O. Ruzickova

Serum calprotectin (S100A8/9): an independent predictor of ultrasound synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

IntroductionCalprotectin, a heterodimeric complex of S100A8/9 (MRP8/14), has been proposed as an important serum biomarker that reflects disease activity and structural joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that calprotectin is associated with clinical and ultrasound-determined disease activity in patients with RA.MethodsA total of 37 patients with RA (including 24 females, a mean disease duration of 20 months) underwent a clinical examination and 7-joint ultrasound score (German US-7) of the clinically dominant hand and foot to assess synovitis by grey-scale (GS) and synovial vascularity by power Doppler (PD) ultrasound using semiquantitative 0–3 grading. The levels of serum calprotectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined at the time of the ultrasound assessment. We analysed the relationship between serum calprotectin level, traditional inflammatory markers, and ultrasound-determined synovitis.ResultsThe levels of serum calprotectin were significantly correlated with swollen joint count (r = 0.465, p < 0.005), DAS28-ESR (r = 0.430, p < 0.01), ESR (r = 0.370, p < 0.05) and, in particular, CRP (r = 0.629, p < 0.001). Calprotectin was significantly associated with GS (r = 0.359, p < 0.05) and PD synovitis scores (r = 0.497, p < 0.005). Using multivariate regression analysis, calprotectin, adjusted for age and sex, was a better predictor of PD synovitis score (R2 = 0.765, p < 0.001) than CRP (R2 = 0.496, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe serum levels of calprotectin are significantly associated with clinical, laboratory and ultrasound assessments of RA disease activity. These results suggest that calprotectin might be superior to CRP for monitoring ultrasound-determined synovial inflammation in RA patients.

Serum Calprotectin Discriminates Subclinical Disease Activity from Ultrasound-Defined Remission in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Clinical Remission

Objective Clinical remission in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be associated with ongoing synovial inflammation that is not always detectable on clinical examination or reflected by laboratory tests but can be visualized by musculoskeletal ultrasound. The goal of our study was to determine the levels of serum calprotectin, a major leukocyte protein, in patients with RA in clinical remission and to investigate the ability of serum calprotectin levels to distinguish patients in ultrasound-defined remission from those with residual ultrasound subclinical inflammation. Methods Seventy RA patients in clinical remission underwent clinical and ultrasound examination. Ultrasound examination was performed according to the German US7 score. Ultrasound remission was defined as grey scale (GS) range 0–1 and power Doppler (PD) range 0. The levels of serum calprotectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined. The discriminatory capacity of calprotectin and CRP in detecting residual ultrasound inflammation was assessed using ROC curves. Results The total number of patients fulfilling the DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, SDAI and CDAI remission criteria was 58, 67, 32 and 31, respectively. Residual synovial inflammation was found in 58–67% of the patients who fulfilled at least one set of clinical remission criteria. Calprotectin levels were significantly higher in patients with residual synovial inflammation than in those with ultrasound-defined remission (mean 2.5±1.3 vs. 1.7±0.8 μg/mL, p<0.005). Using ultrasound-defined remission criteria, calprotectin had an AUC of 0.692, p<0.05 using DAS28-ESR remission criteria and an AUC of 0.712, p<0.005 using DAS28-CRP remission criteria. Calprotectin correctly distinguished ultrasound remission from subclinical activity in 70% of patients. CRP (AUC DAS28-ESR = 0.494, p = NS; AUC DAS28-CRP = 0.498, p = NS) had lower and insignificant discriminatory capacity. Conclusion The present study demonstrates the potential of calprotectin to distinguish RA patients in both clinical and ultrasound-defined remission from patients in clinical remission but with residual subclinical disease activity.

