Patient-reported outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitis. A comparison between Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score and routine assessment of patient index data 3

Evaluating the real-world effectiveness of belimumab in patients with SLE using SLE-related laboratory values and rheumatoid arthritis-derived disease activity measures: RAPID3, swollen joint count and tender joint count

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the real-world impact of intravenous belimumab treatment among patients with SLE using rheumatoid arthritis-derived disease activity measures and SLE-related laboratory values.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used US electronic medical record data from the United Rheumatology Normalised Integrated Community Evidence (UR-NICE) database. Adult patients with SLE who initiated intravenous belimumab between 1 January 2012 and 3 December 2019 (index), had 12 months of pre-index and 24 months of post-index clinical activity, and had ≥6 infusions of belimumab during the 24 months post-index were included. The primary outcome measure was time to first improvement of minimally important difference (MID) for Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3), Patient Pain Index (PPI), swollen joint count, tender joint count (TJC), complement C3 and C4 and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies during the on-treatment follow-up period of up to 24 months. The secondary outcome measure evaluated the trajectories of these outcome measures for up to 24 months of belimumab treatment.

RESULTS

Of 495 patients included, between 21.0% and 52.1% had ≥1 record for each of the disease activity measures or laboratory values in the pre-index and post-index periods and were included in analyses for that measure. The proportion of patients achieving MID for each measure increased rapidly within 3 months, with continued gradual improvement throughout the remaining on-treatment period, up to 24 months. After 6 months, 52.3% and 55.3% of patients had achieved MID in RAPID3 and PPI, respectively. Outcome measure trajectories indicated improved disease activity with belimumab treatment, particularly in RAPID3, TJC and laboratory values.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-world effectiveness study, belimumab therapy for SLE resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in rheumatoid arthritis-derived disease activity measures within 3 months of treatment, with patients who remained on belimumab therapy experiencing improvement even up to 24 months of observation.

How is the patient perspective captured in ANCA-associated vasculitis research? An integrative review

Objective

The aim was to describe how the patient perspective is captured in clinical research on ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods

This integrative review included 2149 publications found in four different databases and manual searches. After screening, 156 articles remained. All articles were sorted and categorized, and 77 original articles were analysed further.

Results

The patient perspective was captured with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), single-item questionnaires, project-specific questionnaires and interviews. The most common aspects measured were health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression, and fatigue, and the least common were lifestyle habits, relationships and self-management.

Conclusion

The patient perspective was captured predominantly with generic PROMs and occasionally with a qualitative approach. AVV is a lifelong disease, and the results from this review show that not all aspects of importance to patients are covered with the PROMs used in research. Future studies should include the areas that are the most important for patients.

Patient-reported outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitis: a cross-sectional study to explore the interactions between patients' and physicians' perspectives

To evaluate associations between the domains of the ANCA-associated vasculitis patient-reported outcome (AAV-PRO) instrument and clinical variables. Patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), or renal-limited vasculitis (RLV) were recruited from a tertiary care center in Mexico City. Demographic, clinical, serological, and treatment-related data were retrieved. Disease activity, damage, patient and physician global assessments (PtGA and PhGA) were evaluated. All patients completed the AAV-PRO questionnaire, male patients also completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Seventy patients (44 women and 26 men) were included, with a median age of 53.5 years (43-61), and a disease duration of 82 months (34-135). Moderate correlations were identified between the PtGA and the AAV-PRO domains: social and emotional impact, treatment side effects, organ-specific symptoms, and physical function. The PhGA correlated with the PtGA and prednisone doses. Subanalyses of the AAV-PRO domains according to sex, age, and disease duration showed significant differences in the treatment side effects domain, with higher scores in women, in patients < 50 years, and in patients with disease duration < 5 years. The domain of concerns about the future showed a higher score in patients with disease duration < 5 years. A total of 17/24 (70.8%) of men who completed the IIEF-5 questionnaire were classified as having some degree of erectile dysfunction. The domains of AAV-PRO correlated with other outcome measures, while differences were found between some of the domains according to sex, age, and disease duration.

