The COMPARE head-to-head, randomized controlled trial of SEL-212 (pegadricase plus rapamycin-containing nanoparticle, ImmTOR™) versus pegloticase for refractory gout.

OBJECTIVES: Serum urate (SU) lowering with PEGylated uricases in gout can reduce flares and tophi. However, treatment-emergent anti-drug antibodies adversely affect safety and efficacy and the currently approved PEGylated uricase pegloticase requires twice-monthly infusions. Investigational SEL-212 therapy aims to promote uricase-specific tolerance via monthly sequential infusions of a proprietary rapamycin-containing nanoparticle (ImmTOR) and pegadricase. METHODS: COMPARE was a randomized, phase 2, open-label trial of SEL-212 vs pegloticase in adults with refractory gout. SEL-212 [ImmTOR (0.15 mg/kg) and pegadricase (0.2 mg/kg)] was infused monthly or pegloticase (8 mg) twice monthly for 6 months. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with SU <6 mg/dl for ≥80% of the time during 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes were mean SU, gout flares, number of tender and/or swollen joints and safety. RESULTS: During months 3 and 6 combined, numerically more participants achieved and maintained a SU <6 mg/dl for ≥80% of the time with SEL-212 vs pegloticase (53.0% vs 46.0%, P = 0.181). The percentage reductions in SU levels were statistically greater during months 3 and 6 with SEL-212 vs pegloticase (-73.79% and -47.96%, P = 0.0161). Reductions in gout flare incidence and number of tender and/or swollen joints were comparable between treatments. There were numerical differences between the most common treatment-related adverse events of interest with SEL-212 and pegloticase: gout flares (60.2% vs 50.6%), infections (25.3% vs 18.4%) and infusion-related reactions (15.7% vs 11.5%), respectively. Stomatitis (and related terms) was experienced by eight participants (9.6%) with SEL-212 and none with pegloticase. Stomatitis, a known event for rapamycin, was associated with ImmTOR only. CONCLUSIONS: SEL-212 efficacy and tolerability were comparable to pegloticase in refractory gout. This was associated with a substantial reduction in treatment burden with SEL-212 due to decreased infusion frequency vs pegloticase. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03905512.

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Final Results from the BALANCE-EXTEND Open-Label Extension Study.

INTRODUCTION: Upadacitinib (UPA) is an oral, selective Janus kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated favorable efficacy with an acceptable safety profile across a global, phase 3 program in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This phase 2 open-label extension investigated the efficacy and safety of UPA through 6 years of treatment. METHODS: Patients from two phase 2b trials (BALANCE-1 and -2) enrolled in BALANCE-EXTEND (NCT02049138) and received open-label UPA 6 mg twice daily (BID). Dose increases to 12 mg BID were required for patients with < 20% improvement in swollen or tender joint counts at weeks 6 or 12 and permitted for those not achieving Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) low disease activity (LDA; CDAI 2.8 to ≤ 10). Dose reduction to UPA 6 mg BID was permitted only for safety or tolerability reasons. After January 2017, the 6/12 mg BID doses were replaced by 15/30 mg once-daily extended-release equivalents. Efficacy and safety were monitored up to 6 years of UPA treatment; outcomes included rates of achievement of LDA or remission. Data were analyzed for patients who received the lower UPA dose throughout; titrated up to the higher UPA dose from weeks 6 or 12; or titrated to the higher UPA dose and back down. RESULTS: Overall, 493 patients entered BALANCE-EXTEND ('Never titrated', n = 306; 'Titrated up', n = 149; 'Titrated up and down', n = 38), and 223 patients (45%) completed the 6-year study. Total cumulative exposure was 1863 patient-years. Rates of LDA and remission were maintained through 6 years. Overall, 87%/70%/73% of patients in the 'Never titrated'/'Titrated up'/'Titrated up and down' groups achieved CDAI LDA at week 312, while the respective rates of Disease Activity Score 28 with C-reactive protein meeting LDA and remission criteria were 85%/69%/70% and 72%/46%/63%. Improvements in patient-reported outcomes were similar among the three groups. No new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSIONS: In this open-label extension of two phase 2 studies, UPA demonstrated sustained efficacy and an acceptable safety profile through 6 years of treatment in patients who completed the study. These data support a favorable long-term benefit-risk profile of UPA in patients with RA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: NCT02049138.

