ObjectiveTo examine the course of interstitial lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA-ILD) in France on treatment with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) using the MAJIK-SFR registry.MethodsProspective national multicentre observational study identifying patients with RA-ILD from the MAJIK-SFR registry. Pulmonary assessment data were collected at JAKi initiation and follow-up visits (6 months, 12 months and a median of 21 months postinclusion), including chest high-resolution CT (HRCT), pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO)), acute exacerbations of ILD, respiratory infections and lung cancers.ResultsWe enrolled 42 patients (26 women, 62%) with RA-ILD with a mean age of 61±13 years and a mean disease duration of 16±10 years. Compared with the 778 RA patients without ILD from the MAJIK registry, RA-ILD patients were older, displayed more severe and active disease and had more prevalent comorbidities. Non-specific interstitial pneumonia and usual interstitial pneumonia accounted for 46% and 43% of the chest HRCT ILD patterns, respectively. No significant changes in FVC and DLCO were observed during the follow-up period. Chest HRCT lesions remained stable in 69% of patients. Progressive ILD was identified in 8 patients (19%). 16 (38%) respiratory tract infections were observed. Only one acute regressive exacerbation of ILD was noted, and no lung cancer was diagnosed. No deaths occurred. JAKi was discontinued in 17 patients including 8 for inefficacy on joint involvement and 5 for intolerance.ConclusionThe analysis indicates stability of RA-ILD in patients treated with JAKi. The tolerance profile of JAKi in this higher risk population did not reveal new safety signal.

OBJECTIVES:Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) bone and joint infections (BJIs) are uncommon. We evaluated the characteristics of BJIs and identified differences according to immune status. METHODS:We performed a multicenter retrospective study in France involving patients with documented NTM BJI over a 9-year period. We collected the clinical and microbiological characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of the patients. RESULTS:Overall, 95 patients were included, of whom 50.5% (48/95) were immunosuppressed. Tenosynovitis was more frequent in the immunocompetent group, and native arthritis more common in the immunosuppressed group. Mycobacerium marinum and M. abscessus complex were significantly more frequent in the immunocompetent group, and M. avium and M. xenopi were significantly more frequent in the immunosuppressed group. The combination of antibiotherapy with surgery tended to be more frequent in the immunocompetent than the immunosuppressed group (63.8% (30/47) vs 47.8% (22/46), respectively); of the latter, 45.7% (21/46) received antimicrobial therapy alone, a higher frequency than in the immunocompetent group (23.4%, 11/47). The median duration of antimicrobial treatment was similar in the two groups (11 months). Mortality was significantly higher in the immunosuppressed group. CONCLUSIONS:Although the clinical presentations and the NTM species involved in BJI differed according to immune status, most recovered completely after treatment.

Septic bursitis (SB) is a common condition accounting for one third of all cases of inflammatory bursitis. It is often related to professional activities. Management is heterogeneous and either ambulatory or hospital-based, with no recommendations available. This article presents recommendations for managing patients with septic bursitis gathered by 18 rheumatologists from the French Society for Rheumatology work group on bone and joint infections, 1 infectious diseases specialist, 2 orthopedic surgeons, 1 general practitioner and 1 emergency physician. This group used a literature review and expert opinions to establish 3 general principles and 11 recommendations for managing olecranon and prepatellar SB. The French Health authority (Haute Autorité de santé [HAS]) methodology was used for these recommendations. Designed for rheumatologists, general practitioners, emergency physicians and orthopedic surgeons, they focus on the use of biological tests and imaging in both outpatient and inpatient management. Antibiotic treatment options (drugs and duration) are proposed for both treatment modalities. Finally, surgical indications, non-drug treatments and prevention are covered by specific recommendations.

