[Biomarkers and imaging for diagnosis and stratification of rheumatoid arthritis and spondylarthritis in the BMBF consortium ArthroMark]

Rheumatic diseases are among the most common chronic inflammatory disorders. Besides severe pain and progressive destruction of the joints, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritides (SpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) impair working ability, reduce quality of life and if treated insufficiently may enhance mortality. With the introduction of biologics to treat these diseases, the demand for biomarkers of early diagnosis and therapeutic stratification has been growing continuously. The main goal of the consortium ArthroMark is to identify new biomarkers and to apply modern imaging technologies for diagnosis, follow-up assessment and stratification of patients with RA, SpA and PsA. With the development of new biomarkers for these diseases, the ArthroMark project contributes to research in chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The cooperation between different national centers will utilize site-specific resources, such as biobanks and clinical studies for sharing and gainful networking of individual core areas in biomarker analysis. Joint data management and harmonization of data assessment as well as best practice characterization of patients with new imaging technologies will optimize quality of marker validation.

Higher Fit-fOR-The-Aged (FORTA) Scores Comprising Medication Errors are Associated with Impaired Cognitive and Physical Function Tests in the VALFORTA Trial

BACKGROUND

The Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) list, a drug classification combining positive and negative labelling of drugs, has been clinically (VALFORTA-trial) validated to improve medication quality and clinical endpoints.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the association of medication quality with functional abilities tested in cognitive and physical function tests.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from the prospective, randomized controlled VALFORTA trial on 409 geriatric (mean age 81.53 years) in-hospital patients were tested for associations between the FORTA score (sum of over- and under-treatment errors) on admission and cognitive and physical function tests. Univariate and multivariate linear correlations corrected for age, sex, number of medications, number of chronic conditions, and body mass index as well as comparisons between high and low FORTA-score (cut-off 3) patients were performed.

RESULTS

The FORTA score was significantly correlated with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (p < 0.0001), the Tinetti test (p < 0.002), Essen Questionnaire on Age and Sleepiness (p < 0.0001), Mini-Mental State Examination (p < 0.0001), and handgrip strength (p < 0.04) in the univariate analysis, and with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (p < 0.003), the Tinetti test (p < 0.003), and the Essen Questionnaire on Age and Sleepiness (p < 0.0001) in the multivariate analysis. Effect size was weak for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (R-squared = 0.12) and the Tinetti test (R-squared = 0.03) and medium for the Essen Questionnaire on Age and Sleepiness (R-squared = 0.22). Significant differences between patients with high and low FORTA scores were found for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, the Tinetti test, mini-nutritional assessments, Mini-Mental State Examination, Essen Questionnaire on Age and Sleepiness, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. All significant tests revealed that higher FORTA scores (lower medication quality) were associated with less favorable test outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The FORTA score is associated with relevant aspects of comprehensive geriatric assessment, underlining the importance of medication quality for the functional and cognitive well-being of older patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

DRKS00000531.

Immunogenicity assay development and validation for biological therapy as exemplified by ustekinumab

Introduction of biotherapeutics has been a major milestone in the treatment of different chronic diseases. Nevertheless, the immune system can recognize the administered biological as non-self and respond with generation of anti-drug antibodies (ADA), including neutralizing ADA (nADA). Immunogenic responses may result in altered drug dynamics and kinetics leading to changes in safety and efficacy. However, there are several challenges with standard techniques for immunogenicity testing. Ustekinumab (UST), used in different inflammatory diseases, is a therapeutic antibody directed against the shared p40 subunit of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, interfering in the pathogenically crucial T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th17 pathway. We established and validated different approaches for detection and quantitation of UST, UST-specific ADA and nADA. Addressing the obstacle of complex formation of UST with nADA, we developed an acidification assay to approach the total amount of nADA. Validated methods were based on surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a cell-based approach to characterize neutralizing capacity of nADA. Parameters assessed were determination and quantitation limits, linearity, range, precision, accuracy and selectivity. Quantitation of ADA and UST was feasible at lower concentrations using ELISA, whereas SPR showed a wider linear range for determination of ADA and UST. Accuracy, precision and linearity for quantitation were comparable using ELISA, SPR and the cell-based approach. All validated parameters fulfill the requirements of regulatory agencies. A combination of the testing approaches could address the increasing demand of precision medicine as it can be suitable for capturing the whole spectrum of immunogenicity and is transferable to other biologicals.

Changes in prescription patterns in older hospitalized patients: the impact of FORTA on disease-related over- and under-treatments

PURPOSE

Physicians often face difficulties in choosing appropriate medications for multimorbid older people. The FORTA (Fit for the Aged) classification (A: absolutely, B: beneficial, C: careful, D: don't) was proposed as a clinical tool for improving the quality of drug treatment in the aged. As an implicit tool, FORTA has been shown to aid medication optimization and improve clinical end points in the VALFORTA trial. In this prospective randomized controlled study, 207 older hospitalized patients received standard geriatric treatment and 202 patients received FORTA-guided treatment.

METHODS

Here, changes of drug prescriptions at the anatomical-therapeutic-chemical system (ATC) level were evaluated separately for important diagnoses in descriptive analyses; over- and under-treatment rates were compared between groups.

RESULTS

At the individual drug/drug class level related to all important diagnoses, the application of FORTA significantly improved under-treatments for 12 drugs/drug classes (e.g., ACE inhibitors to treat arterial hypertension) and over-treatments for 7 drugs/drug classes (e.g., proton pump inhibitors to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease).

