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Mysler E, Monticielo OA, Al-Homood IA, Lau CS, Hussein H, Chen YH. Opportunities and challenges of lupus care in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific: A call to action. Mod Rheumatol 2024; 34:655-669. [PMID: 38531074 DOI: 10.1093/mr/roae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Lupus remains a disease with a low prioritisation in the national agendas of many countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, where there is a dearth of rheumatologists and limited access to new or even standard lupus treatments. There is thus an important need for education, advocacy, and outreach to prioritise lupus in these regions to ensure that patients receive the care they need. This article reviews some of the specific challenges facing the care and management of people with lupus in these regions and suggests strategies for improving patient outcomes. Specifically, we review and discuss (with a focus on the aforementioned regions) the epidemiology of lupus; economic costs, disease burden, and effects on quality of life; barriers to care related to disease assessment; barriers to effective treatment, including limitations of standard treatments, high glucocorticoid use, inadequate access to new treatments, and low adherence to medications; and strategies to improve lupus management and patient outcomes. We hope that this represents a call to action to come together and act now for the lupus community, policymakers, health authorities, and healthcare professionals to improve lupus management and patient outcomes in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Mysler
- Organización Medica de Investigación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Odirlei Andre Monticielo
- Rheumatology Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Chak Sing Lau
- Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Yi-Hsing Chen
- Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
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2
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Nikolopoulos D, Lourenço MH, Depascale R, Triantafyllias K, Parodis I. Evolving Concepts in Treat-to-Target Strategies for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2024; 35:328-341. [PMID: 39193182 PMCID: PMC11345603 DOI: 10.31138/mjr.290424.eci] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterised by a wide range of symptoms and a risk for irreversible organ damage, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. To improve long-term outcomes, innovative therapeutic goals have been explored, including attainment and maintenance of remission or low disease activity, with minimal use of glucocorticoids. Other goals encompass early diagnosis, potent yet less toxic therapies, appropriate glucocorticoid tapering, and better quality of life for the patients. Implementing a treat-to-target (T2T) approach involves treatment adjustments to achieve predefined objectives. Evidence from other chronic diseases, like hypertension and diabetes, supports the success of target-based approaches. In rheumatic diseases, the multitude of clinical features adds complexity to T2T strategies, but in rheumatoid arthritis, T2T has yielded improved outcomes. The application of T2T in SLE requires realistic therapeutic goals and practical tools for their measurement. International task forces have developed T2T recommendations for SLE, focusing on limiting disease activity, preventing organ damage, and minimising glucocorticoid use, while considering patients' quality of life. Advancements in defining clinically meaningful remission and low disease activity states, coupled with promising novel therapies, have spurred progress in the management of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dermatology and Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Helena Lourenço
- Department of Rheumatology, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental EPE, Lisbon, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Roberto Depascale
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Konstantinos Triantafyllias
- Rheumatology Centre Rhineland-Palatinate, Bad Kreuznach, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ioannis Parodis
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dermatology and Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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3
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Kostopoulou M, Mukhtyar CB, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT, Fanouriakis A. Management of systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic literature review informing the 2023 update of the EULAR recommendations. Ann Rheum Dis 2024:ard-2023-225319. [PMID: 38777375 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-225319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyse the new evidence (2018-2022) for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to inform the 2023 update of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations. METHODS Systematic literature reviews were performed in the Medline and the Cochrane Library databases capturing publications from 1 January 2018 through 31 December 2022, according to the EULAR standardised operating procedures. The research questions focused on five different domains, namely the benefit/harm of SLE treatments, the benefits from the attainment of remission/low disease activity, the risk/benefit from treatment