Disease Activity In Women Research Articles

Impact of intimate partner violence on quality of life and disease activity in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Stress and trauma are psychosocial factors with an impact on the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The influence of violence on SLE has not been entirely explored, even though women (including patients with rheumatic diseases) are a vulnerable population to any form of violence. This study aims to assess the prevalence and impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on health-related quality of life in women with SLE. An observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study was conducted at a rheumatology clinic of a university hospital from September 2022 and September 2023. We evaluated the presence of IPV in 85 women with SLE with the Hurt, Insulted, Threatened with Harm and Screamed at (HITS) questionnaire and the Index of Spouse Abuse (ISA), and quality of life with LupusQoL. The prevalence by HITS score of past-year IPV was 24.4% and of lifetime IPV was 36.5%. Past-year non-physical violence was present in 17.1% of patients by ISA, and 27.1% were victims in their lifetime. While in physical violence, 7.3% were victims in the previous year and 21.2% in their lifetime. The total quality of life and the emotional domain by LupusQoL were diminished in victims of past-year IPV, compared to those who weren't exposed (p = .018 and p = .036, respectively). Past-year HITS score correlated with the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) (rho = 0.301, p = .006), while lifetime HITS score correlated with PGA (rho = 0.329, p = .002) and SLEDAI-2K (rho = 0.277, p = .010). We found that one in four women suffered IPV in the previous year, and those who were exposed had diminished quality of life. Also, the severity of the abuse correlated with disease activity. Our findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive care for patients with SLE.

The efficacy of curcumin supplementation on serum total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and disease activity in women with rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the physiopathology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is associated with impaired antioxidant defenses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin supplementation on serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and disease activity in women with RA. In this clinical trial, 48 women with RA were treated with one capsule of curcumin (500 mg daily) or placebo for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and end of the study. Finally, we assessed the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS-28), dietary intake, and physical activity levels. While curcumin supplementation for 8 weeks significantly increased the serum levels of TAC (p < 0.05), it decreased tender joint counts, swollen joint counts, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and DAS-28 compared to the placebo at the end of the study (p < 0.001 for all). MDA levels significantly decreased in the curcumin group (p < 0.05). However, changes in MDA concentration were not significant between groups at the end of the trial (p = 0.145). Curcumin supplementation had a beneficial effect on increasing the serum levels of TAC and decreased DAS-28 in women with RA.

Pregnancy effect on disease activity in women with multiple sclerosis treated with cladribine

IntroductionCladribine is an oral immune reconstitution therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). Hormonal and immune changes are responsible for the decline of disease activity in the third trimester of pregnancy and disease reactivation in the early post-partum period.We investigate the impact of pregnancy on disease activity in women with MS who conceived after cladribine treatment.MethodsWe recruited women of childbearing age with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) who became pregnant or not after being treated with cladribine. For both groups, demographic, clinical and radiological data were collected 1 year before and after treatment during a mean follow-up of 3.53 years. We compared disease activity over time between groups using variance analysis for repeated measures.Results48 childbearing women were included. 25 women had a pregnancy after a mean of 1.75 years from the first treatment cycle. Women with or without pregnancy did not differ in demographics or pre-cladribine disease activity. No significant differences in disease activity or EDSS worsening were found between women with or without pregnancy.DiscussionOur findings suggest that pregnancy does not appear to influence disease activity and disability in women previously treated with cladribine; further studies with larger numbers and longer follow-up are needed to confirm this finding.

Hidradenitis suppurativa: Influence of hormonal factors on disease activity in women in France

Hidradenitis suppurativa: Influence of hormonal factors on disease activity in women in France

A Systematic Review of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Epidemiology and Health Outcomes in Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals

A Systematic Review of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Epidemiology and Health Outcomes in Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals

Disease activity at conception predicts lupus flare up to two years after birth: A multicentre long term follow-up study

