Construction of 13-locus X-STR multiplex PCR system that reinforces Argus X-12 kit discrimination capacity: Application to the Malay population

Closely linked groups of markers on the X chromosome are very useful for testing complex kinship relationships involving X-STR transmission. The Argus X-12 kit, a unique commercially available kit, can obtain haplotypes of 4 linkage groups (LGs) consisting of 3 markers. Although many population data have been reported for forensic purposes, differences in discrimination ability exist between LG1 and LG2, 3, and 4 in East Asian populations, and the data of this kit would become more useful if the discrimination ability of the latter groups were increased. Therefore, for matches found using this kit for some linkage group data, then to increase the identification ability, we additionally introduced 13 X-STR loci and established a method allowing comparison using data from 25 loci. The 13X-STRs add two locus data to each of LG2, 3, and 4, and also add two closely linked group (CLG) data between LG2 and 3 and LG3 and 4 in one multiplex PCR. Assessment of this method for a Malay population for which data by Argus X-12 had already been reported showed that the frequencies of distinct haplotypes in LG2, 3, and 4 were increased by 33.0-42.6 %, and frequencies of unique haplotypes increased by 45.4-59.2 %. The respective haplotype diversity values of the additional 3-locus and 4-locus CLGs were 0.9838 and 0.9939, which helps to improve discriminatory power and to predict recombination locations on the X chromosome. Although we have been testing these loci with Japanese subjects, this system would also be useful for the Malay population.

Effect of genetic factors on the interindividual variability of warfarin dosage requirements in Japanese patients after adjusting for renal function

Renal function significantly influences the appropriate warfarin dosage. However, studies investigating the impact of genetic factors on warfarin dosage, considering renal function, are limited. This study aimed to assess the role of genetic polymorphisms in VKORC1, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP4F2, GGCX, and APOE in warfarin dosage adjustment considering renal function. A total of 108 outpatients receiving warfarin treatment with controlled prothrombin time-targeted international normalized ratio (1.5-3.0) were included. Patient data, warfarin dosage, and laboratory results were collected from electronic medical records. Each SNP [VKORC1 rs9923231, CYP2C9 rs1057910, CYP4F2 rs2108622, CYP2C19* 2 (rs4244285) and* 3 (rs4986893), GGCX rs699664 and rs12714145, and APOE rs7421] was analyzed. Multiple regression analysis revealed estimated glomerular filtration rate as the most significant factor influencing warfarin dose (p <0.001) (β = -0.445). VKORC1 rs9923231 AA, CYP4F2 rs2108622 CT/TT, GGCX rs12714145 CT/TT, and CYP2C9 rs1057910 AC carriers were associated with warfarin dose (p <0.001, 0.015, 0.020, 0.038 and β = -0.317, 0.191, -0.188, -0.162, respectively); however, other genes showed no significant association. In conclusion, after adjusting for renal function, genetic factors of VKORC1 rs9923231, CYP4F2 rs2108622, GGCX rs12714145, and CYP2C9 rs1057910 were found to contribute to warfarin dosage, having impact in that order. In contrast, the contribution of other genes to warfarin dosage was absent or negligible.

Predictors for onset of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli-induced bacteraemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli bacteraemia can induce unfavourable clinical outcomes due to delay in appropriate antimicrobial treatment and limited therapeutic options. Therefore, elucidating the predictors of ESBL-producing E. coli-induced bacteraemia is crucial to improve clinical outcomes. However, a literature search did not reveal any studies that incorporate a meta-analysis of the predictors of ESBL-producing E. coli-induced bacteraemia. As such, this review was undertaken to assess current evidence on the predictors of ESBL-producing E. coli-induced bacteraemia. PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched for all relevant publications from January 2000 to September 2021. This systematic review evaluated 10 observational studies, comprising a total of 2325 patients with E. coli-induced bacteraemia and 850 (36.6%) ESBL-producing strains. In the meta-analysis, previous antibiotic therapy [pooled risk ratio (RR) 2.72; P<0.001], especially with cephalosporins (pooled RR 4.66; P<0.001) and quinolones (pooled RR 5.47; P<0.001), and urinary catheter use (pooled RR 3.79; P<0.001) were predictive of ESBL-producing E. coli-induced bacteraemia. Antibiotic therapy for patients with the above-mentioned risk factors should be selected considering the possibility of ESBL-producing E. coli-induced bacteraemia compared with non-ESBL-producing E. coli-induced bacteraemia. It is important to elucidate whether appropriate modulation of the identified risk factors can potentially mitigate the risk of ESBL-producing E. coli-induced bacteraemia compared with non-ESBL-producing E. coli-induced bacteraemia.

Computed Tomography and 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging Biomarkers of Lung Invasive Non-mucinous Adenocarcinoma: Prediction of Grade 3 Tumour Based on World Health Organization Grading System

AIMS

To evaluate computed tomography (CT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) findings of invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (INMA) of the lung as a predictor of histological tumour grade according to 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) classification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included consecutive patients with surgically resected INMA who underwent both preoperative CT and 18F-FDG-PET/CT. A three-tiered tumour grade was performed based on the fifth edition of the WHO classification of lung tumours. CT imaging features and the maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) were compared among the three tumour grades.

RESULTS

In total, 214 patients with INMA (median age 70 years; interquartile range 65-76 years; 123 men) were histologically categorised: 36 (17%) as grade 1, 102 (48%) as grade 2 and 76 (35%) as grade 3. Pure solid appearance was more frequent in grade 3 (83%) than in grades 1 (0%) and 2 (26%) (P < 0.001). The SUVmax of the entire tumour was higher in grade 3 than in grades 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that pure solid appearance (odds ratio = 94.0; P < 0.001), round/oval shape (odds ratio = 4.01; P = 0.001), spiculation (odds ratio = 2.13; P = 0.04), air bronchogram (odds ratio = 0.40; P = 0.03) and SUVmax (odds ratio = 1.45; P < 0.001) were significant predictors for grade 3 INMAs.

CONCLUSION

Pure solid appearance, round/oval shape, spiculation, absence of air bronchogram and high SUVmax were associated with grade 3 INMAs. CT and 18F-FDG-PET/CT were potentially useful non-invasive imaging methods to predict the histological grade of INMAs.

SMiPoly: Generation of a Synthesizable Polymer Virtual Library Using Rule-Based Polymerization Reactions

Recent advances in machine learning have led to the rapid adoption of various computational methods for de novo molecular design in polymer research, including high-throughput virtual screening and inverse molecular design. In such workflows, molecular generators play an essential role in creation or sequential modification of candidate polymer structures. Machine learning-assisted molecular design has made great technical progress over the past few years. However, the difficulty of identifying synthetic routes to such designed polymers remains unresolved. To address this technical limitation, we present Small Molecules into Polymers (SMiPoly), a Python library for virtual polymer generation that implements 22 chemical rules for commonly applied polymerization reactions. For given small organic molecules to form a candidate monomer set, the SMiPoly generator conducts possible polymerization reactions to generate an exhaustive list of potentially synthesizable polymers. In this study, using 1083 readily available monomers, we generated 169,347 unique polymers forming seven different molecular types: polyolefin, polyester, polyether, polyamide, polyimide, polyurethane, and polyoxazolidone. By comparing the distribution of the virtually created polymers with approximately 16,000 real polymers synthesized so far, it was found that the coverage and novelty of the SMiPoly-generated polymers can reach 48 and 53%, respectively. Incorporating the SMiPoly library into a molecular design workflow will accelerate the process of de novo polymer synthesis by shortening the step to select synthesizable candidate polymers.

Exciton diffusion in amorphous organic semiconductors: Reducing simulation overheads with machine learning

Simulations of exciton and charge hopping in amorphous organic materials involve numerous physical parameters. Each of these parameters must be computed from costly ab initio calculations before the simulation can commence, resulting in a significant computational overhead for studying exciton diffusion, especially in large and complex material datasets. While the idea of using machine learning to quickly predict these parameters has been explored previously, typical machine learning models require long training times, which ultimately contribute to simulation overheads. In this paper, we present a new machine learning architecture for building predictive models for intermolecular exciton coupling parameters. Our architecture is designed in such a way that the total training time is reduced compared to ordinary Gaussian process regression or kernel ridge regression models. Based on this architecture, we build a predictive model and use it to estimate the coupling parameters which enter into an exciton hopping simulation in amorphous pentacene. We show that this hopping simulation is able to achieve excellent predictions for exciton diffusion tensor elements and other properties as compared to a simulation using coupling parameters computed entirely from density functional theory. This result, along with the short training times afforded by our architecture, shows how machine learning can be used to reduce the high computational overheads associated with exciton and charge diffusion simulations in amorphous organic materials.

Predictors of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) infections confer notable morbidity and mortality. Differential diagnosis to determine whether the infections are caused by either the hvKp or classical K. pneumoniae (cKp) strain is particularly important for undertaking optimal clinical care and infection control efforts.

AIM

To identify and assess the potential predictors of hvKp infections.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for all relevant publications from January 2000 to March 2022. The search terms included a combination of the following terms: (i) Klebsiella pneumoniae or K. pneumoniae and (ii) hypervirulent or hypervirulence. A meta-analysis of factors for which risk ratio was reported in three or more studies was conducted, and at least one statistically significant association was identified.

