2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for Vaccinations in Patients With Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases

OBJECTIVE

To provide evidence-based recommendations on the use of vaccinations in children and adults with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).

METHODS

This guideline follows American College of Rheumatology (ACR) policy guiding management of conflicts of interest and disclosures and the ACR guideline development process, which includes the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. It also adheres to the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) criteria. A core leadership team consisting of adult and pediatric rheumatologists and a guideline methodologist drafted clinical population, intervention, comparator, outcomes (PICO) questions. A review team performed a systematic literature review for the PICO questions, graded the quality of evidence, and produced an evidence report. An expert Voting Panel reviewed the evidence and formulated recommendations. The panel included adult and pediatric rheumatology providers, infectious diseases specialists, and patient representatives. Consensus required ≥70% agreement on both the direction and strength of each recommendation.

RESULTS

This guideline includes expanded indications for some vaccines in patients with RMDs, as well as guidance on whether to hold immunosuppressive medications or delay vaccination to maximize vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy. Safe approaches to the use of live attenuated vaccines in patients taking immunosuppressive medications are also addressed. Most recommendations are conditional and had low quality of supporting evidence.

CONCLUSION

Application of these recommendations should consider patients' individual risk for vaccine-preventable illness and for disease flares, particularly if immunosuppressive medications are held for vaccination. Shared decision-making with patients is encouraged in clinical settings.

Citrullination modulates antigen processing and presentation by revealing cryptic epitopes in rheumatoid arthritis

Cryptic peptides, hidden from the immune system under physiologic conditions, are revealed by changes to MHC class II processing and hypothesized to drive the loss of immune tolerance to self-antigens in autoimmunity. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by immune responses to citrullinated self-antigens, in which arginine residues are converted to citrullines. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that citrullination exposes cryptic peptides by modifying protein structure and proteolytic cleavage. We show that citrullination alters processing and presentation of autoantigens, resulting in the generation of a unique citrullination-dependent repertoire composed primarily of native sequences. This repertoire stimulates T cells from RA patients with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies more robustly than controls. The generation of this unique repertoire is achieved through altered protease cleavage and protein destabilization, rather than direct presentation of citrulline-containing epitopes, suggesting a novel paradigm for the role of protein citrullination in the breach of immune tolerance in RA.

Response to Treatment with Intravenous Golimumab or Infliximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: PROMIS Results from the Real-World Observational Phase 4 AWARE Study

INTRODUCTION

To assess changes in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS^®) outcomes related to social, mental, and physical well-being after approximately 1 year of intravenous (IV) golimumab or infliximab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using real-world evidence from AWARE.

METHODS

AWARE was a prospective, noninterventional, multicenter, observational, U.S.-based phase 4 study of 1270 RA patients who initiated treatment with IV golimumab or infliximab. PROMIS-29 and PROMIS short form (SF) Fatigue 7a and Pain Interference 6b questionnaires were administered at baseline and infusions 2, 5, and 8 (approximately weeks  4, 28, and 52 for IV golimumab and weeks  2, 22, and 46 for infliximab). Mean changes from baseline in all PROMIS-29 domains and respective SFs and response rates for achieving ≥ 3, ≥ 5, or ≥ 10-point improvements were determined.

RESULTS

Among all patients, baseline mean ± SD PROMIS T-scores were consistent between treatment groups and indicated worse physical function (38.2 ± 6.8 IV golimumab, 38.0 ± 6.9 infliximab), more pain interference (63.0 ± 7.6 IV golimumab, 63.9 ± 7.8 infliximab), and greater fatigue (58.4 ± 9.9 IV golimumab, 59.4 ± 10.0 infliximab) in these patients vs the general U.S. population (T-score = 50). Through the 8th infusion of either treatment, IV golimumab- and infliximab-treated patients achieved meaningful improvements (≥ 3-point improvement in T-scores) in all PROMIS-29 domains and respective SFs, and the proportions of patients with ≥ 3, ≥ 5, or ≥ 10-point improvements in T-scores increased from infusion 2 through infusion 8.

CONCLUSIONS

RA patients treated with IV golimumab or infliximab achieved comparable improvements across social, mental, and physical well-being PROMIS measures. Additionally, PROMIS detected meaningful clinical changes in patient-reported outcomes in both treatment groups.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02728934.

Identification of outcome domains in immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: A scoping review by the OMERACT irAE working group

INTRODUCTION

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), increasingly used cancer therapeutics, can cause off-target inflammatory effects called immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including ICI-induced inflammatory arthritis (ICI-induced IA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (ICI-induced PMR). There are no validated classification criteria or outcome measures for these conditions, and adaptation of treatment recommendations from corresponding rheumatic diseases may not be appropriate. We summarized clinical descriptors of ICI-induced IA and ICI-induced PMR and aggregated domains used for these conditions in order to inform the development of a core set of outcome domains.