Expert Opinion on Pegloticase with Concomitant Immunomodulatory Therapy in the Treatment of Uncontrolled Gout to Improve Efficacy, Safety, and Durability of Response.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Gout is a systemic disease from which some patients develop numerous painful tophi that adversely affect quality of life and functionality. Some patients treated with oral urate-lowering therapy are unable to maintain serum urate levels below 6 mg/dL, and these patients, thus classified as having refractory or uncontrolled gout, often require therapy with pegloticase to reduce symptoms and tophaceous burden. The objective of this expert opinion review is to summarize the available evidence supporting the use of concomitant immunomodulators with pegloticase to prevent development of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) when treating patients with uncontrolled gout. RECENT FINDINGS: Emerging evidence suggests that adding an immunomodulator to pegloticase therapy can substantially increase response rates to double those observed in phase 3 randomized controlled trials. The combination of immunomodulation with pegloticase should be considered in routine clinical practice to improve durability of response, efficacy, and safety among patients with uncontrolled gout who otherwise have limited therapeutic options.

Filgotinib versus placebo or adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to methotrexate: a phase III randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Janus kinase-1-preferential inhibitor filgotinib versus placebo or tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitor therapy in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite ongoing treatment with methotrexate (MTX). METHODS: This 52-week, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled and active-controlled phase III trial evaluated once-daily oral filgotinib in patients with RA randomised 3:3:2:3 to filgotinib 200 mg (FIL200) or filgotinib 100 mg (FIL100), subcutaneous adalimumab 40 mg biweekly, or placebo (through week 24), all with stable weekly background MTX. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving 20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20) at week 12. Additional efficacy outcomes were assessed sequentially. Safety was assessed from adverse events and laboratory abnormalities. RESULTS: The proportion of patients (n=1755 randomised and treated) achieving ACR20 at week 12 was significantly higher for FIL200 (76.6%) and FIL100 (69.8%) versus placebo (49.9%; treatment difference (95% CI), 26.7% (20.6% to 32.8%) and 19.9% (13.6% to 26.2%), respectively; both p<0.001). Filgotinib was superior to placebo in key secondary endpoints assessing RA signs and symptoms, physical function and structural damage. FIL200 was non-inferior to adalimumab in terms of Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with C reactive protein ≤3.2 at week 12 (p<0.001); FIL100 did not achieve non-inferiority. Adverse events and laboratory abnormalities were comparable among active treatment arms. CONCLUSIONS: Filgotinib improved RA signs and symptoms, improved physical function, inhibited radiographic progression and was well tolerated in patients with RA with inadequate response to MTX. FIL200 was non-inferior to adalimumab. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02889796.

Effects of Conventional Uric Acid-Lowering Therapy on Monosodium Urate Crystal Deposits.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have systematically and quantitatively addressed the impact of urate-lowering therapy on monosodium urate (MSU) deposits. This study was undertaken to analyze the effect of lifestyle measures and conventional urate-lowering therapy on MSU deposits in patients with gout. METHODS: In this prospective study, subjects with gout according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria and presence of MSU deposits seen on dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) scans received either lifestyle intervention or conventional urate-lowering therapy for a mean period of 18 months before a follow-up DECT scan. Detected MSU deposits were quantified by volumetric measurement and validated by semiquantitative scoring, and baseline and follow-up measurements were compared. RESULTS: Baseline and follow-up DECT scans were available for all 83 subjects. Six subjects discontinued treatment, and 77 subjects underwent a lifestyle intervention (n = 24) or were treated with allopurinol (n = 29), febuxostat (n = 22), or benzbromarone (n = 2) over the entire observation period. The mean serum uric acid (UA) level decreased from 7.2 to 5.8 mg/dl in the overall population. In patients who discontinued treatment, no change in MSU deposits or serum UA levels was observed. The burden of MSU deposits significantly decreased in patients undergoing lifestyle intervention (MSU volume P = 0.007; MSU score P = 0.001), and in patients treated with allopurinol (MSU volume and score P < 0.001) or febuxostat (MSU volume P < 0.001; MSU score P = 0.001). No significant decline in MSU deposits was noted in patients who discontinued treatment. CONCLUSION: These data show that lifestyle intervention and xanthine oxidase inhibitors significantly decrease the MSU deposit burden. Hence, conventional gout therapy not only lowers serum UA levels, but also reduces pathologic MSU deposits.

