POS0345 ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF TOFACITINIB ON BONE MARROW ADIPOCYTES AND BONE-FORMING OSTEOBLASTS UNDER NON-INFLAMMATORY AND INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS

Background

Systemic inflammation is the main factor underlying secondary osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The JAK inhibitors, such as Tofacitinib (Tofa), can control systemic inflammation and have beneficial effects on bone in various models. This might be due to direct effects on the bone microenvironment and not exclusively based on their anti-inflammatory function. Bone marrow adipocytes (BMAds) are abundant in the bone microenvironment. The effect of JAK inhibitors on BMAds is unknown, but evidence suggests that there is competition between human bone marrow-derived stromal cell (hBMSCs) differentiation routes toward BMAds and osteoblasts (Ob) in osteoporosis.

Objectives

To determine in various models whether Tofa influences directly bone marrow cell committment toward adipogenesis and osteoblastogenesis. Then, in a prospective pilot study, to investigate the potential effects of Tofa on bone marrow adiposity in patients with RA.

Methods

To study the effect of Tofa on cellular commitment, hBMSCs were cultured for 3 days in appropriate Ob- and BMAd- differentiation media (Ob-3d and BMAd-3d), together with Tofa at 200, 400 (equivalent to a therapeutic dose of 5 mg twice a day in RA patients) or 800 nM. To mimic inflammatory conditions, TNFα was added to the media at a dose of 1 ng/ml. This study was also conducted on mature BMAds and a similar treatment was applied for 6 days to mature BMAds at 14 days of differentiation (BMAd-20d). The impact of Tofa was determined by gene expression profile analysis, western-blot analysis and cell density monitoring. In parallel, in a pilot study of 9 RA patients treated with Tofa 5 mg twice a day (TOFAT study: NCT04175886), proton density fat fraction (PDFF) was measured by MRI (Dixon technique) at the lumbar spine at the start of treatment and at 6 months.

Results

In non-inflammatory conditions, the gene expression of Runx2 decreased in Ob-3d treated with Tofa 400 and 800 nM(p<0.05). Conversely, BMAd-3d treated with Tofa (at 200, 400 and 800 nM) exhibited a substantial increase in the gene expression of PPARγ2, C/EBPα and Perilipin 1 (a marker associated with lipid droplet formation) compared to controls (p<0.05). The increase in the expression of Perilipin 1 was also confirmed at the protein level. In inflammatory conditions, BMAd-3d and Ob-3d markers decreased considerably (PPARy2 and RUNX2, respectively, p<0.05), but the addition of Tofa did not change the expression profiles of Ob-3d compared to TNFα controls. On the contrary, the analysis of PPARy2 gene expression showed that Tofa limited the negative effect of TNFα on BMAd differentiation (p<0.05). The positive effect of Tofa on mature adipocyte (BMAd-20d) under inflammatory conditions was also supported by an increase in the density of differentiated BMAds (p<0.001). These findings were consolidated by an increase in PDFF at 6 months of treatment with Tofa in RA patients (+6.9%, p<0.01).

Conclusion

Overall, in vitro and clinical results suggest a stimulatory effect of Tofa on BMAds commitment and differentiation, which does not support a positive effect of Tofa on bone

Disclosure of Interests

Jean-Guillaume Letarouilly Consultant of: Sêmeia, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Julien Paccou: None declared, Sammy Badr: None declared, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: member of the advisory board Pfizer, Christophe Chauveau: None declared, Bernard Cortet: None declared, Odile Broux: None declared, Aline Clabaut: None declared

AB0366 A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE REAL-WORLD EFFECTIVENESS OF GOLIMUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND PREVIOUSLY TREATED WITH INITIAL TNFα INHIBITORY THERAPY

Background

TNF inhibitor (TNFi) treatment is standard for RA patients even though many reasons may lead to TNFi therapy failures such as lack of effectiveness, patient dissatisfaction or limited therapy adherence, or even safety. As a consequence, patients may switch to a different TNFi. The efficacy of golimumab (GLM) in RA patients with inadequate response to TNFi was demonstrated in the Go-AFTER phase III clinical trial.

Objectives

The objectives of the present Go-BEYOND study were to provide real-world data to evaluate disease activity and treatment persistence with GLM as a second line TNFi therapy in RA patients over a one-year follow-up.

Methods

Go-BEYOND is an observational French multicenter prospective cohort study. All consecutive patients over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of active RA were eligible at the time of initial GLM prescription. To be included, patients had to be previously treated with only 1 TNFi (discontinued for any reason) other than GLM. Patients were ineligible if they had been previously treated with other “non-TNFi” biologics or more than one TNFi.

The study’s primary outcome was the percentage of RA patients with a Disease Activity Score (DAS28-CRP score) ≤ 3.2 at the 6-month visit (M6 visit). Patients who permanently discontinued their treatment over the 1-year follow-up were considered as non-responders. The secondary outcomes were analyzed descriptively and included (but not limited to) DAS28-CRP score at 12-month visit (M12 visit), EULAR criteria assessment, treatment persistence analysis, HAQ score, RAPID3 score, and patient acceptable symptom state and satisfaction with the injection. The study was approved by a French Ethics Committee in July 2017.

Results

A total of 128 patients (72.7% female, median age 58.2 years, and duration of RA 13.2 ± 11.4 years) met the inclusion criteria. Anti-CPP antibodies and rheumatoid factors were present in 80 (62.5%) and 81 (63.3%) patients, respectively. In the majority, the initial TNFi was etanercept (n=88, 68.8%), then adalimumab (n=25, 19.5%). The reasons for switching to GLM were secondary non-response (i.e., lack of effectiveness after an initial response to the treatment) for 75 (58.6%) patients, then safety (n=22, 17.2%), primary non-response (n=21, 16.4%), and other personal or medical reasons (n=10, 7.8%).

At the M6 and M12 visits, a small number of patients, 27 (21.1%) and 48 (37.5%) had respectively permanently discontinued their GLM treatment and were considered as non-responders. At the M6 visit, 48 patients over the 128 included (37.5%) had a DAS28-CRP ≤ 3.2 and 32 (25%) < 2.6. At M12 visit, 41 (32%) patients had a DAS28-CRP ≤ 3.2 and 31 (24.2%) < 2.6. According to EULAR response criteria thresholds, 49 (38.3%) and 45 (35.2%) patients had a good or moderate response to GLM at the M6 and M12 visits.

Conclusion

The Go-BEYOND study confirms that in RA, a non-response to a first TNFi does not exclude a response to GLM as a second-line biologic in a substantial proportion of patients in real-life settings.

References

None

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the investigators and the entire Go-BEYOND team for their involvement in the study.

Disclosure of Interests

Cécile Gaujoux-Viala Consultant of: AbbVie; Amgen; Boehringer Ingelheim; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Eli Lilly; Galapagos; Gilead Sciences; Janssen; Medac; Merck-Serono; Mylan; Nordic Pharma; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sandoz; Sanofi; UCB, Jérémie SELLAM Consultant of: Abbvie; Biogen; BMS; Fresenius Kabi; Janssen; MSD; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche, Florence Tubach: None declared, Naoual HARID Employee of: MSD France - Medical advisor, Bernard Combe Consultant of: AbbVie; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celltrion; Eli Lilly; Gilead/Galapagos; Janssen; Merck; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche/Chugai; Sanofi; UCB, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: Abbvie; BMS; Janssen; MSD; Pfizer; Roche-Chugai

AB1449 ADHERENCE TO MTX AT INITIATION OF FIRST TARGETED THERAPY (PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS): RESULTS OF THE STRATEGE2 STUDY

Background

Treatment adherence is a major challenge in chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease (CIRD). Mainly studied in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), this ranges from 30 to 80% [1]. Given the impact of non-adherence to disease-modifying therapy among RA patients, guidelines aiming to facilitate management of adherence were published in 2019 [2]. These guidelines highlight the multifactorial characteristics and importance of clarifying the factors determining non-adherence. In addition, treatment adherence was also listed as a point to consider for the management of difficult-to-treat RA by an EULAR task force [3].

Objectives

Based on inclusion results of STRATEGE 2 we explore the adherence to methotrexate (MTX) and its associated factors prior to initiation of a first targeted therapy.

Methods

The objective of STRATEGE2 is to describe the therapeutic strategy in RA patients treated with MTX for at least 3 months, naive of targeted biological (bDMARD) or synthetic (tsDMARD) therapy and who are candidates for initiation of first b/tsDMARD therapy due to RA activity. Patients were included prospectively in 2019-2020 and completed the Compliance Questionnaire for Rheumatology (CQR) [4], a self-administered questionnaire specific to rheumatology, measuring treatment adherence. They were then divided into 2 groups: adherence (Ad) (CQR19>80) vs. non-adherence (NAd) to investigate factors liable to be associated with adherence. Then, univariate and multivariate analysis was applied to identify potential predictors for adherence.

Results

Between Feb. 2019 and Dec. 2020, 230 patients were included, with 124 RA patients having an analysable CQR19: 73.4% females, mean age 56.6 years (±13.2), diagnosed 5.6 years (±7.4) previously, treatment with MTX for 4.4 years (±5.3) and a mean DAS of 4.3 (±1.2). The mean CQR score was 75.8. Patient distribution: 45.2% in the Ad group and 54.8% in the NAd group.

Table 1.At baseline (before b/tsDMARD initiation)Ad - N=56NAd - N=68pSex: female73.2%73.5%-Age (mean)59.3 (±13.6)54.4 (±12.4)p < 0.05BMI (mean)27.2 (±7.0)25.0 (±4.7)p < 0.15Still in work39.3%55.9%p < 0.15At least 1 comorbidity60.7%47.1%p < 0.15Positive anti-CCP67.9%80.6%p < 0.15Positive rheumatoid factor69.8%84.8%p < 0.05Radiological signs57.1%41.8%p < 0.15RA duration (years)4.9 ±6.76.3 ±8.0-Average MTX initiation (years)4.0 ±4.74.8 ±5.7-Per os MTX28.6%29.4%-→ mean dosage (mg/week)16.4 ±4.515.6 ±4.6Subcutaneous MTX69.6%70.6%-→ mean dosage (mg/week)20.1 ±4.619.4 ±3.3-Intramuscular MTX1.8%0%-Patients self-administration30.0%12.5%P < 0.05Corticosteroid therapy53%50.6%-→ mean dosage (mg/day)8.1 ±4.19.5 ±5.8Mean DAS284.5 ± 1.34.2 ±1.2-Mean HAQ1.1 ± 0.70.9 ±0.7p < 0.15

In the multivariate analysis, no formal predictive factors to MTX adherence was identified except BMI>30kg/m2 (odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval, CI)=4.00, 1.08-14.86, p=0,038) and adherents who estimate having completely participate to the decision-making for the targeted therapy (OR (95% CI)=6.41, 2.32-17.65, p<0.001).

Conclusion

In this cohort, beyond the recently published guidelines, nearly half of patients do not show adherence to MTX (CQR19-based evaluation) before initiation of b/tsDMARD. As physicians tend to overestimate adherence to medication, clarification of the factors associated with non-adherence would help improve patient assessment and, therefore, management. Supplementary data on patients’ adherence evolution and adherence predictors, might be observed on the follow-up data at 12 and 24 months of this cohort.

References

[1]Beauvais C, et al. Joint Bone Spine 2020;87(6):668-669.

[2]Gossec C, et al. Joint Bone Spine 2019;86(1):13-19.

[3]Nagy G, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2021;0:1–14.

[4]De Klerk E, et al. J Rheumatol 2003;30(11):2469-2475

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge RCTs for their contribution to the statistical analysis, the investigators, centres and patients.

Disclosure of Interests

Cécile Gaujoux-Viala Speakers bureau: AbbVie; Amgen; Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Eli Lilly; Galapagos; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen; Medac; Merck-Serono; Mylan; Nordic Pharma; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sandoz; Sanofi; and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie; Amgen; Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Eli Lilly; Galapagos; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen; Medac; Merck-Serono; Mylan; Nordic Pharma; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sandoz; Sanofi; and UCB, Emmanuelle Dernis Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Roche-Chugaï Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB Pharma., Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Roche-Chugaï Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB Pharma., Eric Senbel Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer Roche-Chugai and Sandoz, Sanofi., Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer Roche-Chugai and Sandoz, Sanofi., Hélène Herman-Demars Employee of: Nordic Pharma France, Jennifer Becker Employee of: Nordic Pharma France, René-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD, Nordic-Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugaï, and Sanofi., Consultant of: Abbvie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD, Nordic-Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugaï, and Sanofi.

POS1000 MORE THAN 30 % OF WOMEN WITH SPONDYLOARTHRITIS HAVE AN UNFAVORABLE PREGNANCY OUTCOME MOST FREQUENTLY DUE TO SMALL FOR GESTATIONAL AGE: ANALYSIS OF THE PROSPECTIVE GR2 COHORT

Background

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases and regularly affects women of childbearing age1. However, there is limited knowledge about the impact of the disease and its treatment on pregnancy.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to determine the factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcome in women with SpA.

Methods

All SpA patients (diagnosis according to the Rheumatologist) included in the national multicenter GR2 cohort from 2015 to June 2021 were included in the analysis. Patients could be included either with a pregnancy wish (i.e., preconceptional period) or because of a clinical pregnancy (<12 weeks of gestation). The main endpoint was favorable pregnancy outcome, a composite outcome defined as a live birth at term ≥ 37 gestation weeks of a healthy newborn with a weight greater than the 10th percentile. We performed a multilevel logistic regression model, in which we considered patient and center random effects (patient random effect for some women included in the cohort two times). Disease activity was defined by a BASDAI score ≥ 4 at least once during pregnancy. We used a multiple imputation to address missing data among the explanatory variables. Results are presented as an odds ratio (OR) with confidence interval (CI).

Results

Among the 207 pregnancies in women with SpA included in the GR2 cohort, 126 were retained for analysis of obstetrical outcome. Of these, 29 (23.0%), 14 (11.1%), 69 (54.8%) were exposed to corticosteroid, NSAID and biologics at least once during pregnancy, respectively. An active disease at least once during pregnancy was found in 47 (37.3%) pregnancies. A live birth was found in 116 (92.1%) women, including 110 (87.3%) full-term births. Early miscarriages and stillbirths were observed in 7 (0.06%) and 3 (0.02%) women, respectively. A caesarean section was performed in 20 (17.2%) cases.

A favorable pregnancy outcome was found in 80 (63.5%) of the women. Unfavorable pregnancy outcome was most frequently due to small for gestational age, observed in 22 (19%) pregnancies. The multivariate model adjusted for age, BMI, nulliparity, active disease during pregnancy, smoking, and exposure to NSAIDs and corticosteroids during pregnancy found an association between unfavorable pregnancy outcome with nulliparity (OR 2.63 95% CI [1.01-6.81] p = 0.05).

Conclusion

This study provides original results on pregnancy in women with SpA. It found a favorable pregnancy outcome in 63.5% of women. Unfavorable pregnancy outcome was most frequently due to small for gestational age, which should lead to a coordinated management with obstetricians for the follow-up of pregnancy in women with SpA.

References

[1]Van den Brandt S. Arthritis Res Ther. 2017;19(1):64.

Table 1.

Multilevel logistic regression model: factors associated with unfavorable pregnancy outcome in women with SpA.

Univariate analysesMultivariate analysesCrude OR 95% CIpAdjusted OR 95% CIpAge1.01 [0.92-1.10]0.8591.05 [0.95-1.17]0.297BMI0.99 [0.91-1.07]0.7960.99 [0.90-1.08]0.747Nulliparity2.16 [0.94-4.94]0.0712.63 [1.01-6.81]0.049Smoking0.84 [0.23-3.03]0.8050.84 [0.22-3.21]0.805Disease activity*0.98 [0.40-2.43]0.9641.15 [0.43-3.07]0.778Corticosteroids**1.09 [0.45-2.65]0.8761.15 [0.51-2.71]0.902NSAIDs**0.65 [0.18-2.33]0.1960.67 [0.18-2.56]0.565

* BASDAI score ≥ 4 at least once during pregnancy.

** Use at least once during pregnancy

Acknowledgements

The GR2 Cohort is supported by the French Society of Rheumatology, the French Internal Medicine Society, and unrestricted grants from UCB.

Disclosure of Interests

SABRINA HAMROUN: None declared, Marion Couderc: None declared, Rene-Marc Flipo: None declared, Jérémie SELLAM: None declared, Christophe Richez Speakers bureau: CR has received consulting/speaker’s fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, GSK, MSD, Novartis, and Pfizer, all unrelated to this manuscript., Rakiba Belkhir: None declared, Laure Gossec: None declared, Hubert MAROTTE: None declared, Emmanuelle Dernis: None declared, Aline Frazier-Mironer: None declared, Elisabeth Gervais: None declared, Cédric Lukas: None declared, Valerie Devauchelle-Pensec: None declared, Laëtitia Dunogeant: None declared, Alban Deroux: None declared, Nathalie Costedoat-Chalumeau: None declared, Anna Moltó: None declared

AB1131 IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OCCURRENCE OF SEVERE FORMS OF COVID-19 INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH AUTOIMMUNE/INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Background

Patients with autoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRD) were suspected to be an at-risk population of severe COVID-19. However, whether this higher risk is linked to the disease or to its treatment is difficult to determine.

Objectives

To identify, among AIRD patients, factors associated with occurrence of moderate-to-severe COVID19 infection and to evaluate if having an AIRD was associated with an increased risk of severe form of COVID19 infection (defined by hospitalization in ICU or death), compared to general population.

Methods

Data source: The “Entrepôt des Données de Santé (EDS)” collect data from electronic health records of all patients hospitalized or followed in the AP-HP (39 hospitals in Paris area, France). The French RMD COVID19 cohort is a national multi-center cohort that included patients with confirmed AIRD and diagnosed with COVID-19. All AIRD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 before September 2020 from both cohorts were included.

-We Identified factors associated with severe COVID-19 was made in a combined analysis of the 2 cohorts.

