OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively evaluate the performance and distinctive pattern of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) screening and treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) under anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy and determine the relevance of re-exposure and other risk factors for TB development. METHODS: A total of 135 and 83 patients with AS and PsA, respectively, were evaluated for LTBI treatment before receiving anti-TNF drugs via the tuberculin skin test (TST), chest radiography, and TB exposure history assessment. All subjects were evaluated for TB infection at 3-month intervals. RESULTS: The patients with AS were more often treated for LTBI than were those with PsA (42% versus 30%, p=0.043). The former also presented a higher frequency of TST positivity (93% versus 64%, p=0.002), although they had a lower frequency of exposure history (18% versus 52%, p=0.027) and previous TB (0.7% versus 6%, p=0.03). During follow-up [median, 5.8 years; interquartile range (1QR), 2.2-9.0 years], 11/218 (5%) patients developed active TB (AS, n=7; PsA, n=4). TB re-exposure was the main cause in seven patients (64%) after 12 months of therapy (median, 21.9 months; IQR, 14.2-42.8 months) and five LTBI-negative patients. TB was identified within the first year in four patients (36.3%) (median, 5.3 months; IQR, 1.2-8.8 months), two of whom were LTBI-positive. There was no difference in the TB-free survival according to the anti-TNF drug type/class; neither synthetic drug nor prednisone use was related to TB occurrence (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Known re-exposure is the most critical factor for incident TB cases in spondyloarthritis. There are also some distinct features in AS and PsA LTBI screening, considering the higher frequency of LTBI and TST positivities in patients with AS. Annual risk reassessment taking into consideration these peculiar features and including the TST should be recommended for patients in endemic countries.

Estudos recentes relatam as características clínicas e epidemiológicas das espondiloartrites nas populações de diversos países ibero-americanos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar os dados obtidos em um estudo epidemiológico brasileiro com os dados encontrados em diversos países ibero-americanos, que utilizaram um mesmo protocolo de investigação. A casuística brasileira apresentou maior frequência de pacientes com diagnóstico de espondilite anquilosante (72,3% brasileiros vs. 57,7% ibero-americanos), estando associada ao sexo masculino (73,6% vs. 66,0%) e ao antígeno de histocompatibilidade HLA-B27 positivo (65,9% vs. 51,8%). Com relação ao tratamento, os pacientes brasileiros fizeram mais uso de anti-inflamatório não hormonal (AINH) (77,0% vs. 71,2%) e menor uso de esteroides (7,5% vs. 18,5%).

Recent studies have outlined the clinical and epidemiological profile of the spondyloarthritides in Ibero-American countries. The objective of this study was to compare the data collected in a Brazilian epidemiological study with the data obtained from other Ibero-American countries that used the same protocol of investigation. The Brazilian series presented a higher frequency of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (72.3% Brazilian vs. 57.7% Ibero-American), being associated with the male gender (73.6% vs. 66.0%) and histocompatibility antigen positive HLA-B27 (65.9% vs. 51.8%). Regarding the treatment, hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDS were more frequently prescribed to Brazilian patients (77.0% vs. 71.2%) and less often, corticosteroids (7.5% vs. 18.5%).

A espondilite anquilosante é uma doença inflamatória que influencia de maneira restritiva a mecânica respiratória por meio do acometimento das articulações da coluna, bem como das alterações posturais decorrentes desse processo como o aumento da cifose torácica. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a alteração pulmonar dos pacientes portadores de espondilite anquilosante e relacioná-la à atividade física, verificando a influência na capacidade respiratória. MÉTODOS:Foram recrutados para este estudo 104 pacientes. Apenas 15 preenchiam os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, sendo divididos em dois grupos: grupo I, composto por indivíduos sedentários, e o grupo II, composto por pacientes que praticam uma atividade física regular moderada. RESULTADOS:Os dois grupos não diferiram em relação à média da idade (49,6 ± 11,6 versus 43,3 ± 13,2 anos, p = 0,19), peso (70,9 ± 9,7 versus 74,1 ± 12,1 kg, p = 0,30) e a altura (164,6 ± 3,5 versus 167,6 ± 6,9 cm, p = 0,16). Entretanto, o tempo médio de doença foi significantemente maior no grupo I comparado ao grupo de ativos (20,1 ± 6,9 vs. 9,6 ± 3,4, p = 0,004). Como tema de interesse, observou-se que o volume minuto foi significativamente maior no grupo ativo que no inativo (4,83 ± 1,07 versus 6,1 ± 1,25, p = 0,035). Por outro lado, isso não foi demonstrado em relação à frequência respiratória (14,57 ± 1,76 versus 16,25 ± 3,53 ipm, p = 0,15), ao volume corrente (0,402 ± 0,07 versus 0,342 ± 0,10 L, p = 0,13), bem como às medidas de pressão PI máx (84,29 ± 24,99 versus 93,13 ± 16,76 cmH2O), p = 0,24) e PE máx (102,2 ± 29,26 versus 105 ± 17,32 cmH2O, p = 0,42). CONCLUSÃO:Este estudo pareceu demonstrar que os volumes pulmonares são mantidos em pacientes com espondilite anquilosante que realizam atividade física regular.

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory condition which causes restriction in the lung function due to column joint alterations leading to postural dysfunction and thoracic ciphosis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the lung function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and to associate this parameter with physical activity. METHODS:104 patients were selected and only 15 fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were divided in two groups: group I composed by sedentary patients, and group II with patients that has a regular physical activity. Demographic features, parameters of cervical, dorsal and lumbar column mobility were collected. Measurements of minute volume, respiratory rate, maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures and quality of life (HAQ-S) were also evaluated. RESULTS: Both groups were similar regarding mean age (49.6 ± 1.6 vs. 43.3 ± 13.2 years, p = 0.19), weight (70.9 ± 9.7 vs. 74.1 ± 12.1 kg, p = 0.30) and height (164.6 ± 3.5 vs. 167.6 ± 6.9 cm, p = 0.16). However, the mean disease duration was significantly higher in the group I compared to the active group (20.1 ± 6.9 vs. 9.6 ± 3.4 years, p = 0.004). Interestingly, a significantly higher minute volume was observed in the active group than inactive one (4.83 ± 1.07 vs. 6.1 ± 1.25 L/min, p = 0.035). On the other hand, no differences were found regarding respiratory rate (14.57 ± 1.76 vs. 16.25 ± 3.53 ipm, p = 0.15), tidal volume (0.402 ± 0.07 vs. 0.342 ± 0.10 L, p = 0.13), as well as maximum inspiratory pressure (84.29 ± 24.99 vs. 93.13 ± 16.76 cmH2O), p = 0.24) and maximum expiratory pressure (102.2 ± 29.26 vs. 105 ± 17.32 cmH2O, p = 0.42). ), CONCLUSION: This study seems to show that respiratory volumes are maintained stable in patients with ankylosing spondylitis that are under regular physical activity.