Use of Pre-Infusion Serum Uric Acid Levels as a Biomarker for Infusion Reaction Risk in Patients on Pegloticase.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this work is to evaluate the impact of the timing of pre-infusion serum uric acid (sUA) test results for use in applying stopping rules for pegloticase to identify patients at risk for infusion reactions (IRs) while on therapy. METHODS: Data from the phase 3 clinical trials of pegloticase were reviewed and individual uric acid levels of the 85 patients who received the approved regimen of biweekly infusions were examined in relation to the occurrence of IRs. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients (26%) who experienced an IR on pegloticase therapy without uric acid stopping rules, only seven (8%) would have had IRs if pegloticase therapy had been discontinued after two consecutive pre-infusion sUA levels above 6 mg/dl. If pegloticase therapy was stopped after a single pre-infusion sUA above 6 mg/dl, only two patients (2%) would have experienced IRs during the clinical studies. CONCLUSIONS: A pre-infusion sUA level functions as a highly accurate biomarker for identification of patients who are at risk of IRs while on pegloticase therapy. Stopping pegloticase in patients who have a rise in pre-infusion uric acid levels to above 6 mg/dl while on therapy would result in most IRs being avoided. FUNDING: Horizon Pharma.

Update on imaging in gout: contrasting and comparing the role of dual-energy computed tomography to traditional diagnostic and monitoring techniques.

In this systematic literature review, we update imaging modalities in gout, with a focus on newer technologies, particularly Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). Conventional radiography (CR), ultrasonography (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and dual-energy CT (DECT) have been used to evaluate different stages and clinical manifestations of gout and hyperuricaemia. We compare and contrast these modalities across the spectrum of this disease and of clinical scenarios and objectives (1).

The Effectiveness of Intravenous Golimumab Administered Directly After Infliximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

PURPOSE: For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who do not respond or lose response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologics, switching to a different anti-TNF can be an effective means to manage symptoms and disease progression. This study examined the utilization and effectiveness of intravenous golimumab within a real-world population of patients with RA switching directly from infliximab, a potent anti-TNF. METHODS: Patient charts (n = 113) were collected from five US-based rheumatology practices. Patient demographics, treatment characteristics, infliximab and intravenous golimumab utilization data, and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Patient Global Assessment (PtGA), Physician Global Assessment (PhGA), and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3) scores were extracted from charts. The effectiveness of intravenous golimumab was assessed by comparing disease activity status pre- and post-initiation of intravenous golimumab therapy. FINDINGS: Significant decreases in patient disease activity were observed following treatment with intravenous golimumab. Mean CDAI and PhGA scores significantly decreased, and a significantly increased proportion of the population exhibited low disease activity or remission in the post intravenous golimumab period (p < 0.05). Limited changes were observed through the RAPID3 and PtGA. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study indicate that intravenous golimumab is effective in managing RA in a population of patients switching directly from infliximab (mean last dose 7.4 mg/kg).

Infusion-related reactions with pegloticase, a recombinant uricase for the treatment of chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy.

BACKGROUND: In clinical trials of pegloticase, a PEGylated uricase developed for treatment of gout refractory to conventional therapy, infusion-related reactions (IRs) were the second most frequent adverse event reported. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to provide a detailed account of IRs with pegloticase therapy. METHODS: Data from 2 replicate, 6-month randomized trials and an open-label extension study were pooled. Infusions of pegloticase (8 mg) were administered biweekly or monthly; all patients received prophylaxis (antihistamine, acetaminophen, and corticosteroid) and were tested for urate levels prior to each infusion. An IR was defined by protocol as any otherwise unexplained adverse event or cluster of temporally related events occurring during or within 2 hours of infusion. RESULTS: Infusion-related reactions occurred in 94 (45%) of 208 patients receiving pegloticase; 10 patients reported IRs at first infusion and 84 during subsequent infusions. Chest discomfort (15%), flushing (12%), and dyspnea (11%) were the most common symptoms. Most IRs were rated mild or moderate; 7% were rated severe. All IRs resolved with slowing, interrupting, or stopping the infusion. No patient required blood pressure or ventilatory support. Infusion-related reactions were associated with loss of pegloticase urate-lowering efficacy: 91% of all IRs occurred in patients with preinfusion serum uric acid concentrations (sUA) greater than 6 mg/dL. For patients sustaining preinfusion sUA of less than 6 mg/dL, IRs occurred in fewer than 1 per 100 infusions. CONCLUSIONS: Phase 3 trial data combined with post hoc analyses demonstrated that knowledge of sUA preceding each pegloticase infusion and cessation of therapy when urate-lowering efficacy is lost provide a means to optimize the safety of pegloticase in clinical practice.

