The Handscan is a novel objective optical imaging device for disease follow-up and management in rheumatoid arthritis patients. We aim to examine the association between the baseline outcomes of... Show moreThe Handscan is a novel objective optical imaging device for disease follow-up and management in rheumatoid arthritis patients. We aim to examine the association between the baseline outcomes of the Handscan, disease activity levels and joint swelling. The Handscan measures differences in laser light absorption between joints of fingers and wrists and adjacent reference tissue, indicating the presence or absence of inflammation. The device gives an optical spectral transmission (OST) index per joint. The average of these indices is represented in the total optical score (TOS). Associations between TOS and DAS28 at subject level and OST and swelling at joint level were examined. 484 RA patients were included. Compared to patients with high disease activity (defined by DAS28), TOS was significantly lower in patients with moderate (estimated coefficient B: - 7.09, P < 0.001), low disease activity (B: - 6.99, P < 0.001) and patients in remission (B: - 7.72, P < 0.001) but could not distinguish between the latter three disease states. TOS was significantly lower in females (B: - 3.2, P < 0.001). OST was significantly higher in swollen than non-swollen joints (B: 0.28, P < 0.001). TOS was significantly higher in patients with high disease activity than in those in remission or with low and moderate disease activity. The difference in TOS between males and females should be accounted for in the interpretation of this outcome. The OST at joint level discriminates swollen from non-swollen joints and could be a more promising tool than the overall optical activity reflected in TOS. Show less
Mahmoodi, B.K.; Veeger, N.J.G.M.; Middeldorp, S.; Lijfering, W.M.; Brouwer, J.L.P.; Berg, J. ten; ... ; Meijer, K. 2016
Introduction: Whether high factor (F)VIII and low free protein S levels are risk factors for arterial thrombosis is unclarified. Material and Methods: In a post-hoc analysis of a single-centre... Show moreIntroduction: Whether high factor (F)VIII and low free protein S levels are risk factors for arterial thrombosis is unclarified. Material and Methods: In a post-hoc analysis of a single-centre retrospective family cohort, we determined if these two proteins could increase the risk of arterial thrombosis. In total, 1399 relatives were analysed. Results: Annual incidence in relatives with high FVIII levels was 0.29% (95%CI, 0.22-0.38) compared to 0.13% (95%CI, 0.09-0.19) in relatives with normal FVIII levels. In relatives with low free protein S levels, this risk was 0.26% (95%CI, 0.16-0.40), compared to 0.14% (95%CI, 0.10-0.20) in relatives with normal free protein S levels. Mean FVIII levels adjusted for age and sex were 11 IU/dL, 18 IU/dL, and 21 IU/dL higher in relatives with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity as compared to relatives without these arterial thrombotic risk factors. Moreover, a dose response relation between increasing FVIII and body mass index was found. None of these associations were shown for free protein S. Conclusions: High FVIII and low free protein S levels seemed to be mild risk factors for arterial thrombosis. High FVIII levels were particularly observed in relatives with traditional arterial thrombotic risk factors. Free protein S levels were not influenced by these thrombotic risk factors. This assumes that low free protein S levels were genetically determined. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Show less
Mahmoodi, B.K.; Brouwer, J.L.P.; Kate, M.K. ten; Lijfering, W.M.; Veeger, N.J.G.M.; Mulder, A.B.; ... ; Meer, J. van der 2010
Background: Absolute risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in protein S-, protein C-, or antithrombin-deficient subjects are mainly based on retrospective data. Screening asymptomatic relatives of... Show moreBackground: Absolute risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in protein S-, protein C-, or antithrombin-deficient subjects are mainly based on retrospective data. Screening asymptomatic relatives of these patients is disputed, though studies addressing this issue have yet to be conducted. Methods: We prospectively followed 382 relatives of 84 pro-bands. Participants were assessed for other thrombophilic defects and occurrence of exogenous risk factors (i.e. surgery/trauma/immobilization, malignancies, use of systemic estrogens, and pregnancy/puerperium). After screening, deficient subjects were advised to use thromboprophylaxis during exogenous risk factors; use of oral contraceptives was