FINDINGS

In this systematic review of 11 observational studies, a total of 1392 patients with K. pneumoniae infection and 596 (42.8%) with hvKp strains were evaluated. In the meta-analysis, diabetes mellitus and liver abscess (pooled risk ratio: 2.61 (95% confidence interval: 1.79-3.80) and 9.04 (2.58-31.72), respectively; all P < 0.001) were predictors of hvKp infections.

CONCLUSION

For patients with a history of the abovementioned predictors, prudent management, including the search for multiple sites of infection and/or metastatic spread and the enforcement of an early and appropriate source control procedure, should be initiated in consideration of the potential presence of hvKp. We believe that this research highlights the urgent need for increasing clinical awareness of the management of hvKp infections.

Electrophysiological characteristics and catheter ablation of atypical fast-slow atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia using an inferolateral left atrial slow pathway

Background

Understandings of subtypes of atypical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) using variants of slow pathway (SP) are still growing. Inferolateral (inf-lat-) left atrial (LA) SP is a rare variant extending into an inf-lat-LA along the mitral annulus (MA).

Purpose

To characterize an unknown subtype of atypical fast-slow (F/S-) AVNRT using an inf-lat-LA-SP as a retrograde limb (inf-lat-LA-F/S-AVNRT).

Methods

This Japanese multicenter retrospective study enrolled 4 patients of inf-lat-LA-F/S-AVNRT that was characterized by the earliest site of atrial activation during tachycardia (EAA) between 3 and 6 o'clock along the MA. The diagnosis was made by an exclusion of AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) and atrial tachycardia (AT) according to the standard criteria and was confirmed by successful elimination of tachycardia and the inf-lat-LA-SP.

Results

Surface ECG during tachycardia revealed long RP appearance except one who had short RP due to a short conduction time across the inf-lat-LA-SP. During tachycardia, far-field LA activation preceding near-field activation of coronary sinus (CS) musculature was visible in the CS recording in 2. Retrograde conduction via the inf-lat-LA-SP with a decremental delay was consistently reproducible with ventricular stimulation in 2, 1 of whom had double atrial response, while it was always masked by the presence of a retrograde conduction via the fast pathway in 1 and a retrograde block at the lower common pathway in 1. An injection of a small dose of ATP transiently interrupted a retrograde conduction over the inf-lat-LA-SP, suggesting its ATP-sensitivity. Exclusion of AVRT was made by no resetting of tachycardia with left ventricular extrastimulus in 2 and VA dissociation during overdrive pacing of tachycardia in remaining 2. Exclusion of AT was made by V-A-V response after ventricular entrainment in 1 and termination without atrial capture by ventricular pacing in 2. Ablation of the right-sided SP was unsuccessful to eliminate the tachycardia, but ablation at or near the EAA by transseptal approach was successful to cure the tachycardia, associated with an elimination of a retrograde conduction over the inf-lat-LA-SP following a development of an accelerated junction rhythm in all. Low-frequency potentials preceding local atrial activation, consistent with a retrograde activation via the inf-lat-LA-SP were detected along the MA medial to the EAA in 1.

Conclusions

Differential diagnosis of tachycardia with the EAA in the inf-lat-LA and especially long RP appearance should include inf-lat-LA-F/S-AVNRT. Presumed arrhythmogenic substrate of the inf-lat-LA-SP seemed to be consistent with the remnant of embryogenic AV ring tissue in the electropharmacological and locational characteristics. Successful elimination of this AVNRT can be obtained by ablation of the inf-lat-LA-SP, but not of the right-sided SP.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

POS0734 THE CLINICAL JUDGMENT FOR THE ACCEPTABILITY OF PREGNANCY IN PATIENTS WITH SEROLOGICALLY ACTIVE SLE IN JAPAN: A NATIONWIDE ONLINE SURVEY FROM THE VIGNETTE STUDY

Background

The risk of pregnancy complications, such as gestational hypertension is high in pregnancies with SLE. In addition, the risk of flare is elevated if pregnancy occurs during the high disease activity. The EULAR recommendation provides a checklist for preconception counseling, in which patients with SLE desiring pregnancy were required the condition that the disease activity prior to pregnancy should be stable for 6-12 months in terms of serological activity (1). However, it does not provide specific criteria for serological activity so that physicians should evaluate the risk of pregnancy in each case by their clinical intuitions.

Objectives

In order to uncover the present clinical situation for the acceptability of pregnancy in patients with SLE, we performed questionnaire survey to physicians regarding to the degree of serological activity.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed to physicians registered with the Japanese College of Rheumatology from December 2020 to January 2021 using the online survey. The questionnaire asked about the characteristics of physicians, facilities and the permission of pregnancies with SLE using vignette scenarios. In this study, data from vignettes of women visiting a regular outpatient clinic were used. The vignettes varied in age (28 or 35 years), duration of stable disease and serological activity. Analysis methods were descriptive statistics, chi-square test. generalized estimating equations (GEE) was performed to investigate the relationship between the determining permission for pregnancy and the scenario patient’s characteristics (age, period of stable disease, titer of anti ds-DNA antibody)

Results

The questionnaire was distributed to 4946 physicians, and 463 responded. Completion rate (ratio agreed to participate/finished survey) of survey was 91.1%. The median age of physicians was 46 (interquartile range (IQR) 2-10). The specialty was rheumatology (84.9%), other internal medicine (8%), and pediatrics (5.6%). There were no significant differences in patient’s age about the acceptability of pregnancy (coeffficianet -0.02, 95% CI -0.17 -0.01, p=0.42). Case who had been stable for 6 months were more tolerant of pregnancy than case who had been stable for 3 months (coeffficianet 0.12, 95% CI 0.09-0.15, P<0.001) Pregnancy was not allowed in case with mild or high serological activity (mild: coefficient -0.49, 95% CI -0.29- -0.22, p <0.001, high: -0.64, 95% CI -0.65 - -0.61, p <0.001). In contrast, as many as 92 (19.2%) physicians tolerated pregnancy even in the presence of residual high anti ds-DNA antibody titers. Female physicians are significantly more cautious about pregnancy than male when patients have a serologically high activity (12% vs 37.5%, p<0.001). There were no significant differences in specialty status or clinical experience.

Conclusion

We found that even mild serological activity alone had a significant negative effect on the physician’s decision to allow pregnancy. We conclude that current physicians make cautious decisions about pregnancies of patients with SLE following the recommendation. On the other hand, an additional investigation should be performed about the results of pregnancies in patients with serological abnormalities, since there are some physicians who thought that pregnancy may be acceptable for patients with only serological abnormalities if the clinical symptoms are stable.

References

[1]Ann Rheum Dis．2017 Mar;76(3):476-485

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to the members of Japan College of Rheumatology who cooperated in filling out the questionnaire.

Disclosure of Interests

Sakiko Isojima: None declared, Nobuyuki Yajima: None declared, Ryo Yanai: None declared, Yoko Miura: None declared, Shingo Fukuma: None declared, Kayoko Kaneko: None declared, Keishi Fujio: None declared, Kenji Oku: None declared, Masakazu Matsushita: None declared, Takako Miyamae: None declared, Takashi Wada: None declared, Yuko Kaneko: None declared, Yoshiya Tanaka Speakers bureau: Y. Tanaka has received speaking fees and/or honoraria from Gilead, Abbvie, Behringer-Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Chugai, Amgen, YL Biologics, Eisai, Astellas, Bristol-Myers, Astra-Zeneca, Grant/research support from: Y. Tanaka has received research grants from Asahi-Kasei, Abbvie, Chugai, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Eisai, Takeda, Corrona, Daiichi-Sankyo, Kowa, Behringer-Ingelheim, and consultant fee from Eli Lilly, Daiichi-Sankyo, Taisho, Ayumi, Sanofi, GSK, Abbvie., Ayako Nakajima: None declared, ATSUKO MURASHIMA: None declared

POS0760 HIGH LEVELS OF PROTEINS, CELL COUNTS, AND IL-6 IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DAMAGE ACCRUAL OF NON-NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DOMAINS AS WELL AS THAT OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DOMAINS

Background

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of severe organ manifestations and directly associated with neuropsychiatric damages, such as cerebral vascular accident, cognitive impairment, or seizures. However, factors associated with damage accrual of neuropsychiatric and non-neuropsychiatric domains in NPSLE patients remain unknown.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with damage accrual in patients with NPSLE.

Methods

We reviewed all patients with SLE who had attended our hospital between January 2010 to December 2020 retrospectively and identified those with NPSLE. We analyzed clinical characteristics and laboratory data including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in association with the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) damage index (SDI) progression after the onset of NPSLE.

