A quick decrease of bone marrow edema in sacroiliac joint could be served as a novel marker for dose tapering of etanercept in ankylosing spondylitis patients

Patient-tailored dose reduction of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in axial spondyloarthritis

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have been widely used in the field of axial spondyloarthritis, with current guidelines now recommending dose reduction instead of withdrawal of biologics. Systemic review and meta-analyses in literature have summarized present tapering strategies and principles in published heterogeneous studies. In this study, we reviewed and provided an update on present evidence based on prospective and retrospective studies from 2008 to 2022 by performing a literature review of related publications on remission or relapse from PubMed. We further stated the core issues concerning dose reduction, including the timing, optimization, intensity, maintenance, monitoring, factors associated with tapering and solutions to de-escalation failure. Remission/relapse should be the principal consideration in dose reduction implementation for individuals without comorbidities. As a treat-to-target scope of this multifaceted systemic disease, extra-articular manifestations such as uveitis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular complication, hip involvement and progressed structural damage influence patient-tailored dose reduction plans. Safety concerns and costs should be integrated into the decision-making schedule to optimize the individualized dose reduction paradigm.

Interobserver Reliability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Sacroiliac Joints in Axial Spondyloarthritis

Introduction: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is characterized by damage to the axial skeleton and entheses, and is often associated with extra-articular manifestations, in the presence of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27. The aim of our study is to assess the performance of rheumatologists in interpreting the inflammatory and structural damage to sacroiliac joints, in comparison to radiologists. Material and Methods: The present study included a total of 34 patients diagnosed with axSpA, according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for axSpA, examined from January 2021 to November 2021 in the Departments of Rheumatology and Radiology and Medical Imaging of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova. All patients underwent physical examination, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac joints. The images were interpreted by a senior radiologist (SR), a junior radiologist (JR), a senior rheumatologist (SRh), and a junior rheumatologist (JRh), who were blinded to the clinical and paraclinical data. Results: The overall κ was 0.7 for the JR (substantial agreement), 0.707 for the SRh (substantial agreement), and 0.601 for the JRh (moderate agreement), in comparison with the SR. Regarding the overall inflammatory changes, the SRh and JR were proven to have substantial agreement (κ = 0.708 and 0.742, respectively) with the SR, while the JRh was proven to have moderate agreement (κ = 0.607). The structural damage observed by the JR showed substantial agreement (κ = 0.676) with the SR, while the SRh and JRh had substantial and moderate agreement (κ = 0.705 and 0.596, respectively) with the SR. Conclusions: Our study showed substantial agreement between the senior radiologist, senior rheumatologist, and junior radiologist, and moderate agreement with the junior rheumatologist.

The evaluation of bone marrow edema in sacroiliac joint in patients with ankylosing spondylitis using magnetic resonance imaging Dixon sequence

Background

Bone marrow edema of the sacroiliac joint is the early imaging manifestation, an indicator of inflammatory activity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (Yang R, et. al. Medicine (Baltimore) 98:e14620, 2019).

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Dixon sequence in the diagnosis of marrow edema of the sacroiliac joint in patients with AS.

Methods

Forty-five patients with AS admitted in our hospital between November 2016 and February 2019 were selected retrospectively as the case group. Forty-five healthy subjects recruited between November 2016 and February 2019 served as the control group. Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were recorded after admission to the hospital. The Dixon sequence water-fat ratio of the iliac and sacral surfaces of the bilateral sacroiliac joints in the study group were compared with indicators above in order to find the correlation.

Results

The water-fat ratio under the bilateral sacroiliac joints on Dixon sequence images in the case group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The Dixon sequence water-fat ratio of the iliac and sacral surfaces of the bilateral sacroiliac joints in the study group were positively correlated with spinal arthritis research (SPARCC), BASFI and BASDAI score (all P < 0.05), but did not correlate with ESR and CRP.

Conclusion

The water-fat ratio of magnetic resonance Dixon sequence can be used as a reference index to evaluate the degree of bone marrow edema in active stage of sacroiliac arthritis.

