Adverse effects of biologics: a network meta-analysis and Cochrane overview

4-Octyl itaconate alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice via activating the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease with a relapsing-remitting course. Although its etiology remains unknown, excessive oxidative stress in colon is a major intermediate factor that can promote the progression of UC. In the present study, we investigated the effect and the underlying mechanisms of 4-Octyl itaconate (OI) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Our work identified that OI alleviated the colitis by reducing the oxidative stress and the apoptosis in colon tissue, then increasing the tight junction proteins expression and in turn enhancing the intestinal barrier function, thereby creating less severe inflammatory responses. Moreover, our results demonstrated that OI reduced the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) expression and subsequent upregulated nuclear factor E2-related factor (NRF2) expression and its nuclear translocation which in turn induced the expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). In addition, ML385, a NRF2 antagonist, can inhibit the protective effects of OI on UC, indicating that the role of OI in this colitis model could be dependent on the activation of KEAP1-NRF2 pathway. Notably, OI co-administration significantly enhanced the therapeutic effects of mesalazine or 1400W on UC. Collectively, itaconate may have a great potential for use in the treatment of IBD.

Oral administration of CXCL12-expressing Limosilactobacillus reuteri improves colitis by local immunomodulatory actions in preclinical models

Treatments of colitis, inflammation of the intestine, rely on induction of immune suppression associated with systemic adverse events, including recurrent infections. This treatment strategy is specifically problematic in the increasing population of patients with cancer with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced colitis, as immune suppression also interferes with the ICI-treatment response. Thus, there is a need for local-acting treatments that reduce inflammation and enhance intestinal healing. Here, we investigated the effect and safety of bacterial delivery of short-lived immunomodulating chemokines to the inflamed intestine in mice with colitis. Colitis was induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) alone or in combination with ICI (anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA-4), and Limosilactobacillus reuteri R2LC (L. reuteri R2LC) genetically modified to express the chemokine CXCL12-1α (R2LC_CXCL12, emilimogene sigulactibac) was given perorally. In addition, the pharmacology and safety of the formulated drug candidate, ILP100-Oral, were evaluated in rabbits. Peroral CXCL12-producing L. reuteri R2LC significantly improved colitis symptoms already after 2 days in mice with overt DSS and ICI-induced colitis, which in benchmarking experiments was demonstrated to be superior to treatments with anti-TNF-α, anti-α4β7, and corticosteroids. The mechanism of action involved chemokine delivery to Peyer's patches (PPs), confirmed by local CXCR4 signaling, and increased numbers of colonic, regulatory immune cells expressing IL-10 and TGF-β1. No systemic exposure or engraftment could be detected in mice, and product feasibility, pharmacology, and safety were confirmed in rabbits. In conclusion, peroral CXCL12-producing L. reuteri R2LC efficiently ameliorates colitis, enhances mucosal healing, and has a favorable safety profile.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Colitis symptoms are efficiently reduced by peroral administration of probiotic bacteria genetically modified to deliver CXCL12 locally to the inflamed intestine in several mouse models.

Paediatric Uveitis - the uniqueness in clinical presentation and the efficacy of biologics treatment

AIMS

To evaluate unique clinical characteristics of paediatric uveitis in our locality and treatment outcomes especially the efficacy of biologics.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort.

RESULTS

37 paediatric uveitis cases involving 67 eyes were included. Male-to-female ratio was 1:1.3. Mean age of uveitis onset was 11 ± 3.7 (4-18). 81.1% cases suffered from bilateral uveitis. 75.7% cases were chronic uveitis. Nearly half of the cases (40.5%) presented with anterior uveitis. The predominant diagnosis of uveitis in our cohort was idiopathic. Unlike studies from other populations, the associated systemic conditions in this mostly Chinese cohort were Behçet's disease (8.1%), tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (8.1%) and HLA-B27 associated uveitis (8.1%). Steroid response was a common phenomenon, observed in 40.5% of cases. The most common complication was posterior synechiae (45.9%), followed by cataract (37.8%), glaucoma (27.0%), band keratopathy (18.9%) and macular oedema (13.5%). 3/37 patients encountered either first attack of uveitis or flare after receiving COVID-19 vaccine. 54.1% of patients required systemic steroid for disease control. The majority required steroid sparing immunotherapy, including Methotrexate (43.2%), Mycophenolate Mofetil (24.3%), Cyclosporine A (8.1%), Azathioprine (5.4%) and Tacrolimus (2.7%). Resistant cases required biologics including tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitors (Adalimumab 32.4%, Infliximab 2.7%) and interleukin-6 inhibitors (Tocilizumab 2.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical presentation of the local paediatric uveitis differs from previously described features in Caucasian and other populations. According to our experience as a tertiary eye centre, Behçet's disease, tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis and HLA-B27 associated uveitis were more often encountered than Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis associated uveitis. Our report evaluated the efficacy of immunomodulatory therapy and biologics in controlling uveitis and reducing ocular complications.

Biologics or Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Who are Insufficient Responders to Conventional Anti-Rheumatic Drugs

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease which can induce progressive disability if not properly treated early. Over the last 20 years, the improvement of knowledge on the pathogenesis of the disease has made available several drugs targeting key elements of the pathogenetic process, which now represent the preferred treatment option after the failure of first-line therapy with conventional drugs such as methotrexate (MTX). To this category of targeted drugs belong anti-cytokine or cell-targeted biological agents and more recently also Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis). In the absence to date of specific biomarkers to guide the therapeutic choice in the context of true precision medicine, the choice of the first targeted drug after MTX failure is guided by treatment cost (especially after the marketing of biosimilar products) and by the clinical characteristics of the patient (age, sex, comorbidities and compliance) and the disease (presence or absence of autoantibodies and systemic or extra-articular manifestations), which may influence the efficacy and safety profile of the available products. This viewpoint focuses on the decision-making process underlying the personalized approach to RA therapy and will analyse the evidence in the literature supporting the choice of individual products and in particular the differential choice between biological drugs and JAKis.

Rational approach to the prescription of anti-rheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis: a product leaflet-based strategy in Italy

The treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has dramatically changed in the past 30 years. Currently, numerous conventional, biologic, and targeted synthetic DMARDs have been licensed and used following recommendations provided by international and national scientific societies. However, the availability of biosimilars and the increasing necessity of savings impacted on the local/national prescription of these drugs. The information provided by data sheet of every single drug is a decisive factor on the choice of a certain treatment merged with the patient's profile. Thus, our purpose was to construct a rational algorithm for the treatment strategy in RA according to costs and the product leaflet of the biologic and targeted-synthetic DMARDs currently licensed in Italy. We used the most recent available recommendations and then we performed a review of the literature considering all the factors that are known to influence drug safety/effectiveness. All these factors were considered in the context of the data sheets of currently available originators and biosimilars.

Biologics Versus JAK Inhibitors. Part I: Cancer Risk. A Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION

Biological drugs (BD) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) have revolutionized the treatment of diverse dermatoses. However, there are concerns regarding their safety, especially the risk of cancer and opportunistic infections. Here, we discuss the risk of cancer associated with the BD and JAKi used in dermatology.

METHODS

A narrative review was carried out. All relevant articles evaluating the risk of cancer associated with BD or JAKi and published between January 2010 and February 2024 were selected.

RESULTS

Multiple large studies have evaluated the association between BD, JAKi and cancer risk. However, there is a lack of prospective, comparative studies. Overall, patients undergoing BD and JAKi present a cutaneous cancer incidence similar to that in the general population. The drugs more strongly associated with non-skin cancer risk were anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNFs) agents and JAKi (especially tofacitinib and oral ruxolitinib). This risk appears to increase with age, the presence of other factors (such as chronic immunosuppression from previous drugs or other comorbidities), and specific diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and myelodysplastic syndrome. Conversely, BD such as interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23 inhibitors may even reduce the risk of some visceral and hematological malignancies. In patients with dermatological conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, the risk of malignancies may be lower than in other subgroups, and probably comparable to the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of cancer in patients undergoing BD or JAKi is generally low. This incidence can be higher in elderly patients with RA or myelodysplastic syndrome, and in those undergoing prolonged therapy with tofacitinib or ruxolitinib (oral), or anti-TNF agents.

Monitoring of Adverse Events and Safety in Autoinflammatory Diseases: Real-Life Data from the Eurofever Registry

OBJECTIVES

The study is aimed to evaluate the impact of safety events in the Eurofever registry for Autoinflammatory diseases.

METHODS

This was a retrospective and longitudinal observational multicentre study. Data were retrieved from the international registry Eurofever, starting patients' enrolment since 2009. All moderate, severe, or very severe AEs reported by treating physician in Eurofever were analyzed regardless of a possible suspected causal relationship to any therapies and according to the latest release of the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities.

