A Review of 13,470 Head and Neck Injuries from Trampoline Jumping

Study Design

The authors designed a 20-year cross-sectional study using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database.

Objective

The purpose of the study is to determine the risk factors for hospital admission among individuals who suffer head and neck injuries secondary to trampoline use.

Methods

The primary predictor variables were a set of heterogenous variables that were categorized into the forementioned study variable groups (patient characteristics and injury characteristics). The primary outcome variable was hospital admission. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors for hospital admission.

Results

The final sample consisted of 13,474 reports of trampoline injuries to the head and neck. Relative to females, males (OR 1.66, P < .05) were at an increased risk for hospital admissions. Fractures (OR 35.23, P < .05) increased the risk for hospital admissions relative to dental injuries. Concerning anatomical region of injury, neck injuries (OR 30.53, P < .05) were at an increased risk for hospital admissions.

Conclusions

Injuries to the neck from trampoline jumping significantly increased the risk for admission. The severity of neck injuries from trampoline jumping is well established in the literature. Additionally, male sex and fractures were each risk factors for hospital admission. Given the rising prevalence of trampoline-related head and neck injuries over the past 2 decades, it is crucial for individuals to take the necessary precautions when jumping on a trampoline.

Assessing reviews of academic oral and maxillofacial surgeons within the US on Healthgrades

PURPOSE

The purpose of the following study was to explore the patient feedback on academic oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) practicing in the United States (US) using the physician rating website (PRW) Healthgrades.com.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study on academic OMSs in the US using data from Healthgrades.com. Predictor variables included OMS characteristics or rating characteristics. The primary outcome variable was overall rating. Linear regression was used to determine independent predictors of overall rating.

RESULTS

The final study sample consisted of 309 academic OMSs (mean age, 56.4 years; males, 86.4%). Age group was significantly associated with overall rating (p = 0.034). Dual-degree OMSs had a higher mean overall rating than single-degree OMSs (4.26 vs. 3.98, p = 0.012). The number of ratings was also significantly associated with overall rating (p = 0.019). Upon controlling for all other variables, merely age group was independently associated with overall rating. Specifically, OMSs aged 41-55 years were associated with a higher overall rating (+0.96, p = 0.022) relative to OMSs aged >70 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The OPRs on Healthgrades.com for academic OMSs within the US are generally positive. Age was the only independent predictor for overall rating - younger OMSs (aged 41-55 years) were independently associated with a higher overall rating relative to older OMSs (aged >70 years). The new generation of younger OMSs is likely to be aware of PRWs and their implications in the growing world of online exposure.

Computer-assisted planning and patient-specific plates in orthognathic surgery: a global study

OBJECTIVE

Using computer-assisted surgery (CAS) and patient-specific plates (PSP) in orthognathic surgery has shown improved accuracy and efficiency compared with traditional techniques. This study analyzed current global trends in planning and investigated the reasons for CAS and PSP use.

STUDY DESIGN

A survey of 29 multiple choice questions was distributed to AO Foundation Craniomaxillofacial e-mail subscribers biweekly between July 14, 2021 and September 2, 2021. Questions focused on specifics of respondents' preoperative workup, methods of data collection, and the use of cutting guides and patient-specific plates. Objective clinical outcomes and subjective surgeon reasons for use were also investigated.

RESULTS

Of the 557 responses, 420 (75.4%) participant responses were eligible for analyses. Most (302/420, 71.9%) respondents used CAS when performing orthognathic surgery, although regional differences were observed. Almost all respondents in North America implemented CAS in their surgery plan (44/46, 95.7%) compared with only 47.4% (18/38) in the Middle East/North Africa. Surgeons with 10 to 15 years of experience were far more likely to incorporate CAS. More than half (175/301, 58.1%) of CAS users also used PSP, of which 43% (68/158) did so for maxillary-only cases, 3.2% (5/158) used PSP for mandible-only surgeries, and 42.4% (67/158) used PSP for both. Surgeons' primary reasons for using CAS and PSP were accuracy (200/253, 79.1%), efficiency (196/253, 77.5%), and ease of preoperative planning (150/253, 59.3%). Most (77.9%) surgeons perceived that CAS was equal to or faster than traditional surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows differences in use regionally and with surgeon experience. Surgeons primarily use CAS and PSP in orthognathic surgery to increase accuracy and efficiency, minimize intraoperative deviations from the surgical plan, and reduce total surgical time.

Numerical modelling for retrieval of the coating thickness variations from wavefront errors measurements

Multilayers coating are needed for large optical components performances, but the thickness non-uniformities over the useful aperture can generate spatial and chromatic variations of the reflectance, the transmittance and the wavefront errors. Although these dependences can be measured, they are difficult to anticipate if the underlying thickness variations are unknown. We present a model to retrieve these variations from wavefront error measurements that enables the computation of any optical properties over the useful aperture at any wavelength, angle of incidence or polarization.

Detection and estimation of multiple transient changes

Change-point detection methods are proposed for the case of temporary failures, or transient changes, when an unexpected disorder is ultimately followed by a re-adjustment and return to the initial state. A base distribution of the 'in-control' state changes to an 'out-of-control' distribution for unknown periods of time. Likelihood based sequential and retrospective tools are proposed for the detection and estimation of each pair of change-points. The accuracy of the obtained change-point estimates is assessed. Proposed methods offer simultaneous control of the familywise false alarm and false re-adjustment rates at the pre-chosen levels.

What are the Risk Factors for Mortality Among Patients Who Suffer Le Fort III Fractures?

PURPOSE

Le Fort III fractures are the most severe subtype of the Le Fort fractures and are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for mortality among patients who suffer Le Fort III fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was completed using the 2016-2018 National Inpatient Sample. Patients with isolated Le Fort III fractures were selected. Patients who incurred bone fractures or organ injuries outside the head and neck were excluded. There were multiple, heterogenous predictor variables. The primary outcome variable was mortality. Relative risk was used to determine independent risk factors of mortality. Statistical significance was deemed for P values less than .05.

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of 559 patients (mean age, 45.9 years) who suffered a Le Fort III fracture, of whom 15 patients (2.68%) died. Most patients were male (82.7%) middle-aged adults (42.9%) of White race (66.5%) within the lowest income quartile (31.7%) that lived in large metro areas (54.9%). Relative to males, females were nearly 62 times more likely to die (P < .01). Relative to privately insured subjects, uninsured subjects were 23 times (P < .05) more likely to die. Relative to weekday admissions, weekend admissions increased the risk of mortality by 8 times (P < .05). Cranial vault fractures (odds ratio, 7.24; P < .05) and upper cervical fractures (odds ratio, 63.27; P < .05) were risk factors for mortality. Relative to males, females were at an increased risk for mortality (relative risk [RR] 7.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.60, 19.61). Skull base fracture (RR 2.99, 95 CI 1.04, 8.63), cranial vault fracture (RR 3.04, 95 CI 1.07, 8.65), subdural hemorrhage (RR 2.98, 95 CI 1.10, 8.05), subarachnoid hemorrhage (RR 6.73, 95 CI 2.34, 19.35), and injury of blood vessels at neck level (RR 13.24, 95 CI 2.46, 71.16) were each risk factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracranial injury was not a risk factor for mortality. Instead, cranial vault fractures and skull base fractures increased the risk for mortality. In addition, uninsured patients and female patients were each at an increased risk for mortality.

Surgeon and Advocate: Identifying Intimate Partner Violence from Craniomaxillofacial Injuries

OBJECTIVES

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been recognized as a preventable public health crisis for over 20 years. Craniomaxillofacial (CMF) injuries are exceedingly common among victims of IPV. The objective of this study was to determine whether assault due to IPV is different than other types of assault.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data sets from 2016 to 2018. Additionally, the case control was matched for age, sex, and race for patients within the initial sample of assault patients (n = 52,632).

