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Chu CQ. Advances and challenges in management of large vessel vasculitis. Rheumatol Immunol Res 2023; 4:188-195. [PMID: 38125643 PMCID: PMC10729599 DOI: 10.2478/rir-2023-0028] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GC) remains the mainstay for management of large vessel vasculitis (LVV). Recent introduction of interleukin-6 signaling blocker, tocilizumab has substantially changed the practice in management of patients with LVV, in particular, giant cell arteritis (GCA). Benefit of tocilizumab to patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is supported by observational studies, but randomized clinical trials are lacking. Addition of tocilizumab enables reduction of the total amount of GC in patients with GCA, but GC burden remains high and to be further reduced. Ongoing studies aim at minimal use of GC or even GC-free. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors appear to be beneficial to TAK despite their ineffectiveness to GCA. Randomized clinical trials are undergoing to target other inflammatory cytokines in both GCA and TAK. Janus kinase inhibitors alone or in combination with conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs showed promising results in treatment of TAK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong-Qiu Chu
- Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, PortlandOregon 97239USA
- Rheumatology Section, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, PortlandOregon 97239USA
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Streufert BD, Onyedimma C, Yolcu YU, Ghaith AK, Elder BD, Nassr A, Currier B, Sebastian AS, Bydon M. Rheumatoid Arthritis in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Global Spine J 2022; 12:1583-1595. [PMID: 35302407 PMCID: PMC9393968 DOI: 10.1177/21925682211057543] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to synthesize recommendations for perioperative medical management of RA patients and quantify outcomes after spine surgery when compared to patients without RA. METHODS A search of available literature on patients with RA and spine surgery was performed. Studies were included if they provided a direct comparison of outcomes between patients undergoing spine surgery with or without RA diagnosis. Meta-analysis was performed on operative time, estimated blood loss, hospital length of stay, overall complications, implant-related complications, reoperation, infection, pseudarthrosis, and adjacent segment disease. RESULTS Included in the analysis were 9 studies with 703 patients with RA undergoing spine surgery and 2569 patients without RA. In RA patients compared to non-RA patients undergoing spine surgery, the relative risk of infection was 2.29 times higher (P = .036), overall complications 1.61 times higher (P < .0001), implant-related complications 3.93 times higher (P = .009), and risk of reoperation 2.45 times higher (P < .0001). Hospital length of stay was 4.6 days longer in RA patients (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS Treatment of spinal pathology in patients with RA carries an increased risk of infection and implant-related complications. Spine-specific guidelines for perioperative management of antirheumatic medication deserve further exploration. All RA patients should be perioperatively co-managed by a rheumatologist. This review helps identify risk profiles in RA specific to spine surgery and may guide future studies seeking to medically optimize RA patients perioperatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D. Streufert
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA,Benjamin D Streufert MD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55901, USA.
