Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that mainly affects the joints, though a consistent proportion of patients may also display extra articular manifestations (EAMs). From rheumatoid nodules to interstitial lung disease, from cardiovascular events to vasculitis, the spectrum of EAMs encompasses various conditions with different prognoses. EAMs may also occur as first RA manifestation, therefore the coordination with other health professionals, including general practitioners, is needed. The aim of this article is to provide an overview on EAMs in RA with particular focus on the recognised risk factors and the available recommendations for managing them, as well as comorbidities in RA patients.

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease mainly affecting exocrine glands and leading to impaired secretory function. The clinical picture is dominated by signs and symptoms of mucosal dryness and the course of the disease is mild and indolent in the majority of cases. However, a subgroup of patients can also experience extraglandular manifestations that worsen the disease prognosis. pSS patients are consistently found to have a higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) compared with patients with other autimmune disorders and to the general population. NHL is the most severe comorbidity that can occur in pSS, therefore recent research has aimed to identify reliable clinical, serological, and histological biomarkers able to predict NHL development in these subjects. This review article encompasses the body of evidence published so far in this field highlighting the challenges and pitfalls of different biomarkers within clinical practice. We also provide an overview of epidemiological data, diagnostic procedures, and evidence-based treatment strategies for NHL in pSS.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem auto-immune disease with extremely varied clinical manifestations and a complex pathogenesis. New insights in SLE about pathogenetic pathways, biomarkers, and data on clinical manifestations are progressively emerging, and new drugs and new therapeutic strategies have been proposed to improve the control of disease activity. Thus, this review is aimed to summarise the most relevant data about SLE emerged during 2021, following the previous annual review of this series.

Objectives To standardly assess and describe nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) assessment in children and adolescents with juvenile rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (jRMD) versus healthy controls (HC). Methods In consecutive jRMD children and matched HC from 13 centres worldwide, 16 NVC images per patient were acquired locally and read centrally per international consensus standard evaluation of the EULAR Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases. 95 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), 22 with dermatomyositis (JDM), 20 with systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE), 13 with systemic sclerosis (jSSc), 21 with localized scleroderma (lSc), 18 with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and 20 with primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (PRP) were included. NVC differences between juvenile subgroups and HC were calculated through multivariable regression analysis. Results A total number of 6474 images were assessed from 413 subjects (mean age 12.1-years, 70.9% female). The quantitative NVC-characteristics were significantly lower (↓) or higher (↑) in the following subgroups compared to HC: For density: ↓ in jSSc, JDM, MCTD, cSLE and lSc; For dilations: ↑ in jSSc, MCTD and JDM; For abnormal shapes: ↑ JDM and MCTD; For haemorrhages: ↑ in jSSc, MCTD, JDM and cSLE. The qualitative NVC-assessment of JIA, lSc and PRP did not differ from HC, whereas the cSLE and jSSc, MCTD, JDM, cSLE subgroups showed more non-specific and scleroderma patterns respectively. Conclusion This analysis resulted from a pioneering registry of NVC in jRMD. The NVC-assessment in jRMD differed significantly from HC. Future prospective follow up will further elucidate the role of NVC in jRMD.

SUMMARYAlthough primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a mild indolent chronic disease mainly characterized by mucosal dryness in the majority of cases, a consistent subgroup of patients display extra-glandular manifestations. Virtually any organs and systems can be affected, leading to a more serious disease prognosis. Therefore, the prompt identification of patients at higher risk of extra-glandular manifestations is necessary to start a thorough follow up and an aggressive treatment. The aim of this review article is to provide an overview of epidemiological, clinical and serological features of extra-glandular manifestations in pSS as well as current knowledge about putative biomarkers useful in clinical practice. Key words:Sjögren's syndrome; Extra-glandular manifestations; Cardiovascular risk. Reumatismo, 2017; 69 (3): 93-100 n INTRODUCION P rimary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a complex and heterogeneous chronic autoimmune disease primarily characterized by a focal lymphocytic chronic inflammation of exocrine glands leading to progressive loss of secretory function (1). Therefore, the specific case-history of pSS is dominated by signs and symptoms of mucosal dryness. However, although salivary and lachrymal glands represent the main target of pSS, several other organs and systems may be affected during the disease course in at least one third of patients, resulting in a plethora of systemic clinical manifestations, serological abnormalities and complications (2). The most severe complication of pSS is non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurring in about 5% of patients (3) and dramatically worsening disease prognosis. In this regard, the prompt identification of pSS patients with higher risk of developing extraglandular manifestations is mandatory for correct management. Low C3 and C4 levels, cryoglobulins, monoclonal component, anti-Ro/ SSA, anti-La/SSB, rheumatoid factor and hypergammaglobulinaemia represent poor prognostic serological factors in pSS associated with lymphoma and severe extraglandular features (2). Furthermore, histological features such as the presence of germinal centre-like structures in the minor salivary glands have been associated with higher risk of developing lymphoma (4). The purpose of this review article is to discuss current knowledge of extra-glandular manifestations in pSS not secondary to mucosal dryness, excluding pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of lymphoproliferative disorders. n MUSCULOSKELETAL INVOLVEMENTMusculoskeletal manifestations such as myalgia, arthralgia and morning stiffness are present in as many as 90% of patients, while clinically evident arthritis is found in up to 17%. In a recent study conducted on 17 female patients with pSS and 18 patients with secondary SS (sSS), ultrasonography (US) was used to confirm the non-erosive nature of joint involvement in pSS and to discriminate between pSS and RA-associated SS. Synovitis was commonly detected in pSS, mainly in metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP), wrists, and knees. Bone erosions also may occur. Power Doppler signal ...