RESULTS

Our final study sample consisted of 1,114 patients. Patients with IPV were less likely to have concussions (1.7 vs 3.6%; P < .01) and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhages (2.1 vs 4.1%; P < .01), but more likely to have diffuse traumatic brain injuries (26.1 vs 18.7%; P < .01). Patients with IPV were less likely to have schizoaffective disorder (1.5 vs 2.8%; P < .05) but were more likely to have depressive episodes (19.8 vs 13.6%; P < .01), major depressive disorder (10.7 vs 5.3%; P < .01), and adjustment disorder (4.8 vs 2.2%; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that victims of IPV would be more likely to be female, delay care, have a mental health diagnosis, and present with worse intracranial injuries than other forms of assault. We hope our study informs and empowers maxillofacial surgeons to be a vigilant member of the interdisciplinary team.

POS0913 INCREASED HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS PATIENTS WHO HAVE DIGITAL ULCERS

Background

Systemic sclerosis is a multi-system autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, and vasculopathy which manifests as pulmonary arterial hypertension and digital ulcers. Digital ulcers are debilitating and painful lesions most commonly present in the digit tips or extensor surfaces of the hands leading to significant morbidity and decreased quality of life. SSc patients with digital ulcers may require increased support and therefore may have greater healthcare resource utilization compared to those patients without digital ulcers.

Objectives

We assessed the impact of DUs on resource utilization including hospitalizations, outpatient visits and procedures within a large SSc Canadian registry.

Methods

A cohort of patients with SSc and digitals ulcers was derived from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry and matched to controls individually based on sex, age (±3 years), SSc subtype, and disease duration (±2 years). Eligible patients met the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria (confirmed by an experienced rheumatologist), were 18 years of age, had completed the Resource Utilization Questionnaire (RUQ), and had active digital ulcers at two consecutive annual visits (baseline study visit and at 1st year). The Medgser Disease Severity Scale was used to assess ulcer disease severity. Unadjusted and adjusted regression analyses compared the association between DUs and resource utilization.

Results

RUQs in 104 SSc patients with active DUs at two consecutive annual visits were compared with 104 patients without DUs matched 1:1 for age, sex, disease subtype and duration. Over one year, DUs were associated with a higher number of tests (p˂0.05) and visits to health professionals, especially to a rheumatologist (p˂0.0001) and internist (p=0.003), a greater need for an accompanying person (p˂0.05) and aids purchased/received (p˂0.05). Having DUs was associated with more severe disease, even after excluding the peripheral vascular domain from a total DSS (9.7±4.5 vs 5.6±2.7, p˂0.0001). After adjustment for disease severity in other organs, the presence of DUs remained a significant predictor of more frequent physician visits and more tests (all˂0.05) by linear regression analysis.

Conclusion

SSc patients with DUs utilized significantly more healthcare resources per annum even after adjustment for disease severity in other organ systems.

References

[1]Khimdas S, Harding S, Bonner A, Zummer B, Baron M, Pope J, Canadian Scleroderma Research Group. Associations with digital ulcers in a large cohort of systemic sclerosis: results from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry. Arthritis care & research. 2011 Jan;63(1):142-9.

[2]Nihtyanova SI, Brough GM, Black CM, Denton CP. Clinical burden of digital vasculopathy in limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2008 Jan 1;67(1):120-3.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0888 NON-SURGICAL LOCAL TREATMENTS FOR DIGITAL ULCERS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Background

Digital ulcers(DUs) in systemic sclerosis(SSc) represent a major clinical challenge. There are no recommendations for the local management of SSc-DUs. Systemic therapy is considered the standard of care. However, there is a strong rationale for local approaches to DU by avoiding side effects from systemic therapies. The World Scleroderma Foundation DU Working Group intends to develop evidence-based recommendations for DU management including local, non-surgical treatment(ln-sT).

Objectives

To summarise the literature on the safety and efficacy of ln-sT for SSc-DUs.

Methods

A systematic literature review(SLR) of papers describing the use of ln-sT for DU in SSc was performed up to May 2021 according to the PICO framework. References were independently screened by two reviewers who independently assessed the full text of eligible articles and extracted data.

Results

Among 790 retrieved references, 12 were included. Median(range) number of patients per study was 9(7–84), mean age ranging from 37 to 62.5 years. In 5(41%) studies a control group was included. Background systemic therapies are summarized in Table 1. The most studied treatment was botulin toxin A(BTA). It was used as hand injection in 3 studies (median dose ranging from 90 to 150 U) and as 50 U single finger injection in 1 study. Healing rate after a median time of 8-49 weeks ranged from 71% to 100%. In 2 studies a reduction in VAS pain was observed from 20% to 100%. Transient muscle weakness was the most common side effect in 10% of patients. Amniotic(Am) and hydrocolloid membranes(HyM) were used in 1 study each. They were associated with a good healing rate, statistically significant for the HyM. Tadalafil 2% cream was studied in 1 study and was associated with a reduction in the median DU number from 1.6 to 1 per patient after a median time of 4 weeks and a reduction by 1.4 point in the 10-mm VAS scale. Vitamin E gel was shown to be associated with a statistically significant reduction in the healing time compared to SoC alone in 1 RCT(13.2 ± 2.7 versus 20.9 ± 3.6 weeks, P=<0.001). Low-level light therapy, hydrodissection and corticosteroid injection and extracorporeal shock wave(ESW) were evaluated in 1 study each. They were all associated with positive outcomes which was statistically significant only for the ESW. The only negative trial examined dimethyl sulfoxide and was associated with local toxicity.

Table 1.

Characteristics of the studies.

TreatmentType of studyPatientsBaseline DUBackground therapy (%) ETA CCB APA PG ARB ACE-I PDE-5i ISFollow-up (weeks)Healing rate(%)*Pain Reduction (VAS/10)ComparatorHydrodissection and corticosteroid injectionP1202334.4Rheumatoid ArthritisTadalafil 2% Vitamin E gelRRCT15131.6(1)3.5±2.30462700130704 241(1)Reduced time to heal**1.4SoCAmHyMRP67310001002800002817033143810090**SoCBTAMedian 90 U per handHigh-concentration hand100 U non-dominant handSingle finger 50 URRPP772010314571140718558551008514201001414718 4981277717510020%100%Untreated CHLow-level light therapyP8102537025378100ESWP9493355661144441**1.31Dimethyl sulfoxideDBRCT84No change, skin toxicity with 70% formulation

*Unless otherwise stated. **Statistically significant. ARB= angiotensin receptor antagonist. ACEi= ACE inhibitors. APA= anti-platelet agents. CCB= calcium channel blockers. CH= contralateral hand. DBRCT= double blind randomized-controlled trial. ETA = endothelin antagonist. IS= immunosuppression. PG= prostaglandins. PDE-5i= Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors. P = prospective. R = retrospective. SoC= standard of care (as per local protocol).

Conclusion

Our SLR supports interest to develop ln-sTs for SSc-DUs. The number of studies is limited and mainly case reports and small single studies are present. Treatments were well tolerated and there was evidence of efficacy for BTA, vitamin E, ESW and HyM in refractory DUs. The evidence is not robust and confounding factors (vasodilators background therapies) could impact on the findings. Future research is indicated to conduct larger, well-designed studies.

