Safety issues and concerns of new immunomodulators in rheumatology

Long-term safety of Ixekizumab in adults with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or axial spondyloarthritis: a post-hoc analysis of final safety data from 25 randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

We report long-term, end-of-study program safety outcomes from 25 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in adult patients with psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) [including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)] who received ≥ 1 dose of Ixekizumab (IXE) over 5 years (PsO) or up to 3 years (PsA, axSpA).

METHODS

This integrated safety analysis consists of data from patients who received any dose of IXE, across 25 RCTs (17 PsO, 4 PsA, 4 axSpA). Rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), serious adverse events (SAEs) and selected adverse events (AEs) of interest were analyzed for all pooled studies by years of therapy and overall, through March 2022. Results were reported as exposure-adjusted incidence rates (IRs) per 100 patient-years (PY) overall and at successive year intervals.

RESULTS

Six thousand eight hundred ninety two adult patients with PsO, 1401 with PsA, and 932 with axSpA (including AS and nr-axSpA), with a cumulative IXE exposure of 22,371.1 PY were included. The most commonly reported TEAE across indications was nasopharyngitis (IRs per 100 PY: 8.8 (PsO), 9.0 (PsA), 8.4 (axSpA)). SAEs were reported by 969 patients with PsO (IR 5.4), 134 patients with PsA (IR 6.0), and 101 patients with axSpA (IR 4.8). Forty-five deaths were reported (PsO, n = 36, IR 0.2; PsA, n = 6, IR 0.3; axSpA, n = 3, IR 0.1). TEAEs did not increase during IXE exposure: IRs per 100 PY, PsO: 88.9 to 63.2 (year 0-1 to 4-5), PsA: 87 to 67.3 (year 0-1 to 2-3), axSpA: 82.1 to 55.4 (year 0-1 to >  = 2). IRs per 100 PY of discontinuation from IXE due to AE were 2.9 (PsO), 5.1 (PsA), and 3.1 (axSpA). IRs per 100 PY of injection site reactions were 5.9 (PsO), 11.6 (PsA) and 7.4 (axSpA); Candida: 1.9 (PsO), 2.0 (PsA), and 1.2 (axSpA); depression, major adverse cerebro-cardiovascular events and malignancies: ≤ 1.6 across all indications. Adjudicated IRs per 100 PY of inflammatory bowel disease were ≤ 0.8 across indications (0.1 [PsO]; 0.1 [PsA]; 0.8 [axSpA]).

CONCLUSIONS

In this integrated safety analysis, consisting of over 22,000 PY of exposure, the long-term safety profile of IXE was found to be consistent with previous, earlier reports, with no new safety signals identified.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT registration numbers for RCTs included in this integrated analysis can be found in Additional File 1.

Diagnostic predictability of miR-4535 and miR-1915-5p expression in amniotic fluid for foetal morbidity of infection

INTRODUCTION

Clinical prediction of foetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is highly necessary. We have previously reported that miR-4535 and miR-1915-5p are potential biomarkers for severe chorioamnionitis based on the results of microRNA array analysis. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between foetal morbidity of infection and miR-4535, miR-1915-5p, interleukin (IL)-6, or 16S rDNA copy number levels in amniotic fluid from pregnant women with chorioamnionitis.

METHODS

Amniotic fluid from 57 pregnant women with preterm premature membrane rupture or threatened premature labour were collected. Infants with WBC counts <5000/μL or >20,000/μL, CRP >0.5 mg/mL, or IgM >20 mg/mL at birth received a diagnosis of suspicious foetal infection, and those requiring antibiotic administration for >5 days were considered infected newborns. miR-4535, miR-1915-5p, and IL-6 levels and 16S rDNA copy number were evaluated. Mann-Whitney U test and Dunn's test were used for comparison. The area under the curve (AUC) and Youden index were calculated to examine the diagnostic accuracy of foetal morbidity of infection.

