Abatacept as Monotherapy and in Combination With Methotrexate in Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Analysis of 2 Phase III Trials.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the efficacy and safety data of children with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pcJIA) treated with abatacept (ABA) + methotrexate (MTX) or ABA monotherapy when prior MTX use was either ineffective or not tolerated. METHODS: Posthoc analysis of 2 phase III trials of subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous (IV) ABA over 2 years in patients with pcJIA (aged 2-17 years). Patients were stratified by treatment with ABA + MTX or ABA monotherapy and further by prior biologic use. Efficacy outcomes included JIA-American College of Rheumatology (JIA-ACR) responses, Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score in 27 joints using C-reactive protein (JADAS27-CRP), and safety. Descriptive pharmacokinetic analyses were also performed. RESULTS: Efficacy responses (JIA-ACR and JADAS27-CRP) were similar between patients receiving ABA + MTX (n = 310) or ABA monotherapy (n = 99) and persisted over 2 years. Clinical response rates were similar in biologic-naïve patients and prior biologic users; this was independent of MTX use. Across both studies, ABA + MTX and ABA monotherapy displayed similar safety profiles. Pharmacokinetic results revealed similar minimum steady-state trough ABA concentrations between studies. Further, baseline MTX did not influence ABA clearance and was not a significant predictor of JIA-ACR responses. CONCLUSION: ABA monotherapy (SC and IV) was effective and well tolerated in children with pcJIA when prior MTX use was ineffective or not tolerated. Treatment effects of ABA appear to be independent of MTX coadministration. Consequently, ABA monotherapy can be considered for those with prior biologic therapy if MTX use is inappropriate. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01844518 and NCT00095173).

Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Patients Ages Two to Seventeen Years With Polyarticular-Course Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Treated With Subcutaneous Abatacept: Two-Year Results From an International Phase III Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe longitudinal changes in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in children with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) treated with subcutaneous abatacept. METHODS: Secondary analysis of a single-arm, open-label 24-month study of patients ages 6-17 years and 2-5 years. PROs included Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (CHAQ-DI), parent global assessment of child well-being (PaGA), pain assessment, and Activity Limitation Questionnaire (ALQ). Clinical outcomes included 50% or greater improvement in JIA American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, clinically inactive disease, and Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score. RESULTS: For the 6- to 17-year-old (n = 173) and 2- to 5-year-old (n = 46) cohorts, respectively, median (Q1, Q3) changes from baseline in CHAQ-DI at months 4 and 24 were -0.3 (-0.8, 0.0) and -0.5 (-1.0, -0.1), and -0.4 (-0.8, 0.0) and -0.5 (-1.0--0.1). Median pain scores were below cutoff threshold for clinically relevant pain (<35 mm) by month 1 (6 to 17 years, 32.3 mm; 2 to 5 years, 25.7 mm), reaching a nadir at month 24 (6 to 17 years, 6.0 mm; 2 to 5 years, 2.0 mm). For the 6- to 17-year-old and 2- to 5-year-old cohorts, respectively, median PaGA scores were 47.8 (n = 172) and 42.1 (n = 46) at baseline and 6.3 (n = 107) and 2.0 (n = 37) at month 24. In both cohorts, ALQ components improved from baseline to month 4 and were largely maintained to month 24. Clinical outcomes improved through to month 24. CONCLUSION: Early and sustained PRO improvements were reported in this phase III, open-label trial of subcutaneous abatacept in patients with pJIA.

Fenebrutinib versus Placebo or Adalimumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase II Trial (ANDES Study).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fenebrutinib, an oral and highly selective non-covalent inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Patients with RA and inadequate response to methotrexate (cohort 1, n=480) were randomized to fenebrutinib (50 mg once daily, 150 mg once daily, 200 mg twice daily), 40 mg adalimumab every other week, or placebo. Patients with RA and inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (cohort 2, n=98) received fenebrutinib (200 mg twice daily) or placebo. Both cohorts continued methotrexate therapy. RESULTS: In cohort 1, American College of Rheumatology scores (ACR50) at week 12 were similar for fenebrutinib 50 mg once daily and placebo, and higher for fenebrutinib 150 mg once daily (28%) and 200 mg twice daily (35%) than placebo (15%) (p=0.017; p=0.0003). Fenebrutinib 200 mg twice daily and adalimumab (36%) were comparable (p=0.81). In cohort 2, more patients achieved ACR50 with fenebrutinib 200 mg twice daily (25%) than placebo (12%) (p=0.072). The most common adverse events for fenebrutinib included nausea, headache, anemia, and upper respiratory tract infections. Fenebrutinib had significant effects on myeloid and B cell biomarkers (CCL4 and rheumatoid factor). Fenebrutinib and adalimumab caused overlapping as well as distinct changes in B cell and myeloid biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Fenebrutinib demonstrated efficacy comparable to adalimumab in patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate, and safety consistent with existing immunomodulatory therapies for RA. These data support targeting both B and myeloid cells via this novel mechanism for potential efficacy in the treatment of RA.

