EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: 2022 update

APOA4 as a novel predictor of prognosis in Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: A proteomics analysis from two prospective cohorts

BACKGROUND

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare but life-threatening adverse drug reactions. Conventional systemic therapies are of limited efficacy and often exhibit strong side effects.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of the combination treatment with a tumor necrosis factor-α antagonist adalimumab and delineate the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy with adalimumab by comparing 2 treatment cohorts of SJS/TEN patients. Patient plasma samples were collected for proteomics analysis.

RESULTS

The combination therapy with adalimumab significantly shortened the time to mucocutaneous re-epithelization and healing, with reduced side effects caused by corticosteroids. Plasma proteomic profiling showed that apolipoprotein A-IV (APOA4) was one of the most significant differentially expressed proteins. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that APOA4 level was significantly associated with prognosis parameter of SJS/TEN (P = .004), but not with disease severity score (severity-of-illness score for toxic epidermal necrolysis [SCORTEN]) (P = .118). Thus further research will be helpful to effectively incorporate APOA4 into current SCORTEN-driven protocols.

LIMITATIONS

The cohort size is relatively small. Both cohorts had low overall SCORTEN scores.

CONCLUSION

Adalimumab in combination with corticosteroids demonstrates significant clinical benefits over corticosteroids alone in SJS/TEN patients. Moreover, APOA4 may serve as a novel prognostic marker of SJS/TEN.

Synovial biopsies for molecular definition of rheumatoid arthritis and treatment response phenotyping: where can we improve?

INTRODUCTION

The extensive knowledge gained in the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) pathogenesis has led to therapeutic advances. However, up to 10-20% of patients fail to respond to multiple therapeutic agents being classified as multi-drugresistant. A key challenge moving forward will be the implementation of synovial biopsies in clinical practice to facilitate the shift from the current trial-and-error strategy toward new forms of clinical trials. Biomarker-driven trials have the potential to improve drug selection and patient stratification, reduce economic costs and unnecessary drug-related toxicity.

AREAS COVERED

This special report explores the clinical and research applications of synovial biopsy, the advancement in the molecular pathobiology of RA to better understand disease pathogenesis and treatment response, and the way forward for the paradigm shift needed.

EXPERT OPINION

In the current era of highly targeted biologic drugs which have dramatically transformed the outlook of RA patients, the use of synovial biopsy represents a valuable practical tool to dissect disease pathogenesis and, consequently, treatment response. In the near future, it is hoped that technological advances will allow for speeding up synovial molecular analysis and that the design of new biomarker-driven trials will enable the allocation of patients to more effective treatment.

Baricitinib retention rate: 'real-life' data from a mono-centric cohort of patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate baricitinib retention rate in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Secondary aims were to compare the impact on treatment persistence of monotherapy and other variables such as systemic corticosteroid use, line of treatment, disease duration, sex, biomarkers positivity, and Herpes Zoster virus infection.

Materials and methods

Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis undergoing baricitinib were consecutively enrolled. Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis was performed with 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria. The cohort's demographic, clinical and therapeutical data were retrospectively collected. The whole follow-up duration was 104 weeks.

Results

Ninety-five patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis and treated with baricitinib were consecutively enrolled. At the end of follow-up, the overall retention rate was 69.3%. No statistically significant difference in retention rate was observed between patients treated with baricitinib in monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate (p = 0.638) while patients undergoing a steroidal treatment showed a significantly reduced treatment retention (p = 0.028). Contrarily, patients treated with baricitinib as a first-line b/tsDMARD showed higher drug retention (p = 0.002) compared to further treatment lines. Steroid employment, steroid dosage and previous treatment with bDMARDs correlated with risk of treatment discontinuation and at univariate analysis (p = 0.028, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002 respectively). Multivariate analysis confirmed significance for higher steroid dosage and previous treatment with bDMARDs (p = 0.002 and p = 0.046). No adverse events such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or tubercular infection/reactivation were reported during the study observation.

Conclusion

Our data show a good baricitinib retention rate after 12 and 24 months of observation (75.1 and 69.3%, respectively). In our cohort, concomitant treatment with methotrexate did not influence treatment persistence while retention was reduced in patients undergoing a steroidal treatment and/or in multi-failure subjects.

Connecting the use of innovative treatments and glucocorticoids with the multidisciplinary evaluation through rule-based natural-language processing: a real-world study on patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis

Background

The impact of a multidisciplinary management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and psoriasis on systemic glucocorticoids or innovative treatments remains unknown. Rule-based natural language processing and text extraction help to manage large datasets of unstructured information and provide insights into the profile of treatment choices.

Methods

We obtained structured information from text data of outpatient visits between 2017 and 2022 using regular expressions (RegEx) to define elastic search patterns and to consider only affirmative citation of diseases or prescribed therapy by detecting negations. Care processes were described by binary flags which express the presence of RA, PsA and psoriasis and the prescription of glucocorticoids and biologics or small molecules in each cases. Logistic regression analyses were used to train the classifier to predict outcomes using the number of visits and the other specialist visits as the main variables.

