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Nikolopoulos D, Loukogiannaki C, Sentis G, Garantziotis P, Manolakou T, Kapsala N, Nikoloudaki M, Pieta A, Flouda S, Parodis I, Bertsias G, Fanouriakis A, Filia A, Boumpas DT. Disentangling the riddle of systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholipid syndrome: blood transcriptome analysis reveals a less-pronounced IFN-signature and distinct molecular profiles in venous versus arterial events. Ann Rheum Dis 2024:ard-2024-225664. [PMID: 38609158 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2024-225664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholipid syndrome (SLE-APS) represents a challenging SLE endotype whose molecular basis remains unknown. METHODS We analysed whole-blood RNA-sequencing data from 299 patients with SLE (108 SLE-antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL)-positive, including 67 SLE-APS; 191 SLE-aPL-negative) and 72 matched healthy controls (HC). Pathway enrichment analysis, unsupervised weighted gene coexpression network analysis and machine learning were applied to distinguish disease endotypes. RESULTS Patients with SLE-APS demonstrated upregulated type I and II interferon (IFN) pathways compared with HC. Using a 100-gene random forests model, we achieved a cross-validated accuracy of 75.6% in distinguishing these two states. Additionally, the comparison between SLE-APS and SLE-aPL-negative revealed 227 differentially expressed genes, indicating downregulation of IFN-α and IFN-γ signatures, coupled with dysregulation of the complement cascade, B-cell activation and neutrophil degranulation. Unsupervised analysis of SLE transcriptome identified 21 gene modules, with SLE-APS strongly linked to upregulation of the 'neutrophilic/myeloid' module. Within SLE-APS, venous thromboses positively correlated with 'neutrophilic/myeloid' and 'B cell' modules, while arterial thromboses were associated with dysregulation of 'DNA damage response (DDR)' and 'metabolism' modules. Anticardiolipin and anti-β2GPI positivity-irrespective of APS status-were associated with the 'neutrophilic/myeloid' and 'protein-binding' module, respectively. CONCLUSIONS There is a hierarchical upregulation and-likely-dependence on IFN in SLE with the highest IFN signature observed in SLE-aPL-negative patients. Venous thrombotic events are associated with neutrophils and B cells while arterial events with DDR and impaired metabolism. This may account for their differential requirements for anticoagulation and provide rationale for the potential use of mTOR inhibitors such as sirolimus and the direct fIIa inhibitor dabigatran in SLE-APS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Catherine Loukogiannaki
- Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh, AG Groningen, Τhe Netherlands
| | - George Sentis
- Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Garantziotis
- Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Theodora Manolakou
- Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Noemin Kapsala
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Myrto Nikoloudaki
- Rheumatology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Iraklio, Crete, Greece
| | - Antigone Pieta
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Flouda
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Parodis
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Iraklio, Crete, Greece
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity-Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Filia
- Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT. Response to: Correspondence on 'EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus: 2023 update' by Fanouriakis et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2024:ard-2024-225617. [PMID: 38580396 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2024-225617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Myrto Kostopoulou
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Iraklio, Greece
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity-Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
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Pitsigavdaki S, Nikoloudaki M, Garantziotis P, Silvagni E, Repa A, Marangoni A, Flouri I, Avgoustidis N, Parperis K, Fanouriakis A, Govoni M, Sidiropoulos P, Boumpas DT, Bortoluzzi A, Bertsias G. Pragmatic targets for moderate/severe SLE and their implications for clinical care and trial design: sustained DORIS or LLDAS for at least 6 months is sufficient while their attainment for at least 24 months ensures high specificity for damage-free progression. Ann Rheum Dis 2024; 83:464-474. [PMID: 38233103 PMCID: PMC10958283 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Treatment targets in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been validated in unselected-in terms of severity-cohorts, which limits their generalisability. We assessed remission (Definition of Remission in SLE (DORIS)) and Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) in a historical cohort of 348 patients with active moderate-to-severe disease and median follow-up of 5 years. METHODS Active SLE was defined as Physician Global Assessment ≥1.5 and/or SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 ≥6, requiring therapy intensification. DORIS/LLDAS, organ damage, flares and adverse events were monitored. Shared frailty survival, generalised linear models and K-means clustering were applied. RESULTS Sustained DORIS and LLDAS for ≥6 months occurred in 41.1% and 80.4%, respectively, and resulted in reduced damage accrual (HR: 0.58; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.93 and 0.61; 0.43 to 0.86) and severe flares (HR: 0.14; 0.08 to 0.27 and 0.19; 0.13 to 0.27). LLDAS without DORIS was also protective (HR: 0.65; 0.43 to 0.98 for damage, 0.49; 0.36 to 0.67 for flares). Models fitting increasing duration of targets showed that DORIS ≥50% and LLDAS ≥60% of time, or alternatively, ≥24 and ≥36 months, achieved optimal balance between feasibility (20.2-41.7%) and specificity (73.3-86.1%) for damage-free outcome. These targets were linked to reduced serious adverse events (risk ratio (RR): 0.56-0.71), hospitalisation (RR: 0.70) and mortality (RR: 0.06-0.13). Patients with predominant arthritis and mucocutaneous disease experienced reduced DORIS/LLDAS, compared with counterparts with major organ involvement. Conventional drugs were more frequently used in the former group, whereas potent immunosuppressive/biological agents in the latter. CONCLUSIONS In moderate-to-severe SLE, sustained DORIS/LLDAS for at least 6 months is sufficient, while attainment for at least 24 months ensures higher specificity for damage-free progression, thus facilitating treat-to-target strategies and clinical trials. Arthritis and skin disease represent unmet therapeutic needs that could benefit from novel biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Pitsigavdaki
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Myrto Nikoloudaki
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Garantziotis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Centre of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ettore Silvagni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Argyro Repa
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Antonio Marangoni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Irini Flouri
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Nestor Avgoustidis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Parperis
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cyprus Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Marcello Govoni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Prodromos Sidiropoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
- Division of Immunity, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Centre of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Alessandra Bortoluzzi
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
- Division of Immunity, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
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Bortoluzzi A, Fanouriakis A, Silvagni E, Appenzeller S, Carli L, Carrara G, Cauli A, Conti F, Costallat LTL, De Marchi G, Doria A, Fredi M, Franceschini F, Garaffoni C, Hanly JG, Mosca M, Murphy E, Piga M, Quartuccio L, Scirè CA, Tomietto P, Truglia S, Zanetti A, Zen M, Bertsias G, Govoni M. Therapeutic Strategies and Outcomes in Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An International Multicenter Retrospective Study. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2024:keae119. [PMID: 38402539 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The management of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) poses considerable challenges due to limited clinical trials. Therapeutic decisions are customized based on suspected pathogenic mechanisms and symptom severity. This study aimed to investigate therapeutic strategies and disease outcome for patients with NPSLE experiencing their first neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestation. METHODS This retrospective cohort study defined NP events according to the American College of Rheumatology case definition, categorizing them into three clusters: central/diffuse, central/focal and peripheral. Clinical judgment and a validated attribution algorithm were used for NP event attribution. Data included demographic variables, SLE disease activity index, cumulative organ damage, and NP manifestation treatments. The clinical outcome of all NP events was determined by a physician seven-point Likert scale. Predictors of clinical improvement/resolution were investigated in a multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The analysis included 350 events. Immunosuppressants and corticosteroids were more frequently initiated/escalated for SLE-attributed central diffuse or focal NP manifestations. At 12 months of follow-up, 64% of patients showed a clinical improvement in NP manifestations. Focal central events and SLE-attributed manifestations correlated with higher rates of clinical improvement. Patients with NP manifestations attributed to SLE according to clinical judgment and treated with immunosuppressants had a significantly higher probability of achieving clinical response (OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.06-6.41, p= 0.04). Age at diagnosis and focal central events emerged as additional response predictors. CONCLUSION NP manifestations attributed to SLE by clinical judgment and treated with immunosuppressants demonstrated improved 12-month outcomes. This underscores the importance of accurate attribution and timely diagnosis of NPSLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bortoluzzi
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Cona, 44124, Italy
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, "Attikon" University Hospital and National Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, 12462, Greece
| | - Ettore Silvagni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Cona, 44124, Italy
| | - Simone Appenzeller
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Linda Carli
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Greta Carrara
- Epidemiology Unit, Italian Society of Rheumatology, Milan, 20121, Italy
| | - Alberto Cauli
- Rheumatology Unit, University Clinic, AOU Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, 09124, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Conti
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Udine, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Lilian Teresa Lavras Costallat
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Ginevra De Marchi
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Udine, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Andrea Doria
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, 35128, Italy, Via Giustiniani, 2
| | - Micaela Fredi
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit and Clinical and Experimental Science Department ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italyand
| | - Franco Franceschini
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit and Clinical and Experimental Science Department ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italyand
| | - Carlo Garaffoni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Cona, 44124, Italy
| | - John G Hanly
- Division of Rheumatology, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Dalhousie University and Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center, B3H 4K4, Canada, Halifax, Nova Scotia
| | - Marta Mosca
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Elana Murphy
- Division of Rheumatology, Departments of Medicine, Dalhousie University and Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center, B3H 4K4, Canada, Halifax, Nova Scotia
| | - Matteo Piga
- Rheumatology Unit, University Clinic, AOU Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, 09124, Italy
| | - Luca Quartuccio
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Udine, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Carlo Alberto Scirè
- Epidemiology Unit, Italian Society of Rheumatology, Milan, 20121, Italy
- School of Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, 20126, Italy
| | - Paola Tomietto
- Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI), 34128, Trieste, Italy
| | - Simona Truglia
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Udine, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Anna Zanetti
- Epidemiology Unit, Italian Society of Rheumatology, Milan, 20121, Italy
| | - Margherita Zen
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, 35128, Italy, Via Giustiniani, 2
| | - George Bertsias
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology, University of Crete Medical School and University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, 71409, Greece
- Laboratory of Rheumatology, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Infections & Immunity Division, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (FORTH), Heraklion, 70013, Greece
| | - Marcello Govoni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Cona, 44124, Italy
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Yavropoulou MP, Filippa MG, Vlachogiannis NI, Fragoulis GE, Laskari K, Mantzou A, Panopoulos S, Fanouriakis A, Bournia VK, Evangelatos G, Papapanagiotou A, Tektonidou MG, Chrousos GP, Sfikakis PP. Diurnal production of cortisol and prediction of treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis: a 6-month, real-life prospective cohort study. RMD Open 2024; 10:e003575. [PMID: 38233075 PMCID: PMC10806498 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A reduced adrenal reserve-associated cortisol production relative to the enhanced needs of chronic inflammation (disproportion principle) has been observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the possible clinical value of diurnal cortisol measurements in active RA on treatment response prediction. METHODS Diurnal cortisol production (measured at: 08-12:00/18:00-22:00) was assessed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 28 consecutive patients with moderately/highly active RA, as well as 3 and 6 months after treatment initiation or/escalation. Twenty-eight COVID-19 patients and 28 age-matched healthy individuals (HC) served as controls. RESULTS Saliva diurnal cortisol production in patients with RA was similar to that of HC, despite 12-fold higher serum C reactive protein (CRP) levels, and lower than COVID-19 patients (area under the curve: RA: 87.0±37.6 vs COVID-19: 146.7±14.3, p<0.001), having similarly high CRP. Moreover, a disturbed circadian cortisol rhythm at baseline was evident in 15 of 28 of patients with RA vs 4 of 28 and 20 of 28 of HC and COVID-19 patients, respectively. Treatment-induced minimal disease activity (MDA) at 6 months was achieved by 16 of 28 patients. Despite comparable demographics and clinical characteristics at baseline, non-MDA patients had lower baseline morning cortisol and higher adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels compared with patients on MDA (cortisol: 10.9±4.0 vs 18.4±8.2 nmol/L, respectively, p=0.005 and ACTH: 4.8±3.3 vs 2.4±0.4 pmol/L, respectively, p=0.047). Baseline morning cortisol <13.9 nmol/L predicted non-MDA at 6 months (75% sensitivity, 92% specificity, p=0.006). Prospective measurements revealed that individualised diurnal cortisol production remained largely unchanged from baseline to 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS An impaired adrenal reserve is present in patients with RA. Further studies to confirm that assessment of diurnal cortisol production may be useful in guiding treatment decisions and/or predicting treatment response in RA are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05671627.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Yavropoulou
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria G Filippa
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos I Vlachogiannis
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George E Fragoulis
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow School of Medicine, Glasgow, UK
| | - Katerina Laskari
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aimilia Mantzou
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stylianos Panopoulos
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki-Kalliopi Bournia
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Evangelatos
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aggeliki Papapanagiotou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria G Tektonidou
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Andersen J, Aringer M, Arnaud L, Bae SC, Boletis J, Bruce IN, Cervera R, Doria A, Dörner T, Furie RA, Gladman DD, Houssiau FA, Inês LS, Jayne D, Kouloumas M, Kovács L, Mok CC, Morand EF, Moroni G, Mosca M, Mucke J, Mukhtyar CB, Nagy G, Navarra S, Parodis I, Pego-Reigosa JM, Petri M, Pons-Estel BA, Schneider M, Smolen JS, Svenungsson E, Tanaka Y, Tektonidou MG, Teng YO, Tincani A, Vital EM, van Vollenhoven RF, Wincup C, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT. EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus: 2023 update. Ann Rheum Dis 2024; 83:15-29. [PMID: 37827694 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To update the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) based on emerging new evidence. METHODS An international Task Force formed the questions for the systematic literature reviews (January 2018-December 2022), followed by formulation and finalisation of the statements after a series of meetings. A predefined voting process was applied to each overarching principle and recommendation. Levels of evidence and strengths of recommendation were assigned, and participants finally provided their level of agreement with each item. RESULTS The Task Force agreed on 5 overarching principles and 13 recommendations, concerning the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), glucocorticoids (GC), immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs) (including methotrexate, mycophenolate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide (CYC)), calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, voclosporin) and biologics (belimumab, anifrolumab, rituximab). Advice is also provided on treatment strategies and targets of therapy, assessment of response, combination and sequential therapies, and tapering of therapy. HCQ is recommended for all patients with lupus at a target dose 5 mg/kg real body weight/day, considering the individual's risk for flares and retinal toxicity. GC are used as 'bridging therapy' during periods of disease activity; for maintenance treatment, they should be minimised to equal or less than 5 mg/day (prednisone equivalent) and, when possible, withdrawn. Prompt initiation of ISDs (methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate) and/or biological agents (anifrolumab, belimumab) should be considered to control the disease and facilitate GC tapering/discontinuation. CYC and rituximab should be considered in organ-threatening and refractory disease, respectively. For active lupus nephritis, GC, mycophenolate or low-dose intravenous CYC are recommended as anchor drugs, and add-on therapy with belimumab or CNIs (voclosporin or tacrolimus) should be considered. Updated specific recommendations are also provided for cutaneous, neuropsychiatric and haematological disease, SLE-associated antiphospholipid syndrome, kidney protection, as well as preventative measures for infections, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION The updated recommendations provide consensus guidance on the management of SLE, combining evidence and expert opinion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, "Attikon" University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Myrto Kostopoulou