METHODS

As the initial step of the core domain set generation process, we systemically searched Medline (Pubmed), EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINHL through March 2021 to identify all studies that provide both clinical descriptions and domains relevant to ICI-induced IA and ICI-induced PMR. Domains were mapped to core areas, such as pathophysiological manifestations, life impact, resource use, and longevity/survival, as suggested by the OMERACT 2.1 Filter.

RESULTS

We identified 69 publications, over a third of which utilized non-specific diagnoses of "arthritis," "arthralgia," and/or "PMR". Other publications provided the number, the distribution and/or names of specific joints affected, while others labeled the irAE as the corresponding rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis. Most distinct domains mapped to the pathophysiology/manifestations core area (24 domains), such as signs/symptoms (13 domains), labs (6 domains), and imaging (5 domains), with harm domains of adverse effects from irAE treatment and fear of irAE treatment decreasing ICI efficacy. Forty-three publications also referenced irAE treatment and 35 subsequent response, as well as 32 tumor response.

CONCLUSION

There is considerable heterogeneity in the domains used to clinically characterize ICI-induced IA and ICI-induced PMR. There were several domains mapped to the pathophysiologic manifestations core area, although several publications highlighted domains evenly distributed among the other core areas of life impact, longevity/survival and resource use.

Understanding Differences in Patient Descriptions of Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares Using OMERACT Core Domains

OBJECTIVE

Recently, there has been consensus on domains that constitute flares in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, variations in patients' flare descriptions continue to be observed. This study evaluates how demographic and clinical characteristics influence these differences.

METHODS

Participants enrolled in a prospective RA registry completed a qualitative survey that included the open-ended question "What does a flare mean to you?" Responses were categorized into Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core and research domains. Univariate analyses evaluated demographic and clinical characteristics. Regression analyses determined independent variables associated with flare description variations.

RESULTS

Among 645 participants, the median Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) with C-reactive protein was 2.1 (IQR 1.6-2.9); 58% of the participants reported at least 1 flare in the past 6 months. Participants reported a median of 3 (IQR 2-5) OMERACT domains when describing flares. Fatigue was more commonly noted among females (odds ratio [OR] 6.12; P < 0.001). Older participants were less likely to report emotional distress (OR 0.97; P = 0.03), swollen joints (OR 0.99; P = 0.04), physical function decrease (OR 0.98; P = 0.02), and a general increase in RA symptoms (OR 0.98; P = 0.005). Participants with a higher DAS28 score were less likely to report symptoms of stiffness (OR 0.70; P = 0.009), and those who experienced a flare within the last 6 months were more likely to describe flares as pain (OR 2.53; P < 0.001) and fatigue (OR 2.00; P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Variations in patients' flare descriptions can be driven by a patient's disease activity, the experience of a recent flare, as well as different demographic characteristics, such as age and gender. Understanding the interplay of these characteristics can guide a physician's approach to the management of patients' RA flares.

Baseline serum levels of cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen predict abatacept treatment response in methotrexate-naive, anticitrullinated protein antibody-positive patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate correlations between biomarkers of bone remodelling and extracellular matrix turnover with baseline disease activity and treatment response in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

Assessing Very Early Rheumatoid arthritis Treatment-2 (AVERT-2; NCT02504268) included disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naive, anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive patients randomised to weekly subcutaneous abatacept+methotrexate (MTX) or abatacept placebo+MTX for 56 weeks. This post hoc exploratory subanalysis assessed the association between baseline disease activity and eight biomarkers (Spearman's correlation coefficient), and whether baseline biomarkers (continuous or categorical variables) could predict treatment response at weeks 24 and 52 (logistic regression).

RESULTS

Patient characteristics were similar between overall (n=752) and biomarker subgroup (n=535) populations and across treatments. At baseline, neoepitopes of matrix metalloproteinase-mediated degradation products of types III and IV collagen and of C reactive protein (CRP) showed the greatest correlations with disease activity; cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) showed weak correlation. Only CTX-I predicted treatment response; baseline CTX-I levels were significantly associated with achieving Simplified Disease Activity Index remission and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28 (CRP)) <2.6 (weeks 24 and 52), and American College of Rheumatology 70 response (week 52), in patients treated with abatacept+MTX but not abatacept placebo+MTX. CTX-I predicted significant differential response between arms for DAS28 (CRP) <2.6 (week 24). Treatment differences were greater for abatacept+MTX in patients with medium/high versus low baseline CTX-I.

CONCLUSION

In MTX-naive, ACPA-positive patients with early RA, baseline CTX-I predicted treatment response to abatacept+MTX but not abatacept placebo+MTX.