Results

We identified 1743 patients with RA, 1359 with PsA and 2,287 with psoriasis, accounting for 5,677, 4,468 and 7,770 outpatient visits, respectively. Among these, 25% of RA, 32% of PsA and 25% of psoriasis cases received biologics or small molecules, while 49% of RA, 28% of PsA, and 40% of psoriasis cases received glucocorticoids. Patients evaluated also by other specialists were treated more frequently with glucocorticoids (70% vs. 49% for RA, 60% vs. 28% for PsA, 51% vs. 40% for psoriasis; p < 0.001) as well as with biologics/small molecules (49% vs. 25% for RA, 64% vs. 32% in PsA; 51% vs. 25% for psoriasis; p < 0.001) compared to cases seen only by the main specialist.

Conclusion

Patients with RA, PsA, or psoriasis undergoing multiple evaluations are more likely to receive innovative treatments or glucocorticoids, possibly reflecting more complex cases.

Novel Potential Janus Kinase Inhibitors with Therapeutic Prospects in Rheumatoid Arthritis Addressed by In Silico Studies

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating autoimmune disorder with an inflammatory condition targeting the joints that affects millions of patients worldwide. Several unmet needs still need to be addressed despite recent improvements in the management of RA. Although current RA therapies can diminish inflammation and alleviate symptoms, many patients remain unresponsive or experience flare-ups of their ailment. The present study aims to address these unmet needs through in silico research, with a focus on the identification of novel, potentially active molecules. Therefore, a molecular docking analysis has been conducted using AutoDockTools 1.5.7 on Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that are either approved for RA or in advanced phases of research. The binding affinities of these small molecules against JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3, which are target proteins implicated in the pathophysiology of RA, have been assessed. Subsequent to identifying the ligands with the highest affinity for these target proteins, a ligand-based virtual screening was performed utilizing SwissSimilarity, starting with the chemical structures of the previously identified small molecules. ZINC252492504 had the highest binding affinity (-9.0 kcal/mol) for JAK1, followed by ZINC72147089 (-8.6 kcal/mol) for JAK2, and ZINC72135158 (-8.6 kcal/mol) for JAK3. Using SwissADME, an in silico pharmacokinetic evaluation showed that oral administration of the three small molecules may be feasible. Based on the preliminary results of the present study, additional extensive research is required for the most promising candidates to be conducted so their efficacy and safety profiles can be thoroughly characterized, and they can become medium- and long-term pharmacotherapeutic solutions for the treatment of RA.

Integrative medicine using East Asian herbal medicine for inflammatory pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis integrated with multiple data mining for core candidate discovery

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by a wide range of clinical symptoms affecting various bodily functions, including skeletal, vascular, metabolic, and cognitive functions. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of integrative medicine (East Asian herbal medicine combined with conventional medicine) used for the treatment of inflammatory pain in rheumatoid arthritis and to identify key candidate drugs based on the data.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in 4 core databases (PubMed, Excerpta Medica database, Cochrane Library, and Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature) 4 Korean databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, and Korea Citation Index), 2 Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database and Wanfang data), and 1 Japanese database (Citation Information by National Institute of Informatics) for randomized controlled trials from December 13, 2022. Statistical analysis will be performed using R version 4.1.2 and R Studio program. The American College of Rheumatology 20/50/70 score and rate of adverse events will be the primary outcomes. All outcomes will be analyzed using a random-effects model to produce more statistically conservative results. Sensitivity, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses will be used to identify the sources of any heterogeneity in the study. The revised tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials, version 2.0, will be used to evaluate methodological quality. The overall quality of evidence will be assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Pro Framework.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

There are no ethical issues, as no primary data will be collected directly from the participants. The results of this review will be reported in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023412385.

The role of WNT and IL-1 signaling in osteoarthritis: therapeutic implications for platelet-rich plasma therapy

Different from inflammatory arthritis, where biologicals and targeted synthetic molecules have revolutionized the disease course, no drug has demonstrated a disease modifying activity in osteoarthritis, which remains one of the most common causes of disability and chronic pain worldwide. The pharmacological therapy of osteoarthritis is mainly directed towards symptom and pain relief, and joint replacement is still the only curative strategy. Elucidating the disease pathophysiology is essential to understand which mechanisms can be targeted by innovative therapies. It has extensively been demonstrated that aberrant WNT and IL-1 signaling pathways are responsible for cartilage degeneration, impaired chondrocyte metabolism and differentiation, increased extracellular matrix degradation, and altered subchondral bone homeostasis. Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous blood derivative containing a concentration of platelets that is much higher than the whole blood counterpart and has shown promising results in the treatment of early knee osteoarthritis. Among the proposed mechanisms, the modulation of WNT and IL-1 pathways is of paramount importance and is herein reviewed in light of the proposed regenerative approaches.

