scholarly journals Flares after hydroxychloroquine reduction or discontinuation: results from the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) inception cohort

2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2021-221295
Author(s):  
Celline C Almeida-Brasil ◽  
John G Hanly ◽  
Murray Urowitz ◽  
Ann Elaine Clarke ◽  
Guillermo Ruiz-Irastorza ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo evaluate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares following hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduction or discontinuation versus HCQ maintenance.MethodsWe analysed prospective data from the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) cohort, enrolled from 33 sites within 15 months of SLE diagnosis and followed annually (1999–2019). We evaluated person-time contributed while on the initial HCQ dose (‘maintenance’), comparing this with person-time contributed after a first dose reduction, and after a first HCQ discontinuation. We estimated time to first flare, defined as either subsequent need for therapy augmentation, increase of ≥4 points in the SLE Disease Activity Index-2000, or hospitalisation for SLE. We estimated adjusted HRs (aHRs) with 95% CIs associated with reducing/discontinuing HCQ (vs maintenance). We also conducted separate multivariable hazard regressions in each HCQ subcohort to identify factors associated with flare.ResultsWe studied 1460 (90% female) patients initiating HCQ. aHRs for first SLE flare were 1.20 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.38) and 1.56 (95% CI 1.31 to 1.86) for the HCQ reduction and discontinuation groups, respectively, versus HCQ maintenance. Patients with low educational level were at particular risk of flaring after HCQ discontinuation (aHR 1.43, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.87). Prednisone use at time-zero was associated with over 1.5-fold increase in flare risk in all HCQ subcohorts.ConclusionsSLE flare risk was higher after HCQ taper/discontinuation versus HCQ maintenance. Decisions to maintain, reduce or stop HCQ may affect specific subgroups differently, including those on prednisone and/or with low education. Further study of special groups (eg, seniors) may be helpful.

Lupus ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 096120332098389
Author(s):  
Mitra Moazzami ◽  
Vibeke Strand ◽  
Jiandong Su ◽  
Zahi Touma

Objectives Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms reported in patients living with SLE. We aim to: 1) determine if different trajectories of fatigue associate with specific latent classes of disease activity and 2) define the patient characteristics and associated factors in different latent classes. Methods Data from an inception cohort of adult patients from the Toronto Lupus Clinic from 1997-2018 were analyzed. Fatigue levels were measured using Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and disease activity by the Adjusted Mean Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) (AMS). Dual latent class trajectory analysis, for fatigue and AMS, was performed. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed the association of baseline variables with class membership. Results Among 280 patients, 4 dual classes (C) of fatigue and disease activity were identified: C1- lowest disease activity and second highest fatigue trajectory (27%); C2- second highest disease activity and highest fatigue trajectory (30%); C3-moderate disease activity and lowest fatigue trajectory (33%); and C4- highest disease activity and moderate fatigue trajectory (10%). Conclusion 4 distinct latent classes of dual fatigue and disease activity trajectories were identified. Fatigue and disease activity follow distinct trajectories and disease activity alone cannot fully explain fatigue trajectories. Trajectories with higher FSS scores were associated with more fibromyalgia and trajectories with higher disease activity were associated with higher cumulative glucocorticoid use. Higher baseline glucocorticoid use was more likely associated with more fatigue while older age at SLE diagnosis was associated with less fatigue.


Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-190
Author(s):  
W Batista Cicarini ◽  
R C Figueiredo Duarte ◽  
K Silvestre Ferreira ◽  
C de Mello Gomes Loures ◽  
R Vargas Consoli ◽  
...  