-Then, we compared COVID-19 infection severity in the EDS-COVID database in AIRD patients and controls, by a propensity score (PS)-matched case-control (1:4) study

Results

Among 1213 patients (334 in EDS and 879 in RMD cohort), 195 (16.1%) experienced a severe COVID19. In multivariate analysis, greater age, history of interstitial lung disease, arterial hypertension, obesity, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, auto-inflammatory disease and treatment with corticosteroids or rituximab were associated with severe COVID-19 (Table 1).

Table 1.

AIRD patient’s characteristics associated with severity of COVID-19

Patients with mild or moderate infectionPatients with severe infectionOR ajustés 95%CIp-value(N = 1018)(N = 195)Patients characteristics Age55.9 (16.7%)70.3 (14.3%)1.05 [1.03;1.07]<0.001 Gender: Female695 (68.3%)105 (54.1%)0.59 [0.38;0.94]0.025 Interstitial pneumonia38 (3.7%)20 (10.3%)2.94 [1.34;6.34]0.008 Obesity143 (17.8%)38 (27.7%)2.09 [1.26;3.43]0.004 Hypertension268 (26.3%)114 (58.5%)1.81 [1.13;2.89]0.013Underlying Disease: Chronic inflammatory arthritis618 (60.8%)72 (36.9%)Ref. Auto-inflammatory disease29 (2.9%)5 (2.6%)3.91 [1.2;11.32]0.025 Other29 (2.9%)4 (2.1%)0.35 [0.06;1.41]0.15 Connectivitis190 (18.7%)34 (17.4%)1.13 [0.62;2.01]0.69 Sarcoidosis40 (3.9%)24 (12.3%)5.19 [2.15;12.3]<0.001 Vasculitis111 (10.9%)56 (28.7%)1.8 [1.02;3.16]0.044Treatments Corticosteroid318 (31.2%)117 (60.0%)2.47 [1.58;3.87]<0.001 Leflunomide44 (4.3%)2 (1.0%)0.13 [0;0.97]0.045 Rituximab37 (3.7%)22 (11.5%)4.05 [1.96;8.27]<0.001Not significant in multivariate analysisCOPD, Asthma, Coronary heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, smoking, cancer, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, salazopyrine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, intravenous immunoglobulins, anti-TNFα, anti-IL1, -IL6, -IL17, Abatacept, JAK inhibitor

Among 35741 COVID-19 patients in EDS, 316 with AIRD were compared to 1264 PS-matched controls. Severe form occurred in 118 (37,3%) AIRD cases and 384 (30.4%) controls (Adjusted OR (aOR) for severe form= 1.43 [1.1;1.9], p=0,01). In analysis restricted to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondylarthritis (SpA), no increased risk of severe form (aOR=1.11 [0.68;1.81]) form or death (aOR=1.00 [0.55;1.81]) was observed.

Conclusion

In this multicenter study we confirmed that AIRD patients treated with rituximab or corticosteroids were at increased risk of severe COVID-19, as were those with vasculitis, auto-inflammatory disease, and sarcoidosis. Also, when compared to controls from the same cohort of hospitalized patients, AIRD patients had, overall, an increased risk of severe COVID-19, increased risk not observed in an analysis restricted to patients with RA or SpA.

Acknowledgements

FAI2R /SFR/SNFMI/SOFREMIP/CRI/IMIDIATE consortium and contributors

Patricia Martel

All clinicians/physicians implicated in COVID-19 patient care in APHP hospital and generated EDS patient data

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

OP0303-PARE HEALTH DEMOCRACY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19: A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE BETWEEN PATIENT ORGANIZATIONS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE LIVING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background

Has the COVID-19 crisis overwhelmed health democracy? This question may have arisen since extraordinary measures taken in response to the pandemic were developed almost exclusively by scientific expert committees. Citizens, patients, patient organizations, healthcare professionals, and even experts from these committees have recognized a lack of health democracy in the decision-making process regarding the COVID-19 response in France. Indeed, patient voices were barely heard during the early stages of the pandemic; yet inclusive dialogue is crucial for building trust and adherence to policy.

Moreover, patients also need to be assisted in handling the overabundance of COVID-19 information, particularly misleading and false information, referred to as an “infodemic” by the WHO.

Objectives

To show a practical and effective application of health democracy in rheumatology through collaboration between patient associations and rheumatologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. To collect, select, analyze, abstract, and translate COVID-19 literature to provide rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with useful, convenient and quality educational materials that answer patients’ medical, scientific and daily life questions. This initiative is consistent with patient-centered COVID-19 response.

Methods

At the instigation of a patient association in October 2021, a working group was established to develop a COVID-19 patient education resource to meet the expectations and needs of RA patients. The working group consisted of health professionals and patients identified by the partner patient organization. A committee of rheumatologists checked the reliability and accuracy of the scientific and medical information. A committee of patients assessed materials’ relevance, readability, and understandability. Materials were written in lay language without distorting the meaning of the scientific data. The methodology is detailed in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Process flowchart

Results

The document is available to download on www.polyarthrite-andar.com (number of unique visits on the webpage for the last version: 1176). A printed version was also provided directly to patients by rheumatologists. To provide up-to-date information, the brochure was updated 7 times between the first edition in January 2021 and the last version in August 2021. This last version included 49 questions. Each update was announced to all members of the patient organization in its monthly newsletter (number of newsletter’s subscribers: 1863; number of followers: Facebook=2632; Twitter=1382; Instagram=921; LinkedIn= 590; Youtube=2907). The “Medical and scientific questions” section provided reliable and expert-reviewed information about the virus, protective measures, testing, vaccination, integrating RA specificities and its treatments for each item. The “Daily life questions” section provided practical advice during the pandemic, in particular by addressing the “TousAntiCovid” smartphone application, isolation certificates, remote working and lockdown instructions.

Conclusion

This initiative demonstrates the benefits that can be achieved by greater collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals to address population health problems. The patient could be an active contributor in improving disease management of his peers. This patient education tool is a good example of the relevance of the motto of ‘nothing about us, without us’. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of bringing patients’ voices to affect evidence-based policies centered around the needs of patients. Health democracy needs to form the backbone of how a health system is structured.

Acknowledgements

I Writing support and update was funded by Galapagos B.V., Mechelen, Belgium

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

OP0254 FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEVERITY OF COVID-19 INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: RESULTS OF THE FRENCH RMD COVID-19 COHORT

Background

To our knowledge, no published work has described precisely the severity and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Data on COVID-19 from cohorts of patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases concern small samples of SpA.

Objectives

Our objective was to describe the severity and course of COVID-19 in a large cohort of patients with SpA, including axial SpA (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and to identify factors associated with severe forms.

Methods

Patients: individuals with Spondyloarthritis (SpA) from the French RMD COVID-19 cohort (observational, national, multicenter cohort) with a diagnosis of COVID-19 (clinical, PCR, CT or serology) were included.

Data collected: demographics, type of SpA, comorbidities, treatments, severity of COVID-19. Severity of COVID-19 was graded according to care needed: mild = outpatient care; moderate = non-intensive hospital treatment; severe = intensive care unit admission or death; severe = moderate or severe.

Statistical analyses: Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with these severe forms. All variables with p <0.20 in the univariate analysis were proposed in the multivariate model. Treatment variables (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine (SLZ), TNF inhibitors (TNFi), IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) and IL-23p19/p40 inhibitors (IL-23p19/p40i)) were included in the models, even if p≥0.20.

Results

Between March 2020 and April 2021, 626 SpAs reported COVID-19 with a mild course in 508 cases (81.1%), moderate in 93 cases (14.8%), and severe in 25 cases (3.9%), including 6 deaths.

The cohort analyzed included 349 women (55.8%), mean age 49.3 ± 14.1 years, mean BMI 27.1 ± 5.4 with 403 axSpA (64.4%), 187 PsA (29.9%) and 36 other SpA, duration of disease 11.3 ± 9.8 years; 352 (56.2%) had at least one comorbidity, of which obesity (23.6%), hypertension (15.5%), and smoking (10.4%) were the most frequent. Among them, 104 were treated with NSAIDs (16.6%), 186 with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) including 156 MTX, and 460 (73.5%) with biological DMARDs (379 TNFi, 57 IL-17i, 15 IL-23p19/p40i, 9 others).

The following variables were associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes: age, body mass index, chronic obstructive lung disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, interstitial lung disease, renal failure, and corticosteroids intake.

The factors independently associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes were corticosteroid intake (3.15 [CI95%: 1.46-6.76], p 0.004), and age (OR=1.06 [CI95%: 1.04-1.08], p <0.001] while anti-TNF (OR=0.26 [CI95%: 0.09-0.78], p=0.01]) was protective. NSAIDs intake (OR=0.97 [CI95%: 0.48-1.98]), SLZ (OR=7.9 [CI95%: 0.60-103]), or anti-IL17 (OR=0.37 [CI95%: 0.10-1.31]) was not associated with infection severity.

Conclusion

The course of COVID-19 was mild for the majority of SpA patients (81.1%). Corticosteroid intake was associated with more severe COVID-19 outcomes, whereas TNFi were found to be protective.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0621 MORE THAN 40% OF WOMEN WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS HAVE A TIME-TO-CONCEPTION LONGER THAN 1 YEAR: ANALYSIS OF THE PROSPECTIVE GR2 COHORT

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases and regularly affects women of childbearing age1. However, there is limited knowledge about the impact of the disease and its treatment on fertility.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to determine factors associated with time-to-conception in women with RA.

Methods

All RA patients (diagnosis according to the Rheumatologist) included in the national multicenter GR2 cohort from 2015 to June 2021 were included in the analysis. Patients could be included either with a pregnancy wish (i.e., preconceptional period) or because of a clinical pregnancy (<12 weeks of gestation): for this analysis, only patients included preconceptionally were included. The main endpoint was time-to-conception, and the secondary endpoints were the number of subfertile patients (i.e., time-to-conception >12 months or non-achievement of pregnancy), as well as the number exposed to csDMARDs and biologics in the preconception period. We performed survival analyses, using a Cox model including a random effect for the center to account for heterogeneity of practices among participating centers. We used a multiple imputation to address missing data among the explanatory variables. Results are presented as a hazard ratio (HR) with confidence interval (CI) to assess associations between the factors studied and time-to-conception.

Results

Among the 167 patients with RA included in the GR2 cohort, 78 were selected for the main analysis of time-to-conception. Of these, 40 (51.3%) had a clinical pregnancy during follow-up. Subfertility was observed in 33 (42.3%) women and median time-to-conception was 19.1 months; mean preconception DAS28-CRP score was 2.3 (+/- 1.2).

Patients were treated during the preconceptional period with NSAIDs, corticosteroids, csDMARDs and biotherapy in 10 (12.8%), 35 (44.9%), 24 (30.8%), and 32 (41.0%) cases, respectively. The multivariate model adjusted for age, BMI, DAS28-CRP, disease duration, ACPA positivity, and exposure to corticosteroids and biologics in the preconception period found an association between increased preconception delay and age (HR (per year) 1. 12 95% CI [1.04-1.16] p = 0.01) as well as disease duration (HR (per year) 1.06 95% CI [1.02-1.15] p = 0.03).

Conclusion

This study provides original results on fertility in women with RA. It found a median time-to-conception of 19.1 months, with a subfertility rate of 42.3%, which is significantly higher than the general population2. In this context, it seems essential to discuss this topic from the beginning of the disease in women of childbearing age.

References

[1]Van den Brandt S. Arthritis Res Ther. 2017;19(1):64.

[2]Junul S. Hum Reprod. 1999;14(5):1250-4.

Table 1.

Survival analyses (Cox model): factors associated with time-to-conception in women with RA.

Univariate analysesMultivariate analysesCrude HR 95% CIpAdjusted HR 95% CIpAge1.11 [1.04-1.18]0.0021.12 [1.04-1.16]0.015BMI1.06 [0.99-1.16]0.1031.08 [0.99-1.16]0.062ACPA positivity1.75 [0.90-3.39]0.1071.44 [0.65-2.86]0.310Disease duration1.03 [0.98-1.08]0.2671.06 [1.02-1.15]0.032DAS28-CRP score1.08 [0.81-1.45]0.5921.08 [0.92-1.32]0.170Corticosteroids0.91 [0.51-1.65]0.7690.86 [0.42-1.68]0.620Biologics1.52 [0.82-2.81]0.1891.30 [0.62-2.78]0.630Figure 1.

Cumulative incidence curves for pregnancies in women with RA.

Acknowledgements

The GR2 Cohort is supported by the French Society of Rheumatology, the French Internal Medicine Society, and unrestricted grants from UCB.

Disclosure of Interests

SABRINA HAMROUN: None declared, Marion Couderc: None declared, Laure Gossec: None declared, Rene-Marc Flipo: None declared, Hubert MAROTTE: None declared, Christophe Richez Speakers bureau: CR has received consulting/speaker’s fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, GSK, MSD, Novartis, and Pfizer, all unrelated to this manuscript., Aline Frazier-Mironer: None declared, Jérémie SELLAM: None declared, Elisabeth Gervais: None declared, Valerie Devauchelle-Pensec: None declared, Alban Deroux: None declared, Rakiba Belkhir: None declared, AZEDDINE DELLAL: None declared, Laëtitia Dunogeant: None declared, Cédric Lukas: None declared, Emmanuel Chatelus: None declared, Nathalie Costedoat-Chalumeau: None declared, Anna Moltó: None declared

POS0062 A RISK SCORE TO DETECT SUBCLINICAL RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-ASSOCIATED INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE

Background

Despite a high morbi-mortality rate, there are no definite strategy for subclinical interstitial lung disease (ILD) screening in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objectives

Our objectives were: 1. to identify risk factors for subclinical RA-ILD in a prospective discovery cohort (ESPOIR) 2.to develop a risk score for subclinical RA-ILD and 3. to validate the risk score in an independent replication cohort (TRANSLATE 2).

Methods

Patients without pulmonary symptoms from 2 prospective RA cohorts who underwent chest HRCT scans were included. All patients were genotyped for MUC5B rs35705950. A risk score based on independent risk factors for subclinical RA-ILD was developed using multiple logistic regression in the discovery cohort. The risk score was tested for validation in the replication cohort.

Results

Discovery and replication cohorts included 163 and 89 patients, respectively. Subclinical ILD was detected in 19.0% and 16.9% of the patients, respectively. In the discovery cohort, independent risk factors for subclinical RA-ILD were the MUC5B rs35705950 T risk allele (odds ratio [OR]=3.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.37–10.39], male sex (OR=3.93; 95%CI [1.40–11.39]), older age at RA onset (for each year, OR=1.10; 95%CI [1.04–1.16]) and increased mean DAS28-ESR (for each unit, OR=2.03; 95%CI [1.24–3.42]). We developed a risk score for subclinical RA-ILD with AUC=0.82; 95%CI [0.70–0.94] (sensitivity (Se)=71.0%) and specificity (Sp)=79.6%). The risk score was validated in the replication cohort with AUC=0.78; 95%CI [0.65–0.92] (Se=86.7%, Sp=62.2%).

Conclusion

Our risk score could help identifying patients at high-risk for subclinical RA-ILD before the onset of pulmonary symptoms.

Disclosure of Interests

Pierre-Antoine Juge Speakers bureau: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Benjamin Granger: None declared, Marie-Pierre Debray: None declared, Esther Ebstein: None declared, Fabienne Louis-Sidney: None declared, Joanna KEDRA: None declared, Tracy Doyle: None declared, Raphael Borie: None declared, Arnaud Constantin Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, MSD, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Viatris, Bernard Combe Consultant of: AbbVie, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Sanofi, UCB, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: Abbvie, Janssen, MSD and Pfizer. He reports research grants from Abbvie, Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer, Xavier Mariette Consultant of: BMS, Gilead, Janssen, Pfizer, Samsung, UCB, Olivier VITTECOQ: None declared, Alain Saraux: None declared, Guillermo CARVAJAL ALEGRIA: None declared, Jean Sibilia Consultant of: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Amgen, Pfizer, BMS, Janssen, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, UCB, Novartis, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Amgen, Pfizer, BMS, Janssen, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, UCB, Novartis, Francis Berenbaum: None declared, Caroline Kannengiesser: None declared, Catherine Boileau: None declared, Jeffrey Sparks Consultant of: AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Inova Diagnostics, Janssen, Optum, and Pfizer, Grant/research support from: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (grant numbers R01 AR077607, P30 AR070253, and P30 AR072577), The R. Bruce and Joan M. Mickey Research Scholar Fund, Bristol Myers Squibb,

Bruno Crestani Speakers bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Roche, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: MedImmune, Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bruno Fautrel Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, MSD, NORDIC Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SOBI, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Philippe Dieudé Speakers bureau: Roche – Chugai, Bristol Myers Squibb, Consultant of: Pfizer, Roche – Chugai, Bristol Myers Squibb, Abbvie, MSD, Grant/research support from: Novartis

POS0698 CHANGES IN RA PATIENT PROFILE AT INITIATION OF FIRST TARGETED THERAPY OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD: ANALYSIS OF THE STRATEGE 1 AND STRATEGE 2 STUDIES

Background

The objective of the STRATEGE2 study (inclusion period: Feb. 2019-Dec. 2020) is to describe the therapeutic strategy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) for at least 3 months, not having received targeted biological (bDMARD) or synthetic (tsDMARD) therapy and who are candidates for initiation of first b/tsDMARD therapy due to RA activity.

The STRATEGE1 study [1] (conducted between 2014 and 2015) described the therapeutic strategies introduced for RA patients with an inadequate response to MTX monotherapy.

Objectives

We aim to compare the profiles of patients included in these two studies at first prescription of b/tsDMARD therapy, in order to evaluate changes in rheumatologist practices over this five-year period.

Methods

STRATEGE1 and 2 are two French multicentre, prospective, longitudinal, observational studies including patients with confirmed RA (ACR 1987 or ACR/EULAR 2010). Our aim is to compare baseline data. Only data from the sub-group of patients initiating b/tsDMARD therapy are presented for STRATEGE1. Qualitative variables are compared by Fisher’s exact test and quantitative variables by t-test.