Actinomyces meyeri Causing Cerebral Abscess in a Patient on Methotrexate: A Rare Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature

Central nervous system (CNS) actinomycosis is a rare, serious, life-threatening, suppurative infection caused by Actinomyces species. Actinomyces are anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, which can be normally isolated from the polymicrobial flora of the gastrointestinal- and genital tracts. They are considered very low virulent bacteria to humans. However, they can lead to several types of local or disseminated infections, if certain pathologic states or immunodeficiency occur. Intracranial abscesses caused by Actinomyces meyeri are rarely reported in adults. In this case report, we describe a 66-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department due to progressive complaints of altered sensorium and low-grade fever, due to an A. meyeri-related brain abscess. The only risk factor was represented by immunodeficiency due to the therapy with Methotrexate and steroids.

Glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome: what to expect and how to manage

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome (GWS) can develop after withdrawing exposure to supraphysiological levels of endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoids due to an established physical dependence. It is characterised by symptoms similar to adrenal insufficiency but needs to be regarded as a separate entity. GWS is often under-recognised in clinical practice and affected patients can experience significant impairment in their quality of life.

RECENT FINDINGS

A cornerstone in GWS management is adequate patient education and reassurance that symptoms are expected and typically temporary. Patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome need to be aware that psychopathology may persist into the postoperative period. GWS is more likely to develop in severe Cushing's syndrome and in patients with very low levels of cortisol after surgery. Postoperatively, glucocorticoid replacement should be initiated and tapered in an individualised approach but there is currently no consensus on the best tapering strategy. If symptoms of GWS develop, glucocorticoid replacement ought to be temporarily increased to the previous, well tolerated dose. No randomised studies have thus far compared regimens for withdrawing glucocorticoids after treatment for anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive causes to determine the best and safest tapering strategy. One open-label, single-arm trial in patients with asthma has recently proposed a personalised glucocorticoid tapering regimen which included the systematic assessment of adrenal function.

SUMMARY

Awareness of GWS by treating physicians and patient education are essential. Evidence on optimal GWS management after Cushing's syndrome treatment is scarce, but new data are emerging for tapering after long-term glucocorticoid treatment.

Immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors: a review

Since the first Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor was developed, tumor immunotherapy has entered a new era, and the response rate and survival rate of many cancers have also been improved. Despite the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors, resistance limits the number of patients who can achieve a lasting response, and immune-related adverse events complicate treatment. The mechanism of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) is unclear. We summarize and discuss the mechanisms of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the different types of immune-related adverse events and their possible mechanisms, and describe possible strategies and targets for prevention and therapeutic interventions to mitigate them.

Treat-to-Target in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Reality or Pipe Dream

Treat-to-target is a therapeutic approach based on adjustments to treatment at set intervals in order to achieve well-defined, clinically relevant targets. This approach has been successfully applied to many chronic conditions, and in rheumatology promising results have emerged for rheumatoid arthritis. For systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), defining the most meaningful treatment targets has been challenging, due to disease complexity and heterogeneity. Control of disease activity, the reduction of damage accrual and the patient's quality of life should be considered as the main targets in SLE, and several new drugs are emerging to achieve these targets. This review is focused on describing the target to achieve in SLE and the methods to do so, and it is also aimed at discussing if treat-to-target could be a promising approach also for this complex disease.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate-resistant endometrial cancer cells are susceptible to ferroptosis inducers

AIMS

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is the most common fertility-sparing treatment in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer. If MPA treatment fails, hysterectomy is recommended. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel treatment approaches for MPA-resistant endometrial cancer patients who wish to preserve their fertility. Ferroptosis is a recently discovered type of regulated cell death caused by the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), followed by aberrant lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have shown that inducing ferroptosis is a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer. However, the role of ferroptosis in endometrial cancer treatment remains to be discussed. We therefore investigated the effects of ferroptosis inducers on MPA-resistant endometrial cancer cells.

MAIN METHODS

The levels of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), the main mediators of ferroptosis, were examined. Cell viability was evaluated after treatment with the ferroptosis inducers sulfasalazine, erastin, or RSL3. The degree of intracellular oxidative stress after treatment with these drugs was evaluated by the glutathione level, ROS level, ferrous iron level, lipid peroxidation and changes in mitochondrial morphology. The effect of ferroptosis inducers in vivo was also examined.

KEY FINDINGS

The expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 in MPA-resistant ECC-1 cells decreased in comparison to parental ECC-1 cells. Sulfasalazine, erastin, and RSL3 significantly reduced cell viability and increased intracellular oxidative stress in MPA-resistant ECC-1 cells. Ferroptosis inducers also suppressed in vivo tumor growth more effectively in MPA-resistant ECC-1.

SIGNIFICANCE

Treatment with ferroptosis inducers could be a novel therapeutic approach for MPA-resistant endometrial cancer.

Short chain fatty acids, a possible treatment option for autoimmune diseases

Gut microbiota can interact with the immune system through its metabolites. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as one of the most abundant metabolites of the resident gut microbiota play an important role in this crosstalk. SCFAs (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) regulate nearly every type of immune cell in the gut's immune cell repertoire regarding their development and function. SCFAs work through several pathways to impose protection towards colonic health and against local or systemic inflammation. Additionally, SCFAs play a role in the regulation of immune or non-immune pathways that can slow the development of autoimmunity either systematically or in situ. The present study aims to summarize the current knowledge on the immunomodulatory roles of SCFAs and the association between the SCFAs and autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease (CD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other immune-mediated diseases, uncovering a brand-new therapeutic possibility to prevent or treat autoimmunity.