Relationship between serum calprotectin (S100A8/9) and clinical, laboratory and ultrasound parameters of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis: A large cohort study

Background Calprotectin may be a sensitive biomarker of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity. Objectives In the current study, we investigated whether calprotectin is a better biomarker than CRP for predicting clinical activity and ultrasound parameters in patients with RA. Methods A total of 160 patients with RA underwent clinical (swollen joint count—SJC, tender joint count—TJC, Disease Activity Score—DAS28, Clinical Disease Activity Index—CDAI, and simplified Disease Activity Index—SDAI) and ultrasound (German US7) examination. Clinical and laboratory measures were correlated with ultrasound findings using Spearman´s correlation coefficient. Differences in serum calprotectin levels in patients with variable disease activity according to the DAS28-ESR and CDAI scores were assessed using ANOVA. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the predictive values of calprotectin, CRP and SJC for CDAI and PD US synovitis scores. Results Serum calprotectin was significantly associated with DAS28-ESR (r = 0.321, p<0.001), DAS28-CRP (r = 0.346, p<0.001), SDAI (r = 0.305, p<0.001), CDAI (r = 0.279, p<0.001) scores and CRP levels (r = 0.556, p<0.001). Moreover, calprotectin was significantly correlated with GS (r = 0.379, p<0.001) and PD synovitis scores (r = 0.419, p<0.001). The multivariate regression analysis showed that calprotectin is a better predictor of the CDAI score and PD US synovitis than CRP. Conclusions The results of this study support an additional role of calprotectin in assessing inflammatory activity in patients with RA.

SAT0358 Decreased body fat, lean body mass and bone mineral density in patients with systemic sclerosis are associated with disease activity and physical activity

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs, especially digestive tract, and musculoskeletal involvement, which limit mobility/self-sufficiency of patients, and can have a negative impact on body composition. Objectives To assess body composition and physical activity of SSc patients and healthy controls (HC). Methods 59 patients with SSc (50 females, 9 males; mean age 52.1; disease duration 6.7 years; limited cutaneous (lcSSc,36)/diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc,23)) and 36 age-/sex-matched HC (30 females, 6 males, mean age 51.4) without rheumatic/tumor diseases or manifest cardiovascular event were included. SSc patients fulfilled EULAR/ACR 2013 criteria. Anthropometric parameters and body composition were assessed (by densitometry-iDXA Lunar, and by bioelectric impedance-BIA-2000-M), and physical activity was evaluated using Human Activity Profile (HAP) questionnaire. Routine biochemistry analysis was performed after 8 hours of fasting. Disease activity was evaluated by EUSTAR SSc activity score. Data are presented as mean±SD. Results Compared to HC, patients with SSc had significantly lower body-mass index (BMI: 26.4±3.3 vs. 22.4±4.3 kg/m2, p<0.0001) and body fat % assessed by both iDXA (BF%: 37.2±6.6 vs. 32.6±8.2%, p=0.0014) and BIA (BF%: 31.1±6.4 vs. 24.6±7.8%, p<0.0001), and a trend to decreased visceral fat weight (0.9±0.9 vs. 0.5±0.5kg, p=0.0670). Compared to HC, SSc patients demonstrated significantly decreased lean body mass assessed by both iDXA (LBM: 46.6±7.5 vs. 40.9±6.8kg, p=0.0003) and BIA (LBM: 53.2±8.7 vs. 47.7±7.0kg, p=0.0017), and increased ECM/BCM ratio (extracellular mass/body cell mass: 1.03±0.1 vs. 1.29±0.4, p<0.0001), which reflects worse muscle predispositions for physical exercise, aerobic fitness/performance, and usually increases with deteriorating nutritional status. Compared to HC, SSc patients had significantly lower bone mineral density (BMD: 1.16±0.10 vs. 1.05±0.11g/cm2, p<0.0001), and were currently able to perform less energetically demanding physical activities according to HAP score (84.7±6.6 vs. 64.1±17.2, p<0.0001). Disease activity negatively correlated with BF% (r=-0.324, p=0.014), and physical activity (HAP) positively correlated with BMD (r=0.276, p=0.034) and negatively with ECM/BCM (r=-0.625, p<0.0001). Conclusions Compared to healthy age-/sex-matched individuals we found significant negative changes in body composition of our SSc patients, which are associated with their disease activity and physical activity, and could reflect their nutritional status, and gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal involvement. Acknowledgements Supported by AZV-16–33574A, GAUK-214615. Disclosure of Interest None declared

08.49 Efficacy of an intensive 24-week physiotherapy programme in scleroderma patients – preliminary data from a single-centre controlled study

