Post-COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Vaccine Arthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Horton’s Arteritis: A Single-Center Assessment of Clinical, Serological, Genetic, and Ultrasonographic Biomarkers

Bandinelli, Francesca; Pagano, Mario; Vallecoccia, Maria Sole

doi:10.3390/jcm12247563

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 49 publications

(60 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Routine LUS was performed for patients at the Emergency Department of San Giovanni di Dio Hospital (Usl Tuscany Center, Florence, Italy), to assess possible parenchymal and pleural abnormalities, following Italian Health Ministry legislation (22 April 2021, No. 52), with a protocol defined for other interstitial respiratory diseases [ 41 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Ultrasound Lung Abnormalities Correlate to Biomarkers and Male Gender in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients? A Monocentric Cross-Sectional Study

Bandinelli,

Benucci,

Mallia

et al. 2024

JCM

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a tool of growing interest in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) oligo- symptomatic ILD to avoid. Objective: We aimed to evaluate (i) the prevalence of pleural (PLUS) and parenchymal (PAUS) abnormalities in LUS in the RA population and their possible correlation to biomarkers; (ii) the predictivity of gender, smoking habits, previous infections (past COVID-19 tuberculosis), and treatments; (iii) the differences in LUS between sexes. Methods: We collected the data of 155 (15 early and 140 late) RA patients with mild respiratory symptoms, evaluating PLUS and PAUS, in fourteen lung areas and also summing the scores (LUS-T). Results: Only 13/155 (8.4%) were completely negative; LUS correlated to age (all parameters p 0.0001), rheumatoid factor IgM (PLUS p 0.0006, PAUS p 0.02, LUS-T p 0.001) and ACPA (p 0.001, 0.006, 0.001, respectively), and PLUS also correlated to IL6 (p 0.02). The male gender was predictive of all LUS evaluations (p 0.001, 0.05, 0.001, respectively), which were higher than in women (p 0.001, 0.01, 0.001, respectively). Other potential risk factors were independent, except biological treatments, which showed a low predictivity to PLUS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: We can conclude that LUS is a useful technique in RA low respiratory symptoms and correlates with age, the most important RA biomarkers, and male sex.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Ultrasound Lung Abnormalities Correlate to Biomarkers and Male Gender in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients? A Monocentric Cross-Sectional Study

Bandinelli,

Benucci,

Mallia

et al. 2024

JCM

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The presence of certain infections can also trigger the pathogenesis of RA, such as Lyme disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and the Epstein–Barr virus [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In recent studies, a history of COVID-19, as well as a history of having the COVID-19 vaccine administered, has been linked to the development of some types of undifferentiated arthritis, so it is currently being debated whether these conditions are also risk factors for developing RA [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Myostatin in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review of the Clinical Impact

Gonzalez-Ponce,

Ramirez-Villafaña,

Gomez-Ramirez

et al. 2024

Diagnostics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects synovial joints and that frequently involves extra-articular organs. A multiplicity of interleukins (IL) participates in the pathogenesis of RA, including IL-6, IL-1β, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; immune cells such as monocytes, T and B lymphocytes, and macrophages; and auto-antibodies, mainly rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs). Skeletal muscle is also involved in RA, with many patients developing muscle wasting and sarcopenia. Several mechanisms are involved in the myopenia observed in RA, and one of them includes the effects of some interleukins and myokines on myocytes. Myostatin is a myokine member of the TGF-β superfamily; the overproduction of myostatin acts as a negative regulator of growth and differentiates the muscle fibers, limiting their number and size. Recent studies have identified abnormalities in the serum myostatin levels of RA patients, and these have been found to be associated with muscle wasting and other manifestations of severe RA. This review analyzes recent information regarding the relationship between myostatin levels and clinical manifestations of RA and the relevance of myostatin as a therapeutic target for future research.

show abstract

Small Fiber Neuropathy Associated with Post-COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Vaccination Arthritis: A Rare Post-Infective Syndrome or a New-Onset Disease?

Bandinelli,

Nassini,

Gherardi

et al. 2024

JPM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Post-COVID-19 (PC) and post-COVID-19 vaccination (PCV) syndromes are considered emergent multidisciplinary disorders. PC/PCV small fiber neuropathy (SFN) was rarely described and its association with undifferentiated arthritis (UA) was never defined. We aimed to evaluate PC/PCV-UA associated with the recent onset of severe lower limb paresthesia, compare SFN positive (+) to negative (−) patients, and evaluate changes in biomarkers in SFN+ during treatments. Nineteen PC/PCV-UA-patients with possible SFN underwent skin biopsy at the Usl Tuscany Center (Florence) early arthritis outpatient clinic from September 2021 to March 2024. Eight selected SFN+ were compared to ten SFN− patients. In SFN+ patients, baseline joint ultrasound (US), electromyography (EMG), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and skin biopsy were repeated at six months. Moreover, SFN+ patients were clinically assessed by a 0–10 numeric rating scale for neurological symptoms and DAS28/ESR up to 12 months follow-up. SFN+ patients showed a lower intraepidermal nerve fiber density at histopathological examination of skin biopsies and a higher frequency of OCT and EMG abnormalities in comparison to SFN− patients. In SFN+ patients, US and DAS28/ESR significantly improved, while intraepidermal nerve fiber density did not significantly change at the six-month follow-up. Fatigue, motor impairment, burning pain, brain fog, and sensitivity disorders decreased at long-term follow-up (12 months).

show abstract

Post-COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Vaccine Arthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Horton’s Arteritis: A Single-Center Assessment of Clinical, Serological, Genetic, and Ultrasonographic Biomarkers

Cited by 3 publications

References 49 publications

Do Ultrasound Lung Abnormalities Correlate to Biomarkers and Male Gender in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients? A Monocentric Cross-Sectional Study

Do Ultrasound Lung Abnormalities Correlate to Biomarkers and Male Gender in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients? A Monocentric Cross-Sectional Study

Role of Myostatin in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review of the Clinical Impact

Small Fiber Neuropathy Associated with Post-COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Vaccination Arthritis: A Rare Post-Infective Syndrome or a New-Onset Disease?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About