Gouty panniculitis is an unusual clinical manifestation of gout, characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the lobular hypodermis. Its pathogenesis is poorly understood but is associated with hyperuricemia, and the clinical presence of indurate subcutaneous plaques, which may precede or appear subsequently to the articular clinical expression of tophaceous gout. The aim of this report is to describe the clinical characteristics and potential risk factors for the development of lobular panniculitis secondary to chronic tophaceous gout. This is a retrospective clinical review of 6 patients with gouty panniculitis seen at the rheumatology service at the National University of Colombia. All cases fulfill diagnostic criteria for gout. The presenting clinical characteristics of each case were analyzed. All 6 patients were men, with an average age of 26 years. Two patients initially presented with cutaneous manifestations, and in the remainder 4 joint involvements preceded the cutaneous manifestations. Articular involvement first developed in lower extremities, of intermittent nature, and subsequent occurrence of polyarthritis of upper and lower extremities. A positive family history of gout was observed in half of the patients. Smoking and high alcohol intake were relevant risk factors. On physical examination, all exhibited the presence of erythematous, irregular surface, deep indurate subcutaneous plaques. Biopsy of skin and deep dermis including panniculus revealed the presence of granulomatous inflammatory changes with deposition of amorphous eosinophilic material surrounded by palisading histocytes and lymphocytes. Characteristic negative birefringent monosodium urate crystals were observed in the synovial fluid of patients with arthritis. All patients exhibited high levels of serum uric acid and were non-complaint to treatment with allopurinol, NSAIDs, and colchicine. Gouty panniculitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of panniculitis, especially in the presence of high levels of uric acid. It is usually observed in the third decade of life and may appear prior to the inflammatory articular manifestations of tophaceous gout.

BackgroundThe localized scleroderma (LS) known as morphea, presents a variety of clinical manifestations that can include systemic involvement. Current classification schemes divide morphea into categories based solely on cutaneous morphology, without reference to systemic disease or autoimmune phenomena. This classification is likely incomplete. Autoimmune phenomena such as vitiligo and Hashimoto thyroiditis associated with LS have been reported in some cases suggesting an autoimmune basis. To our knowledge this is the first case of a morphea forming part of a multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) and presenting simultaneously with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and central nervous system vasculitis.Case presentationWe report an uncommon case of a white 53 year old female patient with LS as part of a multiple autoimmune syndrome associated with pneumonitis, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and central nervous system vasculitis presenting a favorable response with thrombopoietin receptor agonists, pulses of methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide.ConclusionIs likely that LS have an autoimmune origin and in this case becomes part of MAS, which consist on the presence of three or more well-defined autoimmune diseases in a single patient.

We report a female patient with rheumatoid arthritis which was refractory to methotrexate, leflunomide, and anti-TNF therapy. She was treated with anti-IL-6 tocilizumab (TCZ), with an early appearance of sterile pustules on erythematous swollen skin of trunk, back, and abdominal area. The lesions were consistent with the diagnosis of acute drug-related generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). This adverse event was controlled with medical treatment without requiring removal of TCZ.

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A 45-year-old female with a 4-week history of psoriatic arthritis developed cough, fever, and progressive shortness of breath 2 weeks following initiation of methotrexate therapy. High resolution CT of chest revealed bilateral basal interstitial involvement and diffuse ground glass opacities. Patient, though, died despite immediate discontinuation of methotrexate and initiation of treatment with IV methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. Post-mortem examination showed diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Methotrexate-induced pulmonary toxicity is a serious event, unpredictable, and unusual, especially in patients with psoriatic arthritis, and although reversible, it may be fatal.

BackgroundRecently registry data provide evidence about long-term safety and efficacy of TNF inhibitors. However, data on Rituximab (RTX) treatment in daily clinical practice is limited.ObjectivesOur aim was to describe survival rate and effectiveness of RTX therapy in real-life practice conditions in a big cohort of patients with RA from ColombiaMethodsWe included patients with RA treated at Medicarte IPS from May 2008 and November 2015. Medicarte is a referral center for the integral medical care and pharmacosurveillance of patients under biologic therapies in 13 cities in Colombia. Only those patients with systemic rheumatic diseases were enrolled. We only included those patients with at least 1 complete cycle of RTX treatment. Clinical information was obtained from electronic clinical records and medical claims. We defined survival of RTX treatment only those cases who started RTX treatment before 2015 and persist on RTX during the last visit.ResultsFrom a total of 1064 patients treated with Rituximab, 901 patients had a systemic rheumatic disease. 754 (86%) of patients had a diagnosis of RA. The majority of patients were female (87%); mean age was 55.0± 14.1 years and mean disease duration was 14.7±9.1 years. 57 patients were excluded as they had received less than 1 cycle, leaving 697 patients valid for full analysis. Of these, 80.2% received RTX as a first biological therapy. The mean number of cycles was 1.8 cycles (range 1–8). Adverse effect was reported in 85 (11.2%) patients. 318 patients received only 1 cycle, 185 patients 2 cycles, 91 patients 3 cycles, 30 patients 4 cycles, 18 patients 5 cycles and 8 patients 6 or more cycles. A total of 193 (25.5%) of patients remain on RTX treatment. At the last visit, mean DAS-28 score was 2.9± 1.4 and mean HAQ 0.97±0.71. 66% of patients had a low disease activity (DAS-28 <3.2) and 49% of patients were on remission (DAS-28<2.6). A 64% of patients had a good index of functionality (HAQ <1.0). We did not find differences in terms of clinical response or functionality among patients who used RTX as a first line therapy vs patients with previous biologic treatment (Table).Table 1.Comparison among patients with RTX as a first agent vs patients previously treated with biologic therapyRA treated with RTXRTX as a first agentPrevious treatment with biologic agentsP valueN=754N=605N=147Female gender (%)878885NSAge (years)55±1453±1455±13NSMean disease duration (years)15. ±9.615.13±9.814.7±9.47NSBMI25.2±3.925.2±3.824.9±4.4NSNumber of cycles1.8±1.11.7±1.02.0±1.40.002Duration of RTX treatment (years)1.55±1.701.35±1.363.24±1.90.001Last DAS-282.93±1.432.93±1.442.93±1.39NSLast HAQ0.97±0.710.98±0.700.95±0.76NSRemission (DAS28<2.6 )%484947NSIn 2 patients no information about previous biologic treatment was available.ConclusionsIn our cohort with more than 700 Colombian patients with RA treated with RTX, the rate of survival-on-drug in those with more than 1 cycle was 25%. Around half of patients under RTX treatment were on remission with an adequate physical function.Disclosure of I...

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