Safety and efficacy of tofacitinib for the treatment of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: preliminary results of an open-label, long-term extension study.

OBJECTIVES: We report the safety, tolerability and efficacy of tofacitinib in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in an ongoing long-term extension (LTE) study. METHODS: Patients (2-<18 years) with JIA who completed phase 1/3 index studies or discontinued for reasons excluding treatment-related serious adverse events (AEs) entered the LTE study and received tofacitinib 5 mg two times per day or equivalent weight-based doses. Safety outcomes included AEs, serious AEs and AEs of special interest. Efficacy outcomes included improvement since tofacitinib initiation per the JIA-American College of Rheumatology (ACR)70/90 criteria, JIA flare rate and disease activity measured by Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS)27, with inactive disease corresponding to JADAS ≤1.0. RESULTS: Of 225 patients with JIA (median (range) duration of treatment, 41.6 (1-103) months), 201 (89.3%) had AEs; 34 (15.1%) had serious AEs. 10 patients developed serious infections; three had herpes zoster. Two patients newly developed uveitis. Among patients with polyarticular course JIA, JIA-ACR70/90 response rates were 60.0% (78 of 130) and 33.6% (47 of 140), respectively, at month 1, and generally improved over time. JIA flare events generally occurred in <5% of patients through to month 48. Observed mean (SE) JADAS27 was 22.0 (0.6) at baseline, 6.2 (0.7) at month 1 and 2.8 (0.5) at month 48, with inactive disease in 28.8% (36 of 125) of patients at month 1 and 46.8% (29 of 82) at month 48. CONCLUSIONS: In this interim analysis of LTE study data in patients with JIA, safety findings were consistent with the known profile of tofacitinib, and efficacy was maintained up to month 48. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01500551.

Haematological and other manifestations in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in a multicentric paediatric cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the variables associated with the development of haematological manifestations in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) in a paediatric cohort. METHODS: We conducted a multicentric retrospective cohort study of children under the age of 18 years. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-four children were included; 12.2% had at least one thrombotic event (TE) and 67% at least one non-criterion manifestation. Of them, 90% did not develop any TE. Haematological manifestations were the most frequent (42%), followed by neurological (19.8%), cutaneous (17.6%), cardiac (16.8%) and renal (1.5%) manifestations. In those children with haematological disorders, the aPLs positivity rate was: 67.3% LA, 65.6% aß2GPI, 60% aCL, 45.5% single, 23.6% double and 30.9% triple. A univariate analysis showed that children with IgM aCL+, IgM aß2GPI+, triple positivity and with a SLE diagnosis had a significantly higher frequency of haematological manifestations (p<0.05). Finally, a stepwise regression analysis identified IgG aß2GPI positivity [OR 2.91, 95% CI (1.26-6.74), p=0.013], SLE [OR 2.67, 95% CI (1.13-6.3), p=0.026] and LA positivity [OR 2.53, 95% CI (1.08-5.94), p=0.033] as independent risk factors for the development of haematological manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Non-criteria manifestations and among them haematological disorders, are the most frequent events in the presence of aPLs and/or LA in our paediatric cohort. Children with SLE, LA and/or IgG aß2GPI positivity showed a higher risk of haematological manifestations.

What to Expect When Systemic Treatment in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Is Withdrawn?

OBJECTIVE: The goal of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) treatment is to maintain clinical remission. It is also important to reduce drug exposure, whenever possible, in order to avoid or decrease potential side effects. We aimed to analyze remission survival after systemic treatment withdrawal and to determine which factors can influence it. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, observational, longitudinal study. All patients included had a diagnosis of JIA. We analyzed remission survival using Kaplan-Meier curves according to the systemic treatment received (methotrexate [MTX] alone or in combination with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [bDMARDs]) and JIA subgroups (oligoarticular and polyarticular course, juvenile spondyloarthritis, and systemic JIA). In addition, risk factors were examined using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We included 404 patients with JIA; 370 of them (92%) had received systemic treatment at some point and half of them (185 patients) had withdrawn on at least 1 occasion. There were 110 patients who flared (59%) with a median time of 2.3 years. There were no differences in remission survival between JIA subcategories. Twenty-nine percent of patients with JIA who received MTX and bDMARDs, in which MTX alone was withdrawn, flared; median time to flare of 6.3 years. However, if only the bDMARD was withdrawn, flares occurred 57% of the time; median time to flare of 1.1 years. CONCLUSION: Flares are frequent when systemic treatment is withdrawn, and uveitis or joint injections could be related risk factors. In MTX and biologic-naïve patients, the frequency of flares occurred in more than half of patients, although they were less frequent when clinical remission lasted for > 1 year.