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, "Attikon" University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Martin Aringer
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine III, University Medical Center & Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus at the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Laurent Arnaud
- Department of Rheumatology, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, INSERM UMR-S 1109, Centre National de Référence des Maladies Auto-immunes Systémiques Rares (RESO), Strasbourg, France
| | - Sang-Cheol Bae
- Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Hanyang University Institute for Rheumatology Research and Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Seoul, South Korea
| | - John Boletis
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Unit, "Laiko" General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ian N Bruce
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Ricard Cervera
- Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Doria
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Thomas Dörner
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Deutsches Rheumaforschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard A Furie
- Division of Rheumatology, Northwell Health, Great Neck, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Dafna D Gladman
- Lupus Program, Centre for Prognosis Studies in the Rheumatic Disease, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frederic A Houssiau
- Service de Rhumatologie, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luís Sousa Inês
- Department of Rheumatology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; School of Health Sciences, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilha, Portugal
| | - David Jayne
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - László Kovács
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Chi Chiu Mok
- Department of Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eric F Morand
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gabriella Moroni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Humanitas University, Nephrology and Dialysis Division, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Mosca
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Johanna Mucke
- Department of Rheumatology & Hiller Research Unit Rheumatology, UKD, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Chetan B Mukhtyar
- Vasculitis Service, Rheumatology Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
| | - György Nagy
- Hospital of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sandra Navarra
- Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - 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
| | - José M Pego-Reigosa
- Rheumatology Department, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, IRIDIS (Investigation in Rheumatology and Immune-Mediated Diseases) - VIGO Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, Vigo, Spain
| | - Michelle Petri
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Bernardo A Pons-Estel
- Grupo Oroño, Centro Regional de Enfermedades Autoinmunes y Reumáticas (GO-CREAR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Matthias Schneider
- Department of Rheumatology & Hiller Research Unit Rheumatology, UKD, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Josef S Smolen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabet Svenungsson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dermatology and Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yoshiya Tanaka
- First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Maria G Tektonidou
- Rheumatology Unit, First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, "Laiko" General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Athens, Greece
| | - Yk Onno Teng
- Centre of Expertise for Lupus-, Vasculitis- and Complement-mediated Systemic autoimmune diseases, Department of Internal Medicine - section Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Angela Tincani
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Edward M Vital
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Ronald F van Vollenhoven
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chris Wincup
- Department of Rheumatology, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, "Attikon" University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Kapsala N, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT. Reply to the comment by Alarcón et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2023; 41:2342. [PMID: 37382450 DOI: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/fphklo] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Noemin Kapsala
- Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
| | | | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Biomedical Research Foundation of the Athens Academy (BRFAA), Athens, Greece
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To describe the current state of knowledge regarding COVID-19 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We focus on (i) SARS-CoV-2 vaccination uptake, immunogenicity and safety, and (ii) outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with SLE and pertinent risk factors for adverse sequelae. RECENT FINDINGS Notwithstanding the potential concern of patients about possible post-vaccination side-effects, the safety of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with SLE has been undisputedly confirmed in numerous studies. Humoral immunogenicity is generally attained in SLE, although affected by the use of background immunosuppressive drugs, especially rituximab. The latter has also clearly been implicated with adverse COVID-19 outcomes in SLE, including need for hospitalization, mechanical ventilation and death. Although the wide adoption of vaccination has significantly improved COVID-19 outcomes, patients with SLE continue to pose challenges during the pandemic, mainly owing to administered immunosuppressive medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pappa
- 1st Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexandros Panagiotopoulos
- 1st Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Thomas
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Stergioti EM, Manolakou T, Sentis G, Samiotaki M, Kapsala N, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT, Banos A. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling reveals distinct pathogenic features of peripheral non-classical monocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Immunol 2023; 255:109765. [PMID: 37678715 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral blood monocytes propagate inflammation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Three major populations of monocytes have been recognized namely classical (CM), intermediate (IM) and non-classical monocytes (NCM). Herein, we performed a comprehensive transcriptomic, proteomic and functional characterization of the three peripheral monocytic subsets from active SLE patients and healthy individuals. Our data demonstrate extensive molecular disruptions in circulating SLE NCM, characterized by enhanced inflammatory features such as deregulated DNA repair, cell cycle and heightened IFN signaling combined with differentiation and developmental cues. Enhanced DNA damage, elevated expression of p53, G0 arrest of cell cycle and increased autophagy stress the differentiation potential of NCM in SLE. This immunogenic profile is associated with an activated macrophage phenotype of NCM exhibiting M1 characteristics in the circulation, fueling the inflammatory response. Together, these findings identify circulating SLE NCM as a pathogenic cell type in the disease that could represent an additional therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Maria Stergioti
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens 115 27, Greece; 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens 124 62, Greece.
| | - Theodora Manolakou
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens 115 27, Greece
| | - George Sentis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens 115 27, Greece
| | - Martina Samiotaki
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Athens 166 72, Greece
| | - Noemin Kapsala
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens 124 62, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens 124 62, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens 115 27, Greece.
| | - Aggelos Banos
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens 115 27, Greece.
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Fanouriakis A, Bertsias G, Liapis G, Marinaki S, Papagianni A, Stangou M, Garyfallos A, Lionaki S, Tektonidou MG, Boletis JN, Boumpas DT. Multidisciplinary approach to lupus nephritis: Clinical pearls, pitfalls, and positioning of newly-approved agents. Lupus 2023; 32:1155-1163. [PMID: 37499240 DOI: 10.1177/09612033231191944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major course of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), best managed by a multidisciplinary group. To this end, we gathered a group of rheumatologists, nephrologists and a nephropathologist to review current evidence regarding diagnosis and management of LN. In this consensus paper, we summarize the key points from this meeting and provide practice guidelines for the management of kidney involvement in SLE, in view of emerging new data concerning novel agents approved recently. Renal biopsy is indispensable for the management of LN. Yet, important pearls and pitfalls need to be considered regarding indications and interpretation, which are summarized in informative tables. In new-onset LN, experts agreed that, although belimumab may be added from disease onset, patients with moderate to severe proliferative nephritis (defined as: NIH activity index > 5 plus ≥ 1 of the following: (i) NIH chronicity index > 2, (ii) proteinuria > 3 g/24 h, and (iii) increase in serum creatinine > 20%) may be more likely to benefit the most. In all other patients who have already started standard-of-care treatment with either mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclophosphamide (CY), belimumab could be considered in cases with an inadequate clinical response by 3 months, or in cases that experience a nephritic flare following initial response, or have an inability to reduce the dose of glucocorticoids. In all circumstances, the drug should be given as add-on therapy, that is, in combination with a standard-of-care therapy (MMF or CY). Voclosporin could be considered for up to 3 years, in combination with MMF, in patients with heavy proteinuria (well above the nephrotic range), wherein a quick reduction of protein loss in urine is desirable to avoid the complications of the nephrotic syndrome, either as part of the initial regimen, or in cases of inadequate reduction of proteinuria with MMF. In view of the potential scarring effects, long-term administration beyond the first year requires further documentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University Hospital of Heraklion, Herakilon, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation or Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - George Liapis
- First Department of Pathology, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Smaragdi Marinaki
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Papagianni
- Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Stangou
- Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandros Garyfallos
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sophia Lionaki
- Department of Nephrology, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria G Tektonidou
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - John N Boletis
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Athens, Greece
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11
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Neupane B, Shukla P, Slim M, Martin A, Petri M, Bertsias GK, Kim AHJ, Fanouriakis A, Levy RA, Chauhan D, Ballew N. Belimumab versus anifrolumab in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus: an indirect comparison of clinical response at 52 weeks. Lupus Sci Med 2023; 10:10/1/e000907. [PMID: 37147022 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2023-000907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To generate comparative efficacy evidence of belimumab versus anifrolumab in SLE that can inform treatment practices. METHODS The SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response at 52 weeks of belimumab versus anifrolumab was evaluated with an indirect treatment comparison. The evidence base consisted of randomised trials that were compiled through a systemic literature review.A feasibility assessment was performed to comprehensively compare the eligible trials and to determine the most appropriate indirect treatment comparison analysis method. A multilevel network meta-regression (ML-NMR) was implemented that adjusted for differences across trials in four baseline characteristics: SLE Disease Activity Index-2K, anti-double-stranded DNA antibody positive, low complement (C)3 and low C4. Additional analyses were conducted to explore if the results were robust to different sets of baseline characteristics included for adjustment, alternative adjustment methods and changes to the trials included in the evidence base. RESULTS The ML-NMR included eight trials: five belimumab trials (BLISS-52, BLISS-76, NEA, BLISS-SC, EMBRACE) and three anifrolumab trials (MUSE, TULIP-1, TULIP-2). Belimumab and anifrolumab were comparable in terms of SRI-4 response (OR (95% credible interval), 1.04 (0.74-1.45)), with the direction of the point estimate slightly favouring belimumab. Belimumab had a 0.58 probability of being the more effective treatment. The results were highly consistent across all analysis scenarios. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the SRI-4 response of belimumab and anifrolumab are similar at 52 weeks in the general SLE population, but the level of uncertainty around the point estimate means we cannot rule out the possibility of a clinically meaningful benefit for either treatment. It remains to be seen if specific groups of patients could derive a greater benefit from anifrolumab or from belimumab, and there is certainly an unmet need to identify robust predictors towards more personalised selection of available biological agents in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binod Neupane
- Evidence Synthesis, Modeling & Simulation, Evidera, St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pragya Shukla
- Evidence Synthesis, Modeling & Simulation, Evidera, St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mahmoud Slim
- Evidence Synthesis, Modeling & Simulation, Evidera, St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
- Institute of Neurosciences "Federico Olóriz", University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Amber Martin
- Evidence Synthesis, Modeling & Communication, Evidera, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michelle Petri
- Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - George K Bertsias
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Crete School of Medicine, Crete, Greece
| | - Alfred H J Kim
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, "Laikon" General Hospital, National Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Roger A Levy
- Specialty Care, Global Medical Affairs, GSK, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Nick Ballew
- Value Evidence and Outcomes, GSK, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
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Kostopoulou M, Fanouriakis A, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases collection on lupus nephritis (2019-2022): novel insights and advances in therapy. Ann Rheum Dis 2023; 82:729-733. [PMID: 37094880 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-223880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
No single organ has received as much attention in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as the kidneys. During the period 2019-2022, the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases published several original papers, brief reports and letters that further elucidate the pathogenesis and advance the management of LN. A selection of representative original papers is highlighted in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Kostopoulou
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Iraklio, Greece
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity-Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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13
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Nikolakis D, Garantziotis P, Sentis G, Fanouriakis A, Bertsias G, Frangou E, Nikolopoulos D, Banos A, Boumpas DT. Restoration of aberrant gene expression of monocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus via a combined transcriptome-reversal and network-based drug repurposing strategy. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:207. [PMID: 37072752 PMCID: PMC10114456 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09275-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monocytes -key regulators of the innate immune response- are actively involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We sought to identify novel compounds that might serve as monocyte-directed targeted therapies in SLE. RESULTS We performed mRNA sequencing in monocytes from 15 patients with active SLE and 10 healthy individuals. Disease activity was assessed with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2 K). Leveraging the drug repurposing platforms iLINCS, CLUE and L1000CDS2, we identified perturbagens capable of reversing the SLE monocyte signature. We identified transcription factors and microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate the transcriptome of SLE monocytes, using the TRRUST and miRWalk databases, respectively. A gene regulatory network, integrating implicated transcription factors and miRNAs was constructed, and drugs targeting central components of the network were retrieved from the DGIDb database. Inhibitors of the NF-κB pathway, compounds targeting the heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), as well as a small molecule disrupting the Pim-1/NFATc1/NLRP3 signaling axis were predicted to efficiently counteract the aberrant monocyte gene signature in SLE. An additional analysis was conducted, to enhance the specificity of our drug repurposing approach on monocytes, using the iLINCS, CLUE and L1000CDS2 platforms on publicly available datasets from circulating B-lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, derived from SLE patients. Through this approach we identified, small molecule compounds, that could potentially affect more selectively the transcriptome of SLE monocytes, such as, certain NF-κB pathway inhibitors, Pim-1 and SYK kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, according to our network-based drug repurposing approach, an IL-12/23 inhibitor and an EGFR inhibitor may represent potential drug candidates in SLE. CONCLUSIONS Application of two independent - a transcriptome-reversal and a network-based -drug repurposing strategies uncovered novel agents that might remedy transcriptional disturbances of monocytes in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Nikolakis
- Amsterdam Institute for Gastroenterology Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Gastroenterology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam Rheumatology & Immunology Center (ARC), Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection & Immunity, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Onassis Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Garantziotis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - George Sentis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, 4th, Greece
- Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, "Laiko" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-FORTH, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Eleni Frangou
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Nephrology, Limassol General Hospital, Limassol, Cyprus
- Medical School, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, 4th, Greece
| | - Aggelos Banos
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, 4th, Greece.