RESULTS

miR-4535, miR-1915-5p, 16S rDNA, and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with severe chorioamnionitis than in patients with chorionitis or sub-chorionitis (P < 0.05). miR-4535 and miR-1915-5p levels were significantly associated with WBC counts <5000/μL or >20,000/μL, CRP >0.5 mg/mL, or IgM >20 mg/mL (P < 0.05). AUC values of miR-4535 and miR-1915-5p indicated moderate or low accuracy for foetal morbidity of infection, while those of IL-6 and 16S rDNA seemed unreliable.

DISCUSSION

MiR-4535 and miR-1915-5p levels in amniotic fluid may be considered clinically predictive for foetal morbidity of infection.

Associations of baseline use of biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs with COVID-19 severity in rheumatoid arthritis: Results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician registry

Objective

To investigate baseline use of biologic or targeted synthetic (b/ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and COVID-19 outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

We analysed the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician registry (from 24 March 2020 to 12 April 2021). We investigated b/tsDMARD use for RA at the clinical onset of COVID-19 (baseline): abatacept (ABA), rituximab (RTX), Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi), interleukin 6 inhibitors (IL-6i) or tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi, reference group). The ordinal COVID-19 severity outcome was (1) no hospitalisation, (2) hospitalisation without oxygen, (3) hospitalisation with oxygen/ventilation or (4) death. We used ordinal logistic regression to estimate the OR (odds of being one level higher on the ordinal outcome) for each drug class compared with TNFi, adjusting for potential baseline confounders.

Results

Of 2869 people with RA (mean age 56.7 years, 80.8% female) on b/tsDMARD at the onset of COVID-19, there were 237 on ABA, 364 on RTX, 317 on IL-6i, 563 on JAKi and 1388 on TNFi. Overall, 613 (21%) were hospitalised and 157 (5.5%) died. RTX (OR 4.15, 95% CI 3.16 to 5.44) and JAKi (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.60 to 2.65) were each associated with worse COVID-19 severity compared with TNFi. There were no associations between ABA or IL6i and COVID-19 severity.

Conclusions

People with RA treated with RTX or JAKi had worse COVID-19 severity than those on TNFi. The strong association of RTX and JAKi use with poor COVID-19 outcomes highlights prioritisation of risk mitigation strategies for these people.

Toxicological considerations in the treatment of axial spondylo-arthritis

INTRODUCTION

The first-line treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and is followed by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors (the main treatment for patients not responding to NSAIDs) or drugs targetting the IL-23/IL-17 pathway. The efficacy of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine (SSZ) has not been demonstrated, although SSZ can be considered in patients with concomitant peripheral arthritis.

AREAS COVERED

This review describes the beneficial and toxicological effects of the drugs used to treat axial SpA.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

Growing concerns about the safety of anti-TNF drugs underline the need to ensure that all clinicians are capable of taking appropriate preventive action and adequately treating affected patients.

Interleukin-6: Its role and mechanisms in rescuing depression-like behaviors in rat models of depression

Neuronal injury within specific brain regions is considered a critical risk factor in the pathophysiology of depression. However, the underlying mechanisms of this process, and thus the potential for development of novel therapeutic strategies in the treatment of depression, remain largely unknown. Here, we report that Il-6 protects against neuronal anomalies related with depression, in part, by suppressing oxidative stress and consequent autophagic and apoptotic hyperactivity. Specifically, we show that IL-6 is downregulated within the CA1 hippocampus in two animal models of depression and upregulated by antidepressants. Increasing levels of IL-6 in the CA1 region result in pleiotropic protective actions including reductions in oxidative stress and modulation of autophagy, anti-immuno-inflammatory activation and anti-apoptotic effects in CA1 neurons, all of which are associated with the rescue of depression-like behaviors. In contrast, IL-6 downregulation exacerbates neuronal anomalies within the CA1 region and facilitates the genesis of depression phenotypes in rats. Interestingly, in addition to attenuating oxidative damage, the antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), is also associated with significantly decreased neuronal deficits and the display of depressive behaviors in rats. These results suggest that IL-6 may exert neuroprotection within CA1 neurons via pleiotropic mechanisms and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of depression.