Background Involvement of skin and musculoskeletal system in systemic sclerosis (SSc) leads to loss of function, disability and reduced quality of life. Data on efficacy of non-pharmacologic care in SSc is very limited due to variety in studied interventions/outcomes. Objectives and methods To address the limitations of existing studies, and evaluate the effect of a controlled, long-term (24-week intervention, 24-week follow-up), intensive (1 hour physiotherapy +0.5 hour occupational therapy twice weekly, and home-exercise for 0.5 hour 5x weekly), tailored physiotherapy program on function/impairment of hands/face, and quality of life/disability in cohorts with a substantial number of SSc patients. All patients fulfilled ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria, had skin involvement of hands/mouth, and were consecutively recruited between 2014–2016. At months 0,3,6,12 all patients were assessed by a physician (physical history, mRSS, EUSTAR SSc activity score, Medsger severity score), and a physiotherapist blinded to intervention [validated measurements (dFTP-delta finger to palm, inter-incisor/inter-lip distance, grip strength using Baseline dynamometer ); tests (HAMIS-Hand Mobility In Scleroderma)], patients filled out PRO questionnaires (CHFS-Cochin Hand Function Scale, MHISS-Mouth Handicap In SSc Scale, HAQ, SHAQ, SF-36) and provided blood for routine laboratory analysis and biobanking. Normality of data was tested and inter-group analysis performed with 2-way ANOVA and intra-group analysis by Friedmann’s test with Dunn’s post hoc test. Results 25 SSc patients (22 female/3 male, 14 lcSSc/11dcSSc, median of age 54.0 and disease duration 7.0 years, mRSS 12) were recruited into the intervention group (IG) and 29 patients into CG (25 female/4 male, 16 lcSSc/13 dcSSc, median of age 49.0 and disease duration 5.0 years, mRSS 11). Compared to observed statistically significant deterioration in CG over the period of m0-m6, we found statistically significant improvement in dFTP, grip strength, HAMIS, inter-incisor and inter-lip distance. Only numerical improvement in IG compared to numerical deterioration in CG, which have not reached statistical significance, were observed in patient reported outcomes (CHFS, MHISS, HAQ, SHAQ, SF-36). Conclusions Our physiotherapy program not only prevented the natural course of progressive deterioration of function of hands/mouth (observed in CG), but led to a significant improvement in monitored parameters, which was clinically meaningful in a substantial proportion of patients. Acknowledgement Supported by AZV-16–33574A.

FRI0399 Efficacy of an intensive 24-week physiotherapy programme in patients with systemic sclerosis - preliminary data from a single-center controlled study

Background Involvement of skin and musculoskeletal system in systemic sclerosis (SSc) leads to loss of function, disability and reduced quality of life. Data on efficacy of non-pharmacologic care in SSc is very limited due to variety in studied interventions/outcomes. Objectives To address the limitations of existing studies, and evaluate the effect of a controlled, long-term (24-week intervention, 24-week follow-up), intensive (1h physiotherapy + 0.5h occupational therapy twice weekly, and home-exercise for 0.5h 5x weekly), tailored physiotherapy programme on function/impairment of hands/face, and quality of life/disability in cohorts with a substantial number of SSc patients. Methods All patients fulfilled ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria, had skin involvement of hands/mouth, and were consecutively recruited from 2014 to 2016 at the Institute of Rheumatology in Prague. Both groups received educational materials and instructions for home exercise at baseline, however, only intervention group underwent the intensive physiotherapy programme. At months 0,3,6,12 all patients were assessed by a physician (physical examination, mRSS-Modified Rodnans skin score, EUSTAR SSc activity score, Medsger SSc severity score), and a physiotherapist blinded to intervention [validated measurements (dFTP-delta finger to palm, inter-incisor/inter-lip distance, grip strength using Baseline dynamometer); tests (HAMIS-Hand Mobility In Scleroderma)], patients filled out patient reported outcomes/questionnaires (CHFS-Cochin Hand Function Scale, MHISS-Mouth Handicap In SSc Scale, HAQ, SHAQ, SF-36) and provided blood for routine laboratory analysis and biobanking. Normality of data was tested, inter-group analysis was performed with 2-way ANOVA, and intra-group analysis by Friedmanns test with Dunns post hoc test. Results 25 SSc patients (22 female/3 male, 14 limited cutaneous (lc)SSc/11 diffuse cutaneous (dc)SSc, median of age 54.0 and disease duration 7.0 years, mRSS 12) were recruited into the intervention group (IG) and 29 patients into the control group (CG) (25 female/4 male, 16 lcSSc/13 dcSSc, median of age 49.0 and disease duration 5.0 years, mRSS 11). Compared to observed statistically significant deterioration in CG over the period of m0-m6, we found statistically significant improvement in dFTP, grip strength, HAMIS, inter-incisor and inter-lip distance (Table 1). Only numerical improvement in IG compared to numerical deterioration in CG, which have not reached statistical significance, were observed in patient reported outcomes (CHFS, MHISS, HAQ, SHAQ, SF-36). Conclusions Our physiotherapy program not only prevented the natural course of progressive deterioration of function of hands/mouth (observed in the control group), but led to a significant improvement in monitored parameters, which was clinically meaningful in a substantial proportion of patients. Acknowledgements Supported by AZV-16–33574A. Disclosure of Interest None declared