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
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Moysidou GS, Garantziotis P, Nikolopoulos D, Katsimbri P, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT. Relapses are common in severe hematologic systemic lupus erythematosus and may be prevented by early institution of immunosuppressive agents: Α real-life single-center study. Lupus 2023; 32:225-230. [PMID: 36490217 DOI: 10.1177/09612033221144425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hematologic manifestations are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), either at initial presentation or during the course of the disease, but data regarding their natural history are scarce. OBJECTIVE To describe the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of severe hematological manifestations in a large cohort of lupus patients. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of patients in the "Attikon" lupus cohort who had a history of a severe hematologic manifestation, defined as autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) with hemoglobin < 8 g/dL, thrombocytopenia with platelet count < 30,000/mm3, Evans syndrome with hemoglobin < 8 g/dL, and/or platelet count < 30,000/mm3, neutropenia with < 500 neutrophils/mm3, thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)-like syndrome, or macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Demographic and clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS From over 300 patients with hematologic manifestations, 41 qualified as severe (70.7% women, mean [SD] age at SLE diagnosis 42.6 [18.0] years). Hematologic manifestations preceded SLE diagnosis in 13 patients (31.7%), was concomitant to SLE diagnosis in 16 patients (39%), and occurred during the course of the disease in 12 (29.3%) patients, with a mean (SD) disease duration of 8.7 (5.5) years. Thrombocytopenia was the most common severe hematological manifestation (56.1%), followed by AIHA (17.1%) and TTP-like syndrome (12.2%). For initial treatment, all patients were treated with glucocorticoids (GC), while rituximab and cyclophosphamide were the most frequently used immunosuppressive agents. Following initial treatment, relapse occurred in 22 patients (53.7%). Compared to patients that did not relapse, those that relapsed had less often received concomitant immunosuppressive agents following treatment of initial episode (n = 17/23, 73.9% vs 5/17, 29.4%, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION Severe hematologic disease in SLE has a high risk of relapse, which may be mitigated by the early institution of GC-sparing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia-Savina Moysidou
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Inflammation & Autoimmunity Lab, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Garantziotis
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Inflammation & Autoimmunity Lab, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Inflammation & Autoimmunity Lab, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece
| | - Pelagia Katsimbri
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.,1st Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, "Laiko" General Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Inflammation & Autoimmunity Lab, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece.,Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
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Nikoloudaki M, Nikolopoulos D, Koutsoviti S, Flouri I, Kapsala N, Repa A, Katsimbri P, Theotikos E, Pitsigavdaki S, Pateromichelaki K, Bertsias A, Elezoglou A, Sidiropoulos P, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas D, Bertsias G. Clinical response trajectories and drug persistence in systemic lupus erythematosus patients on belimumab treatment: A real-life, multicentre observational study. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1074044. [PMID: 36685524 PMCID: PMC9845912 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1074044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To obtain real-world data on outcomes of belimumab treatment and respective prognostic factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Observational study of 188 active SLE patients (median disease duration 6.2 years, two previous immunosuppressive/biological agents) treated with belimumab, who were monitored for SLEDAI-2K, Physician Global Assessment (PGA), LLDAS (lupus low disease activity state), remission (DORIS/Padua definitions), SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index, SLICC/ACR damage index and treatment discontinuations. Group-based disease activity trajectories were modelled followed by multinomial regression for predictive variables. Drug survival was analysed by Cox-regression. Results At 6, 12 and 24 months, LLDAS was attained by 36.2%, 36.7% and 33.5%, DORIS-remission by 12.3%, 11.6% and 17.8%, and Padua-remission by 21.3%, 17.9% and 29.0%, respectively (attrition-corrected). Trajectory analysis of activity indices classified patients into complete (25.5%), partial (42.0%) and non-responder (32.4%) groups, which were predicted by baseline PGA, inflammatory rash, leukopenia and prior use of mycophenolate. During median follow-up of 15 months, efficacy-related discontinuations occurred in 31.4% of the cohort, especially in patients with higher baseline PGA (hazard ratio [HR] 2.78 per 1-unit; 95% CI 1.32-5.85). Conversely, PGA improvement at 3 months predicted longer drug retention (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.33-0.97). Use of hydroxychloroquine was associated with lower risk for safety-related drug discontinuation (HR 0.33; 95% CI 0.13-0.85). Although severe flares were reduced, flares were not uncommon (58.0%) and contributed to treatment stops (odds ratio [OR] 1.73 per major flare; 95% CI 1.09-2.75) and damage accrual (OR 1.83 per mild/moderate flare; 95% CI 1.15-2.93). Conclusions In a real-life setting with predominant long-standing SLE, belimumab was effective in the majority of patients, facilitating the achievement of therapeutic targets. Monitoring PGA helps to identify patients who will likely benefit and stay on the treatment. Vigilance is required for the prevention and management of flares while on belimumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Nikoloudaki
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Internal Medicine, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Koutsoviti
- Department of Rheumatology, ‘Asklepieion’ General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Irini Flouri
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Internal Medicine, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Noemin Kapsala
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Argyro Repa
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Internal Medicine, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Pelagia Katsimbri
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Sofia Pitsigavdaki
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Internal Medicine, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Katerina Pateromichelaki
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Internal Medicine, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Antonios Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Internal Medicine, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Antonia Elezoglou
- Department of Rheumatology, ‘Asklepieion’ General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Prodromos Sidiropoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Internal Medicine, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Immunity, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece,Department of Rheumatology, ‘Asklepieion’ General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece,Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Internal Medicine, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece,Division of Immunity, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece,*Correspondence: George Bertsias,
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Manolakou T, Nikolopoulos D, Gkikas D, Filia A, Samiotaki M, Stamatakis G, Fanouriakis A, Politis P, Banos A, Alissafi T, Verginis P, Boumpas DT. ATR-mediated DNA damage responses underlie aberrant B cell activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabo5840. [PMID: 36306362 PMCID: PMC9616496 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo5840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
B cells orchestrate autoimmune responses in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but broad-based B cell-directed therapies show only modest efficacy while blunting humoral immune responses to vaccines and inducing immunosuppression. Development of more effective therapies targeting pathogenic clones is a currently unmet need. Here, we demonstrate enhanced activation of the ATR/Chk1 pathway of the DNA damage response (DDR) in B cells of patients with active SLE disease. Treatment of B cells with type I IFN, a key driver of immunity in SLE, induced expression of ATR via binding of interferon regulatory factor 1 to its gene promoter. Pharmacologic targeting of ATR in B cells, via a specific inhibitor (VE-822), attenuated their immunogenic profile, including proinflammatory cytokine secretion, plasmablast formation, and antibody production. Together, these findings identify the ATR-mediated DDR axis as the orchestrator of the type I IFN-mediated B cell responses in SLE and as a potential novel therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Manolakou
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
- School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
- Corresponding author. (T.M.); (P.V.); (D.T.B.)
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
- School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Gkikas
- Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Filia
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Martina Samiotaki
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Attica, Greece
- Centre of New Biotechnologies and Precision Medicine (CNBPM) School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 115 27, Greece
| | - George Stamatakis
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Attica, Greece
- Centre of New Biotechnologies and Precision Medicine (CNBPM) School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 115 27, Greece
| | | | - Panagiotis Politis
- Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27, Athens, Greece
- School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, 1516, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Aggelos Banos
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Themis Alissafi
- Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27, Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 124 62 Athens, Greece
| | - Panayotis Verginis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Division of Basic Sciences, University of Crete Medical School, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece
- Corresponding author. (T.M.); (P.V.); (D.T.B.)
| | - Dimitrios T. Boumpas
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
- Joint Rheumatology Program, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 124 62 Athens, Greece
- Corresponding author. (T.M.); (P.V.); (D.T.B.)
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17
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Gioti O, Chavatza K, Nikoloudaki M, Katechis S, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT, Fanouriakis A. Residual disease activity and treatment intensification in systemic lupus erythematosus: A cross-sectional study to quantify the need for new therapies. Lupus 2022; 31:1726-1734. [PMID: 36169280 DOI: 10.1177/09612033221129776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The proportion of SLE patients with residual disease activity in routine settings is variable. We assessed disease activity state in patients during their most recent visit, and whether patients with residual activity were offered therapy intensification. METHODS Cross-sectional study of consecutive lupus patients in three tertiary centers. Patients were categorized as: i) remission off-therapy, ii) remission on-therapy, iii) low disease activity, and iv) non-optimally controlled disease. Multivariable regression identified factors associated with treatment intensification and ROC analysis calculated the accuracy of SLEDAI-2K to predict this intensification. RESULTS Three hundred and thirty-two patients were included [93.1% female, mean (SD) age 48.5 (14.7) years, median (IQR) disease duration 6.5 (12.4) years]. Mean (SD) total and clinical SLEDAI at last visit were 3.7 (3.0) and 3.0 (2.9), respectively. Although 23.2% of patients were in remission, 40.1% were categorized as non-optimally controlled disease (79.2% due to SLEDAI-2K > 4), but less than 50% of them were offered therapy intensification. Proteinuria (OR 6.78, 95% CI 2.06-22.25), arthritis (OR 5.48, 95% CI 3.20-9.40), and rash (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.81-5.75) were associated with intensification of therapy, but the accuracy of either total or clinical SLEDAI to predict it was moderate (ROC area under the curve 0.761 and 0.779, respectively). CONCLUSIONS About 40% of patients have evidence of residual disease activity and could qualify for novel treatments. Most treatment changes were triggered by active renal, joint, and skin disease, whereas the predictive value of SLEDAI-2K as a metric of disease activity was modest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ourania Gioti
- Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieio" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Chavatza
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, 68993National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Myrto Nikoloudaki
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 37778University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Spyridon Katechis
- Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieio" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 37778University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, 68993National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieio" General Hospital, Athens, Greece.,"Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, 68993National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Katsimpari C, Koutsoviti S, Mpalanika A, Kalavri E, Theotikos E, Fanouriakis A, Elezoglou A. Spontaneous Chalk-Stick Fracture in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case Report. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2022; 33:346-348. [DOI: 10.31138/mjr.33.3.346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chaido Katsimpari
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | - Sofia Koutsoviti
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | - Alexia Mpalanika
- Department of Radiology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Kalavri
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | | | | | - Antonia Elezoglou
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
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Pavli P, Gioti O, Spyridopoulos TN, Katsikas G, Tsourous G, Elezoglou A, Kaziani K, Fanouriakis A. Acute Abdominal Situations as Presenting or Flaring Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Series. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2022; 33:339-345. [DOI: 10.31138/mjr.33.3.339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Polina Pavli
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Evaggelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | - Ourania Gioti
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | - Themistoklis N. Spyridopoulos
- 2nd Unit of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Evgenidion Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | - George Katsikas
- Department of Rheumatology, Evaggelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | - George Tsourous
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Mediterraneo” Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonia Elezoglou
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | - Katerina Kaziani
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Evaggelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
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Karamanakos A, Evangelatos G, Pappa M, Fragiadaki K, Fanouriakis A, Fragoulis GE. Chilblains After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Coincidence or Real Association? J Rheumatol 2022; 49:1295-1296. [PMID: 35914789 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.220487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We read with great interest the article of Meara et al1 in your journal describing a case of chilblain-like lesions after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, millions of vaccine doses have been administered and their safety has been generally confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Karamanakos
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.E. Fragoulis, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Agiou Thoma 17 Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - Gerasimos Evangelatos
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.E. Fragoulis, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Agiou Thoma 17 Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - Maria Pappa
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.E. Fragoulis, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Agiou Thoma 17 Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - Kalliopi Fragiadaki
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.E. Fragoulis, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Agiou Thoma 17 Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.E. Fragoulis, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Agiou Thoma 17 Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - George E Fragoulis
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.E. Fragoulis, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Agiou Thoma 17 Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece.