Pathogenesis of chronic chikungunya arthritis: Resemblances and links with rheumatoid arthritis

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection results from transmission by the mosquito vector. Following an incubation period of 5-7 days, patients develop an acute febrile illness, chikungunya fever (CHIKF), characterized by high fevers, maculopapular rash, headaches, polyarthritis/arthralgias, myalgias, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Joint pain is often severe, and most often involves the hands, the wrists, the ankles, and the metatarsal-phalangeal joints of the feet. Many patients recover within several weeks, but up to 50% develop chronic joint pain and swelling for more than 12 weeks, then we refer to these symptoms as chronic chikungunya arthritis (CCA). The pathogenesis of CCA is not well understood. In this article, we suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may play an important role in this pathogenesis. This heterogeneous group of multipotent cells, morphologically similar to fibroblasts, may undergo epigenetic changes capable of generating aberrant progenies. However, we believe that there is no need for a latent infection. In our pathogenic hypothesis, CHIKV infection of MSCs would cause epigenetic changes both in MSCs themselves and in their progenies, without the need for reactivation of dormant viruses.

Machine Learning Applied to Patient-Reported Outcomes to Classify Physician-Derived Measures of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity

OBJECTIVE

Patient-reported outcome (PRO) data have assumed increasing importance in the care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), yet physician-derived disease activity measures, such as Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), remain the most accepted metrics to assess disease activity. The possibility that newer longitudinal PRO data might be used as a proxy for the CDAI has not been evaluated.

METHODS

Using data from a large pragmatic trial, we evaluated patients with RA initiating golimumab intravenous or infliximab. The classification target was low disease activity (LDA) (CDAI ≤10) at the first visit between months 3 and 12. Data were randomly partitioned into training (80%) and test (20%) data sets. Multiple machine learning (ML) methods (eg, random forests, gradient boosting, support vector machines) were used to classify CDAI disease activity category, conduct feature selection, and assess feature importance. Model performance evaluated cross-validated error, comparing different ML approaches using both training and test data.

RESULTS

A total of 494 patients were analyzed, and 36.4% achieved LDA. The most important classification features included several Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures (social participation, pain interference, pain intensity, and physical function), patient global, and baseline CDAI. Among all ML methods, random forests performed best. Overall model accuracy and positive predictive values for all ML methods were approximately 80%.

CONCLUSION

ML methods coupled with longitudinal PRO data appear useful and can achieve reasonable accuracy in classifying LDA among patients starting a new biologic. This approach has promise for real-world evidence generation in the common circumstance when physician-derived disease activity data are not available yet PRO measures are.

Immunologic profiling in schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis

The negative relationship between schizophrenia (SCZ) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been observed for 85 years, but the mechanisms driving this association are unknown. This study analyzed differences in profiles of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-Ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IFNγ, TNFα), selected genes (HLA-DRB1, IL1RN, HP2), and antibodies related to gluten sensitivity (AGA-IgG, AGA-IgA), celiac disease (tTG), and systemic autoimmunity (ANA, anti-CCP, RF) in 40 subjects with SCZ, 40 with RA, and 40 healthy controls (HC). HLA-DRB1*04:01 alleles were enriched in persons with SCZ and RA compared with HC, and the HP2/HP2 genotype was 2-fold more prevalent in AGA/tTG-positive versus negative SCZ patients. Patients with SCZ demonstrated 52.5% positivity for any of the antibodies tested, compared to 90% of RA patients and 30% of HC. Cluster analysis of the cytokines revealed three clusters: one associated with SCZ marked by high levels of IL-1Ra, one associated with HC, and one associated with both SCZ and RA marked by elevated levels of IFNγ, TNFα, and IL-6. These analyses suggest that stratification of SCZ patients by cytokine profile may identify unique SCZ subgroups and enable the use of currently available cytokine-targeted treatment strategies.

"From Where I Stand": using multiple anchors yields different benchmarks for meaningful improvement and worsening in the rheumatoid arthritis flare questionnaire (RA-FQ)

PURPOSE

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Questionnaire (RA-FQ) is a patient-reported measure of disease activity in RA. We estimated minimal and meaningful change from the perspective of RA patients, physicians, and using a disease activity index.

METHODS

Data were from 3- to 6-month visits of adults with early RA enrolled in the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort. Participants completed the RA-FQ, the Patient Global Assessment of RA, and the Patient Global Change Impression at consecutive visits. Rheumatologists recorded joint counts and MD Global. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores were computed. We compared mean RA-FQ change across categories using patients, physicians, and CDAI anchors.