RESULTS

Complete information on safety were available in 2464 patients enrolled in the registry. In 1499 of them retrospective data encompassing the period from disease onset to enrolment were available, whereas 965 consecutive patients entered in the longitudinal part of the study. A total of 479 AEs have been reported in 275 patients. Eighty-two AEs were reported as serious and 99 were drug-related according to the physicians. Infections or infestations (94; 19.6%), gastrointestinal disorders (66; 13.8%), nervous system disorders (41; 8.6%) and systemic disorders or administration site reactions (35; 7.3%) were the most frequent reported events. The highest absolute number of drug-related AEs were related to biologic DMARDs (40/99 reports, 40,4%) and colchicine (31/99 reports, 31.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Present study shows the importance of a longitudinal and homogeneous registration of the AEs in rare conditions, with a particular focus on the safety profile of the treatments used in these conditions.

Safety of Biologic and Small Molecule Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing organ transplantation are often on immunosuppressing medications to prevent rejection of the transplant. The data on use of concomitant immunosuppression for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and organ transplant management are limited. This study sought to evaluate the safety of biologic and small molecule therapy for the treatment of IBD among solid organ transplant recipients.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for studies reporting on safety outcomes associated with the use of biologic and small molecule therapy (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, vedolizumab, ustekinumab, and tofacitinib) in patients with IBD postsolid organ transplant (eg, liver, kidney, heart, lung, pancreas). The primary outcome was infectious complications. Secondary outcomes included serious infections, colectomy, and discontinuation of biologic therapy.

RESULTS

Seven hundred ninety-seven articles were identified for screening, yielding 16 articles for the meta-analyses with information on 163 patients. Antitumor necrosis factor α (Anti-TNFs; infliximab and adalimumab) were used in 8 studies, vedolizumab in 6 studies, and a combination of ustekinumab or vedolizumab and anti-TNFs in 2 studies. Two studies reported outcomes after kidney and cardiac transplant respectively, whereas the rest of the studies included patients with liver transplants. The rates of all infections and serious infections were 20.09 per 100 person-years (100-PY; 95% CI, 12.23-32.99 per 100-PY, I2 = 54%) and 17.39 per 100-PY (95% CI, 11.73-25.78 per 100-PY, I2 = 21%), respectively. The rates of colectomy and biologic medication discontinuation were 12.62 per 100-PY (95% CI, 6.34-25.11 per 100-PY, I2 = 34%) and 19.68 per 100-PY (95% CI, 9.97-38.84 per 100-PY, I2 = 74%), respectively. No cases of venous thromboembolism or death attributable to biologic use were reported.

CONCLUSION

Biologic therapy is overall well tolerated in patients with solid organ transplant. Long-term studies are needed to better define the role of specific agents in this patient population.

Comprehensive overview of novel chemical drugs for ulcerative colitis: focusing on phase 3 and beyond

INTRODUCTION

Despite the growing number of highly efficacious biologics and chemical drugs for ulcerative colitis (UC), steroid-free disease control is still difficult to achieve in subgroups of patients due to refractoriness, adverse events, primary or secondary failure. New treatments are therefore still required in order to optimize clinical management of patients with UC.

AREAS COVERED

The efficacy and safety of both currently available and newly developed small molecules have been summarized. The PubMed database and clinicaltrials.gov were considered in order to search for phase 2b and 3 trials on new chemical drugs for UC. The study drugs reviewed included Janus kinases (JAK) and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1Pr) inhibitors, α4 integrin antagonist, and micro-RNA-124 upregulators.

EXPERT OPINION

Rapidity of onset, low immunogenicity, and safety are the main characteristics of small molecules currently available or under evaluation for treatment patients with UC. Among the currently available chemical drugs, the selective JAK and the S1Pr inhibitors are characterized by a good safety profile combined with the ability to induce clinical remission in UC. A relatively low frequency of endoscopic improvement and healing currently appears associated with their use, being higher in UC patients treated with S1Pr inhibitor Etrasimod. Overall, additional new safe and effective drugs are still required in order to optimize disease control in a larger majority of UC patients.

Therapeutic advances in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common immune mediated inflammatory diseases. People with rheumatoid arthritis present with pain, swelling, and stiffness that typically affects symmetrically distributed small and large joints. Without effective treatment, significant joint damage, disability, and work loss develop, owing to chronic inflammation of the joint lining (synovium). Over the past 25 years, the management of this condition has been revolutionized, resulting in substantially higher levels of disease remission and better long term outcomes. This improvement reflects a paradigm shift towards early and aggressive pharmacological intervention coupled with a proliferation in treatment choice, in turn related to enhanced pathobiological understanding and the advent of new drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. Following an overview of these developments from a historical perspective, and with a general audience in mind, this review focuses on newer, targeted treatments in an ever evolving landscape. The review highlights ongoing areas of debate and unmet need, including the proportion of patients with persistent, difficult-to-treat disease, despite recent advances. Also discussed are personalized, strategic approaches to individual patients, the role for imaging in clinical decision making, and the goal of sustained, drug free remission and disease prevention in the future.

Cost Effectiveness of Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Active Ankylosing Spondylitis in Greece

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory, multidimensional, musculoskeletal disease primarily involving the axial skeleton. In addition, ankylosing spondylitis is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, significantly affecting productivity and overall quality of life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of tofacitinib compared to currently marketed biologic treatment in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy (biologic-naïve population) or previous biologic therapy (biologic-experienced population) in Greece.

METHODS

A published model comprising a decision tree and a three-state Markov model was adapted from a public payer perspective over a lifetime horizon. Adalimumab and secukinumab, having the highest market shares among biologics for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in Greece (standard practice), were selected as comparators in the analysis. Clinical parameters captured treatment response defined per Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society 20 response, short-term and long-term changes in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index scores, long-term biologic treatment discontinuation, and adverse events. Efficacy, safety data, and utility values were elicited from the published literature. Direct costs pertaining to drug acquisition, monitoring, adverse events, and disease management costs were considered in the analysis (€2022). Model outcomes were patients' quality-adjusted life-years, total costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. All future outcomes were discounted at 3.5% per annum. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted to account for model uncertainty.

RESULTS

In a biologic-naïve population, compared with adalimumab, tofacitinib produced an estimated 0.06 additional quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs] (10.67 vs 10.73), at additional costs of €2403 (€147,096 vs €149,500) resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €41,378 per QALY gained. In a biologic-experienced population, the total cost per patient for tofacitinib and secukinumab was estimated to be €151,371 and €145,757, respectively. In terms of health outcomes, tofacitinib was associated with a 0.13 increment in QALYs compared with secukinumab resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €42,784 per QALY gained. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the deterministic results for both populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Tofacitinib was estimated to be a cost-effective option for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis in Greece for both biologic-naive and biologic-experienced patients.

Drug Design for Alzheimer's Disease: Biologics vs. Small Molecules

There shall probably be no "magic bullet" for Alzheimer's; rather, we should be pursuing a "magic shotgun blast" that will target multiple complementary therapeutic receptors. Although protein misfolding/oligomerization will probably be one of these targets, this alone is insufficient and will require the co-administration of other therapeutic entities engaging targets, such as immunopathy, gliopathy, mitochondriopathy, synaptotoxicity or others. Although polypharmacy is emerging as the preferred therapeutic route, many questions remain unanswered. Should this be a cocktail of biologics, a concoction of small molecules, or a judicious combination of both? Biologics and small molecule drugs display both strengths and weaknesses. When addressing a disease as complex and globally important as Alzheimer's, there should be room for the continuing development of both of these therapeutic classes. Each has much to offer, and when used with their advantages and disadvantages in clear focus, an ultimate solution will probably require contributions from both.

Vaccination with Toxoplasma lysate antigen or its encapsulated niosomes form immunomodulates adjuvant-induced arthritis through JAK3 downregulation

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory autoimmune arthritis like that present in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is treated by medications with many side effects. This study was a trial to benefit from Toxoplasma immune-modulatory effects on its host to treat arthritis in rat model resembling joints affection of RA. To avoid hazards of infection, Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA) was given instead of the whole infection, in addition to giving its encapsulated niosomes form, assuming that it would enhance the effect of TLA alone, to compare effects of both on disease activity with that of prednisolone.

METHODS

Swiss albino rats were divided into 6 groups: normal control group and the remaining 5 groups were injected by CFA adjuvant to induce arthritis; one of those groups was the untreated model. Each of the other groups received one of the following (TLA, TLA-encapsulated niosomes, prednisolone or niosomes) for comparison of their results. Inflammatory markers measured at the end of the experiment were: interleukin 17 (IL-17), IL-10 and CRP by ELISA technique; histopathological assessment of the biopsied hind paw joints was done and also, Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

TLA and TLA-encapsulated niosomes both mitigated the signs of clinical and histopathological arthritis and were having anti-inflammatory effects (decreased CRP, IL-17 and JAK3 expressions, while increased IL-10 levels) with better effects in TLA-encapsulated niosomes-treated RA group, both groups' results were comparable to prednisolone. Niosomes also gave some anti-inflammatory effects but were mild in comparison to TLA and TLA-encapsulated niosomes.

