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Abstract

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Authors: M. Schafer, Y. Meissner, J. Kekow, S. Berger, S. Remstedt, B. Manger, J. Listing, A. Strangfeld, A. Zink

Date Published: 2020

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of TNF inhibitors in RA has been shown to be affected by obesity. No such effect has been found for abatacept and rituximab, while for tocilizumab results are ambiguous. Additionally, it remains unresolved whether sex is an effect modifier for obesity. We investigated the impact of obesity on the drug effectiveness of conventional synthetic or biologic DMARDs, taking into account potential sex-specific differences. METHODS: Data from 10 593 RA patients included in the German observational cohort study Rheumatoid Arthritis: oBservation of BIologic Therapy (RABBIT) since 2009 were analysed. Patients had to have a BMI >/=18.5 kg/m2, at least one follow-up and 6 months of observation time. The influence of obesity on drug effectiveness was investigated by regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Obesity had a negative impact on improvement in the DAS with 28 joints using ESR as an inflammation marker of -0.15 (95% CI: -0.26; -0.04) units for women receiving conventional synthetic DMARDs, -0.22 (95% CI: -0.31; -0.12) units for women receiving TNF inhibitors, -0.22 (95% CI: -0.42; -0.03) units for women receiving tocilizumab and -0.41 (95% CI: -0.74; -0.07) units for men receiving tocilizumab. Overall, no negative obesity effects on the effectiveness of rituximab and abatacept were found. CONCLUSION: Obesity has a negative impact on the effectiveness of cytokine-targeted but not cell-targeted therapies in daily practice, affecting more outcomes and therapies in women than in men. Overall, no effects of obesity on treatment effectiveness were found for rituximab and abatacept.

Authors: M. Schafer, Y. Meissner, J. Kekow, S. Berger, S. Remstedt, B. Manger, J. Listing, A. Strangfeld, A. Zink

Date Published: 2020

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVES: To provide an update of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management recommendations to account for the most recent developments in the field. METHODS: An international task force considered new evidence supporting or contradicting previous recommendations and novel therapies and strategic insights based on two systematic literature searches on efficacy and safety of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) since the last update (2016) until 2019. A predefined voting process was applied, current levels of evidence and strengths of recommendation were assigned and participants ultimately voted independently on their level of agreement with each of the items. RESULTS: The task force agreed on 5 overarching principles and 12 recommendations concerning use of conventional synthetic (cs) DMARDs (methotrexate (MTX), leflunomide, sulfasalazine); glucocorticoids (GCs); biological (b) DMARDs (tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab), abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab, sarilumab and biosimilar (bs) DMARDs) and targeted synthetic (ts) DMARDs (the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors tofacitinib, baricitinib, filgotinib, upadacitinib). Guidance on monotherapy, combination therapy, treatment strategies (treat-to-target) and tapering on sustained clinical remission is provided. Cost and sequencing of b/tsDMARDs are addressed. Initially, MTX plus GCs and upon insufficient response to this therapy within 3 to 6 months, stratification according to risk factors is recommended. With poor prognostic factors (presence of autoantibodies, high disease activity, early erosions or failure of two csDMARDs), any bDMARD or JAK inhibitor should be added to the csDMARD. If this fails, any other bDMARD (from another or the same class) or tsDMARD is recommended. On sustained remission, DMARDs may be tapered, but not be stopped. Levels of evidence and levels of agreement were mostly high. CONCLUSIONS: These updated EULAR recommendations provide consensus on the management of RA with respect to benefit, safety, preferences and cost.

Authors: J. S. Smolen, R. B. M. Landewe, J. W. J. Bijlsma, G. R. Burmester, M. Dougados, A. Kerschbaumer, I. B. McInnes, A. Sepriano, R. F. van Vollenhoven, M. de Wit, D. Aletaha, M. Aringer, J. Askling, A. Balsa, M. Boers, A. A. den Broeder, M. H. Buch, F. Buttgereit, R. Caporali, M. H. Cardiel, D. De Cock, C. Codreanu, M. Cutolo, C. J. Edwards, Y. van Eijk-Hustings, P. Emery, A. Finckh, L. Gossec, J. E. Gottenberg, M. L. Hetland, T. W. J. Huizinga, M. Koloumas, Z. Li, X. Mariette, U. Muller-Ladner, E. F. Mysler, J. A. P. da Silva, G. Poor, J. E. Pope, A. Rubbert-Roth, A. Ruyssen-Witrand, K. G. Saag, A. Strangfeld, T. Takeuchi, M. Voshaar, R. Westhovens, D. van der Heijde

Date Published: 2020

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: A. Strangfeld, G. R. Burmester