RESULTS

The 808 adults were mostly white (84%) women (71%) with a mean age of 55 and moderate-high disease activity (85%) at enrollment. At V2, 79% of patients classified their RA as changed; 59% were better and 20% were worse. Patients reporting they were a lot worse had a mean RA-FQ increase of 8.9 points, whereas those who were a lot better had a -6.0 decrease. Minimal worsening and improvement were associated with a mean 4.7 and - 1.8 change in RA-FQ, respectively, while patients rating their RA unchanged had stable scores. Physician and CDAI classified more patients as worse than patients, and minimal and meaningful RA-FQ thresholds differed by group.

CONCLUSION

Thresholds to identify meaningful change vary by anchor used. These data offer new evidence demonstrating robust psychometric properties of the RA-FQ and offer guidance about improvement or worsening, supporting its use in RA care, research, and decision-making.

Feasibility and acceptability of using a meditation app in adults with rheumatic disease

OBJECTIVE

Meditation is a stress-reduction and contemplative technique that can improve emotional distress in people with chronic disease and may be especially beneficial for patients with rheumatic diseases. However, patient access to in-person programs is challenging. The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility/acceptability associated with physician-directed use of a widely available smartphone application (app), Calm©.

METHODS

In this single-arm, pre-post intervention study with recruitment over a 10-month period, adults with rheumatic disease were asked to use the app for ≥5 min/day for 30 days. Participants completed sociodemographic surveys and validated health related quality of life (HRQL) questionnaires from the Patient Reported Outcomes Information System (PROMIS) and NIH Toolbox at baseline and 30-days.

RESULTS

Thirty-five participants who were mostly well-educated (66% ≥college degree) females (91%) with a mean age of 50 (SD 13) completed baseline questionnaires; 18 participants completed post-study questionnaires ("full completers"). Full completers had higher baseline stress, anxiety, pain, and patient global assessment scores (p's <0.05) compared to partial completers. Full completers who provided data used the app on average for 283 min/30 days (SD 257; n = 16) and showed significant improvements in fatigue (-7.6 T-Score units, p = 0.017), with trends for improvement in perceived stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, self-efficacy for managing symptoms, and pain intensity (p's <0.15).

CONCLUSIONS

A 30-day meditation, stress-reduction app used by patients with rheumatic disease revealed that this is a feasible non-pharmacologic modality to target HRQL and problematic symptoms like fatigue. More rigorous study on app use and potential effect is needed.

The effect of tofacitinib on residual pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Post hoc analysis of pooled data from nine randomised controlled trials to assess the effect of tofacitinib (oral Janus kinase inhibitor for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)) on residual pain in patients with RA or PsA with abrogated inflammation.

METHODS

Patients who received ≥1 dose of tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, adalimumab or placebo with/without background conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and had abrogated inflammation (swollen joint count (SJC)=0 and C reactive protein (CRP)<6 mg/L) after 3 months' therapy were included. Assessments included Patient's Assessment of Arthritis Pain at month 3 (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] 0-100 mm). Scores were summarised descriptively; treatment comparisons assessed by Bayesian network meta-analyses (BNMA).

RESULTS

From the total population with RA/PsA, 14.9% (382 of 2568), 17.1% (118 of 691) and 5.5% (50 of 909) of patients receiving tofacitinib, adalimumab and placebo, respectively, had abrogated inflammation after 3 months' therapy. Patients with RA/PsA with abrogated inflammation receiving tofacitinib/adalimumab had higher baseline CRP versus placebo; patients with RA receiving tofacitinib/adalimumab had lower SJC and longer disease duration versus placebo. Median residual pain (VAS) at month 3 was 17.0, 19.0 and 33.5 in patients with RA treated with tofacitinib, adalimumab or placebo, and 24.0, 21.0 and 27.0 in patients with PsA, respectively. Residual pain reductions with tofacitinib/adalimumab versus placebo were less prominent in patients with PsA versus patients with RA, with no significant differences between tofacitinib/adalimumab, per BNMA.

CONCLUSION

Patients with RA/PsA with abrogated inflammation receiving tofacitinib/adalimumab had greater residual pain reduction versus placebo at month 3. Results were similar between tofacitinib and adalimumab.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT00960440; NCT00847613; NCT00814307; NCT00856544; NCT00853385; NCT01039688; NCT02187055; NCT01877668; NCT01882439).

Anti-RA33 antibodies are present in a subset of patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment for cancer are typically seronegative for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies and rheumatoid factor, but little is known about the presence of other autoantibodies in this patient population. We investigated the prevalence and characteristics of anti-RA33 antibodies in patients with ICI-induced IA.

METHODS

Anti-RA33 ELISAs were performed on sera from four groups of patients: 79 with ICI-induced IA, 52 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 35 treated with ICIs without IA during follow-up and 50 healthy controls. Anti-RA33 positivity and level, clinical and demographic data were compared across groups.

