Identifying markers of sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis patients on long-term tapered biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Tailored therapeutic decision of rheumatoid arthritis using proteomic strategies: how to start and when to stop?

Unpredictable treatment responses have been an obstacle for the successful management of rheumatoid arthritis. Although numerous serum proteins have been proposed, there is a lack of integrative survey to compare their relevance in predicting treatment outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis. Also, little is known about their applications in various treatment stages, such as dose modification, drug switching or withdrawal. Here we present an in-depth exploration of the potential usefulness of serum proteins in clinical decision-making and unveil the spectrum of immunopathology underlying responders to different drugs. Patients with robust autoimmunity and inflammation are more responsive to biological treatments and prone to relapse during treatment de-escalation. Moreover, the concentration changes of serum proteins at the beginning of the treatments possibly assist early recognition of treatment responders. With a better understanding of the relationship between the serum proteome and treatment responses, personalized medicine in rheumatoid arthritis will be more achievable in the near future.

Seeing is believing: Smart use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatology practice

Musculoskeletal ultrasonography has become an increasingly valuable tool as a complement to the physical exam in rheumatology practice. Its point-of-care access, low cost, safety, portability, and reliability in trained hands, make this technique especially useful in patients with inflammatory arthritis. Growing evidence has demonstrated the value of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the detection of inflammatory and structural changes in patients with joint pain without obvious joint swelling, in differentiating various inflammatory diagnoses, in the monitoring of inflammatory arthritis, and interventional procedures. The potential role of ultrasound guiding treat-to-target strategies or tapering treatment in inflammatory arthritis requires further research. However, musculoskeletal ultrasound can also have pitfalls and limitations that a clinician should be aware of.

Doppler ultrasound predicts successful discontinuation of biological DMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis patients in clinical remission

OBJECTIVE

To assess the ability of ultrasound to predict successful tapering and successful discontinuation of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) at 2-year follow-up in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in sustained remission.

METHODS

Patients in sustained remission (DAS28-CRP≤2.6) and no radiographic progression the previous year tapered bDMARD according to a standardized regime. One-hundred-and-nineteen of these patients were included in this ultrasound sub-study. At baseline, clinical assessment, MRI, x-ray and ultrasound of 24 joints were performed. Ultrasound-detected synovitis was defined and scored 0-3 using the Outcome in Rheumatology (OMERACT) scoring system at joint level for both greyscale and Doppler activity. Sum scores for each ultrasound modality were calculated for 24 joints at patient level. Final state of treatment was assessed after 2 years. The predictive value of ultrasound measures for successful tapering and discontinuation at 2-year follow-up was assessed via logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Negative IgM-RF (OR = 0.29; 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=0.10-0.85; p = 0.024) and lower Doppler sum score of 24 joints (OR(95%CI)=0.44;(0.15-0.87); p = 0.014) were independent predictors for successful discontinuation of bDMARD at 2-year follow-up. The predictive value of Doppler sum score was independent of MRI findings. Previous numbers of bDMARDs were predictive of successful tapering (OR(95% CI)=0.58(0.35-0.91); p = 0.018), whereas ultrasound was not. Clinical parameters were not predictive for successful tapering/discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

Doppler sum score was an independent predictor for successful discontinuation of bDMARDs at 2-year follow-up - the odds for achieving successful discontinuation decreased by 56% per one-unit increase in Doppler sum score. Ultrasound could not predict successful tapering.

Unlocking the Value of Anti-TNF Biosimilars: Reducing Disease Burden and Improving Outcomes in Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Narrative Review

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are chronic conditions that create a significant disease burden on millions of patients while adding a major financial burden to societies and healthcare systems.

The introduction of biologic medicines has contributed majorly to improving the clinical outcomes of IMIDs and as such these modalities have gained first- or second-line positions in a wide range of treatment guidelines from different international clinical societies. However, the high cost of these biologics traditionally limited their accessibility and delayed their initiation, leaving millions of patients with unmet medical needs for a more affordable and sustainable solution.

The introduction of cost-efficient biosimilar anti-TNFs within Europe since 2013 has allowed more patients with IMIDs to access biologic therapies earlier and for longer, potentially altering the course of the disease into a milder phenotype and reducing the long-term disease burden. This review provides the latest evidence for the impact of biosimilars on patient outcomes and demonstrates their clinical value beyond a reduction in price.

Dose tapering of biologic agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-results from a cohort study in Germany

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association of demographic and clinical factors with the clinical decision of tapering biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in daily practice.

METHODS

All RA patients receiving bDMARDs were documented by 14 rheumatologists when presenting in 9 specialized private practices. Statistical analyses employed multivariable logistic models for dose reduction with the covariates age, gender, disease duration until bDMARD start, smoking status, disease activity, comorbidity, functional capacity, radiographic damage, concomitant methotrexate (MTX) treatment, rheumatoid factor positivity, and glucocorticoid use. In the multivariable model (MVM), missing values were imputed.

RESULTS

Data of 586 RA patients on bDMARD treatment were available, 171 of which (29%) received a reduced dose. The highest rates of patients with dose reduction were seen for rituximab (67%) and infliximab (50%). The degree of dose reduction was most prominent for rituximab (57%). In the MVM, 6/11 covariates were significantly associated with dose reduction: age (odds ratio (OR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.05; P = 0.002), time between disease onset and bDMARD start (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06; P = 0.015), DAS 28 < 2.6 (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.01-2.37; P = 0.045), MTX therapy (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.03-2.25; P = 0.036), comorbidity (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01-1.42; P = 0.036), and glucocorticoid dose (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.76-0.89; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

DAS 28 remission, concomitant MTX, and lower glucocorticoid doses were positively associated with dose tapering of bDMARDs in RA patients. While this could be expected, the reason for the association with age, comorbidity, and the time between disease onset and bDMARD start is less clear. Key points • In rheumatology practice, tapering of biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs is feasible in nearly 30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. • The degree of dose reduction may exceed 50% of the recommended dose. • In a multivariable model, concomitant methotrexate is positively associated with dose tapering of biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Predictors and the optimal duration of sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To determine predictors and optimal duration of sustained remission (SR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

A total of 428 consecutive patients with RA visiting our clinic routinely between 2012 and 2013 were evaluated. Seventy seven of these patients in DAS28 remission were enrolled and followed up for 62.2 ± 9.9 months. Patients in remission ≥ 6 months (SR) and shorter (non: N-SR) were compared in terms of demographic-clinical data and the psychosocial factors. At enrollment, 1st and 5th years, patients in DAS28, SDAI, and Boolean remission were determined.

RESULTS

Sixty three patients were in SR and 14 in N-SR. Lower baseline DAS28 and HAQ scores, anti-CCP were positive predictors of SR. Although the presence of anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and fatigue were lower in the SR group, there was no significance. Patients in DAS28 remission (100%) at baseline reduced to 64% at 1st and 42.6% at 5th years. Patients satisfying SDAI and Boolean remission at these three visits were 49%, 44%, and 32.4% vs 41%, 28%, and 20.6%, respectively. If the duration of remission is defined as 6 months, the remission rates of SDAI at inclusion and fifth years' visits were similar but Boolean remission rates differed significantly and if it is accepted as ≥ 12 months, both the SDAI and Boolean remission rates were not different.

CONCLUSION

Low DAS28 and HAQ scores at baseline, anti-CCP were positive predictors of SR. Instead of 6 months, remission duration for ≥ 12 months would probably help us to predict SR independently from the chosen criteria; Boolean or SDAI.