POS1160 PROTECT: PEGLOTICASE TREATMENT FOR UNCONTROLLED GOUT IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANTED PATIENTS; RESULTS FROM A PHASE 4 TRIAL

Background

A phase 4 trial (NCT04087720) of kidney transplant (KT) recipients on stable immunosuppressants with uncontrolled gout previously reported that pegloticase produced a sustained decrease in serum uric acid (sUA) levels and was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in pain and disability without worsening of key kidney function markers. Pegloticase treatment was well tolerated overall with no infusion reactions or anaphylaxis. Here we report additional exploratory and secondary endpoints.

Objectives

To evaluate the results of clinically important efficacy endpoints as supportive evidence for the efficacy of pegloticase in kidney transplant patients on immunosuppression.

Methods

PROTECT a multicenter, open-label, efficacy and safety study of pegloticase in included kidney transplant recipients (KT>1 year prior) with uncontrolled gout (sUA ≥7 mg/dL, oral urate lowering therapy contraindication/inefficacy, and with either visible tophi, chronic gouty arthritis, or ≥2 flares in past year), who had a functioning graft (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥15 ml/min/1.73m2), and were on a stable immunosuppressant regimen. Pegloticase (8 mg infusion) was administered biweekly for 24 weeks (12 infusions) followed by a final follow up visit 3 months post-treatment. The global health component of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-Health), and the physician global assessment of gout (PGA) were assessed at baseline, weeks 6, 14, 20, 24, and the end of pegloticase infusions (EOI) visit (if applicable, when the final infusion occurred prior to week 22). Both were visual analog scales (VAS), where HAQ-health ranged from 0 (very well) to 100 (very poor) and PGA ranged from 0 (excellent) to 10 (very poor). Heart rate and blood pressure measurements were recorded at baseline, weeks 6, 12, 18, 24 and the EOI visit.

Results

20 patients received at least 1 dose of pegloticase and were included in the analysis with the majority (90.0%) 40 to 81 years of age. Most were male (85.0%), 45.0% white, and 35.0% black or African American. Median body weight (88.46 kg) and body mass index (29.68 kg/m2) were high. Median baseline eGFR and baseline Urine Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (UACR) were 41.70 mL/min/1.73m2 and 312.00 mg/g, respectively. An improvement from baseline to weeks 14 (n=18), and 24 (n=15 [PGA], n=14 [HAQ]) in mean PGA and HAQ-Health was observed. Change from baseline (Mean [SD]) at 14 and 24 weeks for PGA was -2.3 (1.94) and -2.3 (2.19), and for HAQ-Health was -32.74 (21.26) and -21.52 (27.47) respectively. Improvement was sustained at the 3-month post-treatment follow-up visit. Mean decreases from baseline in sitting systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure were observed at weeks 6, 12, 18 and 24. Change from baseline values at 24 weeks (n=15) for systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures were (Mean [SD]) -11.01 (14.04), -4.37 (9.18), and -6.58 (9.675) mmHg respectively. Heart rate showed no clinically meaningful trends from baseline at any of the post-baseline timepoints.

Conclusion

Clinically important improvements in both HAQ and PGA were demonstrated for pegloticase treated kidney transplant patients. Improvements were also observed in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure. These data support the benefits of pegloticase treatment for uncontrolled gout in kidney transplant recipients using immunosuppression.

Disclosure of Interests

Abdul Abdellatif Speakers bureau: Amgen, Aurinia, Bayer, Horizon, Janssen, Keryx, Mallinckrodt, Merck, Natera, Opko, Rockwell and Vifor Pharma, Consultant of: Amgen, Horizon, Keryx Mallinckrodt, Opko, Pharmacosmos, and Rockwell, Lin Zhao Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics, Katya Cherny Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics, Brad Marder Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics, John Scandling Consultant of: Horizon Therapeutics, Kenneth Saag Grant/research support from: Horizon Therapeutics, SOBI and Shanton

POS1122 PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THE PROTECT CLINICAL TRIAL: PEGLOTICASE EFFICACY AND SAFETY IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Background:

The prevalence of gout is high in kidney transplant (KT) recipients (up to 13%), largely because of decreased kidney function and calcineurin inhibitor use.1 Residual chronic kidney disease (CKD) leading to decreased urate lowering therapy clearance and drug interactions make managing gout in KT recipients challenging. Studies show that successful treatment with pegloticase, a pegylated uricase, leads to marked reductions in serum uric acid (sUA)2 and a subsequent decrease in overall urate load and tophi burden.3 However, pegloticase use in solid organ transplant recipients has not been systematically studied or well-characterized in the literature.4,5

Objectives:

To examine the safety and efficacy of pegloticase in KT recipients with uncontrolled gout.

