Efficacy and Safety of Etanercept Biosimilars Compared With the Originator for Treatment of Juvenile Arthritis: A Prospective Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

Analysis of etanercept biosimilars in pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in comparison with the etanercept originator in terms of efficacy and safety.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with JIA who started treatment with either the etanercept originator or a biosimilar after January 1, 2017, were selected from the German BIKER registry (Biologics in Paediatric Rheumatology Registry). Furthermore, patients who started therapy with the originator and switched to a biosimilar during the course of therapy were identified. For both patient groups, disease activity and safety were examined and compared separately.

RESULTS

After January 1, 2017, 348 patients started treatment with the etanercept originator (n = 293) or a biosimilar (n = 55). Another 57 patients switched to a biosimilar during the course of therapy. A significant decrease or a stable remission of disease activity was observed in both patient groups. The safety profiles were comparable, and frequencies and types of adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs were similar in patients starting therapy with the originator or a biosimilar. Only injection site reactions occurred slightly more frequently under biosimilar therapy, without having an impact on therapy adherence. In patients who switched therapy, the AE rate per 100 patient-years was comparable before (26.4) and after (32.1) the switch.

CONCLUSION

In patients with JIA who require treatment with etanercept, the originator is still used much more frequently. However, our study highlights the equivalence of etanercept biosimilars for therapy for JIA. Increased use of these biosimilars in pediatric patients can therefore be recommended without hesitation.

[Autoinflammation-A clinical and genetic challenge]

In the last two decades clinical rheumatological practice has been confronted with a steadily increasing number of autoinflammatory diseases, the immunological pathomechanisms of which have been elucidated and in part can be clinically well classified. Whereas targeted genetic diagnostics previously served to confirm a clinically suspected diagnosis, genetic sequencing technology has much improved and enables a new diagnostic approach via high-throughput sequencing, e.g., panel sequencing, whole exome and whole genome sequencing. Thus, the decision to make a diagnosis clinically and/or genetically, has become a daily challenge. This article contrasts the clinical, immunological and genetic aspects of autoinflammatory diseases.

miR-23a contributes to T cellular redox metabolism in juvenile idiopathic oligoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin. The regulation of inflammatory processes involves multiple cellular steps including mRNA transcription and translation. Different miRNAs tightly control these processes. We aimed to determine the roles of specific miRNAs within JIA pathogenesis.

METHODS

We performed a global miRNA expression analysis in parallel in cells from the arthritic joint and peripheral blood of oligoarticular JIA patients and healthy controls. QRT-PCR analysis was used to verify expression of miRNA in T cells. Ex vivo experiments and flow cytometric analyses were used to analyze proliferation and redox metabolism.

RESULTS

Global miRNA expression analysis demonstrated a different composition of miRNA expression at the site of inflammation compared with peripheral blood. Bioinformatic analysis of predicted miRNA target genes suggest a huge overrepresentation of genes involved in metabolic and oxidative stress pathways in the inflamed joint. Despite enhanced ROS levels within the local inflammatory milieu, JIA T cells are hyperproliferative and reveal an overexpression of miR-23a, which is an inhibitor of PPIF, the regulator of mitochondrial ROS escape. Mitochondrial ROS escape is diminished in JIA T cells resulting in their prolonged survival.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that miRNA dependent mitochondrial ROS shuttling might be a mechanism that contributes to T cell regulation in JIA at the site of inflammation.

MRP8/14 serum levels as diagnostic markers for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children with prolonged fever

OBJECTIVES

Differential diagnosis in children with prolonged fever is challenging. In particular, differentiating systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) from infectious diseases is difficult. Biomarkers are needed supporting the diagnostic work-up. The aim of this study was to validate the usefulness of MRP8/14 measurements in the diagnostic wok-up of febrile children and transfer it to clinical practice.

METHODS

Data of 1,110 paediatric patients were included and divided into two cohorts: (A) For validation of MRP8/14 test performance with 3 different testing systems: the experimental enzyme-linked immunosorbent sandwich assay (ELISA), commercial ELISA and an innovative (POCT) lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA); (B) to validate the diagnostic accuracy with the two latter assays.

RESULTS

In cohort A (n = 940), MRP8/14 was elevated in SJIA (12110±2650 ng/ml mean ± 95% CI) compared to other diagnoses (including infections and autoinflammatory diseases; 2980±510 ng/ml) irrespective of fever and anti-inflammatory treatment (p < 0.001). In untreated patients with fever (n = 195) MRP8/14 levels in SJIA (19740±5080 ng/ml) were even higher compared to other diagnoses (4590±1160 ng/ml) (p < 0.001, sensitivity 73%, specificity 90%). In cohort B1, the performance of the tests was confirmed in untreated patients with fever (n = 170): commercial ELISA (sensitivity 79%, specificity 89%) and LFIA (sensitivity 84%, specificity 81%). Compared with ferritin, IL-18, ESR, sIL2-R, and procalcitonin, MRP8/14 showed the best accuracy.

CONCLUSION

MRP8/14 serum analyses have been validated as a helpful tool supporting the diagnosis of SJIA in febrile children. The results could be confirmed with commercial ELISA and LFIA enabling a rapid diagnostic point-of-care screening test.

A distinct CD38+CD45RA+ population of CD4+, CD8+, and double-negative T cells is controlled by FAS

The identification and characterization of rare immune cell populations in humans can be facilitated by their growth advantage in the context of specific genetic diseases. Here, we use autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome to identify a population of FAS-controlled TCRαβ⁺ T cells. They include CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and double-negative T cells and can be defined by a CD38⁺CD45RA⁺T-BET⁻ expression pattern. These unconventional T cells are present in healthy individuals, are generated before birth, are enriched in lymphoid tissue, and do not expand during acute viral infection. They are characterized by a unique molecular signature that is unambiguously different from other known T cell differentiation subsets and independent of CD4 or CD8 expression. Functionally, FAS-controlled T cells represent highly proliferative, noncytotoxic T cells with an IL-10 cytokine bias. Mechanistically, regulation of this physiological population is mediated by FAS and CTLA4 signaling, and its survival is enhanced by mTOR and STAT3 signals. Genetic alterations in these pathways result in expansion of FAS-controlled T cells, which can cause significant lymphoproliferative disease.

Clinical manifestations and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children and adolescents with rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases: data from the National Paediatric Rheumatology Database in Germany

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations, course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children and adolescents with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD). Due to their underlying disease as well due to therapeutic immunosuppression, these patients may be at risk for a severe course of COVID-19 or for a flare of the underlying disease triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

Demographic, clinical and treatment data from juvenile patients with RMD as well as data about SARS-CoV-2 infection like test date and method, clinical characteristics, disease course, outcome and impact on the disease activity of the RMD were documented on a specific SARS-CoV-2 questionnaire implemented in the National Paediatric Rheumatology Database (NPRD) in Germany. The survey data were analysed descriptively.

Results

From 17 April 2020 to 16 February 2021, data were collected from 76 patients (52% female) with RMD and laboratory-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection with median age of 14 years, diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (58%), autoinflammatory (24%) and connective tissue disease (8%). Fifty-eight patients (76%) received disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), 41% biological DMARDs and 11% systemic glucocorticoids. Fifty-eight (76%) had symptoms of COVID-19. Disease course of SARS-CoV-2 infection (classified as asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe, life-threatening) was mild and outcome of COVID-19 (classified as recovered, not yet recovered, permanent damage or deceased) was good (recovered) in the majority of patients. Two patients were hospitalised, one of whom required intensive care and died of cardiorespiratory failure. In 84% of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, no relevant increase in disease activity of the RMD was observed.

Conclusions

In our cohort, SARS-CoV-2 infection in juvenile patients with RMD under various medications was mild with good outcome in the majority of cases and does not appear to have a relevant impact on disease activity of the underlying condition.

POS1325 COMPARISON OF THREE DIFFERENT ALGORITHMS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH POLYARTICULAR JIA: THE FIRST YEAR AFTER DIAGNOSIS

Background:

Various treatment strategies are used for children with newly diagnosed polyarticular JIA. MTX is usually prescribed, sometimes in combination with high-dose intravenous glucocorticoid pulses (HDGC) or multiple intra-articular GC injections (IAGC). These different approaches were considered in the German consensus-based treatment protocols for polyarticular JIA1, they were also the leading therapies in patients with rheumatoid factor-negative polyarthritis (RF- PA) included in the JIA inception cohort ICON.