Exploratory study of radiographic change in patients with tophaceous gout treated with intensive urate-lowering therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Tophi are strongly associated with structural damage in gout, and urate-lowering therapy reduces tophus size. Pegloticase leads to dramatic reductions in serum urate and subcutaneous tophi in treatment responders. The aim of this analysis was to examine whether profound urate lowering can alter radiographic findings in gout. METHODS: Serial plain radiographs of the hands and feet were obtained from 8 patients with tophaceous gout treated with pegloticase. Radiographs were scored for erosion and joint space narrowing (JSN) according to the gout-modified Sharp/van der Heijde method. Scorers were blinded to each other's scores and to the clinical characteristics of the patients (including the clinical response to pegloticase). A detailed qualitative site-by-site analysis was undertaken to define additional changes observed from baseline. RESULTS: All patients experienced a profound urate-lowering response (serum urate level <1 mg/dl) during pegloticase treatment. For the entire group, the median total radiographic scores reduced from 69.25 (range 1.5-138) at baseline to 57.25 (range 1.5-110) at 12 months (P = 0.02). Median erosion scores reduced over 1 year (P = 0.008), but JSN scores did not change (P = 0.50). Further reductions were observed in total scores and erosion scores in 5 patients with 24-month followup films (one-way analysis of variance P = 0.009 for total score, 0.02 for erosion, and 0.95 for JSN). Qualitative site-by-site analysis identified regression of soft tissue masses, increased sclerosis, and filling in of erosions in the followup films. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study suggests that profound urate lowering can lead to improvement in structural damage, particularly bone erosion, in patients with tophaceous gout.

Tophus burden reduction with pegloticase: results from phase 3 randomized trials and open-label extension in patients with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Two replicate randomized, placebo-controlled six-month trials (RCTs) and an open-label treatment extension (OLE) comprised the pegloticase development program in patients with gout refractory to conventional therapy. In the RCTs, approximately 40% of patients treated with the approved dose saw complete response (CR) of at least one tophus. Here we describe the temporal course of tophus resolution, total tophus burden in patients with multiple tophi, tophus size at baseline, and the relationship between tophus response and urate-lowering efficacy. METHODS: Baseline subcutaneous tophi were analyzed quantitatively using computer-assisted digital images in patients receiving pegloticase (8 mg biweekly or monthly) or placebo in the RCTs, and pegloticase in the OLE. Tophus response, a secondary endpoint in the trials, was evaluated two ways. Overall tophus CR was the proportion of patients achieving a best response of CR (without any new/enlarging tophi) and target tophus complete response (TT-CR) was the proportion of all tophi with CR. RESULTS: Among 212 patients randomized in the RCTs, 155 (73%) had ≥ 1 tophus and 547 visible tophi were recorded at baseline. Overall tophus CR was recorded in 45% of patients in the biweekly group (P = 0.002 versus placebo), 26% in the monthly group, and 8% in the placebo group after six months of RCT therapy. TT-CR rates at six months were 28%, 19%, and 2% of tophi, respectively. Patients meeting the primary endpoint of sustained urate-lowering response to therapy (responders) were more likely than nonresponders to have an overall tophus CR at six months (54% vs 20%, respectively and 8% with placebo). CONCLUSIONS: Pegloticase reduced tophus burden in patients with refractory tophaceous gout, especially those achieving sustained urate-lowering. Complete resolution of tophi occurred in some patients by 13 weeks and in others with longer-term therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: NCT00325195, NCT01356498.

Rilonacept in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis: a randomized, controlled clinical trial using indomethacin as the active comparator.