| | | | - Yagiz U. Yolcu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Ahmad Nassr
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Bradford Currier
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Mohamad Bydon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Chen J, Li S, Ge Y, Kang J, Liao JF, Du JF, Tian J, Xie X, Li F. iTRAQ and PRM-Based Proteomic Analysis Provides New Insights into Mechanisms of Response to Triple Therapy in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:6993-7006. [PMID: 34955646 PMCID: PMC8694403 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s340351] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Approximately 30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) respond poorly to combination therapy of multiple drugs. The molecular mechanisms of different responses to methotrexate + leflunomide + infliximab therapy in patients with RA were explored in this study. Methods Infliximab was administered to patients with RA whose disease activity score was higher than 5.1 after 1 month of combination therapy with methotrexate and leflunomide. After 14 weeks of undergoing triple therapy, patients with RA were classified as responders and non-responders. Protein profiles at baseline and 14th week were investigated via isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ), and proteins with significant differences ≥1.2 folds change or ≤0.8 folds change were defined as differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Overlapping DEPs between responders and non-responders were confirmed by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). Bioinformatic analyses were performed for DEPs. Results The results revealed 5 non-responders (NRs) and 15 responders (Rs). iTRAQ analysis indicated 13 overlapping DEPs and included 6 opposite change DEPs such as testicular tissue protein Li 70, cofilin 1, fibrinogen beta chain, galectin-10, serotransferrin (TF) and albumin. The difference in serotransferrin between responders and non-responders confirmed by PRM was significant. Verification by PRM indicated that TF was elevated in the Rs group and was reduced in the NRs group. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that serotransferrin was involved in the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 pathway and ferroptosis. Conclusion Serotransferrin-related molecular mechanism may be a new direction to study refractory RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Ge
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Kang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Fen Liao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Feng Du
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Tian
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Xie
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fen Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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Verstappen M, Matthijssen XME, van der Helm-van Mil AHM. Undifferentiated arthritis; a changing population who did not benefit from enhanced DMARD-strategies-results from a 25-years longitudinal inception cohort. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 61:3212-3222. [PMID: 34850952 PMCID: PMC9348769 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES International guidelines stress timely DMARD-initiation in early-arthritis, also when classification-criteria are not yet fulfilled. Consequently, undifferentiated arthritis (UA)-patients may be increasingly treated with DMARDs. Since UA is a diagnosis per exclusionem, the introduction of the 2010-classification-criteria presumably decreased the UA-population as former UA-patients became regarded as RA. The contemporary definition of UA has therefore become: not fulfilling the 1987- nor 2010-criteria. Importantly, placebo-controlled trials on DMARD-efficacy in contemporary UA are absent. We aimed to study whether enhanced treatment-strategies across 25-years improved outcomes in contemporary UA, whereby inclusion-period was an instrumental variable for DMARD-treatment. METHODS UA was defined, retrospectively, as clinical arthritis (joint-swelling at physical-examination) neither fulfilling the 1987 nor 2010-RA-criteria, nor any other clinical diagnosis. In total, 1132 UA-patients, consecutively included in the Leiden-EAC between 1993-2019, were studied, divided into 5 inclusion-periods; 1993-1997, 1998-2005, 2006-2010, 2011-2014, 2015-2019. Frequency of DMARD-initiation was compared across the inclusion-periods, as were the following outcomes: DAS28CRP and disability (HAQ-DI) during follow-up, prevalence of DMARD-free-status within 10-years (DFS; spontaneous remission or sustained remission after DMARD-stop) and progression to RA (according 1987/2010-criteria). RESULTS The contemporary UA-population is mainly autoantibody-negative, with median SJC = 2, TJC = 3 and HAQ = 0.6. These characteristics were similar across the inclusion-periods. DMARD-treatment increased from 17% (1993-1997) up-to 52% (2015-2019), methotrexate became more common. DAS28CRP during follow-up improved from 2011 onwards (-0.18,-0.25DAS-units/p< 0.05). Disability-scores during follow-up did not significantly improve. DFS-prevalence also remained similar: 58%, 57%, 61% (1993-1997/1998-2005/2006-2010; p= 0.77). Likewise, the percentages RA-development did not decrease (14%/21%/26%/18%/27%). CONCLUSION Although intensified DMARD-treatment slightly improved disease-activity-scores, physical-functioning and long-term outcomes did not improve. This suggests overtreatment in the contemporary UA-population and underlines the importance to develop stratification-methods suitable for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes Verstappen
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Annette H M van der Helm-van Mil