Results

In STRATEGE1 (2014-2015), 117 out of 854 patients initiated a b/tsDMARD therapy. In STRATEGE2 (2019-2020), 230 patients were included, with 180 in the analysis population.

Table 1.At baseline (before b/tsDMARD initiation)STRATEGE1 (N=117)STRATEGE2 (N=180)pMean age (years)52.6 ±12.556.4 ±13.60.0158RA duration (years)6.5 ±7.15.6 ±7.2NSRadiological signs50.0%48.0%NSAverage MTX initiation (years)4.6 ±4.34.3 ±5.3NSMTX per os44.0%28.9%0.0088→ mean dosage (mg/week)16.2 ±3.616.0 ±4.1NSMTX subcutaneous52.6%70.6%0.003→ mean dosage (mg/week)18.5 ±3.219.9 ±3.9NS→ Patients self-administration53.8%75.8%0.0001Corticosteroid therapy53%50.6%NS→ mean dosage (mg/day)8.1 ±4.19.5 ±5.8NSMean DAS284.6 ± .14.3 ±1.20.0074Mean HAQ1.4 ±0.91.0 ±0.7<0.0001

The baseline visits involved initiation of b/tsDMARD therapy with 100% vs. 88.9% bDMARD (anti-TNF: 78.8% vs. 58.3%; anti-IL6: 6.7% vs. 12.8%; CTLA4 Ig: 11.5% vs. 16.7%; anti-CD20: 2.9% vs. 1.1%) and 0% vs. 11.1% tsDMARD. Therapeutic decisions concerning MTX were (STRATEGE 1 vs STRATEGE 2): identical regimen maintained (pharmaceutical form + dosage): 69.2% vs. 76.1%; discontinuation: 4.3% vs. 2.2%; adjustment: 26.7% vs. 21.7% [with dose reduction: 18.2% vs. 93.5% and/or change in pharmaceutical form (p.o. to SC): 54.5% vs. 0%].

Main reasons for adjusting treatment were (STRATEGE 1 vs STRATEGE 2): active RA: 86.1% vs. 77.8%; RA not in remission: 3.5% vs. 21.1%; exacerbation based on clinical/laboratory parameters: 42.6% vs. 10%.

Conclusion

Over the five-year period, these results suggest a change in practices for RA patients with an inadequate response to MTX and initiating their first targeted therapy: now with earlier recourse to first targeted therapy, for less active RA, and more pronounced investigation of remission.

References

[1]C. Gaujoux-Viala et al. MTX optimization or adding bDMARD equally improve disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the prospective study STRATEGE. Rheumatology 2021;0:1-11. doi:10.1093/rheumatologykeab274.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge RCTs for their contribution to the statistical analysis, the investigators, centres and patients.

Disclosure of Interests

Cécile Gaujoux-Viala Speakers bureau: AbbVie; Amgen; Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Eli Lilly; Galapagos; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen; Medac; Merck-Serono; Mylan; Nordic Pharma; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sandoz; Sanofi; and UCB., Consultant of: AbbVie; Amgen; Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Eli Lilly; Galapagos; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen; Medac; Merck-Serono; Mylan; Nordic Pharma; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sandoz; Sanofi; and UCB., Emmanuelle Dernis Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Roche-Chugaï Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB Pharma., Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Roche-Chugaï Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB Pharma., Eric Senbel Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer Roche-Chugai and Sandoz, Sanofi., Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer Roche-Chugai and Sandoz, Sanofi., Hélène Herman-Demars Employee of: Nordic Pharma France, Agnès Courbeyrette Employee of: Nordic Pharma France, René-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD, Nordic-Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugaï, and Sanofi., Consultant of: Abbvie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD, Nordic-Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugaï, and Sanofi.

OP0127 UNFAVORABLE PREGNANCY OUTCOME IS SIGNIFICANTLY ASSOCIATED WITH CORTICOSTEROID EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY IN WOMEN WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: ANALYSIS OF THE PROSPECTIVE GR2 COHORT

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases and regularly affects women of childbearing age1. However, there is limited knowledge about the impact of the disease and its treatment on pregnancy.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to determine the factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcome in women with RA.

Methods

All RA patients (diagnosis according to the Rheumatologist) included in the national multicenter GR2 cohort from 2015 to June 2021 were included in the analysis. Patients could be included either with a pregnancy wish (i.e., preconceptional period) or because of a clinical pregnancy (<12 weeks of gestation). The main endpoint was favorable pregnancy outcome, a composite outcome defined as a live birth at term ≥ 37 gestation weeks of a healthy newborn with a weight greater than the 10th percentile. Disease activity was defined by a DAS28-CRP score > 3.2 at least once during pregnancy. We performed a multilevel logistic regression model, in which we considered patient and center random effects (patient random effect for some women included in the cohort two times). We used a multiple imputation procedure to address missing data among the explanatory variables. Results are presented as an odds ratio (OR) with confidence interval (CI).

Results

Among the 167 pregnancies in women with RA included in the GR2 cohort, 92 were retained for analysis of obstetrical outcome. Of these, 43 (46.2%), 8 (7.9%), 40 (43.5%) were exposed to corticosteroid, NSAID and biologics at least once during pregnancy, respectively. A moderate or severe disease activity at least once during pregnancy was found in 20 (21.8%) pregnancies. A live birth was found in 83 (90.2%) women, including 69 (83.1%) full-term births. Early miscarriages were observed in 9 (0.1%) women. A caesarean section was performed in 22 (23.9%) cases.

A favorable pregnancy outcome was found in 52 (56.5%) of the women. Unfavorable pregnancy outcome was mainly due to prematurity and small for gestational age, observed in 14 (16.9%) and 17 (20.5%), respectively. The multivariate model adjusted for age, BMI, nulliparity, active disease during pregnancy, smoking, and exposure to biologics and corticosteroids during pregnancy found an association between an unfavorable pregnancy outcome and nulliparity (OR 6.2 95% CI [2.1-17.8] p = 0.002), age (OR (per year) 1.1 95% CI [1.0-1.3] p = 0.02) and exposition to corticosteroids during pregnancy (OR 3.2 95% CI [1.1-9.6] p = 0.04).

Conclusion

This study provides original results on pregnancy in women with RA. It found a favorable pregnancy outcome in 56.5% of women. Unfavorable pregnancy outcome was associated with age, nulliparity and corticosteroids use during pregnancy, which argues for their careful use during pregnancy.

References

[1]Van den Brandt S. Arthritis Res Ther. 2017;19(1):64.

Table 1.

Multilevel logistic regression model: factors associated with unfavorable pregnancy outcome in women with RA.

Univariate analysesMultivariate analysesCrude OR 95% CIpAdjusted OR 95% CIpAge1.09 [1.01-1.19]0.0361.14 [1.02-1.28]0.019BMI0.93 [0.83-1.04]0.1960.91 [0.77-1.08]0.204Nulliparity4.18 [1.66-10.53]0.0036.16 [2.13-17.76]0.002Smoking1.08 [0.29-3.36]0.9961.65 [0.37-7.22]0.141Disease activity*1.06 [0.40-2.81]0.9110.98 [0.21-2.28]0.753Corticosteroids**2.45 [1.05-5.68]0.0393.22 [1.09-9.57]0.038Biologics**1.05 [0.11-3.54]0.5892.02 [0.70-4.12]0.194

* Moderate or severe disease activity at least once during pregnancy.

** Use at least once during pregnancy

Acknowledgements

The GR2 Cohort is supported by the French Society of Rheumatology, the French Internal Medicine Society, and unrestricted grants from UCB.

Disclosure of Interests

SABRINA HAMROUN: None declared, Marion Couderc: None declared, Rene-Marc Flipo: None declared, Laure Gossec: None declared, Christophe Richez Speakers bureau: CR has received consulting/speaker’s fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, GSK, MSD, Novartis, and Pfizer, all unrelated to this manuscript., Rakiba Belkhir: None declared, Aline Frazier-Mironer: None declared, Valerie Devauchelle-Pensec: None declared, Hubert MAROTTE: None declared, Jérémie SELLAM: None declared, Elisabeth Gervais: None declared, Alban Deroux: None declared, Cédric Lukas: None declared, Emmanuelle Dernis: None declared, Emmanuel Chatelus: None declared, Nathalie Costedoat-Chalumeau: None declared, Anna Moltó: None declared

OP0181 CURRENT FAVOURABLE 10-YEAR OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: DATA FROM THE ESPOIR COHORT

Background:

ESPOIR is a longitudinal prospective cohort of adults with possible early RA (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03666091). Patients were referred by rheumatologists and general practitioners to one of the 14 regional centers in France. The objective and design of the cohort are described elsewhere (1). Patients received standard of care by their rheumatologists and were followed without predefined therapeutic strategies

Objectives:

To report the current 10-year outcome of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the ESPOIR cohort, and predictors of outcome.

Methods:

From 2003 to 2005, 813 patients were included if they had early arthritis (< 6 months) with a high probability of RA developing and had never been prescribed disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate predictors of outcome.

Results:

In total, 521 (64.1%) RA patients were followed up for 10 years and 35 (4.3%) died, which appears similar to the French general population. Overall, 480 (92.1%) patients received a DMARD; 174/521 (33.4%) received at least one biologic DMARD, 13.6 and 23.4% within 2 and 5 years. At year 10 (Table), mean DAS28 ESR was 2.5 ± 1.3; 273 (52.4%) patients were in DAS28 remission, 39.7% in CDAI remission, 40.1% in DAS28 sustained remission, and 14.1% in drug-free remission. Disability was well controlled overtime (Figure) and half of the patients achieved a HAQ Disability Index < 0.5; the SF-36 physical component and pain were well controlled. Structural progression was weak, with a mean change from baseline in modified Sharp score of 11.0 ± 17.9. A total of 82 (16.5%) patients required joint surgery including arthroplasty or arthrodesis in only 6.5% of the cases. A substantial number of patients showed new comorbidities, mainly cardiovascular or metabolic diseases over 10 years. Finally, positivity for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies was confirmed as a robust predictor of long-term outcome in patients with early RA.

Table 1.

Outcome in ESPOIR cohort and 1993 cohort at 10 years

ESPOIR cohort n=5211993 cohort n=112DAS28 ESR2.5 ± 1.3DAS44-2.2 ± 0.9SDAI7.5 ± 8.7CDAI6.8 ±8.3DAS28 ESR remission (n (%)273 (52.4)CDAI remission207 (39.7)DAS28 sustained remission, n (%)209 (40.1)DAS28 drug-free remission, n (%)75 (14.1)DAS28 ESR LDA336 (64.5)Rheumatoid nodules39 (7.5)Sicca syndrome314 (60.3)Patient global assessment24.0 ± 24.0HAQ DI score0.5 ± 0.60.75 ± 0.71HAQ DI < 0.5, n (%)280 (54.5)SF36 MCS46.7 ± 10.5SF36 PCS44.6 ± 9.2Pain (mm, VAS)16.6 ± 20.6Fatigue (mm, VAS)31.4 ± 27.023.2 ± 23.0ESR (mm/hr)14.4 ± 13.818.4 ± 16.5CRP level (mg/l)6.4 ± 16.59.3 ± 11.7Normal CRP (< 5 mg/l), n (%)336 (67.6)Total mSharp score*13.8 ± 19.635.4 ± 46.1Erosion score4.9 ± 9.418.4 ± 26.5)Joint narrowing score8.9 ± 12.132.1 ±23.2Joint surgery82 (16.5)26 (23.2)Joint arthroplasty/arthrodesis34 (6.5)20 (17.9)

Data are mean (SD)

DAS28, disease activity in 28 joints; HAQ DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index; SF36 MCS, Medial Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form mental component summary; SF36 PCS, Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form physical component summary; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein; VAS, visual analog scale; CDAI, Clinical Disease Activity Index; SDAI, Simple Disease Activity Index; *van der Heijde-modified Total Sharp score

Figure 1.

Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) over 10 years Data are mean (SD).

Conclusion:

We report a very mild 10-year outcome of a large inception cohort of patients with early RA diagnosed in the early 2000s, which was much better than results for a previous cohort of early RA patients who were recruited in 1993. This current favourable outcome may be related to more intensive care for real-life patients than previously.

References:

[1]Combe B et al. Jt Bone Spine Rev Rhum. 2007;74:440–5

Acknowledgements:

We thank MC Boissier, G Falgaronne and F. Lioté for help in patient recruitment. An unrestricted grant from Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) was allocated for the first 5 years of the cohort study. Two additional grants from INSERM supported part of the biological database. The French Society of Rheumatology, Abbvie, Pfizer, Lilly and more recently Fresenius and Biogen supported the ESPOIR cohort.

Disclosure of Interests:

Bernard Combe Speakers bureau: AbbVie; BMS; Gilead; Lilly; Merck; Pfizer; Roche-Chugai;, Consultant of: AbbVie; BMS; Gilead; Janssen; Lilly; Merck; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche-Chugai; and Sanofi;, Grant/research support from: Fresenius, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche-Chugai., Nathalie Rincheval: None declared, Francis Berenbaum Speakers bureau: Boehringer, Bone Therapeutics, Expanscience, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Merck Sereno, MSD, Nordic, Novartis, Regulaxis, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, Servier, UCB, Peptinov, TRB Chemedica, 4Moving Biotech, 4P Pharma, Consultant of: Boehringer, Bone Therapeutics, Expanscience, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Merck Sereno, MSD, Nordic, Novartis, Regulaxis, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, Servier, UCB, Peptinov, TRB Chemedica, 4Moving Biotech, 4P Pharma, Patrick BOUMIER: None declared, Alain Cantagrel Speakers bureau: AbbVie; Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Grunenthal; Lilly; Medac; MSD France; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche-Chugai; Sanofi;, Consultant of: AbbVie; Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Grunenthal; Lilly; Medac; MSD France; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche-Chugai; Sanofi;, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Fresenius, MSD France, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Philippe Dieudé Speakers bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Lilly, Medac, Novartis Roche-Genentech, Sanofi, Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Lilly, Medac, Novartis Roche-Genentech, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer., Maxime Dougados Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, Lilly, UCB, Merck, BMS, Roche, Biogen, Sanofi, Novartis, and Sandoz, Consultant of: Pfizer, Abbvie, Lilly, UCB, Merck, BMS, Roche, Biogen, Sanofi, Novartis, and Sandoz, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, Lilly, UCB, Merck, BMS, Roche, Biogen, Sanofi, Novartis, and Sandoz, Bruno Fautrel Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Celltrion, Fresenius Kabi, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, MSD, Mylan, NORDIC Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Celltrion, Fresenius Kabi, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, MSD, Mylan, NORDIC Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD and Pfizer, René-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Biogen, BMS, Janssen, MSD, Nordic, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai and Sanofi-Genzyme, Consultant of: Abbvie, Biogen, BMS, Janssen, MSD, Nordic, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai and Sanofi-Genzyme, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and Roche-Chugai, Philippe Goupille Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB., Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, MSD, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB., Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Biogen, MSD, Pfizer, Xavier Mariette Speakers bureau: BMS, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Servier, and UCB., Consultant of: BMS, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Servier, and UCB., Grant/research support from: Servier, Alain Saraux Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly, Nordic, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Sanofi and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly, Nordic, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Sanofi and UCB, Grant/research support from: Roche-Chugai, Thierry Schaeverbeke Speakers bureau: AbbVie, BMS, Lilly, Novartis, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, BMS, Lilly, Novartis, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, AbbVie, BMS, Roche, UCB, Astra, MSD, Rigel, AB-sciences, Jean Sibilia Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Amgen, Pfizer, BMS, Janssen, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, UCB, Novartis., Consultant of: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Amgen, Pfizer, BMS, Janssen, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, UCB, Novartis., Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, Olivier VITTECOQ Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer; Roche-Chugai, Mylan and Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer; Roche-Chugai, Mylan and Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Pfizer, Merck, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Jean-Pierre Daures: None declared

OP0284 OUTCOME OF COVID-19 IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASES TREATED WITH RITUXIMAB: DATA FROM DE FRENCH RMD COVID-19 COHORT

Background:

Various observations have suggested that the course of the COVID-19 infection may be less favorable in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (iRMD) receiving rituximab (RTX).

Objectives:

To investigate whether treatment with RTX is associated with severe infection and death.

Methods:

We performed an observational, multicenter, French national cohort study querying the French RMD COVID-19 cohort, including highly suspected/confirmed iRMD-COVID-19 patients. The primary endpoint was to assess the severity rate of COVID-19. Severe disease was defined by hospitalization in intensive care unit or death. The secondary objectives were to analyze death rate and length of hospital stay. Two control groups were considered for comparison with RTX treated patients: a first group including all non-RTX treated iRMD patients and a second consisting on RTX untreated iRMD patients with diseases for which RTX is a recognized therapeutic option. Adjusting on potential confounding factors was performed by using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) propensity score method.

Results:

We collected a total of 1090 records. Patients were mainly females (67.3%, 734/1090) with a mean age of 55.2±16.4 years, and 51.1% (557/1090) were over the age of 55. Almost 70% of the population had at least one comorbidity (756/1090). A total of 63 patients were treated with RTX, mainly for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (31/63, 49.2%). RTX treated patients were more likely to be males, with older age, higher prevalence of comorbidities and corticosteroid use. The control population consisted on 1027 non-RTX treated iRMD patients, and 495 RTX untreated iRMD patients with diseases for which RTX is a recognized therapeutic option.

Of the 1,090 patients, 137 developed severe disease (12.6%). After adjusting on potential confounding factors (age, sex, arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, body mass index, interstitial lung disease, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, corticosteroid use, chronic renal failure and the underlying disease), severe disease was confirmed to be observed more frequently in patients receiving RTX compared to all RTX untreated iRMD patients (effect size, ES 3.26, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.66 to 6.40, p<0.001) and the subgroup of untreated RTX patients with diseases eligible for RTX therapy (ES 2.62, 95% CI 1.34 to 5.09, p=0.005). Patients who developed a severe disease had a more recent rituximab infusion compared to patients with mild or moderate disease. Indeed, the time between the last infusion of rituximab and the first symptoms of COVID-19 was significantly shorter in patients who developed a severe form of COVID-19 (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Distribution (Tukey’s box plot) of Lag time between last infusion of Rituximab according to disease severity. P-Values for comparison between disease severity with Kruskal Wallis test are reported; P-Value<0.001 for either post-hoc comparison of severe disease group with moderate or mild disease group (calculated using Dunn’s test).