ObjectiveTo assess predicting factors that might influence systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity in women in an extended follow-up period of two years after giving birth with clinical assessments every three months. MethodsThe study was design as an international retrospective study, enrolling 119 women with a first birth and with a two years follow-up. ResultsJoint involvement was present in 80% of patients, acute cutaneous in 64%, haematological in 54%, renal in 41% and 75% of patients were positive for anti-dsDNA. The mean SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) at diagnosis was 13.5±6.8 and at first birth was 2.8±4.4.At follow-up, 51.3% of patients had at least one flare after a mean time after birth of 9±6.3 months (mean flare per patient 0.94±1.1). The most frequent flare manifestations were joint involvement (48%), renal (33%), cutaneous (28%) and haematologic (20%).Patients with remission of disease (SLEDAI-2K=0; no clinical or laboratory manifestations of SLE) at conception had significantly lower rates of flares (18/49–37% vs. 43/70–61%; p=0.008).Patients who experienced a flare during pregnancy (17 patients) had higher rates of flares during follow-up (76% vs. 47%; p=0.019), lower time for first flare (4.4±2.3 months vs. 10.3±6.5; p<0.001), lower rate of remission of disease at conception (12% vs. 46%; p<0.001), lower rates of SLEDAI-2K at conception (5.9±5.6 vs. 2.3±4; p<0.001) and lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding (24% vs. 57%: p=0.009). Results were confirmed after performing multivariate analysis. ConclusionRemission at conception can influence SLE disease positively, even at long-term. Planned pregnancy counseling is fundamental when managing SLE patients.

Effect of pregnancy on scleroderma progression.

To explore the trajectory of scleroderma disease activity in women who experienced a pregnancy after systemic sclerosis diagnosis compared to nulliparous women. We analyzed data from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry by identifying nulliparous women and women with ⩾1 pregnancy after systemic sclerosis diagnosis. Patient characteristics were compared between groups at registry entry. Controlling for age, smoking, and time since systemic sclerosis diagnosis, generalized estimating equations tested the effect of pregnancy on force vital capacity, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide, right ventricular systolic pressure, glomerular filtration rate, antibody status, active digital ulcers, physician global assessment of activity, and severity over 9 years. At registry entry, numbers of women in the nulliparous and pregnancy after systemic sclerosis diagnosis groups were 153 and 45, respectively. Corresponding numbers at 6 and 9 years were 48 and 21, and 18 and 9, respectively. The prevalence of anti-topoisomerase positivity was 18.3% in nulliparous and 12.5% in pregnancy after systemic sclerosis diagnosis. Baseline differences included mean (Standard deviation) age of diagnosis (nulliparous: 38.8 (14.0), pregnancy after systemic sclerosis diagnosis: 22.6 (6.8) years, p < 0.001), disease duration (nulliparous: 9.6 (8.9), pregnancy after systemic sclerosis diagnosis: 21.9 (9.6) years; p < 0.001), and inflammatory arthritis (nulliparous: 41 (28%), pregnancy after systemic sclerosis diagnosis: 22 (49%), p = 0.009). There were no significant differences between groups in the change of any outcomes over time. Results demonstrated that having ⩾1 pregnancy after systemic sclerosis diagnosis did not appear to significantly impact long-term renal, respiratory, or global function outcomes. While this offers a hopeful message to systemic sclerosis patients planning a pregnancy, physicians and patients should remain vigilant for potential post-partum complications.

Examination of Type D personality, depression and perceived social support in women With fibromyalgia.

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between Type D personality, depression, perceived social support, and disease activity in women with fibromyalgia (FM). One hundred and forty women applied to the physical medicine rehabilitation outpatient clinic between October 2019 and February 2020 who also had been diagnosed with FM were recruited. Age, occupation, marital status, chronic diseases, body mass index, duration of FM, smoking and alcohol use, sleep patterns, difficulty with daily work and self-care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation status were all recorded as demographic data of subjects. All patients participating in the study were evaluated with a Type D Personality Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). It has been determined that more than half of the women diagnosed with FM had the disease for more than 2 years, the average age was 46, 70% of patients were 40 years or older, more than half were overweight or obese and 63.6% had Type D personality. Eighty-nine women diagnosed with FM had a Type D personality and a significant correlation was found between Type D personality and depression, VAS, FIQ, and the subparameters of MSPSS. The determination of a relationship between the Type D personality and depression, VAS, FIQ, and MSPSS in women with FM plays a very important role in the care of FM in terms of treatment and prognosis and it can be said that determining the personality traits of such patients may be beneficial for clinicians.