Artritis idiopática juvenil en el adulto joven. Metodología, objetivos y datos iniciales del registro JUVENSER / Juvenile idiopathic arthritis in the young adult. Methodology, objectives, and initial data from the JUVENSER registry

Objetivo: Describir la metodología, los objetivos y exponer los datos iniciales del registro de pacientes adultos jóvenes con diagnóstico de artritis idiopática juvenil (AIJ), registro JUVENSER, así como sus fortalezas y limitaciones. El objetivo principal del proyecto es conocer las características sociodemográficas, clínicas y la actividad de la enfermedad de pacientes con AIJ en el periodo de transición a la vida adulta. Material y método: Estudio longitudinal, prospectivo y multicéntrico que incluye pacientes adultos jóvenes, entre 16 y 25 años, con diagnóstico de AIJ en cualquiera de sus categorías, atendidos en consultas de reumatología de 16 centros hospitalarios españoles cuyo objetivo principal es determinar las características y la actividad de las AIJ en los primeros años de la vida adulta. Se diseñó un registro en el que se incluyeron variables sociodemográficas, variables clínicas, índices de actividad y daño articular, datos de la utilización de recursos sanitarios, y los fármacos y tratamientos utilizados. El periodo de reclutamiento fue de 27 meses y la duración total del proyecto serán 3 años. Se ha conseguido una cohorte de 534 pacientes adultos jóvenes. Conclusiones: El registro JUVENSER constituirá una cohorte de pacientes adultos jóvenes con AIJ, que permitirá evaluar las características clínicas y la respuesta al tratamiento de los pacientes con inicio de su enfermedad en edad pediátrica que llegan a las consultas de adultos. Se espera que la información recogida en las visitas suponga una amplia fuente de datos para futuros análisis.(AU)

Objective: To describe the methodology, objectives, and initial data of the registry of young adult patients diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), JUVENSER. The main objective of the project is to know the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and disease activity of patients with JIA reaching the transition to adulthood. Material and method: Longitudinal, prospective, multicentre study, including patients between 16 and 25 years old, with a diagnosis of JIA in any of its categories. The main objective is to determine the characteristics and activity of JIA in the young adult. It includes sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, disease activity and joint damage rates, data on the use of health resources, and treatments used. The total duration of the project will be 3 years. A cohort of 534 young adult patients was obtained. Conclusions: The JUVENSER registry will constitute a cohort of young adults with JIA, which will allow the evaluation of the clinical characteristics and response to treatment of patients with disease onset in childhood, moving to adult clinics.(AU)

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis in the young adult. Methodology, objectives, and initial data from the JUVENSER registry.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the methodology, objectives, and initial data of the registry of young adult patients diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), JUVENSER. The main objective of the project is to know the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and disease activity of patients with JIA reaching the transition to adulthood. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Longitudinal, prospective, multicentre study, including patients between 16 and 25 years old, with a diagnosis of JIA in any of its categories. The main objective is to determine the characteristics and activity of JIA in the young adult. It includes sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, disease activity and joint damage rates, data on the use of health resources, and treatments used. The total duration of the project will be 3 years. A cohort of 534 young adult patients was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The JUVENSER registry will constitute a cohort of young adults with JIA, which will allow the evaluation of the clinical characteristics and response to treatment of patients with disease onset in childhood, moving to adult clinics.