Methods:

This ongoing multicenter, open-label, efficacy and safety study of pegloticase in KT recipients (NCT04087720) included patients with uncontrolled gout sUA ≥7 mg/dL, urate lowering therapy [ULT] contraindication/inefficacy, and with either visible tophi, chronic gouty arthritis, or ≥2 flares in past year, who were KT recipients (KT >1 year prior), had a functioning graft (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥15 ml/min/1.73m2), and were on a stable immunosuppressant regimen. Pegloticase (8 mg infusion) was administered biweekly for 24 weeks (12 infusions) followed by a safety visit 30 days after the last infusion and 3-month post-treatment follow up visit. The primary endpoint was proportion of patients who were serum uric acid responders during Month 6 (sUA <6 mg/dL for ≥80% of time). Change from baseline (CFB) at 24 weeks was also evaluated for sUA, renal function, and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) disability index (DI, maximum = 3) and pain (maximum = 100).

Results:

Preliminary findings of this study included 15 patients (12 male, 53.5±11.0 years of age) with uncontrolled gout (6.2±6.0 years since diagnosis) who had received a donor kidney 15.1±6.6 years earlier. At the time of analysis, 5 patients had completed the 24-week treatment period and 8 remained on therapy (last visit sUA <0.1 mg/dL in 6 patients, 1 had sUA of 7.4 mg/dL, 1 only received first infusion), and 2 had discontinued treatment (sUA rise [n=1], COVID-19 concerns [n=1]). Of the 5 patients who completed 24 weeks of therapy, all met response criteria and sUA was below detection limits (CFB: -10.2±1.3 mg/dL, baseline [BL]: 10.2±1.3 mg/dL). Patients also had less pain (HAQ-pain CFB: -33.6±22.2, BL: 35.9±22.0; n=5) and disability (HAQ-DI CFB: -0.3±0.6, BL: 0.7±0.8; n=5) at 24 weeks compared to BL. eGFR remained stable during 24 week treatment (eGFR CFB: -0.2±6.3 ml/min/1.73 m2, BL: 40.9±14.4 ml/min/1.73 m2; n=5). Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio showed improvement at 24 weeks (CFB: -223±405 mg/g, BL: 664±870 mg/g; n=5). 80% of patients experienced an AE, and 4 SAEs (duodenal ulcer, cellulitis, dyspnea, skin bacterial infection) deemed unrelated to pegloticase were reported. AEs that occurred in >1 patient included gout flare, pyrexia, arthralgia, and nasal congestion. No anaphylaxis or infusion reactions occurred.

Conclusion:

Initial findings suggest that pegloticase therapy is effective at reducing sUA in most KT recipients while preserving renal function. Results suggest that in the setting of profound urate lowering with pegloticase in KT patients, eGFR remains stable and patients experience clinically beneficial reductions in pain and disability with an absence of unexpected safety findings.

References:

[1]Clive DM. J Am Soc Nephrol 2000;May11(5):974-9.

[2]Sundy JS, et al. JAMA 2011;306:711-720.

[3]Mandell BF, et al. Arthritis Res Ther 2018;20:286.

[4]Freyne B. Transplant Proc 2018;50:4099-101.

[5]Hershfield MS, et al. Arthritis Res Ther 2014;16:R63.

Disclosure of Interests:

Abdul Abdellatif Speakers bureau: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Consultant of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Lin Zhao Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Paul M. Peloso Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Katya Cherny Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Brad Marder Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, John Scandling Consultant of: Horizon Therapeutics plc, Kenneth Saag Consultant of: Arthrosi, Atom Bioscience, Horizon, LG Pharma, Mallinkrodt, SOBI, Takeda, Grant/research support from: Horizon, SOBI, Shanton.