Frequency of human leukocyte antigens class II-DR alleles (HLA-DRB1) in Argentinian patients with early arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or undifferentiated arthritis (UA) in the CONAART database (Argentine Consortium for Early Arthritis) were assessed for genetic risk factors for RA, specifically for HLA-DRB1 alleles and the PTPN22 rs2476601 polymorphism associated with progression to RA. This is a case-control study. Blood samples were obtained to determine HLA-DRB1 genotypes by PCR-SSO Luminex and PTPN22 (rs2476601) polymorphism by allelic discrimination. A control group of individuals from the general Argentinian population were obtained from the national register of cadaveric organ donors. A total of 1859 individuals were included in this analysis: 399 patients from the CONAART database (347 patients with RA at study end and 52 patients with UA at study end, mean follow-up time 25 ± 18 months) and 1460 individuals from the general Argentinian population. Compared with the controls, the HLA-DRB1*04 and DRB1*09 alleles were more commonly detected in patients with RA diagnosis (OR (95% CI) 2.23 (1.74-2.85) and 1.89 (1.26-2.81)) respectively. Both patients with UA and the general population showed higher frequency of DRB1*07, DRB1*11 and DRB1*15 alleles than patients with RA. PTPN22 rs2476601 polymorphism frequency was higher in RA and UA vs the general population; however, this was significantly different only for RA vs control group (OR [95% CI] = 1.81 [1.10-3.02], P = 0.018. HLA-DRB1 typing and PTPN22 allelic discrimination could distinguish between patients with UA, patients with early RA, and the general population in Argentina. This is the first study of HLA-DRB1 alleles and PTPN22 polymorphism associations with progression to early RA in an Argentinian population.

Subcutaneous Abatacept in Patients With Polyarticular-Course Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Results From a Phase III Open-Label Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetics, effectiveness, and safety of subcutaneous (SC) abatacept treatment over 24 months in patients with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS: In this phase III, open-label, international, multicenter, single-arm study, patients with polyarticular JIA (cohort 1, ages 6-17 years and cohort 2, ages 2-5 years) in whom treatment with ≥1 disease-modifying antirheumatic drug was unsuccessful received weight-tiered SC abatacept weekly: 10 to <25 kg (50 mg), 25 to <50 kg (87.5 mg), ≥50 kg (125 mg). Patients who had met the JIA-American College of Rheumatology 30% improvement criteria (achieved a JIA-ACR 30 response) at month 4 were given the option to continue SC abatacept to month 24. The primary end point was the abatacept steady-state serum trough concentration (Cminss ) in cohort 1 at month 4. Other outcome measures included JIA-ACR 30, 50, 70, 90, 100, and inactive disease status, the median Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score in 71 joints using the C-reactive protein level (JADAS-71-CRP) over time, safety, and immunogenicity. RESULTS: The median abatacept Cminss at month 4 (primary end point) and at month 24 was above the target therapeutic exposure (10 µg/ml) in both cohorts. The percentage of patients who had achieved JIA-ACR 30, 50, 70, 90, or 100 responses or had inactive disease responses at month 4 (intent-to-treat population) was 83.2%, 72.8%, 52.6%, 28.3%, 14.5%, and 30.1%, respectively, in cohort 1 (n = 173) and 89.1%, 84.8%, 73.9%, 58.7%, 41.3%, and 50.0%, respectively, in cohort 2 (n = 46); the responses were maintained to month 24. The median (interquartile range) JADAS-71-CRP improved from baseline to month 4: cohort 1, from 21.0 (13.5, 30.3) to 4.6 (2.1, 9.4); cohort 2, from 18.1 (14.0, 23.1) to 2.1 (0.3, 4.4). Improvements were sustained to month 24, at which time 27 of 173 patients (cohort 1) and 11 of 22 patients (cohort 2) had achieved JADAS-71-CRP remission. No unexpected adverse events were reported; 4 of 172 patients (2.3%) in cohort 1 and 4 of 46 (8.7%) in cohort 2 developed anti-abatacept antibodies, with no clinical effects. CONCLUSION: Weight-stratified SC abatacept yielded target therapeutic exposures across age and weight groups, was well tolerated, and improved polyarticular JIA symptoms over 24 months.

