1
|
Potapova AS, Karateev AE, Polishchuk EY, Filatova ES, Amirdzhanova VN, Lila AM. [Reduction in the need for glucocorticoids on the background of therapy with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and Janus kinase inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: evidence from real clinical practice]. TERAPEVT ARKH 2024; 96:465-470. [PMID: 38829807 DOI: 10.26442/00403660.2024.05.202701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical guidelines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) recommend reducing the use of glucocorticoids (GCs) due to the high risk of associated complications. AIM To determine the frequency of GC cancellations and dose reductions in real clinical practice, while taking into account active RA therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study group consisted of 303 patients with RA reliable according to ACR/EULAR criteria (women 79.9%, age 52.8±13.3, disease duration 9 [4; 16] years, DAS-28-CRP 4.9±1.0, RF seropositivity 77.4%, ACPA seropositivity 70.3%), who were prescribed or changed therapy with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) or Janus kinase inhibitors (iJAK) due to disease exacerbation and ineffectiveness of previous treatment. All patients initially received GC (7.7±3.8 mg/day equivalent of prednisolone). After adjustment of therapy, 42.9% of patients received methotrexate, 27.6% leflunomide, 2.5% sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, or a combination with an Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 63.7% bDMARDs, and 7.2% iJAK. The need for GC intake was assessed by a telephone survey conducted 6 months after the start of follow-up. RESULTS Telephone survey was possible in 274 (90.4%) persons. There was a significant decrease in pain intensity (numerical rating scale, NRS 0-10) from 6.3±1.4 to 4.3±2.4 (p<0.001), fatigue (NRS) from 6.7±2.3 to 5.2±2.1 (p<0.001), and functional impairment (NRS) from 5.4±2.1 to 3.9±2.0 (p<0.001). A positive PASS index (symptom status acceptable to patients) was noted in 139 (50.7%) patients. GC cancellation was noted in 19.7%, dose reduction in 25.9%, maintaining the same dose in 42.7%, and dose increase in 11.7%. CONCLUSION Against the background of intensive RA therapy, including combination of DMARDs with bDMARDs or iJAK, complete withdrawal or reduction of GC dose was achieved in less than half (45.6%) of patients after 6 months.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - A M Lila
- Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology
- Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Goto Y, Nagafuchi H, Kaga Y, Kawahata K. Association between glucocorticoid discontinuation and incidence of infection in older adults with rheumatoid arthritis: A retrospective cohort study. Int J Rheum Dis 2023; 26:1987-1995. [PMID: 37504066 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.14851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
AIM Old age and glucocorticoid (GC) use increase the susceptibility to infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Accordingly, we investigated whether GC discontinuation reduces the incidence of infection in older adults with RA and analyzed factors associated with GC discontinuation. METHODS Medical records of patients with RA aged ≥60 years were retrieved, and the association between GC use and the incidence of infection was investigated. The participants were divided into three groups: GC-continued, GC-discontinued, and non-GC; the incidence of infection was statistically analyzed. Furthermore, patient treatments and comorbidities were examined. RESULTS Among 389 patients with RA included in the study (n = 122, n = 126, and n = 141 in the GC-discontinued, GC-continued, and non-GC groups, respectively), 65 (16.7%) patients developed infection, and the incidence of infection was significantly higher in the GC-continued group than in the GC-discontinued (p = .021) and non-GC (p = .0003) groups; there was no significant difference between the non-GC and GC-discontinued groups (p = .659). The GC-discontinued group was more likely to require biologic use throughout the disease course than the other two groups. Comorbidities, especially malignancies (p = .004), were more common in the GC-continued group than in the GC-discontinued group (p = .007). CONCLUSION In patients with RA aged ≥60 years receiving GCs, GC discontinuation reduced the incidence of infection. Therefore, a further analysis of factors that help reduce GC use is necessary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Goto
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroko Nagafuchi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Kaga
- Department of Practical Management of Medical Information, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
- EPS Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kimito Kawahata
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xie W, Huang H, Zhang Z. Dynamic Characteristics and Predictive Profile of Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Commencing Glucocorticoids with csDMARD: A Real-World Experience. Rheumatol Ther 2023; 10:405-419. [PMID: 36609980 PMCID: PMC10011229 DOI: 10.1007/s40744-022-00527-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glucocorticoids (GC) are currently recommended as a bridging therapy in combination with conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARD) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and should be tapered as rapidly as clinically feasible. We aimed to explore potential predictors for GC discontinuation in patients commencing GC with concomitant csDMARD. METHODS We used data from a longitudinal real-world cohort. RA patients who newly started GC concomitantly with csDMARD were included. All patients were divided into four groups, according to degree of change in disease activity at 3 months from baseline (group 1: worsening or no decrease; group 2: 0-24.9% decrease; group 3: 25.0-49.9% decrease; group 4: ≥ 50.0% decrease). Cox regression was used to estimate hazard risk (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS In total, 124 out of 207 RA patients discontinued GC at the rheumatologist's discretion and 79.1% (91/115) of them successfully stopping GC without