Objectives:

To compare the effectiveness of three different treatment strategies in nearly DMARD-naïve patients with RF- PA.

Methods:

Patients with RF- PA who were included in the ICON cohort and received one of the following treatments within the first three months were considered for the analysis: Group 1: MTX + IAGC in >4 joints, Group 2: MTX + HDGC, Group 3: MTX, no IAGC in >4 joints, no HDGC. Propensity score-adjusted group differences in outcomes after one and two years were analysed by linear and logistic regression analyses.

Results:

The analysis included data from 150 patients (79% female, mean age 6.7±4.8 years) enrolled in ICON 1.6±1.9 months after the diagnosis of RF- PA, of whom 52 were in Group 1, 54 in Group 2 and 44 in Group 3. Disease activity did not differ significantly between the groups at treatment start (cJADAS-10 16.7±4.7, 15.8±5.7, 15.9±6.5, respectively).

Of the total group, at 1- and 2-year follow-up (FU), 60.9%/60.1% and 52.3%/58.8% of patients had inactive disease (cJADAS ≤1/Wallace criteria2), 21.3% and 35.6% were in remission off drug2, and mean cJADAS-10 scores were 2.6±3.9 and 3.0±3.5, respectively. 60.5% and 67.0% had no functional limitations (CHAQ=0).

Patients in Group 1 more often had an inactive disease (according to Wallace2) at the 1-year FU and tended to have inactive disease more often at 2-year FU than patients in Group 3 (78.1% vs. 45.2%, p=0.025; 73.3 vs. 49.1%, p=0.075, respectively). Group 2 patients (inactive disease in 56.1% and 53.4% at 1- and 2-year FU) did not differ significantly from either Group 1 or Group 3. In addition, Group 1 patients had a significantly better quality of life than patients of Group 2 at the 2-year FU (mean PedsQL 4.0 total score 90.4±9.3 vs. 83.8±11.2, p=0.031). At that time, Group 3 patients had a mean PedsQL 4.0 total score of 85.0±14.6, which was not significantly different from either Group 1 or 2.

On the other hand, Group 1 patients tended to develop new uveitis more frequently within the first two years of treatment than patients in Groups 2 and 3 (13% vs. 2.2% and 3.6%, p=0.101 and 0.131, respectively). At the 2-year FU, patients in Group 1 also had a significantly lower mean height SDS than patients of Group 3 (-0.3±1.1 vs. 0.2±1.1, p=0.038). Mean height SDS was lowest (-0.5±0.8) in patients in Group 2 and significantly lower than in Group 3 (0.019). Mean body mass index SDS also differed significantly between the groups at 2-year follow-up. The mean BMI SDS was highest in Group 1 patients (0.2±0.8), differing significantly from Group 2 (-0.3±0.7, p=0.014) and Group 3 (-0.4±1.1, p=0.023).

There were no significant differences in inactive disease (according to cJADAS) and functional status (CHAQ) between the three groups at 1- and 2-year FU. Over time, treatments were very different in the three groups. In Group 3, biologics were used significantly more often over time than in group 1 (54.0% vs. 18.3%, p=0.014), and Group 2 patients received bDMARDs in 36.1%.

Conclusion:

While patients with numerous early joint injections seem to achieve inactive disease more frequently and earlier, they have a slightly smaller body height and tend to develop uveitis slightly more often than patients with more intensive DMARD therapy. However, the differences are small between the groups. Further comparative effectiveness studies with higher patient numbers are needed to identify particularly effective and safe treatment strategies.

References:

[1]Horneff et al. Pediatric Rheumatology 2017;15:78.

[2]Wallace et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2011;63:929-36.

Acknowledgements:

The ICON study is funded by a research grant of the Federal ministry of education and research (BMBF, FKZ 01ER0812, FKZ 01ER1504A-C).

Disclosure of Interests:

Kirsten Minden Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, Consultant of: Novartis, Tobias Schwarz: None declared, Frank Dressler: None declared, Ivan Foeldvari Consultant of: Gilead, Novartis, Pfizer, Hexal, BMS, Sanofi, MEDAC, Johannes-Peter Haas: None declared, Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Consultant of: Novartis, Toni Hospach Consultant of: Novartis, Jasmin Kümmerle-Deschner: None declared, Kirsten Moenkemoeller: None declared, Frank Weller-Heinemann Speakers bureau: Pfizer, AbbVie, SOBI, Roche, Novartis, Klaus Tenbrock: None declared, Martina Niewerth: None declared, Claudia Sengler: None declared, Dirk Foell: None declared, Jens Klotsche: None declared

POS1202 EXPERIENCE WITH COVID-19 IN GERMAN PAEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY CENTRES

Background:

COVID-19 is a major challenge worldwide. Although the risk for a severe disease course is low among children with COVID-19, symptoms may be exacerbated by underlying disease and/or immunosuppressive medication. We analysed clinical data from COVID-19 cases in among pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in Germany reported to the BIKER registry.

Objectives:

This is an analysis of clinical data for 56 COVID-19 cases reported to the German BIKER registry from 29 German pediatric rheumatology centers and clinics from February 2020 to January 2021.

Methods:

The major task of the German BIKER (Biologics in Paediatric Rheumatology) Registry is surveillance of biologics used in pediatric rheumatology patients. Following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, a survey was established to proactively interview all participating centers regarding the occurrence, presentation and outcome of SARS-CoV-2-infected children with rheumatic diseases. Initially, the interviews were conducted in weekly intervals, later bi-weekly.

A standardized Adverse Event of Special Interest form was developed requesting biographic data, pre-treatment, current medication, data on clinical presentation, course, treatment and outcome of COVID-19 pediatric rheumatology patients.

Results:

In all, 56 patients with JIA and SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported (Table 1). Of these patients, 71% were 12 or more years old.

Table 1.

Patient characteristics. COVID-19 positive patients.

JIA patients, n=56n (%)Age 0-5 years / 6-11years / 12-18years3 (5.4) / 13 (23.2) / 40 (71.4)JIA category•Systemic JIA5 (8.9)•Oligoarthritis JIA9 (16)•Polyarticular JIA32 (57)•Enthesitis-related JIA2 (3.6)•Psoriatic JIA1 (1.8)•Unknown7 (12.5)Uveitis (concomitant)4 (7.1)Treatment•DMARD / MTX23/ 22 (41/39)•Biologics29 (52)•TNF inhibitors20 (36)•Tocilizumab5 (8.9)•Abatacept1 (1.8)•Anakinra1 (1.8)•Ustekinumab1 (1.8)•JAK inhibitors1 (1.8)•Steroids5 (8.9)Asymptomatic13 (23.2)Hospitalized/ICU/Ventilation/Death1/1/1/1 (1.8)

At the time of infection, 41% of the patients received conventional DMARDs and 52% received biologics (Table 1). Forty-four patients (79%) received either a conventional DMARD or a biologic. Most patients had a polyarticular course of their JIA (57%).

In 49 of the 56 cases (88%) COVID-19 was detected directly by PCR (n=46), by antigen test only (n=1) or an undisclosed method (n= 2). Six patients had detectable SARS-CoV2 antibodies and reported to have had typical symptoms. One patient tested negative but developed typical symptoms at approximately the same time a positive SARS-CoV-2 test was returned for a family member.

Symptoms were reported in 43 of the 56 patients (77%): fever n=15, rhinitis n=14, cough n=12, headache n=10, loss of sense of taste and/or smell n=9, pharyngitis n=8, fatigue n=5, musculoskeletal pain n=5, GI symptoms n=2 (abdominal pain n=1, diarrhoea n=1), dizziness n=3, encephalitis/seizure/respiratory failure/death n=1. Thirteen patients (23%) were asymptomatic.

A 3½ -year-old female patient initially diagnosed with systemic JIA developed intracranial oedema and respiratory failure. Her SARS-CoV2 PCR test was positive and pulmonary imaging displayed typical changes in lung texture. Before her SARS-CoV-2 infection, the patient was treated with methotrexate and low-dose steroids. Unfortunately, she died three days following hospital admission. Genetic testing revealed an inborn immunodeficiency. Except for this one patient, all other cases were treated as outpatients and no deaths were reported.