Gender differences among patients with primary ankylosing spondylitis and spondylitis associated with psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease in an iberoamerican spondyloarthritis cohort.

The aim of the study was to compare clinical manifestations, disease activity, functional capacity, spinal mobility, and radiological findings between men and women from a multicenter, multiethnic Ibero-American cohort of patients with Spondyloarthritis (SpA).This observational cross-section study included 1264 consecutive SpA patients who fulfilled the modified New York criteria for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Demographic, clinical, and radiologic data were evaluated. Categorical data were compared by X or Fisher's exact tests and continuous variables by ANOVA with post-hoc tests.Primary AS was diagnosed in 1072 patients, psoriatic spondylitis in 147, and spondylitis associated to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 45 patients. Overall, male patients were significantly younger, had longer diagnostic delay, lower disease activity, worse spinal mobility, better quality of life, and more severe radiologic damage. Dactylitis and enthesitis, as well as swollen joint count, were significantly more common among women. In primary AS, there was a marked male predominance (76.2%). Among patients with psoriatic spondylitis, male predominance was lower (57.8%), but was also associated with worse spinal mobility and more severe radiologic damage. In the total population, male patients with primary AS referred higher permanent work disability (13.2% vs 6.9%; P < 0.05), although no difference was observed in psoriatic or IBD spondylitis according to the gender.Among Ibero-American SpA patients, there are some differences in clinical and radiological manifestations, men showing more structural damage, whereas women more active disease. These data suggest that the phenotype of SpA differs between genders. This can influence the subsequent diagnostic approach and therapeutic decisions.

The Efficacy and Safety of Clazakizumab, an Anti-Interleukin-6 Monoclonal Antibody, in a Phase IIb Study of Adults With Active Psoriatic Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of clazakizumab, a monoclonal antibody with high affinity and specificity for the interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine, in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study (ClinicalTrials. gov identifier: NCT01490450), patients with active PsA and an inadequate response to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive subcutaneous placebo or clazakizumab 25 mg, 100 mg, or 200 mg every 4 weeks, with or without methotrexate. The primary end point was the response rate according to the American College of Rheumatology 20% criteria for improvement (ACR20) at week 16, with secondary efficacy end points at weeks 16 and 24. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients were randomized. At week 16, the ACR20 response rate was significantly higher with clazakizumab 100 mg versus placebo (52.4% versus 29.3%; P = 0.039). ACR20 response rates at week 16 were 46.3% with clazakizumab 25 mg (P = 0.101 versus placebo) and 39.0% with clazakizumab 200 mg (P = 0.178 versus placebo). ACR50/ACR70 response rates were numerically higher with clazakizumab versus placebo at weeks 16 and 24. Compared with placebo, clazakizumab treatment significantly improved musculoskeletal manifestations (joint signs and symptoms, enthesitis, and dactylitis), with minimal improvements in skin disease, without clear evidence of a dose response. Clazakizumab was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: This is the first clinical trial of an IL-6-targeted therapy in PsA. Clazakizumab may be an effective treatment option for musculoskeletal aspects of PsA, but because of the lack of a dose response in this study, further studies are required to confirm the appropriate dose. The safety profile is consistent with the pharmacology of IL-6 blockade and prior clinical experience with this antibody in rheumatoid arthritis.

The efficacy and safety of subcutaneous clazakizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to methotrexate: results from a multinational, phase IIb, randomized, double-blind, placebo/active-controlled, dose-ranging study.

OBJECTIVE: Clazakizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of clazakizumab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) or clazakizumab monotherapy versus MTX alone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an inadequate response to MTX. METHODS: In this multinational, phase IIb, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study, patients were randomized to receive 1) once-monthly subcutaneous (SC) clazakizumab at 25, 100, or 200 mg plus MTX, 2) once-monthly SC clazakizumab at 100 mg or 200 mg as monotherapy, or 3) MTX plus placebo (i.e., MTX alone). Adalimumab (40 mg) plus MTX was included as an active reference. The primary end point was the American College of Rheumatology 20% (ACR20) improvement response rate at week 12. Secondary end points included ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 response rates as well as protocol-defined remission rates and Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index scores at weeks 12 and 24. RESULTS: In total, 418 patients were randomized, and baseline characteristics were balanced across the treatment groups. Patients receving clazakizumab had significantly greater ACR20 response rates at week 12 compared with patients receiving MTX alone (76.3%, 73.3%, and 60.0% of patients in the clazakizumab 25, 100, and 200 mg plus MTX groups, respectively, and 55.0% and 61.0% of patients in the clazakizumab 100 and 200 mg monotherapy groups, respectively, versus 39.3% of patients receiving MTX alone; P < 0.05 for all comparisons). At week 24, all clazakizumab groups had higher ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 response rates and higher remission rates compared with MTX alone. Rates of serious adverse events ranged from 8.3% to 13.6% in the clazakizumab treatment groups, compared with 3.3% in the MTX alone group. Changes in laboratory data were consistent with the pharmacologic effects of IL-6 blockade. CONCLUSION: In patients with RA and an inadequate response to MTX, treatment with clazakizumab in combination with MTX or clazakizumab monotherapy was well tolerated, and patients achieved significant improvements in disease activity, including higher rates of remission, as compared with patients receiving MTX alone.