Disclosure of Interests

Corrado Campochiaro: None declared, Yossra A. Suliman: None declared, Michael Hughes Speakers bureau: Actelion pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer, outside of the submitted work., Jan Schoones: None declared, Dilia Giuggioli: None declared, Pia Moinzadeh Speakers bureau: speaking fees from Actelion pharmaceuticals and Boehringer Ingelheim, Nancy Maltez: None declared, Laura Ross: None declared, Murray Baron: None declared, Lorinda Chung: None declared, Yannick Allanore: None declared, Christopher P Denton: None declared, Oliver Distler Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Medscape, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur, Tracy Frech: None declared, Daniel Furst: None declared, Dinesh Khanna Speakers bureau: Janssen and Eicos Sciences, Inc., Thomas Krieg: None declared, Masataka Kuwana Speakers bureau: Speakers fees from AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, and Consultant fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, Kissei, Mochida, outside of the submitted work., Marco Matucci-Cerinic: None declared, Janet Pope: None declared, Alessia Alunno: None declared

POS0898 SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF DIGITAL ULCERS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Background

Management of digital ulcers (DUs) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a major clinical challenge. To date, systemic therapy is generally considered as the ‘standard of care’ for significant SSc-DUs. However, there is a strong rationale to develop local approaches to DUs, to avoid side effects from systemic therapies. World Scleroderma Foundation DU Working Group intends to develop practical, evidence-based recommendations for DU management including local, Surgical Treatment (L-ST).

Objectives

To summarize the literature on the safety and efficacy of L-ST for SSc-DUs.

Methods

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted up to May 2021. According to the PICO framework, eligibility criteria were defined and original research articles about surgical treatment of SSc DUs in adult patients were included. References were independently screened by 2 reviewers who assessed the full text of eligible articles and extracted data.

Results

Thirteen eligible articles out of 790 total publications were identified (Table 1). Due to the paucity of randomized controlled trials of surgical treatments for SSc-DU, we included retrospective studies and case series with at least 4 patients. Autologous fat (adipose tissue AT) grafting was the surgical modality mostly identified (7 studies of which 1 RCT and 6 prospective open label single arm). The healing rate (HR) with autologous fat grafting (4 studies) ranged from 66-100 %. In the RCT, two age and sex matched groups were included, adipose tissue (AT)group (n=25 pts) and sham procedure (SP) group (n=13), DU healing was reported in 23/25 in AT group versus 1/13 in the SP group in 8 wks, (p<0.0001), 12 pts in the SP group, received rescue AT injection, all of them healed after 8 wks. Three studies reported autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction(SVF) grafting and the HR ranged from 32-60%, followed up to 12 months. Transient edema and paresthesia were reported in 2 studies, and amputation in 2 ulcers in 1 study, and no complications were reported in other studies. Surgical sympathectomy was reported in 3 studies, with a median healing rate of 81%. Bone marrow derived cell transplantation in a single study showed 87% healing rate over (4-24 wks). Two surgical studies (of direct microsurgical revascularization N=4, and microsurgical arteriolysis, N=6), showed 100% healing of ulcers, no complications reported.

Table 1.

Characteristics of the extracted studies.

StudydesignPatients (n)Baseline DU (n)Background therapy (%)Follow-upOutcomeHealed ulcers(%) Adipose tissue graftAutologous fat graftp9.15PG, CCB—100ETA 26PDE-5i 138-12 wks66Adipose tissue graftingRCT25 case13- Ctr25-case13- CtrPG- 100CCB 1008 wks92-case7-CtrAdipose tissue implantp1515no therapy7 wks100Adipose tissue graftp129PG,CCB-100ETA6 month88adipose derived SVFp1215PDE-5i, ccb, PG allowed22m6Adipose derived SVFp1215CCB 50ETA166 m63 Adipose derived SVFp1819CCB 50PG 27ETA 5IS 7124 wks32SympathectomySympathectomyR611CCB-10020 m81SympathectomyR1335PGCCBAPA35Sympathectomy, vascular bypass (+vein graftR1726Ccb 35APA 47PDE-i5 589 m100Bone marrow derived cells transplantation)p88PG-6236 m87Direct microsurgical revascularizationR44m100Limited microsurgical arteriolysisR61712 m100

SVF =stromal vascular fraction P = prospective. R = retrospective. RCT= double blind randomized-controlled trial. ETA = endothelin antagonist. CCB= calcium channel blockers. APA= anti-platelet agents. PG= prostaglandins. ARB= angiotensin receptor antagonist. ACEi= ACE inhibitors. PDE-5i= PDE-5 inhibitors. IS= immunosuppression. M=median. SoC= standard of care. HR= healing rate

Conclusion

Our SLR has identified several surgical modalities for SSc-DUs. L-STseemed generally effective and safe for DU healing, thus Significant methodological issues emerged including small numbers of pts, lack of comparator, failure to report confounders such as background therapies and variable follow up. Future research is warranted to rigorously investigate surgical interventions for Dus.

Disclosure of Interests

Yossra A. Suliman: None declared, Corrado Campochiaro: None declared, Michael Hughes Speakers bureau: speaking fees from Actelion pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer, outside of the submitted work, Jan Schoones: None declared, Dilia Giuggioli: None declared, Nancy Maltez: None declared, Pia Moinzadeh Speakers bureau:: speaking fees from Actelion pharmaceuticals and Boehringer Ingelheim, Laura Ross: None declared, Lorinda Chung: None declared, Yannick Allanore: None declared, Murray Baron: None declared, Christopher P Denton: None declared, Oliver Distler Shareholder of: Consultancy relationship with and/or has received research funding from and/or has served as a speaker for the following companies in the area of potential treatments for systemic sclerosis and its complications in the last three calendar years: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Medscape, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur. Patent issued “mir-29 for the treatment of systemic sclerosis” (US8247389, EP2331143)., Speakers bureau: Consultancy relationship with and/or has received research funding from and/or has served as a speaker for the following companies in the area of potential treatments for systemic sclerosis and its complications in the last three calendar years: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Medscape, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur. Patent issued “mir-29 for the treatment of systemic sclerosis” (US8247389, EP2331143)., Consultant of: Consultancy relationship with and/or has received research funding from and/or has served as a speaker for the following companies in the area of potential treatments for systemic sclerosis and its complications in the last three calendar years: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Medscape, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur. Patent issued “mir-29 for the treatment of systemic sclerosis” (US8247389, EP2331143)., Grant/research support from: Consultancy relationship with and/or has received research funding from and/or has served as a speaker for the following companies in the area of potential treatments for systemic sclerosis and its complications in the last three calendar years: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Medscape, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur. Patent issued “mir-29 for the treatment of systemic sclerosis” (US8247389, EP2331143)., Tracy Frech: None declared, Daniel Furst: None declared, Dinesh Khanna Speakers bureau: Janssen and Eicos Sciences, Inc., Paid instructor for: Janssen and Eicos Sciences, Inc., Consultant of: Janssen and Eicos Sciences, Inc., Thomas Krieg: None declared, Masataka KUWANA Speakers bureau: Speakers fees from AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, and Consultant fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, Kissei, Mochida, outside of the submitted work., Paid instructor for: Speakers fees from AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, and Consultant fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, Kissei, Mochida, outside of the submitted work., Consultant of: Speakers fees from AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, and Consultant fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, Kissei, Mochida, outside of the submitted work., Marco Matucci-Cerinic: None declared, Janet Pope: None declared, Alessia Alunno: None declared

POS0900 SYSTEMIC PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF DIGITAL ULCERS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Background

Digital ulcers (DU) are common in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and associated with reduced survival, high morbidity and poor quality of life. Recommendations have previously been proposed for DU management yet there remains significant unmet patient need. Therefore the World Scleroderma Foundation DU Working Group intends to develop practical evidence based recommendations for DU management.