Conclusion:

Apart from one patient with an inborn immunodeficiency who died from her COVID-19 infection, no case of hospitalization or severe COVID-19 was reported in our cohort of JIA patients. At the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, nearly 80% of patients in our cohort had been treated with conventional DMARD and/or biologics. This seemed not to have a negative effect on severity or outcome of SARS-CoV2 infection.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks also for contributing Reports for this analysis to: Normi Brück, Frank Dressler, Ivan Foeldvari, Tilman Geikowski, Hermann Girschick, Johannes-Peter Haas, Tilmann Kallinich, Bernd-Ulrich Keck, Eggert Lilienthal, Anna-Hedrich Müller, Ulrich Neudorf, Nils Onken, Peggy Rühmer.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared.

POS1301 DRUG SURVIVAL OF BIOLOGICS WITH RESPECT TO COMBINATION WITH METHOTREXATE IN TREATMENT OF POLYARTICULAR JIA

Background:

In polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) biologic therapies are often combined with methotrexate (MTX). This combination was shown to increase efficacy in adult rheumatoid arthritis patients. MTX may also have a protective effect on the formation of anti-drug antibodies and thus may prolong drug survival. In pJIA, there are few and sometimes controversial data available.

Objectives:

To compare the effect of combination treatment with MTX on discontinuation due to inefficacy and on drug survival discontinuation of biologics approved for first line treatment of pJIA.

Methods:

Patients from the German BIKER registry with their first treatment course with Adalimumab, Etanercept, Golimumab or Tocilizumab were selected. Rates of ineffectiveness-related withdrawal were analysed and compared using χ2-test, Wald-test and Kaplan-Meier analysis of patients receiving biologic monotherapy or concomitant methotrexate. Cases were censored if MTX was discontinued before the biologic.

Results:

2173 pJIA patients were identified who for the first time received a biologic. Etanercept (ETA) was by far the most frequently used biologic for first line biologic treatment in pJIA (77%) followed by Adalimumab (ADA, 16%). Patients on Golimumab (GOL) received most frequently a combination with MTX (86.5%), while patients on Tocilizumab (TOC) had the lowest rate of combination treatment (53%).

ETA/ADA/GOL/TOC was given as monotherapy in 500(30%)/89(26%)/5(13.5%)/46(47%) and combined with MTX in 1179 (70%)/259(74%)/32(86.5%)/51(53%) cases. More patients with rheumatoid-factor negative (54 vs 50%; p=0.04) and rheumatoid-factor positive pJIA (13 vs 10%, p=0.04) received combination with MTX, while more patients in the monotherapy cohort had extended oligoarthritis (40 vs 32%, p<0.001). Patients with MTX had a shorter disease duration (4 vs 5.5years, p<0.001) and received concomitant steroid more often (34 vs 24%), p<0.001). There was no statistical difference regarding disease activity parameters (active joint count, patient assessment and physician assessment of disease activity, ESR, CRP, CHAQ-DI, JADAS10). Discontinuation due to ineffectiveness was reported for ETA/ADA/GOL/TOC in 20%/18%/14%/28% of patients, respectively in 3.7/4.9/6/10.5 patients/100 treatment years. Thus discontinuation due to inefficacy was reported less frequently with ETA compared to ADA (p=0.046) and TOC (p<0.001) and with ADA compared to TOC (p<0.001).

Patients on ETA and ADA had a slightly, but not statistically significant lower rate of withdrawal for ineffectiveness if on methotrexate (Figure 1). There was no difference regarding baseline disease activity parameters in patients with ETA/ADA monotherapy compared with combination with MTX, apart from patients with ETA+MTX receiving more often systemic steroids at baseline (36vs 24%,p<0-001). For both GOL and TOC treatment, no baseline differences in disease activity between cohorts with monotherapy and MTX combination could be shown. The combination with MTX led to significantly lower rates of discontinuation due to inefficacy (p<0.05) with GOL and TOC (Figure 1).

Conclusion:

Patients with pJIA mostly were treated with a combination of the biologic and MTX rather than with biologic monotherapy. Treatment was discontinued due to lack of efficacy in 14% to 28%. No statistically significant effect of combination treatment with MTX versus monotherapy could be observed regarding the rate of treatment failures in patients treated with ETA or ADA. However, combination treatment with MTX significantly prolonged the survival of GOL and TOC in patients with polyarticular JIA. The results are limited by low patient numbers in the GOL cohort and possible bias by JIA category.

Figure 1.

Kaplan Meier plot of drug survival in patients with monotherapy or with combination with MTX of the indicated biologic

Disclosure of Interests:

Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: MSD, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Roche, Chugai, MSD, Daniel Windschall: None declared, Kirsten Minden Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Toni Hospach: None declared, Frank Dressler: None declared, Frank Weller-Heinemann: None declared, Boris Huegle: None declared, Ivan Foeldvari Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Ariane Klein: None declared

POS0075 SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF GOLIMUMAB FOR THE TREATMENT OF POLYARTICULAR JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS - AN UPDATE FROM THE BIKER REGISTRY

Background:

Golimumab (GOL) is approved for treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in patients 2 years and older. Data on long-term safety of GOL in this indication are limited.

Objectives:

To assess long-term safety and efficacy of GOL in pJIA patients.

Methods:

In this ongoing non-interventional observational study, clinical characteristics, disease activity and safety parameters were analysed using the German Biologics in Paediatric Rheumatology (BiKeR) registry. 81 pJIA-patients treated with GOL were body weight-matched with 162 patients receiving alt. tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and 81 biologic–naïve patients under methotrexate (MTX)-therapy.

Results:

Baseline parameters of GOL patients differed from the alternative TNFi and MTX cohorts. In patients starting with GOL treatment, disease duration was longer, corticosteroid use was less and disease activity, measured by the mean number of active joints and the JADAS10, was lower (Table 1).

The long-term clinical efficacy of GOL in pJIA is highlighted by a decrease of the mean JADAS 10 from 11.6 (baseline) to 5.2 after 24 months. After 2 years, a JADAS 10 minimal disease activity was reached by 44.4 % of patients, whereas 22.2 % of patients were in remission and the JIA ACR 30/50/70/90 response rates were 77.8/72.2/66.7/55.6% respectively.

AE, SAE and infectious AE rates between the three cohorts were comparable (Table 1). In the GOL cohort, 4 SAE (1 uveitis, 1 arthritis flare, 1 fibromyalgia syndrome and 1 abscess) were reported, while in the alt. TNFi group 7 SAEs and in the MTX cohort 1 SAE were noted (Table 1). One serious infectious event (1 abscess) was documented in the GOL cohort, 2 alt. TNFi patients had influenza and no serious infectious events were seen in the MTX control group.

Table 1.

Baseline parameters and adverse events

GOLn=81alt. TNFin=162MTXn=81p-value ∞GOL vs alt. TNFip-value∞ GOL vs MTXGender female °67 (83)127 (78)64 (79)0.50.7Disease duration (yrs)7.1±4.34.3±3.71.2±2.1<0.0001<0.0001RF neg. Polyarthritis °40 (49)79 (49)50 (62)1.00.15RF pos. Polyarthritis °8 (10)22 (14)16 (20)0.50.1Extended Oligoarthritis °30 (37)54 (33)13 (16)0.60.004Psoriatic arthritis °3 (4)7 (4)2 (3)1.0/1.01.0Pretreatment bDMARD °68 (84.0)35 (21.6)0<0.0001<0.0001Concomitant systemic steroids, n (%)13 (16)38 (24)39 (48)0.2<0.0001Active joint count #4.6±4.84.9±5.79.6±6.50.4<0.0001CHAQ DI #0.4±0.50.5±0.50.6±0.60.10.02JADAS10 #11.6±6.212.1±6.116.8±5.30.6<0.0001AE *91 (107.4; 88-132)213 (88.7; 78-101)113 (119.8; 100-144)0.10.4SAE *4 (4.7; 2-13)7 (2.9; 1-6)1 (1.1; 0.1-8)0.40.2Serious infections *1 (1.2; 0.2-8.4)2 (0.8; 0.2-3.3)00.7n.a.Autoimmune process (%)2 (2.4)3 (1.9)1 (1.2)1.01.0Patients with uveitis new manifestation after study entry *1 (1.2; 0.2-8)2 (0.8; 0.5-3)00.7n.a.Patients with uveitis flare events with preexisting uveitis at baseline*6 (7.1; 3-16)00n.a.n.a.

Rheumatoid factor (RF), biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD), childhood health assessment questionnaire disability index (CHAQ Di), juvenile arthritis disease activity index (JADAS), adverse event (AE), patient year (PY), ° n (%), # mean (SD), * n (rate/100PY; 95%CI), Golimumab (GOL), alternative tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (alt. TNFi), methotrexate (MTX), ∞ by t-test or χ2-test as appropriate.