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21
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Frangou E, Garantziotis P, Grigoriou M, Banos A, Nikolopoulos D, Pieta A, Doumas SA, Fanouriakis A, Hatzioannou A, Manolakou T, Alissafi T, Verginis P, Athanasiadis E, Dermitzakis E, Bertsias G, Filia A, Boumpas DT. Cross-species transcriptome analysis for early detection and specific therapeutic targeting of human lupus nephritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2022; 81:1409-1419. [PMID: 35906002 PMCID: PMC9484391 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-222069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Patients with lupus nephritis (LN) are in urgent need for early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions targeting aberrant molecular pathways enriched in affected kidneys. Methods We used mRNA-sequencing in effector (spleen) and target (kidneys, brain) tissues from lupus and control mice at sequential time points, and in the blood from 367 individuals (261 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and 106 healthy individuals). Comparative cross-tissue and cross-species analyses were performed. The human dataset was split into training and validation sets and machine learning was applied to build LN predictive models. Results In murine SLE, we defined a kidney-specific molecular signature, as well as a molecular signature that underlies transition from preclinical to overt disease and encompasses pathways linked to metabolism, innate immune system and neutrophil degranulation. The murine kidney transcriptome partially mirrors the blood transcriptome of patients with LN with 11 key transcription factors regulating the cross-species active LN molecular signature. Integrated protein-to-protein interaction and drug prediction analyses identified the kinases TRRAP, AKT2, CDK16 and SCYL1 as putative targets of these factors and capable of reversing the LN signature. Using murine kidney-specific genes as disease predictors and machine-learning training of the human RNA-sequencing dataset, we developed and validated a peripheral blood-based algorithm that discriminates LN patients from normal individuals (based on 18 genes) and non-LN SLE patients (based on 20 genes) with excellent sensitivity and specificity (area under the curve range from 0.80 to 0.99). Conclusions Machine-learning analysis of a large whole blood RNA-sequencing dataset of SLE patients using human orthologs of mouse kidney-specific genes can be used for early, non-invasive diagnosis and therapeutic targeting of LN. The kidney-specific gene predictors may facilitate prevention and early intervention trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Frangou
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Nephrology, Limassol General Hospital, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Panagiotis Garantziotis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Medical University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maria Grigoriou
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aggelos Banos
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antigone Pieta
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stavros A Doumas
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Hatzioannou
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Manolakou
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Themis Alissafi
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panayotis Verginis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Athanasiadis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Dermitzakis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development and Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva (iG3), University of Geneva Medical School, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - George Bertsias
- Laboratory of Rheumatology, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Anastasia Filia
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece .,4th Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.,Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Nikolopoulos D, Kitsos D, Papathanasiou M, Kapsala N, Grivas A, Gioti O, Garantziotis P, Pieta A, Voumvourakis K, Boumpas D, Fanouriakis A. POS0122 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEMYELINATING SYNDROMES IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: RESULTS FROM “ATTIKON” LUPUS COHORT. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.5031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundCentral nervous system (CNS) demyelinating syndromes that occur in the context of SLE may represent a manifestation of neuropsychiatric lupus, or an overlap of SLE and multiple sclerosis (MS). The differential diagnosis between the two entities has important clinical implications, because the therapeutic management differs between the two conditions.ObjectivesTo characterize CNS demyelinating syndromes in a large SLE cohort as neuropsychiatric SLE or SLE-MS overlap, using a multidisciplinary approach and existing diagnostic (MS) and classification criteria (SLE)MethodsPatients from the “Attikon” lupus cohort (n=707) were evaluated for demyelinating syndromes. Clinical, laboratory and neuroimaging data were recorded for each patient. Following multidisciplinary evaluation and application of criteria, the demyelinating syndrome was attributed to either SLE or MS. Patients with transverse myelitis were not included in this study.ResultsWe identified 26 patients with demyelinating syndromes (3.7%) with mean age at diagnosis 46.9 (SD 12.3) years and median disease duration at last follow-up 60 (IQR 52) months. Of them, 12 were diagnosed as primary SLE-demyelination (46.2%) and 14 as overlap SLE-MS (53.8%). The two groups did not differ with respect to rheumatologic and neurologic manifestations, or serologic findings (ANA, dsDNA, C3/C4, aPL, ENA). SLE patients with demyelination manifested mild extra-CNS disease mainly involving joints and skin, while severe non-CNS manifestations were rare. However, patients with SLE-demyelination were less likely to have elevated IgG index (OR 0.055 95% CI: 0.008-0.40) and positive oligoclonal bands (OR 0.09 95% CI: 0.014-0.56). SLE patients with primary demyelinating syndrome were less likely to exhibit brain lesions in the spinal cord, infratentorial, periventricular and juxtacortical regions. A single brain region was affected in 9 SLE-demyelination patients (75%), while all MS-SLE patients had multiple affected brain regions. MS-SLE overlap was associated with increased likelihood of neurologic relapses (OR 18.2, 95% CI: 1.76-188), while SLE-demyelination patients were less likely to exhibit neurological deficits (EDSS>0) at last follow-up visit (50% vs. 78.6%in SLE-MS, respectively).ConclusionDemyelination in the context of SLE follows a more benign course compared to a frank SLE-MS overlap. Prolongation of follow-up will ascertain whether SLE-demyelination patients evolve to MS, or this is a bona fide NPSLE syndrome.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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Tzanis P, Klavdianou K, Katechis S, Katsimpari C, Athanassiou L, Gioti O, Giannakopoulou II, Koutsoviti S, Sofianos I, Lazarini A, Fanouriakis A, Theotikos E, Kalavri E, Elezoglou A. AB0238 HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND CORRELATION WITH DISEASE ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundPatients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at risk for poor functional outcomes, affecting quality of life (QoL). SF-36 is a validated instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in various domains of physical and mental health1, and has been validated in RA. Nevertheless, data on the impact of RA disease activity on SF-36 scores in Greek patients are lacking.ObjectivesTo compare SF-36 scores in Greek RA patients versus the general population and to assess the impact of disease activity on HRQoL.MethodsCross-sectional study in RA patients followed in the Department of Rheumatology, Asklepieio Voulas General Hospital (05-10/2021). Demographic characteristics, state of disease activity and current treatment for RA were recorded at most recent visit. All patients completed SF-36 questionnaires and were classified in three subgroups of DAS28-disease activity: i) Remission or Low disease activity (LDA), ii) Moderate disease activity (MDA), and iii) High disease activity (HDA). Data from the SF-36 validation study in the Greek general population with 1007 participants, were used as historical controls2. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA and linear regression were used for statistical analyses.Results107 patients participated in the study (80,4% females, mean (SD) age 63.3 (12.1) years, 64.5% seropositive, 72% overweight or obese). One third (n=36) were active smokers and 63% (n=67) were receiving a biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD).Patients with RA exhibited low scores in all SF-36 domains and reported significantly worse results compared to the general population (Figure 1).Figure 1.Physical component score (PCS) and Mental component score (MCS) of the SF-36 showed a negative correlation with DAS28 (β= -8.28, p= <0.001 and β= -6.2, p= <0.001, respectively). Patients with remission or LDA exhibited better SF-36 scores compared to the other subgroups; moreover, patients with MDA had better SF-36 scores than those with HDA (Table 1). When patients with MDA were further divided into low- and high-moderate disease activity (DAS28: 3,21-4,19 and 4,2-5,1, respectively), no significant difference in any SF-36 domain was found between the two groups.Table 1.SF-36 domain mean±SDRDA or LDA 51%MDA 37,2%HAD 11,7%p-valuePF48,43 ±34,2332,14 ±19,8320 ± 19,750.003RP34,9 ±43,6820,71 ± 32,920 ± 00.015BP51,2 ±30,4728,24 ± 24,4918,86 ± 23,54<0.001GH48,83 ±4541,57 ± 24,2532,27 ± 19,540.043VT49,48 ±22,2234,14 ± 18,5730,91 ± 15,940.001SF52,16 ±35,3340,36 ± 27,1328,41 ± 14,890.041RE39,01 ±44,6827,62 ± 40,8118,18 ± 34,520.246MH54,08 ±23,2447,57 ± 21,7540 ± 18,590.124ConclusionHRQoL assessed by SF-36 is dampened in RA patients, in both physical and mental component. Disease activity had a negative impact on both physical and mental components of HRQoL. Patients with remission or LDA showed better HRQoL outcomes, suggesting that the treat-to-target approach may also positively affect QoL.References[1]Ware, J. E., Jr, & Gandek, B. (1998) Journal of clinical epidemiology, 51(11), 903–912.[2]Pappa E et al. Qual Life Res. 2005 Jun;14(5):1433-8Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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Flouda S, Grivas A, Kapsala N, Grigoriou M, Nikolopoulos D, Filia A, Sentis G, Chavatza K, Aggelakos M, Moysidou GS, Kosmetatou M, Tseronis D, Katsimpri P, Karageorgas T, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas D. POS0210 A PREDOMINANT NON-SPECIFIC INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONIA PATTERN AND ABERRANT TRANSCRIPTOMIC NEUTROPHIL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY CHARACTERIZE A CONTEMPORARY RA-ILD COHORT. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.3502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundLung involvement is the most common extra-articular manifestation. Rheumatoid arthritis related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) comprises a heterogeneous group of parenchymal lung disorders classified by distinct clinical, pathologic, and radiographic features. According to the current paradigm, circulating immune complexes and aberrant neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) contribute to disease pathogenesis.ObjectivesTo characterize the pattern of lung disease in “Attikon” RA-ILD cohort and develop insights about the pathophysiologic mechanisms via whole blood RNA sequencing.MethodsRetrospective and prospective study to identify clinical, laboratory and radiologic characteristics of patients with RA and pulmonary manifestations in the “Attikon” RA-ILD cohort. Changes in pulmonary function tests (PFTs), pattern of lung involvement (chest HRCT), disease activity (DAS28-ESR) and incidence of complications and comorbidities, were prospectively analyzed during the one-year follow-up period. Peripheral blood was collected in a subset of RA-ILD (n=11) and control RA patients (n=9) for RNA isolation and RNA sequencing. The gene expression profile of RA-ILD was inferred through differential gene expression analysis, followed by pathway and enrichment analyses.Results114 patients with RA-ILD were included [67% female, mean (SD) age at diagnosis 71.5 (9) years, 58% seropositive]. Non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) was the radiologic pattern most frequently observed (52%), followed by usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (24%). RA was diagnosed after ILD in 40% of patients. Mean (SD) FVC and DLCOsb at baseline was 80.5 (19.2) and 55.4 (19.5), respectively. Disease activity was lower in seropositive compared to seronegative both at baseline and at 1-year follow-up (p=0.025). PFTs at 12 months from baseline had been stabilized. Respiratory infections were observed in 17.6% of patients during the first year of follow-up, more common in the NSIP vs UIP group (p=0.01), possibly due to the higher doses of glucocorticoids in NSIP patients. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed a distinct gene expression profile in RA-ILD, characterized by the activation of type I interferon response, neutrophil activation and degranulation, and CCR1 chemokine interactions.ConclusionNSIP is the most frequent pattern of ILD in this RA-ILD cohort, carrying a higher risk for respiratory infections probably related to higher doses of glucocorticoid used. Myeloid cells’ migration via CCR1 and the formation of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic NETs by activated neutrophils may contribute to RA-ILD pathogenesis.References[1]Y Dai et al, Rheumatoid arthritis–associated interstitial lung disease: an overview of epidemiology, pathogenesis and management Clin Rheumatol. 2021 Apr;40(4):1211-1220[2]X Zulma Yunt et al, Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2015 May;41(2):225-36Table 1.Patients’ characteristics with RA-ILD in Attikon cohortPatients CharacteristicsN=114Mean age71.5±9Female: Male76/38Smoking (current/ex)23/43Arterial hypertension71Diabetes mellitus32Dyslipidemia52COPD/BA17Thyroid disease30Latent TB17Seropositive66Diagnosis RA before ILD34Diagnosis RA after ILD45NSIP59UIP27Mixed NSIP-UIP5Organizing Pneumonia (OP)17Nodules21Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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Gioti O, Nikoloudaki M, Chavatza K, Kalavri E, Elezoglou A, Sidiropoulos P, Bertsias G, Boumpas D, Fanouriakis A. POS0366 MODERATE RATES OF TREATMENT INTENSIFICATION IN SLE PATIENTS WITH RESIDUAL DISEASE ACTIVITY. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.5011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundThe treat-to-target (T2T) strategy has gained significant attention in SLE,1 while EULAR has set remission or low disease activity as the goal of treatment.2 Nevertheless, the degree to which T2T is followed in real-life clinical settings has not been extensively studied.ObjectivesTo assess the proportion of lupus patients with residual disease activity that had their therapy intensified during their most recent visit, identify associated factors, and assess the validity of the SLEDAI-2k as a predictor of this intensification.MethodsCross-sectional study of SLE patients who were evaluated in three tertiary centers in Greece during their last visit. Patients were categorized in four disease activity states (remission on and off treatment, low disease activity and non-optimally controlled), according to definitions used in previous studies.3 Intensification of treatment was defined as addition/increase of glucocorticoids (GC) or addition/increase of immunosuppressive (IS) agent (conventional or biologic). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with treatment intensification and ROC analysis tο calculate sensitivity, specificity of different SLEDAI-2k cut-off values to predict this escalation.Results332 patients were included [93.1% female, mean (SD) age 48.5 (14.7) years, median (IQR) disease duration 6.5 (12.4) years]. Regarding disease activity states, 23.2% (n=77) of patients were in remission (off or on therapy), 36.7% (n=122) were in LDA, while 40.1% (n=133) were categorized as non-optimally controlled disease.Within patients with residual disease activity, therapy intensification was offered to 25.8% and 48.9% of those with low disease activity and non-optimally controlled disease, respectively. In multivariable analysis, proteinuria (OR 6.78, 95% CI 2.06 – 22.25), arthritis (OR 5.48, 95% CI 3.20 - 9.40) and rash (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.81 - 5.75), were associated with intensification of therapy. The AUC of the ROC analysis for total SLEDAI-2k to predict therapy escalation was 0.761, indicating only fair accuracy; the cut-off value with the best combination of sensitivity and specificity was 3 (sensitivity 87%, with a specificity of 55%). For clinical SLEDAI-2k, the respective AUC was marginally better (0.779), with a cut-off of 3 being associated with the best sensitivity (80%), with compromised specificity (64%). (Figure 1).Figure 1.ROC analysis of total and clinical SLEDAI to predict any increase in therapyConclusionIn real-life clinical settings, no therapy intensification was offered in more than half of patients categorized as non-optimally controlled disease. Total and clinical SLEDAI-2k showed only fair accuracy to predict therapy escalation, reflecting the role of additional parameters in the decision to escalate therapy in an individual patient.References[1]van Vollenhoven RF, Mosca M, Bertsias G, et al. Treat-to-target in systemic lupus erythematosus: recommendations from an international task force. Ann Rheum Dis 2014; 73: 958–967.