Prediction of human gait activities using wearable sensors

This paper aims to enhance the accuracy of human gait prediction using machine learning algorithms. Three classifiers are used in this paper: XGBoost, Random Forest, and SVM. A predefined dataset is used for feature extraction and classification. Gait prediction is determined during several locomotion activities: sitting (S), level walking (LW), ramp ascend (RA), ramp descend (RD), stair ascend (SA), stair descend (SD), and standing (ST). The results are gained for steady-state (SS) and overall (full) gait cycle. Two sets of sensors are used. The first set uses inertial measurement units only. The second set uses inertial measurement units, electromyography, and electro-goniometers. The comparison is based on prediction accuracy and prediction time. In addition, a comparison between the prediction times of XGBoost with CPU and GPU is introduced due to the easiness of using XGBoost with GPU. The results of this paper can help to choose a classifier for gait prediction that can obtain acceptable accuracy with fewer types of sensors.

Role of Coronary Artery and Thoracic Aortic Calcium as Risk Modifiers to Guide Antihypertensive Therapy in Stage 1 Hypertension (From the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis)

The 2017 American blood pressure (BP) guidelines recommended a personalized risk-based approach to treatment in stage 1 hypertension. We sought to establish the utility of coronary artery or thoracic aortic calcium (CAC or TAC) as additional risk modifiers in this setting. We included 1859 Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants with stage 1 hypertension. We compared adjusted HR for the composite outcome of incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or heart failure across predefined categories of either CAC or TAC (0, 1 to 100, or >100) in: (1) the full sample; (2) 4 high-risk subgroups recommended for pharmacotherapy to a BP goal <130/80 mm Hg, and (3) low-risk subgroup not eligible for pharmacotherapy. We also estimated the 10-year number-needed-to-treat (NNT₁₀) to a systolic BP <130 mm Hg as extrapolated from meta-analyses. Mean age was 62.8 ± 9.4 years, 46% were female and there were 300 events over a median follow-up of 13.8 years. The absolute event rate was 4.1 to 10.8 per 1,000 person-years among high-risk participants with CAC = 0, but 28.4 among low-risk participants with CAC >100. CAC >100 was independently associated with a higher relative risk of events compared with CAC = 0 (e.g., adjusted HR [9.5 (1.8 to 18.7)] in the low-risk subgroup). NNT₁₀ for CAC = 0 were 3 to 5 times higher than those for CAC >100 in all analyses. TAC was not a reliable risk modifier in our study. In conclusion, CAC, but not TAC, can further guide risk-based allocation of treatment in stage 1 hypertension and should be considered as a risk modifier in future guidelines.

It's OK not to be OK: Shared Reflections from two PhD Parents in a Time of Pandemic

Adopting an intersectional feminist lens, we explore our identities as single and co‐parents thrust into the new reality of the UK COVID‐19 lockdown. As two PhD students, we present shared reflections on our intersectional and divergent experiences of parenting and our attempts to protect our work and families during a pandemic. We reflect on the social constructions of ‘masculinities’ and ‘emphasized femininities’ as complicated influence on our roles as parents. Finally, we highlight the importance of time and self‐care as ways of managing our shared realities during this uncertain period. Through sharing reflections, we became closer friends in mutual appreciation and solidarity as we learned about each other’s struggles and vulnerabilities.

Liver abscesses in dromedary camels: Pathological characteristics and aerobic bacterial aetiology

The study was carried out at Nyala abattoirs, South Darfur State, Sudan during a period from 2009 to 2011. Slaughtered camels (822) were examined for pathological changes of liver abscesses and identification of the involved aerobic bacteria. Grossly, a total of 111 (13.5%) liver abscesses were recorded in different camel ages; 90 (81.1%) were less than seven years old and 21 (18.9%) were more than seven years old. Histopathology of sectioned tissues revealed necrotic abscesses with infiltration of inflammatory cells, hydropic degeneration with swelling of hepatocytes comprising the sinusoid and different size of vacuoles in the hepatic cells. Proliferation of bile ducts with fibrous tissue and infiltration of inflammatory cells was also recorded. Investigation of bacteria revealed 90 aerobic isolates; they were identified to 52 (57.8%) gram positive cocci, 20 (22.2%) gram positive rods and 18 (20.0%) gram negative rods. Staphylococcus spp. (41.1%), Corynebacterium spp. (17.9%) and Streptococcus spp. (13.3%) were the most frequently identified bacteria involved in liver abscesses of camels in the region. Further studies are required to assess the pathogenicity of bacterial isolates from camel livers. This is particularly important from a public health perspective, since some people of Sudan are known to consume raw camel liver.

