Attitudes, perceptions and barriers in implementing therapeutic drug monitoring for anti-TNFs in inflammatory bowel disease: a survey from the Middle East

Background

A growing body of evidence underscores the beneficial impact of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Objectives

We surveyed clinician attitudes, perceptions and barriers related to TDM in IBD in the Middle East.

Design

A 15-question survey was distributed through national gastroenterological societies in five Middle Eastern countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon and Egypt).

Methods

Data on clinician characteristics, demographics, utilization patterns and obstacles related to the adoption of TDM with anti-TNFs were gathered. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict factors influencing the utilization of TDM.

Results

Among 211 respondents (82% male), 82% were consultants, 8% were physicians with an interest in gastroenterology (GI), and 6% were GI trainees. Of these, 152 met inclusion criteria, treating >5 IBD patients per month and ⩾1 with an anti-TNF per month. TDM was used in clinical practice by 78% (95% CI: 71-85) of respondents. TDM was utilized following the loss of response (LOR) in 93%, for primary non-response (PNR) in 40% and before restarting anti-TNF therapy after a drug holiday in 33% of respondents, while 34% used TDM proactively. No specific factors were associated with the use of TDM. Barriers to TDM use included cost (85%), time lag to results (71%) and lack of insurance reimbursement (65%). Overall knowledge of TDM (70%), interpretation and actioning of results (76%) or awareness of clinical guidelines (57%) were not perceived as barriers. If barriers were removed, 95% would use TDM more frequently; 93% for LOR, 60% for PNR, 50% when restarting after a drug holiday, and 54% would use TDM proactively.

Conclusion

Most gastroenterologists use TDM for LOR, with cost, time lag and insurance reimbursement being significant barriers. Addressing these barriers would increase the judicious use of reactive and proactive TDM to optimize anti-TNF therapy in IBD.

Neuropsychiatric evaluation of patients with brucellosis

Brucellosis is a multisystem disease that may present with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Neurobrucellosis is one of the complications. The objective of this study was to determine neuropsychiatric manifestations among patients with brucellosis. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with brucellosis (14 patients with manifest neurological manifestation and 13 patients without apparent neurological manifestation) were recruited from Assiut University hospital and compared with 50 healthy controls matched with respect to age, sex, and social economic and educational levels. They were subjected to systemic, meticulous neuropsychiatric evaluations, laboratory, radiological, neurophysiology, and psychometric assessment with Mini-Mental State Examination, Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised. and Hamilton Depression Rating. Overt or apparent neurological manifestation was recorded in 14 patients (51.85%) and 13 patients (48.15%) with brucellosis without apparent neuropsychiatric involvement. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement (vascular stroke, meningeoencephalitis, and dementia) was recorded in 9 patients (33.3%) and 6 patients (22.2%) had peripheral nervous sytem (PNS) involvement (polyneuropathy, radiculoapathy, and polyradiculoneuropathy). Depression was recorded in 7 (29.2%) patients; 3 patients (21.4%) of the neurobrucellosis group and 4 patients (30.8%) with brucellosis without neurological manifestations. Patients with brucellosis (neurobrucellosis and patients without neurological manifestations) reported highly significant impairment in some cognitive function measures (mental control, logical memory, visual reproduction) and higher scores on depressive symptoms compared with controls. Patients with a Brucella infection usually manifest central nervous system involvement. Clinicians, especially serving in endemic areas or serving patients coming from endemic areas, should consider the likelihood of neurobrucellosis in patients with unexplained neurological and psychiatric symptoms, and should perform the necessary tests, including cognitive function and depression tests.