Background: The available data on the impact of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) on rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) are currently limited. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the progression of RA-ILD in France among individuals treated with JAKi, utilizing the MAJIK-SFR registry. Methods: A prospective national multicenter observational study was conducted, identifying patients with RA-ILD from the MAJIK-SFR registry. Pulmonary assessment data were specifically collected from centers with at least one RA-ILD patient on JAKi, using a dedicated form. Data were gathered at JAKi initiation and follow-up visits (6, 12, and an average of 21 months post-inclusion), including chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests (FVC and DLCO), acute exacerbations of ILD, respiratory infections, and lung cancers. Results: We enrolled 42 patients with RA-ILD initiating JAKi (18 baricitinib, 11 upadacitinib, 9 tofacitinib and 4 filgotinib). Patients (26 women, 62%) were aged 61±12 and had a disease duration of 16±10 years. 15 (35%) were active smokers, 37 (88%) had positive rheumatoid factors, 39 (95%) positive ACPAs and 29 (69%) bone erosions. Mean DAS28-CRP at JAKi initiation was 4.69±1.61. 41 patients were on csDMARDs, including 37 (88%) on methotrexate, and the mean number of prior targeted therapies was 3±2. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) accounted for 46% and 43% of the chest HRCT ILD patterns, respectively. The study observed no significant changes in FVC and DLCO during follow-up (FVC (L)/LDCO (%): 3.2 L/65% at inclusion; 3.12 L/63% at 12 months follow-up and 3.03 L/60% at end of follow-up). Chest HRCT lesions remained stable in 62% of patients. Regression of chest HRCT lesions (2 NSIP and one organized lung disease) was observed in 3 patients (7%), associated with an improvement of more than 5% in the initial FVC value at the last assessment. Progressive ILD was identified during follow-up in 8 patients (including 3 NSIP and 3 UIP) receiving JAKi (19%), defined by a progressive worsening of FVC by more than 5% during follow-up and worsening of ILD lesions on chest HRCT or of their respiratory symptoms. Three were treated with Nintedanib for fibrosis. This pulmonary progression contrasted with joint efficacy, with a decrease in median DAS28-CRP from 4.29 to 2.30 (p<0.001). Cox proportional hazards analyses identified higher age at diagnosis of ILD, active smoking and the presence of extra-articular involvement as predictive factors for progression of RA-ILD. With regard to pulmonary tolerance, 5 infectious pneumonia and one pulmonary tuberculosis were observed. Only one acute regressive exacerbation of ILD was noted, and no lung cancer was diagnosed during the 21-month follow-up period. No deaths occurred. JAKi was discontinued in 17 patients, 8 for joint inefficacy and 4 for intolerance. No discontinuation of JAKi was linked to a progression of ILD. Conclusion: The analysis indicates a neutral effect of JAKi on RA-ILD, contrasting with notable joint efficacy. JAKi demonstrated an expected safety profile, with no increased risk of acute exacerbation of ILD in this population. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: Jérôme Avouac Abbvie, Lilly, Pfizer, Galapagos, Abbvie, Galapagos, Galapagos, Felicien Triboulet: None declared, Pierre-Antoine Juge: None declared, Marie-Elise Truchetet: None declared, Thao Pham: None declared, Nicolas Roux: None declared, René-Marc Flipo: None declared, Charles Leské: None declared, Christian Roux: None declared, Raphaèle Seror: None declared, André Basch: None declared, Olilvier Brocq: None declared, Pascal Chazerain: None declared, Fabienne Coury-Lucas: None declared, Richard DAMADE: None declared, Emmanuelle Dernis: None declared, Jacques-Eric Gottenberg: None declared, André Ramon: None declared, Adeline Ruyssen-Witrand: None declared, Jean-Hugues Salmon: None declared, Emilie SHIPLEY: None declared, Anne Tournadre: None declared, Clément Prati: None declared, Philippe Dieudé: None declared.

