Highlights on the APLAR Scientific Symposium 2011

Hong Kong Bull Rheum Dis 2011;11:28-30
<strong>Highlights</strong> on the APLAR Scientific Symposium 2011
T
he first symposium of the Asian Pacific League of Associations of Rheumatology (APLAR), themed "New Frontiers in
Clinical Rheumatology", was held in Taipei this year.
The meeting began with a half-day review course, during which various topics including psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,
osteoporosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis/polymyositis and gout, were reviewed by different rheumatology
specialists. It offered an excellent warm up and concise review for participants and trainees.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was one of the main themes of the symposium. Professor Joseph Smolen and Paul Emery discussed
the different definitions of remission (clinical, structural and functional) and the different composite disease activity measures
for RA. They also introduced the new ACR-EULAR 2011 remission criteria, and emphasized that remission should be the
appropriate treatment target in treating RA. In the concurrent session, Professor Ernest Choy provided a detailed review on the
cardiovascular (CV) risk in RA. In fact, CV mortality is increased in patients with RA. However, traditional cardiovascular risk
factors including lipid could not account for the increased CV risk in RA patients. Interestingly, inflammation and lipid level
have an inverse relationship. Studies showed that cardiovascular risk could be reduced by controlling inflammation, either with
disease modifying agents (such as methotrexate) or anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy.
Another hot topic, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), was reviewed by Professor Michelle Petri, who is one of the famous
leading rheumatologists in the world. She discussed the systemic lupus international collaborating clinic (SLICC) revision of
the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE and stressed the importance of use of
hydroxycloroquine in management of SLE. She then gave a concise summary on the management of lupus nephritis in the
concurrent session, which was further supplemented by a detailed review of the latest clinical trials on the induction and
maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis by Dr CC Mok, our Hong Kong Rheumatology Society president.
An updated review on spondyloarthritis was given by Professor Desiree van der Heijde. There are new Assessment of
SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification criteria for axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis. It makes earlier
diagnosis as well as earlier treatment and better long-term outcome possible. According to the ASAS/EULAR recommendations
for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, NSAIDs are recommended as first line drug therapy for patients with pain and
stiffness. Sulphasalazine may be considered in patients with peripheral arthritis. Anti-TNF therapy should be given to patients
with persistently high disease activity despite conventional treatments according to the recommendations.
For the osteoporosis concurrent session, concept of postmenopausal and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and their
management approach were discussed. In another session on gout, the experience on the use of febuxostat was provided and the
importance of the association of hyperuricemia and gout with cardiovascular diseases was emphasized.
Other sessions including the industry symposiums were just as informative. The first APLAR scientific symposium had successfully
been launched this year and I am looking forward to the next symposium.
Dr O'Young Kit Ying Cecilia

<strong>Highlights</strong> on the APLAR Scientific Symposium 2011
29
T
his year, APLAR held its first symposium in Taiwan, which is a city mixing with both modern and traditional Chinese
culture. More than twenty Hong Kong delegates attended the conference. It was a relatively short symposium lasting for
3 days, yet it was very fruitful. Many internationally famous rheumatologists were invited to be the speakers of this symposium
and tons of new advances in rheumatology were presented.
In the first plenary session, Professor J Smolen, once again remained us the importance of treat to target (T2T) in the management
of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). He suggested to us that a more stringent remission criteria should be employed, as ongoing joint
destruction were observed in patient who are declared to be in remission in the current EULAR remission criteria (DAS 28

30 <strong>Highlights</strong> on the APLAR Scientific Symposium 2011
The old national university hospital of Taiwan
Dr. N. Schlesinger's talk on the application of USG in gouty arthritis
Hong Kong Delegates
David - a sufferer of gouty arthritis too?