CONCLUSION

Vaccination with both TLA and TLA-encapsulated niosomes for the first time in adjuvant-induced arthritis ameliorated the disease through diversion of immune system and JAK3 downregulation. Both vaccinations should be further tested to evaluate the possibility of their introduction for disease treatment and in other autoimmune diseases.

Risk of severe infections after the introduction of biologic DMARDs in people with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based interrupted time-series analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the impact of the introduction of biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) on severe infections among people newly diagnosed with RA compared with non-RA individuals.

METHODS

In this population-based retrospective cohort study using administrative data (from 1990-2015) for British Columbia, Canada, all incident RA patients diagnosed between 1995 and 2007 were identified. General population controls with no inflammatory arthritis were matched to RA patients based on age and gender, and were assigned the diagnosis date (i.e. index date) of the RA patients they were matched with. RA/controls were then divided into quarterly cohorts according to their index dates. The outcome of interest was all severe infections necessitating hospitalization or occurring during hospitalization after the index date. We calculated 8-year severe infection rates for each cohort and conducted interrupted time-series analyses to compare severe infection trends in RA/controls with index date during pre-bDMARDs (1995-2001) and post-bDMARDs (2003-2007) periods.

RESULTS

A total of 60 226 and 588 499 incident RA/controls were identified. We identified 14 245 severe infections in RA, and 79 819 severe infections in controls. The 8-year severe infection rates decreased among RA/controls with increasing calendar year of index date in the pre-bDMARDs period, but increased over time only among RA, not controls, with index date in the post-bDMARDs period. The adjusted difference between the pre- and post-bDMARDs secular trends in 8-year severe infection rates was 1.85 (P = 0.001) in RA and 0.12 (P = 0.29) in non-RA.

CONCLUSION

RA onset after bDMARDs introduction was associated with an elevated severe infection risk in RA patients compared with matched non-RA individuals.

Efficacy and safety of adalimumab biosimilar (HS016) in inflammatory bowel disease from the real-world study

Objective: Adalimumab (ADA) is an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The equal effect between the original ADA and biosimilars from Europe and the United States has been shown. However, the biosimilar of ADA is different in China. The effectiveness and safety data of ADA biosimilar (HS016) in China have yet to be discovered. Patients and methods: 91 patients (75 CD, 16 UC) received HS016 treatment and were enrolled in this study. Therapeutic response and safety profiles were analyzed. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) was also carried out among nonresponse patients. After being considered as "nonresponse" (after three or 6 months of treatment), 20 patients' serum TNFα concentrations were measured and correlated to their disease severity. Results: Among active CD patients (n = 61), 75.4% (46/61) at 12 w, 73.8% (45/61) at 26 w, 50.8% (31/61) at 52 w achieved the clinical response, respectively; 55.7% (34/61) at 12 w, 65.6% (40/61) at 26 w, and 45.9% (28/61) at 52 w achieved clinical remission. The maintained remission rates of CD (n = 14) in clinical remission were 100% (14/14) at 12 w, 78.6% (11/14) at 26 w, and 63.6% (7/11) at 52 w, respectively. Among active UC patients, 37.5% (6/16) at 12 w and 50% (8/16) at 26 w achieved clinical response. Total adverse event rates were 5.5% (5/91) during 52-week visits. Due to the inadequate serum drug concentration, 30.4% (7/23) of patients had poor clinical responses. Elevations of serum anti-drug antibodies occurred in one additional patient (4.3%). Conclusion: ADA biosimilar HS016 had good efficacy and safety in Chinese IBD patients.

Geraniol Suppresses Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Interstitial Collagenase to Protect against Inflammatory Arthritis

Geraniol (GER) is a plant-derived acyclic isoprenoid monoterpene that has displayed anti-inflammatory effects in numerous in vivo and in vitro models. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the antiarthritic potential of GER in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory arthritis (IA) model in rats. IA was induced by intraplantar injection of CFA (0.1 mL), and a week after CFA administration, rats were treated with various doses of methotrexate (MTX; 1 mg/kg) or GER (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg). Treatments were given on every alternate day, and animals were sacrificed on the 35th day. Paw volume, histopathological, hematological, radiographic, and qPCR analyses were performed to analyze the severity of the disease. GER significantly reduced paw edema after 35 days of treatment, and these results were comparable to the MTX-treated group. GER-treated animals displayed a perfect joint structure with minimal inflammation and no signs of cartilage or bone damage. Moreover, GER restored red blood cell and hemoglobin levels, normalized erythrocyte sedimentation rate, platelet, and c-reactive protein values, and also attenuated the levels of rheumatoid factor. RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that GER decreased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta. GER also down-regulated the transcript levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1, prostaglandin D2 synthase, and interstitial collagenase (MMP-1). Molecular docking of GER with COX-2, TNF-α, and MMP-1 also revealed that the antiarthritic effects of GER could be due to its direct interactions with these mediators. Based on our findings, it is conceivable that the antiarthritic effects of GER could be attributed to downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and protease like MMP-1.

Infections in Biological and Targeted Synthetic Drug Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Where do We Stand? A Scoping Review and Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The advent of biological and targeted synthetic therapies has revolutionized rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. However, this has come at the price of an increased risk of infections. The aim of this study was to present an integrated overview of both serious and non-serious infections, and to identify potential predictors of infection risk in RA patients using biological or targeted synthetic drugs.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed available literature from PubMed and Cochrane and performed multivariate meta-analysis with meta-regression on the reported infections. Randomized controlled trials and prospective and retrospective observational studies including patient registry studies were analyzed, combined as well as separately. We excluded studies focusing on viral infections only.

RESULTS

Infections were not reported in a standardized manner. Meta-analysis showed significant heterogeneity that persisted after forming subgroups by study design and follow-up duration. Overall, the pooled proportions of patients experiencing an infection during a study were 0.30 (95% CI, 0.28-0.33) and 0.03 (95% CI, 0.028-0.035) for any kind of infections or serious infections only, respectively. We found no potential predictors that were consistent across all study subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The high heterogeneity and the inconsistency of potential predictors between studies show that we do not yet have a complete picture of infection risk in RA patients using biological or targeted synthetic drugs. Besides, we found non-serious infections outnumbered serious infections by a factor 10:1, but only a few studies have focused on their occurrence. Future studies should apply a uniform method of infectious adverse event reporting and also focus on non-serious infections and their impact on treatment decisions and quality of life.

Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Subtypes on the Post-liver Transplant Outcomes of Patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Liver transplant patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis often present with concurrent inflammatory bowel disease. The effect of comorbid conditions on post-transplant prognosis was evaluated.

METHODS

The 2005-2019 United Network of Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research database was used to identify patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Patients were categorized as having Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, unclassified inflammatory bowel disease, or no inflammatory bowel disease. Baseline characteristics were assessed between cohorts, and outcomes were examined using Cox regression. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, graft failure, infection-induced mortality, and organ system-delineated mortality. Supplementary analyses with unique exclusion and stratification criteria were also performed.

RESULTS

Among 2829 patients undergoing transplant, 1360 were considered to have ulcerative colitis, 372 were considered to have Crohn's Disease, and 69 were considered to have an unclassified form of inflammatory bowel disease. Primary sclerosing cholangitis patients with some form of inflammatory bowel disease had no increased risk for any outcomes. However, patients with ulcerative colitis had lower risks of general infectious (aHR 0.65 95%CI 0.44-0.95) and sepsis-induced (aHR 0.56 95%CI 0.35-0.91) mortality, whereas patients with Crohn's Disease had higher risks of sepsis-induced mortality (aHR 2.13 95%CI 1.22-3.70). Supplementary analyses showed effect modification by abdominal surgery history and era.

CONCLUSION

The type of inflammatory bowel disease in liver transplant patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis was found to portend risk difference for infection-induced mortality, with ulcerative colitis found to be protective and Crohn's Disease predictive of increased mortality secondary to infectious etiologies. These associations warrant further investigation.

Compared efficacy of rituximab, abatacept, and tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to methotrexate or TNF inhibitors agents: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to compare the efficacy of rituximab, tocilizumab, and abatacept in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to treatments with MTX or TNFi agents.

