FILIPPO CRESCENTINI

@ausl.re.it

Rheumatology
IRCCS - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico in tecnologie avanzate e modelli assistenziali in oncologia – AUSL di Reggio Emilia

FILIPPO CRESCENTINI


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https://researchid.co/crescentinif

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Rheumatology
11

Scopus Publications

Scopus Publications

  • Temporal Clinical Ultrasound Asynchrony in Psoriatic Arthritis Enthesitis: Implications for Personalized Monitoring
    Nicolò Girolimetto, Francesco Caso, Marianna Oliva, Alessandra Rai, Giorgia Citriniti, Filippo Crescentini, Luca Magnani, Olga Addimanda, Giulia Galletto, Maria Grazia Orlando, Pierluigi Macchioni, Carlo Salvarani, Francesco Ursini, Niccolò Possemato
    Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2026
    Background: In psoriatic arthritis (PsA), clinical tenderness and ultrasound (US) capture distinct yet related aspects of entheseal disease activity. However, their longitudinal relationship after initiation of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), and the clinical significance of early discordance during follow-up remain unclear. Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort study based on routinely collected medical records, patients with CASPAR-defined PsA and clinically and ultrasonographically active enthesitis at baseline (Clin+/US+) who initiated bDMARD therapy underwent paired, same-day, blinded clinical and US assessments at approximately 6 and 12 months. Agreement between clinical and US findings was quantified using Cohen’s kappa. Discordant states (Clin−/US+ and Clin+/US−) were prespecified, and predictors of Clin−/US+ status at 6 months were analyzed using models that accounted for within-patient clustering. Results: Thirty-nine patients contributed 82 entheses and were treated with either tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (53.8%) or interleukin-17 inhibitors (46.2%). At 6 months, agreement between clinical and US assessments was fair (κ = 0.286; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.080 to 0.492), with 23.2% of entheses classified as Clin−/US+ and 52.4% as concordantly inactive. At 12 months, agreement improved to substantial-to-almost-perfect levels (κ = 0.779; 95% CI, 0.595 to 0.963), with only 1.2% of entheses remaining Clin−/US+ and 80.5% achieving concordant remission. NSAID exposure was the only significant predictor of Clin−/US+ status at 6 months in univariable analysis (odds ratio [OR], 3.82; 95% CI, 1.27 to 11.47; p = 0.017) and remained associated after multivariable adjustment (OR, 6.16; 95% CI, 1.14 to 33.2; p = 0.03). Conclusions: In PsA patients starting bDMARD therapy, clinical and US assessments of enthesitis showed partial discordance at 6 months, followed by greater convergence at 12 months. These findings suggest that clinical and imaging abnormalities may resolve asynchronously during follow-up and should therefore be interpreted in an integrated, time-aware manner. Residual US abnormalities in the setting of clinical improvement should be interpreted cautiously and within the broader clinical context.
  • A review on anterior uveitis and spondyloarthritis with a focus on the interdisciplinary approach between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists
    Elena Bolletta, Filippo Crescentini, Pietro Gentile, Giorgia Citriniti, Pierluigi Macchioni, Antonio Marchesoni, Luca De Simone, Fabrizio Gozzi, Carlo Salvarani, Luca Cimino
    Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology, 2025
    Anterior uveitis (AU) is characterized by the inflammation of the iris and ciliary body and is the most frequent extra-articular manifestation of spondyloarthritis (SpA). In SpA patients, AU is typically described as unilateral alternating acute AU (AAU). Moreover, as AAU can be the initial clinical manifestation of SpA, ophthalmologists could play a key role in the early diagnosis of SpA. The diagnostic delay in SpA is associated with poorer outcomes, including functional impairment, reduced response to treatment, and lower quality of life. A well-structured screening of patients with AAU could facilitate the early diagnosis. Consequently, the interdisciplinary collaboration