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Abdulkhaliq A, Cheikh M, Almuntashri F, Alzahrani H, Nadwi H, Kadi E, Abed M, Janaini M, Monjed A, Janoudi N, Almoallim H. A Comparison of Demographics, Disease Activity, Disability, and Treatment Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with and without Osteoporosis. Open Access Rheumatol 2021; 13:275-283. [PMID: 34548823 PMCID: PMC8449680 DOI: 10.2147/oarrr.s318810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Osteoporosis (OP) is one of the most common comorbidities associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Literatures reported that the risk for developing OP was strongly associated with duration and severity of RA. We aim to elaborate on the consequences of OP on disease activity and management plan in patients with RA. Patients and Methods A retrospective cohort study recruited 408 patients, including those with RA alone and with RA plus OP. The RA disease activity in the patients was assessed using disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28-CRP). A statistical analysis was performed to compare data between the two groups of patients and determine any significant risk factor associated with the development of OP in RA patients. Results Of 408 patients who were included in this study, 353 patients (86.5%) had only RA, while 55 patients (13.5%) had RA with OP and showed significant difference (P = 0.04) concerning age categories. Patients diagnosed with RA and OP had RA duration longer than RA-only patients (independent t-test, P = 0.01). The two groups had almost similar disease activity at the three clinical visits, as well, had nearly similar disability at their first visit, whereas RA with OP patients had significant greater disability at their 2nd and 3rd visits (independent t-test, P = 0.001). Both groups were treated with the same biologic and non-biologic medication of similar frequency, although RA patients with OP received steroid more frequently than patients had RA only (61.7% vs. 41.7%, chi square test, P = 0.03). Conclusion There was no significant difference in disease activity at both groups of patients. However, RA with OP group had longer duration of RA, were more frequently treated with steroids, and had greater disability. We recommend physicians focus on controlling RA disease activity, early screening for and treating of OP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altaf Abdulkhaliq
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Cheikh
- Internal Medicine Department, Doctor Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medicine, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Almuntashri
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haneen Alzahrani
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Huda Nadwi
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eithar Kadi
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mutasem Abed
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Murad Janaini
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa Monjed
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahed Janoudi
- Internal Medicine Department, Doctor Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hani Almoallim
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.,Alzaidi Chair of Research in Rheumatic Diseases, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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Nguyen H, Ahmed K, Luo W, Flint J, Giles I. A Systematic Review of the safety of non-TNF inhibitor biologic and targeted synthetic drugs in rheumatic disease in pregnancy. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2021; 51:1205-1217. [PMID: 34689007 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2021.09.004] [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: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite increasing evidence to support safe use of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and other biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) during pre-conception/pregnancy, there remains a paucity of evidence regarding the safety and compatibility of other non-TNFi and novel targeted synthetic (ts)DMARDs during pre-conception/pregnancy. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to determine the compatibility of these drugs in pre-conception, during pregnancy and post-partum period. METHOD Databases including; EMBASE, Pubmed (MEDLINE), and Cochrane were searched up to 23rd October 2020 to find relevant peer-reviewed papers, using keywords including; rheumatic disease, pregnancy, conception/pre-conception, lactation/breastfeeding, childhood and vaccination/infection, and commonly prescribed non-TNFi drugs and tsDMARDs. RESULTS Our search yielded 1483 papers that were screened independently by two authors, and 109 full-text papers were eligible for final analysis. These studies reported 1291 maternal pregnancies exposed to non-TNFi bDMARDs and tsDMARDs with known outcomes, including 721 live births, 219 spontaneous miscarriages and 27 congenital abnormalities. Paternal exposures in 174 pregnancies had reassuring outcomes. A total of 48 breast-fed infants were exposed to non-TNFi bDMARDs and no adverse events reported upon long-term follow-up. Fifteen infants exposed to bDMARDs received normal vaccination regimes, including live vaccines, and had normal developmental outcomes, without any complications or infections. CONCLUSION Overall, the findings are reassuring and do not suggest a cause for any major concerns or an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for maternal or paternal exposures to non-TNFi bDMARDs or tsDMARDs. There were no major concerns for breastfeeding exposures to non-TNFi bDMARDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanh Nguyen
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Rayne Institute, University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | | | - Weike Luo
- University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | | | - Ian Giles
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Rayne Institute, University College London (UCL), London, UK; Department of Rheumatology, University College London Hospital, London, UK.