Clinical and immunogenetic characterization in psoriatic arthritis patients.

In psoriatic arthritis (PsA), genetic factors play a substantial role in disease susceptibility as well as in its expression. This study aims to determine the distribution of class I and class II HLA antigens in PsA patients and secondly to analyze the influence of genetic factors in the clinical expression of the disease. Consecutive PsA patients (CASPAR criteria) with less than 1 year of disease duration were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded. Blood samples were obtained, DNA was extracted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and class I (A, B, and C) and class II (DR) HLA antigens were determined by oligotyping. A control group of 100 nonrelated healthy controls from the general population served as control. p values were corrected (pc) according to the number of alleles tested. A total of 73 patients were included, 37 were females (50.7 %) with a median disease duration of 72 months (interquartile range (IQR) 24-149). Thirty-three patients (45.2 %) had a family history of psoriasis. When analyzing all the class I and class II HLA antigens, a significantly higher frequency of B38 (odds ratio (OR) 2.95, p = 0.03) and Cw6 (OR 2.78, p = 0.009) was found in PsA patients compared to the control group. On the contrary, the HLA-A11 (OR 0.14, p = 0.04) and B7 (OR 0.31, p = 0.03) were significantly more frequent among healthy controls. Furthermore, B18 was significantly more frequent in patients with early arthritis onset (less than 40 years): seven patients (22.6 %) with early onset compared to two patients (4.8 %) with late onset (p = 0.03). No association between HLA-B27 and spondylitis or HLA-DR4 with polyarticular involvement was observed. The HLA-B38 and Cw6 alleles are associated with a greater PsA susceptibility in Argentine population.

Work disability is related to the presence of arthritis and not to a specific diagnosis. Results from a large early arthritis cohort in Argentina.

UNLABELLED: The objective of the study was to evaluate work disability and its main associated factors in patients with early arthritis. Argentine Consortium for Early Arthritis (CONAART) is the first early arthritis cohort in Argentina. Patients with one or more swollen joints and less than 2 years of symptoms duration were followed up prospectively in 13 departments of rheumatology. Social, demographic, familiar, clinical, and laboratory data were recollected. At first year and every year, X-rays of hands and feet were performed and working status and pharmaco-economic data were recollected. Work status (employed, unemployed, retired) and type of work were assessed by direct interview using a predesigned questionnaire. Eight hundred forty-eight patients were included, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) = 483 (57 %)and undifferentiated arthritis (UA) = 365 (43 %), 694 (81.8 %) were women, median age was 46 years (interquartile range (IQR) 35-55.7) and median symptoms duration 7 months (IQR 3-12). Patients with RA had significantly higher disease activity, worse functional capacity and quality of life, and more severe radiological damage compared to UA patients. However work disability (unemployed patient) was comparable between groups (RA = 21 % versus UA = 18.6 % p = NS). In both groups, unemployed patients had higher disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28), worse Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) values, and less years of formal education (p value <0.005 in all comparisons). Radiological damage was greater in unemployed patients but this difference did not reach statistical significance. In multivariate analysis, disease activity was the main variable associated with unemployment in both groups. Joint involvement was the main cause of work disability in this cohort of patients with early arthritis, independently of the final diagnosis. KEY MESSAGES: 1. Work disability is higher in patients with inflammatory arthritis as compared to the general population. 2. Prevalence of work disability is comparable among patients with undifferentiated and rheumatoid arthritis. 3. Disease activity is the main disease variable associated with work disability.

Effects of cigarette smoking on early arthritis: a cross-sectional study-data from the Argentine Consortium for Early Arthritis (CONAART).