METHODS

We searched 6 databases until January 2023 for phase 2-4 RCTs evaluating patients with RA refractory to MTX or TNFi therapy treated with rituximab, abatacept, and tocilizumab (intervention arm) compared to controls. Study data were independently assessed by two investigators. The primary outcome was considered as achieving ACR70 response.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 19 RCTs, with 7,835 patients and a mean study duration of 1.2 years. Hazard ratios for achieving an ACR70 response at six months were not different among the bDMARDs, however, we found high heterogeneity. Three factors showing a critical imbalance among the bDMARD classes were identified: baseline HAQ score, study duration, and frequency of TNFi treatment in control arm. Multivariate meta-regression adjusted to these three factors were conducted for the relative risk (RR) for ACR70. Thus, heterogeneity was attenuated (I2 = 24%) and the explanatory power of the model increased (R2 = 85%). In this model, rituximab did not modify the chance of achieving an ACR70 response compared to abatacept (RR = 1.773, 95%CI 0.113-10.21, p = 0.765). In contrast, abatacept was associated with RR = 2.217 (95%CI 1.554-3.161, p < 0.001) for ACR70 compared to tocilizumab.

CONCLUSION

We found high heterogeneity among studies comparing rituximab, abatacept, and tocilizumab. On multivariate metaregressions, if the conditions of the RCTs were similar, we estimate that abatacept could increase the chance of reaching an ACR70 response by 2.2-fold compared to tocilizumab.

Using real-world evidence data and digital monitoring to analyze the hepatotoxic profiles of biologics across more than two million patients

The real-world evidence data from multiple sources which includes information on patient health status and medical behavior in routine clinical setup can give deeper insights into drugs 'safety and efficacy. The RWE-based analysis in this study revealed a statistically significant link between biologics usage and hepatotoxicity in patients. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to conduct a large-scale multi-cohort analysis on the hepatotoxic profiles of biologics. Biologics are among the most prescribed medicines for several chronic inflammatory diseases. These agents target critical pathogenic pathways, but they may also have serious side effects. It is important to analyze whether biologics agents are an added concern or therapeutic opportunity. Real-world evidence (RWE) data were extracted for patients using biologics to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the biologics. All six biologics included in this analysis-are mostly highly prescribed biologics. The aim of the study was to assess the hepatotoxic profiles of subjects using different biologics. We evaluated the safety of current treatment regimens for patients in a large real-world cohort from multiple health care centers. Total number of eligible patients retrieved from the database is 38,112,285. Of these 38 million patients, 2.3 million take biologics. The primary objective was to assess the potential adverse hepatotoxic effects of the six biologics; adalimumab, trastuzumab, prevnar13, pegfilgrastim, interferon-beta1a and insulin glargine across different indications like diabetes mellitus, encounter for immunization, malignant neoplasm of breast, multiple sclerosis, malignant neoplasm of kidney, aplastic anaemias, radiation sickness, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylopathies. Data from patients using the six most-used biologics-adalimumab, trastuzumab, prevnar13, pegfilgrastim, interferon-beta1a and insulin glargine were retrieved from a global research network covering 250 million patients' data from 19 countries, and assigned to the cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. The cohorts were propensity score matched for age and sex. After defining the primary outcome as "hepatotoxicity" (endpoint defined as ICD-10 code: K71 (hepatotoxic liver disease), a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed, and risk ratios (RR), odds ratios (OR), and hazard ratios (HR) were determined. A total number of 2,312,655 subjects were eligible who take biologics, and after matching total cohorts accounted for 2,303,445. We have considered the clinical data as a 1:1 matched-study design, using propensity score-matched sub-cohorts to better control for confounding associations that might stem from different distributions of age and gender between the whole dataset and the subset of patients. We discovered evidence supporting the hepatotoxic-causing effect of biologic drugs: (i) all biologics considered together had an OR of 1.9 (95% CI, 1.67-2.35), with (ii) Adalimumab 1.9 (95% CI, 1.72-2.20), Trastuzumab 1.7 (95% CI, 1.2-2.3), Prevnar13 2.3 (95% CI, 2.16-2.60), Pegfilgrastim 2.3 (95% CI, 2.0-2.50), Interferon-Beta1a 1.7 (95% CI, 1.18-2.51), and Insulin glargine 1.9 (95% CI, 1.8-1.99). Our findings indicate that clinicians should consider evaluating hepatic profiles of patients undergoing treatment with biologic drugs and counsel them regarding the risk of developing hepatic injury. Strengths of the study includes a large sample size and robust statistical techniques. Limitations of this study include lack of detailed information regarding clinical severity. Major biologics are associated with hepatotoxicity. We discovered evidence supporting the hepatotoxicity-causing effects of biologics: all biologics considered together had an OR of 1.9 (95% CI, 1.67-2.35).

Biologic therapy is associated with malignancies among Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A population-based study

AIMS

To examine whether biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are associated with increased risk of malignancy among Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

We identified RA patients meeting specified inclusion and exclusion criteria from the Leumit healthcare services database between the years 2000 and 2017. Data were collected regarding bDMARD and conventional DMARD consumption, types of malignancies, and their temporal relation to RA diagnosis. The association between baseline variables and occurrence of malignancies was examined by Cox regression.

RESULTS

Among 4268 eligible RA patients, 688 (16.12%) were diagnosed with any malignancy. Melanoma skin cancer (MSC) was the most prevalent malignancy (148/688, 21.5%). The proportions out of all malignancies of MSC and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) were higher after than before RA diagnosis (24.7% vs 19.1%, p = .025 and 24.7% vs 13.0%, p = .021, respectively). A higher proportion of RA patients diagnosed with malignancy used bDMARDs in comparison with RA patients who were malignancy-free (40.2% vs 17.5%, p < .001). After adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, bDMARDs were associated with an increased risk of malignancy (hazard ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval 1.10-1.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Biologic DMARDs are associated with increased risk of malignancy among Israeli RA patients, presumably contributed by MSC and NMSC. MSC was the most prevalent type of malignancy in this cohort and may indicate a predisposition state among Israeli RA patients.

Bibliometric analysis of 100 top cited articles of heart failure-associated diseases in combination with machine learning

Objective

The aim of this paper is to analyze the application of machine learning in heart failure-associated diseases using bibliometric methods and to provide a dynamic and longitudinal bibliometric analysis of heart failure-related machine learning publications.

Materials and methods

Web of Science was screened to gather the articles for the study. Based on bibliometric indicators, a search strategy was developed to screen the title for eligibility. Intuitive data analysis was employed to analyze the top-100 cited articles and VOSViewer was used to analyze the relevance and impact of all articles. The two analysis methods were then compared to get conclusions.

Results

The search identified 3,312 articles. In the end, 2,392 papers were included in the study, which were published between 1985 and 2023. All articles were analyzed using VOSViewer. Key points of the analysis included the co-authorship map of authors, countries and organizations, the citation map of journal and documents and a visualization of keyword co-occurrence analysis. Among these 100 top-cited papers, with a mean of 122.9 citations, the most-cited article had 1,189, and the least cited article had 47. Harvard University and the University of California topped the list among all institutes with 10 papers each. More than one-ninth of the authors of these 100 top-cited papers wrote three or more articles. The 100 articles came from 49 journals. The articles were divided into seven areas according to the type of machine learning approach employed: Support Vector Machines, Convolutional Neural Networks, Logistic Regression, Recurrent Neural Networks, Random Forest, Naive Bayes, and Decision Tree. Support Vector Machines were the most popular method.

Conclusions

This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the artificial intelligence (AI)-related research conducted in the field of heart failure, which helps healthcare institutions and researchers better understand the prospects of AI in heart failure and formulate more scientific and effective research plans. In addition, our bibliometric evaluation can assist healthcare institutions and researchers in determining the advantages, sustainability, risks, and potential impacts of AI technology in heart failure.

Infectious Mimics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from its mimics remains a diagnostic challenge for surgical pathologists. Several gastrointestinal infections produce inflammatory patterns that overlap with typical findings of IBD. Although stool culture, PCR, and other clinical assays may identify infectious enterocolitides, these tests may not be performed or the results may be unavailable at the time of histologic evaluation. Furthermore, some clinical tests, including stool PCR, may reflect past exposure rather than ongoing infection. It is important for surgical pathologists to be knowledgeable about infections that simulate IBD in order to generate an accurate differential diagnosis, perform appropriate ancillary studies, and prompt clinical follow-up. This review covers bacterial, fungal, and protozoal infections in the differential diagnosis of IBD.