Psychometric properties of outcome measurement instruments for ANCA-associated vasculitis: a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the psychometric properties of outcome measurement instruments used in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).

METHODS

Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science were searched from inception to 14 July 2020 for validation studies of instruments used in AAV. Following the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) and OMERACT frameworks, different psychometric properties (validity, reliability, responsiveness and feasibility) were summarized. Risk of bias was assessed according to the COSMIN checklist.

RESULTS

From 2505 articles identified, 32 met the predefined selection criteria, providing information on 22 instruments assessing disease activity (n = 7), damage (n = 2), activity and damage (n = 1), health-related quality of life (HRQoL; n = 9) and function (n = 3). Most of the instruments were tested in AAV as a group or in granulomatosis with polyangiitis only.The BVAS, any version, the Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) and the AAV-Patient-Reported Outcome (AAV-PRO) have been more extensively validated than the other instruments. BVAS for Wegener Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG) has been shown to be valid for measuring disease activity [correlation with Physician global assessment (r = 0.90)], reliability (inter-observer intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97), responsiveness and feasibility. For damage, VDI was shown to be moderately valid (correlations with BVAS version 3 at 6 months r = 0.14, BVAS/WG at 1 year r = 0.40 and 5 years r = 0.20), and feasible. For HRQoL, AAV-PRO demonstrated validity (correlations of the six AAV-PRO domains with EQ-5D-5L: -0.78 to -0.55; discrimination between active disease and remission, P < 0.0001 for all comparisons). The overall performance of instruments assessing function was low-to-moderate.

CONCLUSION

Among the 22 outcome measurement instruments used for AAV, BVAS (any version), VDI and AAV-PRO had the strongest psychometric properties.

A Self-Report Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) for Face-To-Face or Telemedicine Encounters to Assess Clinical Severity (RAPID3) and Screen for Fibromyalgia (FAST) and Depression (DEP)

Purpose of Review

To update the clinical value of a patient self-report multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ).

Recent Findings

The MDHAQ includes 10 individual quantitative scores for physical function, pain, patient global assessment, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, morning stiffness, change in status, and exercise status, and 5 indices, RAPID3 (routine assessment of patient index data) to assess clinical status in all diseases studied, FAST3 (fibromyalgia assessment screening tool) and MDHAQ-Dep (depression) to screen for fibromyalgia and/or depression, RADAI self-report of specific painful joints and joint count, and a symptom checklist for review of systems, and recognition of flares and medication adverse events. The MDHAQ also uniquely queries traditional “medical” information concerning comorbidities, falls, trauma, new symptoms, illnesses, surgeries, hospitalizations, emergencies, medication changes, and medication side effects. Three MDHAQ versions include long for new patients, short for new and return patients, and telemedicine. An electronic MDHAQ (eMDHAQ) has been developed with software that can interface with any electronic medical record (EMR) through the HL7 FHIR standard. However, EMR collaboration and implementation have proven difficult.

Summary

An MDHAQ provides a quantitative overview of patient status with far more information and documentation than an interview, involving minimal extra work for the physician.

Comorbidities and health-related quality of life in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA) - associated vasculitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The optimization of immunosuppressive therapies has led to a marked improvement in the survival of ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). The main issue now appears to be the management of comorbidities and the improvement of quality of life. The objective of this review was to investigate the incidence and the impact of AAV-associated comorbidities, as well as the determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review of articles published in Medline from 2001 to 04/28/2020. We selected relevant articles about AAV-associated comorbidities as well as HRQoL and fatigue. For each selected article, data on the incidence of comorbidity were extracted, and factors associated with the Mental component score (MCS) and the Physical component score (PCS) were identified.