What drives the decision to optimise biological treatment in children and youngsters with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? A discrete-choice experiment.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse factors involved in the decision to optimise biologics in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. METHODS: A "discrete-choice" methodology was used. In a nominal group meeting, factors which may influence physicians' decisions to optimise biological dose were identified, together with decision nodes. 1000Minds® was used to create multiple fictitious clinical scenarios based on the factors identified, and to deploy surveys that were sent to a panel of experts. These experts decided for each item which of two clinical scenarios prompted them to optimise the dose of biologic. A conjoint analysis was carried out, and the partial-value functions and the weights of relative importance calculated. RESULTS: In the nominal group, three decision nodes were identified: (1) time to decide; (2) to maintain/reduce or prolong interval; (3) what drug to reduce. The factors elicited were different for each node and included patient and drug attributes. The presence of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), systemic involvement, or subclinical inflammation made the decision easier (highest weights). The presence of joints of difficult control and year of debut influenced the decision in some but not all, and in different directions. Immunogenicity, adherence, and concomitant treatments were also aspects taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to optimise the dose of biological therapy in children and youngster can be divided into several nodes, and the factors, both patient and therapy-related, leading to the decision can be detailed. These decisions taken by experts may be transported to practice, study designs, and guidelines.

What drives the decision to optimise biological treatment in children and youngsters with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? A discrete-choice experiment / Modelo de elección discreta para entender la decisión de optimizar los biológicos en la artritis idiopática juvenil

Objective: To analyse factors involved in the decision to optimise biologics in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Methods: A “discrete-choice” methodology was used. In a nominal group meeting, factors which may influence physicians’ decisions to optimise biological dose were identified, together with decision nodes. 1000Minds® was used to create multiple fictitious clinical scenarios based on the factors identified, and to deploy surveys that were sent to a panel of experts. These experts decided for each item which of two clinical scenarios prompted them to optimise the dose of biologic. A conjoint analysis was carried out, and the partial-value functions and the weights of relative importance calculated. Results: In the nominal group, three decision nodes were identified: (1) time to decide; (2) to maintain/reduce or prolong interval; (3) what drug to reduce. The factors elicited were different for each node and included patient and drug attributes. The presence of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), systemic involvement, or subclinical inflammation made the decision easier (highest weights). The presence of joints of difficult control and year of debut influenced the decision in some but not all, and in different directions. Immunogenicity, adherence, and concomitant treatments were also aspects taken into account. Conclusions: The decision to optimise the dose of biological therapy in children and youngster can be divided into several nodes, and the factors, both patient and therapy-related, leading to the decision can be detailed. These decisions taken by experts may be transported to practice, study designs, and guidelines.(AU)

Objetivo: Analizar los factores que intervienen en la decisión de optimizar el biológico en la artritis idiopática juvenil. Métodos: Se utilizó la metodología de «elección discreta». Mediante grupo nominal se identificaron factores potencialmente influyentes en la decisión de optimizar la dosis de biológico y los nodos de decisión. Con 1000Minds® se crearon escenarios clínicos ficticios basados en los factores identificados que se mostraron en encuestas a un panel de expertos. Cada ítem de las encuestas mostraba 2 escenarios clínicos y los expertos elegían el que les llevaría a optimizar el biológico. Se realizó un análisis conjunto, calculándose las funciones de valor parcial y los pesos de importancia relativa. Resultados: Se identificaron 3 nodos de decisión: 1) dilatar decisión o no; 2) mantener/reducir o prolongar el intervalo; y 3) qué fármaco reducir. Los factores identificados varían por nodo e incluyen atributos del paciente y del fármaco. La presencia del síndrome de activación macrofágica, la afectación sistémica o la inflamación subclínica facilitaron la decisión (pesos más altos). La presencia de articulaciones de difícil control y el año de inicio influyeron en la decisión en algunos casos, pero no en todos, y en diferentes direcciones. La inmunogenicidad, la adherencia y los tratamientos concomitantes también fueron aspectos decisivos. Conclusiones: La decisión de optimizar la dosis de biológico en artritis idiopática juvenil se divide en varios nodos y se pueden detallar factores, tanto del paciente como del tratamiento, que determinan la decisión. Estas decisiones de experto pueden transportarse a la práctica, la investigación y las recomendaciones.(AU)