Our objective was to analyze the effects of cigarette smoking on disease activity, functional capacity, radiographic damage, serology and presence of extraarticular manifestations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and undifferentiated arthritis. This is a cross-sectional study of 1,305 patients (729 with rheumatoid arthritis and 576 with undifferentiated arthritis) from CONAART, the Argentine Consortium for Early Arthritis that includes patients older than 16 years with <2 years of disease. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics of the disease and smoking history were collected. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis the disease activity score of 28 joints was 5.4 ± 1.3 in current smokers, 5.2 ± 1.4 in former smokers and 5.1 ± 1.4 in never smokers (p = 0.011). The simple erosion narrowing score was higher in current smokers and former smokers than in never smokers (M 14.0, R Q 6.0-21.0; M 15.0, R Q 7.0-24.0; M 10.0, R Q 5.0-17.0; p = 0.006). Current smokers had higher rheumatoid factor titer (M 160.0, R Q 80.0-341.0) than former smokers (M 146.8, R Q 6.03-255.5) and never smokers (M 15.0, R Q 9.0-80.0) (p = 0.004). The variable independently associated with tobacco exposure was simple erosion narrowing score (OR = 1.03, 95 % CI 1.00-1.05; p = 0.012). In patients with undifferentiated arthritis, an association between smoking status and parameters of activity or radiographic damage was not observed. Neither was tobacco exposure related to the presence of extraarticular manifestations or to the degree of disability in any of the two groups of patients. No relation was found between disease activity and severity, and number of packs smoked per year. Tobacco.

Therapeutic vaccination with TNF-Kinoid in TNF antagonist-resistant rheumatoid arthritis: a phase II randomized, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Active immunization, or vaccination, with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-Kinoid (TNF-K) is a novel approach to induce polyclonal anti-TNF antibodies in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. This study was performed to transfer the proof of concept obtained in mice model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) into human. We designed a pilot study to demonstrate the feasibility of therapeutic vaccination in RA. METHODS: This was a phase IIa, placebo-controlled, multicenter study in adults with RA who previously experienced secondary failure of TNF antagonists. Patients were immunized intramuscularly with 2 or 3 doses of placebo (n = 10) or 90 (n = 6), 180 (n = 12), or 360 µg TNF-K (n = 12). The primary objective was to identify the best dose and schedule based on anti-TNF antibody titers. Clinical symptoms and safety were assessed during 12 months and solicited reactions for 7 days after each injection. RESULTS: The highest anti-TNF antibody response was detected in patients immunized with 360 µg TNF-K and with 3 injections, although this difference was not significant with all other groups. Similar proportions of patients receiving TNF-K and placebo reported adverse events up to month 12. Serious adverse events were reported by 4 patients treated with TNF-K (13.3%) and 3 treated with placebo (30.0%), all unrelated to treatment. At month 12, DAS28-CRP, tender and swollen joint counts, and HAQ scores decreased significantly more in patients who exhibited anti-TNF antibody response than in patients who did not. CONCLUSIONS: TNF-K therapeutic vaccination induced dose- and schedule-dependent anti-TNF antibodies in RA patients and was well tolerated. Patients who developed anti-TNF antibodies showed a trend toward clinical improvement. Although the most aggressive dose and schedule, i.e. 360 mg dose administered 3 times, did show a strong trend of higher antibody response, further studies are warranted to examine even higher and more frequent doses in order to establish the best conditions for clinical improvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01040715.

A phase II randomized study of subcutaneous ixekizumab, an anti-interleukin-17 monoclonal antibody, in rheumatoid arthritis patients who were naive to biologic agents or had an inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ixekizumab, an anti-interleukin-17A (anti-IL-17A) monoclonal antibody, in 2 populations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients: biologics-naive patients and patients with an inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. METHODS: In this phase II, randomized, double-blind study, placebo or ixekizumab was administered subcutaneously to 260 biologics-naive patients and 188 patients with an inadequate response to TNF inhibitors at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 with concomitant disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The primary objective was to determine the dose-response relationship of ixekizumab as measured by the proportion of biologics-naive patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20) at week 12. RESULTS: Using a logistic regression model defined a priori, a statistically significant dose-response relationship as measured by ACR20 response rates at week 12 was detected in biologics-naive patients (P = 0.031). For patients with an inadequate response to TNF inhibitors, ACR20 responses at week 12 were significantly better with ixekizumab than placebo (P < 0.05). Decreases in the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the C-reactive protein level (DAS28-CRP), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and CRP level from baseline were observed at week 12 in the ixekizumab groups in both populations (P < 0.05 versus placebo). Onset of action was rapid in some dose groups in both populations, with improvements in the ACR20, DAS28-CRP, CRP levels, and CDAI observed by day 3 (P < 0.05). Adverse events occurred with similar frequencies overall in the ixekizumab and placebo groups. Infections were more frequent with ixekizumab than placebo (biologics-naive 25% versus 19%; inadequate responders to TNF inhibitors 27% versus 25%). No mycobacterial or invasive fungal infections were reported. CONCLUSION: Ixekizumab improved RA signs and symptoms in RA patients who were either naive to biologics treatment or had an inadequate response to TNF inhibitors. The safety profile was similar to that of other biologic agents, with no unexpected safety concerns.