Calcinosis Cutis and Calciphylaxis in Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases

Calcinosis represents a severe complication of several autoimmune disorders. Soft-tissue calcifications have been classified into five major types: dystrophic, metastatic, idiopathic, iatrogenic, and calciphylaxis. Autoimmune diseases are usually associated with dystrophic calcifications, including calcinosis cutis, occurring in damaged or devitalized tissues in the presence of normal serum levels of calcium and phosphate. In particular, calcinosis cutis has been described in dermatomyositis, polymyositis, juvenile dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren's syndrome, overlap syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Calciphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening syndrome presenting with vascular calcifications and thrombosis, has also been associated with some autoimmune conditions. Due to the potentially disabling character of calcinosis cutis and calciphylaxis, physicians' awareness about the clinical presentation and management of these diseases should be increased to select the most appropriate treatment option and avoid long-term complications. In this review, we aim to analyze the clinical features of calcinosis cutis and calciphylaxis associated with autoimmune diseases, and the main treatment strategies evaluated up to now for treating this potentially disabling disease.

Patient perspective on exercise intervention in rheumatoid arthritis with high risk of cardiovascular disease: a pilot qualitative study

The objective of the study was to gain an insight into the perceptions and experiences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a high cardiovascular disease risk (CVD-RA) when undergoing an exercise intervention aimed at improving their cardiorespiratory fitness. This qualitative study was part of a pilot study, which investigated the effects of an exercise intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with CVD-RA. Six patients were invited to participate in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. We invited patients who completed the exercise intervention as well as patients who withdrew from the exercise intervention. The interviews were analyzed according to the method of thematic analysis. Six patients were interviewed, of whom four patients completed and two patients discontinued the exercise intervention. The mean (SD) age was 58 (9.7) years, the median disease duration was 10 years, and five patients were female. The analyses revealed seven themes that provided insight into perceptions and experiences: (1) ability to understand reasons for actions; (2) the need to be seen; (3) reaching their maximum effort; (4) experiencing their limits; (5) wanting personalized exercise therapy; (6) happy to be physically active; (7) benefits of exercise. Patients perceived that they were able to perform a cardiopulmonary exercise test with maximum effort and achieved the prescribed intensity of the exercise intervention. They also experienced an improvement in their physical activity by incorporating physical activity in their daily live. Overarching principles that re-occurred in the themes were: the need to be viewed as a person and the importance of feeling safe.

Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor-related immune disorders

Biotechnological monoclonal antibodies and receptor antagonists capable of targeting specific inflammatory actors, such as cytokines, cytokines receptors, co-stimulatory molecules or leukocyte populations, have emerged as an alternative to conventional therapies for treating systemic inflammatory diseases with immune pathogenesis. However, there is no doubt that, with a frequency that is not exceptionally high but also not negligible, immunotherapies can favour the development of systemic and organ-specific immune-mediated disorders. It has become increasingly evident that interference with a specific immune pathway may favour the activation of opposing compensatory signalling, which may exacerbate underlying subclinical disorders or cause immune-mediated diseases completely different from the underlying disease. The 'compensatory immunological switch' has emerged primarily in patients treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α inhibitors, the first biological drugs approved for treating systemic inflammatory diseases with immune pathogenesis. In this Review, we describe the clinical features and predisposing factors of the main TNF-α inhibitor-related immune disorders, organising them into subclinical serological autoimmunity, autoimmune disorders other than those for which TNF-α inhibitors are indicated, and paradoxical reactions. We also discuss the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms and precautions for use in the therapeutic management of these patients. Better understanding of the complex phenomenon of the 'compensatory immunological switch', which TNF-α inhibitors and other biological drugs might trigger, can help not only appropriately managing immune-mediated disorders, but also better interpreting the heterogeneity of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying certain chronic inflammatory conditions that, although different from each other, are arbitrarily placed in the context of overly generic nosological entities.

Nanomedical approaches in the realm of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous autoimmune inflammatory disorder defined by the damage to the bone and cartilage in the synovium, which causes joint impairment and an increase in the mortality rate. It is associated with an incompletely elucidated pathophysiological mechanism. Even though disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs have contributed to recent improvements in the standard of care for RA, only a small fraction of patients is able to attain and maintain clinical remission without the necessity for ongoing immunosuppressive drugs. The evolution of tolerance over time as well as patients' inability to respond to currently available therapy can alter the overall management of RA. A significant increase in the research of RA nano therapies due to the possible improvements they may provide over traditional systemic treatments has been observed. New approaches to getting beyond the drawbacks of existing treatments are presented by advancements in the research of nanotherapeutic techniques, particularly drug delivery nano systems. Via passive or active targeting of systemic delivery, therapeutic drugs can be precisely transported to and concentrated in the affected sites. As a result, nanoscale drug delivery systems improve the solubility and bioavailability of certain drugs and reduce dose escalation. In the present paper, we provide a thorough overview of the possible biomedical applications of various nanostructures in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of RA, derived from the shortcomings of conventional therapies. Moreover, the paper suggests the need for improvement on the basis of research directions and properly designed clinical studies.