Few autoimmune processes occurred: 2 incident events in the GOL cohort (1 uveitis, 1 psoriasis), 3 cases in the alt. TNFi group (2 uveitis, 1 psoriasis,) and 1 event in MTX-patients (celiac disease) (Table 1). Out of the 20 GOL patients with preexisting uveitis at baseline, 6 had flare events; there were no reported uveitis flares of the 17 patients in the alt. TNFi group and no patients with preexisting uveitis in the MTX-group. No malignancies or deaths were reported.

Conclusion:

Our interim results show an acceptable safety profile of GOL therapy, comparable to treatment with alt. TNFi or MTX. No new safety signals occurred. The efficacy outcome data confirm long-term benefits of GOL treatment in pJIA patients.

Acknowledgements:

We greatly appreciate the kind support of Z. Huang, S. Calhoun.

Disclosure of Interests:

Angela Zimmer: None declared, Ariane Klein: None declared, Kirsten Minden: None declared, Toni Hospach: None declared, Frank Weller-Heinemann: None declared, Jasmin Kuemmerle-Deschner: None declared, Maria Fasshauer: None declared, Nadja Hofmann: None declared, Hans Koessel: None declared, Ivan Foeldvari: None declared, Sonja Mrusek: None declared, Daniel Windschall: None declared, Nils Onken: None declared, Markus Hufnagel: None declared, Dirk Foell: None declared, Normi Brueck: None declared, Prassad Thomas Oommen: None declared, Frank Dressler: None declared, Astrid Helling-Bakki: None declared, Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: MSD.

POS1379 LONG-TERM EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF CANAKINUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER (FMF) - INTERIM ANALYSIS OF THE RELIANCE REGISTRY

Background:

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and serositis as well as elevated inflammatory markers. FMF treatment goals according to EULAR are to control acute attacks and subclinical inflammation and to improve patients´ quality of life1. In a phase 3 pivotal study (CLUSTER study), FMF patients treated with the interleukin-1β inhibitor canakinumab met all these goals2.

Objectives:

The present study explores the long-term efficacy and safety of canakinumab (CAN) in routine clinical practice in pediatric (age ≥2 years) and adult FMF patients.

Methods:

RELIANCE is a prospective, non-interventional, multi-center, observational study based in Germany with a three-year follow-up period. Patients with clinically confirmed diagnosis of FMF who routinely receive CAN were enrolled in order to evaluate effectiveness and safety of CAN under standard clinical practice conditions. Disease activity and remission by physicians´ assessment, disease activity, fatigue and impact on social life by patients’ assessment, inflammatory markers and AIDAI (Auto-Inflammatory Diseases Activity Index) score were recorded at baseline and were assessed at 6-monthly intervals within the three-year observation period of the study.

Results:

This interim analysis of FMF patients (N=54) enrolled by December 2020 includes baseline as well as 6-, 12- and 18-month data. Mean age in this cohort was 25 years (4−56 years) and the proportion of female patients was 46 % (N=25). At baseline, median duration of prior CAN treatment was 2.0 years (0−6 years).

While physician ratings report around 62% of patients in disease remission, 52% with absent and 34% with mild-moderate disease activity, patient-reported disease activity decreased from moderate (PPA 3.0) to low (PPA 2.0) during the observation period. A decrease was observed regarding disease activity parameters, in particular in patients without prior CAN therapy (Table 1, Figure 1). A total of 11 serious adverse events was reported, of which one case of tonsillectomy was classified as drug-related.

Conclusion:

Interim data of FMF patients from the RELIANCE study, the longest running real-life CAN registry, confirm efficacy and safety of long-term CAN treatment.

References:

[1]Ozen S, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of familial Mediterranean fever. Ann Rheum Dis 2016;75:644–651. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208690

[2]De Benedetti F, et al. Canakinumab for the treatment of autoinflammatory recurrent fever syndromes. N Engl J Med 2018;378:1908–19.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics and third interim analysis data of patients with FMF

Baseline6 months12 months18 monthsAll patients | patients without prior CAN therapyNumber of patients, N5411357275163Number (%*) of patients in disease remission (physician assessment)18 (48.6)1 (20.0)19 (73.1)3 (75.0)13 (65.0)1 (50.0)8 (61.5)1 (100.0)Physician Global Assessment, percentage* of absent/mild-moderate/severe rating43/38/110/40/6065/27/050/50/055/35/00/50/046/46/00/100/0Patient assessment of current disease activity; 0–10, median (min; max)3.0 (0; 10)7.0 (0; 10)2.5 (0; 7)2.0 (0; 5)2.0 (0; 7)2.0 (0; 2)2.0 (0; 6)0.5 (0; 1)Patient assessment of current fatigue; 0–10, median (min; max)5.0 (0; 10)5.0 (0; 9)3.5 (0; 10)3.0 (1; 6)3.0 (0; 10)0.0 (0; 4)3.0 (0; 7)0.5 (0; 1)Number (%*) of patients without impairment of social life by the disease19 (46.3)3 (37.5)18 (66.7)3 (75.0)14 (66.7)4 (80.0)5 (55.6)2 (66.7)CRP, median (mg/dl)0.21.10.20.10.20.00.10.5SAA, median (mg/dl)0.76.80.80.40.80.60.60.7ESR, median (mm/h)9.018.56.05.05.54.08.05.0SAENumber of eventsIncidence rate per 100 patient yearsTotal1116.23Arthritis57.38SARS-CoV-2 infection22.95Familial Mediterranean Fever11.48Intestinal Hemorrhage11.48Pyrexia11.48Tonsillectomy (SADR)11.48

*not reported for all patients

CRP, c-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; n. a., not annotated; SAA, serum amyloid A; SADR, serious adverse drug reaction; SAE, serious adverse event

Disclosure of Interests:

Jörg Henes Consultant of: Novartis, AbbVie, Sobi, Roche, Janssen, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Roche, J. B. Kuemmerle-Deschner Consultant of: Novartis, AbbVie, Sobi, Grant/research support from: Novartis, AbbVie, Sobi, Tilmann Kallinich Consultant of: Sobi, Novartis, Roche, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Frank Dressler Consultant of: Abbvie, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Frank Weller-Heinemann: None declared, Birgit Kortus-Goetze Consultant of: Novartis, Ivan Foeldvari Consultant of: Novartis, Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: bbVie, Bayer, Chugai, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Chugai, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Markus Hufnagel Grant/research support from: Novartis, Florian Meier Speakers bureau: Novartis, Julia Weber-Arden Employee of: Novartis, Norbert Blank Consultant of: Novartis, Sobi, Lilly, Pfizer, Abbvie, BMS, MSD, Actelion, UCB, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Roche, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Sobi

OP0165 RISK FOR UVEITIS EVENTS AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF DISEASE MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH EXTENDED OLIGOARTHRITIS OR RHEUMATOID FACTOR NEGATIVE POLYARTHRITIS

Background:

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) associated uveitis is an extra-articular manifestation of the JIA disease that may cause vision-threatening complications and an uncontrolled uveitis may even lead to blindness. Uveitis occurs in up to 20% of patients with JIA, depending on the JIA category. The majority of patients develop uveitis within the first two years after JIA symptom onset, but uveitis can continue into adulthood.

Objectives:

The main objective of this study was to analyze the risk for uveitis events after discontinuing disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) in patients with extended oligoarthritis and rheumatoid factor (RF)-negative polyarthritis.

Methods:

Data of the two ongoing multicenter biologic registers: German Biologics in Pediatric Rheumatology (BiKeR) and the Juvenile arthritis Methotrexate/Biologics long-term Observation (JuMBO) were used to analyze the adverse-event (AE) and events of special interest (ESI) reports about uveitis events during treatment and after discontinuation of DMARDs. Biker started recruitment of children and adolescent patients with JIA exposed to biological (b) or conventional (cs) DMARD’s in 2001. The patients were further followed in JuMBO after reaching the age of 18 or transitioning to an adult rheumatologist. Disease characteristics, treatment data, AE’s and ESI’s were reported by the pediatric or adults rheumatologist, respectively.