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Fazeli MS, Khaychuk V, Wittstock K, Breznen B, Crocket G, Pourrahmat MM, Ferri L. Cardiovascular Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Risk Factors, Autoantibodies, and the Effect of Antirheumatic Therapies. Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord 2021; 14:11795441211028751. [PMID: 34262386 PMCID: PMC8246480 DOI: 10.1177/11795441211028751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To scope the current published evidence on cardiovascular risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) focusing on the role of autoantibodies and the effect of antirheumatic agents. Methods: Two reviews were conducted in parallel: A targeted literature review (TLR) describing the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in RA patients; and a systematic literature review (SLR) identifying and characterizing the association between autoantibody status and CVD risk in RA. A narrative synthesis of the evidence was carried out. Results: A total of 69 publications (49 in the TLR and 20 in the SLR) were included in the qualitative evidence synthesis. The most prevalent topic related to CVD risks in RA was inflammation as a shared mechanism behind both RA morbidity and atherosclerotic processes. Published evidence indicated that most of RA patients already had significant CV pathologies at the time of diagnosis, suggesting subclinical CVD may be developing before patients become symptomatic. Four types of autoantibodies (rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies, anti-phospholipid autoantibodies, anti-lipoprotein autoantibodies) showed increased risk of specific cardiovascular events, such as higher risk of cardiovascular death in rheumatoid factor positive patients and higher risk of thrombosis in anti-phospholipid autoantibody positive patients. Conclusion: Autoantibodies appear to increase CVD risk; however, the magnitude of the increase and the types of CVD outcomes affected are still unclear. Prospective studies with larger populations are required to further understand and quantify the association, including the causal pathway, between specific risk factors and CVD outcomes in RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Boris Breznen
- Evidinno Outcomes Research Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Grace Crocket
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA.,Joulé Inc., Edison, NJ, USA
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Han X, Lobo F, Broder MS, Chang E, Gibbs SN, Ridley DJ, Yermilov I. Persistence with Early-Line Abatacept versus Tumor Necrosis Factor-Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis Complicated by Poor Prognostic Factors. J Health Econ Outcomes Res 2021; 8:71-78. [PMID: 34046511 PMCID: PMC8133796 DOI: 10.36469/jheor.2021.23684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint swelling and destruction that leads to severe disability. There are no clear guidelines regarding the order of therapies. Gathering data on treatment patterns outside of a clinical trial setting can provide useful context for clinicians. Objectives: To assess real-world treatment persistence in early-line abatacept versus tumor necrosis factor-inhibitors (TNFi) treated patients with RA complicated by poor prognostic factors (including anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies [ACPA] and rheumatoid factor [RF] seropositivity). Methods: We performed a multi-center retrospective medical record review. Adult patients with RA complicated by poor prognostic factors were treated with either abatacept or TNFis as the first biologic treatment at the clinic. Poor prognostic factors included ACPA+, RF+, increased C-reactive protein levels, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels, or presence of joint erosions. We report 12-month treatment persistence, time to discontinuation, reasons for discontinuation, and risk of discontinuation between patients on abatacept versus TNFi. Select results among the subgroup of ACPA+ and/or RF+ patients are presented. Results: Data on 265 patients (100 abatacept, 165 TNFis) were collected. At 12 months, 83% of abatacept patients were persistent versus 66.1% of TNFi patients (P=0.003). Median time to discontinuation was 1423 days for abatacept versus 690 days for TNFis (P=0.014). In adjusted analyses, abatacept patients had a lower risk of discontinuing index treatment due to disease progression (0.3 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1-0.6], P=0.001). Among the subgroup of ACPA+ and/or RF+ patients (55 abatacept, 108 TNFis), unadjusted 12-month treatment persistence was greater (83.6% versus 64.8%, P=0.012) and median time to discontinuation was longer (961 days versus 581 days, P=0.048) in abatacept versus TNFi patients. Discussion: Patients with RA complicated by poor prognostic factors taking abatacept, including the subgroup of patients with ACPA and RF seropositivity, had statistically significantly higher 12-month treatment persistence and a longer time to discontinuation than patients on TNFis. Conclusions: In a real-world setting, RA patients treated with abatacept were more likely to stay on treatment longer and had a lower risk of discontinuation than patients treated with TNFis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Han