Sustained remission following the discontinuation of tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (XANADU study): an open-label randomised study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate sustained remission following the discontinuation of tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

Patients who had an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX) with or without biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were randomly divided into two groups at baseline, and tofacitinib treatment in combination with MTX was administered to both groups. Either MTX or tofacitinib was then withdrawn if patients achieved Clinical Disease Activity Index remission at week 52. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who sustained clinical remission at week 104.

RESULTS

A total of 113 patients participated in this study. Among them, a total of 48 patients achieved remission at week 52. After discontinuation of tofacitinib, only 29.2% (7/24) of patients remained remission, while 50.0% (10/20) of patients, which was numerically higher but not statistically significant, sustained remission after MTX discontinuation. A greater proportion of bio-naïve patients achieved remission at week 52 and sustained low disease activity with tofacitinib discontinuation at week 104. Additionally, the patients who were able to discontinue tofacitinib without flares had lower rheumatoid factor (p=0.04) and lower anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (p=0.051) before discontinuation of tofacitinib. No severe adverse events were recorded after discontinuation of tofacitinib or MTX. In patients who relapsed after tofacitinib discontinuation, 71.4% achieved remission with resumption of tofacitinib.

CONCLUSIONS

This study implies that a blanket cessation of tofacitinib may not be suitable for all patients, given that 58% of the participants experienced relapse. However, the withdrawal of tofacitinib is unlikely to result in the acquisition of treatment-resistance.

What is the best target in a treat-to-target strategy in rheumatoid arthritis? Results from a systematic review and meta-regression analysis

OBJECTIVES

A treat-to-target (T2T) strategy has been shown to be superior to usual care in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the optimal target remains unknown. Targets are based on a disease activity measure (eg, Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28), Simplified Disease Activity Indices/Clinical Disease Activity Indices (SDAI/CDAI), and a cut-off such as remission or low disease activity (LDA). Our aim was to compare the effect of different targets on clinical and radiographic outcomes.

METHODS

Cochrane, Embase and (pre)MEDLINE databases were searched (1 June 2022) for randomised controlled trials and cohort studies after 2003 that applied T2T in RA patients for ≥12 months. Data were extracted from individual T2T study arms; risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Using meta-regression, we evaluated the effect of the target used on clinical and radiographic outcomes, correcting for heterogeneity between and within studies.

RESULTS

115 treatment arms were used in the meta-regression analyses. Aiming for SDAI/CDAI-LDA was statistically superior to targeting DAS-LDA regarding DAS-remission and SDAI/CDAI/Boolean-remission outcomes over 1-3 years. Aiming for SDAI/CDAI-LDA was also significantly superior to DAS-remission regarding both SDAI/CDAI/Boolean-remission (over 1-3 years) and mean SDAI/CDAI (over 1 year). Targeting DAS-remission rather than DAS-LDA only improved the percentage of patients in DAS-remission, and only statistically significantly after 2-3 years of T2T. No differences were observed in Health Assessment Questionnaire and radiographic progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeting SDAI/CDAI-LDA, and to a lesser extent DAS-remission, may be superior to targeting DAS-LDA regarding several clinical outcomes. However, due to the risk of residual confounding and the lack of data on (over)treatment and safety, future studies should aim to directly and comprehensively compare targets.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021249015.

Discontinuation of Conventional Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Excellent Disease Control

This open-label randomized clinical trial assessed the 12-month risk of disease activity flares after discontinuation of conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) compared with continuing half-dose csDMARDs in adult Norwegian patients with rheumatoid arthritis and excellent disease control.

CD8+ Regulatory T Cell Deficiency in Elderly-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis

Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) is associated with higher disease activity and accelerated joint destruction compared with young-onset RA (YORA). However, the underlying immunological mechanism remains unclear. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are an immunosuppressive T cell subset, and CD4+ Tregs are deficient and/or dysfunctional in RA; however, CD8+ Tregs have not been fully examined in RA. Here, we aimed to determine the role of CD8+ Tregs, particularly in EORA. A total of 40 patients (EORA, n = 17; YORA, n = 23) were cross-sectionally enrolled. Current disease activity and treatment were comparable between the two groups; however, levels of multiple cytokines, including IL-1β, TNFα, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-2, and IL-10, were significantly increased in EORA. The number of CD4+ Tregs did not differ between the groups (p = 0.37), but those of CD8+ Tregs were significantly decreased in EORA (p = 0.0033). The number of CD8+ Tregs were inversely correlated with plasma matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-3 levels (r = −0.3331, p = 0.036). Our study results revealed an intrinsic deficiency of CD8+ Tregs in patients with EORA, which leaves synovitis unchecked with excessive MMP-3 release. A therapeutic approach to restore CD8+ Tregs may provide a new avenue for the treatment of EORA.