Poster - Thur Eve - 17: Control point analysis comparison of three different treatment planning and delivery complexity levels using a commercial three dimensional diode array

PURPOSE

To use Control Point Analysis (Sun Nuclear Corporation, Melbourne, Florida, USA) to analyze and compare delivered VMAT plans for three different treatment planning complexity levels.

METHODS

Nineteen patients were chosen and fully anonymized for the purpose of this study. Ten SBRT, six H&N, one breast and two prostate VMAT plans were generated on Pinnacle³ and delivered on a Varian LINAC. The delivered dose was measured using ArcCHECK™. Each plan was analyzed using SNC Patient 6 and Control Point Analysis. Gamma passing percentage was used to assess the differences between the measured and planned dose distributions and to assess the role of various control point binning scenarios.

RESULTS

The prostate cases reported the highest gamma passing percentages for SNC Patient 6 (99.3%-99.5%,3%/3mm) and Control Point Analysis (99.1--99.3%,3%/3mm). The mean percentage of passing control point sectors for the prostate cases increased from 48.9±3.1% for individual control points to 69.5 ± 3.9% for 5 control points binned together to 100±0% for 10 control points binned together. Over all, there was a trend in the percentage of sectors passing gamma analysis increasing with the increase of the number of control points binned together in one sector for both passing criteria considered (48.9±3.1% for individual control points to 69.5±3.9% for 5 control points binned together in one sector to 100±0% for 10 control points binned together in one sector for the prostate).

CONCLUSION

The delivery accuracy per control point depends on the MU/control point (SBRT) and the plan degree of modulation (H&N).

Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Initiative: from evidence to action in seven developing country hospitals

QUALITY PROBLEM

Recent evidence in the level of patient safety from hospitals in six developing countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has demonstrated the high prevalence of adverse events, the excessive rate of death and permanent disability and their high preventability. The Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Initiative (PSFHI) has been launched to respond to these challenges.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

The principal approach of the PSFHI has been to develop an assessment manual that has 140 patient safety standards across five domains--leadership and management, patients and public involvement, safe evidence-based clinical practices, safe environment and lifelong learning.

CHOICE OF SOLUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Ministries of health of seven countries--Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen were asked to nominate one hospital for assessment and then follow-up with an improvement plan.

EVALUATION

The standards are divided into critical (20), core (90) and developmental (30). The range of critical standards, the compulsory standards with which a hospital has to comply, achieved by participating hospitals was 8-78%. Overall, in the domain of leadership and management the highest compliance was 47%, for patients and public involvement 25%, for safe evidence-based clinical practice 53%, for safe environment 64% and for lifelong learning 27%.

LESSONS LEARNED

This is the first systematic multi-country initiative in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which provides compelling evidence that assessment of patient safety standards is feasible and applicable in resource-poor settings and there are significant opportunities for improving the level of patient safety in these hospitals.

Patient safety in developing countries: retrospective estimation of scale and nature of harm to patients in hospital

OBJECTIVE

To assess the frequency and nature of adverse events to patients in selected hospitals in developing or transitional economies.

DESIGN

Retrospective medical record review of hospital admissions during 2005 in eight countries.

SETTING

Ministries of Health of Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, South Africa and Yemen; the World Health Organisation (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean and African Regions (EMRO and AFRO), and WHO Patient Safety.

PARTICIPANTS

Convenience sample of 26 hospitals from which 15,548 patient records were randomly sampled.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Two stage screening. Initial screening based on 18 explicit criteria. Records that screened positive were then reviewed by a senior physician for determination of adverse event, its preventability, and the resulting disability.

RESULTS

Of the 15,548 records reviewed, 8.2% showed at least one adverse event, with a range of 2.5% to 18.4% per country. Of these events, 83% were judged to be preventable, while about 30% were associated with death of the patient. About 34% adverse events were from therapeutic errors in relatively non-complex clinical situations. Inadequate training and supervision of clinical staff or the failure to follow policies or protocols contributed to most events.

CONCLUSIONS

Unsafe patient care represents a serious and considerable danger to patients in the hospitals that were studied, and hence should be a high priority public health problem. Many other developing and transitional economies will probably share similar rates of harm and similar contributory factors. The convenience sampling of hospitals might limit the interpretation of results, but the identified adverse event rates show an estimate that should stimulate and facilitate the urgent institution of appropriate remedial action and also to trigger more research. Prevention of these adverse events will be complex and involves improving basic clinical processes and does not simply depend on the provision of more resources.

Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Initiative: from evidence to action in seven developing country hospitals

QUALITY PROBLEM

Recent evidence in the level of patient safety from hospitals in six developing countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has demonstrated the high prevalence of adverse events, the excessive rate of death and permanent disability and their high preventability. The Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Initiative (PSFHI) has been launched to respond to these challenges.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

The principal approach of the PSFHI has been to develop an assessment manual that has 140 patient safety standards across five domains--leadership and management, patients and public involvement, safe evidence-based clinical practices, safe environment and lifelong learning.

CHOICE OF SOLUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Ministries of health of seven countries--Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen were asked to nominate one hospital for assessment and then follow-up with an improvement plan.

EVALUATION

The standards are divided into critical (20), core (90) and developmental (30). The range of critical standards, the compulsory standards with which a hospital has to comply, achieved by participating hospitals was 8-78%. Overall, in the domain of leadership and management the highest compliance was 47%, for patients and public involvement 25%, for safe evidence-based clinical practice 53%, for safe environment 64% and for lifelong learning 27%.

LESSONS LEARNED

This is the first systematic multi-country initiative in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which provides compelling evidence that assessment of patient safety standards is feasible and applicable in resource-poor settings and there are significant opportunities for improving the level of patient safety in these hospitals.

Enamel defects in extracted and exfoliated teeth from patients with Amelogenesis Imperfecta, measured using the extended enamel defects index and image analysis

AIMS

To enhance the phenotypic description and quantification of enamel defects from a North Sweden sample of extracted and exfoliated teeth originating from families with Amelogenesis Imperfecta by use of the extended enamel defects index (EDI) and image analysis to demonstrate the comparable reliability and value of the additional measurements.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The sample comprised 109 deciduous and 7 permanent teeth from 32 individuals of 19 families with Amelogenesis Imperfecta in Northern Sweden. A special holder for individual teeth was designed and the whole sample was examined using the extended EDI and an image analysis system. In addition to the extended EDI definitions, the calibrated images were measured for tooth surface area, defect area and percentage of surface affected using image analysis techniques. The extended EDI was assessed using weighted and unweighted Kappa statistics. The reliability of imaging and measurement was determined using Fleiss' intra-class correlation coefficient (ICCC). Kappa values indicated good or excellent intra-operator repeatability and inter-operator reproducibility for the extended EDI. The Fleiss ICCC values indicated excellent repeatability for the image analysis measurements. Hypoplastic pits on the occlusal surfaces were the most frequent defect in this sample (82.6%). The occlusal surface displayed the most post-eruptive breakdown (39.13%) whilst the incisal portion of the buccal surfaces showed most diffuse opacities (53.4%). Image analysis methods demonstrated the largest mean hypoplastic pit areas were on the lingual surfaces. The largest mean post-eruptive breakdown areas were on the lingual surfaces of posterior teeth. The largest mean demarcated opacity areas were found on the labial surfaces.

CONCLUSIONS

The extended EDI and the standardised image acquisition and analysis system provided additional information to conventional measurement techniques. Additional phenotypic variables were described.

The new Enamel Defects Index: testing and expansion

The Enamel Defects Index (EDI) was created based on three innovative principles: (i) a basic level of the three major categories of defects; (ii) more detailed subcategories of each major category; and (iii) each category scored independently as present [1] or absent [0], simplifying decision making. The aim of this investigation was to further test the index in a number of applications and to expand it to record defect subtype and treatment need. Testing was undertaken by operators with different levels of clinical experience. A computer-assisted learning (CAL) package was developed for operator training and calibration. The index was also used on clinical photographs and high-resolution digital images of exfoliated and extracted teeth. Scoring of photographs revealed substantial intra-operator agreement. Training using the CAL package resulted in significant improvement in index use. Intra-operator reproducibility was good to excellent, and interoperator reproducibility was good for buccal surfaces on digital images. Index expansion allowed information on defect subtype, location, and treatment need to be gathered readily. The EDI has high reproducibility and allows more rapid and accurate data collection from clinical and in vitro studies than the Fédération Dentaire Internationale Developmental Defects of Enamel index.