Association of altered folylpolyglutamate synthetase pre-mRNA splicing with methotrexate unresponsiveness in early rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Objectives An efficient pharmacological response to MTX treatment in RA patients relies on the retention and accumulation of intracellular MTX-polyglutamates catalysed by the enzyme folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS). We recently identified a partial retention of FPGS intron 8 (8PR) as a prominent splice variant conferring FPGS dysfunction and decreased MTX polyglutamylation in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Here, we explored the association between FPGS 8PR levels and lack of MTX responsiveness in RA patients. Methods Thirty-six patients undergoing MTX treatment were enrolled from the Combinatie behandeling Reumatoide Artritis (COBRA)-light trial. RNA was isolated from blood samples at baseline, 13 weeks and 26 weeks of therapy, from patients in either COBRA-light (n = 21) or COBRA (n = 15) treatment arms. RT-qPCR analysis was used to assess RNA levels of FPGS 8PR over wild-type FPGS (8WT). Results In the COBRA-light treatment arm, higher baseline ratios of 8PR/8WT were significantly associated with higher 44-joint disease activity score (DAS44) at 13 and 26 weeks. Higher baseline ratios of 8PR/8WT also trended towards not obtaining low disease activity (DAS <1.6) and becoming a EULAR non-responder at 13 and 26 weeks. In the COBRA-treatment arm, a significant association was observed between high baseline 8PR/8WT ratios and higher DAS44 score at 26 weeks. Higher 8PR/8WT ratios were associated with non-response at week 26 based on both low disease activity and EULAR criteria. Conclusion This study is the first to associate alterations in FPGS pre-mRNA splicing levels with reduced responsiveness to MTX treatment in RA patients. Trial registration ISRCTN55552928.

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Down-titration and discontinuation of infliximab in rheumatoid arthritis patients with stable low disease activity and stable treatment: an observational cohort study

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200945 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 71 (11) ◽

pp. 1849-1854 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Aatke van der Maas ◽

Wietske Kievit ◽

Bart J F van den Bemt ◽

Frank H J van den Hoogen ◽

Piet L van Riel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Activity ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

Local Treatment ◽

Treatment Protocol ◽

Joint Disease ◽

Low Disease Activity ◽

Interval Change ◽

Related Absenteeism ◽

Observational Cohort

Down-titration, or discontinuing infliximab, has proven to be feasible in RA patients. Therefore, our local treatment protocol includes tapering infliximab dose. This observational study describes the prevalence of successful down-titration in daily clinical practice and its effect on costs and quality of life (QoL).MethodsInfliximab was down-titrated with 25% of the original dose (3 mg/kg) every 8–12 weeks without interval change until discontinuation or flare in all RA patients with stable low 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) and stable treatment for >6 months. During 1 year DAS28, RA medication, outpatient clinic visits, RA related absenteeism and EuroQoL5D (European QoL questionnaire, EQ5D) were documented. Prevalence of successful down-titration and changes in DAS28, QoL and costs were described.ResultsIn 16% (95% CI 6 to 26) and 45% (95% CI 31 to 59), respectively, infliximab could be discontinued or down-titrated. Mean infliximab dose decreased significantly from 224 mg (95% CI 212 to 236 mg) at start, to 130 mg (95% CI 105 to 154 mg) after 1 year. Median DAS28 increased from 2.5 (p25–75=2.0–2.9) to 2.8 (2.2–3.6) (p=0.002). Extra corticosteroids were given in 8% of the visits. Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs were seldom changed. There was no statistical difference in QoL after down-titration. Mean reduction in the costs was €3474 (95% CI 2457 to 4492) per patient.ConclusionIn the majority of patients with stable low DAS28 and stable treatment, infliximab can be down-titrated or discontinued, which results in a considerable reduction in costs without influencing QoL.

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OP0008 DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS DISEASE ACTIVITY SCORE WHEN PATIENT GLOBAL ASSESSMENT IS UNAVAILABLE

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.1122 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 6-6

Author(s):

A. Ortolan ◽

S. Ramiro ◽

F. A. Van Gaalen ◽

T. K. Kvien ◽

R. B. M. Landewé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ankylosing Spondylitis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Global Assessment ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