[2]Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Alunno A, et al. 2019 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis 2019; 78: 736–745.[3]Ugarte-Gil MF, Wojdyla D, Pons-Estel GJ, et al. Remission and Low Disease Activity Status (LDAS) protect lupus patients from damage occurrence: data from a multiethnic, multinational Latin American Lupus Cohort (GLADEL). Ann Rheum Dis 2017; 76: 2071–2074.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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Gioti O, Nikoloudaki M, Chavatza K, Theotikos E, Elezoglou A, Sidiropoulos P, Bertsias G, Boumpas D, Fanouriakis A. POS0781 RESIDUAL DISEASE ACTIVITY IN SLE: A REAL-LIFE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN THREE TERTIARY CENTRES TO EXPLORE THE ROOM FOR NOVEL THERAPIES. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.4690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundAccording to updated EULAR recommendations, the goal of treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) should be remission or low disease activity in all organ systems, achieved with the least possible dose of glucocorticoids.1 The proportion of patients achieving these two activity states under conventional therapies may vary between different patient cohorts and clinical settings.ObjectivesTo assess the current disease activity state of SLE patients during their most recent visit in three tertiary centres experienced in the management of SLE.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, patients were categorized as: 1) Remission off-therapy: SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)=0 without glucocorticoids (GC) or immunosuppressive drugs (IS), 2) Remission on-therapy: SLEDAI=0, GC ≤5mg/day prednisone (Pz) and/or IS (conventional and biologic, maintenance phase), 3) Low disease activity (LDA): SLEDAI ≤4, Pz ≤7.5mg/day and/or IS (maintenance phase), 4) Active/Non-optimally controlled: SLEDAI >4 and/or Pz >7.5mg/day and/or IS (induction phase).2 Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was allowed in all groups.ResultsA total of 332 patients were included [93.1% female, mean (SD) age 48.5 (14.7) years, median (IQR) disease duration 6.5 (12.4) years]. 81% (n=269) of patients were on HCQ and 69.6% (n=231) were receiving an additional IS at last visit. Regarding glucocorticoids (GC), almost half of our patients (48.2%, n=160) were not receiving any GC and of those receiving, only 7.8% (n=26) were receiving a Pz dose > 7.5 mg/day.Mean (SD) total and clinical SLEDAI were 3.7 (3.0) and 3.0 (2.9), respectively. At their most recent visit, 33.7% (n=112) of patients had no clinical activity (clinical SLEDAI=0) and 24.4% (n=81) had neither clinical nor serological activity (total SLEDAI=0). 31.6% and 49.1% of patients had a total SLEDAI-2K ≥6 and a clinical SLEDAI-2K ≥4, respectively (Table 1). Regarding disease activity states, 23.2% (n=77) of patients were in remission (off or on therapy), 36.7% (n=122) were in LDA, while 40.1% (n=133) were categorized as non-optimally controlled. In the latter group, a total SLEDAI > 4 was present in most of patients (79.2% vs. 21.9% for prednisone > 7.5 mg/day and 19.8% for IS at induction regimen). In patients with LDA or non-optimally controlled disease, activity was mainly driven by the mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal components of SLEDAI, along with serologic activity (Figure 1). The latter was more common in LN patients. Overall, 83 patients (25.0%) in our cohort had evidence of serologic activity, of whom 31 (9.3% of total) had a clinical SLEDAI of 0.Table 1.Distribution of patients based on total and clinical SLEDAI-2K score at most recent visitTotal SLEDAIClinical SLEDAIScorePatients, n(%)ScorePatients, n(%)081(24.4)0112(33.7)1-5146(44)1-357(17.2)6-10101(30.4)4-8154(46.5)>104(1.2)>89(2.7)Figure 1.Components of SLEDAI-2K at most recent visit (total cohort of patients and patients with LN)ConclusionAlthough a significant proportion of our patients were on HCQ and additional IS, about 40% of them were not in optimal control. Yet, residual disease activity, based on SLEDAI-2K, was moderate, compared to relatively high mean baseline SLEDAI-2K of lupus trials. These data provide a pragmatic view of lupus patients, who could be potential candidates for novel treatments or inclusion in clinical trials.References:[1]Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Alunno A, et al. 2019 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis 2019; 78: 736–745.[2]Ugarte-Gil MF, Wojdyla D, Pons-Estel GJ, et al. Remission and Low Disease Activity Status (LDAS) protect lupus patients from damage occurrence: data from a multiethnic, multinational Latin American Lupus Cohort (GLADEL). Ann Rheum Dis 2017; 76: 2071–2074.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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Pappa M, Kosmetatou M, Elezoglou A, Boki K, Konstantopoulou P, Papagoras C, Garyfallos A, Vassilopoulos D, Sidiropoulos P, Sfikakis P, Boumpas D, Bertsias G, Tektonidou M, Fanouriakis A. Real-Life Outcome of Lupus Nephritis with Current Therapies: Study Protocol of a Multicentre Observational Study. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2022; 33:263-267. [PMID: 36128201 PMCID: PMC9450202 DOI: 10.31138/mjr.33.2.263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Lupus nephritis (LN) affects a significant proportion of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is characterised by increased morbidity and mortality. The updated joint EULAR/European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) recommendations for the management of LN have set as target of therapy the optimisation (preservation or improvement) of kidney function, accompanied by a reduction in proteinuria of at least 25% by 3 months, 50% by 6 months, and below 500-700 mg/g by 12 months (complete clinical response). It is currently unknown what proportion of Greek patients with LN reach these proposed targets with the current available treatments. At the same time, recent successful phase 3 trials have led to the approval of both belimumab and voclosporin for the treatment of patients with LN and have steered discussions as to whether the "induction-maintenance" paradigm should be substituted by an early combination treatment for all patients. To inform future therapeutic decisions and facilitate the positioning of these new drugs in the therapeutic algorithm of LN, the current study protocol aims to map the unmet needs in the treatment of LN in Greece, by quantifying the proportion of patients who attain the recommended treatment targets in everyday clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pappa
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens
| | - Maria Kosmetatou
- Rheumatology Unit, Fourth Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Attikon” University Hospital, Athens
| | - Antonia Elezoglou
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Boki
- Rheumatology Unit, Sismanogleio General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Charalampos Papagoras
- First Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Alexandros Garyfallos
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vassilopoulos
- Clinical Immunology-Rheumatology Unit, 2 Department of Medicine and Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Prodromos Sidiropoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete Medical School and University Hospital of Iraklio, Iraklio, Greece
| | - Petros Sfikakis
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens
| | - Dimitrios Boumpas
- Rheumatology Unit, Fourth Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Attikon” University Hospital, Athens
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Crete Medical School and University Hospital of Iraklio, Iraklio, Greece
| | - Maria Tektonidou
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens
- Rheumatology Unit, Fourth Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Attikon” University Hospital, Athens
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Moysidou GS, Flouda S, Kosmetatou M, Kapsala N, Tseronis D, Aggelakos M, Karageorgas T, Nikolopoulos D, Chavatza K, Filippopoulou A, Zoupidou K, Katsimpri P, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas D. POS0365 RELAPSES ARE COMMON ΙΝ SEVERE HEMATOLOGICAL SLE: REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE FROM THE “ATTIKON” LUPUS COHORT. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.4900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundHematological manifestations are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and are thought to result from immune-mediated peripheral cell destruction or bone marrow failure(1,2).ObjectivesTo assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of severe hematological disease in a large cohort of lupus patients.MethodsRetrospective analysis of the “Attikon” lupus cohort (over 800 patients total) (3) for the identification of patients with a history of severe hematological manifestation. The latter were defined as: thrombocytopenia with a platelet count <30.000/mm3, hemolytic anemia with an hemoglobin <8 g/dL, neutropenia with less than 500 neutrophils/mm3, history of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) or macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Treatments and long-term outcomes (relapses, mortality) were recorded.ResultsAmong 300 patients with hematologic manifestations, 40 patients had severe disease. Most of them were women (75%). Mean age at SLE diagnosis was 41,1 years and mean disease duration at diagnosis of cytopenia was 3.8 years. Hematologic manifestation preceded SLE diagnosis in 13 patients (32,5%).Autoimmune thrombocytopenia was the most common (57,5%), followed by hemolytic anemia (17.5%), TMA (12.5%) and Evans syndrome (7,5%). All patients received glucocorticoids (GC). Rituximab (15%) and cyclophosphamide (12,5%) were the most frequently used GC-sparing agents during the first episode. Nine patients (22,5%) received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Relapse occurred in 23 patients (57,5%), most of which (N=17, 73,9%) were treated with GC alone or in combination with IVIg or plasma exchange at initial presentation, without the use of GC-sparing agents. Most of the flares (60,8%) were severe. No deaths were observed.ConclusionHematological disease in SLE is treatment-responsive. GC remain the mainstay of treatment, but the high relapse rates underscore the need for more efficient GC-sparing agents.References[1]Fayyaz A, Igoe A, Kurien BT, Danda D, James JA, Stafford HA, Scofield RH. Haematological manifestations of lupus. Lupus Sci Med. 2015 Mar 3;2(1):e000078.[2]Hepburn AL, Narat S, Mason JC. The management of peripheral blood cytopenias in systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2010 Dec;49(12):2243-54[3]Nikolopoulos D, Kostopoulou M, Pieta A, Karageorgas T, Tseronis D, Chavatza K, Flouda S, Rapsomaniki P, Banos A, Kremasmenou E, Tzavara V, Katsimbri P, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT. Evolving phenotype of systemic lupus erythematosus in Caucasians: low incidence of lupus nephritis, high burden of neuropsychiatric disease and increased rates of late-onset lupus in the ‘Attikon’ cohort. Lupus. 2020 Apr;29(5):514-522.Table 1.Characteristics of patients with hematological manifestationsAge at diagnosis, mean (years)41,1Women N(%)30(75)Mean disease duration at cytopenia diagnosis (years)3,8Thrombocytopenia, N=23, (mean platelet count,/mm3)11682Hemolytic anemia,N=7 (mean Hb,g/dL)6,75Neutropenia N=1,(mean neutrophil count)450Evans syndrome, N=3 (mean Hb, g, mean platelet count)7 /46600TMA,N=5, (mean platelet count)8750MAS, N=1Immunosuppressive treatment at initial presentationAzathioprine (N,%) 4(10) Corticosteroids (N,%) 40 (100) Cyclophosphamide (N,%) 5(12,5) IgIV (N,%) 9 (22,5) Mycophenolate mofetil (N,%) 2(5) Rituximab (N,%) 6(15)Relapse N(%)23(57,5)Severe relapse (N,%)14(60,8)Non responder to corticosteroids/IgIV (N,%)1(2,5)Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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Nikoloudaki M, Nikolopoulos D, Koutsoviti S, Flouri I, Kapsala N, Repa A, Katsimpri P, Theotikos E, Pitsigavdaki S, Pateromichelaki K, Eskitzis A, Elezoglou A, Sidiropoulos P, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas D, Bertsias G. POS0368 EARLY (3 MONTHS) IMPROVEMENT IN PHYSICIAN GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF DISEASE ACTIVITY PREDICTS LONG-TERM RETENTION OF BELIMUMAB TREATMENT IN SLE: A MULTICENTRE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF 184 PATIENTS. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.4735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundBelimumab has been introduced in the management of SLE for more than 10 years, however long-term efficacy and safety data are still limited and mostly derive from the extended phase of randomized clinical trials.ObjectivesTo evaluate the long-term survival of belimumab treatment, reasons for treatment cessation and associated predictors in routine care setting.MethodsMulticentre observational study of adult SLE patients who were treated with belimumab according to physician discretion and in line with the EULAR recommendations. Disease activity (Physician Global Assessment [PGA]: scale 0-3; SLE disease activity index-2000 [S2K]), flares (SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index), organ damage (SLICC damage index [SDI]), co-administered treatments and dosage, adverse events and causes of belimumab discontinuation were monitored prospectively at 3–6-month intervals. Cox-regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with reduced drug survival.ResultsA total 184 patients treated with belimumab for at least 3 months were included (women 95.6%; mean ± SD age 48.8 ± 13.4 years; disease duration 9.2 ± 11.3 years). Baseline S2K and PGA were 7.5 ± 3.0 and 1.64 ± 0.42, respectively, both demonstrating significant improvement at 6 months (4.5 ± 3.5 and 1.02 ± 0.69, respectively; p<0.001) and 12 months (3.5 ± 3.1 and 0.68 ± 0.55, respectively; p<0.001). Of patients receiving glucocorticoids at onset, 49.0% tapered the dose and 17.6% completely withdrew them. After a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 15.1 (16.9) months, 44.0% of patients discontinued belimumab due to suboptimal efficacy as judged by the treating physician (28.3%), adverse events (including infections) (9.8%) or other causes (e.g., pregnancy, patient decision). Accordingly, efficacy-related drug survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 70% and 61%, respectively, with corresponding safety-related survival rates of 94% and 87%, respectively. Baseline factors associated with belimumab discontinuation due to suboptimal efficacy included PGA >1.50 (hazard ratio [HR] 3.66; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.14–11.73; p=0.029) and severe (RA-like) arthritis (HR 2.56; 95% CI 1.16–5.68; p=0.020) but not disease duration, use of glucocorticoids, active serology or organ damage. Notably, patients with early (3 months) improvement (i.e., any decrease in PGA) showed significantly lower risk for treatment cessation (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.22–0.67; p=0.001) (Figure 1) and this effect was independent of the initial PGA level. Baseline use of hydroxychloroquine was associated with prolonged safety-related belimumab survival (HR 0.32; 95% CI 0.12–0.88; p=0.028).Figure 1.Efficacy-related survival of belimumab according to improvement or not of PGA at 3 months since treatment initiation.ConclusionIn real-life setting, about 28% of SLE patients discontinue belimumab due to suboptimal treatment response per physician judgement, especially those with moderate-to-high activity and severe arthritis. Improvement in PGA at 3 months predicts long-term drug maintenance, therefore suggesting its value for patient monitoring. Our data confirm the very good tolerability of belimumab and identify hydroxychloroquine co-administration as a predictor for prolonged safety-related drug survival.AcknowledgementsThe study was partly funded by the Greek Rheumatology Society and the Greek Association of Professional Rheumatologists (ERE-EPERE) and by Pfizer Global Medical GrantsDisclosure of InterestsMyrto Nikoloudaki: None declared, Dionysis Nikolopoulos: None declared, SOFIA KOUTSOVITI: None declared, Irini Flouri: None declared, Noemin Kapsala: None declared, ARGYRO REPA: None declared, PELAGIA KATSIMPRI: None declared, EVANGELOS THEOTIKOS: None declared, Sofia Pitsigavdaki: None declared, Katerina Pateromichelaki: None declared, Anastasios Eskitzis: None declared, ANTONIA ELEZOGLOU: None declared, Prodromos Sidiropoulos: None declared, Antonis Fanouriakis: None declared, Dimitrios Boumpas: None declared, George Bertsias Speakers bureau: GSK, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, SOBI, UCB, Novartis, AENORASIS, Abbvie, Grant/research support from: GSK, Pfizer
