Could we use a lower dose of rituximab to treat rheumatoid arthritis in clinical practice: pros and cons?

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness and safety profiles of baricitinib and explore factors associated with improved short-term effectiveness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical settings. A total of 113 consecutive RA patients who had been treated with baricitinib were registered in a Japanese multicenter registry and followed for at least 24 weeks. Mean age was 66.1 years, mean RA disease duration was 14.0 years, 71.1% had a history of use of biologics or JAK inhibitors (targeted DMARDs), and 48.3% and 40.0% were receiving concomitant methotrexate and oral prednisone, respectively. Mean DAS28-CRP significantly decreased from 3.55 at baseline to 2.32 at 24 weeks. At 24 weeks, 68.2% and 64.1% of patients achieved low disease activity (LDA) and moderate or good response, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that no previous targeted DMARD use and lower DAS28-CRP score at baseline were independently associated with achievement of LDA at 24 weeks. While the effectiveness of baricitinib was similar regardless of whether patients had a history of only one or multiple targeted DMARDs use, patients with previous use of non-TNF inhibitors or JAK inhibitors showed lower rates of improvement in DAS28-CRP. The overall retention rate for baricitinib was 86.5% at 24 weeks, as estimated by Kaplan–Meier analysis. The discontinuation rate due to adverse events was 6.5% at 24 weeks. Baricitinib significantly improved RA disease activity in clinical practice. Baricitinib was significantly more effective when used as a first-line targeted DMARDs.

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AB1176 UTILITY OF REDOSER TOOL IN DOSE OPTIMIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.5875 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1879.2-1879

Author(s):

A. M. Cabezas-Lucena ◽

M. Morales-Águila ◽

S. Manrique Arija ◽

C. Fuego-Varela ◽

L. Cano Garcia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Dose Reduction ◽

Biological Therapy ◽

Activity Index ◽

Standard Dose ◽

Disease Evolution ◽

Independent Variables ◽

Outpatient Unit ◽

Baseline Activity

Background:Objectives:To describe the characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in dose reduction of biological therapy (BT) in clinical practice and identify possible factors associated with the time in dose reduction and verify the utility of REDOSER tool.Methods:Design:A retrospective, observational longitudinal study under conditions of clinical practice.Patients:RA in BT dose reduction between 2007- 2019 were selected. Inclusion criteria: RA according to ACR 2010 criteria which have been initiated BT dose reduction. Patients with BT are followed prospectively every 3-4 months in a specialized outpatient unit of BT dose reduction with a pre-established protocol for data collection and registered in a database.Variables: Primary:Time in reduction: was defined as the time in which patients maintained the BT optimization andRelapse at 12 and 24 months: percentage of patients who, after starting BT optimization, return to the previous or standard dose.Secondary variables:REDOSER:Appropriate, Doubtful and Inappropriate (If dose reduction was adequate according to the REDOSER tool applied retrospectively were evaluated). Other variables: Demographic, clinical-analytical: time of disease evolution, RF, anti CCP antibodies, Number of Tender Joints, Number of swollen joints, erosions, activity index (DAS28, SDAI, CDAI) and physical function (HAQ). Previous treatments.Statistical Analysis:descriptive, bivariate using x2 and T-Student among patients with and without relapse at 24 months and multivariate linear regression to identify independent variables associated with the time in BT dose reduction (DV: time in reduction).Results:59 patients with RA were included. Table 1 shows the main characteristics of the subjects. The average (SD) of optimization in months was 17.9 (17.7). Ten patients (16.9%) relapsed at 12 months and 16 (27.1%) at 24 months. The mean (SD) of DAS28 and SDAI of patients who relapsed at 24 months was higher compared to baseline DAS28 (2.3 [0.9] vs. 1.5 [0.8]; p = 0.015) and SDAI (7.8 [6.3] versus 3.3 [1.6]; p 0.05). These patients who relapsed at 24 months compared to patients who did not have more erosions at the start of BT (p = 0.004), longer duration of disease (p = 0.072) and greater baseline activity of DAS28 (p = 0.017), of SDAI (p = 0.030) and CDAI (p = 0.036). After simulating the REDOSER tool to all patients at the beginning of the OBT, 28 patients (56%) were “Appropriate”, 20 (40%) “Doubtful” and 2 (4%) “Inappropriate” of which they continue in OBT at the conclusion of study 22, 10 and 0, respectively (p = 0.020). In the multivariant analysis, the independent variables that are associated with time in dose reduction of BT were baseline DAS28 (β = -0.660, 95% CI[2.7-14.0]; p=0.014) and age (β=-0.800, 95% CI [0.8-0.0]; p=0.038).Conclusion:The majority of the patients with RA who initiate BT dose reduction maintain the optimization after 24 months. REDOSER can be useful in clinical practice to assess the BT optimization in patients with RA. A longer time in BT dose reduction was associated with lower values of DAS28 at the beginning and younger age of the patients.Figure 1:Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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AB0304 IMMUNOGENICITY OF BIOLOGIC DRUGS IN THE CLINICAL PRACTICE IN THE BULGARIAN POPULATION OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.923 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1451.3-1451