INTRODUCTION: In phase-3 clinical trials, the interleukin (IL-1) blocker, rilonacept (IL-1 Trap), demonstrated efficacy for gout flare prevention during initiation of urate-lowering therapy. This trial evaluated rilonacept added to a standard-of-care, indomethacin, for treatment of acute gout flares. METHODS: Adults, aged 18-70 years, with gout presenting within 48 hours of flare onset and having at least moderate pain as well as swelling and tenderness in the index joint were randomized to subcutaneous (SC) rilonacept 320 mg at baseline plus oral indomethacin 50 mg TID for 3 days followed by 25 mg TID for up to 9 days (n = 74); SC placebo at baseline plus oral indomethacin as above (n=76); or SC rilonacept 320 mg at baseline plus oral placebo (n=75). The primary efficacy endpoint was change in pain in the index joint (patient-reported using a Likert scale (0=none; 4=extreme)) from baseline to the average of values at 24, 48 and 72 hours (composite time point) for rilonacept plus indomethacin versus indomethacin alone. Comparison of rilonacept monotherapy with indomethacin monotherapy was dependent on demonstration of significance for the primary endpoint. Safety evaluation included clinical laboratory and adverse event (AE) assessments. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were comparable among the groups; the population was predominantly male (94.1%), white (75.7%), with mean±SD age of 50.3±10.6 years. All treatment groups reported within-group pain reductions from baseline (P<0.0001). Although primary endpoint pain reduction was greater with rilonacept plus indomethacin (-1.55±0.92) relative to indomethacin alone (-1.40±0.96), the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.33), so formal comparison between monotherapy groups was not performed. Pain reduction over the 72-hour period with rilonacept alone (-0.69±0.97) was less than that in the other groups, but pain reduction was similar among groups at 72 hours. Treatment with rilonacept was well-tolerated with no reported serious AEs related to rilonacept. Across all groups, the most frequent AEs were headache and dizziness. CONCLUSIONS: Although generally well-tolerated, rilonacept in combination with indomethacin and rilonacept alone did not provide additional pain relief over 72 hours relative to indomethacin alone in patients with acute gout flare. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration number NCT00855920.

Early effects of tocilizumab in the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis: a one-week sub-study of a randomised controlled trial (Rapid Onset and Systemic Efficacy [ROSE] Study).

OBJECTIVES: Tocilizumab has demonstrated efficacy in managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from week 2 onward. This sub-study assessed effects of tocilizumab plus disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during the first week of therapy. METHODS: Rapid Onset and Systemic Efficacy was a 24-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Adults with moderate to severe active RA taking DMARDs received tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (or placebo) plus DMARDs every 4 weeks. Data were analysed from the first 62 patients at designated study sites who agreed to clinical evaluation and blood sampling at days 3 and 7 and had C-reactive protein levels ≥1 mg/dl. Outcomes included American College of Rheumatology core data set measures, disease activity score using 28 joints (DAS28) and routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID3) scores. RESULTS: Baseline evaluations were similar between groups (tocilizumab, n=40; placebo, n=22). Patient global assessments of disease activity and pain improved significantly in favour of tocilizumab (mean change from baseline to day 7: -16.2 [tocilizumab], 0.8 [placebo] [p=0.005] and -12.2 [tocilizumab], 1.4 [placebo] [p=0.01], respectively). Physician global assessment of disease activity also improved more with tocilizumab (-15.4 [tocilizumab], -5.6 [placebo] [p=0.05]). Changes from baseline in tender/swollen joint counts, physical function and RAPID3 scores were not significantly different between groups. DAS28 significantly improved with tocilizumab versus placebo at day 7 (-1.16 [tocilizumab], -0.27 [placebo] [p=0.007]). CONCLUSIONS: Tocilizumab showed significant improvement in patient-reported disease activity, pain and DAS28 score as early as day 7 after first infusion, earlier than physician-reported measures, which may take longer to manifest.

Long-term safety of pegloticase in chronic gout refractory to conventional treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term safety (up to 3 years) of treatment with pegloticase in patients with refractory chronic gout. METHODS: This open-label extension (OLE) study was conducted at 46 sites in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Patients completing either of two replicate randomised placebo-controlled 6-month trials received pegloticase 8 mg every 2 weeks (biweekly) or every 4 weeks (monthly). Safety was evaluated as the primary outcome, with special interest in gout flares and infusion-related reactions (IRs). Secondary outcomes included urate-lowering and clinical efficacy. RESULTS: Patients (n=149) received a mean±SD of 28±18 pegloticase infusions and were followed for a mean of 25±11 months. Gout flares and IRs were the most frequently reported adverse events; these were least common in patients with a sustained urate-lowering response to treatment and those receiving biweekly treatment. In 10 of the 11 patients with a serious IR, the event occurred when uric acid exceeded 6 mg/dl. Plasma and serum uric acid levels remained <6 mg/dl in most randomised controlled trial (RCT)-defined pegloticase responders throughout the OLE study and were accompanied by sustained and progressive improvements in tophus resolution and flare incidence. CONCLUSIONS: The safety profile of long-term pegloticase treatment was consistent with that observed during 6 months of RCT treatment; no new safety signals were identified. Improvements in clinical status, in the form of flare and tophus reduction initiated during RCT pegloticase treatment in patients maintaining goal range urate-lowering responses were sustained or advanced during up to 2.5 years of additional treatment.