Objectives

To summarise data on efficacy and safety of systemic treatments for SSc DU.

Methods

A systematic literature review to May 2021 was performed. PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Emcare (OVID) and Academic Search Premier databases were searched for original studies on adult patients with SSc DU treated with systemic pharmacological treatment. Based on the PICO framework, eligibility criteria were defined and references were independently screened by two reviewers. Reviewers independently assessed the full text of eligible articles. Owing to interstudy heterogeneity narrative summaries were used to present data.

Results

The search strategy identified 1271 references of which 45 eligible articles were included. Seventeen studies were randomised placebo controlled trials (RCT) pertaining to PDE5 antagonists (PDE5i) (n=3), endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) (n=3), prostanoids (n=7), antiplatelet agents (n=1) and other (n=3) (Table 1). No head to head RCT was retrieved. All other studies were observational studies (OBS). Studies were highly heterogeneous with application of differing definition of DU, variable study eligibility criteria, clinical endpoints and follow up periods. This limited the calculation of effect size and comparison across studies.

Table 1.

Characteristics of placebo controlled randomised controlled trials

Author YearInterventionnFollow upOutcomeFavours interventionHachulla 2016Sildenafil8312 weeksTime to DU healing-Andrigueti 2017Sildenafil4112 weeksDU healing+Shenoy 2010Tadalafil246 weeksNew DU+Khanna 2016Macitentan55416 weeksNew DU-Matucci-Cerinic 2011Bosentan18832 weeksNew DU Time to healing of DU+-Korn 2004Bosentan12212 weeksNew DU+Kawald 2008IV iloprost5012 monthsDU healing-Wigley 1992IV iloprost3510 weeksDU healing+Wigley 1994IV iloprost739 weeks50% reduction in DU score-Seibold 2017Treprostinil14820 weeksNet DU burden-Vayssairat 1999Beraprost10725 weeks% patients with new DU-Denton 2017Selexipag7412 weeksNumber of new DU DU healing-Lau 1993Cicaprost334 weeksNumber of DU-Abou-Raya 2008Atorvastatin844 monthsNumber of DU+Au 2010Cyclophosphamide15812 monthsNumber of patients with DU-Beckett 1984Dipyridamole / aspirin412 yearsChange in general SSc-Nagaraja 2019Riociguat1732 weeksNet DU burden-

+ significantly superior to comparator

- non significantly different from comparator

DU: digital ulcers IV: intravenous SSc: systemic sclerosis

Several RCT found improved DU healing with treatment: two with PDE5i, one with iloprost and one showed improved DU healing and prevention with atorvastatin. Two RCT demonstrated effective prevention of new DU with bosentan. OBS studies with a total of 621 patients showed variable improvements in the healing of DU with CCB, PDE5i, ERA, statins, N-acetylcysteine, prostanoids and ketanserin and prevention of new DU with ERA.

Regarding safety, all treatments were generally tolerated with few serious adverse events. Treatment was ceased in 6.25-17.5% of patients in RCT due to treatment related side effects.

Conclusion

Despite several studies assessing the efficacy and safety of systemic pharmacological treatment of SSc DU, it is not possible to draw solid conclusions due to study heterogeneity. Small RCT have shown treatment benefit with PDE5i, iloprost and atorvastatin. Large studies demonstrated effective prevention of new DU with bosentan. Our results highlight the urgent need for improved clinical trial design to generate more robust evidence and novel therapies to guide the management SSc DU.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the World Scleroderma Foundation.

Disclosure of Interests

Nancy Maltez: None declared, Laura Ross: None declared, Michael Hughes Speakers bureau: Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Pfizer outside of the submitted work., Jan Schoones: None declared, Murray Baron: None declared, Lorinda Chung Consultant of: Eicos, Corrado Campochiaro: None declared, Yossra A. Suliman: None declared, Dilia Giuggioli: None declared, Pia Moinzadeh Speakers bureau: Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Yannick Allanore: None declared, Christopher P Denton: None declared, Oliver Distler Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Medscape, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur., Consultant of: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Medscape, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur., Grant/research support from: Patent issued “mir-29 for the treatment of systemic sclerosis” (US8247389, EP2331143), Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Medscape, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur., Tracy Frech: None declared, Daniel Furst: None declared, Dinesh Khanna Consultant of: Eicos Sciences Inc, Janssen, Thomas Krieg: None declared, Masataka Kuwana Speakers bureau: Speaker fees from AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, and consultancy fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, Kissei, Mochida outside of the submitted work., Marco Matucci-Cerinic: None declared, Janet Pope: None declared, Alessia Alunno: None declared

The Effect of the Low Glutamate Diet on the Reduction of Psychiatric Symptoms in Veterans With Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized-Controlled Trial

The objective of this pilot study was to examine the effects of the low glutamate diet on anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression in veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI). The low glutamate diet removes dietary excitotoxins and increases consumption of micronutrients which are protective against glutamatergic excitotoxicity. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT#03342482). Forty veterans with GWI completed psychiatric questionnaires at baseline and after 1-month following the low glutamate diet. Participants were then randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover challenge with monosodium glutamate (MSG; a dietary excitotoxin) vs. placebo over three consecutive days per week, with assessments on day three. Data were analyzed across the full sample and with participants categorized by baseline symptom severity. Pre-post-dietary intervention change scores were analyzed with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and paired sample t-tests across the full sample, and changes across symptom severity categories were analyzed using ANOVA. Crossover challenge results were analyzed with linear mixed modeling accounting for challenge material (MSG v. placebo), sequence (MSG/placebo v. placebo/MSG), period (challenge week 1 v. week 2), pre-diet baseline symptom severity category (minimal/mild, moderate, or severe), and the challenge material^*symptom severity category interaction. A random effect of ID (sequence) was also included. All three measures showed significant improvement after 1 month on the diet, with significant differences between baseline severity categories. Individuals with severe psychological symptoms at baseline showed the most improvement after 1 month on the diet, while those with minimal/mild symptoms showed little to no change. Modeling results from the challenge period demonstrated a significant worsening of anxiety from MSG in only the most severe group, with no significant effects of MSG challenge on depression nor PTSD symptoms. These results suggest that the low glutamate diet may be an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, but that either (a) glutamate is only a direct cause of symptoms in anxiety, or (b) underlying nutrient intake may prevent negative psychiatric effects from glutamate exposure. Future, larger scale clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and to further explore the potential influence of increased micronutrient intake on the improvements observed across anxiety, PTSD, and depression.

The low glutamate diet improves cognitive functioning in veterans with Gulf War Illness and resting-state EEG potentially predicts response

Objectives: Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multi-symptom disorder with underlying central nervous system dysfunction and cognitive impairments. The objective of this study was to test the low glutamate diet as a novel treatment for cognitive dysfunction among those with GWI, and to explore if baseline resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) could predict cognitive outcomes.Methods: Cognitive functioning was assessed at baseline, after one-month on the diet, and across a two-week double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover challenge with monosodium glutamate (MSG) relative to placebo.Results: Significant improvements were seen after one-month on the diet in overall cognitive functioning, and in all other domains tested (FDR p < 0.05), except for memory. Challenge with MSG resulted in significant inter-individual response variability (p < 0.0001). Participants were clustered according to baseline resting-state EEG using k-means clustering to explore the inter-individual response variability. Three distinct EEG clusters were observed, and each corresponded with differential cognitive effects during challenge with MSG: cluster 1 had cognitive benefit (24% of participants), cluster 2 had cognitive detriment (42% of participants), and cluster 3 had mild/mixed effects (33% of participants).Discussion: These findings suggest that the low glutamate diet may be a beneficial treatment for cognitive impairment in GWI. Future research is needed to understand the extent to which resting-state EEG can predict response to the low glutamate diet and to explore the mechanisms behind the varied response to acute glutamate challenge.