Pregnancy-induced brain magnetic resonance imaging changes in women with multiple sclerosis.

The effect of pregnancy on brain changes and radiological disease activity in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) is not well understood. This study was undertaken to describe the dynamics of lesion activity and brain volume changes during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. This observational study of 62 women with relapsing-remitting MS included magnetic resonance imaging (221 scans) as well as clinical visits at baseline (<24 and >6months before pregnancy), prepregnancy (<6months before pregnancy), postpartum (<3months after delivery), and follow-up (>12 and <24months after delivery) periods. The majority of women had a mild disability and a short disease duration (median = 5.5years). Eighteen (29.0%) women had a relapse during the year preceding pregnancy onset, nine (14.5%) during pregnancy, and 20 (32.3%) in the year following delivery. Disability status remained unchanged during follow-up. Women in the postpartum period (n=62) had higher T2 lesion volume (median = 1.18ml vs. 0.94ml), greater annualized T2 lesion volume increase (0.23ml vs. 0.0ml), lower brain parenchymal fraction (85.6% vs. 86.4%), and greater annualized brain volume loss (-1.74% vs. -0.16%) compared with the prepregnancy period (all p<0.001). At 12-24months after delivery, women (n=41) had higher T2lesion volume (1.16ml vs. 1.0ml) and lower brain parenchymal fraction (86.0% vs. 86.5%) compared to the prepregnancy period (both p<0.001). The postpartum period was associated with an increase in T2 lesion volume and accelerated brain volume loss in a considerable proportion of women. This should be considered in treatment decision-making and designing clinical trials.

Disease activity in women with ankylosing spondylitis remains higher under Tumour Necrosis Factor inhibitor treatment than in men: a five-year observational study

Objective To assess sex differences in response, level of disease activity, and drug survival in tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi)-naïve ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Method Consecutive AS patients, fulfilling the modified New York criteria, were included in a prospective cohort study at initiation of the first TNFi and followed until this medication was stopped (drug survival). Disease activity scores [AS Disease Activity Score using C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP), Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and CRP] were measured at 3, 6, and 12 months, and every subsequent year, up to 5 years. The response was defined by the ASDAS-CRP response criteria (clinically important improvement: ASDAS-CRP decrease ≥ 1.1). Analyses included regression methods for repeated measurements and survival analyses. Results Overall, 356 patients were included (34% women, mean ± sd age 46 ± 12 years), with a median disease duration of 12 (interquartile range 6;20) years. Women were less likely than men to achieve a clinically important response after 6 months of TNFi treatment (47% vs 64%; relative risk 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1;1.9, p = 0.02], despite a lack of sex differences in mean ASDAS-CRP levels over 5 year follow-up. Adjusted models for BASDAI over 5 years showed that women had a 0.6 point higher BASDAI score than men (β = 0.6 0.1;1.1 <0.02). Numerically, more women than men discontinued treatment over a period of 5 years (hazard ratio = 1.5, 95% CI 0.9;2.5, p = 0.15). Conclusion Female AS patients show a lower response to TNFi and a higher disease activity compared to men.

Risk Factors for Postpartum Disease Activity in Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of postpartum disease activity. We aimed to systematically determine the effect of various risk factors on postpartum IBD disease activity. Electronic databases were searched through January 2021 for studies that reported risk of postpartum disease activity in women with IBD. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the impact of IBD phenotype, disease activity, therapy de-escalation, mode of delivery, and breastfeeding on postpartum disease activity. Study bias was determined using the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. Twenty-seven observational studies (3825 patients) were included, 15 of which had a high risk of confounding bias. The pooled incidence of women with postpartum active IBD was 31.9% (95% CI, 25.6-38.1). Similar results were seen with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (CD; OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.58-1.59). Those with stricturing (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 1.31-10.08) and penetrating (OR, 4.25; 95% CI, 1.11-16.26) CD had higher odds of postpartum active IBD. Active disease at conception (OR, 10.59; 95% CI, 1.48-76.02) and during pregnancy (OR, 4.91; 95% CI, 1.82-13.23) increased the odds of postpartum disease activity. Similarly, biologic discontinuation in the third trimester (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.01-3.10) and therapy de-escalation after delivery (OR, 7.36; 95% CI, 3.38-16.0) was associated with postpartum disease activity. Complicated Crohn's disease, disease activity at conception and during pregnancy, and de-escalation of biologics during pregnancy or after delivery are associated with postpartum disease activity in women with IBD.