Eighty-nine patients in our cohort died, resulting in an overall death rate of 8.2%. Death rate was numerically higher in RTX treated patients (13/63, 20.6%) compared to all RTX untreated iRMDs patients (76/1027, 7.4%) and the subgroup of untreated RTX patients with diseases eligible for RTX therapy (49/495, 9.9%). After considering the previously described confounding factors, the risk of death was not significantly increased in patients treated with RTX compared to all RTX untreated iRMDs patients (ES 1.32, 95% CI 0.55 to 3.19, p=0.53) (Table 2) and the subgroup of untreated RTX patients with diseases eligible for RTX therapy (ES 1.48, 95% CI 0.68 to 3.20, p=0.32). In line with a more severe COVID-19 disease, the length of hospital stay was markedly longer in patients treated with RTX compared to both untreated RTX patient groups.

Conclusion:

RTX therapy is associated with a more severe COVID-19 infection. RTX will have to be applied with particular caution in patients with iRMDs.

Acknowledgements:

Muriel Herasse played a major role in collecting the missing data of the cohort.

We thank Julien Labreuche (biostatistician, CHU-Lille) for the help in the statistical analysis.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

POS0818 TREATMENT OF POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA WITH TOCILIZUMAB: RESULTS OF AN OBSERVATIONAL RETROSPECTIVE MULTICENTER STUDY

Background:

In 2017, TOCILIZUMAB (TCZ) obtained marketing authorization for treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA); however, this doesn’t extend to polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) therapy. Based on efficacy data for TCZ in GCA, TCZ is sometimes used as a glucocorticoid (GC) sparing agent when PMR is GC dependent or when a rapid steroid withdraw is needed. Currently, there are no available recommendations on the use of this therapeutic class in for this particular indication.

Objectives:

Here, we present the results of an observational French multicentric study of patients with PMR treated with TCZ.

Methods:

Thirteen medical centers were included in this study. The data was collected retrospectively between 2015 and 2020. The minimum duration of treatment was 3 months. Patients were included when receiving TCZ for isolated PMR or associated with a non-active GCA (asymptomatic, no vascular fixation on PET scanner).

Results:

Overall, 34 patients were included (24 women; mean age 70.1 years (+/-10.3)). At TCZ introduction, patients had been treated with GC for a mean duration of 27,9 months (+/-25.9) and the mean GC dose was 16,8mg/d (+/-10). Fifteen patients (44%) had one or more complications from GC therapy. Another immunosuppressant was added before TCZ treatment for 25 (74%); mostly METHOTREXATE (24/25).

TCZ was initiated intravenously at 8mg/kg every 4 weeks for 27 patients (79%) and subcutaneously at 162mg/week for 7 patients (21%).

The reasons for TCZ introduction included GC dependence (n=30, 88%), and necessity of quick GC sparing (n=4 patients,12%).

Of all patients, 76% (26 patients) had stopped GC treatment definitively, with a mean time of 9,4 (0-32) months.

The mean TCZ treatment period was 19,2 months (3-66). Fifteen patients (44%) permanently stopped TCZ at the end of the observation period (8 prolonged remissions;1 myocardial infarction; 1 cutaneous lymphoma; 1 primary failure, 3 lost to follow up).

Eighteen patients (60%) benefited from an attempted tapering of TCZ (infusion spacing or dose reduction), 6 attempts (1/3) led to a relapse. 1/2 patients had side effects mostly benign (cytopenia n=6, infections n=5).

Conclusion:

This is the largest cohort presenting results of the use of TCZ in PMR. Despite the small number of participants, our study suggests TCZ is effective as a GC sparing agent in PMR. As there are no official recommendations of use, indications for TCZ use within this population are no defined. Randomized Controlled Trial would be beneficial to validate these first results.

References:

[1]Toussirot, « Biothérapies, pseudo- polyarthrite rhizomélique et artérite à cellules géantes État des lieux en 2018 ».

[2]Devauchelle-Pensec et al., « Efficacy of First-Line Tocilizumab Therapy in Early Polymyalgia Rheumatica ».

[3]Genovese et al., « Longterm Safety and Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis ».

[4]Stone et al., « Trial of Tocilizumab in Giant-Cell Arteritis ».

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

OP0099 EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MORTALITY OF RA-ASSOCIATED INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE: DATA FROM A FRENCH ADMINISTRATIVE HEALTHCARE DATABASE

Background:

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common extra-articular manifestation of RA and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.1-3 Studies have shown variability in the prevalence and mortality rate of patients with RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD).4 Further studies are needed to better characterise the epidemiology of RA-ILD.

Objectives:

To estimate the prevalence and incidence of clinical RA-ILD in France and to compare mortality rates between patients with RA-ILD and patients with RA without clinical ILD (RA-noILD).

Methods:

A historical cohort study was conducted using data from the French national claims database (SNDS) between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2018. Adults with an RA diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth revision [ICD-10] codes M05, M06.0, M06.8 and M06.9) and ≥2 distinct dates of DMARD delivery were included. Onset of RA was defined as the first date of occurrence between RA codes and the first known DMARD reimbursement. ILD diagnosis was defined as having ICD-10 code J84 and ≥1 computed tomography scan after, but within 1 year of, the first date of ILD occurrence. All patients had ≥6 months’ reimbursement after RA-ILD onset. The prevalence and incidence (2014–2018) of RA-ILD were estimated. The mortality rate was calculated, comparing patients with RA-ILD and patients with RA-noILD, matched 1:1 for age, sex, age at RA-ILD onset, duration of RA and presence of diabetes, arterial disease, dyslipidaemia and cardiac disease. Mortality was compared between patients with RA with and without clinical ILD in the matched population using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results:

The prevalence of RA-ILD was 6.52 per 100,000 inhabitants (incidence=1.04 per 100,000 person-years). Of the 173,138 patients with RA included in the overall population, 4330 (2.5%) had clinical ILD. Patients with RA-ILD were older at RA diagnosis (mean [SD] age: 63.3 [13.7] vs 56.9 [15.2] years) and were more likely to be male (39.8% vs 27.0%) compared with patients with RA-noILD. Patients with RA-ILD were more likely to have cardiac disease (84.9% vs 63.1%), arterial disease (38.0% vs 19.3%), diabetes (21.4% vs 12.5%) and dyslipidaemia (44.7% vs 32.9%) compared with those with RA-noILD. The mortality rate in patients with clinical RA-ILD was 1.71 per 100,000 inhabitants. The mortality rate increased according to age (0.28 per 100,000 inhabitants for patients aged <65 years, 4.60 per 100,000 inhabitants for patients aged 65–74 years and 11.4 per 100,000 inhabitants for patients aged ≥75 years). After matching, the adjusted mortality risk was three times higher (HR [95% CI]: 3.1 [3.1, 3.9]) in patients with RA-ILD than in those with RA-noILD (Figure 1).

Conclusion:

This is the largest epidemiological study of RA-ILD in France. The prevalence of clinical RA-ILD in this population was towards the lower end of previous estimates (1–58%),3 possibly due to under-reporting of claims data. However, the occurrence of clinical ILD was associated with a strong increase in mortality compared with patients with RA-noILD.

References:

[1]Bodolay E, et al. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2005;44:656–661.

[2]Duarte AC, et al. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2019;58:2031–2038.

[3]Hyldgaard C, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76:1700–1706.

[4]Spagnolo P, et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2018;70:1544–1554.

Acknowledgements:

This study was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. Claire Line, PhD of Caudex provided medical writing support, funded by Bristol Myers Squibb.

Disclosure of Interests:

Pierre-Antoine Juge Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Lidwine Wemeau Stervinou Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Sanofi, Sebastien Ottaviani Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Roche-Chugai, SOBI, UCB, Guillaume Desjeux: None declared, Joe Zhuo Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Bruno Bregman Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Virginie Vannier-Moreau Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Grant/research support from: Amgen, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Bruno Crestani: None declared, Philippe Dieudé Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugaï, Lilly, Medac, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer

OP0190 USEFULNESS OF 18F-FLUORODEOXYGLUCOSE POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY IN DIAGNOSING POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA AND LARGE-VESSEL VASCULITIS: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Background:

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a relatively common disease among the elderly. None of the most common imaging techniques provides diagnostic certainty of PMR. 18F-fluoro-dexoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) may be a useful candidate as it can be used to visualize articular and periarticular FDG uptake at different locations, as well as associated large-vessel vasculitis (LVV), but its usefulness needs to be evaluated in the absence of large-scale case-control studies.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of FDG-PET/CT in diagnosing PMR and LVV.

Methods:

We analysed FDG-PET/CT scans performed between January 2015 and December 2019 on patients diagnosed with PMR. For comparisons, patients with PMR were matched 1:1 to controls according to age and sex. FDG-PET/CT scans had been performed on controls over the same period for diagnosis of cancer-associated stroke. FDG uptake was scored visually using a semi-quantitative analysis (score 0-3) for 17 articular or periarticular sites, as described by Sondag et al. [1], and for 13 vascular sites, as described by Slart et al. [2]. The case and control groups were compared using generalized linear mixed models (binomial distribution, logit function) for binary outcomes, and linear mixed models for continuous outcomes, with matched sets as a random effect. The optimal threshold for the number of sites with significant hyperfixation (score ≥ 2) was determined by maximizing the Youden index.

Results:

81 patients with a diagnosis of PMR and 81 controls were included (mean (SD) age 70.7 (9.8) years; 44.4% women). We found significant differences between the PMR and control groups at all articular or periarticular sites for: 1) FDG uptake score (p<0.0001); 2) number of patients per site with significant FDG uptake (score ≥ 2) (p<0.0001); 3) global FDG articular uptake scores (score 0-51) (31 [IQR, 21 to 37] versus 6 [IQR, 3 to 10], p<0.001); and 4) number of sites with significant FDG uptake (score ≥ 2) (score 0-17) (11 [IQR, 7 to 13] versus 1 [IQR, 0 to 2], p<0.001). Using ROC curve analysis (Figure 1), we found that the presence of 6 or more sites with significant FDG uptake (≥ 2) was associated with the diagnosis of PMR with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 96% (AUC 0.96 [95% CI 0.93-0.99]). No significant differences in global FDG vascular uptake scores (score 0-39) or in number of patients with at least 1 significant uptake vascular site (score ≥ 2) were found between the PMR and control groups (1 [IQR, 0 to 4] versus 4 [0 to 6], p=0.06 and 8 (11.3%) versus 10 (14.1%), p=0.62 respectively).

Figure 1.

ROC curve analyzing performance of FDG-PET/CT for the diagnosis of PMR according to the number of sites with significant FDG uptake (≥ 2)

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrate that the FDG uptake score and the number of sites with significant FDG uptake could be relevant criteria for the diagnosis of PMR. However, unlike other authors, we found no evidence suggesting that FDG-PET/CT may be useful in diagnosing silent underlying LVV in patients with isolated PMR.

References:

[1]Sondag M, Guillot X, Verhoeven F, Blagosklonov O, Prati C, Boulahdour H, et al. Utility of 18F-fluoro-dexoxyglucose positron emission tomography for the diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica: a controlled study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2016;55(8):1452-7.

[2]Slart RHJA, Writing group, Reviewer group, Members of EANM Cardiovascular, Members of EANM Infection & Inflammation, Members of Committees, SNMMI Cardiovascular, Members of Council, PET Interest Group, et al. FDG-PET/CT(A) imaging in large vessel vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica: joint procedural recommendation of the EANM, SNMMI, and the PET Interest Group (PIG), and endorsed by the ASNC. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2018;45(7):1250-69.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0464 DRUG SURVIVAL OF TNFi AND SECUKINUMAB IN AXIAL SPONDYLARTHRITIS: A REAL-WORLD MULTICENTRIC COHORT OF 370 PATIENTS

Background:

IL17 inhibitors (IL17i) are an alternative for patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who did not respond to TNF inhibitors (TNFi). Secukinumab (SEC) is the first human monoclonal antibody that binds to the protein interleukin-17A.

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to describe the characteristics of axSpA patients treated with IL17i and TNFi and to assess the persistence with IL17i and TNFi in a real world cohort.

Methods:

A retrospective multicenter observational study was conducted. axSpA patients (pts) according to ASAS criteria initiating a IL17i or TNFi between June 2016 and December 2019 were included. Demographic features, current and previous use of biologic Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were collected. Date and reasons of discontinuation – i.e., lack of efficacy, safety issue, sustained remission or others – were collected. Kaplan-Meyer analysis were performed.

Results:

370 pts were included. Among the 202 patients who received TNFi, 90 (44.6%) were female, mean age was 43.2 +/- 13.2 years, mean body mass index was 26.1 kg/m2 +/- 5.4, 49 pts (46.7%) were smokers. The most common SpA phenotype was axial radiographic (n = 89, 54,9%) and 114 (68.3%) pts were HLA B27 positive, mean BASDAI was 57.5 +/- 14.6, median disease duration was 8.6 years [3.0-10.5]. Among the 168 patients who received SEC, 78 (46.4%) were female, mean age was 47.7 +/- 11.8 years, mean body mass index was 27.2 kg/m2 +/- 5.8, 45 pts (44.1%) were smokers. The most common SpA phenotype was axial radiographic (n = 106, 76,3%) and 114 (78.1%) pts were HLA B27 positive, mean BASDAI was 62.8 +/- 14.8, median disease duration was 9 years [5.0-19.0]. TNFi was the first line bDMARD in 116/202 pts (57.4%) and SEC was the first line bDMARD in 15/168 pts (8.9%). SEC was prescribed at 150mg every month in 121/168 (73.3%) pts. The median persistence with TNFi and SEC were 18.0 months [11.0-27.0] and 12.0 months [6.0-22.0], respectively. During the 3-year follow-up, 130 pts (42 with TNFi and 88 with SEC) discontinued treatment: 80 (22 with TNFi and 58 with SEC) for lack of effectiveness, 41 (16 with TNFi and 25 with SEC) for adverse events. No patient treated with SEC presented a new-onset inflammatory bowel disease.

Figure 1.

Persistence with SEC after 3 years of follow-up

Conclusion:

In this real world cohort of AxSpA pts, SEC was mostly prescribed at second and third-line, contrary to axSpA pts treated with TNFi. Most reason of discontinuation were related to lack of effectiveness with both therapeutic classes.

Disclosure of Interests:

Thibaut DELEPINE: None declared., Peggy Philippe Speakers bureau: Abbvie, MSD, Fresenius, Pfizer, UCB Pharma, Novartis, Consultant of: Abbvie, MSD, Fresenius, Pfizer, UCB Pharma, Novartis, Emeline Cailliau: None declared., Eric Houvenagel: None declared., Xavier Deprez Speakers bureau: Pfizer, UCB, Abbvie, Novartis, MSD, Consultant of: Pfizer, UCB, René-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: Novartis, Lilly, Abbvie, Pfizer, MSD, Consultant of: Novartis, Lilly, Abbvie, Pfizer, MSD, Jean-Guillaume Letarouilly Grant/research support from: Pfizer (research grant).

POS0447 PHYSICAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH RA, STRATIFIED BY SEROSTATUS AND TREATMENT LINE, FOLLOWING SC ABATACEPT: POST HOC ANALYSIS OF AN OBSERVATIONAL, 2-YEAR STUDY CONDUCTED IN ROUTINE CLINICAL PRACTICE (ASCORE)

Background:

RA is characterised by the production of autoantibodies, including RF and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs).1 Seropositive disease is associated with poorer prognosis in patients with RA,2 and response to different treatments has been shown to vary based on ACPA status.3 ASCORE (Abatacept SubCutaneOus in Routine Clinical PracticE; NCT02090556) was a 2-year, observational, prospective, multicentre study of SC abatacept for the treatment of RA.4

Objectives:

This post hoc analysis of the ASCORE study evaluated patient-reported outcomes, assessed using HAQ-DI, by RF/ACPA serostatus and treatment line over 24 months of treatment with abatacept.

Methods:

Eligible patients, aged ≥18 years, with active moderate-to-severe RA (ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria) who were IV abatacept-naive and initiated SC abatacept 125 mg once weekly, were enrolled into two cohorts: biologic (b)DMARD-naive patients and those with ≥1 prior bDMARD treatment failure. This post hoc analysis assessed mean change from baseline in HAQ-DI score at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months in response to treatment with abatacept stratified by baseline serostatus (RF/ACPA double positive [+/+]; RF/ACPA single positive [+/−; RF+/ACPA– or RF–/ACPA+] or RF/ACPA double negative [–/–]) and by line of therapy (all patients, patients receiving abatacept as a first-line bDMARD or as a ≥ second-line bDMARD [data not shown], and those receiving abatacept following 1 [data not shown] or ≥2 prior bDMARDs). Estimates of mean difference with 95% CIs between patients with different serostatus were calculated using a t-test for all patients and within different lines of therapy.

Results:

Among 2892 eligible patients in ASCORE, 1748 patients with RF/ACPA status available at baseline were included in this analysis (1079 +/+, 326 +/– and 343 –/–). Of these, 791 patients received abatacept as a first-line bDMARD therapy and 957 as a ≥ second-line bDMARD therapy (505 patients had received ≥2 prior bDMARDs). Among all patients, mean change from baseline in HAQ-DI score at 6 months was greater for patients with +/+ RA (mean difference [95% CI]: –0.2 [–0.3, –0.0]; p=0.0068) or +/– RA (mean difference [95% CI]: –0.2 [–0.3, –0.0]; p=0.0315) versus those with –/– RA at baseline (Figure 1). Similarly, mean change (95% CI) in HAQ-DI score at 6 months was greater for patients with +/+ RA versus –/– RA among those receiving abatacept as first-line therapy (–0.2 [–0.4, –0.0]; p=0.0407) or following treatment with ≥2 bDMARDs (–0.3 [–0.5, –0.0]; p=0.0265) (Figure 1). Among patients treated with abatacept following ≥2 prior bDMARDs, mean change in HAQ-DI score was higher among patients with +/– RA versus –/– RA at 18 months (data not shown) and 24 months (Figure 1). No other significant differences were observed by serostatus or line of therapy at any other time points.