AB0653 Efficacy of an intensive 24-week physiotherapy programme in myositis patients - preliminary data from a single-center controlled study

Background Involvement of musculoskeletal system (inflammatation, atrophy and permanent damage to the muscle) in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) leads to impaired function and reduced muscle strength, endurance, aerobic capacity and decreased quality of life. Data on efficacy of non-pharmacologic care in IIM is very limited due to variety in studied interventions/outcomes. Objectives To address the limitations of existing studies, and evaluate the effect of a controlled, long-term (24-week intervention, 24-week follow-up), intensive (1h physiotherapy twice weekly, and home-exercise for 1h 5x weekly), tailored physiotherapy program to improve muscle strength, endurance and deep stabilizer system, and quality of life/disability in cohorts with a substantial number of IIM patients. Methods All patients fulfilled the Bohan and Peter 1975 diagnostic criteria for dermatomyositis (DM) or polymyositis (PM), had skeletal muscle involvement, and were consecutively recruited from 2014 to 2016 at the Institute of Rheumatology in Prague. Both groups received educational materials and instructions for home exercise at baseline, however, only intervention group underwent the intensive physiotherapy programme. At months 0,3,6,12 all patients were assessed by a physician [physical examination, Myositis intention to treat index (MITAX), Myositis disease activity assessment visual analogue scale (MYOACT), and Myositis damage index (MDI)], and a physiotherapist blinded to intervention [standardized tests evaluating the level of muscle strength [Manual muscle test-8 (MMT-8)], and endurance [Functional index-2 (FI-2)], patients filled out patient reported outcomes (PRO)/questionnaires [HAQ, SF-36, Becks depression inventory-II (BDI-II), PROs assessing nutrition and fatigue], body composition was analyzed using densitometry (iDXA Lunar) and bioelectric impedance (BIA2000-M), and patients provided blood for routine laboratory analysis and biobanking. Normality of data was tested and inter-group analysis performed with 2-way ANOVA and intra-group analysis by Friedmanns test with Dunns post hoc test. Results 27 IIM patients (22 female/5 male, 10 DM/12 PM/5 IMNM (immune mediated necrotizing myopathy), median of age 58.0 and disease duration 7.0 years) were recruited into the intervention group (IG) and 27 patients into the control group (CG) (24 female/3 male, 13 DM/12 PM/2 IMNM, median of age 56.5 and disease duration 4.7 years). Compared to observed statistically significant deterioration in CG over the period of months 0–6, we found statistically significant improvement in FI-2, MMT8, HAQ, BDI-II (Table 1). Only numerical improvement in IG compared to numerical deterioration in CG, which has not reached statistical significance, was observed in SF-36 and fatigue PROs. Conclusions Our intensive 24-week physiotherapy programme led to a significant improvement in muscle strength, endurance, function and depression, which was clinically meaningful in a substantial proportion of patients. Acknowledgements Supported by AZV-16–33574A. Disclosure of Interest None declared

AB0671 Increased body fat but decreased lean body mass and bone mineral density in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are associated with disease duration, inflammatory status, skeletal muscle involvement and physical activity