Being overweight is associated with not reaching low disease activity in women but not men with psoriatic arthritis.

To assess sex differences in disease activity parameters and health-related quality of life in PsA, and to assess whether determinants associated with not reaching treatment target differed between men and women. Routine practice data of 855 PsA patients, who were all tightly monitored and treated, was used. Sex differences including, but not limited to, PsA Disease Activity Score (PASDAS), skin/nail disease, SF-12 PCS/MCS, and inflammatory back pain (IBP) were assessed. Multivariate analyses were used to examine determinants associated with not reaching treatment target (PASDAS ≤ 3.2) in men and women. Women had worse scores for-among others-swollen and tender joints, CRP, enthesitis and function (all P < 0.001). Higher PASDAS scores were found for women [3.5 (1.5)] than men [2.7 (1.5), P < 0.001]. Likewise, women were more often not at PASDAS treatment target (OR = 2.03, P < 0.001). No difference in current medication use was found. Nail disease, IBP, number of DMARDs used (past and current), and BMI were associated with not reaching treatment target in the overall sample. For women, but not men, BMI was associated with not reaching PASDAS low disease activity (LDA) (OR between 2.41 and 3.43, P < 0.001). Women with PsA in a tightly monitored and treated setting have more severe disease than men. This is demonstrated by worse scores for women in both subjective and objective disease activity measures, in addition to women less often reaching the treatment target. Notably, being overweight is associated with higher disease activity in women, but not men.

Depressive symptoms are associated with impaired sleep, fatigue, and disease activity in women with rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectivesTo investigate the associations between sleep quality, fatigue, disease activity and depressive symptoms in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsFemale patients with previous diagnosis of RA from a Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic at a tertiary referral centre, in Fortaleza, Brazil, were consecutively recruited into the study. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); fatigue by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS); daytime sleepiness by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS); and depressive symptoms by the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). RA activity was measured by the disease activity score (DAS28).ResultsOne hundred ten women (mean age ± SD = 51.1 ± 13.0 y) were included in the study. On average, patients with depressive symptoms (BDI-II > 13), as compared to those without, showed poorer sleep quality (PSQI: 10.09 ± 4.1 vs 7.33 ± 3.55; p = 0.001 respectively), more fatigue (FSS: 4.69 ± 1.89 vs 3.34 ± 1.8; p = 0.001) and higher disease activity level (DAS28: 4.36 ± 1.53 vs 3.7 ± 1.39; p = 0,047). The logistic regression analysis showed that sleep quality is an independent predictor of depressive symptom severity.ConclusionDepressive symptoms, impaired sleep and fatigue are common in women with RA. Poor sleep is associated with greater frequency and severity of depressive symptoms in these patients, suggesting that screening for sleep and mood problems may be relevant both in clinical research and routine patient care. Future studies investigating the impact of measures to promote healthy sleep on depressive symptom control in this patient population are warranted.

Adverse effects of maternal rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy on children.

Adverse effects of maternal rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy on children.

Evaluation of the impact of age and adiposity on a multi-biomarker disease activity score before and after adjustment.