An analysis of 372 patients with anterior uveitis in a large Ibero-American cohort of spondyloarthritis: the RESPONDIA Group.

OBJECTIVES: This study analysed the frequency of anterior uveitis (AU) and its correlations in a large cohort of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS: A common protocol of investigation was prospectively applied to 2012 SpA patients in 85 centres from 10 Ibero-American countries. Clinical and demographic variables and disease indexes were investigated. Categorical variables were compared by χ2 and Fisher's exact test, and continuous variables were compared by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. A value of p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: AU was referred by 372 SpA patients (18.5%). AU was statistically associated with inflammatory low back pain (p<0.001), radiographic sacroiliitis (p<0.001), enthesopathies (p=0.004), urethritis/acute diarrhoea (p<0.001), balanitis (p=0.002), hip involvement (p=0.002), HLA-B27 (p=0.003), and higher C-reactive protein (p=0.001), whilst it was negatively associated with the number of painful (p=0.03) and swollen (p=0.005) peripheral joints, psoriatic arthritis (p<0.001), psoriasis (p<0.001), nail involvement (p<0.001), and dactilitis (p=0.062; trend). No association with gender, race, and indices (disease activity, functionality and quality of life) was observed. Logistic regression showed that ankylosing spondylitis (p=0.001) and HLA-B27 (p=0.083; trend) was significantly associated with AU, while extra-articular manifestations (predominantly psoriasis) were negatively associated (p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Anterior uveitis is a frequent extra-articular manifestation in SpA patients, positively associated with axial involvement and HLA-B27 and negatively associated with peripheral involvement and psoriatic arthritis.

Seguridad de abatacept en pacientes con artritis reumatoidea / Safety of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abatacept (ABA) es una proteína de fusión que inhibe la señal coestimulatoria del linfocito T y está indicado en pacientes con artritis reumatoidea (AR) y artritis crónica juvenil moderada a severa sin respuesta a metotrexato (MTX). ABA ha demostrado su eficacia y seguridad en numerosos estudios controlados, doble ciego, randomizados en poblaciones seleccionadas. La incidencia de eventos adversos en estos estudios oscila entre 80 y 400 por 100 pacientes año. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la seguridad de ABA en pacientes con AR no seleccionados de la vida real. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron en forma consecutiva todos los pacientes con AR (criterios ACR'87) de 4 centros de reumatología que hubieran recibido al menos 1 dosis de ABA. Se consignaron datos socio-demográficos, características clínicas de la enfermedad, número de infusiones, dosis, y medicación concomitante. Se evaluaron todos los eventos adversos y se determinó la severidad y causalidad. Se consideraron las causas de suspensión del tratamiento. Análisis estadístico: Se evaluó la incidencia de eventos adversos/100 pacientes año de tratamiento, las variables categóricas fueron comparadas por Chi cuadrado y las continuas por test de Student o ANOVA...

Abatacept (ABA) is a fusion protein that inhibits the T cell costimulatorysignal and is indicated in patients with moderate to severe RheumatoidArthritis (RA) and Juvenil Idiopathic Arthritis, not responding to methotrexate. ABA has demonstrated eficacy and security in severalcontrolled, double-blind, randomized studies in selected populations.The objective of the present study was to evaluate security of ABA in patients with RA in the real life. Material and Methods: Consecutive patients with RA (ACR´87 classification) from 4 rheumatology centers that received at least one infusion of ABA were included. Socio-demographic data, disease characteristics, number of infusions, dosis, and concomitant medicationswere registered. All Adverse Events (AE) were evaluated and severityand causality were determined. Causes of treatment discontinuationwas also considered.Statistical analysis: Incidence of AE per 100 patient-years was evaluated, categorical variables were compared by Chi2 and continuous variables by Student T-test or ANOVA. Results: 184 patients were included, 155 (84.2%) were female, median age was 56 years (IQR 48-64) and median duration of disease was 13 years (IQR 8-18). 94.7% of the patients were rheumatoidfactor-positive and 82% had erosive disease. 90% were treatedwith concomitant DMARDs, methotrexate being the most frequent(76.5%). In 67% of the patients ABA was the first biologic agent used, and 23% had previously received at least one anti-TNF. Median duration of treatment with ABA was 24 months (IQR 11-34) and median number of infusions was 23 (IQR 10-34). Incidence of all AE was 46.18 per 100 patient-years, being the more frequents: Infections (27.3 per 100 patient-years), and infusion reactions (8.6 per100 patient-years)...