Severe COVID-19 in patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases: a stratified analysis from the SORCOM multicenter registry.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate risk factors for severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases, stratified by systemic autoimmune conditions and chronic inflammatory arthritis. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional multicenter study was performed. Patients from 10 Rheumatology departments in Madrid who presented with SARS-CoV-2 infection between Feb 2020 and May 2021 were included. The main outcome was COVID-19 severity (hospital admission or mortality). Risk factors for severity were estimated, adjusting for covariates (sociodemographic, clinical and treatments), using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: 523 patients with COVID-19 were included, among whom 192 (35.6%) patients required hospital admission and 38 (7.3%) died. Male gender, older age and comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and obesity were associated with severe COVID-19. Corticosteroid doses over 10 mg/day, rituximab, sulfasalazine and mycophenolate use, were independently associated with worse outcomes. COVID-19 severity decreased over the different pandemic waves. Mortality was higher in the systemic autoimmune conditions (univariate analysis, p<0.001), although there were no differences in overall severity in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms and provides new insights regarding the harmful effects of corticosteroids, rituximab and other therapies (mycophenolate and sulfasalazine) in COVID-19. Methotrexate and anti-TNF therapy were not associated with worse outcomes.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with lymphoma in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the characteristics and risk of lymphoma in a large cohort of patients with SLE. METHODS: A case-cohort analysis was performed within a dynamic cohort of SLE patients from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry (RELESSER). Clinical and analytical features were compared between the lymphoma SLE group and the control SLE group using an independent-sample Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables and the χ2 test for categorical variables with Fisher's exact test if necessary. The multivariate analysis was based on a generalized linear model. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with SLE and lymphoma and 3965 non-lymphoma controls with SLE were studied. Most lymphomas were of B cell origin (n = 15/21), with diffuse large B cell lymphoma being the most frequent histological type (8/21, 38.1%). As in the general population, the risk of lymphoma in SLE was higher in male than in female patients and increased with age. In the lymphoma SLE group, bivariate analysis showed a significantly higher percentage of pericarditis, organic brain syndrome, seizures, vasculitis, haemolytic anaemia, splenomegaly, venous thrombosis and mean modified (excluding lymphoma) SLICC/ACR damage index. In contrast, renal involvement, positive anti-dsDNA, and antimalarials ever were less frequent. CONCLUSIONS: In this large multicentre Spanish cohort, we identified characteristics of SLE that are associated with a higher risk of lymphoma. Antimalarials were significantly negatively associated with risk of lymphoma in SLE patients. Nevertheless, further prospective studies are needed to clarify these findings.

Evaluation of flare rate and reduction strategies for bDMARDs in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: real world data from a single-centre cohort.

This study aimed to determine the flare rate (FR) in a cohort of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) patients with tapered or abruptly discontinued biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and to identify predictors of flare. This retrospective observational study included 191 bDMARD dose-reduction events in patients with JIA followed-up at a referral hospital during the period 2000-2019. FR was analysed according to reduction strategies. To identify predictors of flare, Kaplan-Meier and Cox-regression models were plotted at 6 months (6 m), 12 months (12 m) and 24 months (24 m) following tapering (TP) or withdrawal (WD). 165 episodes of TP and 71 episodes of WD were included; 45 episodes where treatment was withdrawn after TP were included in both strategies. FR after TP was 13.4% at 6 m and increased up to 26.6% at 12 m and 51.4% at 24 m. After WD, FR was higher, 52.1% of events had a flare at 6 m and 67.6% at 12 m. Previous TP did not increase time in remission after WD of bDMARDs in the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Factors associated with flares were identified after TP at 6 m: female sex, higher number of previous bDMARDs and longer time on bDMARD treatment were positively associated with flares. Polyarticular subtype and younger age at diagnosis were associated with flares at 12 and 24 m after TP. No factors were identified in multivariable analysis after WD. TP is a successful strategy to maintain remission with lower bDMARD doses. Previous TP of bDMARDs does not seem to increase time in remission after WD.