Background Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are characterized by inflammation and atrophy of skeletal muscles, pulmonary and articular involvement, which limit the mobility/self-sufficiency of patients, and can have a negative impact on body composition. Objectives To assess body composition and physical activity of IIM patients and healthy controls (HC). Methods 54 patients with IIM (45 females/9 males; mean age 57.3; disease duration 5.8 years; polymyositis (PM,22)/dermatomyositis (DM,25)/necrotizing myopathy (IMNM,7)) and 30 age-/sex-matched HC (25 females/5 males, mean age 54.9) without rheumatic/tumor diseases or manifest cardiovascular event were included. PM/DM patients fulfilled Bohan/Peter criteria for PM/DM. Anthropometric parameters and body composition were assessed (by densitometry-iDXA Lunar, and by bioelectric impedance-BIA2000-M), and physical activity was evaluated using Human Activity Profile (HAP) questionnaire. Routine biochemistry analysis was performed after 8 hours of fasting. Muscle involvement was evaluated by manual muscle test (MMT)-8. Data are presented as mean±SD. Results Compared to HC, patients with IIM had significantly increased body fat % as assessed by iDXA (BF%: 38.7±6.7 vs. 42.5±7.1%, p=0.015), but decreased lean body mass as assessed both by iDXA (LBM: 45.7±6.6 vs. 40.3±7.0 kg, p=0.0005) and BIA (LBM: 53.2±8.5 vs. 48.7±9.0 kg, p=0.0295), and increased ECM/BCM ratio (extracellular mass/body cell mass: 1.00±0.12 vs. 1.43±0.42, p<0.0001), which reflects worse muscle predispositions for physical exercise, aerobic fitness/performance, and also increases with deteriorating nutritional status. Compared to HC, IIM patients had significantly lower bone mineral density (BMD: 1.16±0.10 vs. 1.05±0.11 g/cm2, p=0.0010), and were currently able to perform less energetically demanding physical activities according to HAP score (86.3±5.9 vs. 49.0±20.2, p<0.0001). Disease duration negatively correlated with BMD (r=-0.392, p=0.004) and LBM-BIA (r=-0.272, p=0.047). CRP was positively associated with BF% assessed both by DEXA (r=0.276, p=0.035) and BIA (r=0.306, p=0.025). MMT-8 score negatively correlated with ECM/BCM ratio (r=-0.385, p=0.006), and physical activity (HAP) negatively correlated with BF%>DEXA (r=-0.292, p=0.032). Conclusions Compared to healthy age-/sex-matched individuals we found significant negative changes in body composition of our IIM patients, which are associated with their disease duration, inflammatory status, skeletal muscle involvement, and physical activity, and could reflect their impaired nutritional status and predispositions for physical exercise, aerobic fitness and performance. Acknowledgements Supported by AZV-16–33574A, GAUK-214615. Disclosure of Interest None declared

08.48 Increased body fat but decreased lean body mass and bone mineral density in myositis patients are associated with disease duration, inflammatory status, skeletal muscle involvement and physical activity

