Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Potential effects in older patients

Management of Scleritis in Older Adults

Scleritis, an inflammatory disease of the eye affecting scleral tissue, presents unique challenges in the older adult population. Unlike their younger counterparts, older individuals manifest a distinct spectrum of the disease with different underlying etiologies, co-morbidities, altered immune function, and an increased risk of systemic side effects from medication choices. Addressing these complexities necessitates a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. Treatment of choice will depend on any underlying cause but generally involves non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic or local corticosteroids, and potentially disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Utilization of these therapeutic agents in older adults warrants careful consideration because of their potential side-effect profiles. This article critically examines the specific concerns for the use of these drugs in older patients and reviews the existing literature on their use in this specific cohort.

Exploring the Crystal Structure Landscape of Sulfasalazine through Various Multicomponent Crystals

Sulfasalazine is used as an anti-inflammatory drug to treat large intestine diseases and atrophic arthritis. In the solid state, two tautomers are known: an amide tautomer (triclinic polymorph) and an imide tautomer (monoclinic polymorph). Crystallization of six new multicomponent solids of sulfasalazine with three cocrystal formers and three salt formers has been achieved by slurry, liquid-assisted grinding and slow evaporation methods. All of the solid forms are characterized by X-ray diffraction techniques, thermal analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The crystal structural analysis reveals that two sulfasalazine molecules or anions arrange in a head-to-head fashion involving their pyridyl, amide, and sulfonyl groups in an R22(7):R22(8):R22(7) motif. This is the key structural unit appearing in both sulfasalazine imide polymorph and all six multicomponent crystals. In addition, sulfasalazine exists in the amide form in all unsolvated multicomponent crystals obtained in this work and adopts the imide tautomer in the solvated cocrystals and salt. Hirshfeld surface analysis and the associated two-dimensional (2D) fingerprint plots demonstrate that sulfasalazine has significant hydrogen bond donor capability when cocrystallized and is a significant hydrogen bond acceptor in the salts. The frontier molecular orbital analysis indicates that sulfasalazine cocrystals are chemically more stable than the salts.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Older Adults and Elderly Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Role Can Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Play in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction?

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, is increasing, partly due to the aging of the general population. RA is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Older adults and elderly patients with RA develop CVD at a younger age compared with their general population peers. Both the traditional cardiovascular risk factors (age, sex, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension), and systemic inflammation (i.e. high disease activity) are contributors to accelerated CVD in people with RA. Of the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used for RA treatment, methotrexate, triple combination oral therapy (methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine), tumor necrosis factor inhibitor biologicals, and abatacept have the strongest data in favor of the reduction of cardiovascular events in patients with RA. A treat-to-target strategy should be employed in older adults and elderly patients with RA to ensure appropriate reduction in cardiovascular risk, which can also prevent short- and long-term musculoskeletal disability. Our review findings are in line with the 2016 European League Against Rheumatism guideline recommendations, specifically: (1) RA disease activity should be controlled with an optimal DMARD regimen using a treat-to-target approach; (2) the lipid profile should be assessed and monitored in every older adult and elderly RA patient; (3) CVD risk factors, including smoking cessation, blood pressure, and blood glucose control, should be optimized; (4) RA treatment should be initiated as soon as possible; and (5) shared decision making regarding the treatment of patients with RA should include a discussion on the potential amelioration of increased cardiovascular risk.

Time trends in medication use and expenditures in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

We sought to examine how expansions in insurance coverage of nonbiologic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs affected the access, costs, and health status of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

We identified a nationally representative sample of older adults with rheumatoid arthritis in the 2000-2006 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (unweighted n=1051). We examined changes in disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use, self-reported health status, functional status (activities of daily living), and total costs and out-of-pocket costs for medical care and prescription drugs. Tests for time trends were conducted using weighted regressions.

RESULTS

Between 2000 and 2006, the proportion of older adults with rheumatoid arthritis who received biologics tripled (4.6% vs 13.2%, P=.01), whereas the proportion of people who used a nonbiologic did not change. During the same period, the proportion of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis rating their health as excellent/good significantly increased (43.0% in 2000 to 55.6% in 2006; P=.015). Significant improvements occurred in activities of daily living measures of functional status. Total prescription drug costs (in 2006 US dollars) increased from $2645 in 2000 to $4685 in 2006, P=.0001, whereas out-of-pocket prescription costs remained constant ($842 in 2000 vs $832 in 2006; P=.68). Total medical costs did not significantly increase ($16,563 in 2000 vs $19,510 in 2006; P=.07).

CONCLUSION

Receipt of biologics in older adults with rheumatoid arthritis increased over a period of time when insurance coverage was expanded without increasing patients' out-of-pocket costs. During this time period, concurrent improvements in self-reported health status and functional status suggest improved arthritis care.

Update on esophagitis: controversial and underdiagnosed causes

CONTEXT

Esophagitis is a common cause of symptoms for which patients seek the advice of a physician. Esophagitis of differing etiologies often demonstrate overlapping histopathologic features, making their distinction difficult. This is especially true in esophageal disorders associated with increased numbers of intraepithelial eosinophils, some of which have just recently been recognized.