Conclusion:

Patients with RA who were RF+/ACPA+ at baseline showed an enhanced initial response to abatacept compared with those who were RF–/ACPA–. Over 24 months of treatment in this real-world setting, abatacept was equally effective as a first- or ≥ second-line therapy.

References:

[1]Scott DL, et al. Lancet 2010;376:1094–1108.

[2]Hecht C, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2015;74:2151–2156.

[3]Harrold LR, et al. J Rheumatol 2018;45:32–39.

[4]Alten R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2019;78(suppl 2):A1639.

Acknowledgements:

Professional medical writing and editorial assistance was provided by Fiona Boswell, PhD, at Caudex and was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. This study was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb.

Disclosure of Interests:

Rieke Alten Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Xavier Mariette Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB, Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Grant/research support from: Amgen, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roberto Caporali Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos, Gilead, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Maya H Buch Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Gilead, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Yusuf Patel: None declared, Sara Marsal Speakers bureau: Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Galapagos, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, M.T. Nurmohamed Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Hedley Griffiths Consultant of: AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Peter Peichl: None declared, Bettina Bannert: None declared, Adrian Forster: None declared, Melanie Chartier Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Yedid Elbez Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Christiane Rauch Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Karissa Lozenski Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Vadim Khaychuk Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb

POS0095 DEVELOPPING A SCORE TO PREDICT PRECLINICAL INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY FROM THE ESPOIR COHORT

Background:

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) detected in 20% to 60% of patients with RA on high-resolution computed-tomography (HRCT) chest scan and is clinically significant in near 10%. Despite a high morbi-mortality rate, a definite strategy for preclinical ILD screening in patients with RA remains to be determined. To date, several factors have been reported to increase the risk of RA-ILD occurrence (i.e. older age at RA onset, ACPA positivity, male sex, RA disease activity, the MUC5B rs35705950 promoter variant...). However, none of these risk factors has been validated in a prospective cohort of patients with RA. The ESPOIR prospective cohort includes patients aged 18 to 70 years with recent arthritis (less than 6 months) and a definite or probable diagnosis of RA.

Objectives:

To identify in the ESPOIR cohort factors associated with ILD after at least 10 years of RA duration in order to develop a predictive score to identify patients with preclinical RA-ILD.

Methods:

An ILD detection by chest HRCT scan was systematically offered to every patient with definite RA after at least 10 years-follow-up. Chest HRCT scans were centrally reviewed by an experienced radiologist. Potential predictors of ILD were prospectively collected from baseline to the date of the HRCT scan, and all included patients were genotyped for MUC5B rs35705950. To take into account repeated measures, trajectories were determined for disease activity, C reactive protein, smoking, treatment exposure (i.e. prednisone, methotrexate [MTX] and biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs [bDMARDs]). A logistic model was used to identify independent predictors for the occurrence of ILD on HRCT scans. Confidence intervals were estimated using sampling methods. A predictive score for preclinical ILD occurrence was developed based on the identified predictors.

Results:

163 RA patients according to 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria, none of whom had pulmonary symptoms, were investigated with a chest HRCT scan (128 women (78.5%), mean RA duration 13.7 ± 1.1 years, age at inclusion 47.6 y/o ± 10.4, mean disease activity score [DAS]-28 during follow up was 3.1 ± 1.0). ILD was detected in 31 patients (19.0%). The MUC5B rs35705950 minor allele frequency (MAF) was 22.2% and 10.0% in the RA-ILD and RA-noILD populations, respectively (OR univariate=2.6 CI95% [1.2-5.5], P=0.01). After logistic regression, independent predictors for preclinical RA-ILD were male sex (OR=3.9 CI95% [1.4-11.4]), older age at RA onset (OR=1.1 per year CI95% [1.0-1.2]), mean DAS-28 score during the follow-up (OR=2.0 CI95% [1.2-3.4]) and MUC5B rs35705950 T risk allele (OR=3.7 CI95% [1.4-10.4]) (Figure 1). No influence of the use of RA-related drugs (prednisone, MTX or bDMARDs) was identified as risk factor. The logistic model could predict preclinical ILD occurrence after 13 years of RA duration with an AUC=0.82 CI95% (0.72-0.91). A predictive score for preclinical RA-ILD based on the 4 identified predictive risk factors was developed (Sensitivity 80%, Specificity 56%).

Figure 1.

Factors independently associated with preclinical ILD after 13 years of RA duration

Conclusion:

In this cross-sectional study of the prospective ESPOIR cohort, we identified clinical and genetic predictors for ILD after 13 years of RA duration. We developed a predictive score that could improve risk stratification for preclinical RA-ILD and help physicians identify patients with RA in whom a HRCT scan should be performed.

Disclosure of Interests:

Pierre-Antoine Juge Consultant of: BMS, Benjamin Granger: None declared, Marie-Pierre Debray: None declared, Esther Ebstein: None declared, Fabienne Louis Sidney: None declared, Joanna KEDRA: None declared, Raphael Borie: None declared, Arnaud Constantin Consultant of: Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Chugai, Roche, Abbvie, MSD, Pfizer, and UCB, Bernard Combe Consultant of: Abbvie, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Lilly, MSD, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Chigai, and Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Lilly, MSD, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Chugai, and Sanofi, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Roche, Chugai, Abbvie, and Pfizer, Grant/research support from: Roche, Chugai, Abbvie, and Pfizer, Xavier Mariette Consultant of: Bristol-Meyers Squibb, GSK, Janssen, Pfizer, and UCB, Olivier VITTECOQ Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Chugai, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Abbvie, and Lilly, Alain Saraux Consultant of: Roche, Chugai, and Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Grant/research support from: Roche, Chugai, and Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Guillermo CARVAJAL ALEGRIA: None declared, Jean Sibilia Consultant of: Roche, Chugai, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, UCB, GSK, LFB, Actelion, Pfizer, MSD, Novartis, Amgen, Hospira, AbbVie, Sandoz, Gilead, Lilly, Sanofi, Janssen, and Mylan, Francis Berenbaum Consultant of: Boehringer, Bone Therapeutics, Expanscience, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Elli Lilly, Merck Sereno, MSD, Nordic, Novartis, Pfizer, Regulaxis, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, Servier, UCB, Peptinov, TRB Chemedica, 4P Pharma, Caroline Kannengiesser: None declared, Catherine Boileau: None declared, Bruno Crestani Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Sanofi, Apellis, Astra-Zeneca, Grant/research support from: MedImmune, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bruno Fautrel Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, MSD, NORDIC Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, SOBI, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, MSD, Pfizer, Philippe Dieudé: None declared

OP0180 IMPACT OF RF AND ANTI-CITRULLINATED PROTEIN ANTIBODY SEROSTATUS ON 2-YEAR RETENTION OF ABATACEPT IN PATIENTS WITH RA

Background:

Up to 50% of patients with RA discontinue DMARD treatment within 18 months.1 However, up to 20% of patients who fail multiple treatments may have a good treatment response to another therapy.1 Predictive biomarkers, such as RF and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), may be useful to stratify patients with RA to the most appropriate treatment.1 ASCORE (Abatacept SubCutaneOus in Routine Clinical PracticE; NCT02090556) was a 2-year, observational, prospective, multicentre study of SC abatacept for the treatment of RA in routine clinical practice.2

Objectives:

To determine if RF/ACPA serostatus and treatment line impact abatacept retention in patients with RA in a post hoc analysis of ASCORE.

Methods:

Eligible patients, aged ≥18 years, with active moderate-to-severe RA (ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria) who were IV abatacept-naive and initiated SC abatacept 125 mg once weekly, were enrolled into two cohorts: biologic (b)DMARD-naive patients and those with ≥1 prior bDMARD treatment failure. This post hoc analysis assessed abatacept retention rate at 2 years in a subset of patients with RF/ACPA serostatus data (n=1748) from the ASCORE study (N=2892; as observed). Baseline (BL) serostatus groups examined by treatment line were: RF/ACPA double positive (+/+) RA, RF/ACPA single positive (RF+/ACPA– or RF–/ACPA+) RA (data not shown) and RF/ACPA double negative (–/–) RA. Last observation carried forward (LOCF) analyses were used to assess change from BL and measures of disease remission (DAS28 [CRP] <2.6, CDAI ≤2.8, and SDAI ≤3.3) in patients with +/+ RA versus –/– RA.

Results:

BL demographic and disease characteristics were similar across serostatus groups and treatment lines (Table 1). Mean age was 57.1 and 57.8 years for +/+ RA and –/– RA, respectively. Mean DAS28 (CRP) was 4.7 and 4.8 for +/+ RA and –/– RA, respectively. In patients with +/+ RA, abatacept retention was greater when given as first-line treatment (57% vs 48% when given as ≥ second-line) (Figure 1). Retention was similar in patients with –/– RA regardless of treatment line. After 2 years, mean (SE) change from BL (LOCF) in DAS28 (CRP) was –1.41 (0.06) and –0.97 (0.09) for patients with +/+ and –/– RA, respectively. For patients with +/+ RA, mean (SE) change from BL in DAS28 (CRP) was –1.62 (0.08) for those in whom abatacept was first-line and –1.19 (0.08) for those in whom abatacept was ≥ second-line. For patients with –/– RA, mean (SE) change from BL in DAS28 (CRP) was –1.03 (0.13) for those in whom abatacept was first-line and –0.93 (0.12) for those in whom abatacept was ≥ second-line. Remission rates (LOCF) were significantly (p<0.0001) higher in patients with +/+ RA vs –/– RA respectively: DAS28 (CRP) 38.4% (n=393) versus 19.3% (n=62); CDAI 50.6% (n=513) versus 33.0% (n=107); and SDAI 49.5% (n=497) versus 32.5% (n=102).

Table 1.

BL demographics and disease characteristics by RF/ACPA status

+/+ RA(n=1079)–/– RA(n=343)First-line (n=511)≥ second-line (n=568)First-line(n=140)≥ second-line(n=203)Age57.1 (13.4)57.1 (12.2)59.5 (14.7)56.6 (13.2)DAS28 (CRP)4.7 (1.2)4.7 (1.2)4.8 (1.1)4.8 (1.2)CDAI26.6 (12.5)26.6 (12.4)27.7 (12.5)28.6 (13.8)SDAI28.1 (13.1)28.1 (12.9)29.1 (12.9)30.2 (14.7)

Data are mean (SD). Patients with missing data for BL RF/ACPA status are excluded.

ACPA=anti-citrullinated protein antibody; BL=baseline.

Conclusion:

In this real-world analysis, patients with +/+ RA treated with first-line abatacept had higher retention than patients receiving abatacept as a ≥ second-line therapy. Remission rates on abatacept were higher in patients with +/+ RA versus –/– RA. These results support early treatment with abatacept and highlight the importance of further evaluating precision medicine approaches in RA.

References:

[1]Smolen JS, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2020;79:685–699.

[2]Alten R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2019;78(suppl 2):A1639.

Acknowledgements:

Professional medical writing and editorial assistance was provided by Lindsay Craik at Caudex and was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. This study was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb.

Disclosure of Interests:

Rieke Alten Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Xavier Mariette Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB, Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Grant/research support from: Amgen, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roberto Caporali Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos, Gilead, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Maya H Buch Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Gilead, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Yusuf Patel: None declared, Raimón Sanmartí Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gebro, Janssen, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gebro, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Sara Marsal Speakers bureau: Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Galapagos, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, M.T. Nurmohamed Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Hedley Griffiths Consultant of: AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Peter Peichl: None declared, Bettina Bannert: None declared, Adrian Forster: None declared, Melanie Chartier Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Sean Connolly Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Yedid Elbez Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Christiane Rauch Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Vadim Khaychuk Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Karissa Lozenski Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb

POS0599 DISEASE ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH RA BY SEROSTATUS AND TREATMENT LINE, FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH ABATACEPT: RESULTS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background:

RF and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are associated with a severe and aggressive disease course in patients with RA.1 Abatacept is a selective co-stimulation modulator for the treatment of RA.2 ASCORE (Abatacept SubCutaneOus in Routine Clinical PracticE; NCT02090556) was a 2-year, observational, prospective, multicentre study of SC abatacept for the treatment of RA in routine clinical practice.3

Objectives:

To determine if serostatus and treatment line impacted disease activity in patients enrolled in the ASCORE study.

Methods:

Eligible patients, aged ≥18 years, with active moderate-to-severe RA (ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria) who were IV abatacept-naive and initiated SC abatacept 125 mg once weekly, were enrolled into two cohorts: biologic (b)DMARD-naive patients and those with ≥1 prior bDMARD treatment failure. This post hoc analysis assessed the mean change in disease activity (CDAI, SDAI and DAS28 [ESR]) from baseline (BL) at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months in response to treatment with abatacept. Patients were stratified by BL serostatus (all patients, RF/ACPA double positive [+/+] RA; RF/ACPA single positive [+/–; RF+/ACPA– or RF–/ACPA+] RA and RF/ACPA double negative [–/–] RA) and by line of therapy (all patients, patients receiving abatacept as a first-line or ≥ second-line therapy and those receiving abatacept following 1 or ≥2 prior bDMARDs). Overall patient data, as well as data for patients who were +/– or those who had 1 or ≥2 previous bDMARDs, are not shown. Estimates of mean difference are from t-test.

Results:

Among 2892 eligible patients in ASCORE, 1748 patients with RF/ACPA status available at BL were included in this analysis (1079 +/+ RA, 326 +/− RA and 343 −/− RA). After 6 months, patients with +/+ RA on first-line abatacept therapy had better improvements in CDAI and SDAI scores from BL than patients on ≥ second-line abatacept therapy (mean difference [95% CI]: –3.4 [–5.6, –1.1]; p=0.0032 and –3.9 [–6.5, –1.3]; p=0.0035, respectively); better improvements in SDAI were also seen after 12 months (mean difference [95% CI]: –3.5 [–6.5, –0.5]; p=0.0207). Changes in CDAI and SDAI scores were comparable after 18 and 24 months. At 6 and 12 months, patients with +/+ RA on first-line therapy had better improvements from BL in DAS28 (ESR) than those on ≥ second-line therapy (mean differences [95% CI]: –0.5 [–0.8, –0.2]; p=0.0002 and –0.4 [–0.7, –0.0]; p=0.0317, respectively); changes were comparable at 18 and 24 months (Figure 1). For patients on ≥ second-line therapy, at 18 months those with +/+ RA had better improvements from BL in DAS28 (ESR) than those with –/– RA (mean difference [95% CI]: –0.7 [–1.2, –0.1]; p=0.0232). For patients not stratified by line of therapy, changes in DAS28 (ESR) were comparable between the +/+ and –/– RA subgroups over time, with the exception of 6 months where patients with –/– RA had better improvements from BL compared with patients with +/+ RA (mean difference [95% CI]: –0.3 [–0.6, –0.0]; p=0.0495).

Conclusion:

In this real-world, post hoc analysis, patients with +/+ RA who received abatacept as a first-line therapy had greater early improvements in disease activity compared with patients who received abatacept as a ≥ second-line therapy. Improvements in disease activity at 24 months were comparable between patients who were +/+ and those who were –/–. Larger studies are needed to further corroborate these findings.

References:

[1]Katchamart W, et al. Rheumatol Int 2015;35:1693–1699.

[2]Malmström V, et al. Nat Rev Immunol 2017;17:60–75.

[3]Alten R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2019;78(Suppl 2):A1639.

Acknowledgements:

Professional medical writing and editorial assistance was provided by Rachel Rankin, PhD, at Caudex and was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. This study was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb.

Disclosure of Interests:

Rieke Alten Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Xavier Mariette Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB, Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Grant/research support from: Amgen, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roberto Caporali Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos, Gilead, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Maya H Buch Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Gilead, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Yusuf Patel: None declared, Raimón Sanmartí Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gebro, Janssen, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gebro, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Sara Marsal Speakers bureau: Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Galapagos, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, M.T. Nurmohamed Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Hedley Griffiths Consultant of: AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Peter Peichl: None declared, Bettina Bannert: None declared, Adrian Forster: None declared, Melanie Chartier Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Yedid Elbez Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Christiane Rauch Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Karissa Lozenski Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Vadim Khaychuk Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb

AB0207 ANALYSIS OF ABATACEPT TREATMENT RETENTION AND EFFICACY ACCORDING TO DISEASE DURATION AND TREATMENT LINE IN A REAL-WORLD SETTING

Background:

Longer disease duration and greater number of prior DMARDs have been associated with lower treatment efficacy in patients with RA.1 Abatacept is a biologic (b)DMARD for treatment of moderate-to-severe RA and is available in SC formulation, which may offer convenience benefits with efficacy similar to IV administration.2 ASCORE (Abatacept SubCutaneOus in Routine Clinical PracticE; NCT02090556) was a 2-year, observational, prospective, multicentre study of SC abatacept for treatment of RA in routine clinical practice.3

Objectives:

This post hoc analysis was conducted to determine if retention and efficacy of abatacept were impacted by disease duration and/or treatment line.

Methods:

Eligible patients, aged ≥18 years, with active moderate-to-severe RA (ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria) who were IV abatacept-naive and initiated SC abatacept 125 mg once weekly, were enrolled into two cohorts: bDMARD-naive patients and those with ≥1 prior bDMARD treatment failure. This post hoc analysis evaluated abatacept retention using Kaplan-Meier estimates, as well as disease activity scores (DAS28 [ESR]), CDAI and SDAI in patients with disease duration of ≤2, 3–5, 6–10 or >10 years, and in patients taking abatacept as first-line or ≥ second-line treatment.