Seguridad de abatacept en pacientes con artritis reumatoidea / Safety of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abatacept (ABA) es una proteína de fusión que inhibe la señal coestimulatoria del linfocito T y está indicado en pacientes con artritis reumatoidea (AR) y artritis crónica juvenil moderada a severa sin respuesta a metotrexato (MTX). ABA ha demostrado su eficacia y seguridad en numerosos estudios controlados, doble ciego, randomizados en poblaciones seleccionadas. La incidencia de eventos adversos en estos estudios oscila entre 80 y 400 por 100 pacientes año. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la seguridad de ABA en pacientes con AR no seleccionados de la vida real. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron en forma consecutiva todos los pacientes con AR (criterios ACR87) de 4 centros de reumatología que hubieran recibido al menos 1 dosis de ABA. Se consignaron datos socio-demográficos, características clínicas de la enfermedad, número de infusiones, dosis, y medicación concomitante. Se evaluaron todos los eventos adversos y se determinó la severidad y causalidad. Se consideraron las causas de suspensión del tratamiento. Análisis estadístico: Se evaluó la incidencia de eventos adversos/100 pacientes año de tratamiento, las variables categóricas fueron comparadas por Chi cuadrado y las continuas por test de Student o ANOVA...(AU)

Abatacept (ABA) is a fusion protein that inhibits the T cell costimulatorysignal and is indicated in patients with moderate to severe RheumatoidArthritis (RA) and Juvenil Idiopathic Arthritis, not responding to methotrexate. ABA has demonstrated eficacy and security in severalcontrolled, double-blind, randomized studies in selected populations.The objective of the present study was to evaluate security of ABA in patients with RA in the real life. Material and Methods: Consecutive patients with RA (ACR´87 classification) from 4 rheumatology centers that received at least one infusion of ABA were included. Socio-demographic data, disease characteristics, number of infusions, dosis, and concomitant medicationswere registered. All Adverse Events (AE) were evaluated and severityand causality were determined. Causes of treatment discontinuationwas also considered.Statistical analysis: Incidence of AE per 100 patient-years was evaluated, categorical variables were compared by Chi2 and continuous variables by Student T-test or ANOVA. Results: 184 patients were included, 155 (84.2

) were female, median age was 56 years (IQR 48-64) and median duration of disease was 13 years (IQR 8-18). 94.7

of the patients were rheumatoidfactor-positive and 82

had erosive disease. 90

were treatedwith concomitant DMARDs, methotrexate being the most frequent(76.5

). In 67

of the patients ABA was the first biologic agent used, and 23

had previously received at least one anti-TNF. Median duration of treatment with ABA was 24 months (IQR 11-34) and median number of infusions was 23 (IQR 10-34). Incidence of all AE was 46.18 per 100 patient-years, being the more frequents: Infections (27.3 per 100 patient-years), and infusion reactions (8.6 per100 patient-years)...(AU)

Clinical response and tolerability to abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis previously treated with infliximab or abatacept: open-label extension of the ATTEST Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of abatacept in biological-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to methotrexate treated in the long-term extension (LTE) of the ATTEST trial. METHODS: Patients randomly assigned to abatacept, placebo or infliximab completing the 1-year double-blind period were eligible to receive abatacept ∼10 mg/kg in the open-label LTE. Efficacy to year 2 is presented for patients randomly assigned to abatacept or infliximab who switched to open-label abatacept. Safety data are presented for all patients entering LTE regardless of double-blind treatment. RESULTS: Of 431 patients randomly assigned, 79.8% remained on abatacept at year 2. At years 1 and 2, 19.7% and 26.1% of abatacept and 13.3% and 28.6% of infliximab-to-abatacept patients achieved disease activity score 28-defined remission (<2.6). Safety with abatacept during the cumulative study period was consistent with the double-blind experience, with no increase in adverse event incidence following the switch to abatacept. CONCLUSION: In methotrexate-inadequate responders, abatacept efficacy was maintained over 2 years. For infliximab-to-abatacept patients, efficacy improvements were seen in year 2 after patients switched to abatacept. Switching directly from infliximab to abatacept was well tolerated. These data demonstrate that abatacept provides sustained responses and consistent safety, suggesting that switching from infliximab to abatacept is a viable treatment option.