RESULTS

Anti-RA33 antibodies were found in 9/79 (11.4%) patients with ICI-induced IA but in 0/35 patients treated with ICIs who did not develop IA (0%; p=0.04). Of the patients positive for anti-RA33, two had sera available from before ICI treatment; anti-RA33 antibodies were present in both pre-ICI treatments. In patients with RA, 7.7% were positive for anti-RA33 antibodies as were 2% of healthy controls. In ICI-induced IA, anti-RA33 antibodies were associated with anti-CCP antibodies (p=0.001). We found no statistically significant differences in other clinical characteristics in those with and without anti-RA33 antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-RA33 antibodies are present in a subset of patients with ICI-induced IA, absent in other ICI-treated patients and may be a biomarker for developing IA. Additional studies evaluating serial samples before and after ICI treatment will further establish the temporal relationship of these antibodies to IA development.

Association between low hemoglobin, clinical measures, and patient-reported outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from post hoc analyses of three phase III trials of sarilumab

Background

Anemia is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels may be associated with better clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). To assess this hypothesis, we conducted two post hoc analyses in three sarilumab phase III studies: TARGET, MOBILITY, and MONARCH.

Methods

Pooled data from combination therapy from placebo-controlled MOBILITY (sarilumab + methotrexate) and TARGET (sarilumab + conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [csDMARDs]) and monotherapy data from active-controlled MONARCH (sarilumab vs. adalimumab) studies were included. Associations between Hb levels and clinical measures and PROs were assessed over 24 weeks. The mean changes from baseline in clinical outcomes and PROs (to week 24) and radiographic outcomes (to week 52) were evaluated between low and normal Hb levels (based on the World Health Organization [WHO] criteria).

Results

From TARGET, MOBILITY, and MONARCH, 546, 1197, and 369 patients, respectively, were stratified according to Hb levels (low vs. normal). Over 24 weeks, higher Hb levels were found to be consistently associated with better clinical outcomes and PROs in combination therapy and monotherapy groups and were more pronounced among the patients treated with sarilumab than those treated with placebo and adalimumab. The mean change from baseline to week 24 in clinical efficacy measures and PROs was similar in patients with low vs. normal Hb at baseline. Differences between sarilumab and/or adalimumab, for all outcomes, were larger for low Hb subgroups. In MOBILITY, by week 52, the inhibition of progression of structural damage (assessed via Modified Total Sharp Score [mTSS]) was 84% (sarilumab 200 mg) and 68% (sarilumab 150 mg) vs. placebo in patients with low Hb and 97% (sarilumab 200 mg) and 68% (sarilumab 150 mg) vs. placebo in patients with normal Hb. Similar results were observed for other radiographic outcomes.

Conclusions

In these post hoc analyses, a consistent relationship was observed between higher Hb levels and better clinical outcomes and PROs in patients with RA. Irrespective of the baseline Hb levels, sarilumab treatment was associated with improvements in clinical measures and PROs over 24 weeks (improvements were more pronounced than those with adalimumab treatment) and mitigation of joint damage progression over 52 weeks.

Trial registration

ClinTrials.gov NCT01061736, NCT01709578, and NCT02332590

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-022-02891-x.

Statin use and MRI subchondral bone marrow lesion worsening in generalized osteoarthritis: longitudinal analysis from Osteoarthritis Initiative data

OBJECTIVES

To determine the association between statin therapy and knee MRI-detected subchondral bone marrow lesion (BML) longitudinal worsening in patients with Heberden's nodes (HNs) as the hallmark of generalized osteoarthritis (OA) phenotype.

METHODS

All participants gave informed consent, and IRB approved HIPAA-compliant protocol. We assessed the worsening in BML volume and number of affected subregions in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants with HNs at baseline clinical examination (HN⁺), using the semi-quantitative MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Scores at baseline and 24 months. Participants were classified according to baseline BML involvement as "no/minimal" (≤ 2/14 knee subregions affected and maximum BML score ≤ 1) or "moderate/severe." Statin users and non-users were selected using 1:1 propensity-score (PS) matching for OA and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related potential confounding variables. We assessed the association between statin use and increasing BML score and affected subregions using adjusted mixed-effect regression models.

RESULTS

The PS-matched HN⁺ participants (63% female, aged 63.5 ± 8.5-year-old) with no/minimal and moderate/severe BML cohorts consisted of 332 (166:166, statin users: non-users) and 380 (190:190) knees, respectively. In the HN⁺ participants with no/minimal BML, statin use was associated with lower odds of both BML score worsening (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 0.62, 0.39-0.98) and increased number of affected subregions (0.54, 0.33-0.88). There was no such association in HN^- participants or those HN⁺ participants with baseline moderate/severe BML.

CONCLUSION

In patients with CVD indications for statin therapy and generalized OA phenotype (HN⁺), statin use may be protective against the OA-related subchondral bone damage only in the subgroup of participants with no/minimal baseline BML.