Non-criteria manifestations in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in a paediatric cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the variables associated with the development of non-criteria manifestations in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) in a paediatric cohort. METHODS: Multicentric historical cohort study of children under the age of 18 years to determine thrombotic events (TEs) and non-criteria manifestations in the presence of aPL. RESULTS: Eighty-two children were included; 8.5% had at least one TE and 69.5% at least one non-criteria manifestation. Of them, 96.5% did not associate TEs. Haematological manifestations were the most frequent (43.65%), followed by cutaneous (22%), neurological (15.9%) and cardiac (4.9%) events. The most frequent aPLs were: 77.8% LA; 42.7% aCL and 41.5% aß2GP. The positivity rate was: 64.6% simple, 18.3% double and 17.1% triple. ANA positivity was 68.1%. A bivariate analysis revealed that children with IgM aCL+, IgM aß2GP+, ANA+, an SLE diagnosis or the absence of TEs had a significantly higher percentage of non-criteria manifestations (P <0.05). The logistic regression showed family history of autoimmune diseases [odds ratio (OR) 4.26, 95% CI: 0.8, 22.2, P =0.086] and the absence of TEs (OR 17.18, 95% CI: 1.2, 244.6, P =0.03) as independent risk factors of developing non-criteria manifestations. An SLE diagnosis, aPL profile and ANA+ were not identified. CONCLUSION: Non-criteria manifestations were more frequent than TEs. A positive family history of autoimmune diseases and the absence of TEs were associated with a higher risk of developing non-criteria manifestations. Therefore, their inclusion as APS classification criteria should be considered in order to get an improved prognosis in the paediatric population.

Antimalarials exert a cardioprotective effect in lupus patients: Insights from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Register (RELESSER) analysis of factors associated with heart failure.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Factors associated with chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have received little attention. Recent data on the use of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection have cast doubt on its cardiac safety. The factors associated with CHF, including therapy with antimalarials, were analyzed in a large multicenter SLE cohort. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including all patients with SLE (ACR-1997 criteria) included in the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Register (RELESSER), based on historically gathered data. Patients with CHF prior to diagnosis of SLE were excluded. A multivariable analysis exploring factors associated with CHF was conducted. RESULTS: The study population comprised 117 patients with SLE (ACR-97 criteria) and CHF and 3,506 SLE controls. Ninety percent were women. Patients with CHF were older and presented greater SLE severity, organ damage, and mortality than those without CHF. The multivariable model revealed the factors associated with CHF to be ischemic heart disease (7.96 [4.01-15.48], p < 0.0001), cardiac arrhythmia (7.38 [4.00-13.42], p < 0.0001), pulmonary hypertension (3.71 [1.84-7.25], p < 0.0002), valvulopathy (6.33 [3.41-11.62], p < 0.0001), non-cardiovascular damage (1.29 [1.16-1.44], p < 0.000) and calcium/vitamin D treatment (5.29 [2.07-16.86], p = 0.0015). Female sex (0.46 [0.25-0.88], p = 0.0147) and antimalarials (0.28 [0.17-0.45], p < 0.000) proved to be protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SLE and CHF experience more severe SLE. Treatment with antimalarials appears to confer a cardioprotective effect.