Results:

A total of 2,041 patients with RF-negative polyarthritis (n=1,280) or extended oligoarthritis (n=761) were included into the analyses. The mean follow-up of this study was 7.6 years (SD 5.3). About half of the patients were enrolled in BiKeR with start of etanercept (1,137, 55.7%), followed by 635 (31.1%) patients with start of methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy or adalimumab (ADA, n=198, 9.7%). A history of uveitis was reported for 238 (11.7%) patients at enrolment in BiKeR. More patients with a history of uveitis treated with ADA were included in BiKeR initiating ADA (n=98 of 238, 41.2%). Patients with uveitis had a lower age at JIA onset in comparison to patients without uveitis (mean 3.6 (SD 3.0) versus 7.0 (SD 4.5) years). A total of 142 recurrent (84% of 169) uveitis events were reported in 93 patients and for 27 patients (1.3% of 2,041) was an incident uveitis reported during follow-up. More than one uveitis event was reported for 32 patients with a maximum number of 4 uveitis flares in 3 patients. Nineteen uveitis flares (11.2% of 169) were reported for patients after the age of 18. The longer the time since DMARD discontinuation the fewer uveitis events occurred. Uveitis events were significantly more often reported in the first 24 months after MTX discontinuation (<6 months: OR=3.19, 95%CI: 1.70 to 5.96; 6 to <12 months: OR=2.06, 95%CI: 1.01 to 4.66; 12 to <24 months: OR=2.20, 95%CI: 1.14 to 4.25) and in the first three months after biological DMARD discontinuation (OR=5.4, 95%CI: 1.56 to 18.33). Patients with a MTX dose of ≤ 10 mg/m2 at last MTX intake had a higher likelihood for uveitis events (OR=1.40, 95%CI: 1.02 to 1.92).

Conclusion:

This is the first study that analyzed the risk of uveitis after DMARD withdrawal. Uveitis relapses are common. Patients who discontinued DMARD therapy were at high risk for uveitis within the first 3 to 24 months after discontinuation. Rheumatologists and ophthalmologists should be aware about this risk which should lead to a regular uveitis screening after DMARD withdrawal.

Disclosure of Interests:

Jens Klotsche: None declared, Ariane Klein: None declared, Martina Niewerth: None declared, Tilmann Kallinich: None declared, Daniel Windschall: None declared, Johannes-Peter Haas: None declared, Frank Weller-Heinemann Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, SOBI, Roche, Novartis, Toni Hospach: None declared, Frank Dressler: None declared, Kirsten Minden: None declared, Gerd Horneff: None declared

POS0079 PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS HAVE A DISTINCT PATTERN OF ORGAN INVOLVEMENT.RESULTS FROM THE JUVENILE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS INCEPTION COHORT. WWW.JUVENILE-SCLERODERMA.COM

Background:

Juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) is a rare disease with a prevalence of around 3 in 1,000,000 children. To better capture the clinical manifestations of jSSc the juvenile systemic sclerosis inception cohort (jSScC) has been prospectively enrolling patients with predetermined clinical variables over the past 12 years. One of the goals is to study the demographic, clinical features, and physician and patient reported outcome differences between those with juvenile limited cutaneous (lc) compared to diffuse cutaneous (dc) disease subtypes, to determine if characteristics are similar or different between dc and lc jSSc.

Objectives:

Evaluation of the baseline clinical characteristics of jSSc patients in the jSScC. Compare clinical phenotype between diffuse (dcjSSc) and limited cutaneous (lcjSSc) subtypes.

Methods:

Demographic, physical examination, organ system evaluation, autoantibody profile, treatment, and patient and physician reported outcome variables were evaluated from the jSSc Inception cohort and summary statistics applied using chi-square test and Mann Whitney U-test comparing lcjSSc and dcjSSc subtypes.

Results:

At the time of data extraction, 175 jSSc patients were enrolled in the cohort, 81% were Caucasian and 81% female. Diffuse cutaneous jSSc subtype predominated (73%). Mean disease duration was 3.1 year (±2.7). Mean age at Raynaud´s was 10 years (+3.8) and mean age of first non-Raynaud´s was 10.2 years (±3.8). Significant differences were found between dcjSSc versus lcjSSc, regarding several clinical characteristics. Patients with diffuse cutaneous subtype had significantly higher modified Rodnan skin score (p=0.001), presence of sclerodactyly (p=0.02), presence of Gottron’s papules (p=0.003), presence of telangiectasia (p=0.001), history of digital tip ulceration (p=0.01), and frequency of elevated CK value (p=0.04). Cardiac involvement was significantly higher in limited cutaneous jSSc subtype (p=0.02). Diffuse cutaneous jSSc patients had significantly worse scores for Physician Global Assessment of disease activity (38 vs 25; p=0.002) and disease damage (34 vs 19; p=0.008).

Table 1.

Comparison of demographic data and significant differences between dcjSSc and lcjSSc at time of inclusion

Whole CohortN=175Diffuse SubtypeN=128Limited SubtypeN=47P valueFemale to Male Ratio4.3:1 (142/33)4.1:1 (103/25)4.8:1 (39/8)0.829Cutaneous subtypeDiffuse subtype73% (128)1280Limited subtype27% (47)047Mean Disease duration (years)3.1 (± 2.7)3.3 (± 2.9)2.6 (± 2.2)0.135Mean age of onset of Raynaud´s (years)10.0 (± 3.8)17 non-Raynaud9.8 (± 3.6)10 non-Raynaud10.6 (± 4.3)7 non-Raynaud0.219Mean age of onset of non-Raynaud´s (years)10.2 (± 3.9)10.0 (± 3.7)10.9 (± 4.3)0.173Disease modifying drugs88% (154)89% (114)85% (40)0.446CutaneousMean modified Rodnan skin score14.3 (0-51)17.4 (0-51)6.1 (0-24)0.001Gottron Papules27% (46/171)33% (41/124)11% (5)0.003Sclerodactyly78% (126/162)82% (98/119)65% (28/43)0.020Laboratory valuesElevated CK25% (30/122)30% (26/88)12% (4/34)0.041VascularTelangiectasia36% (56/154)44% (49/111)16% (7/43)0.001History of ulceration53% (91/173)61% (77/127)30% (14/46)0.001CardiacCardiac Involvement6% (10)2% (3)15% (7)0.002Patient Related OutcomesPhysician global disease activity(0-100) min -max35(0-90) n=14138(0-90) n=10825(0-80) n=330.002Physician global disease damage(0-100) min -max31(0-85) n=14034(0-85) n=10819(0-60) n=320.008

Conclusion:

Results from this large international cohort of jSSc patients demonstrate significant differences between dcjSSc and lcjSSc patients. According to the general organ involvement and physician global scores, the dcjSSc patients had significantly more severe disease. These observations strengthen our previous findings of the unique organ pattern of pediatric patients.

Supported by the “Joachim Herz Stiftung”

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared.

OP0163 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ETANERCEPT BIOSIMILAR AND ORIGINATOR USE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: DATA FROM THE GERMAN BIKER-REGISTRY

Background:

In 2017, 2 Etanercept biosimilars became approved. Comparative studies performed in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or psoriasis by extrapolation led to approval for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Objectives:

So far there is limited experience with Etanercept biosimilars in JIA: The large national data base of the BIKER-registry was used to describe experience with Etanercept biosimilars in clinical practice.

Methods:

In this retrospective analysis patients exposed to ETA were identified in the German BIKER-registry and grouped into cohorts according to initiation of treatment after 2017, use of the originator and of biosimilars. The course of JADAS10, Physician global assessment VAS 0–100-mm, Parent/patient global assessment VAS 0–100-cm, Active joint count 0-71, truncated at 10, ESR and CHAQ-DI was analyzed. Descriptive statistics was used for demographic, clinical data, drug exposure, adverse events (AEs) and events of special interest (ESI).

Results:

Until 31.10.2020, 2917 JIA patients were reported to have received Etanercept. Since January 1 2017, in 39 centres treatment with Etanercept was started in 439 patients (377 (85.9%) started with the originator and 62 (14.1%) started a Biosimilar). Biosimilars were prescribed n 17 centres (44%). In 12 centres (31%), Etanercept biosimilars were used first line in 62 patients. In 17 centres (44%), 63 patients switched for the originator to a biosimilar. 3 patients reswitched from the biosimilar to the originator. 4 patient switched from a biosimilar to the originator). 22 centres (56%) had not prescribed a biosimilars so far.

In not a single centre, initiation of a biosimilar was more frequent than of the originator.