Les bursites septiques, relativement fréquentes, représentent un tiers des bursites inflammatoires et sont souvent liées aux activités professionnelles. Leur prise en charge est hétérogène, ambulatoire ou hospitalière, et aucune recommandation n’est disponible à ce jour. Cet article propose des recommandations de prise en charge des bursites septiques élaborées par 18 rhumatologues du groupe de travail de la Société Française de Rhumatologie sur les infections ostéoarticulaires, un infectiologue, deux chirurgiens orthopédistes, un médecin généraliste et un médecin urgentiste. En s’appuyant sur une revue de la littérature et les avis d’expert, le groupe de travail a élaboré trois principes généraux et 11 recommandations de prise en charge des bursites septiques olécraniennes et prépatellaires, selon la méthodologie de la Haute Autorité de Santé. Destinées aux médecins rhumatologues, généralistes, urgentistes et orthopédistes, ces recommandations mettent l’accent sur la place des examens d’imagerie et la ponction de bourse dans les deux modalités de prise en charge ambulatoire et hospitalière. Des options d’antibiothérapie (molécules et durées) sont proposées pour les deux contextes de prise en charge. Enfin, des recommandations spécifiques sont consacrées aux indications chirurgicales, aux thérapies non pharmacologiques et à la prévention.

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the severity of COVID-19 and identify factors associated with severe disease outcomes in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA), a chronic inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD).Methods: We utilized patient data from the French national multicenter RMD COVID-19 cohort (NCT04353609). The primary outcome was to describe COVID-19 characteristics in patients with SpA based on disease severity of COVID-19 (mild, moderate or severe) with serious infection including moderate and severe cases. The secondary outcome was to identify the factors associated with serious COVID-19 classification.Results: Among the 626 patients with SpA (56% female, mean age 49 +/- 14 years) from the French RMD cohort, COVID-19 severity was mild in 508 (81%), moderate in 93 (15%), and severe in 25 (4%) patients. Clinical signs and symptoms of COVID-19 were reported in 587 (94%) patients, with the most frequent presented symptom of fever (63%) and cough (62%), followed by flu-like symptoms (53%), agueusia (39%), anosmia (37%), dyspnea (32%) and diarrhea (19.9%). COVID-19 severity was associated with corticosteroid therapy (OR=3.08 [95% CI: 1.44-6.58], P=0.004) and age (OR=1.06 [95% CI: 1.04-1.08], P<0.001) while use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi, OR=0.27 [95% CI: 0.09-0.78], P=0.01) was associated with less severe disease. We did not identify an association between NSAID use and COVID-19 severity.Conclusions: In this study, the majority of patients with SpA had a favorable COVID-19 outcome. We confirmed age and corticosteroids therapy had a negative impact on disease outcomes while TNFi use was protective.(c) 2023 Societe francaise de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

El dolor en los miembros inferiores es un motivo frecuente de consulta. Se trata en una primera etapa, tanto para el médico de familia como para el especialista hospitalario, de distinguir principalmente una afectación ósea, articular, periarticular, neurológica o vascular y, en una segunda etapa, de establecer un diagnóstico etiológico. La primera etapa es fundamentalmente clínica. La segunda etapa requiere con mucha frecuencia la realización de pruebas complementarias, en particular radiológicas y de laboratorio. Estas pruebas complementarias deben solicitarse de forma lógica y razonada, tras un estudio clínico completo que ofrezca hipótesis diagnósticas. El proceso difiere en función de que se trate de un dolor del miembro inferior en su conjunto o de un dolor segmentario.

IntroductionAutoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) patients might be at-risk of severe COVID-19. However, whether this is linked to the disease or to its treatment is difficult to determine. This study aimed to identify factors associated with occurrence of severe COVID-19 in AIRD patients and to evaluate whether having an AIRD was associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19 or death.Materials and methodsTwo databases were analyzed: the EDS (Entrepôt des Données de Santé, Clinical Data Warehouse), including all patients followed in Paris university hospitals and the French multi-center COVID-19 cohort [French rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD)]. First, in a combined analysis we compared patients with severe and non-severe COVID-19 to identify factors associated with severity. Then, we performed a propensity matched score case–control study within the EDS database to compare AIRD cases and non-AIRD controls.ResultsAmong 1,213 patients, 195 (16.1%) experienced severe COVID-19. In multivariate analysis, older age, interstitial lung disease (ILD), arterial hypertension, obesity, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, auto-inflammatory diseases, and treatment with corticosteroids or rituximab were associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Among 35,741 COVID-19 patients in EDS, 316 having AIRDs were compared to 1,264 Propensity score-matched controls. AIRD patients had a higher risk of severe COVID-19 [aOR = 1.43 (1.08–1.87), p = 0.01] but analysis restricted to rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis found no increased risk of severe COVID-19 [aOR = 1.11 (0.68–1.81)].ConclusionIn this multicenter study, we confirmed that AIRD patients treated with rituximab or corticosteroids and/or having vasculitis, auto-inflammatory disease, and sarcoidosis had increased risk of severe COVID-19. Also, AIRD patients had, overall, an increased risk of severe COVID-19 compares general population.

L’identification microbiologique est essentielle à la prise en charge des infections ostéo-articulaires. Néanmoins, la mise en évidence de l’agent pathogène est parfois difficile. En cas de prélèvement négatif et/ou en fonction du contexte, la présence de bactérie dite atypique est à évoquer et à rechercher. Cet article rapporte les principales caractéristiques des infections ostéo-articulaires à mycobactéries atypiques, Brucella sp., Pasteurella sp., Bartonella henselae et Kingella kingae. Les infections tuberculeuses et la maladie de Whipple seront traitées dans d’autres articles de la revue.

Objectives: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) treatment failure may be due to relapsing infection (same microorganism) or new-pathogen reinfection (npPJI). The aim was to describe npPJI epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics, their treatments and outcomes, and identify their risk factors. Methods: This observational, single-center, cohort study was conducted in a French Referral Center for Bone-and-Joint Infections between September 2004 and December 2015. Patients treated for at least two successive hip or knee PJIs in the same joint with a different pathogen were identified in the prospective database. We compared each patient's first PJI and subsequent npPJI(s) to analyze the type and microbiological characteristics of npPJIs. To search for npPJI risk factors, we compared those cases to a random selection of 122 "unique-episode" PJIs treated during the study period. Results: Among 990 PJIs, 79 (8%) npPJIs occurring in 61 patients were included. New-pathogen prosthetic joint infections (npPJIs) developed more frequently in knee (14%) than hip prostheses (5%). Median interval from the first PJI to the npPJI was 26 months. New-pathogen prosthetic joint reinfections (npPJIs) more frequently spread hematogenously (60% vs 33%) and were predominantly caused by Staphylococcus (36%) or Streptococcus (33%) species. Multivariate analysis identified two risk factors: chronic dermatitis (odds ratio: 6.23; P < 0.05) and cardiovascular diseases (odds ratio: 2.71; P < 0.01). A curative strategy was applied to 70%: DAIR (29%), one-stage (28%), two-stage exchange arthroplasty (7%) or other strategies (7%). The others received prolonged suppressive antibiotic therapy (30%). Conclusions: New-pathogen prosthetic joint infections (npPJIs) are complex infections requiring management by multidisciplinary teams that should be adapted to each clinical situation. (c) 2021 Socie acute accent te acute accent franc , aise de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Background: Arthroplasty after septic arthritis (SA) treatment raises diagnostic and therapeutic questions. The main objective was to evaluate infection-free survival of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) post-SA. Other objectives were to describe the population's characteristics, surgical strategies, results of preoperative examinations and cultures of intraoperative samples taken at implantation, and postoperative antibiotic therapy. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, monocenter study, from January 2005 to May 2019, including all patients undergoing TKA or THA with prior or ongoing SA in the same joint. Infection-free survival was analyzed and reported. Results: Forty-seven patients, 29 men, 49 joints operated on (30 knees, 19 hips), were included. Median SA-to-arthroplasty interval was 32 [1-216] weeks. It was <2 years for 43 joints and <6 months for 19 joints. Six patients underwent arthroplasty while still on SA treatment. One-stage arthroplasty was done for 43 joints and two-stage arthroplasty for 6 joints. Eight (16 %) cultures of intraoperative specimens were positive. Median durations of postoperative antibiotic therapy were 10 d for sterile cultures and 82 d for those that were positive. At 2 years, infection-free survival rate was 95.9% ( +/- 0 :02). After a median follow-up of 47 [18-142] months, no SA relapse was observed, but five patients developed new periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) with a different microorganism. Conclusion: Arthroplasty may be a post-SA option, even within a short period of time. One-stage arthroplasty can be done if synovectomy is thorough, intraoperative samples are taken and antibiotics are administered until those culture results become available. We observed no SA relapse, but new PJIs occurred.