AB0419 ACCESS TO TREATMENT FOR RAYNAUD’S PHENOMENON AND DIGITAL ULCERS FOR PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS DOESN’T FOLLOW EULAR/EUSTAR GUIDELINES

Background:

Patients with Raynaud’s Phenomenon (RP) from systemic sclerosis (SSc) may experience severe complications. Digital ulcers (DUs), occur in approximately half the patients with SSc, and cause hand dysfunction, severe pain, and decreased quality of life. DUs lead to increased healthcare utilization and systemic economic burden through hospitalizations, ED visits, and ambulatory services (1). However, access to medications such as PDE5 inhibitors and prostacyclins that are within the EULAR/EUSTAR SSc guidelines (2) in a country with global health care but patchy pharmacare such as Canada has not been studied.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the access to treatment of medications for RP and DU in patients with SSc in Canadian provinces through identifying the provincial and private insurance coverage of PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i) and prostanoids, the timelines and procedures of requesting these medications, and the process of administering IV prostanoids if required for patient care.

Methods:

We designed an online survey and collected data through the Survey Monkey platform. The survey was administered to rheumatologists affiliated with the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) from December 2020 to January 2021. Responders were asked to report if the province or private insurance automatically provided PDE5i for patients with RP and DU or if a dedicated process was required to attain these medications. Additionally, responders were asked to describe the process of administering Iloprost, Epoprostenol and Alprostadil and the barriers inherent to their administration. Of note, there is no DIN number for Iloprost in Canada so every time it is used there must be an application to Health Canada.

Results:

The survey was completed by 100% of CSRG researchers (17/17), representing 8 provinces in Canada. None of the provincial governments provided coverage for PDE5i without special requests that were adjudicated on a case by case basis with approximately half the provinces paying for PDE5i upon special request if a patient was eligible for provincial drug insurance (ex elderly, youths, low income families). Two provinces, Quebec and Saskatchewan, provided PDE5i “all the time”. Whereas NS, MB, ON, BC, and AB provided them “sometimes”; NFLD provided them “never”. Provincial governments and private insurance fulfilled requests “within 1 month” 62% of the time and the other requests took longer to be answered. Private insurance approved coverage with special request in AB, MB, QC, ON, and NS. Respondents described administration of IV prostanoids as “inconsistent”, requiring “a lot of work”, and that patients in most jurisdictions be admitted as in-patients for provinces to cover these medications.

Conclusion:

Most jurisdiction within Canada do not provide coverage for PDE5i and the process to obtain access for patients is delayed, non-uniform, and often not approved. Intravenous prostanoid infusions are difficult to obtain and have system barriers. Advocacy and cost effectiveness data should be used to advocate for access to medications that are recommended within SSc recommendations.

References:

[1]Morrisroe K, et al. Digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: their epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and associated clinical and economic burden. Arthritis research & therapy. 2019 Dec;21(1):1-2.

[2]Kowal-Bielecka O, et al. Update of EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2017 Aug 1;76(8):1327-39.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

How societal responses to COVID-19 could contribute to child neglect

BACKGROUND

The ecosystemic approach to children's needs demands a cohesive response from societies, communities, and families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the choices societies made to protect their community members from the virus could have created contexts of child neglect. With the closure of services and institutions, societies were no longer available to help meet the needs of children.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to examine parents' reports on the response their children received to their needs during the COVID-19 crisis.

METHODS

During the period of the spring 2020 lockdown, 414 parents in the province of Quebec, Canada, completed an online questionnaire about the impact of the crisis on the response their children received to their needs.

RESULTS

Compared to parents of younger children, parents of older children reported less fulfillment of their child's needs in three measured domains, namely cognitive and affective, security, and basic care needs.

CONCLUSION

These results are discussed in light of the policies and the resources societies have put in place during the crisis to help families meet the needs of their children. Societies must learn from this crisis to put children at the top of their priorities in the face of a societal crisis. Thoughtful discussions and energy must be given to ensure that, while facing a crisis, the developmental trajectories of children are not sacrificed.

Effect of the low glutamate diet on inflammatory cytokines in veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI): A pilot study

AIM

To examine the effects of the low glutamate diet on inflammatory cytokines in veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI).

MAIN METHODS

Forty veterans with GWI were recruited from across the country. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected at baseline and after one month on the low glutamate diet. Dietary adherence was measured with a glutamate food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) were measured in pre- and post-diet serum (N = 34). Improvement was defined as being "much" or "very much" improved on the patient global impression of change scale (PGIC), or as having ≥30% of their symptoms remit. Correlations of the FFQ and the cytokines were calculated, followed by multivariable linear regression for significant findings. Mann Whitney U tests were used to compare cytokine levels according to improvement on the diet, and then logistic regression was used to estimate the association after adjustment for potential confounders. Classification trees were also produced to determine the ability of change in the inflammatory cytokines to predict improvement on the diet.

KEY FINDINGS

Dietary adherence was significantly associated with reduction in TNF-α, and PGIC improvement was significantly associated with reduced IL-1β, after adjustment for potential confounders. Classification trees demonstrated that IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 can predict improvement on the diet with 76.5% accuracy.

SIGNIFICANCE

Findings suggest that the low glutamate diet may be able to reduce systemic inflammation in veterans with GWI.

[Acute renal failure of the donor in encephalic death: A real contraindication to kidney transplantation?]

INTRODUCTION

The shortage of kidney transplants encourages the expansion of the limits of eligibility criteria for donation. Many donors who are brain dead display acute renal failure at the time of death; is this a real contraindication to harvesting? The aim of this study was to assess kidney graft survival from donors after brain death with confirmed acute renal failure, with or without anuria previous donation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All of the transplants performed in two university hospitals between 2010 and 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients who underwent single kidney transplant from a brain-dead donor with acute renal failure (ARF) were included in this study. ARI was defined here by a decrease over 50 % of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to a threshold below 45mL/min/1.73 m² at the time of kidney procurement. Kidney graft survival, incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) and the GFR at 12 months were analyzed. Analysis of kidney transplant survival based on pre-implantation biopsies was additionally done.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty four patients were transplanted with a kidney from donor with ARF during the selected period. At the admission in ICU the average GFR was 67,7±19mL/min/1,73m². At the time of donation, the average age of donors was 56.4±17.7 years, the GFR was 33.7±8.0mL/min/1.73 m² 16 % of donors were anuric. Cold ischemia time (CIT) was 16.8±5.0hours. The average age of recipients was 55.6±14.1 years. 81 % of the cases were primary transplants. Graft function took place within 7.8±9.4 days after transplantation. There were two non-primary functions (PNF). One hundred and fifty two patients (93 %) had a functional graft at 12 months. The mean GFR at 12 months was 46.8±20.1mL/min/1.73 m² and 122 patients (73 %) had a GFR greater than 30mL/min/1.73 m². Seventy-one percent of preimplantation biopsies revealed acute tubular necrosis (ATU); no cortical necrosis was observed. Survival of theses grafts was 85 %, comparable to the total population of study (P=0,21) CONCLUSION: The acute renal failure of the brain-dead donor should not alone be systematically a contraindication to harvesting and kidney transplantation.

How Do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program Directors Feel About Their Graduating Residents' Level of Competence?