Subjective loss of clinical response to TNFi in axSpA relates to recurrence of MRI bone marrow oedema particularly with long-acting agents

OBJECTIVES

Subjective loss of response immediately prior to routine TNFi therapy can occur in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). We investigated clinical outcomes in patients taking the first 3 licenced TNFis and correlated this with recurrence of MRI bone marrow oedema (MRI-BMO).

METHODS

Proof-of-concept study including axSpA patients established on etanercept (ETA), adalimumab (ADA) or infliximab (IFX) reporting symptom deterioration prior to next dose. MRI/clinical data were collected prior to scheduled dose (v1), 4 days post-dose (v2) and at the time of patient-reported symptom return (v3). MRI spine/sacroiliac joints utilising 3 T were scored using the semi-quantitative Leeds MRI scoring system.

RESULTS

113 clinical assessments and MRIs were performed in 38 participants (ADA = 16, ETA = 12, IFX = 10), mean age 42.1 years ± 24.4(2SD, n = 38), 71.1% male (n = 27/38), 69.7% HLA-B27 positive (n = 23/33). At v1 all patients had high disease activity [ASDAS-CRP = 3 (2.7-3.7)] and 57.9% had MRI-BMO (number of MRI-BMO: ETA = 26, ADA = 59, IFX = 28). Improved clinical responses were seen at v2 [ASDAS-CRP -0.41(-0.81-0.30), p= 0.018; BASDAI -0.58(-2.2-0.52), p= 0.024]. Despite just a 4-day interval between v1 and v2, a numerical reduction in MRI-BMO lesions between v1/v2 was observed (ETA=-6, ADA=-10, IFX=-3). By v3 comparatively fewer new BMO lesions were detected in the ETA and ADA groups compared with IFX (ETA=-1, ADA = +3, IFX = +8), although the numbers were too small to enable testing for statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Short-lived fluctuations in MRI-BMO were commoner with longer-acting agents and corresponded with subjective loss of clinical response before next scheduled TNFi dose. Larger studies are need to confirm the possible pathogenic implications of this phenomenon.

Head-to-Head Comparison of Etanercept vs. Adalimumab in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Crossover Clinical Trial

Background: Anti-tumor necrosis factor biological agents had been proved to have a dramatic effect in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of crossover effects of adalimumab vs. etanercept in AS patients.

Methods: A randomized, open-label crossover study was done in patients with active AS. Patients were randomized into two sequence groups, etanercept first (treatment arm) vs. adalimumab first (control arm) 8 weeks and then switched over for another 8 weeks. The primary endpoints were the difference of the Bath AS activity index and AS disease activity score (ASDAS)crp at week 16. Secondary endpoints were ASDASesr, ASAS20, and ASAS40 response rates and the proportion of patients achieving ASDAS inactive disease and low disease activity at weeks 8 and 16. Patient global assessment and preference was grading on a numerical scale.

Results: A total of 21 patients were screened, and 19 of them were randomly allocated into the treatment arm (n = 9) and control arm (n = 9). At baseline, age, sex, Bath AS activity index, and ASDAS of both arms were comparable (p > 0.05). Both arms showed dramatic improvement, whereas no significance was observed between the changes of ASDAScrp (0.90 ± 1.39 vs. 1.24 ± 1.40 at week 8, p = 0.612; 1.02 ± 1.22 vs. 1.26 ± 1.44 at week 16, p = 0.707, respectively). ASAS20 and ASAS40 response rates were also comparable at week 8 (33 vs. 44%, p = 1.000; 22 vs. 22%, p = 1.000) and week 16 (22 vs. 22%, p = 1.000; 22 vs. 22%, p = 1.000), respectively. Both arms were well-tolerated without a serious adverse event. Adalimumab was relatively more favorable by patients in both arms, with a total mean grading score of 0.4 (−5–5, p = 0.218).

Conclusion: Etanercept and adalimumab can both dramatically improve disease activity in 16 weeks. Crossover administration of etanercept and adalimumab revealed comparable efficacy and safety.

Trial Registration: The protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board with the register CS08019 from Chung Shan Medical University Hospital (CSMUH), Taichung, Taiwan and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System: NCT02489760.