The patients’ characteristics and disease activity parameters were widely comparanble. Patients receiving biosimilar first line were slightly older at disease onset and had a longer disease duration. Patients receiving biosimilar first line had more often rheumatoid factor (RF) negative polyarthritis while extended oligoarthritis was more frequent in the originator cohort. In the switching cohort, more patients had extended oligoarthritis and fewer had RF negative polyarthritis and ERA JIA.

No difference in disease activity parameters was noted, neither at baseline, during the course of treatment nor at last observation upon treatment. A decrease of the JADAS10 indicates improvement in both groups (Figure 1). At the time of switching, 68% had JADAS minimal disease activity (MDA) and 43% were in JASDAS remission. At month 6 and 12 these numbers increased to 74%/65% and 62%/50%.

In total, 66 adverse events (AE) were reported in 45 patients upon biosimilar treatment.

33 patients had 1, 5 patients 2, 5 patients had 3 and 2 reported 4 events. Adverse event of special interest were hypersensitivity n=1, injection site reaction n=1, new onset of psoriasis n=1, celiac disease n=1, Crohn‘s diesease n=1, elevated transaminases n=2, depression n=1 and disease deterioration (arthritis flare) in n=21. In 20 patients, the etanercept biosimilar was discontinued.

Conclusion:

This analysis is the first attempt to present a large data sample on JIA patients exposed to Etanercept biosimilars. Biosimilar were used in a minority of patients and by a minority of centers although no difference in efficacy or safety was noted from our analysis. Until today, the use of the originator is by far exceeding the use of biosimilars. The prescription of a biosimilar either first line or by switching from the originator is limited to a part of centres. Differences in efficacy between first line biosimilar users and originator users could not be observed. Also, after switching, no loss of efficacy was observed.

Disclosure of Interests:

Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Daniel Windschall: None declared, Toni Hospach: None declared, Sonja Mrusek: None declared, Michael Rühlmann: None declared, Ariane Klein: None declared

POS1309 PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF UNDERWEIGHT, OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS (JIA): EVIDENCE FROM THE NATIONAL PAEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGIC DATABASE (NPRD)

Background:

In patients with JIA, growth impairment and variance in body composition are well-known long-term complications that may be associated with prolonged drug therapy (e.g. glucocorticoids) as well as impaired physical and psychosocial well-being. An increased accumulation of body fat represents a significant risk factor for metabolic abnormalities and a modifiable variable for a number of comorbidities. Recently, evidence has emerged in favour of the potential negative influence of overweight on the course of the disease and treatment response [1].

Objectives:

The study aimed a) to estimate the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with JIA compared to the general population, and b) to investigate correlates of patients’ weight status.

Methods:

A cross-sectional analysis of physicians’ recorded body weights and heights of patients with JIA enrolled in the NPRD in the year 2019 was performed. Underweight (BMI <10th), overweight (BMI >90th) and obesity (BMI >97th) were defined according to age- and sex-specific percentiles used in the German reference system. For comparison with data from the general population [2], sex- and age-matched pairs of 3-17-year-old patients and controls were generated. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between weight status and patients’ clinical and self-reported outcomes.

Results:

In total, data from 6.515 children and adolescents with JIA (age 11.2 ± 4.1 years, disease duration 4.9 ± 3.8 years, 67% girls, 40% persistent oligoarthritis) were included. Of these, 3.334 (age 5.9 ± 2.1 years, 52.5% girls) could be considered for matched-pair analysis. Compared with the general population, patients underweight, overweight and obesity rates were 10.6% (vs. 8.1%), 8.8% (vs. 8.5%) and 6.1% (vs. 5.7%), respectively. No significant sex differences were found in either group. Largest difference in prevalence was registered for underweight, specifically in the age group 3-6 years (12.9% patients vs. 5.9% controls). Similar to the general population, higher rates of overweight were observed in adolescent patients than in affected children (19.1% age group 11-13 vs. 8.4% age group 3-6). While the highest underweight prevalence was registered in patients with RF+ polyarthritis (16%), patients with Enthesitis-related arthritis (22%), psoriatic arthritis (21%) and systemic JIA (20%) showed the highest overweight rates (including obesity). Younger age (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.31-0.83), more frequent physical activity (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.85-0.99) and high parental vocational education (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18-0.80) were independently associated with a lower likelihood of being overweight/obese.

Conclusion:

The overall prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with JIA is comparable to that found in the general population. Behavioural health promotion, including regular physical activity, as part of the treatment strategy in JIA should preventively already begin at preschool age and necessarily be made accessible to patients of all educational levels.

References:

[1]Giani T et al. The influence of overweight and obesity on treatment response in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Front Pharmacol 2019;10:637.

[2]Schienkiewitz A et al. BMI among children and adolescents: prevalences and distribution considering underweight and extreme obesity. Bundesgesundheitsbl 2019;62:1225–1234.

Acknowledgements:

The National Paediatric Rheumatological Database has been funded by AbbVie, Chugai, Novartis and GSK.

Disclosure of Interests:

Florian Milatz: None declared, Jens Klotsche: None declared, Martina Niewerth: None declared, Jana Hörstermann: None declared, Daniel Windschall: None declared, Frank Weller-Heinemann Speakers bureau: Pfizer, AbbVie, SOBI, Roche and Novartis., Frank Dressler: None declared, Rainer Berendes: None declared, Johannes-Peter Haas: None declared, Gerd Horneff: None declared, Kirsten Minden Speakers bureau: Pfizer, AbbVie, Consultant of: Novartis

POS1304 JUVENILE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (JSSC) PATIENTS WITH OVERLAP CHARACTERISTICS DO NOT HAVE MILD DISEASE. RESULTS FROM THE JSSC INCEPTION COHORT. WWW.JUVENILESCLERODERMA.COM

Background:

Juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) is an orphan disease with a prevalence of around 3 in 1, 000,000 children. It is known that in pediatric jSSc cohorts, there are a significant number of patients with overlap features, such as arthritis and myositis. However, the disease burden between those with and without overlap features in jSSc has not been defined.

Objectives:

Compare the clinical phenotype between children with and without overlap features in the juvenile systemic scleroderma inception cohort (jSScC).

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was performed using baseline visit data. Demographic, organ system evaluation, autoantibody profile, treatment, and patient and physician reported outcome variables were extracted from jSScC. Comparison between patients with and without overlap features was performed using chi-square test and Mann Whitney U-test.

Results:

At the time of data extraction, 175 jSSc patients were enrolled in the cohort, 81% were Caucasian and 81% female. Mean disease duration was 3.1 year (±2.7). Mean age at Raynaud´s onset was 10 years (±3.8) and mean age of first non-Raynaud´s was 10.2 years (±3.8). Overlap features occurred 17% (n=30) of the cohort, 12.5% in the diffuse cutaneous (dc) jSSc and in 30% in the limited cutaneous (lc) jSSc. Significant differences in clinical characteristics were found between those patients with compared to without overlap characteristics. Patients with overlap features presented more frequently with Gottron papules (p=0.007), swollen joints (p=0.019), muscle weakness (p=0.003), and lung involvement documented by decreased DLCO < 80% (p=0.06) and/or abnormal high resolution computed tomography (p=0.049). Anti-PM/Scl autoantibodies were also more common in this group (p=0.001). Significantly more patients without overlap features had Raynaud´s (p=0.006). Physician Global Assessment of disease activity was significantly higher in patients with overlap features (41 vs 34; p=0.041). (Table 1.)

Table 1.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of jSSc patients with and without overlap features.

Whole CohortN=175Patients without overlapN=145Patients with overlapN=30P valueFemale to Male Ratio 4.3:1(142/33)4:1(116/29)6.5:1(26/4)0.395Cutaneous subtypeDiffuse subtype (N)73% (128)11216Limited subtype (N)27% (47)3317Mean disease duration (years)3.1 (± 2.7)3.2 (± 2.8)3.1 (± 2.2)0.291Mean age of onset of Raynaud´s (years)10.0 (± 3.8)17 non-Raynaud10.0 (± 3.8)10 non-Raynaud10.0 (± 3.7)7 non-Raynaud0.931Mean age of onset of non-Raynaud´s (years)10.2 (± 3.8)10.2 (± 3.9)9.8 (± 3.7)Disease modifying drugs (N)88% (154) 89% (129)83% (25)0.388Raynaud´s phenomenon90% (158)93% (135)77% (23)0.006Anti-PMScl18% (12/68)9% (5/53)47% (7/15)0.001Gottron Papules (N)27% (46/171)23% (33/144)48% (13/27)0.007DLCO <80% (N)44% (39/88)39% (28/71)65% (11/17)0.06Abnormal findings in HRCT (N)44% (59/133)40% (43/107)62% (16/26)0.049Proportion of patients with swollen joints 18% (32) 14% (21) 37% (11)0.019Muscle Weakness (N) 21% (31/149)16% (20/123) 42% (11/26)0.003Physician global disease activity(0-100) min -max35 (0-90) n=14134 (0-90) n=11441 (0-80) n=270.041

Conclusion:

Results from this large international cohort of jSSc patients demonstrate significant differences between patients with and without overlap features. Patients with overlap have significantly more interstitial lung disease and more physician rated disease activity and should not be considered to have more “mild disease”.