Results

461 patients with SLE were reviewed. Among them, 37 (8.0%) were diagnosed with NPSLE. Thirty-six patients were included in the analysis after excluding one patient with insufficient information. Seventeen (47.2%) patients were diagnosed with NPSLE at the same time with SLE diagnosis and 19 patients were diagnosed at relapse. At NPSLE onset, the mean age was 33.7 years, 35 were female, and the mean SLEDAI-2K was 21.8. Eighteen (50.0%) patients had active lupus nephritis simultaneously at the onset of NPSLE. The most frequent NPSLE types according to the 1999 ACR classification were lupus headache in 10 patients, followed by cerebrovascular disease in 7, seizure disorders in 6, acute confusional state, psychosis and mononeuropathy in 3, and aseptic meningitis in 2. All patients were treated with glucocorticoids, and the mean initial dose of prednisolone was 52.3 mg/day with steroid pulse therapy in 19 patients. Thirty (83.3%) patients were treated with concomitant immunosuppressive treatments. During the observation period with the mean of 10.0 years, 17 (47.2%) patients developed at least one point of SDI. Among them, 9 patients (25.0%) had neuropsychiatric damage progression including cerebrovascular accident in 6, seizures requiring drug treatment for more than 6 months in 2, and cognitive impairment in 1. Non-neuropsychiatric damage was also increased such musculoskeletal in 5, ocular in 3, cardiovascular in 2, renal, gastrointestinal, premature gonadal failure, diabetes, and malignancy in each one case. Neither neuropsychiatric nor overall damage progression were associated with SLEDAI-2K, anti-cardiolipin antibodies positivity, abnormal electroencephalogram, abnormal single photon-emission computed tomography at NPSLE onset or kinds of immunosuppressive treatments. In 21 patients who underwent CSF examination, the high level of CSF IL-6 was associated with neuropsychiatric damage progression (p=0.032). Also, high levels of CSF protein (p=0.030), cell counts (p=0.007), and IL-6 (p=0.032) were associated with overall SDI progression.

Conclusion

CSF IL-6 concentrations are associated with neuropsychiatric damage progression, and high CSF protein, cell counts and IL-6 at onset in patients with NPSLE can predict overall damage accrual.

References

[1]Liang MH, Corzillius M, Bae SC, et al. The American College of Rheumatology nomenclature and case definitions for neuropsychiatric lupus syndromes. Arthritis Rheum 1999; 42: 599–608.

[2]Gladman D, Ginzler E, Goldsmith C, et al. The development and initial validation of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index for systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 1996; 39: 363–369.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS1436 CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK FACTORS OF INVASIVE FUNGAL INFECTION DURING IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE INDUCTION THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE

Background

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a life-threatening complication among immunosuppressed patients. Whereas intensive immunosuppressive therapy during remission induction phase in patients with connective tissue disease is a major risk of IFI, little is known about the clinical characteristics and risk factors of IFI.

Objectives

This study aims to reveal prevalence, clinical characteristics, and associated risk factors of IFI during immunosuppressive induction therapy in patients with connective tissue disease.

Methods

We reviewed consecutive patients with connective tissue diseases who underwent immunosuppressive remission induction therapy in Keio University Hospital Rheumatology Department from January 2012 to August 2020. Patients with 0.5mg/kg or more equivalent dose of daily prednisone use were included for IFI, diagnosed according to the definition of invasive fungal diseases from EORTC/MSG 2008. Infections caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii were not included.

Results

Among 2701 hospitalized cases, 627 patients had undergone induction or re-induction therapy. Total of 24(3.8%) patients were diagnosed as IFI, of whom there were 8 proven cases and 16 probable cases; 14 aspergillosis, 5 candidiasis, 2 cryptococcosis, 1 phaeohyphomycosis, and 2 cases with unknown pathogen. Median duration from the start of immunosuppressive therapy to the onset of IFI was 95 days (interquartile range, 36,249 days; range, 13-1397 days) and the mean dose of daily prednisolone was 0.53±0.29 mg/kg at the onset of IFI. Total of 11 patients died; 6 patients (25.0%) due to IFI and 5 patients (20.8%) due to the exacerbation of underlying disease. Univariable analysis comparing the IFI and non-IFI groups, age (65.8±3.7 vs. 56.1±0.7; P=0.01), initial prednisolone dose (0.87±0.01 vs 0.95±0.04 mg/kg; P=0.037), the history of methylprednisolone (mPSL) pulse therapy (54.2% vs. 20.0%; P<0.001), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor use (8.3% vs. 1.1%; P=0.039), 2 or more immunosuppressant or biologic use (33.3% vs. 12.9%; P=0.010), HbA1c 6.5% or higher (58.3% vs. 28.9%; P=0.003), lowest serum IgG during the clinical course (599.4±62.1 vs 787.7±12.4 mg/dl; P=0.003), and cytomegalovirus reactivation defined by pp65 antigen 6 or higher (33.3% vs. 11.2%; P=0.004) were significantly different, respectively. Sex, body mass index, presence of interstitial lung disease, and the use of cyclophosphamide, rituximab, or interleukin-6 inhibitors were not significantly different. Multivariable analysis revealed older age (for each 10-year increase: OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.03-1.91; P=0.023), the history of methylprednisolone pulse therapy (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.06-6.77; P=0.049), TNF inhibitor use (OR 11.2, 95% CI 1.70-74.0; P=0.012), and serum IgG less than 550 mg/dl (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.03-6.55; P=0.041) as the independent risk factors of IFI.

Conclusion

Patients with connective tissue disease with older age, lower serum IgG, mPSL pulse therapy, or TNF inhibitor use are at higher risk of IFI. Further studies are needed to determine the benefit of prophylactic anti-fungal treatment in such patients.

References

[1]De Pauw B, Walsh TJ, Donnelly JP, et al. Revised definitions of invasive fungal disease from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) Consensus Group. Clin Infect Dis. 2008;46(12):1813-1821.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

POS1424 RISK FACTORS FOR ADVERSE EVENTS OF SULFAMETHOXAZOLE-TRIMETHOPRIM PROPHYLAXIS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Background

The prophylactic use of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) can reduce the risk for developing pneumocystis pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients with systemic rheumatic diseases, whereas discontinuation of SMX/TMP prophylaxis is frequent due to adverse events (AEs) with this drug.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for AEs of SMX/TMP in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases.

Methods

All consecutive patients who were admitted in our hospital for induction treatment between 2012 and 2019 and newly received prophylactic SMX/TMP were included in the study. We divided them into two groups according to the presence or absence of AEs of SMX/TMP leading to discontinuation of the drug and compared clinical characteristics between the AE and non-AE groups. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify risk factors for AEs of SMX/TMP prophylaxis.

Results

A total of 438 patients were included in the study. Rheumatic diseases of the patients were systemic lupus erythematosus (25.3%), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis (15.5%), rheumatoid arthritis (11.6%), polymyositis/dermatomyositis (10.7%), IgG4-related disease (8.5%), large vessel vasculitis (7.1%), adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD; 4.1%), and others (17.2%). Among them, 82 patients (18.7%) stopped SMX/TMP due to AEs. Most frequent AEs were skin rash (36.6%), followed by liver dysfunction (29.3%), thrombocytopenia (19.5%), elevation in serum creatinine levels (15.9%), hyperkalemia (14.6%), hyponatremia (11%), leukopenia (6.1%), and fever (6.1%). Baseline age (61.4±16.4 vs 56.3±16.9 years, p=0.014) and prednisolone dose for remission induction treatment (0.97 vs 0.91 mg/kg/day, p=0.03) were significantly higher in the AE group than in the non-AE group, respectively. In terms of disease type, significantly higher rates of AEs were observed in patients with AOSD than in those with the other diseases (66.7% vs 16.7%, p<0.001; Figure 1). Blood tests at SMX/TMP initiation demonstrated lower lymphocyte counts (10.1 vs 10.8 x102/μl, p=0.049), lower platelet counts (20.9 vs 25.8 x104/μl, p=0.045), lower albumin levels (3.2 vs 3.4 g/dl, p=0.007), higher AST levels (26 vs 23 U/L, p=0.04), higher creatinine levels (0.71 vs 0.67 mg/dl, p=0.047), and higher ferritin levels (167 vs 154 ng/ml, p=0.047) in the AEs group compared with the non-AEs group, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified an older age (OR 1.03, p=0.002) and AOSD (OR 9.72, p<0.001) as independent risk factors for AEs leading to SMX/TMP withdrawal (Table 1).

Conclusion

Old age and AOSD were associated with AEs of SMX/TMP prophylaxis in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

OP0062 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF ADALIMUMAB WITH LOW AND HIGH DOSE-METHOTREXATE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO METHOTREXATE: THE RANDOMISED CONTROLLED MIRACLE STUDY

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes not only joint pain but also bone destruction resulting in impairment of quality of life. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have improved prognosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis dramatically, especially in combination with methotrexate, however, the optimal dose of the concomitant methotrexate is unclear.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in combination with reduced dose of methotrexate in patients with early RA with inadequate response to methotrexate.