Tolerability of topical diclofenac sodium 1% gel for osteoarthritis in seniors and patients with comorbidities.

BACKGROUND: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with a dose-related risk of cardiovascular, renal, and gastrointestinal adverse events (AEs). Topical NSAIDs produce lower systemic NSAID exposure compared with oral NSAIDs, offering potential benefits. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of topical diclofenac sodium 1% gel (DSG) for knee and hand osteoarthritis (OA) in older and younger patients and in patients with versus without comorbid hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Post hoc analysis of pooled data from 5 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials involving 1426 patients (aged ≥35 years) with mild to moderate OA of the knee and 783 patients (aged ≥40 years) with mild to moderate OA of the hand. Patients applied 4 g of DSG or vehicle to affected knees QID for 12 weeks or 2 g of DSG or vehicle to affected hands QID for 8 weeks. RESULTS: In patients with knee OA, the percentage with ≥1 adverse event was similar in patients aged <65 years (56.6%) versus ≥65 years (55.8%) and was similar in patients with versus without comorbid hypertension (53.4% vs 59.0%, respectively), type 2 diabetes mellitus (50.0% vs 57.2%), or cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease (53.8% vs 56.5%). In patients with hand OA, the percentage with ≥1 AE was similar in patients aged ≥65 years (42.7%) versus <65 years (39.1%) and was similar in patients with versus without hypertension (39.6% vs 41.7%, respectively), lower in patients with versus without type 2 diabetes mellitus (28.0% vs 41.6%), and higher in patients with versus without cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease (48.5% vs 39.2%). Gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal AEs were rare and did not differ according to age or comorbidity. Application site reactions were the primary cause for the greater frequency of AEs with DSG versus vehicle. CONCLUSION: The similar and low rates of AEs in DSG-treated patients aged ≥65 years and <65 years and in those with and without comorbid hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease suggest that DSG treatment is generally well tolerated.

2011 Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of gout and hyperuricemia.

Gout is a major health problem in the United States; it affects 8.3 million people, which is approximately 4% of the adult population. Gout is most often diagnosed and managed in primary care physician practices. Primary care physicians have a significant opportunity to diagnose and manage patients with gout and improve patient outcomes. Following publication of the 2006 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) gout guidelines, significant evidence on gout has accumulated and new treatments for patients with gout have become available. It is the objective of these 2011 recommendations for the diagnosis and management of gout and hyperuricemia to update the 2006 EULAR guidelines, paying special attention to the needs of primary care physicians, who manage most patients with gout. The revised 2011 recommendations are based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach as an evidence-based strategy for rating quality of evidence and grading strength of recommendation in clinical practice. A total of 26 key recommendations for diagnosis (n = 10) and management (n = 16) were evaluated. Presence of tophus (proven or suspected) and response to colchicine had the highest clinical diagnostic value (likelihood ratio [LR], 15.56 [95% CI, 2.11-114.71] and LR, 4.33 [95% CI, 1.16-16.16], respectively). The key aspect of effective management of an acute gout attack is initiation of treatment within hours of onset of first symptoms. Low-dose colchicine is better tolerated than and is as effective as high-dose colchicine (number needed to treat [NNT], 5 [95% CI, 3-13] and NNT, 6 [95% CI, 3-72], respectively). For urate-lowering therapy, allopurinol in combination with probenecid was shown to be more effective than either agent alone (effect size [ES], 5.51 for combination; ES, 4.46 for probenecid; and ES, 2.80 for allopurinol). Febuxostat, also a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, has a slightly different mechanism of action and can be prescribed at unchanged doses for patients with mild-to-moderate renal or hepatic impairment. Febuxostat 40 mg versus 80 mg (NNT, 6 [95% CI, 4-11]) and 120 mg (NNT, 6 [95% CI, 3-26]) both demonstrated long-term efficacy. The target of urate-lowering therapy should be a serum uric acid level of ≤ 6 mg/dL. For patients with refractory and tophaceous gout, intravenous pegloticase is a new treatment option.

Efficacy and tolerability of pegloticase for the treatment of chronic gout in patients refractory to conventional treatment: two randomized controlled trials.