OBJECTIVE

This review discusses the important clinical and pathologic features of the 2 most common disorders associated with esophageal eosinophilic infiltrates--reflux esophagitis and eosinophilic esophagitis--with special emphasis on features that allow the surgical pathologist to distinguish between these disorders. The various forms of drug-induced esophagitis are also discussed because these are frequently underrecognized by pathologists.

DATA SOURCES

Data were extracted from articles identified through PubMed-based research. Histologic figures have been taken from the personal case collection of the author.

CONCLUSIONS

Reflux and eosinophilic esophagitis demonstrate overlapping histologic features, which may make their distinction difficult. Drug-induced esophagitis is probably a common phenomenon but is underrecognized by pathologists.

Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Use in the Elderly Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient

During the 10-year period since the last review was done by Gardner and Furst, studies have furthered the knowledge of the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the elderly rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient. This article briefly reviews the clinical pharmacology of humans as they age, and details the effects of aging on the specific pharmacokinetics and responses to commonly used DMARDs. There has been some progress in understanding the elderly RA patient; however, data are insufficient to provide much confidence in DMARDs effects in the elderly.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use in the elderly rheumatoid arthritis patient

During the 10-year period since the last review was done by Gardner and Furst, studies have furthered our knowledge of use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the elderly rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient. This article will briefly review the clinical pharmacology of human as they age, and detail the effects of aging on the specific pharmacokinetics and responses to commonly used DMARDs. There has been some progress in understanding the elderly RA patient, however, there is insufficient data for much confidence in DMARDs effects in the elderly.

Late-Onset Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Spondylarthropathies

Ankylosing spondylitis is the prototype of related diseases commonly called spondylarthropathies which include reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (enteropathic arthritis) and undifferentiated spondylarthropathies. Ankylosing spondylitis and spondylarthropathies are generally observed in young patients but can be observed later in life or in persons >50 years of age. All the spondylarthropathy subgroups are represented in the elderly with some features particular to this age group. Indeed, radiological aspects of ankylosing spondylitis may be difficult to interpret because of the radiological changes induced by aging. Late-onset peripheral spondylarthropathies are characterised by severe disease, marked elevation of laboratory parameters of inflammation, oligoarthritis involving the lower limbs and oedema of the extremities. Psoriatic arthritis is more severe in the elderly and is associated with worse outcomes than in young patients. The clinical presentation of undifferentiated spondylarthropathy is as varied in the elderly as in young and middle-aged adults. Reactive arthritis and enteropathic arthritis are observed in the elderly more rarely. The effects of aging on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, together with the existence of co-morbidities and polypharmacy, are responsible for difficulties in the therapeutic management of late-onset ankylosing spondylitis or spondylarthropathies. Indeed, NSAIDs should be used with caution in older patients because of the high risk of serious gastrointestinal complications. Sulfasalazine and methotrexate have been used as disease-controlling drugs but did not prove very effective. Pamidronate and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonists offer a therapeutic alternative but have not been specifically tested in the elderly. Pamidronate has been tested in young-onset ankylosing spondylitis and spondylarthropathies with conflicting results but can be used in older patients without risk of major adverse effects. TNFalpha antagonists have been adequately evaluated in ankylosing spondylitis and spondylarthropathies and are associated with dramatic improvement in clinical and biological parameters of disease activity. However, the safety profile of these agents in the elderly is not currently known and careful surveillance, in particular for the risk of infection such as tuberculosis, and/or exacerbation of chronic heart failure, is thus required when using these drugs in this age group.

Management Issues with Elderly-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis

Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) is defined as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) starting at >60 years of age. EORA is characterised by a lower female/male ratio compared with RA in younger patients and it more frequently has an acute onset accompanied by constitutional symptoms. Two incompletely overlapping subsets of RA have been recognised: one exhibits the classical RA clinical picture while the other has a polymyalgia rheumatica-like appearance, characterised by shoulder involvement, absence of rheumatoid factor and, usually, by a nonerosive course. Identification of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies is useful for distinguishing the latter subset from true polymyalgia rheumatica. Elderly-onset spondyloarthritis, crystal-related arthritis, remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema syndrome and hepatitis C virus-related arthritis must also be considered in the differential diagnosis. EORA treatment requires prudence because of the increase in age-related risks pertaining principally to the renal, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. No groups of molecules usually employed for RA therapy in younger subjects (analgesics, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, anticytokine drugs) can be excluded a priori from the treatment of EORA patients. Nevertheless, the risk/benefit ratio relating to their use must be accurately evaluated for every single patient. Recently marketed compounds such as leflunomide and tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonists have also increased the therapeutic opportunities for aged RA patients.

Effects of use of specialty services on disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in an insured elderly population

BACKGROUND

In community settings, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) falls short of treatment recommendations. This population-based study investigates the relationship between the use of DMARDs and specialty care in an insured population.