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Princeton, NJ
| | - Francis Lobo
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Princeton, NJ
| | - Michael S Broder
- Partnership for Health Analytic Research (PHAR), LLC, Beverly Hills, CA
| | - Eunice Chang
- Partnership for Health Analytic Research (PHAR), LLC, Beverly Hills, CA
| | - Sarah N Gibbs
- Partnership for Health Analytic Research (PHAR), LLC, Beverly Hills, CA
| | | | - Irina Yermilov
- Partnership for Health Analytic Research (PHAR), LLC, Beverly Hills, CA
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Quintero JA, Attah R, Khianey R, Capitle E, Schutzer SE. Arthritis and Diagnostics in Lyme Disease. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:18. [PMID: 33572912 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is clinical but frequently supported by laboratory tests. Lyme arthritis is now less frequently seen than at the time of its discovery. However, it still occurs, and it is important to recognize this, the differential diagnoses, and how laboratory tests can be useful and their limitations. The most frequently used diagnostic tests are antibody based. However, antibody testing still suffers from many drawbacks and is only an indirect measure of exposure. In contrast, evolving direct diagnostic methods can indicate active infection.
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Cruz BH, Garnica IU, Parera RS, Romero ER, Gutiérrez JC, Sánchez AG, Escalera CR, Sarabia FN. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug prescription patterns in adult rheumatoid arthritis patients in routine clinical practice in Spain. Eur J Rheumatol 2020; 7:eurjrheum.2020.19053. [PMID: 32910753 PMCID: PMC7574759 DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2020.19053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) patterns in routine clinical practice in adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to ascertain the reasons for methotrexate (MTX) discontinuation. METHODS A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from March to October 2014 at the Rheumatology Units of seven hospitals in Spain. In a single visit, the treating rheumatologist completed an online case report form. This report contained sociodemographic and RA variables. This study was conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice and local and national research legislations. RESULTS A total of 301 patients (71% women) with a mean age of 56.7±14.0 years and disease duration of 3.6±1.5 years were examined. The patients had RA with moderate disease activity, at least one poor prognostic factor, and comorbidities. The mean time between RA diagnosis and prescription of the first conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) was 2.4±6.0 months. A total of 295 patients (98%) started the first csDMARD on monotherapy. MTX was the most-prescribed first-line drug (n=233, 79%). The mean treatment time of the first-line csDMARD was 27.0±19.4 months. Of these patients, 98% progressed to a second-line csDMARD; 118 patients were changed to another DMARD, mainly due to inefficacy (51, 37%), adverse events (AEs, 37, 27%), or intolerance (18, 13%). The use of MTX as second-line therapy reduced from 79% to 51%. At the time of the study, 200 patients (66%) received a csDMARD as monotherapy and 45 (15%) a combination of ≥2 csDMARDs. Fifty-five (18%) patients were being treated with a biological drug in monotherapy (16, 29%) or in a combination with a csDMARD (39, 71%), mainly MTX, 147 patients (57%) received steroids. Biological DMARD were prescribed as the second line for 42% of patients and 51% of patients received the third-line therapy or beyond. The rate of AEs that motivated a change in the csDMARD was 34%. CONCLUSION MTX was the most-used csDMARD as first and second-line therapy together with corticosteroids. The combination of two or more csDMARDs as first-line treatment was very infrequent. MTX toxicity and intolerance were higher and more significant than inefficacy but progressively decreased with use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Esteban Rubio Romero
- Department of Rheumatology, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Seville, Spain
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11
