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Możdżan M, Węgiel A, Biskup L, Brzezińska O, Makowska J. Anti-Th/To Antibodies in Scleroderma: Good Prognosis or Serious Concern? J Clin Med 2024; 13:3022. [PMID: 38892733 PMCID: PMC11172938 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) represents a rare and intricate autoimmune connective tissue disease, the pathophysiology of which has not been fully understood. Its key features include progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, vasculopathy and aberrant immune activation. While various anti-nuclear antibodies can serve as biomarkers for the classification and prognosis of SSc, their direct role in organ dysfunction remains unclear. Anti-Th/To antibodies are present in approximately 5% of SSc patients, and are particularly prevalent among those with the limited subtype of the disease. Although the presence of these autoantibodies is associated with a mild course of the disease, there is a strong connection between them and severe clinical manifestations of SSc, including interstitial lung disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension and gastrointestinal involvement. Also, the additional clinical correlations, particularly with malignancies, need further research. Moreover, the disease's course seems to be influenced by antibodies, specific serum cytokines and TLR signaling pathways. Understanding the relationships between presence of anti-Th/To, its molecular aspects and response to treatment options is crucial for the development of novel, personalized therapeutic techniques and should undergo profound analysis in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Możdżan
- Department of Rheumatology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (A.W.); (L.B.); (O.B.)
| | | | | | | | - Joanna Makowska
- Department of Rheumatology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (A.W.); (L.B.); (O.B.)
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Moinzadeh P, Bonella F, Oberste M, Weliwitage J, Blank N, Riemekasten G, Müller-Ladner U, Henes J, Siegert E, Günther C, Kötter I, Pfeiffer C, Schmalzing M, Zeidler G, Korsten P, Susok L, Juche A, Worm M, Jandova I, Ehrchen J, Sunderkötter C, Keyßer G, Ramming A, Schmeiser T, Kreuter A, Lorenz HM, Hunzelmann N, Kreuter M. Impact of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease With and Without Pulmonary Hypertension on Survival: A Large Cohort Study of the German Network for Systemic Sclerosis. Chest 2024; 165:132-145. [PMID: 37582424 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.08.013] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary involvement is the leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and may manifest as interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), or in combination of both (ILD with pulmonary hypertension [ILD-PH]). The aim of this analysis was to determine prevalence, clinical characteristics, and survival of these different forms within the registry of the German Network for Systemic Sclerosis. RESEARCH QUESTION Does SSc-associated ILD-PH or ILD without PH affect survival differently, and are there any risk factors that have an additional impact? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Clinical data of 5,831 patients with SSc were collected in the German Network for Systemic Sclerosis registry. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to compare overall survival in patients with SSc-associated ILD-PH and ILD without PH with patients without pulmonary involvement and those with PAH. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the influence of pulmonary involvement and other potential predictors on patient survival. RESULTS Clinical data of 3,257 patients with a mean follow-up time of 3.45 ± 1.63 years have been included in our analysis. At baseline, ILD was present in 34.5%, whereas PH without ILD had a lower prevalence with 4.5%. At the end of follow-up, 47.6% of patients with SSc had ILD, 15.2% had ILD-PH, and 6.5% had PAH. ILD was more frequent in the diffuse cutaneous form (57.3%), whereas PAH did not differ significantly between SSc subtypes. Significant differences in baseline characteristics between PAH vs ILD-PH vs ILD without PH were found for age at diagnosis, sex, SSc subsets, antibody status, FVC, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, and therapy. Overall survival at 5 years was 96.4% for patients without pulmonary involvement and differed significantly between patients with ILD without PH, PAH, and being worst in patients with ILD-PH. Female sex (hazard ratio [HR], 0.3), higher BMI (HR, 0.9), and higher diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide values (HR, 0.98) were associated with a lower mortality risk. INTERPRETATION ILD is the most prevalent pulmonary involvement in SSc, whereas the combination of ILD and PH is associated with the most detrimental survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Moinzadeh
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Francesco Bonella
- Center for Interstitial and Rare Lung Diseases, Ruhrlandklinik, Pneumonology Department, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Max Oberste
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jithmi Weliwitage
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nobert Blank
- Division of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Riemekasten
- Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Jörg Henes
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Rheumatology, Auto-inflammatory Diseases and Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elise Siegert
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Günther
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ina Kötter
- Division of Rheumatology and Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, University Hospital Hamburg, Rheumatology Clinic, Bad Bramstedt, Germany
| | - Christiane Pfeiffer
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marc Schmalzing
- Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Zeidler
- Department of Rheumatology, Osteology and Pain Therapy, Center for Rheumatology Brandenburg, Johanniter-Hospital Treuenbrietzen, Treuenbrietzen, Germany
| | - Peter Korsten
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laura Susok
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, St. Josef Hospital Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Aaron Juche
- Department of Rheumatology, Immanuel Hospital Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Margitta Worm
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilona Jandova
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jan Ehrchen
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Cord Sunderkötter
- Departments of Dermatology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Halle, Germany
| | - Gernot Keyßer
- Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Halle, Germany
| | - Andreas Ramming
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology & Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tim Schmeiser
- Internal Medicine - Rhematology and Osteology, Hospital St. Josef, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Alexander Kreuter
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Helios St Elisabeth Hospital Oberhausen, University Witten/Herdecke, Oberhausen, Germany
| | - Hanns-Martin Lorenz
- Division of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nicolas Hunzelmann
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Kreuter
- Mainz Center for Pulmonary Medicine, Departments of Pneumology, Mainz University Medical Center and of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Marienhaus Clinic Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Kreuter M, Bendstrup E, Jouneau S, Maher TM, Inoue Y, Miede C, Lievens D, Crestani B. Weight loss and outcomes in subjects with progressive pulmonary fibrosis: data from the INBUILD trial. Respir Res 2023; 24:71. [PMID: 36894966 PMCID: PMC9999543 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02371-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lower body mass index (BMI) and weight loss have been associated with worse outcomes in some studies in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. We analyzed outcomes in subgroups by BMI at baseline and associations between weight change and outcomes in subjects with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) in the INBUILD trial. METHODS Subjects with PPF other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were randomized to receive nintedanib or placebo. In subgroups by BMI at baseline (< 25, ≥ 25 to < 30, ≥ 30 kg/m2), we analyzed the rate of decline in FVC (mL/year) over 52 weeks and time-to-event endpoints indicating disease progression over the whole trial. We used a joint modelling approach to assess associations between change in weight and the time-to-event endpoints. RESULTS Among 662 subjects, 28.4%, 36.6% and 35.0% had BMI < 25, ≥ 25 to < 30 and ≥ 30 kg/m2, respectively. The rate of decline in FVC over 52 weeks was numerically greater in subjects with baseline BMI < 25 than ≥ 25 to < 30 or ≥ 30 kg/m2 (nintedanib: - 123.4, - 83.3, - 46.9 mL/year, respectively; placebo: - 229.5; - 176.9; - 171.2 mL/year, respectively). No heterogeneity was detected in the effect of nintedanib on reducing the rate of FVC decline among these subgroups (interaction p = 0.83). In the placebo group, in subjects with baseline BMI < 25, ≥ 25 to < 30 and ≥ 30 kg/m2, respectively, 24.5%, 21.4% and 14.0% of subjects had an acute exacerbation or died, and 60.2%, 54.5% and 50.4% of subjects had ILD progression (absolute decline in FVC % predicted ≥ 10%) or died over the whole trial. The proportions of subjects with these events were similar or lower in subjects who received nintedanib versus placebo across the subgroups. Based on a joint modelling approach, over the whole trial, a 4 kg weight decrease corresponded to a 1.38-fold (95% CI 1.13, 1.68) increase in the risk of acute exacerbation or death. No association was detected between weight loss and the risk of ILD progression or the risk of ILD progression or death. CONCLUSIONS In patients with PPF, lower BMI at baseline and weight loss may be associated with worse outcomes and measures to prevent weight loss may be required. TRIAL REGISTRATION https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02999178 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kreuter
- Center for Interstitial and Rare Lung Diseases, Pneumology and Respiratory Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, and German Center for Lung Research, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Center for Pulmonary Medicine, Departments of Pneumology, Mainz University Medical Center and of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Marienhaus Clinic Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Elisabeth Bendstrup
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, Centre for Rare Lung Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Stéphane Jouneau
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Competences Centre for Rare Pulmonary Diseases, CHU Rennes, University of Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Toby M Maher
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yoshikazu Inoue
- Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center, Sakai City, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Dirk Lievens
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
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Frontiers of Targeted Therapy and Predictors of Treatment Response in Systemic Sclerosis. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123053. [PMID: 36551809 PMCID: PMC9775475 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is one of the most challenging rheumatic diseases, characterized by vasculopathy, dysregulation of the immune response, and progressive tissue fibrosis affecting the skin, lungs, heart, digestive tract, and kidneys [...].