tapering/withdrawal, the management of SLE with antiphospholipid syndrome and the safety of immunisations against varicella zoster virus and SARS-CoV2 infection. A Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome framework was used to develop search strings for each research topic. RESULTS We identified 439 relevant articles, the majority being observational studies of low or moderate quality. High-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) documented the efficacy of the type 1 interferon receptor inhibitor, anifrolumab, in non-renal SLE, and belimumab and voclosporin, a novel calcineurin inhibitor, in lupus nephritis (LN), when compared with standard of care. For the treatment of specific organ manifestations outside LN, a lack of high-quality data was documented. Multiple observational studies confirmed the beneficial effects of attaining clinical remission or low disease activity, reducing the risk for multiple adverse outcomes. Two randomised trials with some concerns regarding risk of bias found higher rates of relapse in patients who discontinued glucocorticoids (GC) or immunosuppressants in SLE and LN, respectively, yet observational cohort studies suggest that treatment withdrawal might be feasible in a subset of patients. CONCLUSION Anifrolumab and belimumab achieve better disease control than standard of care in extrarenal SLE, while combination therapies with belimumab and voclosporin attained higher response rates in high-quality RCTs in LN. Remission and low disease activity are associated with favourable long-term outcomes. In patients achieving these targets, GC and immunosuppressive therapy may gradually be tapered. Cite Now.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Kostopoulou
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Chetan B Mukhtyar
- Vasculitis Service, Rheumatology Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Norwich, UK
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
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Bergkamp SC, Kanagasabapathy T, Gruppen MP, Kuijpers TW, Rashid ANS, van den Berg JM, Schonenberg-Meinema D. First validation of the childhood lupus low disease activity state (cLLDAS) definition in a real-life longitudinal cSLE cohort. Clin Immunol 2024; 262:110172. [PMID: 38490344 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To validate the childhood lupus low disease activity state (cLLDAS) definition in cSLE by describing differences in time to reach first adult LLDAS (aLLDAS) versus cLLDAS. Secondly, to analyse positive and negative predictors for maintaining cLLDAS for at least 50% of follow-up time (cLLDAS-50) and for the occurrence of damage. METHODS Prospective longitudinal data from a cSLE cohort were analysed. Used definitions were: aLLDAS according to Franklyn, cLLDAS by cSLE treat-to-target (T2T) Task Force, disease activity score by SLEDAI -2 K and damage by SLICC damage index. RESULTS Fifty cSLE patients were studied, with a median follow-up of 3.1 years. Each patient reached aLLDAS and cLLDAS at least once. Mean time to reach first aLLDAS/cLLDAS was 8.2/9.0 months, respectively. For 22/42 patients the mean steroid-dose related delay to reach first cLLDAS was 6.2 months. 58% of patients were able to maintain cLLDAS-50. Time to first cLLDAS (OR 0.8, p = 0.013) and higher number of flares (OR 0.374, p = 0.03) were negative predictors to maintain cLLDAS-50. Damage occurred in 34% of patients (23.5% steroid-related), in 64.7% within one year after diagnosis. African/Afro-Caribbean ethnicity, neuropsychiatric involvement and ever use of a biologic were significant predictors for damage. CONCLUSION Time to reach cLLDAS in cSLE differs from time to (a)LLDAS, which validates the new cLLDAS definition. Attaining cLLDAS-50 was difficult in real-life. This cohort shows the high risk for early damage in cSLE. T2T with earlier focus on steroid-tapering and starting steroid-sparing drugs seems important to prevent (steroid-related) damage in cSLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy C Bergkamp
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centres (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Thipa Kanagasabapathy
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centres (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mariken P Gruppen
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centres (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Taco W Kuijpers
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centres (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Amara Nassar-Sheikh Rashid
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centres (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Paediatrics, Zaans Medisch Centrum, Zaandam, the Netherlands
| | - J Merlijn van den Berg
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centres (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dieneke Schonenberg-Meinema
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centres (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Jourde-Chiche N, Chiche L. An era of immunosuppressant withdrawal in systemic lupus erythematosus: winning through weaning. THE LANCET. RHEUMATOLOGY 2024; 6:e133-e134. [PMID: 38301681 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(24)00001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Jourde-Chiche
- Aix-Marseille University, C2VN, INSERM, INRAE, Marseille 13005, France; Department of Nephrology, AP-HM, CHU de la Conception, Marseille, France.