Biologic Therapies in HIV/AIDS Patients with Inflammatory Diseases: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Biologic therapies have been increasingly developed and used for the treatment of severe inflammatory diseases. However, the safety and efficacy profile of biologic drugs in patients with HIV is not well established as this patient population is historically excluded from clinical trials. We review the available evidence of biologic use in people with HIV. We conducted a systematic review of the literature up to June 29, 2022 and included studies that treated patients with HIV who have inflammatory disease using biologic drugs. Clinical data regarding safety and efficacy were abstracted into tables. One hundred twelve studies were included, and 179 patients were included in our study. Nearly all classes of biologics drugs had a favorable safety profile with minimal or minor adverse events. Anti-CD-20 inhibitors and TNF-alpha inhibitors were associated with opportunistic infections. Transient increase in HIV viral load was noted with use of some agents such as TNF-alpha inhibitors. The quality of evidence is low, restricted to case reports and retrospective reviews. However, the safety profile of biologics observed in these patients with HIV was overall favorable.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: Efficacy and safety of biological treatment on salivary gland function in primary Sjögren's syndrome

Objective: The study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of clinical trials of biologics in improving the salivary gland (SG) function in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), which has not been analyzed critically and systematically. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, the EU Clinical Trials Register, and the Cochrane Library were searched for clinical trials that reported effects of biological treatment on the SG function and safety in pSS patients. Inclusion criteria were defined following participants, interventions, comparisons, outcome, and study design (PICOS) recommendations. The objective index (the change of unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) flow) and the serious adverse event (SAE) were assessed as main outcome measures. A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of the treatment was conducted. Quality assessment, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were assessed. The effect size together with a 95% confidence interval was used to estimate the efficacy and safety of biological treatment and was plotted as a forest plot. Results: The literature search yielded 6,678 studies, nine of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two non-RCT clinical studies. Generally, biologics do not significantly increase UWS from the baseline of pSS patients compared to the control group at a matched time point (p = 0.55; standard mean difference, SMD = 0.05; 95% confidence interval, CI: -0.11 and 0.21). However, pSS patients with shorter disease duration (≤3 years; SMD = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.06 and 0.85) were prone to have a better response to biological treatment by showing higher increased UWS than patients with longer disease duration (> 3 years; SMD = -0.03; 95% CI: -0.21 and 0.15) (p = 0.03). For the meta-analysis of the safety of biological treatment, the SAEs in the biologics group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p = 0.0021; log odds ratio, OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.37 and 1.69). Conclusion: Biological intervention during the early course of the disease may benefit pSS patients better than that during the late course. Significantly, more SAEs in the biologics group indicate that the safety of biologics needs to be addressed for future biological clinical trials and treatment.

Immunogenicity of the hepatitis B vaccine adjuvanted with AS04C in patients with biological therapies

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B vaccination is necessary for patients with biologic therapies because of the immunomodulatory effect of these drugs. Due to the elevated use of these therapies in the latest years, the research for new vaccination regimens and the improvement of the current ones is essential. New adjuvants like AS04C might be a potential strategy to improve immune response. Hepatitis B vaccine adjuvanted with AS04C has not been studied in this population before. We analyzed the immunogenicity of an adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccine in patients with biologic therapies. Variables that might affect vaccine response were also evaluated.

METHODS

Analytic observational retrospective cohort study performed between January 2016 and September 2018. 301 patients under biological treatment aged from 18 years were included. Patients received 4 doses of hepatitis B adjuvanted vaccine (Fendrix®) in a 0-1-2-6 month immunization schedule. Several sociodemographic, clinical and pharmacological variables were evaluated. The outcome variable was measured as the antibody titers (anti-HBs). The geometric mean of titers (GMT) as a measure for the central tendency was calculated from these values.

RESULTS

The immunization schedule of the hepatitis B vaccine adjuvanted with AS04C demonstrated high levels of seroconversion with 82.1 % (95 % CI, 77.6-86.6) of vaccinated patients seroconverting after primary vaccination and achieving 89.0 % (95 % IC, 85.3-92.7) after the booster doses for non-responders. The use of corticosteroid therapy and high doses of them, age over 60 years and the main diagnosis were associated with lower seroconversion rates and lower anti-HBs titers.

CONCLUSIONS

The hepatitis B vaccine adjuvanted with AS04C (Fendrix®) produces an adequate immune response in patients with autoimmune diseases and immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulating therapies. This immunization schedule is proposed as a very suitable and adapted option for the protection of patients with autoimmune diseases under active biological therapies.

Adverse events associated with anti-IL-17 agents for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: a systematic scoping review

Background

Anti-interleukin (IL)-17 biological agents (BAs) have significant efficacy in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; however, adverse events (AEs) are common, and their safety has not been systematically evaluated.

Objectives

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the number and corresponding rates of AEs caused by anti-IL-17 BAs in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to improve clinical decision-making regarding their use.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were independently searched by three authors for articles on the treatment of psoriasis with anti-IL-17 BAs that were published before March 1, 2022, and included at least one AE. Dichotomous variables and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were analyzed using R software (version 4.1.3) and the Meta and Metafor software packages. Funnel plots and meta-regression were used to test for the risk of bias, I² was used to assess the magnitude of heterogeneity, and subgroup analysis was used to reduce heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 57 studies involving 28,424 patients with psoriasis treated with anti-IL-17 BAs were included in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis showed that anti-IL-17A (73.48%) and anti-IL-17A/F (73.12%) BAs were more likely to cause AEs than anti-IL-17R BAs (65.66%). The incidence of AEs was as high as 72.70% with treatment durations longer than one year, and long-term use of medication had the potential to lead to mental disorders. Infection (33.16%), nasopharyngitis (13.74%), and injection site reactions (8.28%) were the most common AEs. Anti-IL-17 BAs were most likely to cause type α (33.52%) AEs. Type δ AEs (1.01%) were rarely observed.

Conclusions

Anti-IL-17 BAs used for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis caused a series of AEs, but the symptoms were generally mild.

The Evolution of TNF-α Blockade for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a potent trimeric cytokine which plays a fundamental role in the host immuno-inflammatory response, as well as in homeostasis and development. Although critical for canonical immune function, TNF-α has great destructive potential and is implicated in the development of multiple immune-mediated disorders. Within the context of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), TNF-α acts as a primary pathogenic driver by precipitating a pro-inflammatory cytokine cascade and coordinating the attraction and activation of immune cells, all of which culminate in damage to the synovium. The discovery of the paramount role of TNF-α in the pathophysiology of RA motivated studies to understand the effects of TNF blockade in vitro and in vivo. Promising preclinical results provided the impetus for clinical trials, spearheaded in the 1980s and 90s by Marc Feldmann, which revealed significant improvements across RA symptom scores and finally led to FDA approval in 1998. As of 2021, five TNF-α blocking agents have been widely applied clinically, including infliximab (IFX), etanercept (ETN), adalimumab (ADA), golimumab (GLM) and certolizumab pegol (CZP). All of them successfully ameliorated symptoms of RA and the associated tissue damage, especially in patients not responding to traditional treatment methods. Anti-TNFs are most often administered in combination with methotrexate (MTX) as part of Phase II treatment (i.e., second line). Although the general availability of anti-TNFs has dramatically improved patient outcomes, sustained remission is rare and the mechanism of RA remains incompletely understood. Thus, additional basic and translational research is warranted, towards the aim of developing novel RA treatments.

Predictors of biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs withdrawal due to the development of adverse events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Currently, a large number of highly effective biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs) are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, in addition to effectiveness, it is necessary to evaluate the risk of adverse events (AEs) when using them.

Objective: to determine the predictors of bDMARDs and tsDMARDs discontinuation due to AEs in patients with RA.

Patients and methods. The study included 661 patients with RA who took bDMARDs and tsDMARDs. The search for predictors of targeted therapy discontinuation due to AEs was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, using the Kaplan-Meier method, we selected indicators that showed the greatest significant single-factor relationship with the duration of retention on therapy. At the second stage, significant independent indicators were obtained by iterative selection of variables within the multivariate proportional risk model according to Cox.

Results and discussion. The presence of rheumatoid nodules (p<0.001), high doses of glucocorticoids (GC; p<0.001), low doses of methotrexate (MT; p=0.009) are significant independent factors for increasing the risk of drugs discontinuation due to the development of AEs. The type of bDMARDs/tsDMARD used also significantly correlated with the risk of discontinuation of therapy due to AEs. A relatively high risk of treatment discontinuation was observed with infliximab (IFN) and certolizumab pegol (CZP). Cancellation of IFN was associated with the occurrence of infusion reactions and infectious complications, and CZP was associated with infectious complications.

Conclusion. An increase in the dose of MT and decrease in the use of GCs can help prevent the development of AEs leading to the abolition of biologics and tsDMARDs. Significant differences were found between bDMARDs in terms of the risk of their cancellation due to AEs.

