaging vs. clinical arm of the ASAS criteria. However, patients with coexisting FM presented significantly with more enthesitis, higher disease activity (BASDAI and VAS) and poorer function scores (BASFI). No differences were found with regard to the initiation of TNFi treatment (79.0 % vs. 70.0 %, respectively), but the retention rate of the first TNFi after 2 years was shorter in the group of patients with FM (28.1 % (95 % CI 12.5-44.0) vs. 41.7 % (95 % CI 32.2-51.3), p = 0.01).ConclusionThis study confirms that coexistent FM in SpA might impact the patient-reported outcome indices for disease activity and function, and the retention rate of TNFi treatment.

Objective. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key cytokine in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. We aimed to analyze the association between IL-6 serum levels and joint inflammation at baseline and the correlation of time-integrated IL-6 values with structural damage during the first 36 months of early arthritis. Methods. IL-6 was assessed by 2 different methods in 813 patients of the French early arthritis cohort ESPOIR (Etude et Suivi des Polyarthrites Indiff erenci ees R ecentes) over 36 months. IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) changes were correlated to radiographic progression assessed by the total Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS). Synovium inflammation was assessed in a subgroup of 126 patients by ultrasonography (US). The relationship between SHS change and IL-6 or CRP levels at baseline was investigated by a univariate regression and a multivariable analysis. A longitudinal model nested by visit and patient was conducted to assess the role of IL-6 on SHS at each visit. Results. At baseline, IL-6 was more strongly correlated with the swollen joint count than CRP level. In the univariate analysis, the time-integrated value of IL-6 was more strongly correlated with the swollen joint count and the variation of SHS than timeintegrated CRP level. Baseline IL-6 was not independently associated with SHS change. Longitudinal models nested by patient showed that IL-6 levels were associated with structural damage independently from the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, smoking status, rheumatoid factor, and anti-citrullinated protein peptide antibody serology, treatments, and CRP levels. Conclusion. IL-6 level was a marker of US synovitis at baseline. Repeated measurements of IL-6 are associated with structural damage.

International audienceIntroduction Flares may be used as outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) trials or observational studies. The objective was to develop a definition for ‘flare’ (or worsening) in axSpA, based on validated composite indices, to be used in the context of clinical trial design.Methods (1) Systematic literature review of definitions of ‘flare’ in published randomised controlled trials in axSpA. (2) Vignette exercise: 140 scenarios were constructed for a typical patient with axSpA seen at two consecutive visits. Each scenario included a change in one of the following outcomes: pain, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), BASDAI plus C-reactive protein (CRP) or Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-CRP. Each Assessment of Spondyloarthritis (ASAS) expert determined if every scenario from a random sample of 46 scenarios was considered a flare (yes/no). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were applied to derive optimal cut-off values. (3) ASAS consensus was reached.Results (1) The literature review yielded 38 studies using some definition of ‘flare’, with 27 different definitions indicating important heterogeneity. The most frequent definitions were based on BASDAI changes or pain changes. (2) 121 ASAS experts completed 4999 flare assessments. The areas under the ROC curves were high (range: 0.88–0.89). Preliminary cut-offs for pain (N=3), BASDAI (N=5) and ASDAS-CRP (N=4) were chosen, with a range of sensitivity 0.60–0.99 and range of specificity 0.40–0.94 against the expert's opinions.Conclusions This data-driven ASAS consensus process has led to 12 preliminary draft definitions of ‘flare’ in axSpA, based on widely used indices. These preliminary definitions will need validation in real patient data