RESULTS

Among the 10,993 references identified, 103 were retained for the final analysis. A significant increase in cardiovascular risk was evidenced, particularly for coronary artery disease and thromboembolic events, especially during the active phase of the disease. AAV was also associated with bronchiectasis, thyroid diseases and osteoporosis. A marked decrease in HRQoL and an increase in fatigue and anxiety were reported. Decrease in PCS and MCS was associated with fatigue, mood disorders, sleep disturbance, and/or unemployment.

CONCLUSION

The excess mortality of AAV is still a concern, partly in connection with cardiovascular and thromboembolic comorbidities. AAV patients also experiment a reduction in their HRQoL that requires integrated management. Patients with AAV need comorbidity management strategies to improve their quality of life and outcomes.

Vasculitis patient journey: a scoping review of patient experiences with vasculitis

In order to understand the vasculitis journey from the patient's perspective, the existing literature was reviewed regarding patient perceptions of vasculitis' effect on four main domains of health: physical, psychological, social, and financial. A scoping review was performed using CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and other sources (smaller databases and grey literature). Inclusion criteria included all forms of primary vasculitis, adult patients (≥ 18 years old), and patient perspectives regarding at least one of the four identified health domains. Aggregates of patient experiences with vasculitis were categorized into one of the four health domains: physical, psychological, social, and financial. Nineteen qualitative studies from 2294 total non-duplicated articles were included. Generalized themes emerged for each of the four domains. In relation to physical health, patients were most affected by fatigue. Psychologically, patients were most affected by anxiety. Socially, patients experienced decreased social participation due to lifestyle changes associated with disease and social perceptions of vasculitis. Financially, vasculitis patients had decreased employment due to functional decline. Each of the four domains contributed to a decreased quality of life associated with vasculitis. Decreased quality of life in vasculitis is due to multiple factors across several health domains. Understanding the patient's journey allows physicians to understand patient goals and to better support them in their recovery. Patients may also have an improved understanding of their journey and the most relevant health domains affected.

Development of central retinal artery occlusion accompanied by choroidal folds in a patient with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: A case report

RATIONALE

We report a case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) accompanied by choroidal folds in a patient positive for myeloperoxidase (MPO)-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA).

PATIENT CONCERNS

The study involved a 67-year-old female patient who presented at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki-City, Osaka, Japan on October 24, 2016 after becoming aware of a sudden decrease of visual acuity (VA) in her right eye. Other than suffering with scleritis 6-months previous, there was no obvious past history.

DIAGNOSIS

Upon examination, the VA in her right eye was hand motion, and the anterior segment of that eye showed thinning of the superior sclera. Macular edema in the inner retina and cherry red spots were observed in the ocular fundus, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings showed hyperreflectivity of the inner retina and choroidal folds. Fluorescein angiography (FA) examination of the fundus showed scattered areas of no retinal perfusion, and indocyanine green angiography (IA) findings of the fundus indicated a possible choroidal circulatory disturbance in her right eye. Blood test findings revealed the patient to be positive for MPO-ANCA. Based on the above findings, the patient was diagnosed with CRAO and choroidal circulatory disturbance due to ANCA-associated vasculitis.

INTERVENTIONS

For treatment, steroid semi-pulse therapy was initiated.

OUTCOMES

Post treatment initiation, the fundus features and choroidal folds gradually improved, and her VA slightly improved to 0.08.

LESSONS

Based on the FA, IA, and OCT findings, the present case was considered to have CRAO accompanied by choroidal circulatory disturbance due to ANCA-associated vasculitis, a rare disease that may be complicated by choroidal circulatory disturbances.

Fibromyalgia Assessment Screening Tool: Clues to Fibromyalgia on a Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire for Routine Care

OBJECTIVE

To develop feasible indices as clues to comorbid fibromyalgia (FM) in routine care of patients with various rheumatic diseases based only on self-report multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) scores, which are informative in all rheumatic diagnoses studied.