We have explored the relationship between possible hemostatic changes and clinical manifestation of the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a function of greater or lesser disease activity according to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) criteria. Endothelial injury and hypercoagulability were investigated in patients with SLE by measuring thrombomodulin (TM), D-dimer (DDi) and thrombin generation (TG) potential. A total of 90 participants were distributed into three groups: 1) women with SLE presenting with low disease activity (laSLE) (SLEDAI-2K ≤ 4), 2) women with SLE presenting with moderate to high disease activity (mhaSLE) (SLEDAI-2K > 4), and 3) a control group comprising healthy women. Levels of TM and DDi were higher both in the laSLE and mhaSLE groups compared to controls and in mhaSLE compared to the laSLE group. With respect to TG assay, lagtime and endogen thrombin potential, low concentrations of tissue factor provided the best results for discrimination among groups. Analysis of these data allow us to conclude that TM, DDi and TG are potentially useful markers for discriminating patients with very active from those with lower active disease. Higher SLE activity may cause endothelial injury, resulting in higher TG and consequently a hypercoagulability state underlying the picture of thrombosis common in this inflammatory disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila B. S. Medeiros ◽  
Roberta G. Salomão ◽  
Sara R. Teixeira ◽  
Diane M. Rassi ◽  
Luciana Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. The present study determined the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in childhood-onset SLE using the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement and investigated associations between traditional and nontraditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as medications, SLE Disease Activity Index - SLEDAI-2 K and SLICC-ACR damage index and CIMT. Methods Cross-sectional prospective study between 2017 and 2018. CIMT was assessed by ultrasonography. Data were collected by chart review, nutritional evaluation and laboratory tests and analyzed by Fisher, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests, multiple linear and log binomial regression. Results Twenty-eight patients (mean age 13.9 years, SD 3) were enrolled. The prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis was 32% (95% CI 14.8, 49.4). The mean CIMT was 0.43 ± 0.035 mm. The most common traditional risk factors observed were dyslipidemia (82.1%), uncontrolled hypertension (14.2%), obesity (14.3%), and poor diet (78.6%). Uncontrolled hypertension (p = 0.04), proteinuria (p = 0.02), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 75 ml /min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.02) and SLEDAI-2 K > 5 (P = 0.04) were associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. SLEDAI-2 K > 5 maintained association with CIMT after adjusting for control variables. Conclusion Subclinical atherosclerosis is frequently observed in cSLE, mainly in patients with moderate to severe disease activity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2137
Author(s):  
Ning-Sheng Lai ◽  
Ming-Chi Lu ◽  
Hsiu-Hua Chang ◽  
Hui-Chin Lo ◽  
Chia-Wen Hsu ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the correlation of a recently developed systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity score (SLE-DAS) with the SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) with the Lupus Quality of Life questionnaire (LupusQoL) in Taiwanese patients with SLE. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a regional teaching hospital in Taiwan from April to August 2019. Adult patients with a clinician-confirmed diagnosis of SLE based on the 1997 American College of Rheumatology revised criteria or the 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Classification Criteria were recruited. SLE disease activity was measured with both SLEDAI-2K and SLE-DAS. Disease-specific quality of life was assessed using the LupusQoL. Results: Of the 333 patients with SLE in this study, 90.4% were female and 40% were between the ages of 20 and 39 years. The median SLEDAI-2K score was 4.00 (interquartile range [IQR] 2.00–7.50) and the median SLE-DAS score was 2.08 (IQR 1.12–8.24) in our patients with SLE. After adjusting for sex and age intervals, both SLEDAI-2k and SLE-DAS were significantly and inversely associated with all eight domains of LupusQoL. The magnitudes of the mean absolute error, root mean square error, Akaike Information Criterion, Bayesian Information Criterion, and coefficient of determination were comparable between SLEDAI-2K and SLE-DAS. Conclusions: There were no clear differences in the use of SLE-DAS over SLEDAI-2K in assessing HRQoL in patients with SLE. We suggest that, in this aspect, both SLEDAI-2K and SLE-DAS are effective tools for measuring disease activity in patients with SLE.


2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 2395-2399 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZAHI TOUMA ◽  
DAFNA D. GLADMAN ◽  
DOMINIQUE IBAÑEZ ◽  
SHAHRZAD TAGHAVI-ZADEH ◽  
MURRAY B. UROWITZ

Objective.To evaluate the performance of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index (SRI) when the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) is substituted with SLEDAI-2K Responder Index-50 (SRI-50), a valid and reliable index of disease activity improvement. Also, to determine whether the SRI-50 will enhance the ability of SRI in detecting responders.Methods.Our study was conducted on patients who attended the Lupus Clinic from September 2009 to September 2010. SLEDAI-2K, SRI-50, the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group measure, and the Physician’s Global Assessment were determined initially and at followup. SRI was determined at the followup visit according to its original definition using the SLEDAI-2K score and by substituting SLEDAI-2K with SRI-50.Results.A total of 117 patients with SLEDAI-2K ≥ 4 at baseline were studied. Patients had 1 followup visit over a 3-month period. Twenty-nine percent of patients met the original definition of SRI and 35% of patients met the definition of SRI when SLEDAI-2K was substituted with SRI-50. The use of SRI-50 allowed determination of significant improvement in 7 additional patients. This improvement could not be discerned with the use of SLEDAI-2K as a component of SRI. At followup visits that showed improvement, SRI-50 scores decreased to a greater extent than SLEDAI-2K scores (p < 0.0001).Conclusion.SRI-50 enhances the ability of SRI to identify patients with clinically important improvement in disease activity. SRI-50 was superior to SLEDAI-2K in detecting partial clinical improvement, ≥ 50%, between visits. These properties of the SRI-50 enable it to be used as an independent outcome measure of improvement or as a component of SRI in clinical trials.