Comparison of glucocorticoids and painkiller prescribed days between rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving early and late treatment with a biological agent via a population-based cohort study

Comparison between early biologics treatment and late biologics treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in decreasing prescription days of glucocorticoids and painkillers by using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research database from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2013. We defined early use of biologics as biologics prescribed within 2.24 years after the RA diagnosis, and the late use of biologics was defined as those prescribed after 2.24 years of the RA diagnosis. These definitions are based on previous studies defining early arthritis as arthritis within 2 years of diagnosis, while we needed another 3 months for application biologics here in Taiwan, which equals a total of 2.24 years. Among the 821 patients, 410 patients (50%) were classified in the Early group, and the other 411 patients (50%) were classified in the Late group. The use of any of these 3 types of medication, including steroids, disease modifying antirhuematic drugs, and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was changed significantly after biologics treatment. Comparing between before and after biologics treatment, oral medication was significantly tapered (all P < .0001). The results show that men are 1.81 times more likely than women to taper oral glucocorticoids and NSAIDs. Younger age (<45) patients are 1.91 times more likely to taper steroids and NSAIDs than those aged over 65 years old. Both gender and age were found to be independent factors that could decrease days of prescription of both steroids and NSAIDs in early use of biologics agents. This study indicates that younger patients only need short-term (2.53 ± 1.92 years, P = .03) and early treatment with biologics (within 2.24 years of diagnosis of RA), just in order to taper steroids and NSAIDs to less than 50% compared to the steroids and NSAIDs doses before biologics treatment.

Advancing Biologic Therapy for Refractory Autoimmune Hepatitis

Biologic agents may satisfy an unmet clinical need for treatment of refractory autoimmune hepatitis. The goals of this review are to present the types and results of biologic therapy for refractory autoimmune hepatitis, indicate opportunities to improve and expand biologic treatment, and encourage comparative clinical trials. English abstracts were identified in PubMed by multiple search terms. Full-length articles were selected for review, and secondary and tertiary bibliographies were developed. Rituximab (monoclonal antibodies against CD20 on B cells), infliximab (monoclonal antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha), low-dose recombinant interleukin 2 (regulatory T cell promoter), and belimumab (monoclonal antibodies against B cell activating factor) have induced laboratory improvement in small cohorts with refractory autoimmune hepatitis. Ianalumab (monoclonal antibodies against the receptor for B cell activating factor) is in clinical trial. These agents target critical pathogenic pathways, but they may also have serious side effects. Blockade of the B cell activating factor or its receptors may disrupt pivotal B and T cell responses, and recombinant interleukin 2 complexed with certain interleukin 2 antibodies may selectively expand the regulatory T cell population. A proliferation-inducing ligand that enhances T cell proliferation and survival is an unevaluated, potentially pivotal, therapeutic target. Fully human antibodies, expanded target options, improved targeting precision, more effective delivery systems, and biosimilar agents promise to improve efficacy, safety, and accessibility. In conclusion, biologic agents target key pathogenic pathways in autoimmune hepatitis, and early experiences in refractory disease encourage clarification of the preferred target, rigorous clinical trial, and comparative evaluations.

Selective inhibition of soluble tumor necrosis factor signaling reduces abdominal aortic aneurysm progression

Background

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is pathologically elevated in human abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Non-selective TNF inhibition-based therapeutics are approved for human use but have been linked to several side effects. Compounds that target the proinflammatory soluble form of TNF (solTNF) but preserve the immunomodulatory capabilities of the transmembrane form of TNF (tmTNF) may prevent these side effects. We hypothesize that inhibition of solTNF signaling prevents AAA expansion.

Methods

The effect of the selective solTNF inhibitor, XPro1595, and the non-selective TNF inhibitor, Etanercept (ETN) was examined in porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) induced AAA mice, and findings with XPro1595 was confirmed in angiotensin II (ANGII) induced AAA in hyperlipidemic apolipoprotein E (Apoe) ^–/– mice.

Results

XPro1595 treatment significantly reduced AAA expansion in both models, and a similar trend (p = 0.06) was observed in PPE-induced AAA in ETN-treated mice. In the PPE aneurysm wall, XPro1595 improved elastin integrity scores. In aneurysms, mean TNFR1 levels reduced non-significantly (p = 0.07) by 50% after TNF inhibition, but the histological location in murine AAAs was unaffected and similar to that in human AAAs. Semi-quantification of infiltrating leucocytes, macrophages, T-cells, and neutrophils in the aneurysm wall were unaffected by TNF inhibition. XPro1595 increased systemic TNF levels, while ETN increased systemic IL-10 levels. In ANGII-induced AAA mice, XPro1595 increased systemic TNF and IL-5 levels. In early AAA development, proteomic analyses revealed that XPro1595 significantly upregulated ontology terms including “platelet aggregation” and “coagulation” related to the fibrinogen complex, from which several proteins were among the top regulated proteins. Downregulated ontology terms were associated with metabolic processes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, selective inhibition of solTNF signaling reduced aneurysm expansion in mice, supporting its potential as an attractive treatment option for AAA patients.

Anakinra in pediatric acute fulminant myocarditis

Background

Acute fulminant myocarditis in children is associated with elevated mortality and morbidity with few advances in its medical management. Here we report a preliminary experience of children treated with IL-1 receptor antagonist associated with rapid myocardial function recovery.

Methods

A retrospective case series of children admitted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Bicêtre Hospital (AP–HP Paris Saclay University) between April 2020 and January 2022 with acute myocarditis. Children were treated with subcutaneous anakinra (an IL-1 receptor antagonist). Patients characteristics, and outcome are reported.

Results

Of 10 children admitted with acute fulminant myocarditis, eight were treated with sub-cutaneous anakinra. Seven children had SARS-CoV-2 post-infective myocarditis associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and one child Parvovirus B19 myocarditis. In all patients a rapid (< 24 h) improvement in myocardial function was observed with concomitant decrease in myocardial enzymes. All patients survived with full myocardial recovery.

Conclusions

In this pilot study, use of IL-1 receptor antagonist in the initial treatment of acute fulminant myocarditis in children seems to be associated with rapid stabilization and recovery.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13613-022-01054-0.

[Latent and Active Tuberculosis Infection in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease]

Latent tuberculosis (TB) infections (LTBI) impose clinical challenges in terms of the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially in TB-endemic areas. While steroids and biologics have become increasingly useful in the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe IBD, the risk of reactivation or developing TB is increased due to their potent immunosuppressive effects. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibition may result in the activation of a latent TB infection, and most cases manifest as more severe forms of disseminated TB. All potential users of immunosuppressive therapy should be screened for LTBI, and appropriate measures for the management of latent and active TB should be undertaken with immediate initiation of anti-TB treatment. Biologics should be withheld during TB treatment, and the proper timing for the resumption of IBD therapy during or after TB treatment should be individualized. This review summarizes the latest knowledge on the risk assessment, detection, and management of latent and active TB infections in patients with IBD.

NIR-PTT/ROS-Scavenging/Oxygen-Enriched Synergetic Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis by a pH-Responsive Hybrid CeO2-ZIF-8 Coated with Polydopamine

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory type of arthritis that causes joint pain and damage. The inflammatory cell infiltration (e.g., M1 macrophages), the poor O₂ supply at the joint, and the excess reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative injury are the main causes of RA. We herein report a polydopamine (PDA)-coated CeO₂-dopped zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocomposite CeO₂-ZIF-8@PDA (denoted as CZP) that can synergistically treat RA. Under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, PDA efficiently scavenges ROS and results in an increased temperature in the inflamed area because of its good light-to-heat conversion efficiency. The rise of temperature serves to obliterate hyper-proliferative inflammatory cells accumulated in the diseased area while vastly promoting the collapse of the acidic-responsive skeleton of ZIF-8 to release the encapsulated CeO₂. The released CeO₂ exerts its catalase-like activity to relieve hypoxia by generating oxygen via the decomposition of H₂O₂ highly expressed in the inflammatory sites. Thus, the constructed CZP composite can treat RA through NIR-photothermal/ROS-scavenging/oxygen-enriched combinative therapy and show good regression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in vitro and promising therapeutic effect on RA in rat models. The multimodal nano-platform reported herein is expected to shed light on the design of synergistic therapeutic nanomedicine for effective RA therapy.

Absolute and Relative Risk of New-Onset Psoriasis Associated With Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor Treatment in Patients With Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Danish Nationwide Cohort Study

Importance

Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor (TNFi)-associated psoriasis is a rare adverse event following TNFi treatment. Data on the risk of developing TNFi-associated psoriasis when treated with TNFi are sparse.

Objective

To investigate the associated risk between new-onset psoriasis and TNFi treatment compared with nonbiologic conventional treatment.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Using Danish national registries (1995-2018), this cohort study included patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and/or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who received either conventional therapy or TNFi treatment. Patients may not have been diagnosed with psoriasis prior to initiation of treatment. Patients were followed up for up to 5 years. Cox regression models with robust variance were used to compare the risk of developing any type of psoriasis, nonpustular psoriasis, and pustular psoriasis. Patients receiving conventional therapy were used as reference. Data analysis was performed from January 1995 to December 2018.

Exposures

For the present study, the term conventional therapy was used for the nonbiological therapy. For biological therapy, a distinction was made between TNFi treatment and non-TNFi biological therapy.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The outcome of psoriasis was defined as a registered International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision code of psoriasis and/or having 2 consecutive prescriptions of topical vitamin D analogues.