between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists is fundamental to reduce the diagnostic delays. A correct and early diagnosis of SpA, together with early treatment initiation is important prognostic factors. These measures are associated with better treatment responses and may help retard the development of structural damage, particularly in the era of biological therapies, which have significantly improved the care of patients with SpA. Although various algorithms have been proposed to guide the selection of appropriate candidates for rheumatology referral, to date, there are no formal guidelines or universally recognized criteria for referral. This review aimed to summarize the epidemiological, pathogenetic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of AU associated with SpA as well as the ophthalmology-rheumatology interdisciplinary approach.
  • Reggio Emilia (Northern Italy) Interdisciplinary Uveitis Clinic: What We Have Learned in the Last 20 Years
    P. Gentile, R. Aldigeri, V. Mastrofilippo, E. Bolletta, L. De Simone, F. Gozzi, E. Ragusa, L. Ponti, C. Adani, M. Zanelli, L. Belloni, M. Bonacini, S. Croci, A. Zerbini, M. De Maria, A. Neri, M. Vecchi, M. Cappella, M. Fastiggi, A. De Fanti, G. Citriniti, F. Crescentini, E. Galli, F. Muratore, S. Montepietra, G. Contardi, M. Massari, M. Paci, N.C. Facciolongo, M. Beltrami, G.M. Cavallini, C. Salvarani, L. Cimino
    Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, 2024
    PURPOSE: To analyze the referral patterns and the clinical and therapeutic features of patients diagnosed with uveitis in an Italian tertiary referral center to provide a comparison with previously published series from the same center. METHODS: Retrospective retrieval of data on all new referrals to the Ocular Immunology Unit in Reggio Emilia (Italy) between November 2015 and April 2022 and comparison with previously published series from the same center. RESULTS: < 0.001), followed by systemic disease-associated uveitis (26.5%), and ocular-specific conditions (20%). Idiopathic uveitis accounted for 19.4% of cases. Fuchs uveitis presented the longest median diagnostic delay (21 months). Immunosuppressants were administered to 25.2% of patients. Antimetabolites, calcineurin inhibitors, and biologicals were prescribed to 18.4%, 3%, and 11.4% of cases, respectively. Compared to our previous reports, we observed a significant increase in foreign-born patients and in infectious uveitis, a decrease in idiopathic conditions, and an increasing use of non-biological and biological steroid-sparing drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The patterns of uveitis in Italy have been changing over the last 20 years, very likely due to migration flows. Diagnostic improvements and a more widespread interdisciplinary approach could reduce the incidence of idiopathic uveitis as well as diagnostic delay.
  • Resolution of vascular inflammation in patients with new-onset giant cell arteritis: data from the RIGA study
    Verena Schönau, Jessica Roth, Koray Tascilar, Giulia Corte, Bernhard Manger, Juergen Rech, Daniela Schmidt, Alexander Cavallaro, Michael Uder, Filippo Crescentini, Luigi Boiardi, Massimiliano Casali, Lucia Spaggiari, Elena Galli, Torsten Kuwert, Annibale Versari, Carlo Salvarani, Georg Schett, Francesco Muratore
    Rheumatology United Kingdom, 2021
    Objectives Efficacy evaluation of GCA treatment is primarily based on non-specific symptoms and laboratory markers. We aimed to assess the change in vascular inflammation in patients with large vessel (LV)-GCA under different treatments using [18F]FDG PET/CT. Methods Observational study on patients with new-onset, active LV-GCA starting treatment with either prednisolone monotherapy (PRED) or combination with MTX or tocilizumab (TOC). All patients underwent baseline and follow-up PET/CT. The aorta and its major branches were assessed using PET vascular activity score (PETVAS) by independent readers. Cumulative glucocorticoid doses and cessation of glucocorticoid treatment were documented in all patients. Results We included 88 LV-GCA patients, 27 were treated with PRED, 42 with MTX and 19 with TOC. PETVAS decreased from 18.9–8.0 units at follow-up in the overall population (P &amp;lt;0.001). PETVAS changes were numerically higher in patients receiving MTX (−12.3 units) or