•La réinfection de prothèse par un germe différent touche le plus souvent le genou.•Un taux élevé d’infections hématogènes à staphylocoques et streptocoques a été retrouvé.•La peau était la source d’infection la plus fréquente.•Les stratégies médicales et chirurgicales doivent être décidées au cas par cas.

Le conflit ischio-fémoral (CIF) est une cause inhabituelle de douleur de hanche. Certains sports contraignants peuvent causer ce conflit, comme la danse. Nous rapportons le cas d’une danseuse de ballet de 11 ans présentant un CIF bilatéral secondaire à un surentraînement et à une hypertrophie du muscle carré fémoral. Ce syndrome est fréquemment évoqué dans le domaine de l’orthopédie suite à une prothèse de hanche. Le CIF bilatéral est rare et doit être recherché dans le cadre d’un sport intense comme la danse lorsque toute autre cause a été éliminée.

Objective There is little known about SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with systemic autoinflammatory disease (SAID). This study aimed to describe epidemiological features associated with severe disease form and death. Mortality between patients with and without SAID hospitalised for SARS-CoV-2 infection was compared. Methods A national multicentric prospective cohort study was conducted from the French Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMD) COVID-19 cohort. Patients with SAID were matched with patients with non-SAID on age±7 years, gender and number of comorbidities to consider important confounding factors. Impact of SAID on severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection was analysed using multinomial logistic regression for severity in three classes (mild, moderate and severe with mild status as reference). Fine-Gray regression model for length of hospital stay and binomial logistic regression model for risk of death at 30 days. Results We identified 117 patients with SAID (sex ratio 0.84, 17 children) and compared them with 1545 patients with non-autoinflammatory immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (non-SAID). 67 patients had a monogenic SAID (64 with familial Mediterranean fever). Other SAIDs were Behçet’ disease (n=21), undifferentiated SAID (n=16), adult-onset Still disease (n=9) and systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n=5). Ten adults developed severe form (8.6%). Six patients died. All children had a benign disease. After matching on age±7 years, sex and number of comorbidities, no significant difference between the two groups in length of stay and the severity of infection was noted. Conclusion As identified in the whole French RMD COVID-19 cohort, patients with SAID on corticosteroids and with multiple comorbidities are prone to develop more severe COVID-19 forms.