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Garantziotis P, Nikolakis D, Doumas S, Frangou E, Sentis G, Filia A, Fanouriakis A, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT. Molecular Taxonomy of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Through Data-Driven Patient Stratification: Molecular Endotypes and Cluster-Tailored Drugs. Front Immunol 2022; 13:860726. [PMID: 35615355 PMCID: PMC9125979 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.860726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by a largely empirical approach and relative paucity of novel compound development. We sought to stratify SLE patients based on their molecular phenotype and identify putative therapeutic compounds for each molecular fingerprint. Methods By the use of whole blood RNA-seq data from 120 SLE patients, and in a data-driven, clinically unbiased manner, we established modules of commonly regulated genes (molecular endotypes) and re-stratified patients through hierarchical clustering. Disease activity and severity were assessed using SLEDAI-2K and Lupus Severity Index, respectively. Through an in silico drug prediction pipeline, we investigated drugs currently in use, tested in lupus clinical trials, and listed in the iLINCS prediction databases, for their ability to reverse the gene expression signatures in each molecular endotype. Drug repurposing analysis was also performed to identify perturbagens that counteract group-specific SLE signatures. Results Molecular taxonomy identified five lupus endotypes, each characterized by a unique gene module enrichment pattern. Neutrophilic signature group consisted primarily of patients with active lupus nephritis, while the B-cell expression group included patients with constitutional features. Patients with moderate severity and serologic activity exhibited a signature enriched for metabolic processes. Mild disease was distributed in two groups, exhibiting enhanced basic cellular functions, myelopoiesis, and autophagy. Bortezomib was predicted to reverse disturbances in the "neutrophilic" cluster, azathioprine and ixazomib in the "B-cell" cluster, and fostamatinib in the "metabolic" patient subgroup. Conclusion The clinical spectrum of SLE encompasses distinct molecular endotypes, each defined by unique pathophysiologic aberrancies potentially reversible by distinct compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Garantziotis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Nikolakis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Institute for Gastroenterology Endocrinology and Metabolism Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center (ARC), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Stavros Doumas
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Eleni Frangou
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Nephrology, Limassol General Hospital, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - George Sentis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Filia
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Rheumatology Unit, First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.,4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Joint Rheumatology Program, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Joint Rheumatology Program, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Nikolopoulos D, Kitsos D, Papathanasiou M, Kapsala N, Garantziotis P, Pieta A, Gioti O, Grivas A, Voumvourakis K, Boumpas D, Fanouriakis A. Demyelinating Syndromes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Data From the "Attikon" Lupus Cohort. Front Neurol 2022; 13:889613. [PMID: 35645967 PMCID: PMC9131105 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.889613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system (CNS) that occur in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may represent a manifestation of neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE) or an overlap of SLE and multiple sclerosis (MS). The differential diagnosis between the two entities has important clinical implications because the therapeutic management differs. Objectives To characterize CNS demyelinating syndromes in a large SLE cohort as neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) or SLE-MS overlap using a multidisciplinary approach and existing diagnostic (for MS) and classification criteria (for SLE). Methods Patients from the "Attikon" lupus cohort (n = 707) were evaluated for demyelinating syndromes. Clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging data were recorded for each patient. Following multidisciplinary evaluation and application of criteria, the demyelinating syndrome was attributed to either SLE or MS. Patients with transverse myelitis were not included in this study. Results We identified 26 patients with demyelinating syndromes (3.7%). Of them, 12 were diagnosed as primary SLE-demyelination (46.2%) and 14 as overlap SLE-MS (53.8%). The two groups did not differ with respect to rheumatologic and neurologic manifestations or autoantibodies. SLE patients with demyelination manifested mild extra-CNS disease mainly involving joints and skin, while severe non-CNS manifestations were rare. However, these patients were less likely to have elevated IgG index (OR 0.055 95% CI: 0.008-0.40) and positive oligoclonal bands (OR 0.09 95% CI: 0.014-0.56), as well as brain lesions in the spinal cord, infratentorial, periventricular, and juxtacortical regions. A single brain region was affected in 9 patients with SLE-demyelination (75%), while all patients with MS-SLE had multiple affected brain regions. MS-SLE overlap was associated with an increased likelihood of neurologic relapses (OR 18.2, 95% CI: 1.76-188), while SLE-demyelination patients were less likely to exhibit neurological deficits (EDSS >0) at the last follow-up visit (50 vs. 78.6% in SLE-MS, respectively). Conclusions Demyelination in the context of SLE follows a more benign course compared to a frank SLE-MS overlap. Extension of follow-up will ascertain whether patients with SLE-demyelination evolve to MS, or this is a bona fide NPSLE syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kitsos
- Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Matilda Papathanasiou
- Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Noemin Kapsala
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Garantziotis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Antigone Pieta
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Ourania Gioti
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexandros Grivas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Voumvourakis
- Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
- Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School National Kapodistrean University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
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Fanouriakis A, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT. Response to: ‘Hydroxychloroquine is neutral in risk of chronic kidney disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus’ by Wu et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2022; 81:e76. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-217804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Nikolopoulos D, Fotis L, Gioti O, Fanouriakis A. Tailored treatment strategies and future directions in systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatol Int 2022; 42:1307-1319. [PMID: 35449237 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-022-05133-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for physicians due to its protean manifestations and unpredictable course. The disease may manifest as multisystemic or organ-dominant and severity at presentation may vary according to age at onset (childhood-, adult- or late-onset SLE). Different manifestations may respond variably to different immunosuppressive medications and, even within the same organ-system, the severity of inflammation may vary from mild to organ-threatening. Current "state-of-the-art" in SLE treatment aims at remission or low disease activity in all organ systems. Apart from hydroxychloroquine and glucocorticoids (which should be used with caution), the choice of the appropriate immunosuppressive agent should be individualized and depend on the prevailing manifestation, severity stratification and patient childbearing potential. In this review, we provide an overview of therapeutic options for the various organ manifestations and severity patterns of the disease, different phenotypes (such as multisystem versus organ-dominant disease), as well as specific considerations, including lupus with antiphospholipid antibodies, childhood and late-onset disease, as well as treatment options during pregnancy and lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Lampros Fotis
- Department of Pediatrics, "Attikon" University Hospital, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ourania Gioti
- Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieion" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,1st Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, "Laikon" General Hospital, Medical School National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Papadaki E, Simos NJ, Kavroulakis E, Bertsias G, Antypa D, Fanouriakis A, Maris T, Sidiropoulos P, Boumpas DT. Converging evidence of impaired brain function in systemic lupus erythematosus: changes in perfusion dynamics and intrinsic functional connectivity. Neuroradiology 2022; 64:1593-1604. [DOI: 10.1007/s00234-022-02924-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Fragoulis GE, Karamanakos A, Arida A, Bournia VK, Evangelatos G, Fanouriakis A, Fragiadaki K, Kravvariti E, Laskari K, Panopoulos S, Papazoglou N, Pappa M, Tektonidou MGG, Sfikakis PP. Clinical outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 after booster vaccination in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases. RMD Open 2022; 8:rmdopen-2022-002279. [PMID: 35246472 PMCID: PMC8918070 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- George E Fragoulis
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasios Karamanakos
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Arida
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki-Kalliopi Bournia
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Evangelatos
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Fragiadaki
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evrydiki Kravvariti
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Laskari
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stylianos Panopoulos
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Papazoglou
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Pappa
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria G G Tektonidou
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Kapsala N, Nikolopoulos D, Flouda S, Chavatza A, Tseronis D, Aggelakos M, Katsimbri P, Bertsias G, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT. First Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Hospitalized Patients: Clinical Phenotypes and Pitfalls for the Non-Specialist. Am J Med 2022; 135:244-253.e3. [PMID: 34411524 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prompt recognition of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in hospitalized patients presenting with severe disease is essential to initiate treatment. We sought to characterize the phenotype of hospitalized patients with new-onset SLE and estimate potential diagnostic delays. METHODS An observational study of 855 patients ("Attikon" SLE cohort). Clinical phenotype was categorized according to the leading manifestation that led to hospitalization. Disease features, time to diagnosis, classification criteria, and the SLE Risk Probability Index (SLERPI) were recorded for each patient. RESULTS There were 191 patients (22.3% of the total cohort) hospitalized due to manifestations eventually attributed to SLE. Main causes of admission were neuropsychiatric syndromes (21.4%), cytopenias (17.8%), nephritis (17.2%), and thrombotic events (16.2%). Although 79.5% of patients were diagnosed within 3 months from hospitalization, in 39 patients diagnosis was delayed, particularly in those with hematological manifestations. At hospitalization, a SLERPI >7 (indicating high probability for SLE) was found in 87.4% of patients. Patients missed by the SLERPI had fever, thrombotic or neuropsychiatric manifestations not included in the algorithm. Lowering the SLERPI threshold to 5 in patients with fever or thrombotic events increased the diagnostic rate from 88.8% to 97.9% in this subgroup, while inclusion of all neuropsychiatric events yielded no additional diagnostic value. CONCLUSION One in five patients with new-onset SLE manifest disease presentations required hospitalization. Although early diagnosis was achieved in the majority of cases, in approximately 20%, diagnosis was delayed. A lower SLERPI cut-off (≥5) in patients with fever or thrombosis could enhance early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemin Kapsala
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Flouda
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Chavatza
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Tseronis
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Michail Aggelakos
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pelagia Katsimbri
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieion" General Hospital, Voula, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece; Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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Kostopoulou M, Fanouriakis A, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT. Treatment of lupus: more options after a long wait. Ann Rheum Dis 2022; 81:753-756. [PMID: 35027404 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Kostopoulou
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece.,First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Iraklio, Crete, Greece.,Laboratory of Autoimmunity-Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece .,Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
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Erden A, Apaydın H, Fanouriakis A, Güven SC, Armagan B, Akyüz Dağlı P, Konak HE, Polat B, Atalar E, Esmer S, Karakaş Ö, Özdemir B, Eksin MA, Omma A, Kücüksahin O, Bertsias GK, Boumpas DT. Performance of the systemic lupus erythematosus risk probability index in a cohort of undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2022; 61:3606-3613. [PMID: 35015853 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate the performance of the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Risk Probability Index (SLERPI) for identification of SLE in a large cohort of patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD). METHODS The SLERPI was applied in a cohort of patients who met classification criteria for UCTD and did not fulfill any classification criteria for other defined CTD including SLE. Patients with a SLERPI score of > 7 were "diagnosed" as SLE. Patients diagnosed with SLE and those not, were compared in terms of disease characteristics and index parameters. RESULTS A total of 422 patients with UCTD were included in the study. Median (IQR) SLERPI was 4.25 (2.5) points, while 39 (9.2%) patients had a SLERPI score >7 and were diagnosed as SLE. Patients with younger age (p = 0.026) and presence of malar rash (p < 0.0001), mucosal ulcer (p < 0.0001), alopecia (p < 0.0001), ANA positivity (p < 0.0001), low C3 and C4 (p = 0.002), proteinuria>500 mg/24 hours (p = 0.001), thrombocytopenia (p = 0.009) or autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (p < 0.0001) were more likely to fulfill criteria for SLE by the SLERPI. CONCLUSION SLERPI enabled a significant proportion of patients to be identified as SLE in our UCTD cohort. This new probability index may be useful for early identification of SLE among patients with signs of CTD without fulfilling any definite criteria set.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hakan Apaydın
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Rheumatology, "Asklepieion" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Berkan Armagan
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | | | - Bünyamin Polat
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ebru Atalar
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Serdar Esmer
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Özlem Karakaş
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bahar Özdemir
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Ahmet Omma
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Orhan Kücüksahin
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara City Hospital, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - George K Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