Methods

The MIRACLE study was a multinational, randomized, open-label study in patients with RA with inadequate response to methotrexate conducted in Asia. It compared low dose and high dose methotrexate upon starting adalimumab. Methotrexate-naive patients with RA with a disease duration of less than two years started methotrexate at 6 to 8 mg/week and increased it to the maximum tolerable dose by week 12. Patients who have not achieved remission according to simplified disease activity index (SDAI) despite methotrexate ≥ 10 mg/week at week 24 were randomised to the maximum tolerable dose of methotrexate group (10 to 25 mg/week) or the reduced dose group (6 to 8 mg/week) and started to receive subcutaneous adalimumab 40 mg every other week. The primary endpoint was non-inferiority in the achievement of SDAI remission at week 48 in the reduced dose group compared with the maximum tolerable dose group with a non-inferiority margin of -15% based on two-sided 90% confidence interval. (NCT03505008)

Results

A total of 300 patients were enrolled in the study. Among them, 291 started methotrexate and were included in the analysis. The mean age was 57.7±15.2 years, female was 74.6%, and the mean disease duration from the diagnosis of RA was 21.1±56.2 days. Anti-CCP antibody was positive in 211 (73.0%) and the mean SDAI at study enrollment was 26.5±12.4. At week 24, with the mean dose of methotrexate of 12.6±2.9 mg/week, 108 patients (37.1%) achieved remission according to SDAI and continued MTX monotherapy. 134 patients (46.0%) were randomised and started adalimumab with 68 patients in the maximum tolerable dose group and 66 patients in the reduced dose group. At week 48, the remission achievement rates were 38.4 % and 44.8 %, respectively, with the adjusted risk difference of the reduced dose group to the maximum tolerable dose group of 6.4% (-7.0% to 19.8%, 90% CI), which met the criterion for noninferiority. No significant difference was found in health assessment questionnaire disability index ≤0.5 (59.1% vs 62.0%, respectively, p=0.72) and in radiological remission rates (Δmodified total Sharp score ≤0.5, 66.3% vs 62.0 %, respectively, p=0.59). Adverse drug reactions tended to be more frequent in the maximum tolerable dose group than in the reduced dose group (22.1% vs 9.1%, respectively, p=0.06).

Conclusion

The MIRACLE randomised study demonstrated that, in patients with inadequate response to methotrexate, the efficacy of adalimumab with reduced dose of concomitant methotrexate was not inferior to that with maximum tolerable dose of methotrexate with better safety profile.

Disclosure of Interests

Hiroya Tamai Speakers bureau: Eisai, Grant/research support from: Eisai, Kei Ikeda Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Gilead, Asahi-Kasei, Grant/research support from: Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Toshiaki Miyamoto: None declared, Hiroaki Taguchi: None declared, Chang-Fu Kuo: None declared, Kichul Shin: None declared, Shintaro Hirata Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Asahi-Kasei, Astellas, Ayumi, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Glaxo SmithKline, Janssen, Kyorin, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, UCB, Paid instructor for: AbbVie, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Consultant of: AbbVie, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Gilead, Ily Lilly, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Asahi-Kasei, Eisai, Otsuka, Sanofi, Shionogi, Chugai, Pfizer, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Eli Lilly, UCB, yutaka okano: None declared, Shinji Sato Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eisai, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eisai, Hidekata Yasuoka Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kissei, Takeda, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Chugai, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Janssen, Sanofi, Teijin, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bayer, Glaxo Smith Kline, Paid instructor for: AbbVie, Consultant of: AbbVie, Asahi Kasei, Grant/research support from: Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Takeda, Daiichi-Sankyo, Chugai, Bristol-Myers, MSD, Astellas, In Ah Choi Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eisai, Sung-Hwan Park: None declared, Meng-Yu Weng Paid instructor for: Novartis, Eli Lilly, ChuGai, Abbvie, Consultant of: Abbvie, Masataka Kuwana Speakers bureau: Astellas, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, Janssen, Mochida, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Consultant of: Boehringer-Ingelheim, Kissei, Mochida, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, MBL, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Yun Jong Lee Grant/research support from: Yuhan, Tomonori Ishii Speakers bureau: Chugai, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Glaxo Smith Kline, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Janssen, AbbVie, Eisai, Astellas, Jinhyun Kim: None declared, Hideto Kameda Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eisai, Toshihisa Kojima Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Pfizer, Eisai, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Han Joo Baek: None declared, Ping-Ning Hsu: None declared, Chun-Ming Huang Paid instructor for: Abbvie, Pfizer, Tien-Tsai Cheng Paid instructor for: Abbvie, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Wan-Yu Sung: None declared, Takehiro Taninaga Shareholder of: Eisai.co.,Ltd., Employee of: Eisai.co.,Ltd., Masahiko Mori Shareholder of: Eisai.co.,Ltd., Employee of: Eisai.co.,Ltd., Hideaki Miyagishi Shareholder of: Eisai.co.,Ltd., Employee of: Eisai.co.,Ltd., Yasunori Sato Speakers bureau: Eisai Co., Ltd. Kowa Company, Ltd., Consultant of: MOCHIDA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD, Tsutomu Takeuchi Speakers bureau: Astellas, AbbVie, Ayumi, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Glaxo Smith Kline, Janssen, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Nippon-kayaku, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, UCB, Grant/research support from: Asahi Kasei, AbbVie, Ayumi, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Sanofi, UCB, Yuko Kaneko Speakers bureau: Asahi Kasei, Astellas, Ayumi, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Elli Lilly, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Novartis, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Chugai, Eisai, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, UCB.

AB0621 Characteristics of Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis With Severe Peripheral Neuropathy

Background

Peripheral neuropathy is one of major manifestations of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and has a significant impingement on patients’ quality of life.1,2

Objectives

The aim of this study was to clarify clinical features of AAV patients with peripheral neuropathy and identify risk factors for severe motor neuropathy.

Methods

All consecutive patients with active, treatment-naïve AAV who were admitted to our hospital between April, 2012 and October, 2021 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of peripheral neuropathy, and their baseline clinical characteristics were compared.

Results

A total of 76 patients (microscopic polyangiitis, MPA, n=37, granulomatosis with poly angiitis, GPA, n=24, eosinophilic GPA, EGPA, n=15) were included in the study. Among them, 28 patients (36.8%) had peripheral neuropathy including 12 with MPA, 4 with GPA, and 12 with EGPA. The clinical characteristics of all patients with peripheral neuropathy were younger age (66.0 years versus 74.5 years, p<0.05) and showed higher white blood cell counts (11500/μL versus 8800/μL, p<0.05), higher blood eosinophil counts (788.5/μL versus 139.0/μL, p<0.05), higher creatinine clearance (77.3 mL/min versus 56.3 mL/min, p<0.05), higher levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E (660 IU/mL versus 125 IU/mL, p<0.05), and IgG4 (361.5 mg/dL versus 84.0 mg/dL, p <0.05). In patients with EGPA, the most susceptible type to peripheral neuropathy, 80% of the patients had peripheral neuropathy. Comparison between patients with EGPA with peripheral neuropathy and those without demonstrated significantly younger age (56.0 years versus 80.0 years, p<0.05) and higher blood eosinophil counts (7832/μL versus 2340/μL, p<0.05) were characteristic for the presence of peripheral neuropathy. Patients with EGPA with motor neuropathy (n=8) showed higher white blood cell counts (26850//μL versus 8650//μL, p <0.05) and higher blood eosinophil counts (13134//μL versus 3436//μL, p<0.05) compared with those with only sensory neuropathy (n=4).

Conclusion

Our current study has shown that patients with EGPA are more prone to peripheral neuropathy than patients with MPA or GPA. Severe motor neuropathy was observed only in patients with EGPA and associated with more intense eosinophilic inflammation. Our results suggest that molecular targeted therapy that improves eosinophilic inflammation such as anti-IL-5 therapy is beneficial for peripheral neuropathy.

References

[1]RUTGERS, Abraham; KALLENBERG, Cees GM. Peripheral neuropathy in AAV—when vasculitis hits a nerve. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2012, 8.3: 127-128.

[2]NAKAZAWA, Daigo, et al. Pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions for ANCA-associated vasculitis. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2019, 15.2: 91-101.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0530 MOLECULAR SIGNATURE IN SUSTAINED CLINICAL REMISSION INDUCED BY TOCILIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background

Clinical remission is a clinical goal in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sustained, biologics-free and true remission is an unachieved goal of the “treat-to-target” approach in most patients, and the determinants for achievement are still unclear. In our recent prospective study using multiomics analysis, we proposed that a molecular signature in peripheral whole blood can be a predictor for subsequent disease activity or activities of daily living.1 We also showed that tocilizumab (TCZ) induced deep clinical remission associated with gene expression in peripheral CD4+ T cells.2

Objectives

To consolidate and expand our hypothesis, we investigated the significance of molecular signatures in sustained remission in a larger scale cohort.

Methods

To build and validate the diagnostic model, we collected 73 peripheral blood samples from 30 patients with active RA, 30 patients in clinical remission induced by TCZ and 13 healthy controls. We then collected another 23 samples at a point before TCZ was halted due to sustained clinical remission. In total, 96 samples were analyzed by a multiomics platform, which included RNA sequencing and comprehensive proteomics.

Results

We first developed an optimized partial least-squares regression (PLSR) model using data from 5,436 genes and 255 proteins extracted in our previous model.1 The odds ratio in the model clearly reflected the clinical state with high fidelity (Figure 1). In that study, TCZ induced nearly half of the patients with clinical remission into molecular remission, with an odds ratio of less than zero. To clarify the characteristics of the molecular signature at sustained clinical remission under TCZ continuation, 23 samples were applied to the model. The odds ratio was largely the same as that for clinical remission. Next, we investigated the association with disease flare after cessation of TCZ. At some points before cessation, the median odds ratio in patients who experienced disease flare after stopping TCZ tended to be higher than that in patients with sustained remission after stopping TCZ in the transcriptomics model but not in the proteomics model. Thirty-five differentially expressed genes were identified between the two groups under the conditions of a >1.5-fold change and P-value<0.05.