BackgroundPatients with autoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRD) were suspected to be an at-risk population of severe COVID-19. However, whether this higher risk is linked to the disease or to its treatment is difficult to determine.ObjectivesTo identify, among AIRD patients, factors associated with occurrence of moderate-to-severe COVID19 infection and to evaluate if having an AIRD was associated with an increased risk of severe form of COVID19 infection (defined by hospitalization in ICU or death), compared to general population.MethodsData source: The “Entrepôt des Données de Santé (EDS)” collect data from electronic health records of all patients hospitalized or followed in the AP-HP (39 hospitals in Paris area, France). The French RMD COVID19 cohort is a national multi-center cohort that included patients with confirmed AIRD and diagnosed with COVID-19. All AIRD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 before September 2020 from both cohorts were included.-We Identified factors associated with severe COVID-19 was made in a combined analysis of the 2 cohorts.-Then, we compared COVID-19 infection severity in the EDS-COVID database in AIRD patients and controls, by a propensity score (PS)-matched case-control (1:4) studyResultsAmong 1213 patients (334 in EDS and 879 in RMD cohort), 195 (16.1%) experienced a severe COVID19. In multivariate analysis, greater age, history of interstitial lung disease, arterial hypertension, obesity, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, auto-inflammatory disease and treatment with corticosteroids or rituximab were associated with severe COVID-19 (Table 1).Table 1.AIRD patient’s characteristics associated with severity of COVID-19Patients with mild or moderate infectionPatients with severe infectionOR ajustés 95%CIp-value(N = 1018)(N = 195)Patients characteristics Age55.9 (16.7%)70.3 (14.3%)1.05 [1.03;1.07]<0.001 Gender: Female695 (68.3%)105 (54.1%)0.59 [0.38;0.94]0.025 Interstitial pneumonia38 (3.7%)20 (10.3%)2.94 [1.34;6.34]0.008 Obesity143 (17.8%)38 (27.7%)2.09 [1.26;3.43]0.004 Hypertension268 (26.3%)114 (58.5%)1.81 [1.13;2.89]0.013Underlying Disease: Chronic inflammatory arthritis618 (60.8%)72 (36.9%)Ref. Auto-inflammatory disease29 (2.9%)5 (2.6%)3.91 [1.2;11.32]0.025 Other29 (2.9%)4 (2.1%)0.35 [0.06;1.41]0.15 Connectivitis190 (18.7%)34 (17.4%)1.13 [0.62;2.01]0.69 Sarcoidosis40 (3.9%)24 (12.3%)5.19 [2.15;12.3]<0.001 Vasculitis111 (10.9%)56 (28.7%)1.8 [1.02;3.16]0.044Treatments Corticosteroid318 (31.2%)117 (60.0%)2.47 [1.58;3.87]<0.001 Leflunomide44 (4.3%)2 (1.0%)0.13 [0;0.97]0.045 Rituximab37 (3.7%)22 (11.5%)4.05 [1.96;8.27]<0.001Not significant in multivariate analysisCOPD, Asthma, Coronary heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, smoking, cancer, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, salazopyrine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, intravenous immunoglobulins, anti-TNFα, anti-IL1, -IL6, -IL17, Abatacept, JAK inhibitorAmong 35741 COVID-19 patients in EDS, 316 with AIRD were compared to 1264 PS-matched controls. Severe form occurred in 118 (37,3%) AIRD cases and 384 (30.4%) controls (Adjusted OR (aOR) for severe form= 1.43 [1.1;1.9], p=0,01). In analysis restricted to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondylarthritis (SpA), no increased risk of severe form (aOR=1.11 [0.68;1.81]) form or death (aOR=1.00 [0.55;1.81]) was observed.ConclusionIn this multicenter study we confirmed that AIRD patients treated with rituximab or corticosteroids were at increased risk of severe COVID-19, as were those with vasculitis, auto-inflammatory disease, and sarcoidosis. Also, when compared to controls from the same cohort of hospitalized patients, AIRD patients had, overall, an increased risk of severe COVID-19, increased risk not observed in an analysis restricted to patients with RA or SpA.AcknowledgementsFAI2R /SFR/SNFMI/SOFREMIP/CRI/IMIDIATE consortium and contributorsPatricia MartelAll clinicians/physicians implicated in COVID-19 patient care in APHP hospital and generated EDS patient dataDisclosure of InterestsNone declared