Infectious adverse events in children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis treated with Biological Agents in a real-life setting: Data from the JIRcohorte

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of our study is to assess the infectious adverse events occurring in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) children treated with biological agents.

METHODS

Patients were selected from the retrospective module of the JIRcohorte, data concerning the period between January 2001 and August 2015. All infectious adverse events (IAE) were retrieved. For every infectious side effect, the date, the severity, the need for a hospitalization, the type of pathogen and the affected organ were noted. Incidence rates were expressed in number of events per 100 person-years (100p-y), and OR were calculated.

RESULTS

Six hundred seventy-seven patients with JIA were included in the study. A total of 3075.4 person-years of exposure were analyzed. One hundred eighty-four infectious events were described (6.0 events/100 p-y): 15.5/100 p-y with tocilizumab (TCZ), 9.6/100 p-y with Canakinumab (CAN), 7.4/100 p-y with abatacept (ABA), 6.9/100 p-y with Golimumab (GOL), 6.7/100 p-y with Anakinra (ANA), 6.3/100 p-y with Infliximab, 4.8/100 p-y with Etanercept, and 3.7/100 p-y with Adalimumab. Risk of developing an infection was significantly higher with IL-6 antagonists or IL-1 antagonists than with TNF-inhibitor. Forty point eight percent of the infectious adverse events (IAE) affected the upper respiratory tract or the Ear, nose and throat (ENT) system. Twelve infectious adverse events were described as severe or very severe (0.4/100p-y). No case of tuberculosis or death was reported.

CONCLUSION

Infectious complications with biologics occurring in children treated for JIA are rare, and in most of the cases have a mild or moderate severity, affecting mainly the upper respiratory tract or the ENT.

Safety of Ixekizumab in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: Results From a Pooled Analysis of Three Clinical Trials

Objective

To evaluate ixekizumab safety in adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods

Safety data from 2 integrated data sets are presented: 1) 24‐week, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled period of SPIRIT‐P1 and SPIRIT‐P2; and 2) all ixekizumab‐treated patients of SPIRIT‐P1 and SPIRIT‐P2 plus SPIRIT‐P3 open‐label period. We report adverse event (AE) frequency and exposure‐adjusted incidence rates per 100 patient‐years at 12‐week intervals to week 96.

Results

The placebo‐controlled period had 678 patients (safety population): 224 placebo, 229 ixekizumab every 4 weeks, and 225 ixekizumab every 2 weeks. Overall, 1,118 patients received ixekizumab (total exposure 1,373.4 patient‐years). In the placebo‐controlled period, the frequencies of ixekizumab‐treated patients experiencing ≥1 treatment‐emergent AE (TEAE) and those experiencing serious AEs were 68.1% (56.7% placebo) and 4.4% (2.7% placebo), respectively. Injection site reactions (ISRs) were very common (21.4% ixekizumab [4.5% placebo]), with ISR discontinuation rates of 1.1% (ixekizumab) and 0.4% (placebo). Through week 96, the incidence rates of ISRs decreased with increasing ixekizumab exposure. The frequencies of AEs of special interest were 32.8% (ixekizumab) and 27.7% (placebo); for serious infections, the frequencies were 1.3% and 0%, respectively; Candida infections, 2.6% and 0.4%; confirmed major adverse cardiac events, 0% and 0%; malignancy, 0.4% and 0%; hypersensitivities, 5.3% and 1.8%; and depression‐related, 1.8% and 1.3%. The frequency of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (investigator‐reported) was 0% in both groups, and the frequencies of sponsor‐determined inflammatory bowel disease were 0.2% in the ixekizumab group and 0% in the placebo group. Overall, no active tuberculosis, invasive Candida infections, anaphylaxis, or suicide/self‐injury behaviors were reported.

Conclusion

The PsA ixekizumab safety integrated data set reached 1,373.4 patient‐years total exposure. Ixekizumab‐treated patients had higher rates of overall TEAEs, serious infections, mucocutaneous Candida, hypersensitivities (non‐anaphylactic), and ISRs than placebo‐treated patients. No unexpected safety outcomes were reported.