Figure 1.

Odds ratio in the partial least-squares regression model using transcriptomics (A) and proteomics (B) data from rheumatoid arthritis and healthy control groups

Conclusion

Our larger scale study validated the idea in our previous study that TCZ induces molecular remission. A certain substantial gap associated with prognosis after quitting TCZ may exist as a molecular signature of sustained clinical remission induced by TCZ. These multiomics data sets enable us to understand sustained clinical remission at a molecular level.

References

[1]Nat Commun. 9(1):2775, 2018, 2) Sci Rep.11(1):16691, 2021

Graphs:

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge funding by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Disclosure of Interests

Nobuhiko Kajio: None declared, Katsuya Suzuki Speakers bureau: AbbVie, AsahiKasei, Astellas, Ayumi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Pfizer, Sanofi, Viatris, Consultant of: AbbVie, Asahi Kasei, Janssen, Pfizer, Grant/research support from: Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Ono, Takeda, Kotaro Matsumoto: None declared, Hiroshi Iijima: None declared, Seiji Nakamura: None declared, Yohei Ishizawa: None declared, Jun Inamo: None declared, Masaru Takeshita: None declared, Keiko Yoshimoto: None declared, Yuko Kaneko Speakers bureau: Chugai, Consultant of: Chugai, Grant/research support from: Chugai, Tsutomu Takeuchi Speakers bureau: Chugai, Consultant of: Chugai, Grant/research support from: Chugai.

POS0459 APTAMER-BASED PROTEOMIC SCREENING IN IDENTIFICATION OF PATHOGENIC SIGNAL PATHWAY AND URINARY BIOMARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH HISTOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS

Background

The current gold standard for the diagnosis and classification, assessment of the severity of lupus nephritis (LN) is a renal biopsy. On the other hand, since the procedure is highly invasive, there is a pressing need to identify biomarkers for predicting the presence and its histological severity of LN. In addition, the background pathogenesis of each histological findings is not clearly understood.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the urine biomarkers for predicting the presence and the severity of histological findings of LN, and to search the pathogenic signal pathway.

Methods

Urine samples from 24 biopsy-proven active LN patients were initially screened for the levels of 1305 distinct human proteins using an aptamer-based-targeted proteomic assay. We developed histological scoring system based on ISN/RPS lesion definitions and classification, NIH activity and chronicity score. Two experienced evaluators assessed the histological scores. Cluster analysis and pathway analysis were performed.

Results

A total of 24 LN patients were included: 20 (83%) had a proliferative histological class (III or IV +/-V), 4 (17%) pure membranous (V). Through cluster analysis, several histological subgroups were extracted according to correlation with each histological finding, and proteins which corelated with each histological scores were analyzed. We focused on two subgroups: one in which including active glomerular histological findings (endocapillary hypercellularity, karyorrhexis, neutrophil infiltration, subendothelial deposits) and the other in which including interstitial histological findings (interstitial inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy). Histological scores in the former group showed strong positive correlation with protein group which contained 59 proteins (Group A), including CCL21, CXCL10, VCAM1. Histological scores in the latter group corelated with another protein group which contained 85 proteins (Group B), including MCP-1, CCL11. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis showed 16 pathways (PDGF Signaling, Granulocyte Adhesion and Diapedesis, etc) were upregulated in Group A and 11 pathways (IL-17 signaling, Fibrosis signaling pathway, etc) upregulated in Group B. Among group A and group B urine proteins, those showed strong correlation between respective histological findings were validated with ELISA assays.

Conclusion

An aptamer-based-targeted proteomic assay screening by combining with renal histological scoring system suggested several urine proteins can predict the severity and the presence of major renal histological findings, and suggested to be related with the pathogenesis in patients with LN.

Disclosure of Interests

Kazuoto Hiramoto: None declared, Shuntaro Saito: None declared, Hironari Hanaoka: None declared, Katsuya Suzuki: None declared, Jun Kikuchi: None declared, Hiroyuki Fukui: None declared, Ryo Takano Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Sohyaku, Fumihiko Miyoshi Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Sohyaku, Noriyasu Seki Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Sohyaku, Kunio Sugahara Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Sohyaku, Yuko Kaneko: None declared, Tsutomu Takeuchi: None declared.

POS1183 RISK FACTORS FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASE; SINGLE-CENTER PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of serious opportunistic infections for immunosuppressed patients, therefore, identifying patients at risk for CMV infection is of importance. However, no prospective study about CMV infection in systemic rheumatic disease has been reported.

Objectives

To identify risk factors relevant with CMV infection in patients with systemic rheumatic disease during intensive remission induction therapy.

Methods

Consecutive systemic rheumatic disease cases who started intensive immunosuppressive therapy from February 2017 until February 2019 were enrolled. Serum CMV-IgG was measured before the induction therapy, and subsequently, CMV pp65 antigen was monitored weekly. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of CMV infection, and risk factors for CMV infection were analyzed.

Results

157 patients consisting of 136 CMV-IgG positive and 21 CMV-IgG negative patients were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 60.8 ± 17.4 y/o, and female was 70.7%. The underlying diseases were following; vasculitides 54, systemic lupus erythematosus 27, polymyositis/dermatomyositis 25, rheumatoid arthritis 14, IgG4-related disease 13, mixed connected tissue disease 6, Behçet disease 5, adult-onset Still’s disease 4, and others 9. The initial dose of glucocorticoid (GC) was 48.4 ± 11.5 mg/day (0.91 ± 0.16 mg/kg/day) as prednisolone (PSL) with additional methylprednisolone (mPSL) pulse therapy being conducted in 44 (28.0%). Concomitant immunosuppressive therapies were intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) in 55, calcineurin inhibitor 27, mycophenolate mofetil 16, hydroxychloroquine 5, and methotrexate 4. Concomitant biological agents were rituximab 12, tocilizumab 6, infliximab 2, golimumab 1, and abatacept 1. CMV infection occurred in 52 patients (33.1%), and all of them were CMV-IgG positive before induction therapy (38.2% in the CMV-IgG positive patients). Univariable analysis revealed initial PSL dose >0.91 mg/kg/day (odds ratio [OR] 5.2, p<0.01), IVCY (OR 3.4, p<0.01), diabetes mellitus (OR 5.2, p<0.01), and a history of malignancy (OR 2.9, p=0.02) were independent risk factors for CMV infection. CMV antiviral drugs were administered in 22 patients (42.3%). At the first detection of CMV pp65 antigen, PSL dose ≥37.5 mg/day (OR 5294.8, p<0.01), CMV pp65 antigen-positive cells ≥2 cells/2 slides (OR 16.0, p = 0.04), and serum albumin levels <3.0 g/dL (OR 26.3, p=0.01) were associated with subsequent CMV antiviral drug administration.

Conclusion

CMV infection occurred only in CMV-IgG positive patients with systemic rheumatic diseases who were undergoing intensive remission induction therapy. CMV infection was related with treatment regimen and comorbidities, and the necessity of CMV antiviral treatment was predicted with prednisolone dose, the number of CMV pp65 antigen positive cells, and albumin levels at the first detection of CMV pp65 antigen.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0257 COMPARISON OF SARS-CoV-2 VACCINE RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASE; mRNA-1273 VACCINE INDUCES HIGHER HUMORAL IMMUNOGENICITY THAN BNT162b2

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) have benefitted all countries amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. Whereas both of them have shown efficacy in preventing COVID-19 illness in healthy participants, there is paucity of data about immunogenicity and safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with autoimmune, inflammatory rheumatic disease. Recent observational studies evaluated mainly BNT162b2, suggesting that glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive agents impair SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses. However, difference in immune reactions and safety between BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 have not been clarified in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Objectives

To assess humoral and T cell immune responses and safety profiles after two doses of different mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2; BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273.

Methods

We enrolled consecutive, previously uninfected patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases receiving mRNA vaccine including BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273. Healthy participants receiving BNT162b2 were also recruited as control. Blood samples were obtained 3weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months after second dose of vaccines. We measured titres of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and calculated seroconversion rates to evaluate humoral responses. We also assessed T-cell immunity responses by using interferon releasing assay against SARS-CoV-2 in a part of the patients. Answers to questionnaires about adverse reactions were obtained from participants.