Results:

Table 1 shows baseline (BL) characteristics. Mean age increased with disease duration; other characteristics were comparable across groups. Retention proportions (95% CIs) at Month 24 were 0.50 (0.4, 0.5), 0.47 (0.4, 0.5), 0.51 (0.5, 0.5) and 0.46 (0.4, 0.5) in the ≤2, 3–5, 6–10 and >10 years’ duration groups, respectively. Proportion of patients (95% CI) with ≤2 years’ duration retaining treatment at Month 24 were 0.51 (0.4, 0.6) among those using abatacept as first-line treatment and 0.44 (0.3, 0.6) among those using abatacept as a ≥ second-line treatment (Figure 1). Proportions (95% CI) at Month 24 were 0.51 (0.5, 0.6), 0.57 (0.5, 0.6) and 0.52 (0.5, 0.6) in first-line patients and 0.43 (0.4, 0.5), 0.48 (0.4, 0.5) and 0.44 (0.4, 0.5) in ≥ second-line patients in the 3–5, 6–10 and >10 years’ duration groups, respectively. Mean (SE) changes from BL in DAS28 (ESR) at Month 24 were –2.12 (0.205), –1.86 (0.151), –2.07 (0.140) and –2.05 (0.115) in the ≤2, 3–5, 6–10 and >10 years’ duration groups, respectively; respective mean (SE) changes in CDAI were –18.74 (1.604), –15.60 (1.099), –18.50 (1.038) and –17.68 (0.850); and respective mean (SE) changes in SDAI were –19.10 (1.873), –15.72 (1.345), –19.54 (1.103) and –17.07 (0.939).

Conclusion:

In this post hoc analysis of the real-world ASCORE trial, patients with RA receiving abatacept in clinical practice as first-line therapy had better retention versus those receiving it as a ≥ second-line treatment, regardless of disease duration at BL. Retention rates were similar across disease duration subgroups. Improvements in disease activity were seen in all duration subgroups, without consistently greater or lesser improvement seen with longer disease duration.

References:

[1]Aletaha D, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2019;78:1609–1615.

[2]Genovese MC, et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2011;63:2854–2864.

[3]Alten R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2019;78(suppl 2):A1639.

Table 1.

BL characteristics (n=2872)

RA disease duration, years≤2(n=338)3–5(n=655)6–10(n=686)>10(n=1193)Age, years n3386556861193 Mean (SD)55.2 (12.8)55.6 (12.7)56.9 (13.0)59.9 (12.2)Weight, kg n3276296651150 Mean (SD)75.3 (18.1)76.4 (19.0)74.7 (17.4)72.9 (16.0)DAS28 (ESR) n247439441743 Mean (SD)5.2 (1.3)4.9 (1.3)5 (1.2)5.1 (1.3)DAS28 (CRP) n267460467799 Mean (SD)4.7 (1.2)4.6 (1.2)4.7 (1.1)4.7 (1.2)CDAI n269477474805 Mean (SD)26.9 (12.7)25.3 (12.2)26.8 (12.4)26.6 (12.2)SDAI n255448445749 Mean (SD)28.3 (13.3)26.8 (12.9)27.9 (12.6)28.0 (12.7)RF status, n (%) RF+159 (47.0)342 (52.2)345 (50.3)597 (50.0) RF–103 (30.5)152 (23.2)158 (23.0)215 (18.0)Anti-CCP status, n (%) Anti-CCP+165 (48.8)332 (50.7)333 (48.5)516 (43.3) Anti-CCP–89 (26.3)126 (19.2)137 (20.0)175 (14.7)

Patients with missing duration of disease are excluded.

CCP=cyclic citrullinated peptide.

Acknowledgements:

Professional medical writing and editorial assistance was provided by Rob Coover, MPH, at Caudex and was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. This study was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb.

Disclosure of Interests:

Rieke Alten Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Xavier Mariette Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB, Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Grant/research support from: Amgen, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roberto Caporali Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos, Gilead, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Maya H Buch Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Gilead, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Yusuf Patel: None declared, Raimón Sanmartí Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gebro, Janssen, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gebro, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Sara Marsal Speakers bureau: Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Galapagos, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, M.T. Nurmohamed Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Hedley Griffiths Consultant of: AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Peter Peichl: None declared, Bettina Bannert: None declared, Adrian Forster: None declared, Melanie Chartier Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Yedid Elbez Consultant of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Christiane Rauch Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Vadim Khaychuk Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Karissa Lozenski Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb

SAT0115 COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT WAS FREQUENT IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS STARTING A BIOLOGIC, WITH SIMILAR RATES OF INHIBITION OR OVERSTIMULATION: AN ANALYSIS OF 84 PATIENTS FROM THE SARIPRO STUDY

Background:

While cognitive impairment is an issue for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are few data available on its frequency and possible link with other outcomes in RA.

Objectives:

To assess cognitive impairment in RA and its association with RA and patients’ characteristics.

Methods:

The SariPRO study (NCT 03449758) was a French multicenter study assessing the effects of sarilumab 200 mg on patient-reported outcomes in patients with moderately to severely active RA with an inadequate response or intolerance to conventional synthetic or biologic DMARDs. This report focuses on baseline data.

The main outcome of this analysis was cognitive impairment evaluated by the cognitive sub-score of the patient-reported multidimensional assessment of mood disorders (MAThyS) scale. This sub-score is scored between 0 (i.e. feeling that thoughts occur slower) and 40 (i.e. racing thoughts) where 20 is the best state. This sub-score was analyzed by tertiles where the lowest tertile indicates general inhibition, the second tertile includes normal states, and the highest tertile indicates general excitation. In addition to the MAThyS total score and sub-scores (Cognition, Emotion, Psychomotricity, Motivation and Sense perception), age, gender, duration of RA, methotrexate use, antibody status (rheumatoid factor/ACPA positivity), fatigue (FACIT-F), anxiety /depression (HADS), as well as patient global assessment (PGA) were collected. Cognitive impairment was defined as inhibition (first tertile) and excitation (third tertile). The association between cognitive inhibition and patients’ characteristics (demographic, psychological and disease activity) was estimated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression in an exploratory analysis. There was no imputation of missing data.

Results:

In all 84 patients were included, characteristics at baseline were as expected for an RA population initiating a biologic: mean (SD) age: 59.1 (12.3) years, 75.0% female, disease duration 10.0 (10.3) years, rheumatoid factor positivity 76.1%, ACPA positivity 81.3%, and DAS28 5.0 (1.1). The mean (SD) MAThyS cognition score was 18.2 (4.9). In the exploratory multivariate analysis, factors associated to cognitive inhibition were depression (HADS depression score ≥ 8, odds ratio, OR=3.15 [95% confidence interval, 1.16; 8.59], p=0. 025), emotion inhibition (lower tertile of the MATHYS emotion regulation: OR=4.76 [1.54; 14.28]; p=0.007) and low motivation (lower tertile of motivation: OR=4.17 [1.54; 11.11]; p=0.005).

Conclusion:

Cognitive impairment was frequent in this population of patients with active RA, with similar rates of cognitive inhibition and cognitive excitation. The results suggest that there may be an association between cognitive inhibition, depression, emotion dysregulation and absence of motivation. Unexpectedly, this exploratory analysis did not show an association between cognition impairment and demographic characteristics or disease activity.

References:

[1]Study was sponsored by Sanofi Genzyme

Disclosure of Interests:

Hubert MAROTTE Grant/research support from: Bristol Myers Sqibb, Lilly France, MSD, Novartis, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer, SanofiAventis, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Sqibb, Lilly France, MSD, Novartis, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer, SanofiAventis, Paid instructor for: Sanofi-Aventis, Speakers bureau: Sanofi-Aventis, Florence E Lévy-Weil Employee of: Sanofi Genzyme employee, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi, Speakers bureau: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi, Thierry Schaeverbeke: None declared, Eric Fakra Consultant of: Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Sanofi, Laure Gossec Grant/research support from: Lilly, Mylan, Pfizer, Sandoz, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi-Aventis, UCB

AB0815 CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION, BONE MINERAL DENSITY AND BONE REMODELING MARKERS DURING INTERLEUKIN 12/23 INHIBITION IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Background:

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by multiple comorbid conditions including cardiovascular comorbidities, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. Little is known about body composition in patients with PsA and no data are available regarding body composition changes under DMARDs.

Objectives:

We investigated the effects of ustekinumab (UST), a humanized anti-interleukin 12/23 antibody, on body composition, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone remodeling markers in patients treated for PsA.

Methods:

Thirty patients with active PsA treated with UST were included in a 6 months open follow-up study. Body mass index, DAS28-CRP, bone remodeling markers, serum levels of leptin, BMD and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were measured at baseline and 6 months of treatment. At baseline, PsA patients were compared with 60 non-PsA controls matched for age, sex and body mass index.

Results:

Compared with controls, we observed lower total and appendicular lean mass (53.1 ±13.1 vs. 56.7 ±11.9 kg, p=0.013 and 21.6 ±6.3 vs. 23.4 ±5.0 kg, p=0.010 respectively) and greater fat mass in PsA (32.5 ±10.8 vs. 25.2 ±8.9 kg, p<0.001). Among PsA patients, 30% had a skeletal muscle mass index below the cut-off point for sarcopenia (Baumgartner’s criteria: men 7.26 kg/m2, women 5.5 kg/m2) whereas no case was observed in the control group. After 6 months of treatment with UST, there was not a significant change of BMI, while there was a tendency for reaching the significant level for fat mass (+1.75 ±3.60 kg, p=0.054), and fat mass index (+0.59 ±1.25 kg/m2, p=0.061). In contrast, a decrease in total lean mass was observed (-1.57 ±3.10 kg, p=0.046) without a significant change in appendicular lean mass and skeletal muscle mass index. No changes for bone remodeling markers, leptin and BMD were observed at 6 months.

Conclusion:

Patients with active PsA required biologic therapy had increased fat mass and decreased lean mass. Moreover, ustekinumab might worsen the decrease in lean mass with no significant change in fat mass.

Disclosure of Interests:

Julien Paccou Grant/research support from: Janssen, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi, UCB, Wallis Bavière: None declared, Roland Chapurlat: None declared, Elisabeth Sornay-Rendu: None declared, Pawel Szulc: None declared, Bernard Cortet Consultant of: Aptissen, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi, Speakers bureau: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi

OP0116 TEN-YEAR ANALYSIS OF VERY LOW-DOSE GLUCOCORTICOIDS IN EARLY RA (ESPOIR COHORT) SUPPORTS A TIME-DEPENDENT RISK OF SEVERE OUTCOMES

Background:

We previously failed to find any significant difference with regard to severe outcomes (death, severe infections, fractures, cardiovascular diseases [CVD]) between recent-onset RA patients taking or not low-dose GC treatment in a 7-year analysis of the ESPOIR cohort (1).

Objectives:

To explore the 10-year tolerability profile of GC use in patients with early RA.

Methods:

We analysed data from the early arthritis (less than 6 months disease duration) ESPOIR cohort. Patients were stratified in two groups, with or without GC treatment at least once during their follow-up (median 10 years IQR [9-10]). The primary outcome was a composite of death, CVD (including myocardial ischemia, cerebrovascular accident and heart failure), severe infection and fracture. In order to reduce the impact of treatment selection bias and potential confounding factors, the weighted Cox time-dependent analysis model was used with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) propensity score method.

Results:

Among the 608 RA patients (480 women, mean age of 47.5 ± 12.1 years), 397 patients (65%) received low-dose prednisone (median 1.9 mg/day [IQR 0.6-4.2], mainly during the first 6 months (70%). The mean duration of GC treatment was 44.6 months ± 40.1. Overall, 95 events were identified during follow-up: 10 deaths, 18 CVD, 32 fractures and 35 severe infections. Based on univariate analysis at 10 years, patients taking GC experienced significantly more events (n=71) than those without GC (n=24) (p=0.035), especially severe infections (n=30 with GC versus 5 without GC, p=0.009) (table 1), with a cumulative dose effect (p=0.007).On weighted Cox time-dependent analysis, using the IPTW propensity score method, the risk of events over time was significantly associated with GC treatment (p <0.001), age, history of hypertension and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The risk associated with GC treatment, estimated by the hazard ratio (HR), increased between the first follow-up visit (HR at 6 months = 0.39, 95% CI 0.19-0.82) and 10 years (HR=6.83, 95% CI 2.29-20.35) (figure 1 and table 2).

Table 1.

Primary outcome and events at 10 years: univariate analysis

Total study population (n=608)Without GCWith CGP ValuePrimary outcome95 (15.6%)24 (11.4%)71 (17.9%)0.035Death10 (1.6%)1 (0.5%)9 (2.3%)0.103Cardiovascular diseases18 (3%)3 (1.4%)15 (3.8%)0.177Severe infections35 (5.8%)5 (2.4%)30 (7.6%)0.009Fractures32 (5.3%)15 (7.1%)17 (4.3%)0.137Table 2.

Time-dependent relationship between glucocorticoids treatment and risk of eventsestimated by hazard ratio

Time (Months)Hazard Ratio (95% CI)120.46 (0.23 - 0.90)240.62 (0.36 - 1.08)360.83 (0.52 - 1.33)481.12 (0.73 - 1.72)601.52 (0.96 - 2.40)722.05 (1.19 - 3.52)842.77 (1.44 - 5.34)963.74 (1.69 - 8.26)1085.05 (1.98 - 12.91)1206.83 (2.29 - 20.35)Figure 1.

Time-dependent relationship between glucocorticoids treatment and risk of eventsestimated by hazard ratio (HR)

Conclusion:

This 10-year analysis of the ESPOIR cohort supports a dose and time-dependent impact of very low-dose GC treatment in early RA, with a long-term high risk of severe outcomes.

Disclosure of Interests:

Camille Roubille Consultant of: Servier, Pfizer, Novartis, Amandine Coffy: None declared, Nathalie Rincheval: None declared, Maxime Dougados Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma, Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Lilly, Jean-Pierre Daures: None declared, Bernard Combe Grant/research support from: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, Consultant of: AbbVie; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen; Eli Lilly and Company; Pfizer; Roche-Chugai; Sanofi, Speakers bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; Merck Sharp & Dohme; Pfizer; Roche-Chugai; UCB

FRI0274 HISTORY OF BIOLOGICS AND FEMALE GENDER ARE LINKED TO GOLIMUMAB DISCONTINUATION IN AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: A SUB-ANALYSIS OF THE GO-PRACTICE STUDY

Background:

Golimumab (GLM) is the latest anti-TNFα to be indicated for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The GO-PRACTICE study was performed in France at the request of the French Health Authorities, for the reevaluation of GLM in real-life.

Objectives:

The primary objective was to estimate GLM persistence at 2 years from initial prescription. This abstract focuses on a post-hoc analysis of the factors linked to GLM discontinuation in axSpA patients.

Methods:

Observational, prospective, multicenter study, that consecutively recruited adult patients with RA, PsA and axSpA who were newly prescribed GLM. Patients were followed-up for 2 years and outcomes data were collected at baseline (BL), 1 and 2 years. Patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, disease history, comorbidities and treatment history were also collected at BL. Persistence was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess factors associated with persistence. Selected BL characteristics were studied in univariate models, where those associated withp-value <0.20 were included in multivariate analysis. Significance level was set atp<0.05.

Results:

478 patients with axSpA were included from Jan 2015 to Mar 2016. Mean age was 43 years and 55% were female; 61% of patients were biologic-naïve (BN, n=291) and 39% (n=187) were biologic-pretreated (BP). Median time-elapsed in years since axSpA diagnosis was 1.7 (range 0–45.1) and 6.9 (range 0.2–51.8) in BN and BP patients, respectively (P<0.001); 97% patients were prescribed 50 mg GLM monthly and co-treatments included DMARD (34%), corticosteroids (17%) and NSAIDs/analgesics (90%).

Cumulative persistence probability of GLM at 2-years was 52.6% (Fig 1). Table 1 details the binary variables associated with GLM discontinuation atp<0.20. Among continuous variables, BL CRP level was associated withp<0.20. A multivariate analysis of these factors revealed that being female (HR 1.92, 95%CI 1.43–2.56,P<0.001) and being BP (HR 1.45, 95%CI (1.11–1.90),P=0.007) were risk factors for GLM discontinuation (Table 1).

Table 1.

Logistic model results for variables of interest and their link to GLM discontinuation in axSpA

FactorModalitiesχ2(p)Hazard ratio (HR)95% CIHR following univariate analysis (p>0.20)AgeContinuous variable0.5201.000.99–1.02Disease duration0.4011.010.99–1.03Inflammatory bowel diseaseYes vs. No0.2770.740.43–1.28Gastrointestinal disease0.3441.270.78–2.06Uveitis0.2370.800.55–1.16Psoriasis0.2380.920.64–1.31     HR following multivariate analysis (variables with p<0.20 at univariate analysis)GenderFemale vs. Male< 0.0011.921.43–2.56Biologics historyPretreated vs. naïve0.0071.451.11–1.90Serum CRPContinuous variable0.1770.990.98–1.00DMARD historyYes vs. No0.0621.370.99–1.90Ongoing corticosteroids0.6931.080.73–1.61Anemia0.1701.820.78–4.24Kidney Disease0.5081.500.45–4.97Other physical illness0.4351.280.69–2.34

Conclusion:

2-year GLM persistence in axSpA patients was 52.6%. Females and those who were biologics-pretreated were at greater risk for discontinuing GLM before 2 years.

Disclosure of Interests:

Philippe Bertin Consultant of: MSD France, Philippe Goupille Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Florence Tubach Grant/research support from: Florence TUBACH is head of the Centre de Pharmacoépidémiologie (Cephepi) of the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris and of the Clinical Research Unit of Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, both these structures have received research funding, grants and fees for consultant activities from a large number of pharmaceutical companies, that have contributed indiscriminately to the salaries of its employees. Florence Tubach didn’t receive any personal remuneration from these companies., Eric Lespessailles Consultant of: Amgen, Celgene, Lilly, MSD France, Novartis, UCB, Speakers bureau: Amgen, Celgene, Lilly, MSD France, Novartis, UCB, Naoual HARID Employee of: MSD France, Saannya Sequeira Consultant of: MSD France, Jean-Marie Fayette Consultant of: MSD France, Bruno Fautrel Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Medac MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, SOBI and UCB, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi, Speakers bureau: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi

FRI0449 MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME OF SEPTIC ARTHRITIS OF NATIVE JOINT: A NATIONWIDE SURVEY

Background:

Objectives:

To describe current management and outcome of septic arthritis on native joint in French rheumatology departments.