Inmune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases in transgender people: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: In immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IMIRD), there are differences between cis-men and cis-women in epidemiology, clinical feature, therapeutic approach, treatment response, and prognosis. In transgender individuals, information concerning IMIRD is not substantial. The assessment of information concerning rheumatic diseases in transgenders is crucial because transgenders may undergo treatments with potential impacts on IMIRD. We aim to collect and discuss current knowledge on IMIRD in transgender individuals, determine the coverage of the literature, identify the knowledge gaps, and highlight opportunities for future research. METHODS: We did a scoping review of publications collected through a systematic search of transgender patients with any IMIRD. Data sources were Medline, Embase, and Web of Knowledge. Synthesis of results and qualitative review of data information was collected in tables. A semi-quantification of the quality of the articles reporting clinical studies was performed. RESULTS: There were 11 transwoman, and 3 transmen cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (5 cases), skin lupus erythematosus (2), systemic sclerosis (4), anti-synthetase syndrome (1), rheumatoid arthritis (1) and ankylosing spondylitis (1). Eleven were de novo cases and three had prior history of IMIRD and developed a comorbidity after starting hormone replacement therapy. The clinical expression of the disease was variable. Two transwomen and one transman developed thrombotic events. The lupus skin lesions in one transman improved following testosterone treatment. No clinical studies were identified. Quality of publications was disparate. CONCLUSION: Although the number of cases is small, most cases of IMIRD occur in transwomen. The absence of solid data warrants caution in establishing recommendations regarding hormone replacement therapy in transgenders with IMIRD. There is an essential need for the consideration of cisgender and transgender particularities in future research on IMIRD.

Clinical characteristics and COVID-19 outcomes in a regional cohort of pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pediatric patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) and identify the risk factors associated with symptomatic or severe disease defined as hospital admission, intensive care admission or death. METHODS: An observational longitudinal study was conducted during the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (March 2020-March 2021). All pediatric patients attended at the rheumatology outpatient clinics of six tertiary referral hospitals in Madrid, Spain, with a diagnosis of RMD and COVID-19 were included. Main outcomes were symptomatic disease and hospital admission. The covariates were sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and treatment regimens. We ran a multivariable logistic regression model to assess associated factors for outcomes. RESULTS: The study population included 77 pediatric patients. Mean age was 11.88 (4.04) years Of these, 30 patients (38.96%) were asymptomatic, 41 (53.25%) had a mild-moderate COVID-19 and 6 patients (7.79%) required hospital admission. The median length of hospital admission was 5 (2-20) days, one patient required intensive care and there were no deaths. Previous comorbidities increased the risk for symptomatic disease and hospital admission. Compared with outpatients, the factor independently associated with hospital admission was previous use of glucocorticoids (OR 3.51; p = 0.00). No statistically significant risk factors for symptomatic COVID-19 were found in the final model. CONCLUSION: No differences in COVID-19 outcomes according to childhood-onset rheumatic disease types were found. Results suggest that associated comorbidities and treatment with glucocorticoids increase the risk of hospital admission.

Relevance of gastrointestinal manifestations in a large Spanish cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: what do we know?

OBJECTIVE: SLE can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI symptoms are reported to occur in >50% of SLE patients. To describe the GI manifestations of SLE in the RELESSER (Registry of SLE Patients of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology) cohort and to determine whether these are associated with a more severe disease, damage accrual and a worse prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide, retrospective, multicentre, cross-sectional cohort study of 3658 SLE patients who fulfil ≥4 ACR-97 criteria. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, activity (SLEDAI-2K or BILAG), damage (SLICC/ACR/DI) and therapies were collected. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between lupus patients with and without GI damage to establish whether GI damage is associated with a more severe disease. RESULTS: From 3654 lupus patients, 3.7% developed GI damage. Patients in this group (group 1) were older, they had longer disease duration, and were more likely to have vasculitis, renal disease and serositis than patients without GI damage (group 2). Hospitalizations and mortality were significantly higher in group 1. Patients in group 1 had higher modified SDI (SLICC Damage Index). The presence of oral ulcers reduced the risk of developing damage in 33% of patients. CONCLUSION: Having GI damage is associated with a worse prognosis. Patients on a high dose of glucocorticoids are at higher risk of developing GI damage which reinforces the strategy of minimizing glucocorticoids. Oral ulcers appear to decrease the risk of GI damage.