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Rodrigues GSP, Cayres LCF, Gonçalves FP, Takaoka NNC, Lengert AH, Tansini A, Brisotti JL, Sasdelli CBG, Oliveira GLV. Detection of Increased Relative Expression Units of Bacteroides and Prevotella, and Decreased Clostridium leptum in Stool Samples from Brazilian Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Pilot Study. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E413. [PMID: 31581593 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7100413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between gut microbes and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been proposed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of some specific bacteria in stool samples from Brazilian RA patients receiving DMARDs and correlate these data with diet, clinical parameters, and cytokines. Stool samples were used for gut bacteria evalutation by qPCR. Serum samples were used to quantify IL-4 and IL-10 by flow cytometer. Statistics were performed by Pearson chi-square, Mann–Whitney U test, and Spearman’s correlation. The study included 20 RA patients and 30 healthy controls. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in dietary habits between RA patients and controls. Concerning gut bacteria, we observed an increase in relative expression units (REU) of Bacteroides and Prevotella species in stool samples from patients, and a decrease in REU of Clostridium leptum when compared with healthy controls. Positive correlation between Prevotella and rheumatoid factor was detected. The IL-4 and IL-10 concentrations were increased in patients when compared with controls. We concluded that gut bacteria are different between RA patients receiving DMARDs and healthy controls. Further studies are necessary to determine the real role of gut microbes and their metabolities in clinical response to different DMARDs in RA patients.
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Abstract
Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by symmetric peripheral polyarthritis, inflammatory synovitis, and articular destruction. Statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A-reductase inhibitors, mediate significant vascular risk reduction in patients with coronary artery disease by promoting reduction in plasma levels of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Extensive in vitro data, experimental studies and more recently few clinical trials have strongly suggested statins to possess an important role in RA mainly mediated by their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of adjunct statin therapy in comparison to standard disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) therapy in patients with RA. Materials and Methods: In this observational study, diagnosed RA patients of age group between 40 and 60 years were selected as per the inclusion criteria from the rheumatology outdoor. From the selected patients, we identified two separate groups of patients. Group 1 included 30 patients of RA currently under DMARD therapy with adjunct statin medication. Group 2 included 30 patients of RA currently under DMARD therapy. Patients were followed up over 6 months. Standard parameters such as disease activity score (DAS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were recorded for comparing the outcome of RA in both groups. Results: Out of a total of 60 patients who took part in the study, significant beneficial role of adjunct statin medication was found in this study when prescribed along with conventional DMARDs in active RA patients. The mean DAS28, considered by far as the most important index of clinical disease activity in RA, was found to be significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the adjunct statin-treated group (group 1) than that of the conventional DMARD treated group (group 2) after 6 months of continuous therapy. Other two important biochemical markers of RA disease activity, that is, ESR and CRP were also found to be significantly lower (P < 0.05) in RA patients who were on adjunct statin medication (group 1) than in group 2 comprising RA patients only under conventional DMARDs therapy without statin medication. Conclusion: The results suggest an adjunct and potentially beneficial role of statin therapy in active cases of RA, producing significant clinical and biochemical improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subham Das
- Department of Pharmacology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Manjushree Mohanty
- Department of Pharmacology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Prasanta Padhan