KEY POINTS

• Statin use may reduce the risk of subchondral bone damage in specific osteoarthritis patients with a generalized phenotype, minimal subchondral bone damage, and cardiovascular statin indications.

The impact of tofacitinib on fatigue, sleep, and health-related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a post hoc analysis of data from Phase 3 trials

Background

Fatigue, a common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is detrimental to health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We evaluated the impact of tofacitinib on fatigue, sleep, and HRQoL and explored associations between fatigue, related patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and disease activity in RA patients.

Methods

This post hoc analysis pooled data from three Phase 3 studies of tofacitinib (ORAL Scan; ORAL Standard; ORAL Sync) in RA patients. Patients received tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily, placebo, or adalimumab (active control; ORAL Standard only, not powered for superiority) with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Assessed through Month (M)12 were changes from baseline in disease activity, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), Medical Outcomes Study Sleep scale (MOS-SS), and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) composite/domain scores, and proportions of patients reporting improvements from baseline in FACIT-F total and SF-36 domain scores ≥ minimum clinically important differences (MCIDs) or ≥ population normative values. Pearson correlations examined associations among PROs at M6. Treatment comparisons were exploratory, with p < 0.05 considered nominally significant.

Results

Generally, active treatment led to significant improvements from baseline in FACIT-F total, and MOS-SS and SF-36 composite/domain scores vs placebo, observed by M1 and maintained through M6 (last placebo-controlled time point). Through M6, more patients achieved improvements from baseline ≥ MCID and achieved scores ≥ population normative values in FACIT-F total and SF-36 domain scores with tofacitinib vs placebo. Through M12, some nominally significant improvements with tofacitinib vs adalimumab were observed. With active treatment at M6, FACIT-F scores were moderately (0.40–0.59) to highly (≥ 0.60) correlated with SF-36 composite/domain scores (particularly vitality), moderately correlated with most MOS-SS domain scores, and highly correlated with MOS-SS Sleep Problems Index I scores. Disease activity correlations were moderate with FACIT-F scores and low (0.20–0.39) to moderate with SF-36 general health domain/composite scores.

Conclusion

Tofacitinib and adalimumab generally conferred significant, clinically meaningful improvements in fatigue, sleep, and HRQoL (including vitality) vs placebo through M6, with improvements maintained to M12. M6 correlations between FACIT-F, PROs of sleep, HRQoL, and disease activity underscore the interrelatedness of multiple PROs and disease activity in RA.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT00847613 (registered: February 19, 2009); NCT00853385 (registered: March 2, 2009); NCT00856544 (registered: March 5, 2009).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-022-02724-x.

PROMIS Provides a Broader Overview of Health-Related Quality of Life than the ESSPRI in Evaluation of Sjogren's Syndrome

Objective

Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) has significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). We sought to evaluate how the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) domains in SS may supplement the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) SS Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI).

Methods

A cross-sectional evaluation was performed on consecutive adult patients during visits to a Sjogren's clinic between March 2018-February 2020. Each patient completed PROMIS short forms related to HRQL, the ESSPRI, and had a clinical assessment. Patients were either classified as SS by 2016 ACR/EULAR criteria or "sicca not otherwise specified (NOS)" and used as a comparison group. Uni- and multivariable linear regression (MVR) models were used to evaluate predictors of PROMIS fatigue, pain interference (PI), and social participation (SP).

Results

227 SS and 85 patients with sicca NOS were included and did not differ in ESSPRI domains; 26% of the SS and 20% of the sicca NOS group had concurrent autoimmune disease. In SS, PROMIS PI, fatigue, and physical function were at least ½ SD worse than US population normative values. PROMIS PI (r=0.72) and fatigue (r=0.80) highly correlated with ESSPRI pain and fatigue sub-domains. Fatigue and PI, but not dryness or mood disturbance, were the strongest predictors of SP in MVR.

Conclusion

In our SS cohort, PROMIS instruments identified a high disease burden of PI, fatigue, and physical function. Fatigue strongly predicted SP. PROMIS PI and fatigue scores correlated highly with respective ESSPRI domains. PROMIS instruments should be considered to identify relevant HQRL patterns in SS.

Risk Factors for Infection and Health Impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in People With Autoimmune Diseases

BACKGROUND

People with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions taking immunomodulatory/suppressive medications may have higher risk of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Chronic disease care has also changed for many patients, with uncertain downstream consequences.

METHODS

We included participants with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions followed by specialists at Johns Hopkins. Participants completed periodic surveys querying comorbidities, disease-modifying medications, exposures, COVID-19 testing and outcomes, social behaviors, and disruptions to healthcare. We assessed whether COVID-19 risk is higher among those on immunomodulating or suppressive agents and characterized pandemic-associated changes to care and mental health.