discouraged. Results: Overall annual incidence of VTE was 1.53% (95% CI, 1.00-2.34) in deficient vs. 0.29% (0.13-0.64) in nondeficient relatives; adjusted hazard ratio, 7.0 (95% CI, 2.7-18.0). Annual incidence of unprovoked VTE was 0.95% in deficient vs. 0.05% in non-deficient subjects; age-adjusted hazard ratio, 22.3 (P = 0.003). In contrast, annual incidence of provoked VTE was 0.58% vs. 0.24%; age-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.8(P = 0.08). Fifty-five (37%) deficient and 80 (34%) nondeficient subjects experienced 91 and 143 exogenous risk factors, respectively, during which six vs. five VTEs (6.6% vs 3.5% per risk-period) occurred, despite the higher compliance with recommended thromboprophylaxis use in deficient (51%) vs. non-deficient (22%) subjects. In deficient subjects all provoked VTEs occurred when thromboprophylaxis was not used. Conclusions: Protein S, protein C or antithrombin deficiencies confer high absolute risk of VTE. Screening and subsequent augmentation of thromboprophylaxis use may result in reduction of provoked VTE, whereas risk of unprovoked VTE could not be affected by screening. Show less
The term factor V Leiden (FVL) paradox is used to describe the different risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism that has been found in carriers of FVL. In a thrombophilic family-cohort... Show moreThe term factor V Leiden (FVL) paradox is used to describe the different risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism that has been found in carriers of FVL. In a thrombophilic family-cohort, we estimated differences in absolute risks of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism for various thrombophilic defects. Of 2,054 relatives, 1,131 were female, 41 had pulmonary embolism and 126 deep vein thrombosis. Annual incidence for deep vein thrombosis in non-carriers of FVL was 0.19% (95%CI, 0.16-0.23), and 0.41% (95%Cl, 0.28-0.58) in carriers; relative risk (RR) 2.1 (95%CI, 1.4-3.2). For pulmonary embolism these incidences were similar in carriers and non-carriers 0.07%, respectively; RR 1.0 (95% CI, 0.4-2.5). When co-inheritance of other thrombophilic defects was excluded the RR for deep vein thrombosis in FVL carriers was 7.0 (95%Cl, 2.3-21.7) compared to non-carriers and 2.8 (95%CI, 0.5-14.4) for pulmonary embolism. For other thrombophilic defects no such effect was observed. Thus the FVL paradox was confirmed in our study. However, a similar paradox in carriers of other thrombophilic defects was not observed. Show less
Lijfering, W.M.; Middeldorp, S.; Veeger, N.J.G.M.; Hamulyak, K.; Prins, M.H.; Buller, H.R.; Meer, J. van der 2010
Background-Homozygous or double heterozygous factor V Leiden and/or prothrombin G20210A is a rare inherited thrombophilic trait. Whether individuals with this genetic background have an increased... Show moreBackground-Homozygous or double heterozygous factor V Leiden and/or prothrombin G20210A is a rare inherited thrombophilic trait. Whether individuals with this genetic background have an increased risk of recurrent venous thrombosis is uncertain. Methods and Results-A case-control design within a large cohort of families with thrombophilia was chosen to calculate the risk of recurrent venous thrombosis in individuals with homozygosity or double heterozygosity of factor V Leiden and/or prothrombin G20210A. Cases were individuals with recurrent venous thrombosis, and controls were those with only 1 venous thrombosis. The cohort consisted of 788 individuals with venous thrombosis; 357 had factor V Leiden, 137 had prothrombin G20210A, 27 had factor V Leiden and/or prothrombin G20210A homozygosity, and 49 had double heterozygosity for both mutations. We identified 325 cases with recurrent venous thrombosis and 463 controls with only 1 venous thrombosis. Compared with noncarriers, crude odds ratio for recurrence was 1.2 (95% confidence interval, 0.9 to 1.6) for heterozygous carriers of factor V Leiden, 0.7 (95% confidence interval, 0.4 to 1.2) for prothrombin G20210A, 1.2 (95% confidence interval, 0.5 to 2.6) for homozygous carriers of factor V Leiden and/or prothrombin G20210A, and 1.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.6 to 1.9) for double heterozygotes of both mutations. Adjustments for age, sex, family status, first event type, and concomitance of natural anticoagulant deficiencies did not alter the risk estimates. Conclusions-In this study, individuals with homozygous factor V Leiden and/or homozygous prothrombin G20210A or double heterozygous carriers of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A did not have a high risk of recurrent venous thrombosis. (Circulation. 2010;121:1706-1712.) Show less