METHOD

A cohort of individuals aged 65 or older with RA was identified from a population-based physician billing database in Ontario, Canada, together with information on visit rates to general and specialist physicians and visit-specific diagnoses. DMARD prescription data were obtained from the Ontario Drug Benefits Plan database. The proportions of individuals with RA using DMARDs and specialist care were calculated for the 43 counties in Ontario, and the relationship between the 2 was determined using logistic multilevel modeling, controlling for possible confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 13,698 RA individuals aged 65 or older were identified, representing 1% of the 65-or-older population. Within this cohort, 58% received DMARDs and 68% made 1 or more RA-related visits to a specialist in 3 years. There was considerable variation by county in both the proportion of those with RA making visits to specialists (39-82 per 100 RA population) and receiving DMARDs (36-81%). The use of DMARDs was significantly associated with the use of specialist services by individuals with RA (odds ratio 1.9 [95% confidence interval 1.87, 1.88] for counties with highest versus lowest proportional use of specialists) independent of effects of age, sex, income, and comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

Even in a universally funded setting, suboptimal treatment of RA is associated with lack of access to specialist services. These findings are likely applicable to many jurisdictions worldwide.

Subacute toxicity evaluation of a hydroalcoholic extract of Pterodon pubescens seeds in mice with collagen-induced arthritis

When the immune system is stimulated there is a concomitant decrease in drug biotransformation and elimination that may results in unwanted drug response and toxic side effects. We investigated the subacute toxicity of a hydroalcoholic extract of Pterodon pubescens seeds (HEPp) to DBA1/J mice with collagen II-induced arthritis. The oral treatment with HEPp reduced the arthritic index without any concomitant alteration in their hematological examination, histopathological analysis and relative or absolute weight of several organs and in several clinical biochemical parameters when compared with the control group. We concluded that daily administration of anti-arthritic doses of HEPp did not induce any detectable subacute toxic side-effect in mice whose host defense mechanisms is active as we can observe in mice with CIA.

Renal toxicity associated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To provide a review of the renal toxicity of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) currently used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

Papers in American and European medical journals related to renal toxicity of DMARDs used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis were reviewed. Specific DMARDs reviewed were cyclosporine, gold, D-penicillamine, methotrexate, azathioprine, antimalarials, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, etanercept, infliximab, and DMARD combination therapy.

RESULTS

The renal toxicity of DMARDs varies widely. Cyclosporine, gold, and D-penicillamine all have a serious potential for renal side effects, particularly in the elderly or in patients with compromised renal function. Concomitant use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increases the potential for renal damage. In contrast, methotrexate, azathioprine, antimalarials, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, etanercept, and infliximab have relatively little renal toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The potential for renal toxicity should always be considered when determining which DMARD to use for RA therapy. DMARDs that combine efficacy with negligible renal adverse effects should be used for the treatment of patients susceptible to DMARD-associated renal damage.

Cyclosporin pharmacokinetics in the elderly

Cyclosporin is an immunosuppressant used in organ transplantation and selected autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In both these indications, the elderly represent an important and growing segment of the patient population. Cyclosporin is primarily eliminated via biotransformation by cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A in the gut wall and liver. Additionally, P-glycoprotein (mdr-1) located in the gastrointestinal epithelium can affect affect blood drug concentrations after oral administration of cyclosporin, presumably by counter-transporting the drug from the systemic circulation back into the gastrointestinal lumen. Theoretically, age-related alterations in either of these pathways could affect cyclosporin disposition in the elderly. These general pharmacological considerations together with the narrow therapeutic index of cyclosporin between minimally immunosuppressive concentrations and those associated with adverse events, underscore the need for dedicated pharmacokinetic studies in the elderly. Single dose studies have demonstrated that cyclosporin pharmacokinetics are not different in healthy elderly individuals compared with healthy young adults, nor is the between-subject variability in pharmacokinetic parameters more heterogenous in healthy elderly individuals. Similarly, there were no apparent differences in cyclosporin disposition in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy young and elderly individuals. Whether pharmacokinetic variability may be increased in elderly patients has not been rigorously addressed and requires investigation in a larger patient population for a definitive conclusion. A population pharmacokinetic study of cyclosporin in organ transplant patients, including elderly allograft recipients up to 75 years of age, did not identify age as a covariable influencing cyclosporin pharmacokinetics. Hence, the available pharmacokinetic data in the elderly do not reveal any major differences from the disposition characterised in younger individuals. It is generally recognised that the elderly are more prone to drug-related adverse experiences and are at greater risk for drug-drug interactions secondary to polypharmacy. The former factor may underlie, in part, the increased incidence of renal adverse events reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis over 65 years of age receiving cyclosporin. Clinical experience with cyclosporin in elderly organ transplant recipients has not revealed a tolerability profile remarkably different from those in younger patients. Polypharmacy may have specific relevance for elderly patients treated with cyclosporin since this agent is a substrate of both CYP3A and P-glycoprotein, both of which are important in the elimination of many commonly used drugs. This implies that the clinician prescribing cyclosporin for an elderly patient must exercise a heightened awareness for potential drug-drug interactions which could affect the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporin. Based on the available cyclosporin pharmacokinetic data in adults, no age-related administration adaptations appear necessary for its use in the elderly.