A5003421581- Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases
- Dermatologic Treatments and Research
- Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Workplace Health and Well-being
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Diseases
- Mast cells and histamine
- Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research
- Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Treatments
- Occupational Health and Safety Research
- Dermatological and Skeletal Disorders
- Autoimmune Bullous Skin Diseases
- Connective Tissue Growth Factor Research
- Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis
- Delphi Technique in Research
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research
- Retirement, Disability, and Employment
- Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Spondyloarthritis Studies and Treatments
- Renal Diseases and Glomerulopathies
- Social Policy and Reform Studies
- Urticaria and Related Conditions
- Dupuytren's Contracture and Treatments
- Reliability and Agreement in Measurement
Ghent University
2013-2022
Rijksinstituut voor Ziekte- en Invaliditeitsverzekering
2016-2022
Ghent University Hospital
2008-2016
Center for Rheumatology
2014
Objectives: The safety and potential efficacy of rituximab was examined in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dc-SSc). Methods: A 24 week open-label study which eight patients with dc-SSc received an infusion 1000 mg administered at baseline day 15, together 100 methylprednisolone each infusion. Assessment included CD19+ peripheral blood lymphocyte number, skin score, indices internal organ functioning, the health assessment questionnaire disability index, 36-item Short Form survey...
<h3>Objective</h3> Assessment of associations nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) scleroderma patterns ('early', 'active' and 'late') with future severe clinical involvement in a systemic sclerosis (SSc) population. <h3>Methods</h3> Sixty-six consecutive patients SSc according to the LeRoy Medsger criteria underwent NVC assessment at baseline. Videocapillaroscopic images were classified into 'normal', 'early', or 'late' pattern. Clinical evaluation was performed for nine organ systems...
Objective. Assessment of associations nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) scleroderma (systemic sclerosis; SSc) (“early,” “active,” and “late”) with novel future severe clinical involvement in 2 independent cohorts. Methods. Sixty-six consecutive Belgian 82 Italian patients SSc underwent NVC at baseline. Images were blindly assessed classified into normal, early, active, or late pattern. Clinical evaluation was performed for 9 organ systems (general, peripheral vascular, skin, joint, muscle,...
Objective Investigation of the reliability qualitative and semiquantitative scoring nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) assessment between two raters in a systemic sclerosis (SSc) cohort. Methods Two from different centres blindly assessed NVC images 71 consecutive patients with SSc qualitatively as belonging to scleroderma spectrum (SDS) category (‘early’, ‘active’, ‘late’ pattern or ‘scleroderma-like’ pattern) ‘normal’ semiquantitatively by calculating mean score for capillary loss, giant...
Objective. To propose simple capillaroscopic definitions for interpretation of morphologies and to assess inter-rater reliability.
<h3>Objective</h3> Construction of a simple nailfold videocapillaroscopic (NVC) scoring modality as prognostic index for digital trophic lesions day-to-day clinical use. <h3>Methods</h3> An association with single (semi)-quantitatively scored NVC parameter, mean score capillary loss, was explored in 71 consecutive patients systemic sclerosis (SSc), and reliable reduction the number investigated fields (F32–F16–F8–F4). The cut-off value (mean loss calculated over reduced fields)...
Objective. To study safety and potential efficacy of a 2-treatment course (month 0/6) with rituximab (RTX) in early diffuse systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). Methods. Two years’ followup (open-label study) was done 8 patients dcSSc. Patients received an infusion 1000 mg RTX 2 times at months 0 6, 100 methylprednisolone. Clinical measurements, Disease Activity Score, functional status, CD19+ peripheral blood count were performed 0, 3, 12, 15, 18, 24 histopathological evaluation the skin 24....
Transforming growth factor β superfamily members are involved in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Growth differentiation 15 (GDF-15) is a distant member this family. We undertook study to evaluate role GDF-15 SSc pathogenesis.A longitudinal prospective cohort patients was screened for serum levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and associations with clinical data were analyzed. In vitro stimulation experiments performed on lung fibroblasts. The fibrosis development...
Screening for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) improves outcomes. The DETECT screening algorithm is recommended a high-risk SSc subgroup. This study aims to compare prospectively the positive predictive value of using and 2009 European Society Cardiology/European Respiratory (ESC/ERS) guidelines, their cost-effectiveness an unselected, day-to-day population. Post hoc, according 2015 ESC/ERS guidelines echocardiographic parameters alone ("2015 echo screening")...
Following results in open-label studies of rituximab patients with systemic sclerosis, a Belgian three-centre initiative was launched to explore safety and efficacy early, diffuse cutaneous sclerosis (dcSSc).Open-label study 17 early dcSSc, treated two courses rituximab, at month 0 6. Clinical examination, lung function testing, echocardiography, disease activity score (DAS) functional status were performed baseline over 24 months follow-up.Modified Rodnan skin (MRSS) changed significantly...
Objectives. To describe work participation and transition due to health in patients with SSc. Associations are assessed between having made a or not factors possibly influencing that transition. Methods. This study included visiting the Scleroderma Clinic of Ghent University Hospital, who regularly undergo an extensive evaluation. For this study, questionnaire was used collect data. Results. Eighty-four adult working-age population were included. Thirty-eight (45%) out 84 participated labour...
Background This study assessed the psychosocial determinants as explanatory variables for length of work disability period. The aim was to estimate predictive value a selected set from Quickscan questionnaire sick leave A comparison also made with most common biomedical determinant: diagnosis. Methods In cohort 4 981 insured Belgian patients, calculated using Kaplan–Meier. Predictive were backward conditional selection in Cox regression and concordance index values (C-index) we compared...
Objective This study investigated whether the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) can be used as an instrument to assess need for social support measures that address activity limitations and participation issues in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods multicenter observational included RA disease duration of at least one year, consulting their rheumatologist routine evaluation activity. In single visit data on demographics, history current treatment were collected. DAS28...