Various observations have suggested that the course of the COVID-19 infection may be less favorable in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (iRMD) receiving rituximab (RTX).To investigate whether treatment with RTX is associated with severe infection and death.We performed an observational, multicenter, French national cohort study querying the French RMD COVID-19 cohort, including highly suspected/confirmed iRMD-COVID-19 patients. The primary endpoint was to assess the severity rate of COVID-19. Severe disease was defined by hospitalization in intensive care unit or death. The secondary objectives were to analyze death rate and length of hospital stay. Two control groups were considered for comparison with RTX treated patients: a first group including all non-RTX treated iRMD patients and a second consisting on RTX untreated iRMD patients with diseases for which RTX is a recognized therapeutic option. Adjusting on potential confounding factors was performed by using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) propensity score method.We collected a total of 1090 records. Patients were mainly females (67.3%, 734/1090) with a mean age of 55.2±16.4 years, and 51.1% (557/1090) were over the age of 55. Almost 70% of the population had at least one comorbidity (756/1090). A total of 63 patients were treated with RTX, mainly for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (31/63, 49.2%). RTX treated patients were more likely to be males, with older age, higher prevalence of comorbidities and corticosteroid use. The control population consisted on 1027 non-RTX treated iRMD patients, and 495 RTX untreated iRMD patients with diseases for which RTX is a recognized therapeutic option.Of the 1,090 patients, 137 developed severe disease (12.6%). After adjusting on potential confounding factors (age, sex, arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, body mass index, interstitial lung disease, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, corticosteroid use, chronic renal failure and the underlying disease), severe disease was confirmed to be observed more frequently in patients receiving RTX compared to all RTX untreated iRMD patients (effect size, ES 3.26, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.66 to 6.40, p<0.001) and the subgroup of untreated RTX patients with diseases eligible for RTX therapy (ES 2.62, 95% CI 1.34 to 5.09, p=0.005). Patients who developed a severe disease had a more recent rituximab infusion compared to patients with mild or moderate disease. Indeed, the time between the last infusion of rituximab and the first symptoms of COVID-19 was significantly shorter in patients who developed a severe form of COVID-19 (Figure 1).Figure 1.Distribution (Tukey’s box plot) of Lag time between last infusion of Rituximab according to disease severity. P-Values for comparison between disease severity with Kruskal Wallis test are reported; P-Value<0.001 for either post-hoc comparison of severe disease group with moderate or mild disease group (calculated using Dunn’s test).Eighty-nine patients in our cohort died, resulting in an overall death rate of 8.2%. Death rate was numerically higher in RTX treated patients (13/63, 20.6%) compared to all RTX untreated iRMDs patients (76/1027, 7.4%) and the subgroup of untreated RTX patients with diseases eligible for RTX therapy (49/495, 9.9%). After considering the previously described confounding factors, the risk of death was not significantly increased in patients treated with RTX compared to all RTX untreated iRMDs patients (ES 1.32, 95% CI 0.55 to 3.19, p=0.53) (Table 2) and the subgroup of untreated RTX patients with diseases eligible for RTX therapy (ES 1.48, 95% CI 0.68 to 3.20, p=0.32). In line with a more severe COVID-19 disease, the length of hospital stay was markedly longer in patients treated with RTX compared to both untreated RTX patient groups.RTX therapy is associated with a more severe COVID-19 infection. RTX will have to be applied with particular caution in patients with iRMDs.Muriel Herasse played a major role in collecting the missing data of the cohort.We thank Julien Labreuche (biostatistician, CHU-Lille) for the help in the statistical analysis.None declared