TOC (−11.7 units) compared with PRED (−8.7). Mean cumulative prednisolone dosages were 5637, 4418 and 2984 mg in patients treated with PRED, MTX and TOC (P =0.002). Risk ratios for glucocorticoid discontinuation at the time of follow-up PET/CT were 6.77 (95% CI: 1.01, 45.29; P =0.049) and 16.25 (95% CI: 2.60, 101.73; P =0.003) for MTX and TOC users compared with PRED users. Conclusion Treatment of LV-GCA inhibits vascular inflammation in the aorta and its major branches. While similar control of vascular inflammation was achieved with PRED, MTX and TOC treatments, TOC showed a strong glucocorticoid sparing effect, supporting the concept of initial combination therapy.
  • Enthesitis and small cell lung carcinoma: a novel paraneoplastic syndrome not previously described
    Edoardo Conticini, Lucia Dardani, Filippo Crescentini, Bruno Frediani, Carlo Salvarani
    Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 2020
  • Aortic dilatation in patients with large vessel vasculitis: A longitudinal case control study using PET/CT
    Francesco Muratore, Filippo Crescentini, Lucia Spaggiari, Giulia Pazzola, Massimiliano Casali, Luigi Boiardi, Nicolò Pipitone, Stefania Croci, Elena Galli, Raffaella Aldigeri, Annibale Versari, Carlo Salvarani
    Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2019
  • Rituximab therapy for Takayasu arteritis: A seven patients experience and a review of the literature
    Giulia Pazzola, Francesco Muratore, Nicolò Pipitone, Filippo Crescentini, Patrice Cacoub, Luigi Boiardi, Lucia Spaggiari, Cloe Comarmond, Stefania Croci, David Saadoun, Carlo Salvarani
    Rheumatology United Kingdom, 2018
    OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on seven TAK patients treated with RTX. Six of the seven patients had a disease refractory to high dose glucocorticoids and conventional immunosuppressive and/or biologic agents. One newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve TAK patient refused glucocorticoids and received RTX alone. Clinical evaluation, laboratory tests and imaging modalities (CT or MR-angiography, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT) were performed at first RTX administration and every 6 months thereafter. Disease activity was assessed using the Kerr index. We also performed a literature review using PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE and Cochrane library. RESULTS: Seven patients (6 females) were included in the study. Mean (s.d.) age was 32.4 (17.3) years. At first RTX administration, all patients had active disease according to the Kerr index (⩾2), and had also evidence of active disease at PET/CT. Despite RTX treatment, four of the seven patients had evidence of persistent disease activity and/or radiographic disease progression during follow-up. Three out of seven patients in whom RTX was employed as rescue therapy achieved complete remission. In the literature review, we identified five papers describing nine patients treated with RTX with good results in eight cases, but short follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our data do not support a role for RTX as first line biologic therapy in TAK patients, but it may have a role in some patients as second or third line biologic therapy.
  • Long-term remission in biopsy proven giant cell arteritis: A retrospective cohort study
    Giovanna Restuccia, Luigi Boiardi, Alberto Cavazza, Mariagrazia Catanoso, Pierluigi Macchioni, Francesco Muratore, Alessandra Soriano, Luca Cimino, Raffaella Aldigeri, Filippo Crescentini, Nicolò Pipitone, Carlo Salvarani
    Journal of Autoimmunity, 2017
  • Diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the Emilia Romagna region: A prospective population-based study
    Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 2017
  • IgG4-Related Sacroiliitis
    N. Possemato, F. Crescentini, G. Pazzola, M. Ragazzi, C. Salvarani
    Arthritis and Rheumatology, 2016
  • Flares in biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis in northern Italy characteristics and predictors in a long-term follow-up study
    Giovanna Restuccia, Luigi Boiardi, Alberto Cavazza, Mariagrazia Catanoso, Pierluigi Macchioni, Francesco Muratore, Luca Cimino, Raffaella Aldigeri, Filippo Crescentini, Nicolò Pipitone, Carlo Salvarani
    Medicine United States, 2016