Differential features between primary ankylosing spondylitis and spondylitis associated with psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: To describe differential characteristics of axial involvement in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as compared with that seen in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a cohort of Ibero-American patients. METHODS: This study included 2044 consecutive patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA; ESSG criteria). Demographic, clinical, disease activity, functional ability, quality of life, work status, radiologic, and therapeutic data were evaluated and collected by RESPONDIA members from different Ibero-American countries between June and December 2006. Patients selected for analysis met modified New York criteria (mNY) for AS. RESULTS: A total of 1264 patients met the New York criteria for AS: 1072 had primary AS, 147 had psoriatic, and 45 had IBD-associated spondylitis. Median disease duration was comparable among the 3 patient groups. Patients with primary AS were significantly younger (p = 0.01) and presented a higher frequency of males (p = 0.01) than the other 2 groups. Axial manifestations such as inflammatory back pain and sacroiliac pain were significantly more frequent in patients with primary AS (p = 0.05) versus other groups, whereas frequency of dactylitis, enthesitis, and peripheral arthritis was more common in patients with psoriatic spondylitis (p = 0.05). Spinal mobility was significantly more limited in patients with primary AS versus the other 2 groups (p = 0.0001). Radiologic changes according to BASRI total score were equally significant in primary AS. Disease activity (BASDAI), functional ability (BASFI), and quality of life (ASQoL) scores were comparable in the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with primary AS had more severe axial involvement than those with spondylitis associated with psoriasis or IBD. Functional capacity, disease activity, and quality of life were comparable among the groups studied.

Epidemiology of spondyloarthritis in Argentina.

INTRODUCTION: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) includes a group of diseases that share immunogenetic, clinical and radiologic findings, with a particular involvement of the axial skeleton and the entheses. METHODS: SpA patients attending ambulatory care in 11 rheumatology services located in 6 Argentine provinces were included in a prospective, observational multicentre cohort of SpA in Argentina (Iberoamerican Spondyloarthritis Registry [RESPONDIA]). Data collected were transmitted online and stored in the Spanish spondyloarthritis registry (REGISPONSER) Web site. Sociodemographic, clinical features and diagnosis, disease activity, functional status, quality of life, work status, radiographic changes and treatment data were collected by means of validated tools. RESULTS: A total of 402 patients were included; 59% were male, with median age of 48.3 years and median disease duration of 8 years; 68.7% of patients belonged to middle and lower-middle social classes. Eighty-six patients were diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 242 with psoriatic arthritis, 25 with reactive arthritis, 10 with SpA associated with inflammatory bowel disease, 33 with undifferentiated SpA and 6 with juvenile AS. The median score was 2.6 for the Bath AS Functional Index, 3.8 for the Bath AS Disease Activity Index and 5 for the Bath AS Radiology Index. The lower social class patients achieved a worse Bath AS Functional Index than other social classes and a worse Bath AS Disease Activity Index, compared with upper-middle class. CONCLUSIONS: The sociodemographic distribution pattern observed in these SpA patients was similar to that expected in the general population of Argentina, with worse functional capacity and higher disease activity observed in the lower social classes.

General characteristics of an early arthritis cohort in Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to describe the general characteristics of a cohort of patients with early arthritis in Argentina. METHODS: CONAART (Consorcio Argentino de Artritis Temprana--Argentine Consortium for Early Arthritis) is an initiative of seven rheumatology centres across Argentina. Patients were included if they had at least one or more swollen joints and <2 years of disease duration. Social, demographic, familiar, hereditary, clinical and laboratory data were recollected. At first visit and every year, X-rays of hands and feet were performed and working characteristics and pharmaco-economic data were re-collected. RESULTS: A total of 413 patients were included. Of them, 327 (79.2%) were women with a median age of 49 years and a median disease duration of 6 months. Of the total, 183 (44.3%) had RA (ACR 1987) and 167 (40.4%) undifferentiated arthritis (UA). Other diagnoses included: 12 crystalics, 11 PsA, 6 uSpA, 6 other CTD, 1 AS and 27 other diagnosis. As 85% of our population had RA and UA, we only compared these two groups of patients. Patients with RA had significantly worse activity parameters of the disease (DAS of 28 joints), functional capacity (HAQ) and quality of life (Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life) than patients with UA. The frequency of RF and anti-CCP, and symmetrical distribution were also significantly higher in patients with RA compared with UA patients. All patients with RA initiated early specific treatment, in a period no longer than 6 months from the beginning of the disease. CONCLUSION: Early arthritis clinics are a useful tool to identify and treat patients with different forms of joint involvement.