Validation Cohort ◽

Patient Global Assessment ◽

Activity Score ◽

Research Support ◽

Low Disease Activity

Background:Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) is a composite index measuring disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). It includes questions from the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Patient Global Assessment (PGA), and inflammation biomarkers. However, ASDAS calculation is not always possible because PGA is sometimes not collected.Objectives:To develop an alternative ASDAS to be used in research settings when PGA is unavailable.Methods:Longitudinal data from 4 axSpA cohorts and 2 RCTs were combined. Observations were randomly split in a development (N=1026) and a validation cohort (N=1059). Substitutes of PGA by BASDAI total score, single or combined individual BASDAI questions, and a constant value, were considered. In the development cohort, conversion factors for each substitute were defined by Generalized Estimating Equations. Validation was performed in the validation cohort according to the OMERACT filter, taking into consideration: 1) Truth (agreement with original-ASDAS in the continuous score, by intraclass correlation coefficient -ICC- and in disease activity states, by weighted kappa) 2) Discrimination (standardized mean difference –SMD- of ASDAS scores between high/low disease activity states defined by external anchors e.g Patient Acceptable Symptom State –PASS-; agreement -kappa- in the % of patients reaching ASDAS improvement criteria according to alternative vs. original formulae) 3) Feasibility.Results:Taking all psychometric properties into account and comparing the different formulae (Table), alternative-ASDAS using BASDAI total as PGA replacement proved to be: 1) truthful (agreement with original-ASDAS: ICC=0.98, kappa=0.90); 2) discriminative: it could discriminate between high/low disease activity states (e.g. scores between PASS no/yes: SMD=1.37 versus original-ASDAS SMD=1.43) and was sensitive to change (agreement with original-ASDAS in major improvement/clinically important improvement criteria: kappa=0.93/0.88; 3) feasible (BASDAI total often available; conversion coefficient≈1).Table.Psychometric properties of alternative ASDAS formulaeConclusion:Alternative-ASDAS using BASDAI total score as PGA replacement is the most truthful, discriminative and feasible instrument. This index enables ASDAS calculation in existing cohorts without PGA.Disclosure of Interests:Augusta Ortolan: None declared, Sofia Ramiro: None declared, Floris A. van Gaalen: None declared, Tore K. Kvien Grant/research support from: Received grants from Abbvie, Hospira/Pfizer, MSD and Roche (not relevant for this abstract)., Consultant of: Have received personal fees from Abbvie, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lily, Hospira/Pfizer, MSD, Novartis, Orion Pharma, Roche, Sandoz, UCB, Sanofi and Mylan (not relevant for this abstract)., Paid instructor for: Have received personal fees from Abbvie, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lily, Hospira/Pfizer, MSD, Novartis, Orion Pharma, Roche, Sandoz, UCB, Sanofi and Mylan (not relevant for this abstract)., Speakers bureau: Have received personal fees from Abbvie, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lily, Hospira/Pfizer, MSD, Novartis, Orion Pharma, Roche, Sandoz, UCB, Sanofi and Mylan (not relevant for this abstract)., Robert B.M. Landewé Consultant of: AbbVie; AstraZeneca; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Eli Lilly & Co.; Galapagos NV; Novartis; Pfizer; UCB Pharma, Pedro M Machado Consultant of: PMM: Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and UCB, Speakers bureau: PMM: Abbvie, BMS, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and UCB, Adeline Ruyssen-Witrand Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Pfizer, Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Lilly, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, Astrid van Tubergen Consultant of: Novartis, Caroline Bastiaenen: None declared, Désirée van der Heijde Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, AstraZeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Cyxone, Daiichi, Eisai, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, UCB Pharma; Director of Imaging Rheumatology BV

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POS0241 VALIDATION OF THE ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS DISEASE ACTIVITY SCORE WITH A QUICK QUANTITATIVE C-REACTIVE PROTEIN ASSAY (ASDAS-QCRP) IN PATIENTS WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS (AXSPA): A PROSPECTIVE, NATIONAL, MULTICENTER STUDY

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.2352 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 342.1-342

Author(s):

F. Proft ◽

J. Schally ◽

H. C. Brandt ◽

J. Brandt-Juergens ◽

G. R. Burmester ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ankylosing Spondylitis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

High Disease Activity ◽

Activity Score ◽

Inactive Disease ◽

Treat To Target ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Low Disease Activity ◽