Author(s):

K. Kraev ◽

M. Geneva-Popova ◽

S. Popova

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Clinical Response ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Tnf Alpha ◽

Drug Bioavailability ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Etanercept Treatment ◽

Markers Of Inflammation

Background:Biological drugs are protein derivatives that, as such, are highly immunogenic. In recent years there have been many conflicting opinions about the role of drug immunogenicity in clinical practice.Objectives:To evaluate the drug immunogenicity of TNF-alpha blocking drugs (etanercept and adalimumab) used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis. To determine whether their presence can alter the effect of treatment and to evaluate their role in the clinical practice of rheumatologists.Methods:121 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as 31 healthy controls, similar in sex and age, were examined. They were all monitored at 0, 6, 12 and 24 months from the start of TNF-alpha blocker treatment. Demographics, vital signs, markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and disease activity indices were examined at each visit, respectively. Drug-induced neutralizing antibodies, as well as drug bioavailability in patients treated with adalimumab, were examined by ELISA.Results:Drug-induced neutralizing antibodies to adalimumab were detected in 11.57% of patients at 6 month, in 17.64% of patients at 12 month, and 24.8% at 24 month. Drug-induced neutralizing antibodies to etanercept were not detected at 6 months, at 7.77% at 12 months, at 9.63% of patients at 24 months. Of the adalimumab patients who were having drug-induced antibodies, 92.59% had low drug bioavailability, while the remaining 7.41% of patients showed normal drug bioavailability despite the presence of drug-induced neutralizing antibodies. In terms of worsening of the disease activity, a positive correlation was found with the presence of drug antibodies - Pearson Correlation = 0.701, p = 0.001. Patients with poor clinical response and available drug antibodies receiving adalimumab were slightly more than those treated with etanercept at 12 and 24 months but the difference is non-significant-U = 0.527, p> 0.05 and U = 0.623, p> 0.05, respectively.Conclusion:Presence of drug-induced neutralizing antibodies in patients treated with adalimumab and etanercept has been associated with poor clinical response and worsening of the patient’s condition. Testing of drug-induced neutralizing antibodies as well as the drug bioavailability of the drug used can be used as reliable biomarkers in clinical rheumatology.References:[1]Benucci M., F.Li Gobbi, M. Meacii et al., “Antidrug antibodies against TNF-blocking agents: correlations between disese activity, hypersensitivity reactions, and different classes of immunoglobulins”, Biologics and Targets and Therapy, 2015: 9 7 -2.[2]Chen D., Y. Chen, W. Tsai et al., “ Significant associations of antidrug antibody levels with serum drug trough levels and therapeutic response of adalimumab and etanercept treatment in rheumatoid arthritis”, Ann Rheum Dis. 2015 Mar; 74 (3).[3]Kalden J. and H. Schulze-Koops, “ Immunogenicity and loss of response to TNF inhibitors: implications for rheumatoid arthritis treatment ”, Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2017 volume 13, 707–718.[4]Wolf-Henning Boehnck, N. Brembilla, “ Immunogenicity of biological therapies: causes and consequences, ” Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, Vol 14, 2018, Issue 6, 513-523Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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POS1112 COMPARISON OF TWO APPROACHES IN FRACTURES RISK ASSESSMENT IN WOMEN WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND GLUCOCORTICOID USE