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess program directors' impressions of how competent graduating residents are in practicing the full scope of the specialty. The investigators hypothesized that program directors' impressions of their graduating residents' ability to practice the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery would fall within Laskin's suggested levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The investigators implemented a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was designed and a link to a Partners REDCap (Nashville, TN) survey was e-mailed to 101 oral-maxillofacial surgery program directors. The questionnaire included demographics, and program director's perceived level of preparedness, level of proficiency, comfort, and experience of their graduating residents (July 2018).

RESULTS

The response rate was 34.7%. Analyses included univariate statistics and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significance was set at P < .05. There was no significant difference between orthognathic surgery and each discipline in the area of expertise category, and in some cases, a significantly higher perception of training in orthognathic surgery (P < .05). There was a significantly lower perception of training in oral medicine than each discipline in area of expertise (P < .05), suggesting a deficit in oral medicine training.

CONCLUSIONS

Using our analyses, program directors believed that the chief residents training in orthognathic surgery was at the level of expertise. Furthermore, 97% of respondents considered orthognathic surgery an area of expertise, suggesting that training at that level is necessary. Our results show that program directors' impressions of their graduates' competence fall within the levels suggested by Laskin.

Do Graduating Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery Residents Feel Confident in Practicing the Full Scope of the Specialty?

PURPOSE

Laskin (2008) suggested that the core of oral and maxillofacial surgery could be divided into 3 levels: 1) areas of expertise, such as oral pathology, oral medicine, dentoalveolar surgery, preprosthetic surgery, and maxillofacial traumatology; 2) areas of competence, including orthognathic surgery, temporomandibular joint surgery, and local reconstructive surgery; and 3) areas of familiarity that include cleft lip and palate surgery, craniofacial surgery, regional reconstructive surgery, oncologic surgery, and cosmetic surgery. The purpose of this study is to assess residents' confidence in practicing the full scope of oral-maxillofacial surgery and their perception of gaps existing in their training. The investigators hypothesized that graduating residents' confidence in practicing the full scope of oral-maxillofacial surgery falls within the suggested levels by Laskin.

METHODS

The investigators implemented a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was designed, and a link to a Partners REDCap (Nashville, TN) survey was electronically mailed to 252 chief residents in the final month (July 2018) of their program. The questionnaire included resident demographic characteristics, program demographic characteristics, and residents' perceived preparedness, level of proficiency, comfort, and experience for each area.

RESULTS

The sample was composed of 78 graduating residents, with a response rate of 31%. Analyses included univariate statistics and a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Significance was set at P < .05. There was no significant difference between orthognathic surgery and each area in the expertise category, and in some cases, a significantly higher perception of ability in orthognathic surgery (P < .05). There was a significantly lower perception of training in oral medicine than each area in the expertise category (P < .05), suggesting a deficit in oral medicine training.

CONCLUSIONS

Residents perceived that their training in orthognathic surgery was at the level of expertise, higher than expected. They also perceived a training deficit in oral medicine. Training proficiency in dentoalveolar surgery was found to be at a level higher than any other area.

Long-term follow-up reveals a low persistence rate of abobotulinumtoxinA injections for idiopathic overactive bladder

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about long-term efficacy and tolerance of intra-detrusor injections of abobotulinumtoxinA for management of idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). We report long-term efficacy and compliance of abobotulinumtoxinA in patients treated for OAB.

METHODS

All patients treated with abotulinumtoxinA for OAB in a tertiary reference centre between 2005 and 2012 were included in a retrospective analysis. Patients received 150, 250 or 500 U of abotulinumtoxinA as first injection. The primary endpoint was the discontinuation rate at 5 years. Other outcomes of interest were: rate of failure, reasons for discontinuation and subsequent treatment elected in those who did not persist with abobotulinumtoxinA.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients (50 women and 9 men) were included. Forty-one patients (69.4%) received 250 U of abobotulinumtoxinA as first injection. Thirteen patients (22%) received 500 U and 5 (8.4%) received 150 U of BoNT-A. Median follow-up was 83.6 months [0.3-183.6]. Median number of injections per patient was 2 [1-15] and median reinjection interval was 10.7 [3-86.4] months. The estimated 5-year discontinuation-free survival rate was 23.4%. Fourteen patients (23.7%) experienced persistent improvement of symptoms and 12 patients (20.3%) stopped the injections because of tolerability issues. Main cause of discontinuation was primary failure, which occurred in 21 patients (35.5%).

CONCLUSION

Overall, 59.3% of patients were successfully treated with first abobotulinumtoxinA injection. Although the estimated 5-year discontinuation-free survival rate is low, abobotulinumtoxinA could be considered as an alternative off-labelled in patients not responders to onabotulinumtoxinA after failure of other conservative measures.

LEVEL OF PROOF

3.

FRI0258 CUMULATIVE INCIDENCE, SURVIVAL AND PREDICTORS OF PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS SUBSETS: PAH IS NOT INCREASED IN LIMITED VS DIFFUSE PATIENTS BY ADJUSTED COMPETING RISK ANALYSIS

Background:

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc), thought to be more commonly found in limited cutaneous (lcSSc) compared to diffuse (dcSSc) subset. Since lcSSc has a better prognosis, it is unclear whether a higher occurrence of PH in lcSSc reflects survival bias.

Objectives:

To compare the cumulative PH incidence in disease subsets, after accounting for death as a competing event, in a large multi-center SSc cohort.

Methods:

Cumulative incidence of PH was studied in 1431 Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) database patients (57% lcSSc; follow-up 3.5±2.9 years, range 1-14) by Fine-Gray analysis, unadjusted and adjusted for sex, age and SSc-related autoantibodies (SAS 9.4). Survival curves, predictors of PH development and survival were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses (SPSS 25.0). Subgroup analysis was performed for PAH.

Results:

157 SSc patients had PH (including 117 PAH), either confirmed by RHC or postmortem. Compared to those without PH, lcSSc-PH patients had longer disease and older age at SSc diagnosis, while dcSSc-PH patients - more severe peripheral vascular and gastrointestinal involvement. The cumulative incidences of PH/PAH were similar in dcSSc and lcSSc after accounting for death in the adjusted competitive risk model (Table 1; Fig.1). 47% of PH- and 42% of PAH-patients died over a FU period. Male gender (p<0.0001) and anti-Scl-70 (p<0.001) were associated with earlier PH development, while older age (p=0.006) - with PAH (Table 2). ACA-negativity and older age predicted worse PH prognosis.

Figure 1.

Cumulative incidence curves for PH (A) and PAH (B).

Conclusion:

Cumulative incidence of PH, after accounting for death as competing event, was comparable in SSc subsets. Vigilance should be considered in males, Scl-70 positive and late age-onset SSc.

Table 1.

Sub-distribution Hazard ratio of incident PH and PAH.

PHPAHHazard ratio (95% CIs)P valuesHazard ratio (95% CIs)P valuesCrude ModelDcSSc vs lcSSc2.03 (1.13, 3.66)0.01861.60 (0.82, 3.16)0.1710Adjusted modelDcSSc vs lcSSc1.82 (0.93, 3.57)0.08181.57 (0.69, 3.59)0.2812Female vs male0.98 (0.42, 2.32)0.96602.10 (0.51, 8.65)0.3040Age1.00 (0.99, 1.02)0.70411.01 (0.98, 1.03)0.5498AntibodiesACA vs negative0.95 (0.46, 1.96)0.89911.08 (0.50, 2.35)0.8391ATA vs negative1.93 (0.84, 4.42)0.11980.59 (0.13, 2.73)0.4970Anti-RNAP vs negative1.24 (0.45, 3.43)0.68411.77 (0.58, 5.44)0.3181

Disclosure of Interests:

Tatiana Nevskaya: None declared, Yuxuan Jiang: None declared, Mianbo Wang: None declared, Murray Baron: None declared, Janet Pope Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly & Company, Merck, Roche, Seattle Genetics, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Actelion, Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eicos Sciences, Eli Lilly & Company, Emerald, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, UCB, Speakers bureau: UCB

FRI0245 PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS IS NEARLY ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOW DIFFUSING CAPACITY

Background:

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis; SSc) has high morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is common with a high mortality (1). SSc patients are screened with pulmonary function tests (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; DLCO) (2).