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Tzanis P, Klavdianou K, Lazarini A, Theotikos E, Balanika A, Fanouriakis A, Elezoglou A. Septic Arthritis Complicating a Gout Flare: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2022; 33:75-80. [PMID: 35611099 PMCID: PMC9092107 DOI: 10.31138/mjr.33.1.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Prokopios Tzanis
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | | | - Argyro Lazarini
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
| | | | - Alexia Balanika
- Department of Radiology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Antonia Elezoglou
- Department of Rheumatology, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens, Greece,
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Papastefanakis E, Dimitraki G, Ktistaki G, Fanouriakis A, Karamaouna P, Bardos A, Kallitsakis I, Adamichou C, Gergianaki I, Repa A, Bertsias G, Sidiropoulos P, Karademas E, Simos P. Screening for cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus: Application of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in a Greek patient sample. Lupus 2021; 30:2237-2247. [PMID: 34861804 DOI: 10.1177/09612033211061062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Given that extensive neuropsychological testing is not always feasible in routine clinical practice, brief cognitive screening tools are desirable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a screening tool for CI in SLE. METHODS Consecutive SLE patients followed at a single centre were evaluated using MoCA and an extensive neuropsychological test battery (NPT), including the Digits Forward and Digits Backwards, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Memory Test, Trail Making Test, Stroop Colour-Word Test, Semantic and Phonetic Verbal Fluency tests and a 25-problem version of the General Adult Mental Ability test. The criterion validity of MoCA was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses using three different case definitions: i) against normative population data, ii) and iii) against average performance of a comparison group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, to adjust for possible confounding effects of chronic illness and inflammatory processes on cognitive performance. The effect of patient-related (age, years of education, anxiety, depression, fatigue and pain) and disease-related (activity, damage, age at diagnosis, disease duration, use of glucocorticoid, psychotropic and pain medication) parameters on the MoCA was examined. RESULTS A total of 71 SLE patients were evaluated. MoCA significantly correlated with all NPT scores and was affected by education level (p < 0.001), but not by other demographic or clinical variables. The optimal cutoff for detecting CI, as defined on the basis of normative population data, was 23/30 points, demonstrating 73% sensitivity and 75% specificity. A cutoff of 22/30 points, using neuropsychological profiles of the RA group as inflammatory disease controls, exhibited higher sensitivity (100%, based on both definitions) and specificity (87% and 90%, depending on the definition). The standard cutoff of 26/30 points displayed excellent sensitivity (91-100%) with significant expenses in specificity (43-45%). CONCLUSION The MoCA is an easily applied tool, which appears to be reliable for identifying CI in SLE patients. The standard cutoff score (26/30) ensures excellent sensitivity while lower cutoff scores (22-23/30) may, also, provide higher specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Papastefanakis
- Department of Psychology, of Social Sciences, 381189University of Crete School of Social Science, Rethimno, Greece.,Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, 554325Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Georgia Dimitraki
- Department of Psychology, of Social Sciences, 381189University of Crete School of Social Science, Rethimno, Greece
| | - Georgia Ktistaki
- Department of Psychiatry, 37778University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Department of Rheumatology, 68993National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Rheumatology, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Penny Karamaouna
- Department of Psychology, of Social Sciences, 381189University of Crete School of Social Science, Rethimno, Greece
| | - Achilles Bardos
- School of Psychology, 214634University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, USA
| | - Ioannis Kallitsakis
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 571850University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Christina Adamichou
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 571850University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Irini Gergianaki
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 571850University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Argyro Repa
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 571850University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 571850University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 54570Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Prodromos Sidiropoulos
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 571850University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 54570Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Evangelos Karademas
- Department of Psychology, of Social Sciences, 381189University of Crete School of Social Science, Rethimno, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Simos
- Department of Psychiatry, 37778University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece.,Institute of Computer Science, 54570Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
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Fanouriakis A, Lazarini A, Sofianos I, Papadopoulos C, Bagiazidou E, Balanika A, Elezoglou A. Diffuse oesophageal involvement in anti-NXP2 myositis and response to combined immunosuppressive therapy. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 60:e378-e380. [PMID: 33956080 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Constantinos Papadopoulos
- 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
| | | | - Alexia Balanika
- Department of Radiology, 'Asklepieion' General Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Nikolopoulos D, Kitsos D, Papathanasiou M, Chondrogianni M, Theodorou A, Garantziotis P, Pieta A, Doskas T, Bertsias G, Voumvourakis K, Boumpas DT, Fanouriakis A. Demyelination with autoimmune features: a distinct clinical entity? Results from a longitudinal cohort. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 60:4166-4174. [PMID: 33404657 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE CNS demyelinating syndromes occurring in the context of SLE may represent a manifestation of neuropsychiatric lupus, or an overlap of SLE and multiple sclerosis (MS). We evaluated prospectively patients presenting with demyelinating syndrome for clinical and serological evidence of SLE and characterized the evolution of their clinical syndrome to a defined disease. METHODS Patients with CNS demyelinating syndromes not fulfilling the criteria for MS were evaluated in a rheumatology unit for features of SLE and followed longitudinally (enrolment period 2016-20). Clinical, laboratory and neuroimaging data were recorded at every visit, following multidisciplinary evaluation. At end of follow-up, patients were assessed for their final neurological and rheumatological diagnosis, and classified accordingly. RESULTS A total of 79 patients were included in the study [91.1% female, mean (s.d.) age at first demyelinating episode 38.4 (10.3) years, median (interquartile range) observation period 39 (57) months]. At last follow-up, 38 patients (48.1%) had evolved into MS. Of the remaining patients, 7 (17.1%) had SLE, while 34 (82.9%) had features of systemic autoimmunity without fulfilling classification criteria for SLE. The most common rheumatological features of these patients were inflammatory arthritis (73.5%), acute cutaneous lupus (47.1%) and positive ANA (72.1%). Importantly, these patients were less likely to have elevated IgG index (odds ratio 0.11, 95% CI 0.04, 0.32) and positive oligoclonal bands (odds ratio 0.21, 95% CI 0.08, 0.55). CONCLUSION A significant number of patients with demyelination do not fulfill criteria for either MS or SLE at follow-up. These patients exhibit lupus-like autoimmune features and may represent a distinct entity, 'demyelination with autoimmune features'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School.,Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
| | - Dimitris Kitsos
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
| | - Matilda Papathanasiou
- 2nd Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
| | - Maria Chondrogianni
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
| | - Aikaterini Theodorou
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
| | - Panagiotis Garantziotis
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
| | - Antigone Pieta
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School
| | | | - George Bertsias
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Voumvourakis
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School.,Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Tolerance, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens.,Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School.,Department of Rheumatology, 'Asklepieion' General Hospital, Voula, Athens, Greece
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Ntali S, Nikolopoulos D, Pantazi L, Emmanouilidou E, Papagoras C, Fanouriakis A, Dimopoulou D, Kallitsakis I, Boki K, Dania V, Sidiropoulos PI, Boumpas DT, Bertsias G. Remission or low disease activity at pregnancy onset are linked to improved foetal outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: results from a prospective observational study. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2021; 40:1769-1778. [DOI: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/g4rby6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Ntali
- Private Practice Rheumatologist, Thessaloniki, and Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion and University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, and Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Lamprini Pantazi
- Rheumatology Unit, Sismanogleio General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Evgenia Emmanouilidou
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion and University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Charalampos Papagoras
- First Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens; Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, and Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieion" General Hospital, Voula, Athens, Greece
| | - Despoina Dimopoulou
- 4th Internal Medicine Clinic, Ippokrateio General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Kyriaki Boki
- Rheumatology Unit, Sismanogleio General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vicky Dania
- Rheumatology Unit, Sismanogleio General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Prodromos I. Sidiropoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion and University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, and Laboratory of Rheumatology, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-FORTH, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T. Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, and Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion and University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, and Laboratory of Rheumatology, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-FORTH, Heraklion, Greece.
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Fanouriakis A, Tziolos N, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT. Response to: Correspondence on "Update on the diagnosis and management of systemic lupus erythematosus" by Fanouriakis et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2021:annrheumdis-2021-221151. [PMID: 34344701 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolaos Tziolos
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Crete School of Medicine, Iraklio, Greece.,Laboratory of Autoimmunity-Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Iraklio, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Chavatza K, Kostopoulou M, Nikolopoulos D, Gioti O, Togia K, Andreoli L, Aringer M, Boletis J, Doria A, Houssiau FA, Jayne D, Mosca M, Svenungsson E, Tincani A, Bertsias G, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT. Quality indicators for systemic lupus erythematosus based on the 2019 EULAR recommendations: development and initial validation in a cohort of 220 patients. Ann Rheum Dis 2021; 80:1175-1182. [PMID: 34162597 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quality of care is receiving increased attention in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We developed quality indicators (QIs) for SLE based on the 2019 update of European League Against Rheumatism recommendations. METHODS A total of 44 candidate QIs corresponding to diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, were independently rated for validity and feasibility by 12 experts and analysed by a modified Research and Development Corporation/University of California Los Angeles model. Adherence to the final set of QIs and correlation with disease outcomes (flares, hospitalisations and organ damage) was tested in a cohort of 220 SLE patients with a median monitoring of 2 years (IQR 2-4). RESULTS The panel selected a total of 18 QIs as valid and feasible. On average, SLE patients received 54% (95% CI 52.3% to 56.2%) of recommended care, with adherence ranging from 44.7% (95% CI 40.8% to 48.6%) for diagnosis-related QIs to 84.3% (95% CI 80.6% to 87.5%) for treatment-related QIs. Sustained remission or low disease activity were achieved in 26.8% (95% CI 21.1% to 33.2%). Tapering of prednisone dose to less than 7.5 mg/day was achieved in 93.6% (95% CI 88.2% to 97.0%) while 73.5% (95% CI 66.6% to 79.6%) received the recommended hydroxychloroquine dose. Higher adherence to monitoring-related QIs was associated with reduced risk for a composite adverse outcome (flare, hospitalisation or damage accrual) during the last year of observation (OR 0.97 per 1% adherence rate, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.99). CONCLUSION We developed QIs for assessing and improving the care of SLE patients. Initial real-life data suggest face validity, but a variable degree of adherence and a need for further improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Chavatza
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Myrto Kostopoulou
- Department of Nephrology, "G. Gennimatas" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ourania Gioti
- Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieion" General Hospital, Voula, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Togia
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Laura Andreoli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Unit of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Martin Aringer
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine III, University Medical Center & Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus at the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - John Boletis
- Nephrology Department and Renal Transplantation Unit, "Laikon" Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Andrea Doria
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Frederic A Houssiau
- Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - David Jayne
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marta Mosca
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisabet Svenungsson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Angela Tincani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieion" General Hospital, Voula, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece .,Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Kostopoulou M, Fanouriakis A, Cheema K, Boletis J, Bertsias G, Jayne D, Boumpas DT. Management of lupus nephritis: a systematic literature review informing the 2019 update of the joint EULAR and European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (EULAR/ERA-EDTA) recommendations. RMD Open 2021; 6:rmdopen-2020-001263. [PMID: 32699043 PMCID: PMC7425195 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2020-001263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To analyse the current evidence for the management of lupus nephritis (LN) informing the 2019 update of the EULAR/European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association recommendations. Methods According to the EULAR standardised operating procedures, a PubMed systematic literature review was performed, from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018. Since this was an update of the 2012 recommendations, the final level of evidence (LoE) and grading of recommendations considered the total body of evidence, including literature prior to 2012. Results We identified 387 relevant articles. High-quality randomised evidence supports the use of immunosuppressive treatment for class III and class IV LN (LoE 1a), and moderate-level evidence supports the use of immunosuppressive treatment for pure class V LN with nephrotic-range proteinuria (LoE 2b). Treatment should aim for at least 25% reduction in proteinuria at 3 months, 50% at 6 months and complete renal response (<500–700 mg/day) at 12 months (LoE 2a-2b). High-quality evidence supports the use of mycophenolate mofetil/mycophenolic acid (MMF/MPA) or low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide (CY) as initial treatment of active class III/IV LN (LoE 1a). Combination of tacrolimus with MMF/MPA and high-dose CY are alternatives in specific circumstances (LoE 1a). There is low-quality level evidence to guide optimal duration of immunosuppression in LN (LoE 3). In end-stage kidney disease, all methods of kidney replacement treatment can be used, with transplantation having the most favourable outcomes (LoE 2b). Conclusions There is high-quality evidence to guide the initial and subsequent phases of class III/IV LN treatment, but low-to-moderate quality evidence to guide treatment of class V LN, monitoring and optimal duration of immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Kostopoulou