RESULTS

In total, 265 (5.6%) developed COVID-19 over 9 months of follow-up (April-December 2020). Patient characteristics (age, race, comorbidity, medications) were associated with differences in social distancing behaviors during the pandemic. Glucocorticoid exposure was associated with higher odds of COVID-19 in models incorporating behavior and other potential confounders (odds ratio [OR]: 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08, 1.89). Other medication classes were not associated with COVID-19 risk. Diabetes (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.73), cardiovascular disease (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.28), and kidney disease (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.97) were associated with higher odds of COVID-19. Of the 2156 reporting pre-pandemic utilization of infusion, mental health or rehabilitative services, 975 (45.2%) reported disruptions therein, which disproportionately affected individuals experiencing changes to employment or income.

CONCLUSIONS

Glucocorticoid exposure may increase risk of COVID-19 in people with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. Disruption to healthcare and related services was common. Those with pandemic-related reduced income may be most vulnerable to care disruptions.

Maintenance of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Baricitinib-Treated Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Post Hoc Analyses from Two Phase 3 Trials

Introduction

Baricitinib has been shown to improve patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are inadequate responders (IR) to conventional synthetic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs and bDMARDs, respectively). We assessed the ability of baricitinib 2-mg to maintain minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) in PROs until week 24 among week 4 and 12 responders.

Methods

Data were from two phase 3 trials, RA-BUILD (NCT01721057; csDMARD-IR patients) and RA-BEACON (NCT01721044; bDMARD-IR patients). PROs included Pain Visual Analogue Scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, Short-Form 36 Physical Component Score, and Patient’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity. Outcomes were evaluated by proportions of patients achieving MCID improvements, number needed to treat (NNT) at weeks 4, 12, and 24, proportions of patients maintaining MCID responses at week 24 among week 4 or 12 responders, and median time to achieve substantial response with baricitinib 2-mg versus placebo.

Results

A higher proportion of baricitinib-treated patients achieved MCID improvements, with NNTs ranging from 5 to 8 for baricitinib 2-mg versus placebo at week 24. Generally, early MCID responses in PROs at weeks 4 or 12 were better maintained through week 24 in RA patients treated with baricitinib 2-mg versus placebo. Patients treated with baricitinib 2-mg also achieved substantial PRO responses or normative values more quickly than placebo.

Conclusions

These results suggest baricitinib-treated patients with RA achieving MCID improvement in PROs at weeks 4 and 12 maintained those improvements over time and that substantial PRO responses were achieved quickly.

The impact of filgotinib on patient-reported outcomes and health-related quality of life for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a post hoc analysis of Phase 3 studies

Background

The effects of filgotinib on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from 3 trials in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were investigated.

Methods

Methotrexate (MTX)-naïve patients received filgotinib 200 or 100 mg plus MTX (FIL200+MTX, FIL100+MTX), filgotinib 200 mg monotherapy (FIL200), or MTX monotherapy through 52 weeks (NCT02886728). Patients with inadequate response (IR) to MTX (MTX-IR) received FIL200+MTX, FIL100+MTX, adalimumab 40 mg +MTX (ADA+MTX), or placebo (PBO)+MTX (rerandomized to FIL200+MTX or FIL100+MTX at week 24) through 52 weeks (NCT02889796). Patients with IR to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD-IR) received FIL200 or FIL100 or PBO with background stable conventional synthetic (cs) DMARDs for up to 24 weeks (NCT02873936). PROs included Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical/mental component summary (PCS/MCS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Rheumatoid Arthritis (WPAI-RA), and Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PtGA). Data are reported as least-squares mean changes from baseline with standard error to the timepoint representing each study’s primary endpoint. All statistical comparisons are of filgotinib groups vs their respective control groups.

Results

At week 24, among MTX-naïve patients, change from baseline (standard deviation) in HAQ-DI was − 1.00 (0.03; P < 0.001) with FIL200+MTX, − 0.94 (0.04; P < 0.01) with FIL100+MTX, and − 0.91 (0.04; P < 0.05) with FIL200 alone compared with − 0.81 (0.03) with MTX alone. At week 12, among MTX-IR patients, change from baseline in HAQ-DI was − 0.69 (0.04; P < 0.001 vs PBO+MTX, P < 0.05 vs ADA) with FIL200+MTX, − 0.57 (0.04; P < 0.001 vs placebo) with FIL100+MTX, and − 0.60 (0.04) with ADA vs − 0.40 (0.04) with PBO+MTX. At week 12, among bDMARD-IR patients, change from baseline in HAQ-DI was − 0.50 (0.06; P < 0.001) with FIL200+csDMARD and − 0.46 (0.05; P < 0.001) with FIL100+csDMARD vs − 0.19 (0.06) with placebo+csDMARD. Changes in SF-36 PCS and MCS, FACIT-Fatigue, WPAI, and PtGA tended to favor filgotinib over PBO, MTX, and ADA. Greater proportions of patients experienced clinically meaningful differences with either dosage of FIL in combination with csDMARDs (including MTX) and with FIL200 monotherapy vs comparators.