Gaps in Ambulatory Patient Safety for Immunosuppressive Specialty Medications

OBJECTIVES

New specialty drugs such as biologics are now available in record numbers, presenting increased safety risks for people with immune-mediated diseases. However, comprehensive assessments of patient safety for these drugs are lacking. We examined performance on key patient safety measures, such as screening for latent tuberculosis (LTBI), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), for new users of a broad group of specialty medications.

METHODS

Data were extracted via electronic health record data warehouses of a large university health system using structured queries, and extensive chart review was performed to confirm measure elements. We included all new users of immunosuppressive specialty drugs between 2013 and 2017. We assessed screening for LTBI, HBV, and HCV from 12 months before through 60 days after medication initiation, and calculated performance on a composite measure that required screening for all three infections. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess differences in screening across specialties, adjusting for patient race, sex, age, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Among 2027 patients, the most common drugs prescribed were adalimumab (32%), etanercept (24%), infliximab (19%), and ustekinumab (9%). Overall, 62% of patients were screened for LTBI, 42% for HBV, and 33% for HCV. Only 26% of patients were screened appropriately for all three infections. Screening patterns differed significantly according to treating specialty.

CONCLUSIONS

We found gaps in ambulatory safety for patients treated with immunosuppressive specialty drugs for diverse inflammatory conditions across all relevant treating specialties. More robust safety protocols are urgently needed to prevent serious patient safety events in this high-risk population.

Immune rebalancing by oral immunotherapy: A novel method for getting the immune system back on track

Immune modulating treatments are often associated with immune suppression or an opposing anti-inflammatory paradigm. As such, there is a risk of exposing patients to infections and malignancies. Contrarily, eliciting only mild immune modulation can be insufficient for alleviating immune-mediated damage. Oral immunotherapy is a novel approach that uses the inherent ability of the gut immune system to generate signals that specifically suppress inflammation at affected sites, without inducing generalized immune suppression. Oral immunotherapy is being developed as a method to rebalance systemic immunity and restore balance, getting it back on track, rather than pushing the immune response too much or too little in opposing directions. Here, I review recent preclinical and clinical data examining the technique and describe its primary advantages.

Safety of treatment options for spondyloarthritis: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) are chronic inflammatory diseases with overlapping pathogenic mechanisms and clinical features. Treatment armamentarium against SpA includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs, including sulfasalazine, methotrexate, leflunomide, cyclosporine), targeted synthetic DMARDs (apremilast) and biological DMARDs (TNF inhibitors, anti-IL 12/23 and anti-IL-17 agents).

AREAS COVERED

A narrative review of published literature on safety profile of available SpA treatment options was performed. Readers will be provided with a comprehensive overview on frequent and rare adverse events associated with each drug listed in current SpA treatment recommendations.

EXPERT OPINION

The overall safety profile of such molecules is good and serious adverse events are rare but need to be promptly recognized and treated. However, the monitoring of adverse events is a major challenge for clinicians because it is not adequately addressed by current treatment recommendations. A tailored treatment is crucial and rheumatologists must accurately select patients in order to identify those more susceptible to develop adverse events.

Interleukin-6 Family Cytokines

The interleukin (IL)-6 family cytokines is a group of cytokines consisting of IL-6, IL-11, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM), cardiotrophin 1 (CT-1), cardiotrophin-like cytokine (CLC), and IL-27. They are grouped into one family because the receptor complex of each cytokine contains two (IL-6 and IL-11) or one molecule (all others cytokines) of the signaling receptor subunit gp130. IL-6 family cytokines have overlapping but also distinct biologic activities and are involved among others in the regulation of the hepatic acute phase reaction, in B-cell stimulation, in the regulation of the balance between regulatory and effector T cells, in metabolic regulation, and in many neural functions. Blockade of IL-6 family cytokines has been shown to be beneficial in autoimmune diseases, but bacterial infections and metabolic side effects have been observed. Recent advances in cytokine blockade might help to minimize such side effects during therapeutic blockade.