flare within 6 months after GC withdrawal. Increasing age (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-1.00, p = 0.043) and concomitant nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use at GC initiation (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.25-0.88, p = 0.018) were independently associated with GC withdrawal failure. Moreover, the degrees of disease activity improvement at 3 months significantly predicted the possibility of subsequent GC discontinuation (fully adjusted HR 1.35-1.47, p < 0.01), with 2.38-3.59 times higher in group 4 than group 1. Switching the outcome to successfully stopping GC without short-term flare yielded similar findings. CONCLUSIONS The degrees of disease activity improvement at 3 months independently predicted the subsequent GC withdrawal. These findings suggest the importance of dynamic treatment strategies with a closer look at disease activity during GC tapering and discontinuation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Xie
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, No. 8, Xishiku Street, West District, Beijing, 100034 China
| | - Hong Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, No. 8, Xishiku Street, West District, Beijing, 100034 China
| | - Zhuoli Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, No. 8, Xishiku Street, West District, Beijing, 100034 China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xie W, Huang H, Li G, Hao Y, Gui Y, Wang Y, Deng X, Zhao J, Geng Y, Ji L, Zhang X, Song Z, Zhang Z. Dynamical trajectory of glucocorticoids tapering and discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis commencing glucocorticoids with csDMARDs: a real-world data from 2009 to 2020. Ann Rheum Dis 2021; 80:997-1003. [PMID: 33811037 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To unravel the dynamical trajectory and features of glucocorticoids (GC) tapering and discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commencing GC with concomitant conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs). METHODS We used data from longitudinal real-world Treat-to-TARget in RA cohort. Patients with RA who started GC and contaminant csDMARDs therapy were included. The changes in GC dose and disease activity were evaluated. GC discontinuation rate was analysed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The relapse profile within 6 months after GC discontinuation was also analysed. RESULTS A total of 207 patients with RA were included. During a median follow-up of 38.6 months, 124 patients discontinued GC. The median prednisolone dose of 10 (5-10) mg/day at initiation was reduced by 50% in the first 6 months and then more slowly, to zero by 48 months eventually. The cumulative probabilities of GC discontinuation were 9.7%, 26.6%, 48.0% and 58.6% at month 6, years 1, 2 and 3, with calculated median time to GC cessation of 27 months. In 110 DMARD-naïve patients, the corresponding cumulative probabilities of GC discontinuation were, respectively, 12.7%, 30.0%, 50.9% and 60.6%, with calculated median time to GC cessation of 24 months. Of the 124 patients who discontinued GC, adding other csDMARDs or concomitant csDMARDs increment was documented in 28.2% of them. Approximately half of 124 patients were in clinical remission at GC discontinuation. Within 6 months after GC withdrawal, 79.1% (91/115) of patients maintained relapse free. CONCLUSIONS In patients with RA commencing GC besides csDMARDs, GC is feasibly discontinued with favourable control of disease activity in real-life setting, mostly without short-term flare. But the withdrawal time is far from reaching the recommended time frame, indicating the gap between real-world practice and current guidelines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Xie
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Guangtao Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjie Hao
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanni Gui
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xuerong Deng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Geng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - LanLan Ji
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhibo Song
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuoli Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ochiai M, Tanaka E, Sato E, Inoue E, Abe M, Saka K, Sugano E, Sugitani N, Higuchi Y, Yamaguchi R, Sugimoto N, Ikari K, Nakajima A, Yamanaka H, Harigai M. Successful discontinuation of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in real-world settings. Mod Rheumatol 2021; 31:790-795. [PMID: 33538611 DOI: 10.1080/14397595.2021.1883252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyze the proportion of successful biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) discontinuation and related factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical settings. METHODS Among 1775 RA patients who started bDMARDs between 2003 and 2012, 43 patients with DAS28-ESR <3.2 at the time of bDMARD discontinuation were extracted. Patients were divided into two groups (bio-free success: BS and bio-free failure: BF groups) based on bDMARD usage and disease activity 1 year after discontinuation. We evaluated the proportion of bio-free success and assessed factors related to bio-free success. RESULTS Twenty-five patients (58.1%: BS group) maintained discontinuation of bDMARDs and DAS28-ESR <3.2 at 1 year after discontinuation. The median DAS28-ESR at bDMARD initiation was lower in the BS group than in the BF group (3.95 vs 5.04; p = .04). The BS group experienced a larger decrease in average glucocorticoid (GC) dose during bDMARD use than the BF group (-3.0 mg/day vs 0 mg/day; p = .01). CONCLUSION bDMARDs were discontinued without flare up of RA in 58.1% of patients with RA in clinical settings. A lower DAS28-ESR at initiation and reduction of GC dose before discontinuation of bDMARD were important factors associated with bio-free success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moeko Ochiai
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eiichi Tanaka
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eri Sato
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Keyaki Total Clinic, Chiba, Japan
| | - Eisuke Inoue