Results

The study included 109 085 patients, of which 62% were female. Median (IQR) age was 50 (34-64) years. Of the included patients, 108 024 received conventional therapy and 20 910 received TNFi treatment. During follow-up, 1471 (1.4%) patients developed any type of psoriasis, of which 1332 developed nonpustular psoriasis, 127 patients developed palmoplantar pustulosis, and 12 patients developed generalized pustulosis. The incidence rates for developing any type of psoriasis per 1000 patient-years were 3.0 (95% CI, 2.9-3.2) for conventional therapy and 7.8 (95% CI, 7.5-8.9) for TNFi. During treatment with TNFi, the hazard ratio was 2.12 (95% CI, 1.87-2.40; P < .001) for developing nonpustular psoriasis and 6.50 (95% CI, 4.60-9.23; P < .001) for pustular psoriasis compared with conventional treatment. Exposure needed for 1 additional patient to be harmed was 241 patient-years for any type of TNFi-associated psoriasis, 342 patient-years for nonpustular psoriasis, and 909 patient-years for pustular psoriasis.

Conclusions and Relevance

In a Danish nationwide cohort of patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases treated with TFNi or conventional treatment and no history of psoriasis, in TFNi-treated patients, nonpustular types of psoriasis constituted the most events, whereas pustular types of psoriasis had the highest relative risk. Although the risk of new-onset psoriasis increased for both nonpustular and pustular types of psoriasis in TFNi-treated patients, the absolute risk remained modest at 241 patient-years of exposure need for 1 additional event and an estimated absolute risk difference around 5 per 1000 patient-years, indicating that the approach to treatment of patients in need of TNFi treatment should not change.

Risk of malignancy in rheumatoid arthritis patients initiating biologics: an historical propensity score matched cohort study within the French nationwide healthcare database

Objective

To compare the risk of malignancy between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating their first biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) and those continuing conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs).

Methods

Nine-year historical Propensity Score (PS) matched cohort study within the French national healthcare database (87% of the French population; ~57 million people), including adults RA without malignancy. Exposures started with the first use of any systemic treatment (csDMARDs and/or bDMARDs). Incident users of bDMARDs were matched on a dynamic PS to patients continuing csDMARDs. Their risk of malignancy was compared by Cox model.

Results

From 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2014, 83 706 patients with RA started their first systemic treatment (63 837 remained on csDMARDs and 19 869 initiated a bDMARD during follow-up). After dynamic PS matching, 19 727 bDMARD initiators were compared with 19 727 RA remaining on csDMARDs. They did not statistically differ in risk of overall malignancies (HR 0.99 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.14)), solid cancer (HR 0.95 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.11)), nor lymphoma (HR 1.35 (95% CI 0.72 to 2.53)). Results were similar when bDMARDs were given as monotherapy or in association with csDMARDs. Analyses restricted to patients starting TNF inhibitor as first bDMARD compared with matched RA remaining on csDMARDs, provided similar results (HR for overall malignancy 1.03 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.21)). Sensitivity analyses, varying carry-over periods (up to 5 years) to define risk periods, provided similar results.

Conclusions

In this historical cohort study within the French nationwide healthcare database, the risk of overall, solid or haematological malignancies did not significantly differ between patients with RA initiating bDMARD and those continuing csDMARDs.

Content, Structure and Delivery Characteristics of Yoga Interventions for Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review Protocol

The global burden of rheumatoid arthritis among adults is rising. Yoga might be a potential solution for managing rheumatoid arthritis. This systematic review aims to synthesise the content, structure and delivery characteristics of effective yoga interventions for managing rheumatoid arthritis. The JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines will be followed. PRISMA for systematic review protocols (PRISMA-P) was used to write the protocol. Randomised controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of yoga interventions for managing rheumatoid arthritis in adults will be included in this review. We aim to search the following databases to find published and unpublished studies: ABIM, AMED, AYUSH Research Portal, CAM-QUEST, CINAHL, CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PeDro, PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, TRIP, Web of Science, DART-Europe-e-theses portal, EthOS, OpenGrey and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. No date or language restrictions will be applied. A narrative synthesis will be conducted. Meta-regression will be conducted to explore the statistical evidence for which components (content, structure and delivery characteristics) of yoga interventions are effective.

A Rare but Morbid Occurrence: Development of Glioblastoma Multiforme During Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy

The use of biologic therapies continues to become more prevalent in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, particularly for more severe disease. Although generally safe and effective, specific biologic classes such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (anti-TNF) medications are known to increase the risk of certain cancers. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor which tends to arise sporadically but may be associated with anti-TNF therapies. Here, we present a case of a 69-year-old male with Crohn’s disease who developed GBM while on adalimumab therapy. This case report highlights the potential rare association between GBM and anti-TNF therapy and further discusses the difficulty of managing active Crohn’s disease with concomitant GBM, specifically the difficulty encountered in managing a disease flare.

Emerging therapies for ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION

Despite advances in the medical management of ulcerative colitis (UC), a subgroup of patients does not respond to currently available therapies. A number of novel drugs are in late stages of clinical development or have recently received regulatory approval for UC.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on three drug classes that have recently been approved or are awaiting approval for UC: antibodies against interleukin (IL)-23, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulators, and selective inhibitors of Janus kinases (JAK). We provide an overview of their mechanism of action and summarize available evidence for their efficacy and safety. Finally, we discuss expected future challenges in UC management.

EXPERT OPINION

The evaluated drugs have demonstrated efficacy with an acceptable safety profile. IL-23 antagonists appear to be safest with very few (serious) adverse events, while the use of S1PR modulators or JAK inhibitors has been associated with infectious and cardiovascular/thromboembolic events, albeit in low numbers. Although advances in drug development are promising, there is an urgent need for (validated) biomarkers to guide rational treatment selection. The scarcity of head-to-head trials also complicates comparisons between available drugs. Breaking the therapeutic ceiling of efficacy in UC will require marked advances in management extending well beyond drug development.

Differential Diagnosis of Inflammatory Arthropathy Accompanying Active Tuberculosis Infection

Objective

The study aimed to ascertain the clinical manifestations of inflammatory arthritis accompanying tuberculosis (TB) for the differential diagnosis.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with active TB who presented with inflammatory arthropathy at Seoul Medical Center. Among 2,872 patients with active TB infection, 47 had inflammatory arthropathy 14 had crystal-induced arthropathy; 12, TB arthritis; 12, Poncet's disease (PD); 8, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA); and 1, septic arthritis. The clinical characteristics and laboratory and radiographic findings of each group were analyzed.

Results

In TB arthritis, weight-bearing joints were more commonly affected than the elbow and wrist joints. When compared to TB arthritis, PD demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of polyarthritis and involved both large and small-to-medium-sized joints. The duration of arthritis symptoms after anti-TB treatment was significantly shorter in patients with PD (56 days vs. 90 days, p=0.028). When compared to PD, RA flares during active TB infection involved only small-to-medium-sized joints rather than a mixed distribution (62.5% vs. 16.7%, p=0.035). Patients with PD more commonly had fever at onset and showed a good response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone or were in remission within 3 months after anti-TB treatment. The presence of rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and radiographic progression after 12 months was frequently observed in patients with RA flares.

Conclusion

The differential diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis accompanying active tuberculosis infection is challenging. Comprehensive history taking and physical examination, synovial fluid analysis, and a high level of clinical suspicion are essential to avoid delayed diagnosis and to reduce the significant morbidity involved.

Analysis of hematological parameters in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving biological therapy: contribution to prevention of avoidable hematological complications

Administration of biological therapy (BT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is often associated with hematological complications, which result in switching among therapies. Thus, there is an instant need for suitable screening parameters that will help to individualize the therapy and minimize the onset of adverse effects. We analyzed the hematological profile of 99 RA patients receiving TNFα (Adalimumab - ADA, Golimumab - GOL, Etanercept - ETA) or IL-6 receptor (Tocilizumab - TCZ) inhibitors in order to find possible indicators to improve personalization of RA therapy. BTs significantly affect the levels of observed hematological parameters. In contrast to TNF-α inhibitors, TCZ normalized almost all monitored hematological parameters to values of healthy donors. Only GOL from the TNF-α inhibitors studied, was able to normalize neutrophil counts, as well as platelet indicators. Importantly, effects on the blood parameters (e.g. lymphocytes or platelet count) differ even within the same therapeutic group (anti-TNFα). Variable effects of individual biological agents in RA treatment point to importance to evaluate the patient's hematological profile to improve the selection of suitable BT. It will help to personalize the administration of BT and prevent unnecessary switching from an effective therapy just because of provocation of avoidable hematological complications.

Effectiveness and safety of aerobic exercise for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause severe physical impairment and a reduced quality of life, and there is limited evidence for any effective intervention. Aerobic exercise may be beneficial for improving symptoms. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of aerobic exercise for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Methods

PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials of the effectiveness and safety of aerobic exercise for rheumatoid arthritis were included. Risks of bias were assessed by two independent reviewers using the methods described in the RevMan 5.3, GRADEpro and the Cochrane Handbook. Meta-analyses were performed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on rheumatoid arthritis.