Results

A total of 974 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and healthy 630 control participants were enrolled. Among them, 796 patients received BNT162b2, 178 patients received mRNA-1273, and all control participants received BNT162b2. Seroconversion rates and neutralizing antibody titres 3 weeks after vaccination were significantly higher in patients with mRNA-1273 and healthy participants with BNT162b2 compared with patients with BNT162b2; seroconversion rates, 97.2% vs 99.5% vs 83.3%, p<0.001; titers of neutralizing antibodies, 29.4±33.9 IU/mL vs 23.9±14.2 IU/mL vs 10.8±16.5 IU/mL, p<0.001, respectively. On another front, T cell reaction against SARS-CoV-2 was similar in both patients with mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2; interferon gamma levels for antigen 1, 1.2±2.1 IU/mL vs 0.8±2.5 IU/mL, p=0.23; and for antigen 2, 1.4±1.9 IU/mL vs 1.0±2.1 IU/mL, p=0.11, respectively. Regarding adverse reaction of each mRNA vaccine, the frequency of systemic adverse reactions including fever and general fatigue are also significantly higher in patients with mRNA-1273 and healthy controls than patients with BNT162b2; fever, 48.0% vs 44.9% vs 10.2%, p<0.001; general fatigue, 70.4% vs 61.8% vs 31.2%, p<0.001, respectively). In longitudinal measurement, neutralizing antibody titres in patients with BNT162b2 were decreased more rapidly than those in healthy controls; 3.3±3.2 IU/mL in patients with BNT162b2 at 4 months and 3.2±4.7 IU/mL in healthy controls with BNT162b2 at 6 months. We identified age, glucocorticoid dose (prednisolone > 7.5mg), use of immunosuppressants including methotrexate, mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, and tacrolimus are associated with rapid attenuation of humoral responses in patients with BNT162b2.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated a significant higher humoral immunogenicity and frequency of systemic adverse reaction of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 (Moderna) compared with the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) in inflammatory rheumatic disease patients. Glucocorticoid and immunosuppressive agents impaired induction and sustention of neutralizing antibody, and earlier third booster vaccination may be required within 4 months, especially for those receiving BNT162b2.

References

[1]Steensels D, Pierlet N, Penders J et al. JAMA. 2021;326(15):1533–1535.

[2]Friedman MA, Curtis JR and Winthrop KL. Ann Rheum Dis 2021;80:1255–1265.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0443 LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF MULTITARGET THERAPY OF MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL AND TACROLIMUS IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS: A SINGLE CENTER RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Background

Recent studies showed the efficacy of multitarget therapy with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and calcineurin inhibitor for induction therapy for lupus nephritis (LN)1. However, long-term outcomes have not been well elucidated.

Objectives

We retrospectively analyzed the long-term outcomes of multitarget therapy of MMF and tacrolimus.

Methods

We examined 27 LN patients (4 male, 23 female) treated with multitarget therapy for induction therapy between Oct. 2009 and Nov. 2018 in our department. Complete remission (CR) was defined as 1) UPCR<0.5 g/gCr, and 2) serum creatinine (S-Cr) normal or if abnormal, within 15% of baseline; 1) and 2) were observed in 2 consecutive visits. Relapse was defined as UPCR>1.0 g/gCr or intensification of immunosuppressive treatment after achievement of CR.

Results

The mean age was 38.6±11．6 years old. 17 patients were new-onset LN, and 10 patients were relapse LN. UPCR and eGFR before treatment were 4.42±2.98 g/gCr and 71.5±32.9 mL/min/1.73m2, respectively. Renal histology was Class III in 1, III+V in ４, IV in 12. IV+V in 9 and V in 1 by ISN/RPS 2003 classification. CR at 6 and 12 months were 59% and 74%, respectively. Patients were treated by multitarget therapy for median of 25 months (IQR, 5.5-37). Finally, 26 (96%) patients achieved CR. During multitarget therapy, there were 15 serious adverse events: deep vein thrombosis in 2, myocardial infarctions in 2, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in 2, heart failure in 1, herpes zoster in 1, viral myocarditis in 1, cytomegalovirus gastroenteritis in 1, cholecystitis in 1, pyelonephritis in 1, bacterial enteritis in 1, sepsis in 1, and breast cancer in 1. During the median observation period of 94 months (IQR, 63-111.5) after the initiation of multitarget therapy, 1 patient died due to sudden death. No patient reached end-stage kidney disease or doubling S-Cr. 16 patients relapsed at median of 32 months (IQR,13.8-64.5) after CR; 8 patients relapsed on multitarget therapy, and 8 patients relapsed after cessation of multitarget therapy. Relapse was associated with chronic lesions in renal biopsy and normal or higher C4 levels at treatment initiation by Kaplan Meier analysis (Log-rank, P=0.006, P<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Multitarget therapy effectively induced CR and maintained renal function in long-term period. However, relapse was often observed during or after withdrawal of multitarget therapy.

References

[1]Liu Z, Zhang H, Liu Z, et al. Multitarget therapy for induction treatment of lupus nephritis: a randomized trial. Ann Int Med 2015; 162: 18-26.

Disclosure of Interests

Yoichi Imai: None declared, Hidekazu Ikeuchi: None declared, Junya Suwa: None declared, Yuko Ohishi: None declared, Mitsuharu Watanabe: None declared, Masao Nakasatomi: None declared, Hiroko Hamatani: None declared, Toru Sakairi: None declared, Yoriaki Kaneko: None declared, Keiju Hiromura Speakers bureau: Chugai, Astellas., Grant/research support from: Chugai, Astellas.

A new method for right ventricular lead implantation into the intraventricular septum

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Right ventricular (RV) lead placement into the interventricular septum is only accurate in 16–48% of cases under conventional fluoroscopic guidance. A previous report showed the importance of individualized left anterior oblique (LAO) projection to improve the success rate of RV lead placement into the interventricular septum. However, this procedure is complicated. We sought to investigate the preprocedural predictors of individualized LAO projection.

Methods

We assessed the relationship between preoperative electrocardiographic parameters and the angle of the interventricular septum obtained using thoracic computed tomography (CT).

Results

In the retrospective derivation cohort group (n=39), the mean angle of individualized LAO assessed by thoracic CT was 53.1±8.9°, and the preoperative electrocardiogram QRS axis was strongly correlated with the interventricular septum axis detected by thoracic CT (R2 = 0.490). In contrast, the preoperative electrocardiographic transitional zone was not associated with the interventricular septum axis (R2 = 0.041, P = 0.78). Using individual LAO projection derived from the preoperative electrocardiogram QRS axis, it was confirmed that the RV lead was placed in the interventricular septum during the pacemaker procedure in the prospective internal validation group (n=30). The success rate for placing the RV lead into the interventricular septum was significantly improved in the internal validation cohort group (93% vs. 64%, P &lt; 0.05). In addition, the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level decreased significantly after surgery in the interventricular septal indwelling group.

Conclusions

Individualized LAO angle derived from the preoperative electrocardiogram QRS axis is a new useful and simple method for RV lead implantation into the interventricular septum.

Fast-slow atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia phenotype mimicking the slow-slow type

Background

Fast-slow (F/S-) atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is characterized by a short atrio-His (AH) interval and the earliest site of atrial activation (EAA) in the proximal coronary sinus (EAA-CS), while slow-slow (S/S-) AVNRT presents a long AH interval and EAA-CS. Those intracardiac appearances are initial indicators for making a diagnosis.

Purpose

To identify an unknown phenotype of F/S-AVNRT.

Methods

Among 46 consecutive patients with F/S-AVNRT, 6 patients (1 man, age 59±9) had an apparent but not typical (pseudo-) S/S-AVNRT during an electrophysiologic study. In 2 patients, pseudo-S/S-AVNRT was clinically documented.

Results

In all 6 patients, the diagnosis of F/S-AVNRT was made by an exclusion of atrial tachycardia with findings of 1) a V-A-V response following ventricular entrainment or 2) termination without atrial capture by ventricular pacing, and an exclusion of AV reentrant tachycardia with a ventriculoatrial dissociation during an initial (so-called QRS transition) zone of ventricular entrainment. An initial A-A-V activation sequence on atrial induction of F/S-AVNRT observed in 1 patient and Wenckebach-type AV block during ongoing F/S-AVNRT developing in 3 patients suggested the presence of the lower common pathway (LCP). Like the typical S/S-AVNRT, pseudo-S/S-AVNRT was induced with atrial stimulation after a jump in the AH interval or double ventricular response. However, in all patients, the pseudo-S/S-AVNRT transited to F/S-AVNRT following AV block in a single cycle and/or pseudo-S/S-AVNRT transited from spontaneously or triggered by atrial contractions. Importantly, on these transitions, the atrial cycle length (CL) and EAA-CS remained unchanged, that is, the atrial CL of S/S-AVNRT was almost identical to that of F/S-AVNRT, suggesting that the essential circuit of both tachycardias was identical. Actually, both tachycardias were cured by ablation at a single site in the traditional slow pathway (SP). Collectively, the pseudo-S/S-AVNRT was diagnosed as another phenotype of F/S-AVNRT accompanied by sustained antegrade conduction via another bystander (likely the left-sided or superior) SP breaking through the His bundle owing to the repetitive antegrade block at the LCP occurring by linking phenomenon, thus representing a long AH interval during the ongoing F/S-AVNRT. When the antegrade conduction is blocked at the bystander SP during the pseudo-S/S-AVNRT, releasing the linking phenomenon, the subsequent antegrade conduction reach the His-bundle via the fast pathway, thus returning to F/S-AVNRT.

Conclusions

An unknown, but not rare F/S-AVNRT phenotype exists that apparently mimics the typical S/S-AVNRT and is also an unknown subtype of apparent S/S-AVNRT. The presence of this pseudo-S/S-AVNRT suggests the limitation of classifying types of AVNRT based on AH and HA intervals during tachycardia. Understandings of this phenotype can advance a diagnosis of atypical AVNRT with multiple phenotypes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Corpus callosotomy in pediatric patients with non-lesional epileptic encephalopathy with electrical status epilepticus during sleep

•

Corpus callosotomy (CC) was performed in 3 pediatric patients with refractory epileptic encephalopathy with ESES.