CONCLUSIONS

FORTA representing the first combined positive/negative labeling approach at the individual drug level aids the optimization of drug treatment in older people as detected for drugs/drug classes at the ATC level in important indications. FORTA is effective in addressing over- and under-treatments even if analyzed for smaller subgroups of VALFORTA.

[Expectations and attitudes concerning geriatric counseling : Results of a survey among general practitioners and hospital-based providers in two German states]

BACKGROUND

Expertise in geriatrics in the field of ambulatory and hospital-based treatment does not have access to comparable medical specialist structures, such as those in internal medicine and neurology; therefore, it is recommended that geriatric diagnostics by general practitioners can be supported by networking with hospital-based geriatric centers for geriatric counseling. The attitudes and experiences of both faculties in Germany are, however, not well known.

METHODS

Representative samples of general practitioners and hospital-based faculty departments for internal medicine in two regions of Germany (Baden-Württemberg and Hessen) were identified using a systematic selection method. All departments of geriatrics in these regions were also contacted. Participants were asked to give their attitudes and experiences regarding geriatric counseling using a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Responses to the questionnaire were received from 48 general practices (14.9%), 42 internal medicine departments (38.5%) and 25 hospital-based geriatric centers (34.7%). Of the general practices 79.2% reported performing geriatric assessments but only 31.3% had access to geriatric counseling. Of the faculties of internal medicine 71.4% reported providing geriatric counseling of which 16.7% also provided counseling on an outpatient basis. With respect to the spectrum of actual reasons for geriatric counseling, initiation of rehabilitative measures was the main reason in both geriatric and internal medicine departments. There were differences in the estimation of suitable rating topics for geriatric counseling. Geriatric departments more frequently indicated preventive aspects compared to general internal medicine (80% vs 47.6%) and general practices (56.3%). With respect to the domain level, general practitioners rated these in the order of cognition (72.9%), social situation (70.8%), emotion (50%), locomotion (50%) and incontinence (27.1%). Noteworthy was that they also rated much lower compared to hospital-based providers particularly with respect to locomotion and incontinence problems.

CONCLUSION

Geriatric assessment is widely used by general practitioners and there is generally a positive attitude to geriatric counseling and networking with hospital-based geriatric centers. At present, only a minority of general practitioners find local providers of geriatric counseling. Preventive aspects do not reach the same significance as rehabilitation topics and this discloses some potential for improvement. Differences in rating usefulness between the two groups may be explained by competing providers, e. g. specialists in these fields.

VALFORTA: a randomised trial to validate the FORTA (Fit fOR The Aged) classification

TRIAL DESIGN

to further validate the FORTA (Fit fOR The Aged) concept, a bicentric randomised, controlled trial was run in two geriatric clinics.

METHODS

patients (≥65 years, ≥3 drugs or ≥60 years, ≥6 drugs) with three relevant diseases and hospitalisation for ≥5 days were randomised. In the intervention, but not the control group, a FORTA team instructed ward physicians on FORTA. FORTA is the first positive/negative listing approach labelling medications used to treat chronic illnesses in older patients from A (indispensable), B (beneficial), C (questionable) to D (avoid). The primary end point was the FORTA score: sum of medication errors classified as over-, under- and mistreatment. Consecutive patients were randomised to the intervention and control ward; outcome assessment was blinded.

RESULTS

four hundred and nine patients (age 81.5 years, 64% female, hospitalisation 17.4 days) were included. The primary end point was significantly (P < 0.0001) more reduced in the intervention versus control groups (2.7 ± 2.25 versus 1 ± 1.8, mean ± SD, intergroup comparison of admission/discharge differences). Over- and under-treatment scores and use of A (increase) and D (decrease) drugs were significantly improved (P < 0.01). The total number of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was significantly reduced by FORTA (P < 0.05, number needed to treat is 5). Activities of daily living and renal failure improved significantly (P < 0.05). Blood pressure remained constant in the intervention, but decreased significantly in the control group.

CONCLUSION

applying FORTA to hospitalised geriatric patients leads to improvement of medication quality and may improve secondary clinical end points (e.g. ADRs). The concept is amenable to successful communication and implementation. Registration (DRKS-ID): DRKS00000531.

FUNDING

DFG-German Research Foundation (WE 1184/15-1).

[Do we still need clinical studies in rheumatology?]

Despite a large number of approved therapies demonstrating efficacy in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, only 60-85 % of patients with the indications for rheumatoid arthritis are adequately treated in Germany. Additionally, approved therapies for other immune-mediated diseases are often entirely lacking, indicating the great medical need for the development of new innovative therapies in this specialized field. The development of new drugs is expensive due to the high costs of conducting clinical trials in all phases of development up to obtaining approval; therefore, pharmaceutical companies are looking for ways to save costs in the particular developmental stages. Although the classical regions for drug development (i.e. western Europe, the USA and Japan) offer both a high level of data quality and a good infrastructure to conduct clinical trials due to high standards of education and quality, clinical trials are expensive in these regions. Beside high costs, the comparatively low recruitment rates in these regions are one of the main reasons for the shifting of drug developmental stages from classical regions to eastern European, Latin American and Asian countries, which provide services for drug development and high recruitment rates for comparatively less money. However, there are many strong arguments for the participation of regions in western Europe, especially German sites in clinical trials. In this article these arguments are discussed and possible solutions and strategies for conducting and compensation of study centers in Germany for clinical trials in the field of rheumatology are provided.