CONTEXT: Patients with chronic disabling gout refractory to conventional urate-lowering therapy need timely treatment to control disease manifestations related to tissue urate crystal deposition. Pegloticase, monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-conjugated mammalian recombinant uricase, was developed to fulfill this need. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of pegloticase in managing refractory chronic gout. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Two replicate, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (C0405 and C0406) were conducted between June 2006 and October 2007 at 56 rheumatology practices in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in patients with severe gout, allopurinol intolerance or refractoriness, and serum uric acid concentration of 8.0 mg/dL or greater. A total of 225 patients participated: 109 in trial C0405 and 116 in trial C0406. INTERVENTION: Twelve biweekly intravenous infusions containing either pegloticase 8 mg at each infusion (biweekly treatment group), pegloticase alternating with placebo at successive infusions (monthly treatment group), or placebo (placebo group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Primary end point was plasma uric acid levels of less than 6.0 mg/dL in months 3 and 6. RESULTS: In trial C0405 the primary end point was reached in 20 of 43 patients in the biweekly group (47%; 95% CI, 31%-62%), 8 of 41 patients in the monthly group (20%; 95% CI, 9%-35%), and in 0 patients treated with placebo (0/20; 95% CI, 0%-17%; P < .001 and <.04 for comparisons between biweekly and monthly groups vs placebo, respectively). Among patients treated with pegloticase in trial C0406, 16 of 42 in the biweekly group (38%; 95% CI, 24%-54%) and 21 of 43 in the monthly group (49%; 95% CI, 33%-65%) achieved the primary end point; no placebo-treated patients reached the primary end point (0/23; 95% CI, 0%-15%; P = .001 and < .001, respectively). When data in the 2 trials were pooled, the primary end point was achieved in 36 of 85 patients in the biweekly group (42%; 95% CI, 32%-54%), 29 of 84 patients in the monthly group (35%; 95% CI, 24%-46%), and 0 of 43 patients in the placebo group (0%; 95% CI, 0%-8%; P < .001 for each comparison). Seven deaths (4 in patients receiving pegloticase and 3 in the placebo group) occurred between randomization and closure of the study database (February 15, 2008). CONCLUSION: Among patients with chronic gout, elevated serum uric acid level, and allopurinol intolerance or refractoriness, the use of pegloticase 8 mg either every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks for 6 months resulted in lower uric acid levels compared with placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00325195.

Safety and efficacy of topical diclofenac sodium gel for knee osteoarthritis in elderly and younger patients: pooled data from three randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicentre trials.

BACKGROUND: NSAIDs used for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) have dose-related risks for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal adverse events (AEs), particularly in elderly patients. Topical NSAIDs reduce systemic NSAID exposure and may mitigate these risks. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical diclofenac sodium 1% gel (DSG) versus vehicle in patients aged 25-64 or ≥65 years who have been diagnosed with knee OA. STUDY DESIGN: Pooled data from three 12-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicentre trials. SETTING: US primary care, internal medicine, orthopaedic and rheumatology practices. PATIENTS: Aged ≥25 years with mild to moderate (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-3) knee OA. INTERVENTION: After a 1-week analgesic washout, patients applied 4 g of DSG or vehicle four times daily to one knee. Rescue paracetamol (acetaminophen) up to 4 g/day was allowed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Key efficacy outcomes common to the three trials were Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain (0-20) and physical function (0-68) subscales, global rating of disease (GRD; 100-mm visual analogue scale [VAS]) and pain on movement (POM; 100-mm VAS). ANOVA was used to compare efficacy outcome differences (DSG vs vehicle) by age (25-64 or ≥65 years). A flare design was used that defined a subset of patients who experienced increased pain during the washout period (modified efficacy subpopulation [MES]). RESULTS: The MES included both patients aged 25-64 (n = 602) and ≥65 (n = 374) years. Patients in each age group applied >90% of scheduled doses. Among patients aged 25-64 years, the improvement from baseline to week 12 (least squares mean [standard error]) was greater for DSG versus vehicle for WOMAC pain (-5.8 [0.3] vs -4.7 [0.3], p = 0.007), WOMAC physical function (-17.9 [0.9] vs -14.2 [0.9], p = 0.002), GRD (-29.5 [1.6] vs -23.8 [1.6], p = 0.01) and POM (-37.3 [1.8] vs -29.0 [1.8], p < 0.001). Among patients aged ≥65 years, the improvements from baseline for most efficacy outcome scores were significantly greater with DSG versus vehicle: WOMAC pain (-5.3 [0.3] vs -4.1 [0.4], p = 0.02), WOMAC physical function (-15.5 [1.1] vs -11.0 [1.1], p = 0.004) and POM (-33.7 [2.2] vs -26.4 [2.2], p = 0.02). The efficacy of DSG did not differ significantly between patients aged 25-64 years and ≥65 years: WOMAC pain (p = 0.85), WOMAC physical function (p = 0.70), GRD (p = 0.86) and POM (p = 0.81). The incidence of any AE was greater with DSG than with vehicle among patients aged 25-64 years (56.6% vs 50.8%) and ≥65 years (55.8% vs 43.9%). Treatment-related application site dermatitis was more common with DSG compared with vehicle in both younger (4.0% vs 0.7%, respectively) and older (5.8% vs 0.4%, respectively) patients and was the main reason for the difference in treatment-related AEs between the DSG and vehicle groups. Gastrointestinal AEs were infrequent among patients treated with DSG and similar to incidence rates with vehicle in both age groups. CONCLUSIONS: DSG was effective and generally well tolerated in adults regardless of age. These data support the topical application of DSG for relief of OA knee pain in elderly and younger patients. Clinicaltrials.gov registration numbers NCT00171626, NCT00171678, NCT00426621.