Supported by the “Joachim Herz Stiftung”

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

POS1303 EXPERIENCE WITH ADALIMUMAB BIOSIMILAR USE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: DATA FROM THE GERMAN BIKER-REGISTRY

Background:

In 2017, Adalimumab Biosimilars became approved. Comparative studies to the originator have been performed in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriasis and extrapolation led to approval for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Objectives:

So far there is limited experience with biosimilars in JIA: The large national data base of the BIKER-registry was used to describe experience with Adalimumab biosimilars in clinical practice

Methods:

This retrospective analysis used data of the German BIKER-registry. The data basis war screened for patients exposed to Adalimumab. Subcohorts with initiation of treatment after 2017, use of the originator and of biosimilars were built. The course of JADAS10, Physician global assessment VAS 0–100-mm, Parent/patient global assessment VAS 0–100-cm, Active joint count 0-71, truncated at 10, ESR and CHAQ-DI was analyzed. Descriptive statistics was used for demographic, clinical data, drug exposure, adverse events (AEs) and events of special interest (ESI).

Results:

Until 31.10.2020, 1173 JIA patients were reported to have received Adalimumab. 352 treatments have been started after January 1, 2017. A biosimilar was used first line in 44 patients. Further 55 patients switched for the originator to a biosimilar. 2 patient switched from a biosimilar to the originator. 3 patients switched to a second biosimilar while 5 patients who switched from the originator to a biosimilar reswitched back to the originator.

After 2017, 33 pediatric rheumatology centres reported initiation of Adalimumab treatment. 17 have used a biosimilar. 15 centres have swichted at least 1 patient from the originator to a biosimilar and 14 have used first line a biosimilar in at least 1 patient. In a single centre, initiation of a biosimilar was used more frequently (8 versus 7).

The patients’ characteristics and disease activity parameters were brightly comparable. The JIA category rheumatoid factor (RF) negative polyarthritis was less frequent in the biosimilar first cohort while RF positive polyarthritis and psoriatic arthritis was more frequent. In patients with idiopathic uveitis the originator was used more often. In the switching cohort, more patients had RF negative polyarthritis, persistent oligoarthritis but less had psoriatic arthritis and no had RF positive polyarthritis.

No difference in disease activity parameters between patients receiving the originator or biosimilars were noted, neither at baseline, during the course of treatment nor at last observation upon treatment (Figure 1). At the time of switching, 46 (92%) had JADAS minimal disease activity (MDA) and 30 (69%) were in JASDAS remission. At last observation, those numbers were comparable with 42 (86%) with JADAS MDA and 28 (57%) with JADAS remission.

In total, 45 adverse events (AE) were reported in 45 patients upon biosimilar treatment. 26 patients had 1, 12 patients had 2 and 6 patients reported 3 and 1 reported 4 events. Adverse event of special interest were Infection associated leukopenia (n=1), COVID 19 infection (n=1), Uveitis flare (n=8), other disease deterioration (arthritis flare) (n=20), injection site reaction n=2. A single serious AE was reported. A 16 year old female adolescent was admitted for unexpected CK elevation. In 10 patients, Adalimumab was discontinued, in 2 it was temporarily paused.

Conclusion:

This article is the first attempt to present a large sample of data on JIA patients exposed to Adalimumab biosimilars. Since approval of Adalimumab-Biosimilars, limited experience from clinical practice is available. Biosimilars are used in a minority of patients and by a minority of centers although no difference in efficacy or safety was noted from our analysis.

Disclosure of Interests:

Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: Novartis, MSD, Sobi, Grant/research support from: MSD, Roche, Frank Dressler: None declared, Michael Rühlmann: None declared, Tilmann Geikowski: None declared, Sonja Mrusek: None declared, Ariane Klein: None declared

POS1199 CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF SARS-CoV2 INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH RHEUMATIC AND MUSCULUSKELETAL DISEASES – SURVEY DATA FROM GERMANY

Background:

Although children and adolescents are less likely to develop COVID-19 and generally show milder disease courses, it is unclear what impact the SARS-CoV2 infection has on children and adolescents with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD). Due to their underlying disease as well as therapeutic immunosuppression these patients may be at higher risk of being more severely affected by SARS-CoV2. Furthermore, SARS-CoV2 infection might trigger a flare of the underlying disease.

Objectives:

To evaluate clinical characteristics and disease course of COVID-19 in children and adolescents with RMD and to analyze possible effects of SARS-CoV2 infection on the underlying disease under different therapeutic regimens.

Methods:

Data from juvenile patients with RMD recorded via the SARS-CoV2 questionnaire within the National Pediatric Rheumatology Database and the registry for hospitalized children and adolescents with COVID-19 of the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases were analyzed. In addition to age, sex and diagnosis, information was collected about the date and method of a positive SARS-CoV2 testing, reason for testing, on clinical manifestations, disease course, treatment and outcome of COVID-19, on drug therapy at the time of virus detection, on disease activity (NRS 0 – 10, 0 = best) of the underlying disease at the last visit before and after the SARS-CoV2 infection.

Results:

From April 17th 2020 until January 25th 2021, data of 67 patients with RMD and confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection were collected. Mean age was 13.5 ± 3.9 years with equal sex distribution. The majority of patients were diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA, 64%), 12 (18%) patients had an autoinflammatory disease (FMF, CAPS, PFAPA, TRAPS) and 5 (7%) a connective tissue disease. Fifty-two patients (78%) were treated with a disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), 39% with a biological DMARD and 9% systemic glucocorticoids at the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nineteen patients (28%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 because of typical symptoms, the majority (67%) because of contact to an infected person. PCR was used most often (in 60 %).

52 patients (78%) developed symptoms of COVID-19, 15 patients remained asymptomatic. The most common symptom of COVID-19 was rhinitis (42%) and fever (38%), followed by fatigue (34%), taste/smell disorder (33%), sore throat (27%) and cough (23%).

Disease severity was graded as mild in 44 of 52 (85%) symptomatic patients, only two patients were hospitalized, one of whom required intensive care and died of cardiorespiratory failure 3 days after symptom onset. In 22 of 26 (85%) SARS-CoV2-positive patients, no relevant increase in disease activity (difference in NRS ≤ 1 before/after infection) of the underlying disease was observed 31 days after symptom onset (median, IQR 17-52 days). One patient, who had paused tocilizumab for 2 doses, experienced a flare of his seronegative polyarthritis 2 months after asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusion:

In our cohort, the clinical picture of COVID-19 in children and adolescents with RMD was similar to that of healthy peers. The majority of patients showed mild disease course with good outcome under various medications, however, one patient with a severe course of COVID-19 died. In addition, SARS-CoV2 infection does not appear to have a relevant impact on the underlying disease activity, whereas discontinuation of therapy might pose a risk of flare.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared.

Re-treatment with etanercept is as effective as the initial firstline treatment in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Objectives

To determine (i) correlates for etanercept (ETA) discontinuation after achieving an inactive disease and for the subsequent risk of flare and (ii) to analyze the effectiveness of ETA in the re-treatment after a disease flare.

Methods

Data from two ongoing prospective registries, BiKeR and JuMBO, were used for the analysis. Both registries provide individual trajectories of clinical data and outcomes from childhood to adulthood in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients treated with biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs).