Methods:

Retrospective, nation-wide multicentric study. 127 French rheumatology departments were contacted to report 10 successive cases of septic arthritis on native joint that occurred between the 01/01/16 to 31/12/17 (excluding mycobacteria). Characteristics, diagnosis procedure, therapeutic management and outcome were recorded.

Results:

52 centers included 363 patients (mean age 64± 18.7 years, mean Charlson comorbidity index 4±3). 28.3% patients had a preexisting arthropathy on affected joint. Monoarthritis was observed in 89.6% patients, knee was the most frequent site (38.9%). The most frequent pathogens wereStaphylococcus sp(50.7%) andStreptococcus sp.(23.3%). Bacteremia was found in 156 (45.1%) patients and endocarditis in only 12 (3.0%). Management was heterogeneous. All patients received antibiotics for a mean duration of 46.7±22 days (including intravenous route: 17.3±15.4 d). An initial monotherapy was administered in 42.3% of patients. Surgical procedure (mostly lavage 70.6%) was performed in 171 (48.3%), joint immobilization in 128 (35.3%) (median duration of 21.7±14.1 days). 94 (29.2%) patients have had serious complications including 29 (9.5%) death. Factors associated with death are reported in the table.

Conclusion:

This study shows that management of septic arthritis is very heterogenous with a still high rate of morbidity and mortality. We identified age, comorbidities, bacteremia and recent antibiotherapy were associated with mortality. Of note, duration of antibiotics was not. Thus, new guidelines are needed in order to facilitate septic arthritis management.

Table:FactorsSurvivor(N=276)Dead(N=29)Univariate analysispAdjusted Odds ratio (95%IC)Multivariate analysispAge65 (16-97)82 (32-98)<0,0011,07 (1,03-1,12)< 0.001Charlson’s index1 (0-12)2 (0-9)0,00011,3 (1,05-1,63)0,018Delay before antibiotic initiation8,5 (0-310)5 (0-75)0,04840,99 (0,96-1,02)0,562Corticosteroid in the previous 3 months13,9%33,3%0,01842,56 (0,75-8,74)0,133Bacteriemia42,4%71,4%0,00615,07 (1,4-18,370,013Antibiotics in the previous 3 months26,6%56,6%0,00566,7 (2,04-22,01)0,002

Disclosure of Interests:

Pauline Richebé: None declared, Sophie Godot: None declared, Guillaume Coiffier: None declared, Pascal GUGGENBUHL: None declared, Denis Mulleman: None declared, Marion Couderc: None declared, Emmanuelle Dernis Speakers bureau: Lilly, Novartis, Valentine Deprez: None declared, Carine Salliot: None declared, Saik Urien: None declared, Rachel Brault: None declared, Adeline Ruyssen-Witrand Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Pfizer, Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Lilly, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, Emmanuel Hoppe: None declared, Jacques-Eric Gottenberg Grant/research support from: BMS, Pfizer, Consultant of: BMS, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly and Co., Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, Christian Roux: None declared, Sebastien Ottaviani: None declared, Maxime Breban: None declared, Marie Beaufrere: None declared, Alexia Michaut: None declared, Loic Pauvele: None declared, Christelle Darrieutort: None declared, Daniel Wendling: None declared, Pascal COQUERELLE: None declared, Géraldine Bart: None declared, Elisabeth Gervais: None declared, Vincent Goeb: None declared, Marc Ardizzone: None declared, Edouard Pertuiset: None declared, Sophie Derolez: None declared, Jean Marc Ziza: None declared, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi, Speakers bureau: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi, Raphaèle Seror Consultant of: BMS UCB Pfizer Roche

THU0386 PREDICTORS OF MAINTENANCE OF SECUKINUMAB TREATMENT IN A MULTICENTER COHORT OF 561 SPONDYLARTHRITIS

Objectives:

Secukinumab (SEC) is an interleukin-17 inhibitor used to treat patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Drug maintenance is often used as a proxy for treatment effectiveness and safety in real life settings. We aim to assess SEC maintenance in routine clinical practice and to identify survival predictors associated.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal, observational, multicenter study including all patients (pts) with axSpA or PsA who received at least 1 injection of SEC between July 2016 and October 2019. We collected patient’s demographics and clinic characteristics, SEC date of initiation and dosage and dosage modification of SEC, previous biologic Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and concomitant treatments. Date and reasons of discontinuation – i.e., lack of efficacy, safety issue, sustained remission or others – were collected. Several potential maintenance predictors were tested: age, gender, disease (axSpA or PsA), smoking status, bDMARDs history and concomitant treatment. Among patients with non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA), evidence of MRI sacroiliitis or elevated CRP were also assessed as potential maintenance predictors. Drug maintenance was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and adjusted for baseline factors were estimated by log rank analysis.

Results:

The main characteristics of the 561 pts included were the following: 363 (64.7%) axSpA, 198 (35.3%) PsA, 329 (58.6%) female, mean age 45,6 +/- 12 years, 221 (39.4%) smokers, 175 (31.2%) radiographic sacroiliitis, 259 (46.2%) MRI sacroiliitis, 198 (35.3%) elevated CRP, 247 (44.0%) HLA B27 positive, mean BASDAI 48,3 +/- 26.8%. SEC was associated to methotrexate (MTX) in 139 pts (24.8%) and was the first line bDMARD in 55 pts (9.8%). The median drug maintenance (MDM) of SEC was 79 weeks (wk) [73-84]. At 52 wk, 245 pts (60%) SpA were still treated with SEC. During the 3-year follow-up, 264 pts discontinued SEC: 180 (68.2%) pts for lack of effectiveness, 47 (17.8%) for adverse events, 14 (5.3%) for others and 23 (8.7%). SEC prescription as first line bDMARD was associated with longer survival versus second line or more: 111 wk [83-138] vs. 69 wk [57-80] (p=0. 017) (figure 1). MDM was not significantly different depending on gender, MTX combo, elevated CRP, axSpA vs PsA and smoking status. Among the nr-axSpA pts, MRI sacroiliitis or elevated CRP did not modify SEC maintenance (p=0.68) (figure 2).

Figure 1.

Secukinumab maintenance according to therapeutic line

Figure 2.

Secukinumab maintenance in nr-axSpA population

Conclusion:

In routine clinical practice, SEC median maintenance was 79 weeks. Fist line administration was the only independent factor associated with improved SEC retention. Lack of effectiveness was the most common reason of discontinuation.

Disclosure of Interests:

Benoît Flachaire: None declared, Jean-Guillaume Letarouilly Grant/research support from: Research grant from Pfizer, Céline Labadie: None declared, Nicolas Cohen Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Vincent Pradel: None declared, Bruno Fautrel Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Medac MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, SOBI and UCB, Guy Baudens: None declared, Pascal Claudepierre Speakers bureau: Janssen, Novartis, Lilly, Corinne Miceli Richard: None declared, Philippe Dieudé: None declared, Jean-Hugues Salmon Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Jérémie SELLAM: None declared, Eric Houvenagel Speakers bureau: Janssen, Novartis, Marie-Hélène Guyot: None declared, Chi Duc Nguyen: None declared, Xavier Deprez Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Isabelle CHARY VALCKENAERE: None declared, Pierre Lafforgue Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Damien LOEUILLE: None declared, Christophe Richez Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Mylan, Pfizer, Sandoz and UCB., Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Lilly, Thao Pham Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Lilly

FRI0095 SARILUMAB IMPROVED PATIENT-PERCEIVED IMPACT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WHATEVER THE BASELINE DISEASE ACTIVITY: FIRST RESULTS FROM AN INTERVENTIONAL NON CONTROLLED STUDY: SARIPRO, IN MODERATE AND SEVERE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Background:

Sarilumab, an anti-IL-6R antibody, is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe RA and shown efficacy on disease activity and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Detailed analyses of drug efficacy from the patient point of view is important. SariPRO is a pragmatic interventional study close to the daily practice.

Objectives:

To assess the effectiveness of sarilumab on several PROs using the RAID (Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease) score.

Methods:

The SariPRO study (NCT 03449758) was a French multicenter interventional study assessing the effects of sarilumab 200 mg on PROs in patients with moderately to severely active RA with an inadequate response or intolerance to conventional synthetic or biologic DMARDs. The primary endpoint was change in total RAID score from baseline to week 24 (RAID ranges 0-10 where 10 is maximal impact). Changes from baseline for RAID, DAS28-ESR and CDAI according to baseline disease activity were analyzed as secondary outcomes. Safety was assessed by monitoring adverse events (AE). All statistical analyses were descriptive, 95% CI was given when appropriate.

Results:

84 patients were included in 31 centers and 62 were evaluable and analyzed for effectiveness. They had similar characteristics to the 84 patients at baseline and were as expected for an RA population initiating a biologic: mean (SD) age: 59.9 (12.4) years, 71.0% female, disease duration 9.7 (10.3) years, rheumatoid factor positivity 82.5%, ACPA positivity 86.4%, and DAS28=4.9 (11). Total RAID score decreased significantly from 5.7 (2.0) at baseline to 3.3 (2.5) at W24; mean change was -2.4 [95% CI: -3.0; -1.8]. Furthermore, this improvement was noted both for highly and less active patients at baseline: for patients with DAS28-ESR < 5.1 (n=31), mean change was -1.56 [-2.28; -0.83] and for patients with DAS28-ESR≥5.1 (n=27), mean change was -1.98 [-2.91; -1.05]. Changes in DAS28-ESR and CDAI were significant (-2.8 [-3.2; -2.4] and -15.2 [-18.5; -11.8], respectively). AEs were consistent with the safety profile of anti-IL-6R antibodies and with results from RCTs (data not shown).

Conclusion:

In this real world study, treatment with sarilumab during 24 weeks in RA patients led to an improvement in the total RAID score irrespective of baseline levels of disease activity. This is the first time RAID score is used as the primary endpoint in a study.

References:

[1]Study was sponsored by Sanofi Genzyme

Disclosure of Interests:

Laure Gossec Grant/research support from: Lilly, Mylan, Pfizer, Sandoz, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi-Aventis, UCB, René-Marc Flipo Consultant of: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi, Speakers bureau: Johnson and Johnson, MSD France, Novartis, Sanofi, Thierry Schaeverbeke: None declared, Christine Albert: None declared, Athan Baillet Consultant of: Athan BAILLET has received honorarium fees from Abbvie for his participation as the coordinator of the systematic literature review, marie-Christophe Boissier: None declared, Cyrille Confavreux: None declared, Gregoire CORMIER: None declared, Emmanuelle Dernis Speakers bureau: Lilly, Novartis, Elisabeth Gervais Solau: None declared, Sophie Godot: None declared, Jacques-Eric Gottenberg Grant/research support from: BMS, Pfizer, Consultant of: BMS, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly and Co., Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, Philippe Goupille Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Slim Lassoued: None declared, Thierry Lequerre: None declared, Frederic Lioté Consultant of: CME: Nordic Pharma, Christian Marcelli: None declared, Yves Maugars: None declared, Minh Nguyen: None declared, Aleth Perdriger: None declared, Yves-Marie Pers: None declared, Edouard Pertuiset: None declared, Lucile Poiroux: None declared, Carole Rosenberg: None declared, Christian Roux: None declared, Adeline Ruyssen-Witrand Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Pfizer, Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Lilly, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, Martin SOUBRIER: None declared, Pascale Vergne-Salle: None declared, Charles Zarnitsky: None declared, Eric Fakra Consultant of: Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Sanofi, Hubert MAROTTE Grant/research support from: Bristol Myers Sqibb, Lilly France, MSD, Novartis, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer, SanofiAventis, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Sqibb, Lilly France, MSD, Novartis, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer, SanofiAventis, Paid instructor for: Sanofi-Aventis, Speakers bureau: Sanofi-Aventis, Florence E Lévy-Weil Employee of: Sanofi Genzyme employee

FRI0348 PERSISTENCE OF SECUKINUMAB AND USTEKINUMAB IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: A REAL-WORLD MULTICENTRIC COHORT OF 409 PATIENTS

Background:

Real-world data are missing for Ustekinumab (UST) and secukinumab (SEK) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Objectives:

To evaluate the characteristics of the patients (pts) with PsA treated by UST or SEK and to assess real world persistence of UST and SEK in PsA.

Methods:

This is a retrospective, multicenter study of pts with PsA (CASPAR criteria or diagnosis confirmed by a rheumatologist) initiating UST or SEK with a follow-up ≥ 6 months from January 2011 to April 2019. The comparison of persistence between UST and SEK was analysed using a Cox model with an inverse probability of treatment weighting propensity score including 11 confounding factors. Subgroup analyses (age>65 years, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), Charlson score>2, psoriasis, CRP>5mg/L, number (nb) of prior biotherapies, proportion of pts on maximum dose of UST or SEK, combination with methotrexate (MTX), enthesitic and axial forms of PsA) were also performed to test the heterogeneity of UST and SEK persistence. Finally, 2 sensitivity analyses were performed, first excluding the pts treated before the marketing authorization of SEK, and then excluding the pts that underwent a molecule switch. Causes of discontinuation were also collected.

Results:

406 pts were included: 245 with UST and 161 with SEK. At baseline before propensity score-matching, the UST group has a higher BMI (28.9 ± 6.4 kg/m2vs. 27.4 ± 6.0 kg/m2), more peripheral forms (98% vs. 90.8%), a higher nb of active smokers (27.1% vs. 19.9%), a higher frequency of psoriasis (96.3% vs. 83.2%), less MTX users (38.9% vs. 44.2%), a higher nb of pts with CRP >5mg/L (54.3% vs. 47%), a higher nb of pts naïve to biotherapies (22% vs. 13%) and a higher nb of pts with recommended dosing (97.3% vs 50.9%). The median persistence was 9.4 months and 14.7 months for UST and SEK, respectively. The persistence rate was lower in the UST group compared to the SEK group (40.9% vs. 59.1% % at 1 year; 26.4% vs. 38.0% at 2 years; weighted HR=1.42; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.92; p=0.015) (Fig 1). In subgroup analysis, combination with MTX was associated with a higher persistence rate in the patients with SEK compared to those receiving UST: 43.6% vs. 23.2% (HR=2.20; 95% CI 1.30 to 3.51; p=0.001), whereas no difference was observed in SEK and UST monotherapy: 33.8% vs 28.4%, respectively (HR=1.06; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.53; p=0.75) (Fig 2). A similar difference was found in the sensitivity analyses, with however a difference at the limit of significance for the analysis excluding pts with a molecule switch (adjusted HR=1.35; IC95% 0.96 to 1.92; p=0.085). The causes of discontinuation were due to inefficacy in 85% of cases and an adverse event in 12% of cases (19% in the SEK group and 9% in the UST group).

Conclusion:

In this first real-world study comparing UST and SEK persistence in PsA, the persistence of SEK was longer than that of UST. Subgroup analysis revealed this difference of persistence was restricted to patients treated in combination with MTX.

Disclosure of Interests:

Jean-Guillaume Letarouilly Grant/research support from: Research grant from Pfizer, Benoît Flachaire: None declared, Céline Labadie: None declared, Nicolas Cohen Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Maeva Kyheng: None declared, Jérémie SELLAM: None declared, Pascal Richette: None declared, Philippe Dieudé: None declared, Pascal Claudepierre Speakers bureau: Janssen, Novartis, Lilly, Bruno Fautrel Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Medac MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, SOBI and UCB, Eric Houvenagel Speakers bureau: Janssen, Novartis, Chi Duc Nguyen: None declared, Marie-Hélène Guyot: None declared, Nicolas Segaud: None declared, Frederic Maury: None declared, Laurent Marguerie: None declared, Xavier Deprez Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Jean-Hugues Salmon Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Guy Baudens: None declared, Corinne Miceli Richard: None declared, Elisabeth Gervais Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Roche, Pfizer, BMS, Abbvie, Isabelle CHARY VALCKENAERE: None declared, Pierre Lafforgue Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Damien LOEUILLE: None declared, Christophe Richez Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Mylan, Pfizer, Sandoz and UCB., Thao Pham Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Lilly, Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Lilly

THU0393 INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES AMONG SECUKINUMAB-TREATED PATIENTS: 24 CASES FROM THE MISSIL REGISTRY

Background:

An alert regarding about the tolerance of Interleukin 17 (IL-17) inhibitors has been issued from data of randomized controlled trials showing cases of de novo inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In a recent analysis of pooled data from 21 clinical trials, cases of IBD events (including Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and inflammatory bowel disease unclassified (IBDU)) were uncommon (1). Yet, real-world data are lacking.

Objectives:

To describe real-world data about patients treated by IL-17 inhibitors developing new onset IBD (CD or UC).

Methods:

A French national registry called MISSIL was started in February 2018 to collect the cases of patients treated by IL-17 inhibitors developing new onset IBD. This registry is conducted by rheumatologist, dermatologist and gastroenterologist learned societies specialized on immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. In France, secukinumab (SEK) has been granted market authorization since June 2016 and ixekizumab since April 2018.

Results:

24 cases under SEK were reported between February 2018 and January 2020: 3 patients with psoriasis and 21 patients with spondylwoarthritis. There were 20 patients with new onset CD and 4 with UC. Mean age was 51.7 ± 15.7 years old and 12/24 were female; 10 presented an axial spondyloarthritis, 5 a peripheral spondyloarthritis and 6 both,13/17 were HLA-B27 positive,7/19 had a radiographic sacroiliitis and 11/17 a MRI sacroiliitis. Only 2 were biological Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD)-naïve. Crohn’s disease was mainly located at the ileum, colon and rectum. The median time to onset of symptoms was 2 (1-6) months. The main symptoms were diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and loss of weight. Median CRP at the onset of symptoms was 68 mg/L (41-140.5); 21 patients underwent biopsies, 12 were in favor of CD. IL-17 inhibitors were consistently stopped. Patients were treated by corticosteroids (16/24), mesalazine (7/24), methotrexate (3/24), thiopurines (2/24), infliximab (9/243), adalimumab (3/24), golimumab (2/24), ustekinumab (5/24). The evolution was favorable under treatment with complete resolution (4/24), improvement (11/24) or stabilization (5/24). 3 patients worsened under treatment and 1 died (massive myocardial infarction).