We assessed the impact of adjustment of the multi-biomarker disease activity score (MBDA) for age, sex, and leptin, over the range of age and adiposity, and assessed relationships with clinical disease activity. Patients with RA, ages 18-75years, were recruited from clinical practices and completed whole-body DXA to quantify fat mass indices (FMI, kg/m2). FMI Z-scores were calculated based on distributions in a reference population. Descriptive statistics described relationships between age, FMI Z-score, and the original MBDA and adjusted MBDA (aMBDA). Swollen joint counts (SJC) and the clinical disease activity index (CDAI) were assessed over MBDA categories. There were 104 participants (50% female) with mean (SD) age of 56.1 (12.5) and body mass index (BMI) of 28.8 (6.9). Older age was associated with higher MBDA scores in men. The aMBDA was not associated with age. The original MBDA score was associated with FMI Z-score among women (Rho = 0.42, p= 0.002) but not men. The aMBDA was not associated with FMI Z-score in either women or men. The aMBDA score was lower than the original MBDA in the highest quartile of FMI in women and was higher in the lowest FMI quartiles in women and men. CDAI, SJC, and radiographic scores were similar across activity categories for the original MBDA score and aMBDA. The aMBDA demonstrated reduced associations with adiposity, particularly among women. The aMBDA may be less likely to overestimate disease activity in women with greater adiposity and to underestimate disease activity in men and women with lesser adiposity. Key Points • Leptin adjustment of the MBDA score reduces the influence of adiposity, particularly among women. • Leptin adjustment results in significantly higher estimated disease activity in thin men and women. • The adjusted and unadjusted score correlate similarly with clinical disease activity measures.

Serum interferon levels associated with the disease activity in women with overt Graves' disease

BackgroundInflammatory cytokines participate in immune reactions and the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. Herein, we quantified four groups of inflammatory cytokines, including interferons (IFNs), the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (TNFSF), interleukin (IL)-related cytokines, and bone and extracellular matrix remodeling-related cytokines to determine their contributions in women with overt Graves' disease (GD). MethodsForty-three women with GD were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Thirty-seven cytokines, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine, and TSH receptor antibody (TSHRAb) were quantified. GD patients with a low TSH level at the time of sample collection were defined as having active GD. ResultsPatients with active GD had higher IFN-α2, IFN-γ, IFN-λ1, and IFN-λ2 levels than those with inactive GD. In addition, certain TNFSF cytokines, including soluble cluster of differentiation 30 (sCD30), TNFSF member 14 (TNFSF14), pentraxin (PTX)-3, soluble TNF receptor 2 (sTNF-R2), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) were higher in active GD than in inactive GD. Moreover, active GD patients had higher IL-2, IL-12(p40), osteocalcin (OCN), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 than inactive GD patients. All IFNs except IFN-λ1 were correlated with TSHRAb titers. Moreover, TNFSF cytokines, consisting of B-cell-activating factor, sCD30, TNFSF14, PTX-3, sTNF-R2, and TSLP, were associated with TSHRAb levels. ConclusionsSerum IFNs could be the most remarkable cytokines in modulating the disease severity and TSHRAb titers in women with full-blown GD. Further molecular-based research to clarify the actual role of IFNs in the disease progression of GD is needed.

Associations of site-specific CD4+-T-cell hypomethylation within CD40-ligand promotor and enhancer regions with disease activity of women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

To comprehensively assess associations of site-specific CD4+-T-cell hypomethylation of the CD40-Ligand gene (CD40L) with disease activity of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). CpG-sites within the DNA of the promotor and two enhancer regions (n = 22) of CD40L were identified and numbered consecutively. The rate of methylated DNA in isolated CD4+-T-cells of women with SLE were quantified for each methylation site by MALDI-TOF. Disease activity was assessed by SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Associations of site-specific methylation rates with the SLEDAI scores were assessed by linear regression modelling. P values were adjusted according to Bonferroni-Holm as indicated. 60 female SLE patients participated in the study (age 45.7 ± 11.1 years, disease duration 17.0 ± 8.3 years). Significant associations to the SLEDAI were noted for CpG22 hypomethylation of the promotor (β = -40.1, p = 0.017, adjusted p = 0.027), trends were noted for CpG17 hypomethylation of the promotor (β = -30.5, p = 0.032, adjusted p = 0.6), and for CpG11 hypermethylation of the second enhancer (β = 15.0, p = 0.046, adjusted p = 0.8). Site-specific hypomethylation of the CD40L promotor in CD4+-T-cells show associations with disease activity in female SLE patients.