Heterocyclic homoprostanoid derivative attenuates monoarthritis in rats: An in vitro and in vivo preclinical paradigm

From our lab, among the nineteen heterocyclic homoprostanoids (HHPs), three derivatives (compounds 3, 3b and 3c) exerted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Present study is an extension of the earlier work, and, is designed to establish their therapeutic potential in monoarthritis in rats. In addition, their possible mechanism of action would be investigated. A battery of in vitro tests such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite (NO)/reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO/interleukin (IL)-6 generation in murine macrophages and whole blood (WhB), respectively were conducted. Later, in vitro cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme inhibitory activity was also evaluated. All the tested compounds showed comparable efficacy against ROS and NO in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages. However, compound 3 did not exert inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO/IL-6 generation in WhB assay. Compounds (3b and 3c) inhibited the NO generation in LPS-stimulated WhB. However, only compound 3b reversed the raised IL-6 levels in this assay. None of the test compounds inhibited COX iso-enzymes in the in vitro assay. All three HHPs showed comparable efficacy against carrageenan-induced paw inflammation. However, none of them exhibited any dose-dependent effect in this model. Based upon previous reports, compound 3c was explored against adjuvant-induced monoarthritis (AIA) in male Sprague-Dawley rats, where it exerted promising therapeutic effect. In addition to radiological and histological examinations of tibio-tarsal joint, various parameters such as chronic inflammation/pain, clinical score, interleukin (IL)-6 levels and complete blood cell profile were evaluated in AIA rats. Chronic treatment with 3c halted the disease progression in rats, improved the overall health of animals, as demonstrated by haematological, clinical scoring and joint examinations (radiological and histopathological). Inhibitory effect on elevated IL-6 in AIA rats suggested the possible mechanism of 3c on cytokine signalling. Overall, the study supports the anti-arthritic potential of compound 3c.

Safety and efficacy of empirical interleukin-1 inhibition using anakinra in AA amyloidosis of uncertain aetiology

OBJECTIVE

AA amyloidosis is a serious complication of persistent inflammation, which, untreated will progress to renal failure and death. Effective suppression of the underlying inflammatory disease is the focus of treatment. However, in approximately 20% of cases the underlying condition remains uncertain, presenting a dilemma as to choice of treatment.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of a cohort of 11 patients diagnosed with AA amyloidosis of unknown aetiology, who had been empirically treated with anakinra.

RESULTS

In anakinra-responders, median pre-treatment SAA was 74 (IQR 34-190) mg/L, and median on-treatment SAA was 6 (4-16) mg/L (p = .0047), with the response having been maintained for a median on-treatment follow-up of 1.8 (1-7.6) years. Six dialysis patients were treated effectively and safely with 100 mg anakinra three times weekly post-dialysis. Four patients remained well on daily anakinra post-renal transplant. Five anakinra-responders showed regression and three showed stabilization of amyloid load on serial SAP scintigraphy.

CONCLUSIONS

This small cohort shows that even in potentially high risk cases with organ damage secondary to AA amyloidosis or in the presence of a renal graft, anakinra, when used appropriately and carefully monitored, has proved remarkably effective and well tolerated. Longer follow-up of this off-label use is required.

Biologic Agents and Tuberculosis

Treatment with biologic agents, in particular tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, is associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB), and screening and treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI) in patients undergoing such treatment is therefore indicated. The risk of TB associated with different biologics varies significantly, with the highest relative risks, 29.3 and 18.6, associated with adalimumab and infliximab, respectively. The risk of TB with newer TNF-α inhibitors and other biologics appears to be lower. Performance of LTBI screening tests is affected by immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and immunosuppressive therapy in patients due to commence TNF-α inhibitor treatment. Interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) have a higher specificity than the tuberculin skin test (TST) in patients with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination and have probably a better sensitivity than TST in immunosuppressed patients. LTBI screening programs prior to commencement of anti-TNF-α treatment significantly reduce the incidence of TB, but the optimal screening algorithm, in particular the question of whether a combination of IGRA and TST or a single test only should be used, is a matter of ongoing debate. Use of TST in combination with IGRA is justified to increase sensitivity. Repeat testing for LTBI should be limited to patients at increased risk of TB. If TB develops during anti-TNF-α treatment, it is more likely to be disseminated and extrapulmonary than are other TB cases. Discontinuation of anti-TNF-α treatment in patients diagnosed with TB is associated with an increased risk of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, which is probably best managed by reintroduction of anti-TNF-α treatment.