2011 recommendations for the diagnosis and management of gout and hyperuricemia.

Gout is a major health problem in the United States; it affects 8.3 million people, which is approximately 4% of the adult population. Gout is most often diagnosed and managed in primary care practices; thus, primary care physicians have a significant opportunity to improve patient outcomes. Following publication of the 2006 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) gout guidelines, significant new evidence has accumulated, and new treatments for patients with gout have become available. It is the objective of these 2011 recommendations to update the 2006 EULAR guidelines, paying special attention to the needs of primary care physicians. The revised 2011 recommendations are based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach as an evidence-based strategy for rating quality of evidence and grading the strength of recommendation formulated for use in clinical practice. A total of 26 key recommendations, 10 for diagnosis and 16 for management, of patients with gout were evaluated, resulting in important updates for patient care. The presence of monosodium urate crystals and/or tophus and response to colchicine have the highest clinical diagnostic value. The key aspect of effective management of an acute gout attack is initiation of treatment within hours of symptom onset. Low-dose colchicine is better tolerated and is as effective as a high dose. When urate-lowering therapy (ULT) is indicated, the xanthine oxidase inhibitors allopurinol and febuxostat are the options of choice. Febuxostat can be prescribed at unchanged doses for patients with mild-to-moderate renal or hepatic impairment. The target of ULT should be a serum uric acid level that is ≤ 6 mg/dL. For patients with refractory and tophaceous gout, intravenous pegloticase is a new treatment option. This article is a summary of the 2011 clinical guidelines published in Postgraduate Medicine. This article provides a streamlined, accessible overview intended for quick review by primary care physicians, with the full guidelines being a resource for those seeking additional background information and expanded discussion.

Safety and efficacy of topical diclofenac sodium 1% gel in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may provide an alternative to oral NSAIDs to relieve pain from osteoarthritis (OA), reducing systemic exposure. This 12-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter trial examined the efficacy and safety of topical diclofenac sodium 1% gel (DSG) for symptomatic knee OA. METHODS: Eligible patients were aged >/= 35 years with symptomatic Kellgren-Lawrence grade (KLG) 1 to 3 OA in 1 or both knees for >/= 6 months. Patients meeting entry criteria applied DSG 4 g or vehicle 4 times daily to the symptomatic knee(s). Primary endpoints were Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and physical function subscales and global rating of benefit at week 12. Pain on movement at week 4 was an additional primary endpoint for European regulatory purposes. Secondary endpoints included primary outcomes at weeks 1, 4, and 8; WOMAC stiffness subscale; spontaneous pain; global rating of disease; and global evaluation of treatment. Subanalyses were performed according to KLG, the number of knees treated, and age. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty patients were randomly assigned to DSG (n = 208) or vehicle (n = 212). At week 12, DSG provided significantly greater reductions in WOMAC pain (52.6% vs 43.1%; P = 0.008) and physical function (49.7% vs 39.4%; P = 0.004) versus vehicle and provided significant improvements in most secondary endpoints. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were infrequent (DSG, 7.7%; vehicle, 4.2%), with application site dermatitis being the most common AE (DSG, 4.8%; vehicle, 0%). No treatment-related gastrointestinal or serious AEs occurred with DSG. CONCLUSION: Topical DSG treatment provided effective pain relief and functional improvement of OA in 1 or both knees and was well tolerated, irrespective of disease severity or patient age.