Background Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are characterised by inflammation and atrophy of skeletal muscles, pulmonary and articular involvement, which limit the mobility/self-sufficiency of patients, and can have a negative impact on body composition. Objectives To assess body composition and physical activity of IIM patients and healthy controls (HC). Methods 54 patients with IIM (45 females/9 males; mean age 57.3; disease duration 5.8 years; polymyositis (PM,22)/dermatomyositis (DM,25)/necrotizing myopathy (IMNM,7)) and 30 age-/sex-matched HC (25 females/5 males, mean age 54.9) without rheumatic/tumour diseases or manifest cardiovascular event were included. PM/DM patients fulfilled Bohan/Peter criteria for PM/DM. Anthropometric parameters and body composition were assessed (by densitometry-iDXA Lunar, and by bioelectric impedance-BIA2000-M), and physical activity was evaluated using Human Activity Profile (HAP) questionnaire. Routine biochemistry analysis was performed after 8 hours of fasting. Muscle involvement was evaluated by manual muscle test (MMT)−8. Data are presented as mean±SD. Results Compared to HC, patients with IIM had significantly increased body fat% as assessed by iDXA (BF%: 38.7±6.7 vs. 42.5%±7.1%, p=0.015), but decreased lean body mass as assessed both by iDXA (LBM: 45.7±6.6 vs. 40.3±7.0 kg, p=0.0005) and BIA (LBM: 53.2±8.5 vs. 48.7±9.0 kg, p=0.0295), and increased ECM/BCM ratio (extracellular mass/body cell mass: 1.00±0.12 vs. 1.43±0.42, p<0.0001), which reflects worse muscle predispositions for physical exercise, aerobic fitness/performance, and also increases with deteriorating nutritional status. Compared to HC, IIM patients had significantly lower bone mineral density (BMD: 1.16±0.10 vs. 1.05±0.11 g/cm2, p=0.0010), and were currently able to perform less energetically demanding physical activities according to HAP score (86.3±5.9 vs. 49.0±20.2, p<0.0001). Disease duration negatively correlated with BMD (r=−0.392, p=0.004) and LBM-BIA (r=−0.272, p=0.047). CRP was positively associated with BF% assessed both by DEXA (r=0.276, p=0.035) and BIA (r=0.306, p=0.025). MMT-8 score negatively correlated with ECM/BCM ratio (r=−0.385, p=0.006), and physical activity (HAP) negatively correlated with BF%-DEXA (r=−0.292, p=0.032). Conclusions Compared to healthy age-/sex-matched individuals we found significant negative changes in body composition of our IIM patients, which are associated with their disease duration, inflammatory status, skeletal muscle involvement, and physical activity, and could reflect their impaired nutritional status and predispositions for physical exercise, aerobic fitness and performance. Acknowledgement Supported by AZV-16–33574A.

OP0053 Bone loss and cardiovascular risk in patients with erosive and non-erosive hand osteoarthritis

Background Hand osteoarthritis (OA) and its more severe subset erosive hand OA are common causes of pain and morbidity. Some metabolic factors were suggested to be implicated in erosive disease. Furthermore, few studies investigated differences in systemic bone loss and cardiovascular risk factors between erosive and non-erosive hand OA. Objectives To compare bone mineral density (BMD) and major cardiovascular risk factors between patients with erosive and non-erosive hand OA in a cross-sectional study. Methods Patients with symptomatic disease fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for hand OA were included in this study. Erosive hand OA was defined by at least one erosive interphalangeal joint. All patients underwent clinical assessments of joint swelling and radiographs of both hands. DEXA examination of lumbar spine, total femur and femur neck was performed. Metabolic risk factors (body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia) were collected. Patients were examined at baseline, one-year and two years follow-up. Results Altogether, 129 patients (12 male) with symptomatic nodal hand OA were included in this study and followed between April 2012 and January 2017. Out of these patients, 72 had erosive disease. The disease duration (p<0.01) was significantly higher in patients with erosive compared with non-erosive disease at baseline. Patients were taking symptomatic slow acting drugs (SYSADOA) twice a year, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics on demand. Baseline population characteristics did not differ between both groups. Osteoporosis (T-score <-2.5 SD) was diagnosed in 12.5% (9/72) of patients with erosive hand OA and in 8.06% (5/57) of patients with non-erosive hand OA. Although bone mineral density did not significantly differ between the groups, T-scores of lumbar spine (-0.46 vs. -1.04 SD, p<0.001), total femur (-0.36 vs. -1.20 SD, p<0.001) and femur neck (-0.92 vs. -1.20 SD, p<0.01) were significantly lower in patients with erosive compared with non-erosive disease. After two years, the decrease in T- score of lumbar spine was significantly higher in patients with erosive compared with non-erosive hand OA (-0.08 SD vs. 0.07SD, p<0.01; total difference between groups is 10.92%). The decrease of T-score in femur neck, total femur and the decrease of BMD (g/cm2) in all regions were also higher, although not significantly, in patients with erosive compared with non-erosive hand OA. In addition, more patients with erosive compared with non-erosive hand OA were treated for dyslipidaemia at baseline and after two years (32% vs. 28% and 32% vs.30%, p<0.01 for both comparisons). Conclusions These results suggest that patients with erosive hand OA are at risk for development of general bone loss and cardiovascular diseases. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the project MHCR No. 023728. Disclosure of Interest None declared