•

IQ was improved after CC with complete resolution of ESES in one patient.

•

Developmental regression ceased after CC with worthwhile seizure reduction and temporary improvement of ESES in 2 patients.

•

Epileptiform discharges disappeared or became lateralized after CC.

Epileptic encephalopathy with electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES) is often refractory to medical treatment and leads to poor cognitive outcomes. Corpus callosotomy may be an effective treatment option for drug-resistant ESES with no focal etiology. We retrospectively identified three patients who underwent corpus callosotomy for drug-resistant ESES in our institution. Electroencephalography (EEG) findings and cognitive functions were evaluated before surgery, at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Age at surgery was 6 years 10 months, 7 years 9 months, and 8 years 4 months, respectively. Period between the diagnosis of ESES and surgery ranged from 7 to 25 months. All patients had no obvious structural abnormalities and presented with cognitive decline despite multiple antiseizure medications and steroid therapies. One patient showed complete resolution of ESES and an improvement of intelligence quotient after surgery. Epileptiform EEG was lateralized to one hemisphere after surgery and spike wave index (SWI) was decreased with moderate improvement in development and seizures in the other 2 patients. SWI re-exacerbated from 6 months after surgery, but without subsequent developmental regression in these 2 patients. Corpus callosotomy may become an important treatment option for drug-resistant ESES in patients with no structural abnormalities.

AB0145 SMARTPHONE- AND SMARTWATCH-ACQUIRED DAILY STEPS, ACTIVITY, AND BAROMETRIC PRESSURES ASSOCIATED WITH SUBJECTIVE MEASURES OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY FOR RA DIGITAL PHENOTYPING

Background:

Symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are potentially influenced by exercise load and meteorological change, and often vary from day to day, especially in unstable condition of RA. Patients with RA not infrequently experience worsening of joint symptoms when the load on the joint, such as walking and doing housework, exceeds a moderate range. However, the worsening of joint symptoms is often not observed in the midst of the loading of the joint, but often becomes apparent after a few hours or days.

Objectives:

To elucidate the relationship between smartphone- and smartwatch-acquired daily objective data (barometric pressures, steps, and activity) and daily subjective patient reported outcomes of RA.

Methods:

A smartphone (iPhone 8) and a wristband-type smartwatch (Fitbit Versa 2) were lent to each patient for free. A mobile app was developed and installed into the smartphones to collect patients’ daily subjective RA symptoms including Pt-P-VAS (patient-pain-visual analogue scale), Pt-G-VAS (pt-general-VAS), PtTJCount(68)(patient self-determined tender joint count among 68 joints), PtTJCount(28), PtSJCount(66)(patient self-determined swollen joint count among 66 joints), PtSJCount(28). Also, the smartwatch data and physicians’ assessment were collected from the same subject. Physicians’ and patients’ assessment of TJC, SJC, and G-VAS was independently performed without seeing each other’s assessment.

We conducted a simple linear regression analysis with outcome variables of Pt-P-VAS, Pt-G-VAS, PtTJCount(68), PtTJCount(28), PtSJCount(66), and PtSJCount(28). The independent variables included smartphone-acquired daily steps and barometric pressure of the reported day and the previous day, and smartwatch-acquired minutes of “lightly active (1-3 METs equivalent)”, “fairly active(3-6 METs equivalent)”, and “very active(>6 METs equivalent)” of the reported day and previous day. We defined low barometric pressure as below 1000 hPa. The level of activity was measured by the smartwatch. Patients were blinded to daily barometric pressure data and their daily active time when the patients answered daily symptom questions on the smartphones.

Results:

A total of five patients were enrolled. At baseline, mean (± standard deviation (SD)) age was 50.8±14.8 years; all patients were females; mean disease duration was 6.6±4.9 years; mean SDAI was 18.6±25.5; mean DAS28-CRP was 3.23±1.85; mean morning stiffness was 134±116 min; mean HAQ-DI was 0.7±0.9. Mean observation period was 77.8 days. Because of the missing data, the sample size (N) for the regression analysis varies with the outcomes: Pt-P-VAS and Pt-G-VAS are 250 while PtTJCount and PtSJCount are 260.

The table 1 showed that the patients’ assessment of TJC, SCJ, and G-VAS was correlated well with the physicians’ assessment.

Table 1.Evaluation itemCorrelation between physicians and patients (ρ)Tender Joint Count (68)0.909Tender Joint Count(28)0.913Swollen Joint Count(66)0.896Swollen Joint Count(28)0.890General VAS0.688

The figure 1 showed the change associated with one SD increment in each independent variable with 90% confidence intervals. Low barometric pressure was associated with bad health conditions (high Pt-G-VAS, Pt-P-VAS, and SJCount). Moreover, longer very active time in the previous day (“veryactive_1” in the Figure 1) was associated with bad health condition (high SJCount). Many steps were associated with good health conditions (low Pt-G-VAS, Pt-P-VAS, and SJCount).

Figure 1.

Conclusion:

High barometric pressure was associated with good health conditions, and longer very active time in the previous day was associated with bad health condition. Barometric pressure data and physical activity data acquired by mobile digital devices may predict the change in RA symptoms. Further investigation in larger patient numbers is warranted.

Acknowledgements:

The authors would like to thank Harumi Kondo for her assistance.

Disclosure of Interests:

Keisuke Izumi Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Eli-Lily, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Ono Pharmaceutical, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Daisuke Moriwaki Employee of: CyberAgent, Inc., Takamichi Toda Employee of: AI Shift, Inc., Misako Higashida-Konishi: None declared, Manami Koyama: None declared, Hisaji Oshima: None declared, yutaka okano Speakers bureau: Asahi Kasei Pharma, Yuko Kaneko Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Bristol–Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Hisamitsu, Jansen, Kissei, Kirin, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda, Taisho, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, and UCB, Shigeru Ko: None declared, Tsutomu Takeuchi Speakers bureau: Abbott Japan Co, Ltd, Bristol–Myers KK, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Eisai Co, Ltd, Janssen Pharmaceutical KK, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co, Pfizer Japan Inc, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Astellas Pharma and Daiichi Sankyo Co, Ltd., Consultant of: Astra Zeneca KK, Eli Lilly Japan KK, Novartis Pharma KK, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co, Asahi Kasei Medical KK, Abbvie GK and Daiichi Sankyo Co, Ltd., Grant/research support from: Abbott Japan Co, Ltd, Astellas Pharma, Bristol-Myers KK, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Daiichi Sankyo Co, Ltd, Eisai Co, Ltd, Janssen Pharmaceutical KK, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co, Pfizer Japan Inc, Sanofi–Aventis KK, Santen Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Teijin Pharma Ltd, Abbvie GK, Asahikasei Pharma Corp and Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd.

AB0253 COMPARISON OF PHARMACODYNAMICS OF METHOTREXATE AS METHOTREXATE-POLYGLUTAMATES CONCENTRATIONS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS; INTERIM DATA EVALUATION OF MIRACLE STUDY CONDUCTED IN JAPAN, KOREA AND TAIWAN

Background:

Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The concentrations of MTX-polyglutamates (PG) in erythrocytes, an active form of MTX, are useful markers for the optimal usage of MTX in patients with RA. The concentrations of MTX-PG have been reported to be different between Japanese and Caucasians. However, the difference among Asian ethnicity remains unclear.

Objectives:

To examine MTX-PG concentrations in association with MTX dose during the first 24 weeks after the initiation of MTX for newly diagnosed RA patients in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Methods:

MIRACLE study is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, 48 weeks interventional study conducted in Japan, Korea and Taiwan to evaluate non-inferiority of low dose to high dose of MTX as an add-on therapy to adalimumab in 300 patients with RA who do not achieve remission after 24 weeks MTX monotherapy in stipulated dosage. In the first 24 weeks, MTX was started at 6 to 8 mg/week for newly diagnosed RA patients, and promptly escalated to the maximum tolerable dose in 12 weeks in principle. This interim data evaluation was intended to investigate the differences among countries in the relationship between MTX dose, safety and MTX-PG concentrations in erythrocytes during the first 24 weeks. The efficacy of the treatment is not included at this point.

Results:

A total of 166 patients (106 in Japan, 35 in Korea, 25 in Taiwan) were included in this interim data. The age at treatment initiation was 57.2 years old on average and female was 79.5%. The time course changes in total and individual MTX-PG levels differed in the three countries. At 24 weeks, whereas the mean total MTX-PG concentrations were comparable (112.9 nmol/L in Japan, 104.4 nmol/L in Korea, and 115.7 nmol/L in Taiwan) with a dose of MTX of 12.3 mg/week, 14.1 mg/week, and 12.2 mg/week, respectively, the individual MTX-PG concentrations were different. The MTX-PG1 and MTX-PG2 concentrations were lower in Korea than Japan and Taiwan whereas MTX-PG3, MTX-PG4 and MTX-PG5 concentrations were the highest in Korea.

Conclusion:

The distribution of short-chain and long-chain MTX-PG concentrations were various among Asian countries despite similar dose of MTX administration: NCT03505008.