Safety of treatments for primary Sjögren's syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a disabling auto-immune disease, affecting exocrine glands and several organs.

AREAS COVERED

In this review we analyze the safety of therapies used in pSS. Symptomatic treatment is widely applied due to the good supportive effect and good safety profile. Systemic stimulation of tears and saliva can be successful in pSS. However, cumbersome adverse events can influence the tolerability of this therapy. Evidence for the effectiveness of synthetic DMARDs therapies in pSS is limited, while there is a risk of adverse events. Several studies on biologic DMARD treatment of pSS patients have shown promising efficacy and safety results.

EXPERT OPINION

The safety of symptomatic treatment of pSS is very good. However, systemic therapy is necessary to achieve long-term relieve and prevention of organ-damage. Synthetic DMARDs have not shown much efficacy in earlier studies, and their benefits do not weigh up to the possible harms, while biologic DMARDs show promising results regarding efficacy and cause mostly mild adverse events. Many questions remain unanswered regarding safety of DMARDs in pSS. There is a need for well designed studies, in which safety should be evaluated in a uniform manner to be able to compare the results between studies.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, sixteen-week study of subcutaneous golimumab in patients with active nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by back pain and stiffness. The objective of this study was to determine whether golimumab is superior to placebo in patients with nonradiographic axial SpA.

METHODS

This phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed to evaluate subcutaneous golimumab (50 mg) versus placebo in patients ages ≥18 years to ≤45 years who had active nonradiographic axial SpA according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria for ≤5 years since diagnosis, high disease activity, and an inadequate response to or intolerance of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive golimumab or placebo subcutaneously every 4 weeks. The primary end point was 20% improvement according to the ASAS criteria (ASAS20) at week 16. Key secondary end points were an ASAS40 response, ASAS partial remission, 50% improvement in the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and change in the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) index for sacroiliac (SI) joint inflammation (SPARCC score).

RESULTS

Of the 198 patients randomized, 197 were treated (97 received golimumab, and 100 received placebo). The mean age of the patients was 31 years, and 57.1% were male. At baseline, the mean ± SD BASDAI was 6.5 ± 1.5, the mean ± SD ASDAS was 3.5 ± 0.9, and the mean ± SD SPARCC score was 11.3 ± 14.0. The primary end point, an ASAS20 response, was achieved by significantly more patients in the golimumab group compared with the placebo group (71.1% versus 40.0%; P < 0.0001). An ASAS40 response was also achieved by significantly more patients in the golimumab group compared with the placebo group (56.7% versus 23.0%; P < 0.0001). The incidence of adverse events did not differ meaningfully between groups.

CONCLUSION

Patients with active nonradiographic axial SpA treated with golimumab had significantly greater improvement in symptoms compared with patients treated with placebo. Golimumab was well tolerated and had a favorable risk/benefit profile.

Meta-analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Secukinumab for the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis

BACKGROUND

In January 2015, US FDA approved secukinumab, a human interleukin-17A (IL-17A) antagonist, for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE

To provide unbiased drug information about the efficacy and safety of secukinumab for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis by performing meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed and EMBASE database searches were conducted. Among the literatures retrieved, relevant Phase III clinical trials were analyzed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by RevMan.

RESULTS

Four pivotal and three non-pivotal Phase III clinical trials were retrieved. All the trials evaluated the efficacy and safety of secukinumab for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis with two co-primary endpoints: proportions of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) responders and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) responders. The overall odd ratios for proportions of PASI responders and IGA responders in secukinumab-containing arm were 65.6 and 62.5 compared to the placebo arm, respectively. Secukinumab was superior to etanercept resulting in both of the odd ratios being 3.7 compared to the etanercept. Secukinumab was generally well tolerated during the one year trial. However, as with other monoclonal antibody medications, vulnerability of respiratory infection (especially nasopharyngitis) was reported as most common adverse event.