Date Published: 2020

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of indicators of unfavorable prognosis ("poor prognostic factors") on the achievement of low disease activity (LDA)/remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Biologic DMARD-naive patients with RA from three observational cohorts were examined. N = 713 patients started their 1st csDMARD, n = 1613 switched to the 2nd csDMARD and n = 388 to the 1st TNF-inhibitor. High disease activity (DAS28 > 5.1), autoantibodies (RF/ACPA positive), prevalent erosions, functional limitation (HAQ >/= 1.2), comorbidities, obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)), and smoking were evaluated as prognostic factors. Generalized regression analyses were applied to investigate prognostic factors regarding the achievement of LDA (DAS28 < 3.2) or remission (DAS28 < 2.6) within six months. RESULTS: At baseline, RF/ACPA positivity was most frequent in all cohorts (60.3-75.3%), followed by DAS28 > 5.1 (35-57.7%), HAQ >/= 1.2 (40.5-52.5%), >/= 2 comorbidities (31.4-54.1%) and erosions (17.1-46.1%). Remission was achieved by 39% (1st-csDMARD), 26% (2nd-csDMARD) and 30% (1st-TNFi). In adjusted regression models DAS28 > 5.1 (OR: 0.41 [0.30;0.56]), HAQ >/= 1.2 (0.56 [0.42;0.74]), current smoking (0.72 [0.53;0.97], obesity (0.66 [0.49;0.89] and >/= 2 comorbidities (0.57 [0.40;0.80]) were independently associated with a lower chance to achieve remission within six months (ORs for 2nd-csDMARD). The proportion of patients in LDA/remission declined by 6-12%-points if DAS28 > 5.1 was present at baseline and by 15-27%-points if functional limitation, comorbidities and obesity were additionally present. In all cohorts RF/ACPA positivity and erosions were not associated with achieving LDA/remission. CONCLUSIONS: While RF/ACPA status and erosions do not affect the achievement of LDA/remission, high disease activity, functional limitation, comorbidities and obesity should be considered as unfavorable prognostic factors in patients starting the 1st or 2nd DMARD strategy.

Authors: L. Baganz, A. Richter, K. Albrecht, M. Schneider, G. R. Burmester, A. Zink, A. Strangfeld

Date Published: 2019

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) represents the most common form of primary systemic vasculitis and is frequently associated with comorbidities related to the disease itself or induced by the treatment. Systematically collected data on disease course, treatment and outcomes of GCA remain scarce. The aim of this EULAR Task Force was to identify a core set of items which can easily be collected by experienced clinicians, in order to facilitate collaborative research into the course and outcomes of GCA. A multidisciplinary EULAR task force group of 20 experts including rheumatologists, internists, epidemiologists and patient representatives was assembled. During a 1-day meeting, breakout groups discussed items from a previously compiled collection of parameters describing GCA status and disease course. Feedback from breakout groups was further discussed. Final consensus was achieved by means of several rounds of email discussions after the meeting. A three-round Delphi survey was conducted to determine a core set of parameters including the level of agreement. 117 parameters were regarded as relevant. Potential items were subdivided into the following categories: General, demographics, GCA-related signs and symptoms, other medical conditions and treatment. Possible instruments and assessment intervals were proposed for documentation of each item. To facilitate implementation of the recommendations in clinical care and clinical research, a minimum core set of 50 parameters was agreed. This proposed core set intends to ensure that relevant items from different GCA registries and databases can be compared for the dual purposes of facilitating clinical research and improving clinical care.

Authors: L. Ehlers, J. Askling, H. W. Bijlsma, M. C. Cid, M. Cutolo, B. Dasgupta, C. Dejaco, W. G. Dixon, N. Feltelius, A. Finckh, K. Gilbert, S. L. Mackie, A. Mahr, E. L. Matteson, L. Neill, C. Salvarani, W. A. Schmidt, A. Strangfeld, R. F. van Vollenhoven, F. Buttgereit

Date Published: 2019

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: The collaborative initiative of the European Network of Pregnancy Registers in Rheumatology (EuNeP) aims to combine data available in nationwide pregnancy registers to increase knowledge on pregnancy outcomes in women with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) and on drug safety during pregnancy and lactation. The objective of this study was to describe the similarities and differences of the member registers. METHODS: From all registers, information about their structure and design was collected, as well as which parameters regarding demographics, maternal outcomes, treatment, course and outcome of pregnancy, and development of the child were available in the respective datasets. Furthermore, the current recruitment status was reported. RESULTS: The four registers (EGR2 (France), RePreg (Switzerland), RevNatus (Norway), and Rhekiss (Germany)) collect information prospectively and nationwide. Patients can be enrolled before conception or during pregnancy. To date, more than 3500 patients in total have been included, and data on 2200 pregnancies with an outcome are available. The distribution of diagnoses in the respective registers varies considerably, and only three entities (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthritis) are captured by all the registers. Broad consistency was found in non-disease-specific data items, but differences regarding instruments and categories as well as frequency of data collection were revealed. Disease-specific data items are less homogeneously collected. CONCLUSION: Although the registers in this collaboration have similar designs, we found numerous differences in the variables collected. This survey of the status quo of current pregnancy registers is the first step towards identifying data collected uniformly across registers in order to facilitate joint analyses. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Authors: Y. Meissner, A. Strangfeld, N. Costedoat-Chalumeau, F. Forger, D. Goll, A. Molto, R. Ozdemir, M. Wallenius, R. Fischer-Betz

Date Published: 2019

Publication Type: Journal

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