Real-world experience of rituximab biosimilar GP2013 in rheumatoid arthritis patients naïve to or switched from reference rituximab

Randomized controlled trials showed high comparability of biosimilar rituximab (bs-RTX) GP2013 to biologic originator RTX (bo-RTX). Data on effectiveness of switching from bo-RTX to bs-RTX, starting therapy with bs-RTX, and bs-RTX drug survival in real-world setting are sparse. To explore long-term drug effectiveness and survival of bs-RTX GP2013 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients both naïve to and mandatory switched from bo-RTX, and to clarify reasons for treatment cessation. Retrospective observational cohort study including RA outpatient clinic patients treated with bs-RTX between 2018 and 2021 in Norway. Patients were examined and monitored using recommended measures for disease activity and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). For description of population medians and interquartile range were used. Difference between observation times was assessed with Signed-Rank test, drug survival with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Reasons for discontinuation were ascertained. Among 110 patients, at baseline, 88 were mandatory switched from bo-RTX and 22 were RTX-naïve. During 2-year follow-up, disease activity and PROs measures remained stable in switchers subgroup and improved in subgroup starting bs-RTX for the first time. Overall drug survival was 80.0% after 1 year and 57.7% after 2 years and was significantly higher in bs-RTX-switched than in bs-RTX-naïve patients (p = 0.036). Two most frequently reported reasons for drug discontinuation were remission (38.6%) and doctor's decision (27.1%). RA patients treated with bs-RTX had satisfactory treatment response and drug retention rates which supports equivalence of bs-RTX GP2013 to bo-RTX, both in patients naïve to and mandatory switched from bo-RTX.

Unmet needs and perspectives in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: A critical review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis as the most common clinical manifestation, and interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) represents one of the most common and potentially severe extra-articular features. Our current understanding of the mechanisms and predictors of RA-ILD is limited despite the demonstration that an early identification of progressive fibrosing forms is crucial to provide timely treatment with antifibrotic therapies. While high resolution computed tomography is the gold standard technique for the diagnosis and follow-up of RA-ILD, it has been hypothesized that serum biomarkers (including novel and rare autoantibodies), new imaging techniques such as ultrasound of the lung, or the application of innovative radiologic algorithms may help towards predicting and detecting early forms of diseases. Further, while new treatments are becoming available for idiopathic and connective tissue disease-associated forms of lung fibrosis, the treatment of RA-ILD remains anecdotal and largely unexplored. We are convinced that a better understanding of the mechanisms connecting RA with ILD in a subgroup of patients as well as the creation of adequate diagnostic pathways will be mandatory steps for a more effective management of this clinically challenging entity.

Rheumatic Immune-Related Adverse Events due to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors—A 2023 Update

With the aging of the population, malignancies are becoming common complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in elderly patients. Such malignancies often interfere with RA treatment. Among several therapeutic agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) which antagonize immunological brakes on T lymphocytes have emerged as a promising treatment option for a variety of malignancies. In parallel, evidence has accumulated that ICIs are associated with numerous immune-related adverse events (irAEs), such as hypophysitis, myocarditis, pneumonitis, and colitis. Moreover, ICIs not only exacerbate pre-existing autoimmune diseases, but also cause de novo rheumatic disease–like symptoms, such as arthritis, myositis, and vasculitis, which are currently termed rheumatic irAEs. Rheumatic irAEs differ from classical rheumatic diseases in multiple aspects, and treatment should be individualized based on the severity. Close collaboration with oncologists is critical for preventing irreversible organ damage. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the mechanisms and management of rheumatic irAEs with focus on arthritis, myositis, and vasculitis. Based on these findings, potential therapeutic strategies against rheumatic irAEs are discussed.

Evaluation of the Synovial Effects of Biological and Targeted Synthetic DMARDs in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

The aims of this systematic literature review (SLR) were to identify the effects of approved biological and targeted synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) on synovial membrane of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, and to determine the existence of histological/molecular biomarkers of response to therapy. A search was conducted on MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library (PROSPERO:CRD42022304986) to retrieve data on longitudinal change of biomarkers in paired synovial biopsies and in vitro studies. A meta-analysis was conducted by adopting the standardized mean difference (SMD) as a measure of the effect. Twenty-two studies were included (19 longitudinal, 3 in vitro). In longitudinal studies, TNF inhibitors were the most used drugs, while, for in vitro studies, JAK inhibitors or adalimumab/secukinumab were assessed. The main technique used was immunohistochemistry (longitudinal studies). The meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in both CD3+ lymphocytes (SMD -0.85 [95% CI -1.23; -0.47]) and CD68+ macrophages (sublining, sl) (SMD -0.74 [-1.16; -0.32]) in synovial biopsies from patients treated for 4-12 weeks with bDMARDs. Reduction in CD3+ mostly correlated with clinical response. Despite heterogeneity among the biomarkers evaluated, the reduction in CD3+/CD68+sl cells during the first 3 months of treatment with TNF inhibitors represents the most consistent variation reported in the literature.