METHODS

All patients with all diagnoses complete an MDHAQ at each visit; the 2011 FM criteria questionnaire was added to the standard MDHAQ between February 2013 and August 2016. The proportion of patients who met 2011 FM criteria or had a clinical diagnosis of FM was calculated. Individual candidate MDHAQ measures were compared to 2011 FM criteria using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves; cutpoints to recognize FM were selected from the area under the curve (AUC) for optimal tradeoff between sensitivity and specificity. Cumulative indices of 3 or 4 MDHAQ measures were analyzed as fibromyalgia assessment screening tools (FAST).

RESULTS

In 148 patients, the highest AUC in ROC analyses versus 2011 FM criteria were seen for MDHAQ symptom checklist, self-report painful joint count, pain visual analog scale (VAS), and fatigue VAS. The optimal cutpoints were ≥ 16/60 for symptom checklist, ≥ 16/48 for self-report painful joint count, and ≥ 6/10 for both pain and fatigue VAS. Cumulative FAST indices of 2/3 or 3/4 MDHAQ measures correctly classified 89.4-91.7% of patients who met 2011 FM criteria.

CONCLUSION

FAST3 and FAST4 cumulative indices from only MDHAQ scores correctly identify most patients who meet 2011 FM criteria. FAST indices can assist clinicians in routine care as clues to FM with a general rheumatology rather than FM-specific questionnaire.

Fibromyalgia Assessment Screening Tools (FAST) Based on Only Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) Scores as Clues to Fibromyalgia

Objective

The study was designed to develop fibromyalgia assessment screening tool (FAST) indices based only on multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) scores as clues to fibromyalgia (FM), analyzed for possible agreement with the 2011 FM criteria.

Methods

All patients with all diagnoses complete an MDHAQ at each visit in routine care. The MDHAQ includes scores for physical function, pain, global assessment, fatigue, self-report painful joint count, and a 60-symptom checklist. MDHAQ items similar or identical to the 2011 FM criteria symptom severity scale (SSS) and widespread pain index (WPI) components of a polysymptomatic distress scale (PSD) were compiled into continuous MDHAQ-FM-SSS, MDHAQ-FM-WPI, and MDHAQ-FM-PSD indices. Ten candidate MDHAQ scores were analyzed against the 2011 FM criteria using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, kappa statistics, and receiver operating characteristic curves for the area under the curve (AUC). MDHAQ candidate variables with the highest AUC were compiled into cumulative MDHAQ-FAST indices of three (FAST3) or four (FAST4) scores.

Results

The highest AUCs among MDHAQ scores were seen for symptom checklist, painful joint count, fatigue, and pain, which are included in FAST4; FAST3-F excludes pain, and FAST3-P excludes fatigue. AUCs for FAST3-P, FAST3-F, and FAST4, as well as continuous MDHAQ-FM scores, all were greater than 0.92, indicating excellent criterion validity. Kappa statistics versus the 2011 criteria were 0.63-0.68, higher than 0.41-0.47 versus physician ICD-10 diagnoses.

Conclusion

Pragmatic FAST3, FAST4, and MDHAQ-FM indices are similar to FM criteria to screen for FM in routine care. It is more feasible to collect the same MDHAQ, which is informative in all rheumatic diseases studied, from each patient than to ask different patients with different diagnoses to complete different questionnaires.

Disease Burden in Osteoarthritis Is Similar to That of Rheumatoid Arthritis at Initial Rheumatology Visit and Significantly Greater Six Months Later

OBJECTIVE

To analyze disease burden in osteoarthritis (OA) according to Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ)/Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) scores at the initial visit and the 6-month follow-up visit, compared with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a benchmark for high disease burden.

METHODS

All patients with all diagnoses at the Rush University Medical Center Division of Rheumatology complete a paper MDHAQ at all visits, saved as a PDF in the electronic health record. MDHAQ 0-10 scores for physical function, pain, and patient global assessment (compiled into RAPID3 0-30 scores) and additional scales at the initial and 6-month follow-up visits, for new OA and RA patients seen from 2011 to 2017, were compared. OA and RA patients were classified as self-referred or physician-referred, and RA patients were classified as disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naive or having prior-DMARD treatment. Patient groups were compared using t-tests and analysis of variance, adjusted for age, disease duration, body mass index (BMI), education, and ethnicity.