Results

A total of 13 RCTs were included, including 967 rheumatoid arthritis patients. The Meta-analysis results showed that aerobic exercise can improve functional ability [MD = − 0.25, 95% CI (− 0.38, − 0.11), P = 0.0002], relieve pain [SMD = − 0.46, 95% CI (− 0.90, − 0.01), P = 0.04], increase aerobic capacity [MD = 2.41, 95% CI (1.36, 3.45), P < 0.00001] and improve the Sit to Stand test score[MD = 1.60, 95% CI (0.07, 3.13), P = 0.04] with statistically significant differences.

Conclusion

Generally, aerobic exercise is beneficial and safe for RA patients and has a certain alleviating effect on the disease, such as functional ability improvement, pain relief and aerobic capacity increase. Limited by the quantity and quality of the included studies, future research with higher-quality studies needs to be conducted to verify the above conclusions.

Trial registration: PROPERO registration number: CRD42021242953.

Stem Cell Mimicking Nanoencapsulation for Targeting Arthritis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered a promising regenerative therapy due to their ability to migrate toward damaged tissues. The homing ability of MSCs is unique compared with that of non-migrating cells and MSCs are considered promising therapeutic vectors for targeting major cells in many pathophysiological sites. MSCs have many advantages in the treatment of malignant diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a representative autoimmune disease that primarily affects joints, and secreted chemokines in the joints are well recognized by MSCs following their migration to the joints. Furthermore, MSCs can regulate the inflammatory process and repair damaged cells in the joints. However, the functionality and migration ability of MSCs injected in vivo still show insufficient. The targeting ability and migration efficiency of MSCs can be enhanced by genetic engineering or modification, eg, overexpressing chemokine receptors or migration-related genes, thus maximizing their therapeutic effect. However, there are concerns about genetic changes due to the increased probability of oncogenesis resulting from genome integration of the viral vector, and thus, clinical application is limited. Furthermore, it is suspected that administering MSCs can promote tumor growth and metastasis in xenograft and orthotopic models. For this reason, MSC mimicking nanoencapsulations are an alternative strategy that does not involve using MSCs or bioengineered MSCs. MSC mimicking nanoencapsulations consist of MSC membrane-coated nanoparticles, MSC-derived exosomes and artificial ectosomes, and MSC membrane-fused liposomes with natural or genetically engineered MSC membranes. MSC mimicking nanoencapsulations not only retain the targeting ability of MSCs but also have many advantages in terms of targeted drug delivery. Specifically, MSC mimicking nanoencapsulations are capable of encapsulating drugs with various components, including chemotherapeutic agents, nucleic acids, and proteins. Furthermore, there are fewer concerns over safety issues on MSC mimicking nanoencapsulations associated with mutagenesis even when using genetically engineered MSCs, because MSC mimicking nanoencapsulations use only the membrane fraction of MSCs. Genetic engineering is a promising route in clinical settings, where nano-encapsulated technology strategies are combined. In this review, the mechanism underlying MSC homing and the advantages of MSC mimicking nanoencapsulations are discussed. In addition, genetic engineering of MSCs and MSC mimicking nanoencapsulation is described as a promising strategy for the treatment of immune-related diseases.

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of WBP216, a novel IL-6 monoclonal antibody, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A phase Ia randomized placebo-controlled study

Background

WBP216 is a novel human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody for interleukin (IL)-6. We aimed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of a single ascending dose (SAD) of WBP216 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, SAD, phase Ia study, patients with RA were randomized in a 3:1 (Group A1, 10 mg) and 6:2 (Group A2, 30 mg; Group A3, 75 mg; Group A4, 150 mg; Group A5, 300 mg) ratios to receive either ascending doses of WBP216 or placebo subcutaneously. The primary endpoint was the incidence of adverse events (AEs), while the secondary endpoints were characterization of PK, PD, and immunogenicity of WBP216 and the exploratory endpoints included improvements in RA clinical metrics. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS^® version 9.2.

Results

A total of 41 subjects (34 females and 7 males) were enrolled in the study. WBP216 was well tolerated in all doses (10-300 mg). Most treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs; 97.6%) were of grade 1 severity and resolved without any treatment. No subjects experienced TEAEs leading to withdrawal or death during the study. An increase in serum concentration and total IL-6 from baseline was observed, while a substantial decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was observed in all the WBP216 groups. Anti-drug antibodies were detected in only one subject after dosing, indicating an acceptable immunogenicity profile. Limited ACR20 and ACR50 response was observed in the WBP216 groups and no response in the placebo group.

Conclusion

WBP216 demonstrated a good safety profile and evidence of potential efficacy in the treatment of patients with RA.

Clinical trial registration

http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/clinicaltrials.searchlistdetail.dhtml, identifier CTR20170306.

[Patterns of immunological reactions in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure: review]

The immune system is essential for maintaining the homeostasis. At present, there is convincing evidence for participation of the immune system in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular pathology, including the final step of cardiovascular continuum, heart failure. Objective difficulties in understanding subtle processes of loss of the normal cardiac structure and function are based on the diversity of pathogenetic factors of development and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF) and the involvement of most organs and body systems. Russian and international scientists actively study issues of immune homeostasis, including the efficacy of current immune therapy. At the same time, available reports are largely uncompiled and reflect isolated parts of the immunopathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on comprehensive elucidation of major patterns of immune processes in the CHF pathogenesis to form an integral view of the problem under study.

Use of Biological Treatments in Elderly Patients with Skin Psoriasis in the Real World

Biological drugs have prompted a revolution in the treatment of patients with psoriasis because of their favourable efficacy/risk profile. The aims of our study are to determine whether there is any difference in the pattern of use of biological treatments for older (65+ years) and younger patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis by the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Universitario de Asturias (HUCA), to understand the survival of these drugs, and to identify the factors that predict the discontinuation of treatments. We report a retrospective observational hospital-based study of 300 patients registered at HUCA’s Dermatology Service who were receiving one of the following biological treatments for psoriasis on 30 November 2020: adalimumab, ustekinumab, secukinumab, or ixekizumab. The age groups were compared using Student’s t-test for quantitative variables and the chi-squared test for qualitative variables. We used the Kaplan–Meier estimator to estimate the survival function and the log-rank test to measure differences. No statistically significant differences in the frequency of use were noted between the younger and older groups, for any of the drugs studied. Survival on a drug regime, globally and individually, was similar in the two age groups. Factors predicting lower overall survival were being female, obesity, and having undergone previous biological treatment. The first three factors were influential in the under-65-year-old group, while arthritis was a significant factor for the older group.

Filgotinib for Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Evidence Review Group Perspective of a NICE Single Technology Appraisal

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) invited the manufacturer (Gilead) of filgotinib (Jyseleca^TM), as part of the single technology appraisal process, to submit evidence for its clinical and cost effectiveness for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Kleijnen Systematic Reviews Ltd, in collaboration with Maastricht University Medical Centre, was commissioned to act as the independent Evidence Review Group (ERG). This paper summarises the company submission (CS), presents the ERG's critical review of the clinical- and cost-effectiveness evidence in the CS, highlights the key methodological considerations, and describes the development of the NICE guidance by the NICE Appraisal Committee. The evidence for filgotinib was based on two good-quality international randomised controlled trials. In FINCH 1, filgotinib was compared with placebo, and in FINCH 2, filgotinib was compared with adalimumab and placebo. As there was no head-to-head evidence with most active comparators, the company performed two separate network meta-analyses (NMAs), one for the conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs-inadequate response population and one for the biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs-inadequate response population. The outcomes analysed were American College of Rheumatology response criteria at weeks 12 and 24, and European League Against Rheumatism response criteria at 24 weeks. The statistical methods used to perform the NMAs were valid and were in line with previous NICE appraisals. Results of the NMAs are confidential and cannot be reported here, but they were uncertain due to heterogeneity of the included studies. The economic analysis of the patient population with moderate RA suffered from limited evidence on the progression from moderate to severe health states. For the moderate RA population, the final analyses comparing filgotinib, with or without methotrexate, against standard of care resulted in incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of around £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained in the company's and ERG's base-case and scenario analyses. NICE recommended filgotinib in combination with methotrexate or as monotherapy when methotrexate is contraindicated, or if people cannot tolerate it, for patients with moderate RA whose disease had responded inadequately to two or more conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). For the severe RA population, in view of the higher or similar net health benefits that filgotinib provided versus its comparators, NICE recommended filgotinib with or without methotrexate for patients whose disease had responded inadequately to two or more conventional DMARDs, who had been treated with one or more biological DMARDs, if rituximab was not an option, or after treatment with rituximab.