Effects of Microecological Regulators on Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials

In this study, the available data from published randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) of the use of intestinal microecological regulators as adjuvant therapies to relieve the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are systematically compared. An English literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials and supplemented by hand searching reference lists. Three independent reviewers screened and assessed the quality of the studies. Among the 2355 citations identified, 12 RCTs were included. All data were pooled using a mean difference (MD) with a 95% CI. The disease activity score (DAS) showed a significant improvement following microecological regulators treatment (MD (95% CI) of -1.01 (-1.81, -0.2)). A borderline significant reduction in the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) scores was observed (MD (95% CI) of -0.11 (-0.21, -0.02)). We also confirmed the known effects of probiotics on inflammatory parameters such as the C-reactive protein (CRP) (MD -1.78 (95% CI -2.90, -0.66)) and L-1β (MD -7.26 (95% CI -13.03, -1.50)). No significant impact on visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) reduction was observed. Intestinal microecological regulators supplementation could decrease RA activity with a significant effect on DAS28, HAQ and inflammatory cytokines. Nevertheless, these findings need further confirmation in large clinical studies with greater consideration of the confounding variables of age, disease duration, and individual medication regimens.

Safety of biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis as used in clinical practice: results from the ARTIS programme

OBJECTIVE

Longitudinal clinical registry-infrastructures such as Anti-Rheumatic Therapies in Sweden (ARTIS) allow simultaneous comparison of the safety of individual immunomodulatory drugs used in clinical practice, with consistent definitions of treatment cohorts, follow-up and outcomes. Our objective was to assess and compare incidence rates of key safety outcomes for individual targeted synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/ts DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), updating previous reports and including newer treatments including Janus Kinase inhibitors (JAKi).

METHODS

Nationwide register-based cohort study including all patients with RA in Sweden registered as starting any b/tsDMARD 1 January 2010 through 31 December 2020, followed until 30 June 2021 (N=20 117). The incidence rates of selected outcomes, identified through national healthcare registers, were compared between individual b/tsDMARDs, adjusted for confounding by demographics, RA disease characteristics and comorbidity.

RESULTS

There were marked differences in treatment discontinuations due to adverse events (rates per 1000 person-years ranged from 18 on rituximab to 57 on tofacitinib), but few significant differences were observed for the serious adverse events under study. Neither cardiovascular events nor general serious infections were more frequent on baricitinib or tofacitinib versus bDMARDs, but JAKi were associated with higher rates of hospital-treated herpes zoster (HR vs etanercept, 3.82 (95% CI 2.05 to 7.09) and 4.00 (1.59 to 10.06)). Low number of events limited some comparisons, in particular for sarilumab and tofacitinib.

CONCLUSION

Data from ARTIS supports that the b/tsDMARDs currently used to treat RA have acceptable and largely similar safety profiles, but differences exist in particular concerning tolerability and specific infection risks.

A rare side effect of methotrexate therapy: drug-induced osteopathy with multiple fractures of the lower limb

Methotrexate is associated with bone lesions that are rare and, although presenting with a typical localisation to the lower extremities and appearing with a characteristic radiologic morphology, largely unknown and often misdiagnosed as osteoporotic insufficiency fractures. The correct and early diagnosis, however, is key for treatment and prevention of further osteopathology. Here, we present a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who developed multiple painful insufficiency fractures in the left foot (processus anterior calcanei, tuber calcanei) and in the right lower leg and foot (anterior and dorsal calcaneus and at the cuboid and distal tibia) during therapy with methotrexate, which were all misdiagnosed as osteoporotic. The fractures occurred between 8 months and 35 months after starting methotrexate. Discontinuation of methotrexate resulted in rapid pain relief and no further fractures have occurred. This case powerfully demonstrates the importance of raising awareness of methotrexate osteopathy in order to take appropriate therapeutic measures, including and perniciously discontinuing methotrexate.

Orthorexia Nervosa Practices in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The DORA Study

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an indisputable component of the multidisciplinary therapeutic approach in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous research has suggested that in chronic disease where nutrition is an important effector of prognosis, healthy dietary choices might take an unhealthy turn, with patients developing disordered eating in the form of orthorexia nervosa (ON). ON is characterized by a pathological preoccupation with "healthy", "pure" eating, associated with restrictive dietary patterns, nutrient deficiencies and worsening disease outcomes. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate ON tendencies in a sample of adult patients with RA. A total of 133 patients with RA were recruited, and completed the ORTO-15 questionnaire for the assessment of ON tendencies. Most of the patients were overweight/obese (53.4%). The results revealed ON tendencies in the sample, with the median ORTO-15 score reaching 36 (IQR: 33-39). Greater ON tendencies were associated with the female gender, and lowered ON tendencies with increasing age and body mass index. The present findings highlight the need for health professional awareness regarding the problem of ON in patients with RA and the importance of screening patients.

Tapering glucocorticoids and risk of flare in rheumatoid arthritis on biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)

INTRODUCTION

Glucocorticoids are still a mainstream of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Reducing glucocorticoids should be attempted in all patients. However, choosing the right tapering strategy is challenging. The primary aim of our study is to determine the dose-response association between glucocorticoid tapering and risk of flare in RA.