Risk of Severe COVID-19 Infection in Patients With Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cohort of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Ramón y Cajal Hospital, and to determine the increased risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with no IRD. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center observational study of patients with IRD actively monitored in the Department of Rheumatology who were hospitalized due to COVID-19. RESULTS: Forty-one (1.8%) out of 2315 patients admitted due to severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia suffered from an IRD. The admission OR for patients with IRD was 1.91 against the general population, and it was considerably higher in patients with Sjögren syndrome, vasculitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Twenty-seven patients were receiving treatment for IRD with corticosteroids, 23 with conventional DMARDs, 12 with biologics (7 rituximab [RTX], 4 anti-tumor necrosis factor [anti-TNF], and 1 abatacept), and 1 with Janus kinase inhibitors. Ten deaths were registered among patients with IRD. A higher hospitalization rate and a higher number of deaths were observed in patients treated with RTX (OR 12.9) but not in patients treated with anti-TNF (OR 0.9). CONCLUSION: Patients with IRD, especially autoimmune diseases and patients treated with RTX, may be at higher risk of severe pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 compared to the general population. More studies are needed to analyze this association further in order to help manage these patients during the pandemic.

Subcutaneous dosing regimens of tocilizumab in children with systemic or polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine s.c. tocilizumab (s.c.-TCZ) dosing regimens for systemic JIA (sJIA) and polyarticular JIA (pJIA). METHODS: In two 52-week phase 1 b trials, s.c.-TCZ (162 mg/dose) was administered to sJIA patients every week or every 2 weeks (every 10 days before interim analysis) and to pJIA patients every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks with body weight ≥30 kg or <30 kg, respectively. Primary end points were pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety; efficacy was exploratory. Comparisons were made to data from phase 3 trials with i.v. tocilizumab (i.v.-TCZ) in sJIA and pJIA. RESULTS: Study participants were 51 sJIA patients and 52 pJIA patients aged 1-17 years who received s.c.-TCZ. Steady-state minimum TCZ concentration (Ctrough) >5th percentile of that achieved with i.v.-TCZ was achieved by 49 (96%) sJIA and 52 (100%) pJIA patients. In both populations, pharmacodynamic markers of disease were similar between body weight groups. Improvements in Juvenile Arthritis DAS-71 were comparable between s.c.-TCZ and i.v.-TCZ. By week 52, 53% of sJIA patients and 31% of pJIA patients achieved clinical remission on treatment. Safety was consistent with that of i.v.-TCZ except for injection site reactions, reported by 41.2% and 28.8% of sJIA and pJIA patients, respectively. Infections were reported in 78.4% and 69.2% of patients, respectively. Two sJIA patients died; both deaths were considered to be related to TCZ. CONCLUSION: s.c.-TCZ provides exposure and risk/benefit profiles similar to those of i.v.-TCZ. S.c. administration provides an alternative administration route that is more convenient for patients and caregivers and that has potential for in-home use. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01904292 and NCT01904279.

A clinical prediction model for estimating the risk of developing uveitis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To build a prediction model for uveitis in children with JIA for use in current clinical practice. METHODS: Data from the international observational Pharmachild registry were used. Adjusted risk factors as well as predictors for JIA-associated uveitis (JIA-U) were determined using multivariable logistic regression models. The prediction model was selected based on the Akaike information criterion. Bootstrap resampling was used to adjust the final prediction model for optimism. RESULTS: JIA-U occurred in 1102 of 5529 JIA patients (19.9%). The majority of patients that developed JIA-U were female (74.1%), ANA positive (66.0%) and had oligoarthritis (59.9%). JIA-U was rarely seen in patients with systemic arthritis (0.5%) and RF positive polyarthritis (0.2%). Independent risk factors for JIA-U were ANA positivity [odds ratio (OR): 1.88 (95% CI: 1.54, 2.30)] and HLA-B27 positivity [OR: 1.48 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.95)] while older age at JIA onset was an independent protective factor [OR: 0.84 (9%% CI: 0.81, 0.87)]. On multivariable analysis, the combination of age at JIA onset [OR: 0.84 (95% CI: 0.82, 0.86)], JIA category and ANA positivity [OR: 2.02 (95% CI: 1.73, 2.36)] had the highest discriminative power among the prediction models considered (optimism-adjusted area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.75). CONCLUSION: We developed an easy to read model for individual patients with JIA to inform patients/parents on the probability of developing uveitis.