Results

A total of 1724 patients were treated first with ETA treatment course (338 with second, 54 with third ETA course). Similar rates of discontinuation due to ineffectiveness and adverse events could be observed for the first (19.4%/6.2%), second (18.6%/5.9%), and third (14.8%/5.6%) ETA course. A total of 332 patients (+/−methotrexate, 19.3%) discontinued ETA after achieving remission with the first ETA course. Younger age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.08, p < 0.001), persistent oligoarthritis (HR 1.89, p = 0.004), and shorter duration between JIA onset and ETA start (HR 1.10, p < 0.001), as well as good response to therapy within the first 6 months of treatment (HR 1.11, p < 0.001) significantly correlated to discontinuation with inactive disease. Reoccurrence of active disease was reported for 77% of patients with mean time to flare of 12.1 months. We could not identify any factor correlating to flare risk. The majority of patients were re-treated with ETA (n = 117 of 161; 72.7%) after the flare. One in five patients (n = 23, 19.7%) discontinued ETA again after achieving an inactive disease and about 70% of the patients achieved an inactive disease 12 months after restarting ETA.

Conclusion

The study confirms the effectiveness of ETA even for re-treatment of patients with JIA. Our data highlight the association of an early bDMARD treatment with a higher rate of inactive disease indicating a window of opportunity.

Differences sustained between diffuse and limited forms of juvenile systemic sclerosis in expanded international cohort. www.juvenile-scleroderma.com

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the baseline clinical characteristics of juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) patients in the international Juvenile SSc Inception Cohort (jSScC), compare these characteristics between the classically defined diffuse (dcjSSc) and limited cutaneous (lcjSSc) subtypes, and among those with overlap features.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed using baseline visit data. Demographic, organ system evaluation, treatment, and patient and physician reported outcomes were extracted and summary statistics applied. Comparisons between dcjSSc and lcSSc subtypes and patients with and without overlap features were performed using Chi-square and Mann Whitney U-tests.

RESULTS

At data extraction 150 jSSc patients were enrolled across 42 centers, 83% were Caucasian, 80% female, dcjSSc predominated (72%), and 17% of the cohort had overlap features. Significant differences were found between dcjSSc and lcjSSc regarding the modified Rodnan Skin Score, presence of Gottron's papules, digital tip ulceration, 6 Minute walk test, composite pulmonary and cardiac involvement. All more frequent in dcSSc except for cardiac involvement. DcjSSc patients had significantly worse scores for physician rated disease activity and damage. A significantly higher occurrence of Gottron's papules, musculoskeletal involvement and composite pulmonary involvement, and significantly lower frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon, were seen in those with overlap features.

CONCLUSION

Results from a large international jSSc cohort demonstrate significant differences between dcjSSc and lcjSSc patients including more globally severe disease and increased frequency of ILD in dcjSSc patients, while those with lcSSc have more frequent cardiac involvement. Those with overlap features had an unexpected higher frequency of interstitial lung disease.

Experiences with IL-1 blockade in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis - data from the German AID-registry

BACKGROUND

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is a complex disease with dysregulation of the innate immune system driven by cytokines. A major role is ascribed to interleukin-1β (IL-1β), supporting the autoinflammatory character of the disease and offering an effective blocking mechanism for treatment. Here we present clinical practice data from the German AID-registry for patients treated with IL-1 inhibition (IL-1i).

METHODS

In 2009 a clinical and research consortium (AID-Net) was established, including an online AID-registry. Patients with documented sJIA diagnosis were identified. Data for this retrospective IL-1i study were recorded by 17 centers. Response to treatment was evaluated according to Wallace criteria and additionally by an own classifying clinical response system.

RESULTS

In 6 years, 202 patients with confirmed sJIA were recorded in the AID-registry. Out of these, 111 children received therapy with Anakinra (ANA) (n = 84, 39 f) and/or Canakinumab (CANA) (n = 27, 15 f) at a median age of 8.7 y (range 0.6-19.1). During the first 12 months 75/111 (ANA 55, CANA 20) patients were evaluated according to Wallace criteria (achievement of inactive disease 28/55 and 17/20, remission over 6 months under medication 13/55 and 7/20 cases). Over the whole period of time, clinical response was preserved in the majority of patients (ANA 54/80, CANA 20/27). Arthritis mostly persisted in polyarticular (PA) courses. During treatment with IL-1i concomitant medication could be tapered in about 15%. IL-1i was discontinued in 59/111 patients. 45 (15) adverse events (AE)s in ANA (CANA) treated patients (19.7 (26.6) AE/100 ANA (CANA) exposure years, 95%CI: 14.4-26.4 (14.9-43.9)) were reported.

CONCLUSION

In a large cohort of sJIA patients from Germany, we can confirm an overall favorable clinical response to both available IL-1 blocking agents. IL-1i was well tolerated with acceptable safety and effectiveness in a real-life clinical setting.

Outcome of children with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis compared to polyarthritis on methotrexate- data of the German BIKER registry

BACKGROUND

Oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (oligoJIA) is the most commonly diagnosed category of chronic arthritis in children. Nevertheless, there are no evidence- based guidelines for its treatment, in particular for the use of methotrexate (MTX). The primary objective of this analysis is to evaluate the outcomes in patients with persistent oligoJIA compared to those with extended oligoJIA and rheumatoid factor (RF) negative polyarthritis treated with methotrexate.

METHODS

Patients with persistent or extended oligoJIA or RF negative PA recorded in the Biologics in Pediatric Rheumatology Registry (BiKeR), receiving methotrexate for the first time were included in the analyses. Efficacy was determined using the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score 10 (JADAS 10). Safety assessment included the documentation of adverse and serious adverse events.

RESULTS

From 2005 through 2011, 1056 patients were included: 370 patients with persistent oligoJIA, 221 patients with extended oligoJIA and 467 patients with RF negative PA. Therapeutic efficacy was observed following the start of methotrexate. Over a period of 24 months JADAS-minimal disease activity (JADAS ≤2) was reached in 44% of patients with persistent oligoJIA, 38% with extended oligoJIA, 46% with RF negative PA, JADAS-remission defined as JADAS ≤1 was reached in 33% of patients with persistent oligoJIA, 29% with extended oligoJIA and 35% (RF negative PA). Patients with extended oligoJIA achieved JADAS remission significantly later and received additional biologic disease-modifying drugs significantly more often than patients with persistent oligoJIA or RF negative PA (p < 0.001). Tolerability was comparable. New onset uveitis occurred in 0.3 to 2.2 per 100 patient years.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with persistent oligoJIA taking methotrexate are at least as likely to enter remission as patients with extended oligo JIA or polyarticular JIA. Patients with extended oligoJIA achieved JADAS remission significantly later. Within 2 years, almost half of the patients with persistent oligoJIA achieved JADAS-minimal disease activity.

Comparative risk of infections among real-world users of biologics for juvenile idiopathic arthritis: data from the German BIKER registry

To examine whether treatment with interleukin (IL)-1-, IL-6-, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα)-inhibitors or Abatacept is associated with an increased risk of common infections, infections requiring hospitalization (SAE) or opportunistic infections among real-world juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients. Furthermore, the influence of other patient-related covariates on the occurrence of infections was investigated. Patients diagnosed with JIA and treated with biologics were selected from the German BIKER registry. Incidence rates (IR) of infections per 100 person years were calculated and compared between the different cohorts. Using multivariate logistic regression, odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined for the influence of patient-related covariates (age, diagnosis, laboratory data, concomitant medication, JIA activity, comorbidities, and premedication) on the occurrence of infections. 3258 patients entered the analysis. A total of 3654 treatment episodes were distributed among TNFα- (Etanercept, Adalimumab, Golimumab, Infliximab, n = 3044), IL-1- (Anakinra, Canakinumab, n = 105), IL-6- (Tocilizumab, n = 400) and T-cell activation inhibitors (Abatacept, n = 105). 813 (22.2%) patients had at least one infection, 103 (2.8%) patients suffered from an SAE infection. Both common and SAE infections were significantly more frequent in IL-1 (IR 17.3, 95% CI 12.5/24 and IR 4.3, 95% CI 2.3/8.3) and IL-6 cohort (IR 16.7, 95% CI 13.9/20 and IR 2.8, 95% CI 1.8/4.4) compared to TNFα-inhibitor cohort (IR 8.7, 95% CI 8.1/9.4 and IR 1, 95% CI 0.8/1.3). When comparing the influencing factors for various infectious diseases, the use of corticosteroids, younger age, cardiac comorbidities and higher JIA-activity are the most striking risk factors. Relative to TNFα inhibitors and Abatacept, IL-1 and IL-6 inhibitors were associated with an increased risk of common and SAE infections. The influencing covariates identified may be helpful for the choice of a suitable biologic to treat JIA.