RESULTS

Compared with RA patients, OA patients had higher age, BMI, and disease duration. At initial visit, the mean RAPID3 did not differ significantly in OA versus DMARD-naive RA patients, whether self- or physician-referred (range 14.8-16.4 [P = 0.38]), or in all OA patients versus DMARD-naive RA patients versus prior-DMARD RA patients (15.0, 15.7, and 15.8, respectively [P = 0.49]). After 6 months, RAPID3 was improved to 13.3, 10.3, and 10.8, respectively, which represented substantially greater improvement in RA patients than OA patients (P < 0.001). Similar results were seen for most self-reported measures and in adjusted analyses.

CONCLUSION

MDHAQ/RAPID3 scores are similar in OA and RA patients at the initial visit, but higher in OA patients than in RA patients 6 months later, reflecting superior RA treatments. The same MDHAQ/RAPID3 allows comparisons of disease burdens in different diseases.

Clinical significance of ocular manifestations in granulomatosis with polyangiitis: association with sinonasal involvement and damage

Ocular involvement is present in 50-60% of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients and can affect any part of the ocular globe. The present study describes ophthalmologic manifestations, association with systemic symptoms, disease activity and damage in GPA. A cross-sectional study was conducted including patients with GPA who underwent rheumatologic and ophthalmologic evaluation. Demographics, comorbidities, ophthalmologic symptoms, serologic markers, radiographic studies, disease activity and damage were assessed. Descriptive statistics, correlation, univariable logistic regression analyses, Student's t, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were performed. Fifty patients were included, 60% female, the median age was 56 years, disease duration 72.5 months. Nineteen (38%) patients had ocular manifestations at GPA diagnosis, scleritis being the most frequent; 27 (54%) patients presented ocular involvement during follow-up, repeated scleritis and dacryocystitis being the most common manifestations. Concomitant ophthalmic and sinonasal involvement was present in 12 (24%). Ocular and ENT damage occurred in 58% and 70%, respectively. Epiphora and blurred vision were the most frequent symptoms; scleromalacia and conjunctival hyperemia (27%) the most frequent clinical abnormalities. Ocular involvement at diagnosis was associated with concomitant ocular and sinonasal involvement at follow-up (OR 4.72, 95% CI 1.17-19.01, p = 0.01). Ocular involvement at follow-up was associated with age at GPA diagnosis (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.99, p = 0.03), VDI (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.03-1.61, p = 0.02), and ENT damage (OR 5.27, 95% CI 1.37-20.13, p = 0.01). In GPA, ocular involvement is frequent, therefore, non-ophthalmologist clinicians should be aware of this manifestation to reduce the risk of visual morbidity and organ damage.

Value of the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: Results From a Tight-Control Clinical Trial and an Observational Cohort

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3), a patient-reported, composite index, designed initially for feasibility in clinical care. RAPID3 was developed in rheumatoid arthritis, but has been found useful in many rheumatic diseases. We analyzed RAPID3 in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS

Post hoc analyses were performed on 2 independent data sets, the Tight Control of Psoriatic Arthritis (TICOPA) clinical trial, and the Long-Term Outcome in Psoriatic Arthritis Study (LOPAS II), an observational cohort. RAPID3 (range 0-30) is the total of three 0-10 scores for the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (recalculated from 0-3), pain visual analog scale (VAS), and global VAS. RAPID3 scores were compared to the Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS), the Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), and other available clinical measures, according to Spearman's correlation coefficients, standardized response mean, SEM, smallest detectible difference, minimally important difference (in patients who improved), and receiver operating characteristic curves. RAPID3 remission was compared to criteria for both standard minimal disease activity (MDA) and very low disease activity (VLDA).