Disclosure of Interests:

Hiroya Tamai: None declared, Yuko Kaneko Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Bristol–Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Hisamitsu, Jansen, Kissei, Kirin, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, and UCB., Grant/research support from: Sanofi, Hideto Kameda Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eisai, Masataka Kuwana Speakers bureau: Astellas, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Boehringer- Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, Janssen, Mochida, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Consultant of: Corbus, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Boehringer- Ingelheim, Chugai, Eisai, MBL, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Yutaka Okano: None declared, Tomonori Ishii Speakers bureau: Chugai, Mitsubishi- Tanabe, Glaxo Smith Kline, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Janssen, AbbVie, Eisai, Astellas, Kei Ikeda Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Eisai, BMS, Grant/research support from: Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Hiroaki Taguchi: None declared, Shinji Sato: None declared, Toshiaki Miyamoto: None declared, Shintaro Hirata Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Ayumi, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Glaxo Smith Kline, Kissei, Pfizer, Sanofi, Mitsubishi- Tanabe, UCB, Paid instructor for: AbbVie, Mitsubishi- Tanabe, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eisai, Gilead, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Chugai, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, UCB, Hidekata Yasuoka Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Daiichi- Sankyo, Eisai, Kissei, Takeda, Mitsubishi- Tanabe, Chugai, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Janssen, Sanofi, Teijin, Boehringer- Ingelheim, Bayer, Glaxo Smith Kline, Paid instructor for: AbbVie, Consultant of: AbbVie, Asahi Kasei, Grant/research support from: Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Takeda, Daiichi-Sankyo, Chugai, Bristol-Myers, MSD, Astellas, Toshihisa Kojima Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Pfizer, Eisai, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Sung-Hwan Park: None declared, Kichul Shin: None declared, Han Joo Baek: None declared, Yun Jong Lee Grant/research support from: research fund, In Ah Choi Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eizai, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Eizai, Jinhyun Kim: None declared, Ping-Ning Hsu: None declared, Chang-Fu Kuo: None declared, Chun-Ming Huang Paid instructor for: AbbVie, Pfizer, Meng-Yu Weng Consultant of: AbbVie, Wan-Yu Sung: None declared, Wen-Chan Tsai: None declared, Tien-Tsai Cheng Paid instructor for: AbbVie, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Takehiro Taninaga Shareholder of: Eisai Co., Ltd., Employee of: Eisai Co., Ltd., Masahiko Mori Shareholder of: Eisai Co., Ltd., Employee of: Eisai Co., Ltd., Hideaki Miyagishi Employee of: Eisai Co., Ltd., Yasunori Sato: None declared, Tsutomu Takeuchi Speakers bureau: Astellas, Abbvie, Daiichi Sankyo, Ayumi, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Chugai, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, UCB, TaishoToyama, Sanofi–Aventis, Nipponkayaku, Taiho, Gilead, Boehringer Ingelheim, Grant/research support from: Asahikasei, Astellas, Abbvie, Daiichi Sankyo, Ayumi, Eisai, Takeda, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Chugai, Eli Lilly, UCB, Sanofi–Aventis, Nipponkayaku, Boehringer Ingelheim

POS0975 CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NONRADIOGRAPHIC AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS IN ASIAN COUNTRIES COMPARED TO OTHER REGIONS: RESULTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL ASAS-COMOSPA STUDY

Background:

Clinical characteristics of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-ax-SpA) are highly variable across patients, and may potentially vary across patient populations, particularly due to differing distributions of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and other genetic factors. The majority of nr-ax-SpA studies have been conducted in Europe, the United States, and small studies are reported from Asia [1].

Objectives:

To delineate clinical characteristics of patients with nr-ax-SpA in Asian countries in comparison to other areas of the world.

Methods:

Utilizing the ASAS-COMOSPA data, an international cross-sectional observational study of SpA patients, we analyzed information on demographics, disease characteristics, comorbidities, and risk factors. Patients were classified by region: Asia (China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan), and non-Asian countries (Europe, Americas, and Africa); patient characteristics, including diagnosis and treatment, were compared.

Results:

Among 3984 SpA patients included in the study, 1094 were from centers in Asian countries, and 2890 from other regions. 112/780 (14.4%) of axial SpA patients in Asian countries were nr-ax-SpA, substantially less than in other countries (486/1997, 24.3%). Nr-ax-SpA patients in Asian countries compared to nr-ax-SpA in other countries were more likely male (75.9 vs 47.1%), have onset (22.8 vs 27.8 years) and diagnosis (27.2 vs 34.5 years) at younger age, and experience less diagnostic delay (1.88 vs 2.92 years) (Table 1). Nr-ax-SpA patients in Asian countries have higher prevalence of positive HLA-B27 (90.6% vs 61.9%) and fewer peripheral signs such as arthritis, enthesitis, or dactylitis (53.6% vs 66.3%) but have similar rate of extra-articular manifestations (psoriasis, IBD, or uveitis) and co-morbidities. Disease activity, functional impairment, and inflammation on MRI were less in nr-ax-SpA patients in Asian countries. NSAIDs response was higher and use of methotrexate and b-DMARDs were lower among nr-ax-SpA in Asian countries.

Conclusion:

Among axial SpA patients, substantially lower frequency of nr-ax-SpA was observed in Asian countries compared to other regions of the world. Nr-ax-SpA patients in Asian countries were predominantly male, and had younger disease onset with higher HLA-B27 positivity rate and less peripheral signs, and better response to NSAIDs. These results offer an opportunity to improve both early diagnosis and treatment of nr-ax-SpA patients in Asian countries.

Table 1.

Characteristics of nonradiographic axial SpA in Asia versus non-Asian regions

VariablesAsianon-Asian regionsp valueN112486Age at disease diagnosis, yrs27.2 [21.1, 39.6]34.5 [27.7, 41.7]<0.001Diagnostic delay, yrs1.88 [0.27, 5.56]2.92 [0.59, 9.58]0.011Male (%)85 (75.9)229 (47.1)<0.001Sacroiliitis on MRI among tested (%)49 (67.1)341 (82.2)0.005HLA B27 positivity among measured (%)96 (90.6)273 (61.9)<0.001Inflammatory Back Pain (%)107 (95.5)478 (98.4)0.076Arthritis, enthesitis, or dactylitis (%)60 (53.6)322 (66.3)0.016Psoriasis (%)12 (10.7)82 (16.9)0.142Uveitis (%)20 (17.9)81 (16.7)0.870Inflammatory bowel disease (%)5 (4.5)27 (5.6)0.817Elevated CRP (%)37 (33.0)213 (43.8)0.048Physician global assessment (0-10)2.0 [1.0, 5.0]2.0 [1.0, 4.0]0.741Patient global assessment (0-10)3.0 [1.0, 6.0]4.0 [2.0, 6.0]0.012ASDAS-CRP1.40 [0.95, 2.08]1.97 [1.21, 2.78]<0.001BASFI0.8 [0.05, 2.65]2.9 [0.8, 5.6]<0.001Good response to NSAIDs (%)80 (71.4)272 (56.0)0.004Methotrexate use (%)18 (16.1)134 (27.6)0.016Biological DMARDs use (%)27 (24.1)191 (39.3)0.004

References:

[1]López-Medina C, Ramiro S, van der Heijde D, et al. Characteristics and burden of disease in patients with radiographic and non-radiographic axial Spondyloarthritis: a comparison by systematic literature review and meta-analysis. RMD Open. 2019 Nov 21;5(2): e001108.

Acknowledgements:

This study was conducted under the umbrella of the International Society for Spondyloarthritis Assessment (ASAS) and COMOSPA study was supported by unrestricted grants from Pfizer, AbbVie and UCB.

Disclosure of Interests:

Keisuke Ono: None declared, Mitsumasa Kishimoto Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen-Astellas BioPharma, Asahi-Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Ayumi Pharma, BMS, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Kyowa Kirin, Novartis, Ono Pharma, Pfizer, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, and UCB Pharma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen-Astellas BioPharma, Asahi-Kasei Pharma, Astellas, Ayumi Pharma, BMS, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Kyowa Kirin, Novartis, Ono Pharma, Pfizer, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, and UCB Pharma, Sho Fukui: None declared, Satoshi Kawaai: None declared, Gautam A. Deshpande: None declared, Kazuki Yoshida Consultant of: OM1, Inc., Grant/research support from: Corrona, LLC, Naomi Ichikawa: None declared, Yuko Kaneko Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Hisamitsu, Jansen, Kissei, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, and UCB, Taku Kawasaki: None declared, Kazuo Matsui: None declared, Mitsuhiro Morita: None declared, Kurisu Tada: None declared, Naoho Takizawa: None declared, Naoto Tamura: None declared, Atsuo Taniguchi: None declared, Yoshinori Taniguchi: None declared, Shigeyoshi Tsuji: None declared, Shigeto Kobayashi: None declared, Masato Okada: None declared, Clementina López-Medina: None declared, Anna Moltó Consultant of: AbbVie, Pfizer, MSD, Novartis, Gilead, Lilly and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer, MSD, Novartis, Gilead, Lilly and UCB, Désirée van der Heijde Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Cyxone, Daiichi, Eisai, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, UCB Pharma, Employee of: Imaging Rheumatology bv. (Director), Maxime Dougados: None declared, Yoshinori Komagata: None declared, Tetsuya Tomita: None declared, Shinya Kaname: None declared.