- Department of Nephrology, "G. Gennimatas" General Hospital, Athens, Greece .,Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Unit, "Laikon" Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, General University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece.,Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieion" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Kim Cheema
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - John Boletis
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Unit, "Laikon" Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
| | - David Jayne
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, General University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece.,Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Medical School, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, and Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Chavatza K, Kostopoulou M, Nikolopoulos D, Gioti O, Togia K, Flouda S, Kapsala N, Kosmetatou M, Moysidou GS, Grivas A, Pieta A, Ntourou A, Rapsomaniki P, Gerogianni T, Tseronis D, Aggelakos M, Karageorgas T, Katsimpri P, Andreoli L, Aringer M, Boletis JN, Doria A, Houssiau F, Jayne D, Mosca M, Svenungsson E, Tincani A, Bertsias G, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas D. POS0764 EULAR RECOMMENDATION-BASED QUALITY INDICATORS (QIS) FOR SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE): ELABORATION, FINAL SET, PERFORMANCE AND INITIAL VALIDATION. Ann Rheum Dis 2021. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.3181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background:Targets of therapy and quality of care are receiving increased attention in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Objectives:To develop Quality Indicators (QIs) for the care of SLE patients based on the EULAR recommendations, and assess their performance.Methods:Using the published EULAR recommendations for SLE, we developed 44 candidate QIs. These were independently rated for validity and feasibility by 12 experts, analysed by a modified RAND/UCLA model and further scrutinized based on the scorings and expert opinion. (Fig.1) Adherence to the final set of QIs was tested in a cohort of 220 SLE patients combined with an assessment on its impact on disease outcomes such as flares, hospitalizations and organ damage.Results:The panel rated 18 QIs as valid and feasible. These involve diagnosis; disease and damage assessment; monitoring for lupus nephritis and drug toxicity; therapy and targets of therapy; fertility and pregnancy; and adjunct therapy (preventive measures for osteoporosis, vaccination, cardiovascular disease). On average, SLE patients received 54% (95%CI 52–56%) of the indicated care with adherence ranging from 41% for QIs related to monitoring to 88% for treatment-related QIs. Regarding targets of therapy, sustained remission or low disease activity were achieved in 27%, while 94% of patients received low-dose glucocorticoids, and 92% the recommended hydroxychloroquine dose. Dependent upon individual QI tested, adherence for lupus nephritis-related QIs was 88% for receiving appropriate adjunct therapy (ACE inhibitors) to 100% for being treated with the indicated immunosuppressive treatment. In contrast, adherence to QIs related to preventive measures and other adjunct therapies was moderate to low. Notably, patients who were eligible for cardiovascular risk modification, vaccination, and osteoporosis management received lower quality of care (40.5%, 47.7% and 45.5% respectively) while 91.4% had sunscreen protection. In reference to laboratory work-up and monitoring, complete laboratory work-up at diagnosis was performed in 48%, while disease activity and damage, were fully assessed only in 14.1% (in three consecutive visits) and 28.6% (annually) respectively, Similarly, reproductive health and pregnancy counselling adherence rates were modest estimated at 50% and 62% respectively. Higher adherence to the indicated care during follow-up (monitoring QIs) was associated with reduced risk for adverse outcomes during the last year of observation (OR 0.97, 95%CI 0.96-0.99). Patients who achieved sustained remission or LLDAS, exhibited fewer flares (OR=0.15, p-value<0.001) and damage accrual (OR=0.35, p-value<0.001). Of interest, patients who received low-dose of GCs or were appropriately vaccinated, had a lower risk of experiencing a flare (OR=0.23 and 0.46 respectively).Conclusion:A set of 18 QIs based on the EULAR recommendations for SLE was developed to be used towards improving care in SLE. Initial real-life data suggest variable degree of adherence with higher adherence resulting in reduced adverse outcomes.References:[1]Fanouriakis, et al., 2019 Update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus. In Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (Vol. 78, Issue 6, pp. 736–745). BMJ Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-215089.[2]Nikolopoulos, D., et al., Evolving phenotype of systemic lupus erythematosus in Caucasians: low incidence of lupus nephritis, high burden of neuropsychiatric disease and increased rates of late-onset lupus in the ‘Attikon’ cohort. Lupus, 29(5), 514–522. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961203320908932.Acknowledgements:This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 742390)Disclosure of Interests:None declared
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Garantziotis P, Nikolakis D, Doumas S, Fragou E, Fanouriakis A, Filia A, Witte T, Bertsias G, Boumpas D. OP0019 DEFINING SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS MOLECULAR TAXONOMY THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN RESTRATIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF CLUSTER-TAILORED DRUGS FOR A PERSONALIZED MEDICINE APPROACH. Ann Rheum Dis 2021. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.1636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by lack of treatment diversity, largely empirical treatment decisions, and paucity of novel compound development.Objectives:We sought to stratify SLE patients based on their molecular phenotype and predict personalized therapeutic compounds, tailored to the molecular fingerprint of each subgroup.Methods:We performed a co-expression analysis using our publicly available whole blood RNA-seq data of 120 SLE patients. Modules of commonly regulated genes were established and used to re-stratify patients through hierarchical clustering, in a data-driven, clinically independent, manner. Next, we established an in silico, subgroup signature-based, drug prediction pipeline. Investigated drugs included both those currently in practice and those who have been tested in SLE clinical trials and are listed in the iLINCS prediction databases. Finally, drug repurposing analysis was performed, to identify novel perturbagens that counteract group-specific SLE signatures.Results:Molecular taxonomy identified five distinct lupus molecular endotypes, each characterized by a unique gene module enrichment pattern. A group defined by strong neutrophilic signature encompassed almost exclusively patients with active nephritis, while a B-cell expression group included patients with severe lupus phenotype. Metabolic processes enrichment defined a group of patients with disease of moderate severity and serologic activity. Finally, patients with mild lupus features were distributed in two groups, which demonstrated enhanced basic cellular functions, myelopoiesis, and autophagy. The ability of different compounds to reverse the transcriptomic aberrancies observed in each patient group was examined. Bortezomib efficiently reversed disturbances in the “neutrophilic” cluster. Azathioprine and ixazomib might be a reasonable option for patients of the “B-cell” cluster, whereas fostamatinib appeared efficacious for the “Metabolism” patient subgroup.Conclusion:The clinical spectrum of SLE encompasses distinct molecular endotypes, each defined by unique pathophysiologic aberrancies, which can be utilized to guide personalized care and direct novel compound development.Acknowledgements:This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 742390).Disclosure of Interests:None declared
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Gioti O, Chavatza K, Belevonis G, Koutsoviti S, Katsimpari C, Sofianos I, Tatsi A, Tzanis P, Lazarini A, Klavdianou K, Giannakopoulou II, Kalavri E, Theotikos E, Elezoglou A, Boumpas D, Fanouriakis A. POS0786 UNMET TREATMENT NEEDS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE): A CROSS-SECTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF DISEASE ACTIVITY IN SLE PATIENTS DURING THEIR LAST VISIT. Ann Rheum Dis 2021. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.3832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background:The current goal of treatment in SLE is remission or low disease activity (LDA) and prevention of flares, achieved with the lowest possible dose of glucocorticoids. Nevertheless, in current clinical practice a significant number of patients still has active disease.1,2Objectives:To assess the current disease activity state of SLE patients during their most recent visit in two centers (Department of Rheumatology in “Asklepieio” Hospital and Rheumatology Unit in “Attikon” Hospital, both in Athens, Greece).Methods:Cross-sectional study of patients with a diagnosis of SLE for at least one year. Patients were divided into four groups: 1) Remission off-therapy: SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)=0 without prednisone or immunosuppressive drugs (IS), 2) Remission on-therapy: SLEDAI=0, prednisone dose ≤5mg/day and/or IS (conventional and biologic, maintenance phase), 3) LDA: SLEDAI ≤4, prednisone dose ≤7.5mg/day and/or IS (maintenance phase), 4) Active disease: SLEDAI >4 and/or prednisone dose >7.5mg/day and/or IS (induction phase).2 Hydroxychloroquine was allowed in all groups.Results:205 patients were included [95.1% female, mean (SD) age 48.4 (14.9) years and median disease duration (IQR) 6.2 (12.6) years]. A history of lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric SLE was present in 16.6% and 17.1% of our patients, respectively, and 39% of patients had SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI) > 0. At last visit, remission off-therapy and remission on-therapy was present in 8.3% (n=17) and 15.1% (n=31) of our patients, respectively. Seventy-five patients (36.6%) had LDA, whereas 82 patients (40%) had active disease. More than 85% (86.3%) of patients were in treatment with hydroxychloroquine and 64.4% were receiving immunosuppressive drugs. Regarding glucocorticoids, 50.2% (n=103) were treated with prednisone dose ≤7.5mg/day and over 40% (42.4%, n=87) did not receive prednisone at all. A SLEDAI score 0 and 1-4 was achieved in 24.4% and 42.9% of patients, respectively, but only 3.9% had a SLEDAI > 8, indicative of high disease activity.Conclusion:Although the majority of our patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine and glucocorticoids in acceptable levels of daily dose, four out of ten patients in our practice have active disease during their last visit. Achieving treatment goals in SLE patients remains a challenge for future novel therapies.References:[1]Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Alunno A, et al. 2019 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis 2019; 78: 736–745.[2]Ugarte-Gil MF, Wojdyla D, Pons-Estel GJ, et al. Remission and Low Disease Activity Status (LDAS) protect lupus patients from damage occurrence: data from a multiethnic, multinational Latin American Lupus Cohort (GLADEL). Ann Rheum Dis 2017; 76: 2071–2074.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
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Kapsala N, Flouda S, Nikolopoulos D, Chavatza K, Pieta A, Grivas A, Ntourou A, Togia K, Rapsomaniki P, Gerogianni T, Tseronis D, Aggelakos M, Karageorgas T, Katsimpri P, Bertsias G, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas D. POS0759 THE JOURNEY OF PATIENTS FROM FIRST SYMPTOMS TO DIAGNOSIS OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE): AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY. Ann Rheum Dis 2021. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.2975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background:The lack of pathognomonic features poses a considerable challenge in SLE diagnosis. The time from symptom onset to diagnosis has been reported to range from two to six years1.Objectives:To document the initial symptoms of the disease and the time lapse until its diagnosis.Methods:We examined 438 patients from the “Attikon” SLE cohort2. For diagnosis, we used the classification criteria (ACR, SLICC, EULAR-ACR) or in few cases clinical diagnosis (n=32, 7.3%). Data were collected using patient interviews, in-person clinical visits and medical charts review. Initial symptoms were recorded and determined chronologically using prespecified forms with a list of typical manifestations (skin, joints, renal, nervous system, pleuropulmonary, cardiovascular, anti-phospholipid syndrome) as well as characteristic disease features (Raynaud’s phenomenon, fatigue, fever, sicca symptoms). Questions also included the time between symptom onset and initial physician visit, the time from first medical consultation until first rheumatologist assessment, the time from rheumatologist assessment to SLE definite diagnosis, the number of physicians seen before SLE diagnosis, the specialty of first physician and of diagnosing physician. Information on demographic and clinical characteristics, disease activity and disease damage, was collected both at enrolment and at last follow-up visit.Results:88.5% of patients were females, mean (±SD) age at diagnosis was 41.9 years ± 15.4 and disease duration was 6.7 ± 7 years. Most common systems involved were joints (94.5%), skin (73.7%), blood (39.2%) and renal (17.5%). At diagnosis, 9.8% of patients were ANA negative. The most common initial symptoms at disease onset were arthritis/arthralgia (74.4%), followed by fatigue (53.1%) and photosensitive rash (50.9%) (Table 1). Among non-criteria features, Raynaud’s phenomenon was reported by 146 patients (33.3%) prior the diagnosis. The median interval between symptoms onset and the SLE diagnosis was 16 months (IQR 5-60). SLE was diagnosed earlier in ANA-positive than -negative patients [median time 14 months (IQR 5-60) vs 36 months (IQR 10.5-84); P=0.1, t-test]. Approximately half of the patients (52.5%) were diagnosed after 12 months from disease onset with only 15.9% diagnosed within 3 months of symptoms presentation. The median lag time between onset of symptoms and the first medical consultation was 2 months (IQR 1-12). Internists were the most common first consultants (27.8%) followed by orthopedists (15.9%), dermatologists (13.6%) and rheumatologists (13.4%). The median interval between the first medical assessment and first rheumatologist evaluation was 3 months (IQR 0-11.5) while the median time from rheumatologist assessment to definite diagnosis was 0 months (IQR 0-4). SLE patients consulted an average of 3 different physicians before the definite diagnosis, which in 95.8% was established by rheumatologists.Conclusion:Approximately 50% of patients were diagnosed with SLE after 12 months from symptom onset with a mean time from symptoms to definite diagnosis almost 4 years. Increasing awareness of internists to SLE and avoidance of strict adherence to ANA as a requirement for diagnosis may improve early diagnosis.Table 1.Initial symptoms prior to diagnosisSymptomsN=438 (%)Duration*(mean months ±SD)Arthralgias326 (74.4)37.5 ±69.4Photosensitive rash223 (50.9)30.6 ±70.2Malar rash168 (38.3)22.6 ±62Alopecia167 (38.1)19.6 ±54.6Ulcers106 (24.2)16.8 ±54.4Fever103 (23.5)9.3 ±43.8Raynaud’s phenomenon146 (33.3)22.3 ±68.5Fatigue233 (53.1)19.7 ±45.7*Mean time from symptom onset to established diagnosisReferences:[1]Nightingale AL, Davidson JE, Molta CT et al. Lupus Science & Medicine 2017; doi:10.1136/lupus-2016-000172.[2]D Nikolopoulos et al. Lupus 2020; doi: 10.1177/0961203320908932.Acknowledgements:This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 742390)Disclosure of Interests:None declared
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