| | - Laurent Chiche
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Européen de Marseille, Marseille, France
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Parra Sánchez AR, van Vollenhoven RF, Morand EF, Bruce IN, Kandane-Rathnayake R, Weiss G, Tummala R, Al-Mossawi H, Sorrentino A. Targeting DORIS Remission and LLDAS in SLE: A Review. Rheumatol Ther 2023; 10:1459-1477. [PMID: 37798595 PMCID: PMC10654283 DOI: 10.1007/s40744-023-00601-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Remission is the established therapeutic goal for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is currently defined by the widely adopted Definition Of Remission In SLE (DORIS) criteria. Attainment of remission is rare in the clinical setting, thus an alternative, pragmatic treatment target of low disease activity, as defined by the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS), provides a less stringent and more attainable treatment goal for a wider proportion of patients compared with DORIS remission. Randomized controlled trials and real-world analyses have confirmed the positive clinical benefits of achieving either DORIS remission or LLDAS. The treat-to-target (T2T) approach utilizes practical clinical targets to proactively tailor individual treatment regimens. Studies in other chronic inflammatory diseases using the T2T approach demonstrated significantly improved clinical outcomes and quality-of-life measures compared with established standard of care. However, such trials have not yet been performed in patients with SLE. Here we review the evolution of DORIS remission and LLDAS definitions and the evidence supporting the positive clinical outcomes following DORIS remission or LLDAS attainment, before discussing considerations for implementation of these outcome measures as potential T2T objectives. Adoption of DORIS remission and LLDAS treatment goals may result in favorable patient outcomes compared with established standard of care for patients with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agner R Parra Sánchez
- Amsterdam Rheumatology Center ARC, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Ronald F van Vollenhoven
- Amsterdam Rheumatology Center ARC, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric F Morand
- Sub-Faculty of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Ian N Bruce
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Gudrun Weiss
- Global Medical Affairs, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals Medical, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Raj Tummala
- Clinical Development, Late Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Hussein Al-Mossawi
- Clinical Development, Late Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alessandro Sorrentino
- Global Medical Affairs, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals Medical, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
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7
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Chitpet P, Chaiamnuay S, Narongroeknawin P, Asavatanabodee P, Leosuthamas P, Pakchotanon R. The effect of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Disease Activity Score and SLE Disease Activity Index 2000-based remission states in patients with SLE on damage accrual. Int J Rheum Dis 2023; 26:2509-2516. [PMID: 37875327 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.14949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the effect of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Score (SLE-DAS) with the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) remission state on damage accrual. METHODS This study classified SLE patients from the Lupus Clinic of the Royal Thai Army (LUCRA) cohort based on the SLE-DAS index, or Boolean-based, and SLEDAI-2K (Doria) remission state. Regression analysis models were constructed to identify predictors of the Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) during follow-up. RESULTS There were 197 patients identified; 97 patients met at least one definition of remission state, and 100 patients were in the non-remission group at enrollment. Of 97 patients, 97 achieved the SLE-DAS index-based definition, 74 achieved the SLE-DAS Boolean-based definition, and 55 achieved the Doria definition. The mean ± SD of follow-up was 4.77 ± 0.6 years. The changes in SDI over time were non-significantly lower in patients who met any definition of remission compared with those who did not. Multivariate analysis revealed that predictive factors for increased SDI were age and baseline SDI ≥ 1. SLE-DAS index, Boolean, and Doria-based definitions of remission at enrollment had no significant risk reduction on SDI compared with the non-remission group (HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.37-1.32, p = .27; HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.37-1.44, p = .37; HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.39-1.65, p = .55, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Patients with SLE who achieved remission status according to the SLE-DAS index or SLEDAI-2K definitions did not show any significant difference in damage accrual compared to those who were not in remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patamarwadee Chitpet
- Rheumatic Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sumapa Chaiamnuay
- Rheumatic Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pongthorn Narongroeknawin
- Rheumatic Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Paijit Asavatanabodee
- Rheumatic Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pornsawan Leosuthamas
- Rheumatic Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rattapol Pakchotanon
- Rheumatic Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
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Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe multisystem autoimmune disease that can cause injury in almost every body system. While considered a classic example of autoimmunity, it is still relatively poorly understood. Treatment with immunosuppressive agents is challenging, as many agents are relatively non-specific, and the underlying disease is characterized by unpredictable flares and remissions. This State of The Art Review provides a comprehensive current summary of systemic lupus erythematosus based on recent literature. In basic and translational science, this summary includes the current state of genetics, epigenetics, differences by ancestry, and updates about the molecular and immunological pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. In clinical science, the summary includes updates in diagnosis and classification, clinical features and subphenotypes, and current guidelines and strategies for treatment. The paper also provides a comprehensive review of the large number of recent clinical trials in systemic lupus erythematosus. Current knowns and unknowns are presented, and potential directions for the future are suggested. Improved knowledge of immunological pathogenesis and the molecular differences that exist between patients should help to personalize treatment, minimize side effects, and achieve better outcomes in this difficult disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric F Morand