Objectives:

The DLCO%predicted was analyzed comparing patients with and without PAH to determine if it is always low at time of PAH diagnosis.

Methods:

The Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) database was used containing more than 1300 SSc patients with a mean disease duration of 8 years. All patients with at least one follow up visit and DLCO recorded at least twice were eligible for enrolment into this nested case control study. Diagnosis of PH was verified using several algorithms within the database including R heart catheterization, use of PH medications and physician response of ‘yes’ to question has this patient been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Sensitivity, specificity and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were calculated for DLC0%predicted <50% and presence of PH/PAH.

Results:

At time of PH diagnosis, the mean DLCO% predicted was 47% (N=30) vs no PH 73% (N=960) P<0.0001, and proven documented PAH also showed the differences (PAH, N=22 DLCO% predicted 51% vs. PAH negative (N=968) DLCO% pred 72%, P<0.0001) (Table 1). The OR of a DLCO%predicted less than 60 was 4.7 for PAH and 7.6 for PH (both P<0.001) and even higher if DLCO<50% (OR 11.5 for PH and 7.6 for PAH). Table 2 shows the PPV of DLCO at varying levels.

Table 1.

DLCO comparison between PH+ and PH- SSc patients and between PAH+ and PAH- SSc patients, at the time of diagnosis.

PH+(n=30)PH-(n=960)P-valuePAH+(n=22)PAH- (n=968)P-valuemean±SD47.17±17.5372.74±20.79<0.000151.23±17.5572.44±20.99<0.0001Range18-8113-14725-8113-147Table 2.

Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values in SSc-PH and -PAH for DLCO at various cut points.

ORPPVSpecificityNPVSensitivityDLCO<50%11.5 (CI 95% 5.4-24.8),p<0.000113.2%87.0%98.7%63.3%PHDLCO<60%7.6 (CI 95% 3.3-17.2), p<0.00017.9%73.3%98.9%73.3%DLCO>80%0.06 (CI 95% 0.008-0.46), p=0.0070.3%64.5%95.5%3.3%DLCO<50%7.6 (CI 95% 3.2-17.9), p<0.00018.3%86.4%98.8%54.5%PAHDLCO<60%4.7 (1.9-11.3), p<0.0015.0%72.7%98.9%63.6%DLCO>80%0.1 (0.01-0.7), p=0.0180.3%64.8%96.8%4.5%

Conclusion:

A low DLCO is associated with a high odds of PH/PAH in SSc and the NPV is very high at both DLCO<50% predicted and <60% predicted. This may aid in determining who should recieve a right heart catheterization in SSc patients.

References:

[1]Mukerjee D et al (2003) Prevalence and outcome in systemic sclerosis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: application of a registry approach. Ann Rheum Dis 62(11):1088-93

[2]Khanna D et al (2013) Recommendations for screening and detection of connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension. Arthritis Rheum 65(12):3194-201

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0598 THE INCREASING USE OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS IN EARLY SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Background:

Immunosuppression (IS) remains the main treatment for progressing skin involvement, active interstitial lung disease (ILD) and underlying inflammatory joint (IJ) or muscle disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Objectives:

This study investigated the pattern and trends in immunosuppressive agent use in patients with early SSc diagnosed before and after 2007 to determine whether the changes in the preferred type and combination of IS, timing and predictors of administration took place over the past decade.

Methods:

397 SSc patients from Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) database (183dcSSc, 214 lcSSc) who had baseline and follow-up visits within 3 years (1.8±0.8) after disease onset were included: 82% females, age at diagnosis 53±13 years, disease duration 1.6±0.8 years. Organ involvement was assessed by modified Rodnan skin score, Medsger Disease Severity Score (DSS) and CSRG definitions using bivariate, chi-squared, ANOVA, and adjusted regression analyses.

Results:

115 dcSSc patients (63%) and 62 lcSSc (29%) received IS, most commonly methotrexate (MTX) (72% dcSSc and 52% lcSSc), followed by mycophenylate mofetil (MMF) and cyclophosphamide (CYC). Within the patients receiving IS, monotherapy prevailed (77% dcSSc and 68% lcSSc); CYC and azathioprine were the preferred choice of IS more frequently in lcSSc compared to dcSSc (p<0.006 and p<0.02, respectively). In dcSSc, IS were predominantly prescribed at years 2 and 3 after the onset of first non-Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) manifestation, when about half of the patients received IS. The proportion of lcSSc patients receiving IS was significantly lower and distributed more equally through the first three years. After 2007, dcSSc patients received IS more often (74% vs 50%, p=0.001), especially MTX (p=0.02) and MMF (p<0.05), and earlier (peaked at 2 years after disease onset)(Table 1).

Table 1.

Proportion of patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment at each year after disease onset in SSc diagnosed before and after 2007.

Years after the first non-RP symptomlcSScBefore 2007After 2007Total N of pts seen at each year% receiving immune suppressivesTotal N of pts seen at each year% receiving immune suppressivesP-value113154717>0.92242182180.7723491410714>0.9dcSSc1242940430.2862512665650.00013624563540.325

IS administration was associated with male gender, ILD, a-Scl-70 positivity, ACA-negativity and IJ disease in lcSSc, and with ACA-negativity and a higher mRSS in dcSSc. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IS treatment could be predicted by ACA-negativity in lcSSc patients (Exp(B) 0.317, p=0.012) and younger age in dcSSc patients (Exp(B) 0.974, p=0.002).

Conclusion:

Over the past decade, there has been a trend to prescribe IS more often, especially MTX, and earlier in dcSSc patients. MMF has gained favour over CYC. Autoantibody status was the most consistent predictor whether a patient is likely to take IS over the course of the disease.

Disclosure of Interests:

Ryan Park: None declared, Tatiana Nevskaya: None declared, Murray Baron: None declared, Janet Pope Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly & Company, Merck, Roche, Seattle Genetics, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Actelion, Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eicos Sciences, Eli Lilly & Company, Emerald, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, UCB, Speakers bureau: UCB

An evidence-based strategy to screen for pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Clinical practice guidelines recommend screening all systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with yearly echocardiograms. There is a paucity of evidence to support these guidelines.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Can a prediction model identify SSc patients with a very low probability of PAH and therefore not requiring annual screening echocardiogram?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed a case-control study of 925 unselected SSc subjects nested in a multi-centered, longitudinal cohort. The probability of PAH for each subject was calculated using the results of multivariate logistic regression models. A cut-off was identified for the estimated probability of PAH below which no subject developed PAH (100% sensitivity).

RESULTS

Study subjects were predominantly female (87.5%), with mean (SD) age 58.6 (11.7) years and disease duration of 18.2 (12.2) years. Thirty-seven subjects developed PAH during 5407.97 person-years of observation (incidence rate 0.68 per 100 person-years). Shortness of breath (SOB), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and NT-proBNP were independent predictors of PAH. All SSc-PAH cases had a probability of PAH of >1.1%. Subjects below this cut-off, none of whom had PAH, accounted for 46.2% of the study population.

INTERPRETATION

A simple prediction model identified subjects at very low probability of PAH who could potentially forego annual screening echocardiogram. This represents almost half of SSc subjects in a general SSc population. This study, which is the first evidence-based study for the rational use of follow-up echocardiograms in an unselected SSc cohort, requires validation. The scoring system is freely available online at http://pahtool.ladydavis.ca.

Drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES) in a 10-year-old girl

We report the case of a child presenting with an adverse drug reaction highly suggestive of drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES) to amoxicillin (AMX). A 10-year-old girl developed repetitive vomiting and pallor without cutaneous or respiratory symptoms 2h after AMX intake. DIES is not a well-described entity, and very few data are available in the literature. In the absence of an existing definition, the diagnosis of DIES can only be suspected and is based on its homology with food protein-induced enterocolitis (FPIES). The major criterion is the recurrence of repetitive and often incoercible vomiting occurring within 1-4h of ingestion of the culprit food in the absence of IgE-mediated allergic classic skin and respiratory symptoms. Once the diagnosis of DIES to AMX is suspected, an open challenge with AMX should be undertaken with caution, under medical supervision in a day hospital unit because of the risk of severe recurrence. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, AMX should be contraindicated to avoid severe reactions.

Mammalian target of rapamycin is activated in the kidneys of patients with scleroderma renal crisis

Objectives:

Scleroderma renal crisis is a rare but serious complication affecting 2%–15% of patients with systemic sclerosis. Despite treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, outcomes for scleroderma renal crisis patients are still poor. The cellular signaling mechanisms in scleroderma renal crisis are not yet known. Mammalian target of rapamycin, comprised of the subunits mTORC1 and mTORC2, has been shown to be activated in vascular lesions of renal transplant patients with anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome. Given the similarities between the pathophysiology of scleroderma renal crisis and anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, we hypothesized that the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway would also be activated in the renal vasculature of patients with scleroderma renal crisis.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed renal biopsies of five patients with scleroderma renal crisis in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group cohort. Immunostaining was performed using anti-P-S6RP antibodies to evaluate the phosphorylation of mTORC1, and anti-Rictor and anti-S473 to determine activation of mTORC2.

Results:

Four of the five patients showed mTORC1 activation in arteriolar endothelial cells, and three of the five patients showed mTORC1 activation in the arterial endothelial cells. Two of four samples showed Rictor expression in the arteriolar and arterial endothelial cells, showing mTORC2 activation. There was no expression of mTORC1 or mTORC2 in samples from two healthy controls.

Conclusion:

We demonstrate that both mTORC1 and mTORC2 are activated in renal biopsies with typical histologic features of scleroderma renal crisis. Dual mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors are currently available and in development. These findings could inform further research into novel treatment targets for scleroderma renal crisis.

Public Health Efforts Can Impact Adoption of Current Susceptibility Breakpoints, but Closer Attention from Regulatory Bodies Is Needed

Microbiological testing, including interpretation of antimicrobial susceptibility testing results using current breakpoints, is crucial for clinical care and infection control. Continued use of obsolete Enterobacteriaceae carbapenem breakpoints is common in clinical laboratories. The purposes of this study were (i) to determine why laboratories failed to update breakpoints and (ii) to provide support for breakpoint updates. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health conducted a 1-year outreach program for 41 hospitals in Los Angeles County that had reported, in a prior survey of California laboratories, using obsolete Enterobacteriaceae carbapenem breakpoints. In-person interviews with hospital stakeholders and customized expert guidance and resources were provided to aid laboratories in updating breakpoints, including support from technical representatives from antimicrobial susceptibility testing device manufacturers. Forty-one hospitals were targeted, 7 of which had updated breakpoints since the prior survey. Of the 34 remaining hospitals, 27 (79%) assumed that their instruments applied current breakpoints, 17 (50%) were uncertain how to change breakpoints, and 10 (29%) lacked resources to perform a validation study for off-label use of the breakpoints on their systems. Only 7 hospitals (21%) were familiar with the FDA/CDC Antibiotic Resistance Isolate Bank. All hospitals launched a breakpoint update process; 16 (47%) successfully updated breakpoints, 12 (35%) received isolates from the CDC in order to validate breakpoints on their systems, and 6 (18%) were planning to update within 1 year. The public health intervention was moderately successful in identifying and overcoming barriers to updating Enterobacteriaceae carbapenem breakpoints in Los Angeles hospitals. However, the majority of targeted hospitals continued to use obsolete breakpoints despite 1 year of effort. These findings have important implications for the quality of patient care and patient safety. Other public health jurisdictions may want to utilize similar resources to bridge the patient safety gap, while manufacturers, the FDA, and others determine how best to address this growing public health issue.

Damage indices in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To review the current literature, and evaluate the psychometric properties of disease damage indices in rheumatic diseases.

METHODS

A search of Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was performed to June 2018 to identify damage indices in all systemic rheumatic diseases. Articles were included in a systematic review if indices were composite (multi-organ) in nature and if adequate detail on methodology was described. Articles pertaining to the validation of these indices were also reviewed in order to assess the psychometric properties of the indices using the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT) filter as a guide.

RESULTS

Of the 2659 articles retrieved through the search, we identified 7 damage indices in five diseases: idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic vasculitis, Sjӧgren's syndrome and antiphospholipid syndrome. A further 48 articles were identified pertaining to the validation of these damage indices. The methodological process for the development of these indices included expert consensus, item reduction and item weighting methods. The level of validation that these indices have achieved is variable, with only 2 damage indices fulfilling all criteria of the OMERACT filter.

CONCLUSIONS

To date, there have been 7 composite disease damage indices created in a variety of rheumatic diseases, with the exception of systemic sclerosis (SSc). This review has informed methodology for the development of a disease damage index in SSc.

Caractéristiques de la première promotion nationale d’internes du nouveau diplôme d’études spécialisées de médecine d’urgence

Introduction : Depuis novembre 2017, la médecine d’urgence est filiarisée en France. Le profil des internes ayant choisi cette spécialité à l’issue de l’examen classant national, inconnu actuellement, différerait de celui de leurs aînés du diplôme d’études spécialisées complémentaire. Nous avons voulu connaître les caractéristiques des étudiants inscrits en phase socle du nouveau diplôme d’études spécialisées de médecine d’urgence, les motivations de leur choix et leur vision de leur futur exercice.

Méthode : Nous avons mené une étude épidémiologique transversale déclarative à partir d’un questionnaire anonyme envoyé par courriel à tous les internes de phase socle du diplôme de médecine d’urgence affectés en 2017 dans les 28 subdivisions françaises.

Résultats : Trois cent soixante-dix-sept internes ont répondu, dont 51 % de femmes, et l’âge moyen était de 26 ans. Quatrevingt- six pour cent avaient réalisé un stage aux urgences et 44 % un stage ou des gardes en service d’aide médicale urgente. La médecine d’urgence était un premier choix chez 81 % des étudiants et un choix par défaut chez 18 %. Leurs principales motivations étaient la transversalité de la spécialité, les gestes techniques, le contexte aigu, le travail en équipe et les lieux d’exercice variés. La majorité souhaitait exercer à l’hôpital public. Quatre-vingt-douze pour cent envisageaient un exercice partagé entre urgences et service d’aide médicale urgente. Leurs principales craintes concernaient l’absence de réorientation possible et l’épuisement.

Discussion : La très grande majorité des internes du diplôme d’études spécialisées de médecine d’urgence sont venus vers la spécialité par choix. Malgré leur jeune expérience, ils ont des idées bien précises du type de pratique qu’ils souhaiteraient. L’exercice exclusif, qu’il soit aux urgences ou en service mobile d’urgence et de réanimation, ne semble plus être le modèle idéal pour ces jeunes professionnels qui plébiscitent l’exercice partagé.