Reactive Protein

Background:According to international recommendations, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) is the preferred score for assessing disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) [1]. However, routine determination of C-reactive protein (CRP) to calculate ASDAS values takes hours to days. This limits the use of ASDAS in clinical routine and clinical trials and hinders the implementation of treat-to-target approaches in axSpA. Whereas quick quantitative CRP (qCRP) tests allow CRP assessment within a few minutes. In a pilot project the performance of qCRP-based ASDAS assessment (ASDAS-qCRP) was already investigated in a single center study of 50 newly diagnosed, bDMARD-naïve axSpA patients with promising results [2].Objectives:To validate the ASDAS-qCRP in a prospective, multicenter study of axSpA patients in a typical axSpA cohort with an appropriate sample size.Methods:The study was conducted in five centers in Germany. Consecutive adult (≥ 18 years) axSpA patients were included. In addition to a rheumatological assessment, including patient reported outcomes (PROs), routine CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured in the local labs. Additionally, a qCRP testing with the „QuikRead go instrument“ (Aidian Oy, Finland) was performed at the study center (measurement range 0.5 - 200 mg/l for hematocrit concentrations of 40 – 45%). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, cross tabulation and weighted Cohen´s kappa comparing disease activity categories, Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for ASDAS-CRP and ASDAS-qCRP.Results:In this study 251 axSpA patients were included between January and September 2020 (mean age: 38.4 years; mean disease duration: 6.2 years, 159 patients (63.3%) were male, 211 (84.1%) HLA-B27 positive and 195 (77.7%) were classified as radiographic axSpA). 143 patients (57.0%) were treated with bDMARDs. CRP and qCRP showed mean values of 2.12 and 2.17 mg/l, respectively. With the ASDAS-qCRP, 242 patients (96.4%) were assigned to the same disease activity category as compared to the ASDAS based on the conventional lab CRP measurement (Table 1). Weighted Cohen´s kappa was 0.966 (95%CI: 0.943; 0.988). ICC for ASDAS-CRP- and ASDAS-qCRP-values was 0.997 (95%CI: 0.994; 0.999). The agreement of ASDAS-qCRP and ASDAS-CRP is shown in a Bland-Altman plot (Figure 1).Table 1.Disease activity categories by ASDAS-qCRP vs. ASDAS-CRPASDAS-qCRP (n = 251)Inactive Disease(< 1.3)Low Disease Activity (1.3 - < 2.1)High Disease Activity (2.1 - 3.5)Very high Disease Activity (> 3.5)ASDAS-CRPInactive Disease(< 1.3)56 (22.3%)2 (0.8%)Low Disease Activity (1.3 - < 2.1)62 (24.7%)7 (2.8%)High Disease Activity (2.1 - 3.5)97 (38.6%)Very high Disease Activity (> 3.5)27 (10.8%)The fields highlighted in red indicate that disease activity categories do not match.ASDAS = Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score, CRP = C-reactive protein, qCRP = quick quantitative CRPConclusion:The ASDAS-qCRP and ASDAS-CRP showed an almost perfect agreement on the assignment to disease activity categories (96%) with the important advantage of time. With ASDAS-qCRP, rheumatologists could base their clinical decision-making on a disease activity measurement by using a composite score immediately. ASDAS-qCRP, therefore, can be integrated in clinical routine and clinical trials in the future and may facilitate implementation of the treat-to-target concept in axial SpA.References:[1]Smolen JS, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2018 Jan; 77(1):3-17.[2]Proft F, et al. Joint Bone Spine. 2019 Jul 29.Figure 1.Bland-Altman plot for ASDAS-qCRP and ASDAS-CRPAcknowledgements:The authors would like to deeply thank Braun T, Doerwald C, Deter N, Höppner C, Lackinger J, Lorenz C, Lunkwitz K, Mandt B, Sron S and Zernicke J for their practical support and coordinating the study.Funding statement: The AQUA study was supported by an unrestricted research grant from Novartis. Testing kits were provided free of charge from Aidian Oy, Finland.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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243 Interpretation of 28-Joint Disease Activity Score and its Components in the Assessment of Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Aspects of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatology ◽

10.1093/rheumatology/kew184.004 ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

Joint Disease ◽

Activity Score

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Discontinuation of infliximab and potential predictors of persistent low disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and disease activity score-steered therapy: subanalysis of the BeSt study

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/ard.2010.147751 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 70 (8) ◽

pp. 1389-1394 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

M. van den Broek ◽

N. B. Klarenbeek ◽

L. Dirven ◽

D. van Schaardenburg ◽

H. M. J. Hulsmans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Early Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

Activity Score ◽

Low Disease Activity

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Defining Low Disease Activity States in Psoriatic Arthritis using Novel Composite Disease Instruments

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.150826 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 371-375 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Laura C. Coates ◽

Philip S. Helliwell

Keyword(s):

Psoriatic Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Substantial Agreement ◽

Good Discrimination ◽

Low Disease Activity ◽

Minimal Disease ◽

The Relationship

Objective.To explore the relationship between minimal disease activity (MDA) and the low disease activity cutoffs of the Psoriatic ArthritiS Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) and the Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index (CPDAI).Methods.Data from the GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis) composite exercise (GRACE) study were used for these analyses. Alternative definitions of low disease activity were used with 6/7 and 7/7 of MDA items, and a criteria set mandating the 2 articular items and 3/5 alternate items (MDA-joints). Two reference questions were used as anchors: physician’s global opinion of MDA, and patient’s opinion on their disease control.Results.Substantial agreement was found between MDA, MDA-joints, PASDAS, and CPDAI. Compared to the 2 reference questions, the various definitions of low disease activity gave sensitivities that were generally worse than specificities, the latter being high (> 0.9) in most cases. Both PASDAS and CPDAI demonstrated good discrimination between the “low” and “high” disease activity states by all the MDA definitions. Using these data, with an MDA of 7/7 to define a very low disease cutoff, the corresponding values for PASDAS and CPDAI were 1.9 and 2, respectively.Conclusion.An MDA score of 7/7 is proposed as very low disease activity in psoriatic arthritis. Using this definition, the equivalent cutoffs for PASDAS and CPDAI are 1.9 and 2, respectively.

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