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Administration Center, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mai Abe
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kumiko Saka
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eri Sugano
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naohiro Sugitani
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoko Higuchi
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rei Yamaguchi
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoki Sugimoto
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsunori Ikari
- Department of Orthopedics, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayako Nakajima
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Mie University Hospital, Mie, Japan
| | - Hisashi Yamanaka
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Rheumatology, Sanno Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Harigai
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Suzuki M, Kojima T, Takahashi N, Asai S, Terabe K, Kaneko A, Hirano Y, Hanabayashi M, Oguchi T, Takagi H, Kanayama Y, Yabe Y, Funahashi K, Fujibayashi T, Tsuboi S, Ito T, Yoshioka Y, Ishikawa H, Sobue Y, Nishiume T, Yokota Y, Ishiguro N. Higher doses of methotrexate associated with discontinuation of oral glucocorticoids after initiation of biological DMARDs: A retrospective observational study based on data from a Japanese multicenter registry study. Mod Rheumatol 2021; 31:796-802. [PMID: 33492191 DOI: 10.1080/14397595.2021.1879428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Glucocorticoids are important drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. We recommend glucocorticoid discontinuation as soon as possible given the associated side-effects, but many patients continue to take oral glucocorticoids long-term. The present study aimed to explore factors associated with glucocorticoid discontinuation at 52 weeks after initiating biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). METHODS Subjects were 564 patients from a Japanese multicenter registry who were administered glucocorticoids and methotrexate (MTX) followed by initiation of the first bDMARD. We examined the status of oral glucocorticoid use at 52 weeks after initiating the first bDMARD. RESULTS By 52 weeks after bDMARD initiation, 164 patients (29.1%) discontinued glucocorticoids. Multivariable analysis identified age, MTX dose, and glucocorticoid dose as factors independently associated with glucocorticoid discontinuation. After adjusting for baseline characteristics using propensity score matching, among patient groups administered MTX ≤ 8 mg/week and MTX > 8 mg/week, 105 pairs remained. A significantly higher rate of glucocorticoid discontinuation (41.0%) was noted for patients administered MTX > 8 mg/week. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that glucocorticoids may be discontinued after initiating bDMARDs. Moreover, higher MTX doses (>8 mg/week) at the time of bDMARD initiation were associated with glucocorticoid discontinuation among patients treated with bDMARDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mochihito Suzuki
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Toshihisa Kojima
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Nobunori Takahashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shuji Asai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kenya Terabe
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kaneko
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Nagoya Medical Center, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuji Hirano
- Department of Rheumatology, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | | | - Takeshi Oguchi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hideki Takagi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya Central Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | | | - Yuichiro Yabe
- Department of Rheumatology, Japan Community Healthcare Organization Tokyo Shinjuku Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Funahashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kariya-Toyota General Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Fujibayashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Konan Kosei Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Seiji Tsuboi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shizuoka Kosei Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | | | - Yutaka Yoshioka
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Handa Municipal Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hisato Ishikawa
- Department of Rheumatology, Japanese Red Cross, Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasumori Sobue
- Department of Rheumatology, Japanese Red Cross, Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Nishiume
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yokota
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia (GIH) is an important complication to be managed by rheumatologists as it can affect morbidity and mortality of patients. Before administration of glucocorticoids, risk for the development of GIH should be assessed in every patient. A meta-analysis identified male gender, older age, family history of diabetes mellitus, current smoking history, past history of hypertension, higher body mass index, higher fasting plasma glucose (PG) and higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels as risk factors for GIH. Then, rheumatologists need to carefully monitored PG levels including 2-h after meals because glucocorticoids particularly affect postprandial glucose metabolism. Fasting PG level ≥ 126 mg/dL and/or post-meal PG level ≥ 200 mg/dL are considered as GIH regardless of HbA1c level. Treatment strategy for GIH should center on insulin injection since the effectiveness of oral hypoglycemic agents for GIH has been uncertain. But, rheumatologists may try oral hypoglycemic agents in advance of insulin therapy for mild GIH, whereas diabetologists should be consulted in case of intractable GIH. More strict control of GIH could be possible using intensive insulin protocol. Rheumatologists are encouraged to be interested in the management of GIH for providing patients superior care, working closely with diabetologists.
Collapse
|