Conclusions

Filgotinib provided improvements in PROs across patient populations. These findings suggest filgotinib can be an effective treatment option for patients with insufficient response to MTX or bDMARDs and patients who are MTX-naïve.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, FINCH 1, NCT02889796, first posted September 7, 2016; FINCH 2, NCT02873936, first posted August 22, 2016, retrospectively registered; FINCH 3, NCT02886728, first posted September 1, 2016, retrospectively registered.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-021-02677-7.

Long-term safety and efficacy of sirukumab for patients with rheumatoid arthritis who previously received sirukumab in randomised controlled trials (SIRROUND-LTE)

Objective

Interleukin (IL)-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sirukumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to IL-6 with high affinity and specificity.

Methods

This long-term extension (LTE) study of the SIRROUND-D and SIRROUND-T studies assessed long-term safety and efficacy of sirukumab in adults with moderate-to-severe RA refractory to conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy or antitumor necrosis factor agents. Patients received sirukumab 100 mg subcutaneously (SC) every 2 weeks (q2w) or sirukumab 50 mg SC every 4 weeks (q4w).

Results

1820 patients enrolled in the LTE; median exposure was 2.34 and 2.07 years in sirukumab 50 mg q4w and 100 mg q2w groups, respectively. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in similar proportions between groups, with the exception of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which were more common in the 50 mg q4w versus 100 mg q2w group (2.2% vs 1.0%), and injection-site reactions, more common in the 100 mg q2w group versus 50 mg q4w group (7.5% vs 3.7%). The most common serious AEs were infections (10% of the patients); 32 (1.8%) patients died during the study (primarily from serious infection and MACE). Malignancies were reported in 24 (1.3%) patients. Gastrointestinal perforations, hepatobiliary abnormalities and changes in laboratory parameters were rare. Reductions in RA signs and symptoms and improvements in physical function were maintained throughout the LTE.

Conclusions

The safety profile of sirukumab in the LTE remained consistent with that reported in SIRROUND-D and SIRROUND-T and efficacy was maintained.

Trial registration number

NCT01856309.

Development of a patient-centered core domain set for prospective observational longitudinal outcome studies in rheumatoid arthritis: an OMERACT initiative

OBJECTIVES

To identify patient-centered core domains for prospective longitudinal observational studies (LOS) in rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

Our working group held a virtual meeting in November 2020 to review data from a literature review and patient qualitative interviews, and to discuss strategies to move forward on domain identification and selection using the OMERACT 2.1 domain selection process.

RESULTS

Important candidate domains and subdomains were identified including in the areas of life impact. Consensus was reached on moving forward with a Delphi process.

CONCLUSIONS

The meeting provided future directions to identify and select a core set of domains for use in LOS.

Fibromyalgianess and glucocorticoid persistence among patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

Over one-third of patients with RA exhibit evidence of fibromyalgianess, which is associated with higher rates of disability and inadequate responsiveness to RA treatment. Patients with RA often remain on glucocorticoids long-term, despite the known risk of dose-dependent morbidity. We undertook this study to examine the relationship between fibromyalgianess and glucocorticoid persistence among RA patients.

METHODS

We followed participants with active RA on oral prednisone for ∼3 months after initiating a new DMARD. Fibromyalgianess was measured using the Fibromyalgia Survey Questionnaire (FSQ), previously shown to correlate with key FM features often superimposed upon RA. Severity of fibromyalgianess was stratified as follows: FSQ <8 low, FSQ 8-10 moderate and FSQ >10 high/very high. The association between baseline fibromyalgianess and glucocorticoid persistence, defined as prednisone use at 3-month follow-up visit after DMARD initiation, was assessed using multiple logistic regression adjusted for baseline demographics, RA duration, serostatus and inflammatory activity assessed using swollen joint count and CRP.

RESULTS

Of the 97 participants on prednisone at baseline, 65% were still taking prednisone at follow-up. Fifty-seven percent of participants with low baseline fibromyalgianess had persistent glucocorticoid use, compared with 84% of participants with high or very high fibromyalgianess. After adjustment for non-inflammatory factors and inflammatory activity, participants with high/very high baseline fibromyalgianess were more likely to be taking prednisone at follow-up relative to those with low fibromyalgianess [odds ratio 4.99 (95% CI 1.20, 20.73)].

CONCLUSION

High fibromyalgianess is associated with persistent glucocorticoid use, independent of inflammatory activity.