Use of Biologics for Systemic Sclerosis and Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Information from a Japanese
Hospital Claims Database.
Mod Rheumatol 2022;
33:525-532. [PMID:
35652700 DOI:
10.1093/mr/roac055]
[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: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Limited information is available on the use of biologics in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) or SSc-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) in Japan. The types of biologics, treatment duration, treatment prior to biologics, concomitant treatment, and characteristics of patients receiving biologics were investigated.
METHOD
We used a Japanese hospital claims database provided by Medical Data Vision Co. (2008-2021).
RESULTS
In the database, 1,186 of 34,207 SSc patients (3.5%) and 620 of 12,303 SSc-ILD patients (5.0%) received anti-interleukin-6 (anti-IL-6) drugs, anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs, abatacept, or rituximab. The most common were anti-IL-6 drugs (used in 35.5% of SSc patients and 38.5% of SSc-ILD patients [tocilizumab, 34.5% and 36.6%]), followed by anti-TNF drugs (31.3% and 26.5% [etanercept, 10.5% and 9.0%; others, <8%]), abatacept (17.5% and 20.6%), and rituximab (15.7% and 14.4%). Among SSc and SSc-ILD patients treated with anti-IL-6 drugs, anti-TNF drugs, or abatacept, the most common immunosuppressive drugs prior to initiation of biologics were methotrexate and tacrolimus. Approximately half of patients receiving anti-IL-6 drugs, anti-TNF drugs, or abatacept continued treatment beyond 1 year.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that off-label biologics have been used in a certain number of SSc or SSc-ILD patients in Japan, with tocilizumab the most common.
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