“In the Embrace of Biological Therapy” – Treatment of Rheumatic Patients with Biological Therapy

11^th Traditional Rheumatology Meeting in Opatija

11. tradicionalni reumatološki skup u Opatiji

“In the Embrace of Biological Therapy” – Treatment of Rheumatic Patients with Biological Therapy

„U zagrljaju biološke terapije“ – Liječenje reumatskih bolesnika biološkom terapijom

Opatija, 4^th–5^th April 2025 / 4.–5. travnja 2025.

The 11^th Rheumatology Meeting entitled “In the Embrace of Biological Therapy” — Treatment of Rheumatic Patients with Biological Therapy was held in Opatija from 4^th to 5^th April 2025. The Meeting was organised by “Thalassotherapia Opatija”, Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation of Heart, Lung and Rheumatic Diseases and the School of Medicine, University of Rijeka and it was held for the first time under the leadership of Prof. Gordana Laškarin, MD, PhD. Annual professional meetings covering selected topics in rheumatology have been held under the leadership of Prof. Tatjana Kehler, MD, PhD at the “Thalassotherapia Opatija” hospital since 2011 (with the exception of the period between 2020 and 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). These events have always been prominent and attended by specialists in Family Medicine from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria counties, who were the primary target audience for this Meeting. In addition to them, other attendees also included other experts who might deem some of the topics covered at these meetings beneficial and important in their everyday medical practice. The opening speech at this year’s Meeting was given by Prof. Laškarin, MD, PhD, and all attendees were then greeted by the Head of the “Thalassotherapia Opatija” hospital, Prof. Viktor Peršić, MD, PhD who emphasised the importance of exchanging professional knowledge in the field of modern therapeutic approaches. During the two-day program, renowned experts from various medical specialties and centres in the Republic of Croatia presented the latest findings and experiences in the treatment of rheumatic patients using biological therapy. Prof. Laškarin, MD, PhD gave an introductory lecture on the topic of outlining the immune response in clinical manifestations of rheumatic diseases and pathogenesis of therapeutic intervention with biological drugs. This was followed by a group of lectures on the topic of life-threatening rheumatic diseases, which included systemic lupus erythematosus and interstitial lung diseases. Prof. Branimir Anić, MD, PhD, from the University Hospital Centre Zagreb, led the discussion on systemic lupus erythematosus and highlighted the importance of quantifying phenotypic information and assessing disease activity in addition to the damage caused in patients, as well as the importance of timely and continuous treatment. Prof. Viktor Peršić, MD, PhD presented the complications of systemic lupus erythematosus on the heart, with a special focus on coronary microvascular dysfunction. Asst. Prof. Felina Anić, MD, PhD from the University Hospital Centre Rijeka presented the topic of complexity of treating patients with lupus nephritis. Psychologist Damjan Dušević spoke about the contribution of psychological tests in diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus. Melany Ćurić, a pulmonologist at the “Thalassotherapia Opatija” hospital gave a lecture on the topic of interstitial lung diseases, and Marija Rogoznica Pavlović, a rheumatologist, presented the course of the disease and the method of treating interstitial lung disease with biological therapy and antifibrotics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Prof. Simeon Grazio, MD, PhD from the Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre in Zagreb held an overview lecture on the clinical manifestations and treatment options for spondyloarthritis with biological drugs. Endocrinological complications in rheumatic patients were highlighted by Prof. Tatjana Kehler, MD, PhD with topics such as autoimmune thyroid disease, osteoporosis and obesity. This was followed by selected topics from recent scientific research conducted by employees and associates of the “Thalassotherapia Opatija” hospital. Prof. Tamara Turk-Wensveen, MD, PhD presented results on the impact of diabetes on inflammation, and Iva Uravić Bursać, MD, PhD presented results on the impact of metabolic syndrome on diastolic function in psoriatic patients. Tina Zavidić, MD, a specialist in Family Medicine, presented the results of research conducted in the outpatient clinics of the Istrian Health Centres on the topic of pulse wave velocity and aortic stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

The final lectures were given by Prof. Srđan Novak, MD, PhD from the University Hospital Centre Rijeka, who discussed the topic of the safety profile and duration of treatment with biological therapy drugs, and Prof. Jasminka Milas Ahić, MD, PhD from the University Hospital Centre Osijek, who highlighted the need for biological therapy adjustment in special clinical circumstances (such as pregnancy, infections, vaccinations and surgical procedures). The Meeting was concluded with a lecture and discussion led by Prof. Branislava Popović, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Family Medicine at the School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, who stressed the need for cooperation between rheumatologists and primary care physicians in the treatment of rheumatic patients. On that note, Prof. Porin Perić, MD, PhD from the University Hospital Centre Zagreb pointed out the importance of a timely diagnosis of arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis and inflammatory back pain at the family medicine clinic. Methods of effective screening of patients for the first rheumatological examination were also discussed and a proposal was given about the renewal of the education courses for screening patients with rheumatic diseases organised by specialists in Rheumatology. The participants of the Meeting were given a continuing medical education manual entitled “Multidisciplinary Approach in the Treatment of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis”, edited by Porin Perić and Iva Žagar (Medicinska naklada Zagreb, 2025). Over 50 attending physicians and nurses, whose contribution to the care of rheumatic patients is indispensable, participated in this Meeting. The Meeting included free attendance, it was registered with the Croatian Medical Association, and the participants were awarded 9 points for lecturers and 7 points for listeners. Finally, I would like to thank all my colleagues who participated in the lectures, discussions and who provided their commentary on the topics presented, as well as the pharmaceutical companies who provided financial support for the execution of this Meeting. All of the aforementioned participants and partners improved the level of quality of this course. I would also like to thank the technical organiser for the great effort that they put in and their commitment to making the course possible.

Prof. Gordana Laškarin, MD, PhD, Course Leader

“Thalassotherapia Opatija”,

Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation of Heart, Lung and Rheumatic Diseases

Figure 1. Participants of the 11^th Rheumatology Meeting entitled “In the Embrace of Biological Therapy”

Slika 1. Sudionici 11. reumatološkog skupa „U zagrljaju biološke terapije“