2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
DOMINIQUE IBAÑEZ ◽  
DAFNA D. GLADMAN ◽  
ZAHI TOUMA ◽  
MANDANA NIKPOUR ◽  
MURRAY B. UROWITZ

Objective.Adjusted mean Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI; AMS) measures lupus disease activity over time. Our aim was to determine optimal visit frequency for calculating AMS.Methods.Patients followed monthly for 12 consecutive visits were included. AMS was calculated using all of the SLEDAI 2000 (AMSGOLD using all 12 visits), only quarterly visits (AMS3, using visits 3 months apart), semiannual visits (AMS6, using first, middle, and last visits only), and annual visits (AMS12, using only the first and last visits). Comparisons of AMS3, AMS6, and AMS12 with AMSGOLD are made using descriptive statistics.Results.Seventy-eight patients were included (92% women, mean age at SLE diagnosis 30.1 yrs and at study start 46.2 yrs). The mean (SD) AMSGOLD for the entire year was 2.05 (1.66), for AMS3 1.99 (1.65), for AMS6 2.12 (1.87), and for AMS12 2.08 (1.83). Mean (SD) of the absolute differences with AMSGOLD: for AMS3 0.29 (0.33), for AMS6 0.45 (0.59), and for AMS12 0.61 (0.58). Differences that were < 0.5 were considered minimal while those ≥ 1 were deemed important. Comparing AMSGOLD to AMS3, 82% of the differences were minimal and 3% were important. When comparing to AMS6, 68% were minimal and 10% were important, while comparing to AMS12, 50% were minimal and 21% were important.Conclusion.Usual clinic visits occurring quarterly offer a good estimation of disease activity over a 1-year period and are preferred over semiannual and annual visits.


2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 1667-1672 ◽  
Author(s):  
JONATHAN YIP ◽  
ELAHEH AGHDASSI ◽  
JIANDONG SU ◽  
WENDY LOU ◽  
HEATHER REICH ◽  
...  

Objective.To determine whether serum albumin reflects disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with and without nephritis (LN, LNN), and whether serum albumin could be a surrogate marker of SLE disease activity overall. There is currently no clinical “gold standard” in the assessment of disease activity in SLE.Methods.Patients with ≥ 3 clinic visits within a maximum followup period of 10 years were selected from the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic database. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: LN-B, those with nephritis defined by histological findings on renal biopsies; LN-L, those with nephritis defined by laboratory abnormalities in the absence of biopsy; and LNN, those without nephritis. In a subanalysis, the renal groups were further stratified by proteinuria status. The associations of SLE-Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) with serum albumin and dsDNA were examined using the mixed model regression analysis.Results.A total of 1078 patients were studied: 89.1% female, 71.5% white, mean age 33.6 (SD 12.6) years, and with median baseline SLEDAI-2K of 8. Serum albumin was more significantly associated with SLEDAI in LN-B and LN-L. The association was also present but weaker in the LNN group. In all LN, the associations between serum albumin and SLEDAI-2K were stronger in those with proteinuria.Conclusion.In patients with SLE, higher SLEDAI was associated with lower serum albumin levels.


Lupus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (14) ◽  
pp. 1602-1609 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Lourdudoss ◽  
A-C Elkan ◽  
I Hafström ◽  
T Jogestrand ◽  
T Gustafsson ◽  
...  

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the role of dietary micronutrient intake in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods This study included 111 SLE patients and 118 age and gender-matched controls. Data on diet (food frequency questionnaires) were linked with data on Systemic Lupus Activity Measure, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and carotid atherosclerotic/echolucent plaque (B-mode ultrasound). Dietary micronutrient intake were compared between SLE patients and controls and in relation to lupus activity and atherosclerosis in SLE. Associations between micronutrient intake and plaque were analyzed through logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. Results Micronutrient intake did not differ between patients and controls, and between lower and higher lupus activity, apart from the fact that phosphorus was associated with SLEDAI > 6. In SLE patients, some micronutrients were associated with atherosclerotic plaque, left side. Lower intake of riboflavin and phosphorus was associated with atherosclerotic plaque, left side (odds ratio (OR) 3.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–8.40 and OR 4.36, 95% CI 1.53–12.39, respectively). Higher intake of selenium and thiamin was inversely associated with atherosclerotic plaque, left side (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09–0.89 and OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08–0.80, respectively). In addition, higher intake of thiamin was inversely associated with echolucent plaque, left side (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.06–0.84). Lower intake of folate was inversely associated with bilateral echolucent plaque (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13–0.99). Conclusions SLE patients did not have different dietary micronutrient intake compared to controls. Phosphorus was associated with lupus activity. Riboflavin, phosphorus, selenium and thiamin were inversely associated with atherosclerotic plaque, left side in SLE patients, but not in controls. Dietary micronutrients may play a role in atherosclerosis in SLE.


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