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Bixio R, Adami G, Bertoldo E, Giollo A, Morciano A, Bertelle D, Orsolini G, Idolazzi L, Rossini M, Viapiana O. Higher body mass index is associated with a lower iloprost infusion rate tolerance and higher iloprost-related adverse events in patients with systemic sclerosis. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2022; 14:1759720X221137125. [PMID: 36439640 PMCID: PMC9685102 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x221137125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vasospasm and microvascular involvement. Iloprost (ILO), a prostaglandin analogous, is used for the treatment of SSc-related Raynaud's phenomenon and digital ulcers. The suggested dose is 0.5-2 ng/kg/min for 6-8 h, and the maximum dose is decided upon the patient's tolerance. Objectives This study aims to analyze ILO infusion tolerance and possible predictive factors in patients with SSc. Design This is a retrospective observational study. Method We evaluated 113 patients with SSc beginning ILO intravenous (IV) infusion treatment between 2004 and 2021. We assessed the maximum tolerated ILO IV infusion rate, the incidence of adverse events (AEs), and the need for symptomatic therapy during the dose-finding sessions. We collected relevant demographic and medical and employed generalized linear models to assess possible predictors of maximum tolerated ILO infusion rate and AEs and logistic regression to assess predictors of AEs. Results The median ILO infusion rate at the end of the dose-finding process was 0.88 ng/kg/min [interquartile range (IQR) = 0.37]. We found a significant inverse correlation between ILO infusion rate and body mass index (BMI) at the beginning of treatment. BMI was negatively associated with ILO infusion rate (β = -0.21, p = 0.02) after correction for relevant confounding factors. Overweight patients (BMI >26) presented a 13-fold increased risk of developing AEs during ILO titration [adjusted odds ratio = 13.979, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.359-82.845]. AEs during ILO titration occurred in 47.8% of patients, of whom 22.2% presented hypotension. Other AEs were headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and edema. Symptomatic therapy was needed in half of the patients at least once. Conclusion This study showed that higher BMI was statistically associated with lower ILO infusion rate tolerance and higher AEs rate, underlying a possible BMI-dependent endothelial dysfunction. Individual ILO regimens still need to be tailored to the patient. Plain Language Summary Introduction: Systemic sclerosis is a rare a rheumatic disease characterized by skin thickening, vasospasm, and digital ulcers (DUs), as well as other organs involvement. Iloprost, which is administered as intravenous infusion, is one of the main treatments for this disease, and it is effective in reducing vasospasm and the frequency of DUs. Even if there is a suggested dose range, the exact dose must be tailored on each patient, because the tolerance to the drug is variable. Tolerance is limited by dose-dependent unwanted effects, as headache, low blood pressure, dizziness, and sickness. This study aimed to identify possible predictors of such tolerance.Materials and Methods: We collected data from our patients with systemic sclerosis beginning the treatment with iloprost between January 2004 and November 2021 at our hospital facility in Verona, Italy, and analyzed different factors that could be associated with a better tolerance, as age, sex, disease duration, smoking habit, body mass index (a measure of body fatness), blood pressure, concomitant medications, and different patterns of the disease.Results: We found that a higher body mass index was associated with lower iloprost tolerance and higher adverse events rate in patients with systemic sclerosis, while we did not find a correlation with other factors. We believe overweight and obese patients (who have a higher body mass index) have a defect in the vasodilatation mechanism and can therefore be more susceptible to the effect of this medication.Conclusions: While preliminary, our results could provide a good starting point to develop a predictive tool to limit adverse events during this therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Bixio
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Adami
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eugenia Bertoldo
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Morciano
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Davide Bertelle
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Orsolini
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Luca Idolazzi
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Maurizio Rossini
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ombretta Viapiana
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Clinical Predictors of Lung-Function Decline in Systemic-Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease Patients with Normal Spirometry. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092129. [PMID: 36140231 PMCID: PMC9495755 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is defined as progression in 2 domains including clinical, radiological or lung-function parameters. Our aim was to assess predictors of functional decline in SSc-ILD patients and compare disease behavior to that in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. Patients with normal forced vital capacity (FVC > 80% predicted; SSc-ILD: n = 31; IPF: n = 53) were followed for at least 1 year. Predictors of functional decline including clinical symptoms, comorbidities, lung-function values, high-resolution CT pattern, and treatment data were analyzed. SSc-ILD patents were significantly younger (59.8 ± 13.1) and more often women (93 %) than IPF patients. The median yearly FVC decline was similar in both groups (SSc-ILD = −67.5 and IPF = −65.3 mL/year). A total of 11 SSc-ILD patients met the PPF criteria for functional deterioration, presenting an FVC decline of −153.9 mL/year. Cough and pulmonary hypertension were significant prognostic factors for SSc-ILD functional progression. SSc-ILD patients with normal initial spirometry presenting with cough and PH are at higher risk for showing progressive functional decline.
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