- School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Rheumatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Zucchi D, Cardelli C, Elefante E, Tani C, Mosca M. Treat-to-Target in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Reality or Pipe Dream. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12093348. [PMID: 37176788 PMCID: PMC10178979 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12093348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Treat-to-target is a therapeutic approach based on adjustments to treatment at set intervals in order to achieve well-defined, clinically relevant targets. This approach has been successfully applied to many chronic conditions, and in rheumatology promising results have emerged for rheumatoid arthritis. For systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), defining the most meaningful treatment targets has been challenging, due to disease complexity and heterogeneity. Control of disease activity, the reduction of damage accrual and the patient's quality of life should be considered as the main targets in SLE, and several new drugs are emerging to achieve these targets. This review is focused on describing the target to achieve in SLE and the methods to do so, and it is also aimed at discussing if treat-to-target could be a promising approach also for this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Zucchi
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Chiara Cardelli
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Elena Elefante
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Tani
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marta Mosca
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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10
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Fragoulis GE, Bertsias G, Bodaghi B, Gul A, van Laar J, Mumcu G, Saadoun D, Tugal-Tutkun I, Hatemi G, Sfikakis PP. Treat to target in Behcet's disease: Should we follow the paradigm of other systemic rheumatic diseases? Clin Immunol 2023; 246:109186. [PMID: 36410686 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2022.109186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
During the last decades the efficacy of biologic agents, mainly of anti-TNFs, in controlling the activity of serious manifestations of Behcet's Disease (BD) has been established. On the other hand, the clinical heterogeneity of BD has precluded the validation of a widely-accepted composite index for disease assessment and for target disease-state definitions, such as low disease activity and remission, and the testing of their implementation in clinical practice. Therefore, in contrast to other systemic rheumatic diseases, a treat-to-target strategy has not yet been developed in BD. There are several challenges towards this approach, including standardization of outcome measures for assessing the disease activity in each-affected organ and construction of a composite disease activity index. The challenges for the development of a treat-to-target strategy and possible solutions are discussed in this position paper, which stemmed from a round table discussion that took place in the 19th International Conference on BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- George E Fragoulis
- Joint Rheumatology Program and First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Bahram Bodaghi
- Dept of Ophthalmology, IHU FOReSIGHT, Sorbonne University, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Ahmet Gul
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Turkey
| | - Jan van Laar
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Immunology, Division Clinical Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gonca Mumcu
- Department of Health Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - David Saadoun
- Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, National reference center for autoinflammatory diseases and for rare systemic autoimmune diseases, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Ilknur Tugal-Tutkun
- Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey; Eye Protection Foundation Bayrampasa Eye Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gulen Hatemi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey; Behçet's Disease Research Center, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- Joint Rheumatology Program and First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
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11
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Zen M, Gatto M, Doria A. Defining the targets in SLE management: insights and unmet gaps. Ann Rheum Dis 2022; 81:1483-1485. [PMID: 36008131 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2022-222991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Zen
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Mariele Gatto
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Doria
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
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12
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Treat-to-target in systemic lupus erythematosus: advancing towards its implementation. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2022; 18:146-157. [PMID: 35039665 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-021-00739-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The treat-to-target (T2T) concept has improved outcomes for patients with diabetes, hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis. This therapeutic strategy involves choosing a well-defined, relevant target, taking therapeutic steps, evaluating whether the target has been achieved, and taking action if it has not. The T2T principle has been embraced by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experts, but measurable and achievable outcomes, and therapeutic options, are needed to make this approach possible in practice. Considerable evidence has been generated regarding meaningful 'state' outcomes for SLE. Low disease activity has been defined and studied, and the most aspirational goal, remission, has been defined by the Definition of Remission in SLE task force. By contrast, current therapeutic options in SLE are limited, and more effective and safer therapies are urgently needed. Fortunately, clinical trial activity in SLE has been unprecedented, and encouraging results have been seen for novel therapies, including biologic and small-molecule agents. Thus, with the expected advent of such treatments, it is likely that sufficiently diverse therapies for SLE will be available in the foreseeable future, allowing the routine implementation of T2T approaches in the care of patients with SLE.
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