Birth Outcomes and Disease Activity During Pregnancy in a Prospective Cohort of Women With Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

To add to data on adverse birth outcomes accounting for disease activity in women with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Data were analyzed from women enrolled in the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Autoimmune Disease Project from 2004 to 2018. Disease activity was measured according to the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) or Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) scores. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for selected adverse pregnancy outcomes. Compared to healthy controls (n = 717), women with PsA (n = 117) were at increased risk for moderate preterm delivery (32-36 weeks' gestation) (ARR 1.81, 95% CI 1.01-3.26), oligohydramnios (ARR 3.79, 95% CI 1.34-10.74), and cesarean delivery (ARR 1.63, 95% CI 1.26-2.12). Women with AS (n = 129) had an increased risk of delivering infants requiring intensive care (ARR 1.67, 95% CI 1.05-2.67). A high HAQ score at 32 weeks was associated with preterm delivery in women with PsA (ARR 3.82, 95% CI 1.51-9.67). In women with AS, a high RAPID3 score was associated with cesarean delivery (ARR 5.82, 95% 1.06-31.78), and second trimester glucocorticoid use was associated with preterm delivery (ARR 4.41, 95% CI 1.57-12.41). Women with PsA and AS have increased risk for selected adverse pregnancy outcomes. Active disease and use of glucocorticoids may increase the risk for some adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with these conditions.

Influence of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) intake on fatty acid composition in erythrocytes and plasma phospholipids and serum metabolites in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Intake of blue mussels decreased disease activity in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the randomized cross-over MIRA (Mussels, inflammation and RA) trial. This study investigates potential causes of the decreased disease activity by analysing fatty acid composition in erythrocytes and plasma phospholipids and serum metabolites in samples from the participants of the MIRA trial. Twenty-three women completed the randomized 2 × 11-week cross-over dietary intervention, exchanging one cooked meal per day, 5 days a week, with a meal including 75 g blue mussels or 75 g meat. Fatty acid composition in erythrocytes and plasma and 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) metabolomics data were analysed with multivariate data analysis. Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures with Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and OPLS with effect projections (OPLS-EP) were performed to compare the two diets. The fatty acid profile in erythrocytes was different after intake of blue mussels compared to the control diet, and all samples were correctly classified to either the blue mussel diet or control diet. Changes following blue mussel intake included significant increases in omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at the group level but not for all individuals. The fatty acid profile in plasma phospholipids and 1H NMR serum metabolites did not differ significantly between the diets. To conclude, modelling fatty acids in erythrocytes may be a better biomarker for seafood intake than only EPA and DHA content. The change in fatty acid pattern in erythrocytes could be related to reduction in disease activity, although it cannot be excluded that other factors than omega-3 fatty acids potentiate the effect.

Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity During and After Pregnancy: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

To study disease activity in women with peripheral psoriatic arthritis (PsA) during and after pregnancy. Previous knowledge on this topic is sparse. The study included 108 pregnancies in 103 women with PsA from a Norwegian nationwide register. Disease activity was assessed prospectively at 7 time points before, throughout, and after pregnancy with the 3-variable Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) using C-reactive protein levels and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Scores assessed at each time point were analyzed in a linear mixed model. We did additional analyses with "tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in pregnancy" as a covariate. The same statistical method was used to study self-reported physical function, pain, and mental health. Approximately 75% of the women were in remission or had low disease activity during and after pregnancy according to the DAS28-CRP score. Although disease activity was altogether stable, we found that it decreased in pregnancy and increased within 6 months postpartum. Disease activity at 6 months postpartum was significantly higher than at 6 weeks postpartum (mean DAS28-CRP score 2.71 versus 2.45; P = 0.016). Women using TNFi in pregnancy had significantly lower disease activity than women not using TNFi (mean DAS28-CRP score at 6 months postpartum 2.22 versus 2.72; P = 0.043). BASDAI scores were also low and stable during pregnancy but significantly higher at 6 months postpartum than at 6 weeks postpartum (mean BASDAI score 3.69 versus 2.95; P = 0.013). Studying women with PsA, we found that disease activity was highest at 6 months postpartum but altogether low and stable in the period from planning pregnancy to 1 year after delivery. Women using TNFi in pregnancy had significantly lower disease activity.