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.2448 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 836.1-836

Author(s):

N. Grygorieva ◽

V. Povoroznyuk

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Femoral Neck ◽

Fracture Risk ◽

Fracture Risk Assessment ◽

Lifestyle Modifications ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Dxa Scan

Background:Nowadays, FRAX is the most useful tool for osteoporotic fracture risk assessment that is included in many guidelines. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and glucocorticoid (CG) use are two crucial factors for osteoporotic fractures included in FRAX algorithm. According to the last ACR guidelines for the treatment of GC-induced osteoporosis [1], it was recommended to divide the patients into three groups of fracture risk (high, medium and low) that have a great impact on treatment decision. Recently, we received own Ukrainian thresholds [2] for the national version of FRAX that are age-dependent and now widely used in clinical practice.Objectives:Our study was aimed to compare two approaches (ACR-2017 and Ukrainian (2019) recommendations) in fracture risk assessment in women with RA and GC use.Methods:We examined 195 females with RA aged 40-89 years old who took GC (at dose ≥5 mg/d for ≥3 months) due to RA. The 10-year probabilities of major osteoporotic (MOFs) and hip fractures (HFs) were calculated with and without bone mineral density (BMD) using the Ukrainian FRAX model [3]. The DXA was used to measure the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total body BMDs; T and Z scores were calculated (DISCOVERY Wi, Hologic, Inc., USA).Results:FRAX indexes for MOFs and HFs without BMD in patients with RA and GC were (Me [25-75Q]) 12.0 [8.1-18.0] and 4.2 [1.7-7.2] %. The correspondent FRAX indexes with BMD were 13.5 [8.5-20.0] and 5.1 [1.8-8.7] %.50 % of examined women had previous fractures and 20 % had previous vertebral fractures. BMD of the femoral neck consisted of 0.62±0.13 and L1-L4 BMD was 0.85±0.15 g/cm2. 89 % of females had low BMD at the lumbar spine and / or femoral neck (49 % osteoporosis and 40 % osteopenia).61 % of women required antiosteoporotic treatment according to ACR-2017 guideline (17.4 % of them a hadhigh risk of MOF and 43.1 % moderate one) without BMD measurement and 64 % of subjects after DXA scan.According to Ukrainian national guideline, 57 % of patients required antiosteoporotic treatment without BMD measurement and 42 % – after additional DXA examination. After BMD measurement in subjects who required the DXA scan, 78.2 % of females with RA and GC use required antiosteoporotic treatment (additionally to calcium and vitamin D, lifestyle modifications).Conclusion:Approximately 60 % of subjects with RA and GC use required antiosteoporotic treatment without additional DXA measurement according to correspondent FRAX indexes from both guidelines. The proportion of women requiring treatment after DXA scan is slightly higher according to Ukrainian recommendations. It proves that both of them can be used effectively in daily clinical practice for fracture risk assessment in females with RA.References:[1]Buckley L, Guyatt G, Fink HA, Cannon M et al. 2017 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2017;69(8), 1521–1537. DOI:10.1002/art.40137[2]Povoroznyuk V, Grygorieva N, Kanis JA et al. Ukrainian FRAX: criteria for diagnostics and treatment of osteoporosis. Pain. Joint. Spine. 2019;9(4):7-16. DOI: 10.22141/2224-1507.9.4.2019.191921[3]Povoroznyuk VV, Grygorieva NV, Kanis JA et al. Epidemiology of hip fracture and the development of FRAX in Ukraine. Arch Osteoporos. 2017;12(1):53. DOI: 10.1007/s11657-017-0343-2.Disclosure of Interests:Nataliia Grygorieva Consultant of: Servier, Redis, Vladyslav Povoroznyuk: None declared.

