Porin Perić

Antibodies targeting mutated citrullinated vimentin in patients with psoriatic arthritis

Antibodies against mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) are of a comparable diagnostic value in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as antibodies targeting citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP). Anti-CCP are present in up to 15% of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, while the prevalence of anti-MCV in PsA patients has been poorly investigated. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and relevance of anti-MCV antibodies in PsA patients. The study included 56 PsA patients. Clinical features, disease activity, and functional ability were noted by an experienced rheumatologist. Serum samples of all patients were analyzed for anti-MCV and anti-CCP antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data on 92 patients with RA, 44 patients with other inflammatory rheumatic diseases, and 107 healthy controls from a previous study were used to compare the prevalence of anti-MCV antibodies in PsA patients. Anti-MCV antibodies were positive in only two out of 56 (3.6%) PsA patients, which was significantly lower compared to RA patients (63%). The anti-MCV level was moderately positive and borderline in one patient each. Both patients had asymmetric polyarthritis, dactylitis, moderate to high disease activity, and were anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor (RF) negative. There was no significant difference in anti-MCV levels according to clinical subtypes of PsA and no correlation of anti-MCV levels with anti-CCP, RF, disease activity variables, and functional ability indices. According to study results, anti-MCV antibodies can be detected in a very small proportion of PsA patients with polyarthritic disease and are primarily related to the polyarthritic pattern rather than the specific diagnosis of RA.

AB1292 Patological changes of shoulder joint in early phase of rheumatoid arthritis detected by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and power doppler

Objectives The primary objective of the study was to establish the status of rotator cuff in the early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using shoulders ultrasonography (US), Power Doppler (PD) and MRI. The other specific objective was to detect other inflammatory changes of shoulder joint such as erosions, synovitis, effusion, bursitis and humeral head bone oedema. Methods The prospective study was conducted at the Clinical Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, in the group of 50 patient who fullfiled criteria for diagnosis of RA. The study was conducted by US machine Logiq 700, using 7-11 MHz high-resolution linear probe (General Electric). MRI of shoulder joints was performed using machine: Siemens Magnetom Trio, with 3T magnetic field. Results All three methods were effective in detecting early inflammatory changes. MRI of shoulder was the most accurate method in discovering the humeral head bone oedema. US and MRI of shoulders had very good results in detecting early rotator cuff changes. Rotator cuff tears were found in 7 patients (14%) using US and in 11 patients (24%) using MRI. The highest number of tears were found in the site of supraspinatus tendons (in 5 out of 7 patients using US and in 8 out of 11 patients by MRI). US and MRI showed the highest correlation between findings in the way of detecting rotator cuff tears (correlation index 88%, kappa value=0,598 which is the highest kappa value in the study). US and MRI are efficient in detecting effusions and bursitis. PD of shoulder was the superior method in detecting synovitis with the highest number of positive findings (90%) in comparison to standard US and MRI. Conclusions Those data emphasize the importance of US, PD and MRI of shoulder in detecting early inflammatory changes in the patients with RA, especially of rotator cuff tears using US and MRI and detecting humeral bone oedema using MRI. Disclosure of Interest None Declared