- Department of Rheumatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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Betts KA, Griffith J, Ganguli A, Li N, Douglas K, Wu EQ. Economic Burden and Treatment Patterns of Cycling between Conventional Synthetic Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Among Biologic-treated Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Clin Ther 2016; 38:1205-16. [PMID: 27045991 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2016.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the economic outcomes and treatment patterns among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who used 1, 2, or 3 or more conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) before receiving a biologic therapy. METHODS Adult patients with ≥2 RA diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] codes 714.xx) on different dates, ≥1 claim for a conventional synthetic DMARD, and ≥1 claim for a biologic DMARD were identified from a large commercial claims database. The initiation date of the first biologic DMARD was defined as the index date. Based on the number of distinct conventional synthetic DMARDs initiated between the first RA diagnosis and the index date, patients were classified into 3 cohorts: those who used 1, 2, or 3 or more conventional synthetic DMARDs. Baseline characteristics were measured 6 months preindex date and compared between the 3 cohorts. All-cause health care costs (in 2014 US$) were compared during the follow-up period (12 months postbiologic initiation) using multivariable gamma models adjusting for baseline characteristics. Time to discontinuation of the index biologic DMARD and time to switching to a new DMARD were compared using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. FINDINGS The 1, 2, and 3 or more conventional synthetic DMARD cohorts included 6215; 3227; and 976 patients, respectively. At baseline, patients in the 3 or more conventional synthetic DMARD cohort had the least severe RA, as indicated by the lowest claims-based index for RA severity score (1 vs 2 vs 3 or more = 6.1 vs 5.9 vs 5.8). During the study period, there was a significant association between number of conventional synthetic DMARDs and higher all-cause total health care costs (adjusted mean difference, 1 vs 2: $772; P < 0.001; 2 vs 3 or more: $2390; P < 0.001). The all-cause medical and pharmacy costs were also significantly higher with the increasing number of conventional synthetic DMARDs. Patients who cycled more conventional synthetic DMARDs were also more likely to switch treatment after biologic initiation (1 vs 2: adjusted hazard ratio = 0.89; P = 0.005; 2 vs 3 or more: adjusted hazard ratio = 0.89; P = 0.087). There were no differences in index biologic discontinuation between the 3 cohorts. IMPLICATIONS Patients with RA who cycled more conventional synthetic DMARDs had increased economic burden in the 12 months following biologic initiation and were more likely to switch therapy. These results highlight the importance of timely switching to biologic DMARDs for the treatment of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nanxin Li
- Analysis Group, Inc, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Eric Q Wu
- Analysis Group, Inc, Boston, Massachusetts
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14
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Kim SY, Schneeweiss S, Liu J, Solomon DH. Effects of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on nonvertebral fracture risk in rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based cohort study. J Bone Miner Res 2012; 27:789-96. [PMID: 22162140 PMCID: PMC3725780 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.1489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Several prior investigations demonstrate an improvement in bone mineral density associated with use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi). We compared the risk of osteoporotic fractures among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). A population-based cohort study was conducted using health care utilization data (1996-2008) from a Canadian province and a U.S. commercial insurance plan. Patients with at least two RA diagnoses were identified, and follow-up began with the first prescription for a DMARD. Drug regimens were categorized into three mutually exclusive hierarchical groups: (1) TNFi with or without nonbiologic DMARDs (nbDMARD), (2) methotrexate (MTX) without a TNFi, or (3) other nbDMARD without a TNFi or MTX. Main outcomes were hospitalizations for fractures of the hip, wrist, humerus, or pelvis based on diagnoses and procedure codes. The study cohort consisted of 16,412 RA patients with 25,988 new treatment episodes: 5856 TNFi, 12,554 MTX, and 7578 other nbDMARD. The incidence rate per 1000 person-years for osteoporotic fracture were 5.11 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.50-7.45] for TNFi, 5.35 (95% CI 4.08-7.02) for MTX, and 6.38 (95% CI 3.78-10.77) for other nbDMARD. After multivariable adjustment for osteoporosis and fracture-related risk factors, the risk of nonvertebral osteoporotic fracture was not different in either TNFi [hazard ratio (HR) 1.07, 95% CI 0.57-1.98] or MTX (HR 1.18, 95% CI 0.60-2.34) compared with nbDMARD. Among subjects diagnosed with RA, the adjusted risk of nonvertebral fracture was similar across persons starting a TNFi, MTX, or other nbDMARD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seo Young Kim
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02120, USA.
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