BACKGROUND:Patients with primary systemic vasculitis or polymyalgia rheumatica might be at a high risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes due to the treatments used, the potential organ damage cause by primary systemic vasculitis, and the demographic factors associated with these conditions. We therefore aimed to investigate factors associated with COVID-19 outcomes in patients with primary systemic vasculitis or polymyalgia rheumatica. METHODS:In this retrospective cohort study, adult patients (aged ≥18 years) diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 12, 2020, and April 12, 2021, who had a history of primary systemic vasculitis (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody [ANCA]-associated vasculitis, giant cell arteritis, Behçet's syndrome, or other vasculitis) or polymyalgia rheumatica, and were reported to the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance registry were included. To assess COVID-19 outcomes in patients, we used an ordinal COVID-19 severity scale, defined as: (1) no hospitalisation; (2) hospitalisation without supplemental oxygen; (3) hospitalisation with any supplemental oxygen or ventilation; or (4) death. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs), adjusting for age, sex, time period, number of comorbidities, smoking status, obesity, glucocorticoid use, disease activity, region, and medication category. Analyses were also stratified by type of rheumatic disease. FINDINGS:Of 1202 eligible patients identified in the registry, 733 (61·0%) were women and 469 (39·0%) were men, and their mean age was 63·8 years (SD 17·1). A total of 374 (31·1%) patients had polymyalgia rheumatica, 353 (29·4%) had ANCA-associated vasculitis, 183 (15·2%) had giant cell arteritis, 112 (9·3%) had Behçet's syndrome, and 180 (15·0%) had other vasculitis. Of 1020 (84·9%) patients with outcome data, 512 (50·2%) were not hospitalised, 114 (11·2%) were hospitalised and did not receive supplemental oxygen, 239 (23·4%) were hospitalised and received ventilation or supplemental oxygen, and 155 (15·2%) died. A higher odds of poor COVID-19 outcomes were observed in patients who were older (per each additional decade of life OR 1·44 [95% CI 1·31-1·57]), were male compared with female (1·38 [1·05-1·80]), had more comorbidities (per each additional comorbidity 1·39 [1·23-1·58]), were taking 10 mg/day or more of prednisolone compared with none (2·14 [1·50-3·04]), or had moderate, or high or severe disease activity compared with those who had disease remission or low disease activity (2·12 [1·49-3·02]). Risk factors varied among different disease subtypes. INTERPRETATION:Among patients with primary systemic vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica, severe COVID-19 outcomes were associated with variable and largely unmodifiable risk factors, such as age, sex, and number of comorbidities, as well as treatments, including high-dose glucocorticoids. Our results could be used to inform mitigation strategies for patients with these diseases. FUNDING:American College of Rheumatology and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology.

Background Various observations have suggested that the course of COVID-19 might be less favourable in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases receiving rituximab compared with those not receiving rituximab. We aimed to investigate whether treatment with rituximab is associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Methods In this cohort study, we analysed data from the French RMD COVID-19 cohort, which included patients aged 18 years or older with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and highly suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The primary endpoint was the severity of COVID-19 in patients treated with rituximab (rituximab group) compared with patients who did not receive rituximab (no rituximab group). Severe disease was defined as that requiring admission to an intensive care unit or leading to death. Secondary objectives were to analyse deaths and duration of hospital stay. The inverse probability of treatment weighting propensity score method was used to adjust for potential confounding factors (age, sex, arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, body-mass index, interstitial lung disease, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, corticosteroid use, chronic renal failure, and the underlying disease [rheumatoid arthritis vs others]). Odds ratios and hazard ratios and their 95% CIs were calculated as effect size, by dividing the two population mean differences by their SD. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04353609. Findings Between April 15, 2020, and Nov 20, 2020, data were collected for 1090 patients (mean age 55.2 years [SD 16.4]); 734 (67%) were female and 356 (33%) were male. Of the 1090 patients, 137 (13%) developed severe COVID-19 and 89 (8%) died. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, severe disease was observed more frequently (effect size 3.26, 95% CI 1.66-6.40, p=0.0006) and the duration of hospital stay was markedly longer (0.62, 0.46-0.85, p=0.0024) in the 63 patients in the rituximab group than in the 1027 patients in the no rituximab group. 13 (21%) of 63 patients in the rituximab group died compared with 76 (7%) of 1027 patients in the no rituximab group, but the adjusted risk of death was not significantly increased in the rituximab group (effect size 1.32, 95% CI 0.55-3.19, p=0.53). Interpretation Rituximab therapy is associated with more severe COVID-19. Rituximab will have to be prescribed with particular caution in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Copyright (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.