CONCLUSIONS

Meta-analysis of the seven Phase III clinical trials resulted in superiority of secukinumab over etanercept in terms of the efficacy and safety. However, long-term safety data is lacking at this time so post-marketing surveillance should be performed for any adverse events associated with the use of this new biological medication.

Pharmacologic Treatment of Noninfectious Uveitis

Uveitis encompasses a spectrum of diseases whose common feature is intraocular inflammation, which may be infectious or noninfectious in etiology (Nussenblatt and Whitcup 2010). Infectious causes of uveitis are typically treated with appropriate antimicrobial therapy and will not be discussed in this chapter. Noninfectious uveitides are thought have an autoimmune component to their etiology and are thus treated with anti-inflammatory agents.

Use of biologic agents for rheumatic diseases in pregnancy

Biologic agents have ushered a new era in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. In recent years, several biologic agents have been approved by food and drug administration and have significantly improved outcomes for patients with immune mediated inflammatory disorders including rheumatic and inflammatory bowel diseases. The most common used biologic therapeutic agents are tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, and golimumab), an interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor (tocilizumab), an IL-1 receptor antagonist (anakinra), an anti-CD-20 antibody (rituximab), and a T cell co-stimulation modulator (abatacept). Their use during pregnancy has been controversial because of absence of controlled studies which have enrolled pregnant women. This brief overview provides published data on use of biologic agents for the treatment of rheumatic diseases in pregnancy.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia as a cause of fatal uncontrolled inflammation in familial Mediterranean fever

We report on a familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patient homozygous for p.M694V in the MEFV gene who developed chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) leading to an uncontrolled and fatal inflammatory syndrome. Plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-18 were found to be very high, as compared to healthy controls and CMML-free FMF patients.

Our study unveils the interplay between two different disorders involving the same target cells, suggesting that in myelodysplasia with inflammatory manifestations, mutations in genes causing autoinflammatory syndromes, like MEFV, can be present and thus could be sought. Early chemotherapy with interleukin inhibitors could be proposed in such unusual situations.

Septic arthritis in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts

Septic arthritis has long been considered an orthopedic emergency. Historically, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus have been the most common causes of septic arthritis worldwide but in the modern era of biological therapy and extensive use of prosthetic joint replacements, the spectrum of microbiological causes of septic arthritis has widened considerably. There are also new approaches to diagnosis but therapy remains a challenge, with a need for careful consideration of a combined medical and surgical approach in most cases.

Efficacy of anakinra for various types of crystal-induced arthritis in complex hospitalized patients: a case series and review of the literature

Background. There are few data on anakinra use after failure of conventional medications for crystal-induced peripheral arthritis and/or crowned dens syndrome among complex hospitalized patients. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of six patients affected with subacute crystal-induced arthritis who had received anakinra in second or third line therapy, including three patients with crowned dens syndrome and three others with gouty arthritis. Patients' comorbidities, reasons for anakinra use and associated drugs, and outcomes were recorded. Results. All patients presented with elevated inflammatory syndrome, systemic symptoms with poly/oligoarthritis. Except for absolute contraindications, all patients were previously treated with full or decreased dose of NSAID, colchicine, and/or glucocorticoids, with unsatisfactory response. All three gouty patients exhibited complete responses in all acute involvements under anakinra within 3 to 5 days, including one of them who needed the reintroduction of colchicine treatment that was previously unsuccessful. Crowned dens syndrome patients, including two with pseudogout and one with subacute hydroxyapatite deposition disease, needed 9 to 11 days to achieve complete response. Tolerance to anakinra was good. Conclusion. In case series of complex hospitalized patients, anakinra showed good activity in crowned dens syndrome and associated crystal-induced peripheral arthritis, with longer treatment duration than in gouty arthritis.