Conclusion:

IBD flare in patients treated with IL-17 inhibitors are rare and lead to discuss the potential iatrogenic role of IL-17 inhibitor drugs. Further cases are needed to better characterize this complication. A case-control study will be conducted to identify patients at risk to develop IBD under IL-17 inhibitor.

References:

[1]Reich et al. Incidence rates of inflammatory bowel disease in patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis treated with secukinumab: a retrospective analysis of pooled data from 21 clinical trials. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78:473-479

Disclosure of Interests:

Jean-Guillaume Letarouilly Grant/research support from: Research grant from Pfizer, Benjamin Pariente: None declared, Delphine Staumont-Sallé Speakers bureau: Lilly, Novartis, Philippe Goupille Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Lilly, Janssen, Medac, MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB, Pascal Claudepierre Speakers bureau: Janssen, Novartis, Lilly, Stephane Varin: None declared, Sylvain Lanot: None declared, Emmanuelle Dernis Speakers bureau: Lilly, Novartis, Tristan Pascart Speakers bureau: Novartis, Lilly, Beatrice Banneville Speakers bureau: Lilly, Novartis, Pauline Baudart: None declared, Bruno Gombert: None declared, Elodie BAUER: None declared, Laurianne Plastaras: None declared, Sébastien Barbarot: None declared, Renaud FELTEN: None declared, Loïc Le Dantec: None declared, Nathalie Sultan-Bichat: None declared, Céline Girard: None declared, Arnaud Constantin Grant/research support from: Study was sponsored by Sanofi Genzyme, Consultant of: Consulting fees from Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Daniel Wendling: None declared, Philippe Gaudin Speakers bureau: Lilly, Denis Jullien Speakers bureau: Lilly, Novartis, Thao Pham Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Lilly, Rene-Marc Flipo Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, Lilly

Measurement of Elastase and Cysteine Proteinases in Synovial Fluid of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sero-Negative Spondylarthropathies, and Osteoarthritis

Synovial fluid samples were collected from 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthropathy, or osteoarthritis, to study their content of elastase (EC 3.4.21.37) and of cysteine proteinases (EC 3.4.22.1, 3.4.22.15). We measured both elastase complexed with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and elastase activity toward the substrate L-pyroglutamyl-L-prolyl-L-valine-p-nitroanilide. Cysteine proteinase activities were measured with the substrates N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (Z-Phe-Arg-AMC) and Z-Arg-Arg-AMC and the inhibitor E-64 [L-trans-epoxysuccinyl-leucyl-amido-(4-guanidino)-butane]. In all these enzyme assays, higher median values were obtained in inflammatory arthropathies than in osteoarthritis. The concentration of the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex and of elastase and cysteine proteinase activities were statistically higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in patients with osteoarthritis. The difference in results between patients with spondylarthropathy and patients with osteoarthritis was statistically significant only for the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex. The median values of the complex and of both enzyme activities were higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in patients with spondylarthropathy; however, the difference was statistically significant only for the cysteine proteinase activity measured with Z-Arg-Arg-AMC substrate. These results suggest that both elastase and cysteine proteinases, which are increased in patients with inflammatory arthritis, are involved in cartilage degradation in these arthropathies.

Predictive risk factors of serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with abatacept in common practice: results from the Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis (ORA) registry

OBJECTIVES

Little data are available regarding the rate and predicting factors of serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with abatacept (ABA) in daily practice. We therefore addressed this issue using real-life data from the Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis (ORA) registry.

METHODS

ORA is an independent 5-year prospective registry promoted by the French Society of Rheumatology that includes patients with RA treated with ABA. At baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months or at disease relapse, during 5 years, standardised information is prospectively collected by trained clinical nurses. A serious infection was defined as an infection occurring during treatment with ABA or during the 3 months following withdrawal of ABA without any initiation of a new biologic and requiring hospitalisation and/or intravenous antibiotics and/or resulting in death.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics and comorbidities: among the 976 patients included with a follow-up of at least 3 months (total follow-up of 1903 patient-years), 78 serious infections occurred in 69 patients (4.1/100 patient-years). Predicting factors of serious infections: on univariate analysis, an older age, history of previous serious or recurrent infections, diabetes and a lower number of previous anti-tumour necrosis factor were associated with a higher risk of serious infections. On multivariate analysis, only age (HR per 10-year increase 1.44, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.76, p=0.001) and history of previous serious or recurrent infections (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.20, p=0.009) were significantly associated with a higher risk of serious infections.

CONCLUSIONS

In common practice, patients treated with ABA had more comorbidities than in clinical trials and serious infections were slightly more frequently observed. In the ORA registry, predictive risk factors of serious infections include age and history of serious infections.

Identification of patients with gout: elaboration of a questionnaire for epidemiological studies

OBJECTIVES

In France, the prevalence of gout is currently unknown. We aimed to design a questionnaire to detect gout that would be suitable for use in a telephone survey by non-physicians and assessed its performance.

METHODS

We designed a 62-item questionnaire covering comorbidities, clinical features and treatment of gout. In a case-control study, we enrolled patients with a history of arthritis who had undergone arthrocentesis for synovial fluid analysis and crystal detection. Cases were patients with crystal-proven gout and controls were patients who had arthritis and effusion with no monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid. The questionnaire was administered by phone to cases and controls by non-physicians who were unaware of the patient diagnosis. Logistic regression analysis and classification and regression trees were used to select items discriminating cases and controls.

RESULTS

We interviewed 246 patients (102 cases and 142 controls). Two logistic regression models (sensitivity 88.0% and 87.5%; specificity 93.0% and 89.8%, respectively) and one classification and regression tree model (sensitivity 81.4%, specificity 93.7%) revealed 11 informative items that allowed for classifying 90.0%, 88.8% and 88.5% of patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a questionnaire to detect gout containing 11 items that is fast and suitable for use in a telephone survey by non-physicians. The questionnaire demonstrated good properties for discriminating patients with and without gout. It will be administered in a large sample of the general population to estimate the prevalence of gout in France.

Positivity for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide is associated with a better response to abatacept: data from the 'Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis' registry

OBJECTIVES

Very limited data are available regarding the efficacy of abatacept (ABA) in real life. The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy of ABA in rheumatoid arthritis and predicting factors of efficacy in common practice.

METHODS

The Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis" (ORA) prospective registry, promoted by the French Society of Rheumatology, has included 1003 patients with RA.

RESULTS

773 patients had already fulfilled the 6-month follow-up visit. Only 21.3% of patients would have fulfilled inclusion criteria used in pivotal controlled trials. The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, was observed in 330 (59.1%) of the 558 assessed patients (good response: 20.4%, moderate response: 38.7%) and was similar in patients who did and in patients who did not fulfill inclusion criteria of controlled trials. Among EULAR responders, initial 28-joint disease activity score (5.4 (4.7-6.5) in responders vs 4.9 (4.0-6.0) in non responders, p< 0.0001), the proportion of rheumatoid factor (75.6% vs 66.7%, p= 0.03) and the proportion of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP)-positivity (75.9% vs 62.2%, p= 0.001) were significantly higher. In multivariate analysis adjusted on initial 28-joint disease activity score and CRP, anti-CCP positivity was associated with EULAR response (OR=1.9;95% CI=1.2 to 2.9, p=0.007), but not rheumatoid factor (OR=1.0;95% CI=0.6 to 1.6, p=0.9). Anti-CCP positivity was also significantly associated with a higher ABA retention rate at 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Real life efficacy of ABA in the ORA registry was similar as that reported in clinical trials. Anti-CCP positivity was associated with a better response to ABA, independently from disease activity.

Clinical practice decision tree for the choice of the first disease modifying antirheumatic drug for very early rheumatoid arthritis: a 2004 proposal of the French Society of Rheumatology

OBJECTIVE

To elaborate a clinical practice decision tree for the choice of the first disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for untreated rheumatoid arthritis of less than six months' duration.

METHODS

Four steps were employed: (1) review of published reports on DMARD efficacy against rheumatoid arthritis; (2) inventory of the information available to guide DMARD choice; (3) selection of the most pertinent information by 12 experts using a Delphi method; and (4) choice of DMARDs in 12 clinical situations defined by items selected in step 3 (28 joint disease activity score (DAS 28): < or =3.2; >3.2 and < or =5.1; >5.1; rheumatoid factor status (positive/negative); structural damage (with/without)-that is, 3 x 2 x 2). Thus, multiplied by all the possible treatment pairs, 180 scenarios were obtained and presented to 36 experts, who ranked treatment choices according to the Thurstone pairwise method.

RESULTS

Among the 77 items identified, 41 were selected as pertinent to guide the DMARD choice. They were reorganised into five domains: rheumatoid arthritis activity, factors predictive of structural damage; patient characteristics; DMARD characteristics; physician characteristics. In the majority of situations, the two top ranking DMARD choices were methotrexate and leflunomide. Etanercept was an alternative for these agents when high disease activity was associated with poor structural prognosis and rheumatoid factor positivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Starting with simple scenarios and using the pairwise method, a clinical decision tree could be devised for the choice of the first DMARD to treat very early rheumatoid arthritis.

Rat bite fever mimicking rheumatoid arthritis

We report a case of Streptobacillus moniliformis polyarthritis mimicking a rheumatoid arthritis, in a pet shop employee. In culture of fluid joint growth a curious Gram-negative bacillus was identified by polymerase chain reaction as Streptobacillus moniliformis. The outcome was good after surgical debridment and rifampin-clindamycin combination during 4 weeks.

Polyarthrite rhumatoïde et mucoviscidose

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory arthropathies are rare complications of cystic fibrosis (CF). We describe three cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurring in patients with this disease.

OBSERVATIONS

Among the 100 patients under the care of the adult CF centre in Lille 3 presented with RA. This developed at the ages of 17, 44 and 19 years with a FEV1 of 53%, 42% and 94% respectively. They were 2 women and 1 man, with CFTR gene mutation delta F508 (1 homozygote and 2 heterozygotes) and positive sweat tests. They were colonised with Staphylococcus aureus, and rheumatoid factor and/or anti CCP antibodies were positive. The appearance and progression of RA were associated with exacerbations of bronchial infection and deterioration of respiratory function. In 2 patients the RA was continuously progressive despite intensive treatment involving high dose cortico-steroids, methotrexate (ineffective) followed by leflunomide (complicated by intractable respiratory infection).

CONCLUSION

There is an increased incidence of RA in our patient population with CF. The new serum markers of RA including anti CCP are of diagnostic interest. The evolution of the two diseases is related and seems to be dependent on the level of infection leading to therapeutic problems.

[Dropped head syndrome: report of two cases]

PURPOSE

The dropped head syndrome is characterized by an abnormal bending of the head to the body, mainly affecting old people. It corresponds to an alteration of the cervical extensor muscles, revealing in some cases a neuromuscular disease. In some cases, the etiology of this syndrome remains unknown.

EXEGESIS

We report here two cases with dropped head syndrome. The first clinical case concerned a 78-year old man, presenting a dropped head syndrome revealing a myasthenia. The syndrome disappeared with specific therapy. The second clinical case was a dropped head syndrome developed in the context of severe depressive syndrome in a 71-year old woman. The etiological screening did not reveal any underlying disease. Counteracting the syndrome was successfully obtained with early physiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The dropped head syndrome can reveal a general disease such as myasthenia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Therefore, investigation needs first to eliminate underlying diseases. If no etiology is found, the dropped head syndrome is considered of an unknown neuromuscular origin or a psychosomatic disease. In this latter case, physiotherapy may be beneficial.

Rheumatoid arthritis and schizophrenia: a negative association at a dimensional level

There is wide evidence for a decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, very few studies have looked at the risk of schizophrenia in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We prospectively investigated, with the SCL-90R, 220 consecutive outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis and 196 consecutive outpatients with various medical conditions, half of them suffering from psoriatic arthritis (a medical condition close to rheumatoid arthritis). The SCL-90R appears to be a valuable tool to distinguish patients with schizophrenia from the outpatients of our sample, the former having more "paranoid ideation" (p = 0.004) and more "psychoticism" (p < 0.001) than the latter. The "paranoid ideation" dimension was significantly lower (25% decrease) in the sample of patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to the combined control group (p = 0.005), ratings under the median value being more frequent in the former group (p = 0.025). Confounding factors might not explain this difference according to the regression logistic analysis performed. As patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a lower score of paranoid ideation than controls in our sample, even after controlling for age, gender and severity of the disease, these data represent further evidence for a decreased risk of schizophrenia in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.

[Value of US imaging of metacarpophalangeal joints in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis]

Technological advances in the field of ultrasound imaging may have, especially in metacarpophalangeal joints, an impact on decision making in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. First, the normal anatomy of the metacarpophalangeal joints is briefly reviewed. Then, the authors describe the main ultrasound imaging findings of early RA. The role of ultrasound imaging in the assessment of therapeutic response as well as the benefit of microbubble ultrasound contrast agents are considered.

Laboratory and imaging studies used by French rheumatologists to determine the cause of recent onset polyarthritis without extra-articular manifestations

BACKGROUND

The cause of recent onset polyarthritis can be difficult to identify.

OBJECTIVE

To determine which laboratory and imaging studies French rheumatologists recommend, not taking cost into account, for the diagnosis of recent onset polyarthritis without extra-articular manifestations.

METHODS

From the list of the French Society for Rheumatology, a random sample of 210 rheumatologists was selected, who were asked to complete a questionnaire on the laboratory and imaging studies they would recommend in two fictional cases of recent onset polyarthritis (possible rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-case 1 and probable RA-case 2).

RESULTS

In case 1, the following were recommended by over 75% of respondents: hand radiographs, rheumatoid factors (RFs), and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (92%, 98%, and 98%, respectively). 50-74% of respondents recommended radiographs of the feet, knees, and chest (50%, 57%, and 66%, respectively); blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum assays of C reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (65%, 74%, 67%, and 62%, respectively). 25-49% recommended determination of creatinine and proteinuria, HLA-B27, antikeratin antibody, radiographs of the pelvis, and synovial fluid analysis. Several investigations were recommended less often in case 2 than in case 1. Nevertheless, some laboratory and imaging studies (radiographs of hand, feet, knees, chest x rays, blood cell counts, ANA, RF, antikeratin antibody, CRP, ESR, creatinine, AST and ALT, proteinuria, and joint aspiration) were recommended by more than 25% of respondents in both cases.

CONCLUSION

Wide variations were found among rheumatologists, indicating a need for standardisation. Some laboratory and imaging studies are recommended by at least 25% of respondents in recent onset polyarthritis with or without clues suggesting RA. In contrast, many tests were considered useful by fewer than 25% of the respondents in both cases.

Differences in understanding and application of 1987 ACR criteria for rheumatoid arthritis and 1991 ESSG criteria for spondylarthropathy. A pilot survey

OBJECTIVES

To determine areas of agreement and disagreement among experts in the interpretation of the published criteria for RA (ACR) and spondylarthropathies ( ESSG).

METHODS

Thirty-two experts (16 from France and 16 from 10 other countries) replied anonymously to a mailed questionnaire.

RESULTS

Tenosynovitis and 'sausage-like' painless swelling of the toes were considered as criteria for RA by 18 and 14 experts, respectively. The definition of symmetry differed widely among experts (symmetry of only one group of joints was sufficient for 13). Twenty-five experts considered erosions of other joints than the wrists and fingers as a criterion for RA, 17 thought that fulfilment of criteria could be achieved cumulatively, and 19 would appreciate clarifications of the current criteria. Among possible clarifications for RA, it was frequently recommended that morning stiffness and nodules be eliminated and that new marker antibodies, X-rays of the feet, and exclusion criteria be added. Twenty-three of the 29 experts who gave an opinion (79%) agreed with the notion of SP in the absence of axial signs and sacroiliitis, 26/31 (84%) indicated that a patient can have both RA and SP, and 19/30 (63%) thought that RA and SP could be regarded as syndromes more than diseases. Only 5/32 experts relied more on the criteria than on their clinical judgement in diagnosing RA.

CONCLUSIONS

There would seem to be a needfor the optimisation of RA and ESSG criteria, particularly within the context of early arthritis.

Management of nontuberculous infectious discitis. treatments used in 110 patients admitted to 12 teaching hospitals in France

The optimal management of pyogenic discitis is not agreed on. No randomized clinical trials of short-course or oral antibiotic regimens have been published to date. To shed light on this issue, we reviewed the management of patients admitted for pyogenic discitis to one of 12 networked rheumatology departments. In this cross-sectional observational study, each department included the first ten patients admitted starting in January 1997 for treatment of pyogenic discitis. One hundred ten patients met the inclusion criteria, 67 men and 43 women, with a mean age of 60.6 +/- 13.7 years (range, 17-86 years). Mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 39.6 +/- 39.8 days (range, 24 h-240 days). Blood cultures were positive in 47.3% of patients, and the percutaneous discal and vertebral biopsy in 63.6% of cases; these two investigations identified the causative organism in 79 cases (72.8%). Mean duration of the rheumatology department stay was 31.3 +/- 14.1 days (range, 4-78 days). Antibiotics were given intravenously to 103 (93.6%) patients, for a mean of 25.5 +/- 17.6 days (range, 4-124 days); duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy was longer than 4 weeks in 36.5% of patients. Only seven (6.4%) patients received primary oral antibiotics with no parenteral antibiotics. One hundred patients were given oral antibiotics at the same time as and after intravenous antibiotics, for a mean duration of 87.2 +/- 43.6 day (range, 20-278 days); Bracing was used in 98 (89.1%) patients. Although antibiotic selection was rational and in agreement with current recommendations, wide differences were noted across centers regarding intravenous treatment duration, hospital stay duration, and total treatment duration.