METHODS

We conducted a case-crossover study to determine the factors associated to higher risk of flare in patients with RA. In case-crossover studies time-varying factors are assessed before events (hazard periods) and before control periods. We defined hazard periods as the 6 months immediately preceding flares of RA. Control periods were the 6 months prior to visits without flare. Exposure of interest was the tapering of glucocorticoids to various doses.

RESULTS

508 patients with RA were included in the study and 267 (52.5%) had at least a flare and served as the case-crossover study population. 1545 visits were available for analysis and 345 (22.3%) flares were recorded. Discontinuation of glucocorticoids (ie, tapering to doses of 0 mg/day) and tapering to 0-2.5 mg/day was associated with higher risk of flare (adjusted OR (aOR) of 1.45, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.24 and aOR of 1.37; 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.01, respectively). Tapering to doses >2.5 mg/day was not associated with significantly higher risk of flare.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that tapering to doses of >2.5 mg/day was generally effective in terms of risk of flare. Flare risk was higher when glucocorticoids were tapered to doses ≤2.5 mg/day. Our study might help design new tapering strategies in patients with RA on biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Defining response to therapy with biologics in severe asthma: from global evaluation to super response and remission

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, monoclonal antibodies targeting Type-2 inflammatory pathways have been developed for severe asthma treatment. However, even when patients are carefully selected, the response to treatment varies.

AREAS COVERED

Different studies have evaluated response to therapy with biologics such as exacerbation reduction, symptom improvement, pulmonary function increase, improvement in QoL, or decrease of oral corticosteroids, showing that all patients do not respond to all disease aspects and leading to an extensive debate regarding the definition of response.

EXPERT OPINION

Assessing response to therapy is of great importance, but since there is no uniform definition of treatment response, the recognition of patients who really benefit from these therapies remains an unmet need. In the same context, identifying non-responding patients in which biologic therapy should be switched or substituted by alternative treatment options is of paramount importance. In this review, we present the road trip of the definition of therapeutic response to biologics in severe asthmatics by presenting the current relevant medical literature. We also present the suggested predictors of response, with an emphasis on the so-called super-responders. Finally, we discuss the recent insights regarding asthma remission as a feasible treatment goal and provide a simple algorithm for the evaluation of response.

Cost-effectiveness of janus kinase inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cost-utility studies

Introduction: Janus kinase inhibitors (JAK-i), a class of targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tDMARDs), are suggested as second or third-line therapies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Synthesized cost-effective evidence would aid in informed decision-making given the similar clinical effectiveness of JAKi, but incongruent cost-effectiveness reports. Methods: Literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Tufts Medical Centers' cost-effective analysis registry. We pooled the incremental net benefit (INB) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using random-effects model and the heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane-Q test and I2 statistic. Modified economic evaluation bias checklist was used to assess the quality of selected studies. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test. The Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment was performed to assess the certainty of outcomes presented. Results: We included seventeen relevant studies for systematic review, of which fifteen were eligible for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that JAK-i is cost-effective compared to csDMARDS/bDMARDs with a pooled INB (INBp) of $19,886 (95% CI, 1,635 to 38,137) but with considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 99.14). As a second-line treatment for csDMARD failed RA, JAK-i is cost-effective than csDMARD/bDMARD with a pooled INB of $23,144 (74.1-46,214) and high heterogeneity (I2 = 99.67). But on a separate analysis JAK-i as second-line treatment is not cost-effective than TNF-a-i (INBp = $25,813, -5,714 to 57,340). However, leave-one-out analysis found that omitting a single outlier makes JAK-i cost-effective. Further, JAK-i is not cost-effective as a third-line treatment for csDMARD-TNF-a-I failed RA, compared to csDMARDs/bDMARDs with INBp $26,157 (-7,284 to 59,598). Conclusion: Meta-analysis suggests that JAK-i is cost-effective when used after csDMARD failure but not cost-effective when used after csDMARD-TNF-a-i failure with low certainty of evidence. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021222541, identifier CRD42021222541.

Glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis: Balancing benefits and harm by leveraging the therapeutic window of opportunity

Glucocorticoids have been available since the early 1950s and have since become an integral part of the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Due to their rapid effect, glucocorticoids have an appealing profile for treating flares or as "bridging" agents in early RA. The efficacy of glucocorticoids to treat RA has been well established, both to control disease activity and to delay the progression of joint damage. However, despite their benefits, glucocorticoids have equally well-known adverse effects. It is generally accepted that long-term use of glucocorticoids, particularly at higher doses, is not advisable, and recent guidelines for the management of RA therefore either recommend against the use of glucocorticoids or suggest using them only as bridging therapy. Perceptions on the harmful effects of glucocorticoids remain, although mainly based on observational studies. Prolonged glucocorticoid therapy at low doses is still highly prevalent in clinical practice, but recent data suggest a rather favourable risk-benefit balance for this strategy, even in senior patients. Balancing the benefits and risks of treating RA with glucocorticoids thus remains a somewhat controversial topic. This narrative review outlines the historical and current position of glucocorticoids in the management of RA, while summarising recent evidence on their beneficial and detrimental effects. Furthermore, practical strategies for the current use and tapering of glucocorticoids in RA are formulated.