RESULTS

RAPID3 was correlated significantly with PASDAS in TICOPA (r = 0.79, P < 0.01) and with DAPSA in LOPAS II (ρ = 0.59, P < 0.01), and with most other measures in both data sets. RAPID3 discriminated between tight control and standard care in TICOPA at 48 weeks at levels comparable to DAPSA and the PASDAS (P < 0.01). RAPID3 remission discriminated treatment groups in TICOPA intermediate between MDA and VLDA criteria.

CONCLUSION

RAPID3 appears comparably informative to PASDAS and DAPSA in PsA, with greater feasibility for routine clinical care.

MDHAQ/RAPID3 scores in patients with osteoarthritis are similar to or higher than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study from current routine rheumatology care at four sites

Objective

To compare patients with a primary diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) versus rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for scores on a patient self-report MDHAQ/RAPID3 (Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire/Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3), and for physician global assessment (DOCGL).

Methods

All patients with all diagnoses complete an MDHAQ/RAPID3 at all routine rheumatology visits in the waiting area before seeing a rheumatologist at four sites, one in Australia and three in the USA. The two-page MDHAQ includes 0–10 scores for physical function (in 10 activities), pain and patient global assessment [on 0–10 visual analogue scales (VAS)], compiled into a 0–30 RAPID3, as well as fatigue and self-report painful joint count scales. Rheumatologists estimate a 0–10 DOCGL VAS. Demographic, MDHAQ/RAPID3 and DOCGL data from a random visit were compared in patients with RA versus patients with OA using multivariate analysis of variance, adjusted for age, disease duration and formal education level.

Results

Median RAPID3 was higher in OA versus RA at all four sites (11.7–16.8 vs 6.2–11.8) (p<0.001 at three sites). Median DOCGL in OA versus RA was 5 vs 4, 4 vs 3.7, 2.2 vs 2.5 and 2 vs 1. Patterns were similar for individual RAPID3 items, fatigue and painful joint scales, and in stratified analyses of patients aged 55–70.

Conclusion

Patient MDHAQ/RAPID3 and physician DOCGL indicate similar or higher disease burden in OA versus RA. Routine MDHAQ/RAPID3 allows direct comparisons of the two diseases. The findings suggest possible revision of current clinical and public policy views concerning OA.

Mepolizumab or Placebo for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is an eosinophilic vasculitis. Mepolizumab, an anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody, reduces blood eosinophil counts and may have value in the treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

METHODS

In this multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned participants with relapsing or refractory eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis who had received treatment for at least 4 weeks and were taking a stable prednisolone or prednisone dose to receive 300 mg of mepolizumab or placebo, administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks, plus standard care, for 52 weeks. The two primary end points were the accrued weeks of remission over a 52-week period, according to categorical quantification, and the proportion of participants in remission at both week 36 and week 48. Secondary end points included the time to first relapse and the average daily glucocorticoid dose (during weeks 48 through 52). The annualized relapse rate and safety were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 136 participants underwent randomization, with 68 participants assigned to receive mepolizumab and 68 to receive placebo. Mepolizumab treatment led to significantly more accrued weeks of remission than placebo (28% vs. 3% of the participants had ≥24 weeks of accrued remission; odds ratio, 5.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.68 to 13.03; P<0.001) and a higher percentage of participants in remission at both week 36 and week 48 (32% vs. 3%; odds ratio, 16.74; 95% CI, 3.61 to 77.56; P<0.001). Remission did not occur in 47% of the participants in the mepolizumab group versus 81% of those in the placebo group. The annualized relapse rate was 1.14 in the mepolizumab group, as compared with 2.27 in the placebo group (rate ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.70; P<0.001). A total of 44% of the participants in the mepolizumab group, as compared with 7% of those in the placebo group, had an average daily dose of prednisolone or prednisone of 4.0 mg or less per day during weeks 48 through 52 (odds ratio, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.41; P<0.001). The safety profile of mepolizumab was similar to that observed in previous studies.

CONCLUSIONS

In participants with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, mepolizumab resulted in significantly more weeks in remission and a higher proportion of participants in remission than did placebo, thus allowing for reduced glucocorticoid use. Even so, only approximately half the participants treated with mepolizumab had protocol-defined remission. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02020889 .).