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FRI0003 Quality of Life and Economic Benefits of Remission/Low Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Clinical Practice Setting

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.1897 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 73 (Suppl 2) ◽

pp. 381.3-382

Author(s):

E. Alemao ◽

S. Joo ◽

H. Kawabata ◽

M. Al ◽

P. Allison ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Practice Setting ◽

Low Disease Activity ◽

Clinical Practice Setting

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Measures of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity in Australian Clinical Practice

ISRN Rheumatology ◽

10.5402/2011/437281 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Andrew Taylor ◽

Hanish Bagga

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Disease Process ◽

Biological Agent ◽

Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity ◽

Retrospective Audit ◽

Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease ◽

Activity Measures ◽

Disease Activity Measures

Objectives. To investigate which rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity measures are being collected in patients receiving glucocorticoids, non-biologic or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in Australian rheumatology practice. Methods. A retrospective audit of medical records was conducted from eight rheumatology practices around Australia. Each rheumatologist recruited 30 consecutive eligible patients into the review, 10 of whom must have been receiving a biological agent for rheumatoid arthritis. Disease activity measures and radiographic assessments were collected from each patient's last consultation. For biologic patients, disease activity measures were also collected from when the patient was first initiated on the biological agent. Results. At last consultation, the disease measures that were recorded most often were ESR (89.2%), haemoglobin (87.5%), and CRP (84.2%). DAS28 was infrequently recorded (16.3%). The rate of recording disease activity measures for patients receiving biologic DMARDs decreased over time (mean 27 months). Conclusion. This review has shown inconsistency of RA activity measures being recorded in Australian rheumatology clinical practice. An accurate assessment of the disease process is necessary to effectively target rheumatoid arthritis patients to treat in order to achieve optimal outcomes.

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Views on Exercise Maintenance: Variations Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20070178 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 88 (9) ◽

pp. 1049-1060 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Emma Swärdh ◽

Gabriele Biguet ◽

Christina H Opava

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Health Care ◽

Joint Venture ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

External Control ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Health Care Environment ◽

Care Environment ◽

Exercise Maintenance ◽

Pros And Cons

Background and Purpose Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often have to make changes in exercise behavior in order to gain and sustain health benefits. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe ways of understanding exercise maintenance among individuals with RA who had already started to exercise. Participants Fourteen women and 4 men with RA of at least 2 years’ duration, selected from 4 hospitals or primary health care physical therapy clinics, participated. They had exercised regularly at least twice weekly during the previous 2 months with various levels of support from a physical therapist, and they had attempted to exercise without support outside of the health care environment during the previous year. Method A phenomenographic approach was used to analyze semistructured interviews. A pattern of categories of descriptions was constructed based on the participants’ conceptions and ways of understanding the phenomenon of exercise maintenance. Results Five categories were identified: “external control,” “sticks and carrots,” “a joint venture,” “the easy way,” and “on one's own terms.” The categories became clear by elucidating 2 aspects related to exercise maintenance: (1) the way the participants talked about and experienced the type of support needed and (2) personal factors. Discussion and Conclusion The results highlight the importance of finding the proper context and support for each patient's needs. Furthermore, preparing for exercise maintenance by strengthening the patient's beliefs in his or her ability to exercise in different settings, by discussing pros and cons of exercise, and by exploiting the patient's ability to adapt and continue exercise outside of the health care environment might be valuable.

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