Responsiveness of a simple RAPID-3-like index compared to disease-specific BASDAI and ASDAS indices in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

Objective

To evaluate the responsiveness of a simple routine assessment of patient index data (RAPID3)-like index that includes only 3 patient self-report measures (physical function, pain and patient global estimate) compared to that of traditional composite indices to assess change in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (Ax-SpA).

Methods

Devenir des Spondylarthropathies Indifférenciées Récentes (DESIR) is a prospective cohort of patients with inflammatory back pain suggestive of Ax-SpA. The study included 461 patients, who met the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria for Ax-SpA. A simple RAPID3-like index was compared with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) scores for responsiveness over 6 months. Construct validity was also evaluated through Pearson correlations and discrimination of disease activity through standardised mean differences for the 3 indices.

Results

The RAPID3-like index was correlated significantly with BASDAI (r=0.84, p<0.005) and ASDAS-C-reactive protein (CRP) (r=0.74, p<0.005), similar to correlations of BASDAI with ASDAS-CRP (r=0.76, p<0.005). The percentage of patients with inactive disease ranged from 9% to 25% and with high activity from 10% to 45%, according to various measures. The capacity to discriminate between high and low disease activity was similar for the 3 indices. The strength of agreement of RAPID3 with ASDAS-CRP was moderate (0.44) and lower with BASDAI (0.37). Responsiveness over 6 months was slightly higher for ASDAS-CRP and the RAPID3-like index than that for BASDAI.

Conclusions

The RAPID3-like index provides similar information to BASDAI and ASDAS-CRP concerning responsiveness over 6 months. RAPID3 appears feasible to assess patients with Ax-SpA quantitatively over time in busy clinical settings.

Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) Scores Yield Similar Information in 85 Korean Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis Seen in Usual Clinical Care

Disease-specific ankylosing spondylitis (AS) indices, including BASDAI (Bath AS Disease Activity Index), BASFI (Bath AS Functional Index), ASDAS (AS Disease Activity Score), and BASMI (Bath AS Metrology Index), are widely used in clinical trials and in some clinical settings, but not in most routine care. Laboratory tests usually are the only quantitative measures included in routine care of AS patients, but often are poorly informative. Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) on a Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) is feasible and informative in many rheumatic diseases.

Prediction of Remission in a French Early Arthritis Cohort by RAPID3 and other Core Data Set Measures, but Not by the Absence of Rheumatoid Factor, Anticitrullinated Protein Antibodies, or Radiographic Erosions

Objective.

To identify baseline variables that predict remission according to different criteria in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a comprehensive French ESPOIR early arthritis database.

Methods.

Individual variables and indices at baseline were analyzed in 664 patients for capacity to predict remission either 6 or 12 months later according to 4 criteria that require a formal joint count: the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Boolean criteria, the Simplified Disease Activity Index, the Clinical Disease Activity Index, and the 28-joint Disease Activity Score; and 2 remission criteria that do not require a formal joint count: the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) and the RAPID3 ≤ 3 + swollen joint, using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions.

Results.

Remission was predicted significantly 6 and/or 12 months later in 26.8%–51.4% of patients, according to all 6 criteria by younger age, low index scores, and better status for the 6/7 clinical RA core dataset measures: tender joint count, swollen joint count (SJC), physician’s global estimate, patient self-report Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) physical function, pain, and patient’s global estimate. Remission was not predicted by the absence of “poor prognosis RA” indicators, rheumatoid factor (RF), anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), or radiographic erosions. In multivariate regressions that included only 3 variables, low HAQ function predicted remission by all criteria as effectively as SJC, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or C-reactive protein.

Conclusion.

Younger age and 6 core dataset clinical measures, but not the absence of traditional “poor prognosis RA” indicators, RF, ACPA, or radiographic erosions, predicted remission according to 6 criteria, including 2 without a formal joint count.