The Joint Vasculitis Registry in German-speaking countries (GeVas): subgroup analysis of 195 GCA patients.

OBJECTIVES: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is one of the most common forms of vasculitis. There is an abundance of studies which are conducted in a randomised controlled trial setting but limited with respect to cohort size and follow-up time. GeVas is the first large-scale registry for vasculitides in German-speaking countries that enables to evaluate this rare disease. Herein we focus on the subgroup of GCA patients including follow-up data up to one year. METHODS: GeVas is a prospective, web-based, multicentre registry for the documentation of organ manifestations, outcomes, and therapy regimens in vasculitides. Recruitment started in June 2019. By April 2023, 15 centres were initiated and have started to enrol patients. RESULTS: After 4 years, 195 GCA-patients were included in the registry, of which 64% were female and 36% were male. The average age was 76 years at the time of recruitment (IQR=69-82). Seventy-nine percent were included in the registry because of a newly diagnosed GCA and 21% because of a relapse. At the first assessment most of the patients (89%) described general symptoms. Thirty-one percent stated ocular symptoms. Cranial symptoms were documented in 78% of the cases. All patients were documented with immunosuppressive treatment at start, of whom 95% received prednisolone, 16% cyclophosphamide, 20% methotrexate, and 48% tocilizumab. After three months 62% and after one year 91% of the patients achieved remission. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding demographics, clinical manifestations and diagnostics, our study showed a similar composition compared to other studies. However, our data differed in terms of treatment regimens.

The Joint Vasculitis Registry in German-speaking countries (GeVas): subgroup analysis of 266 AAV patients.

OBJECTIVES: Prospective long-term observational data on the disease course of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) were missing in Germany to date. Therefore, the Joint Vasculitis Registry in German-speaking countries (GeVas) has been established to follow the course of patients with AAV. The aim of this study is to present baseline data of patients with newly diagnosed and relapsing AAV enrolled in the GeVas registry. METHODS: GeVas is a prospective, web-based, multicentre, clinician-driven registry for the documentation of organ manifestations, damage, long-term outcomes, and therapy regimens in various types of vasculitis. Recruitment started in June 2019. RESULTS: Between June 2019 and October 2022, 266 patients with AAV were included in the GeVas registry: 173 (65%) with new-onset and 93 (35%) with relapsing AAV. One hundred and sixty-two (61%) patients were classified as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 66 (25%) as microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), 36 (13%) as eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and 2 (1%) as renal limited AAV. The median age was 59 years (51-70 years, IQR), 130 (51%) patients were female. Most patients were ANCA positive (177; 67%) and affected by general symptoms, pulmonary, ear nose throat (ENT), renal and neurological involvement. For induction of remission, the majority of patients received glucocorticoids (247, 93%) in combination with either rituximab (118, 45%) or cyclophosphamide (112, 42%). CONCLUSIONS: Demographic characteristics are comparable to those in other European countries. Differences were found regarding ANCA status, frequencies of organ manifestations, and therapeutic regimens. The GeVas registry will allow longitudinal observations and prospective outcome measures in AAV.

The protective effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors in COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases compared to the general population-A comparison of two German registries.

Objectives: To investigate, whether inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) inpatients are at higher risk to develop a severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infections compared to the general population, data from the German COVID-19 registry for IRD patients and data from the Lean European Survey on SARS-CoV-2 (LEOSS) infected patients covering inpatients from the general population with SARS-CoV-2 infections were compared. Methods: 4310 (LEOSS registry) and 1139 cases (IRD registry) were collected in general. Data were matched for age and gender. From both registries, 732 matched inpatients (LEOSS registry: n = 366 and IRD registry: n = 366) were included for analyses in total. Results: Regarding the COVID-19 associated lethality, no significant difference between both registries was observed. Age > 65°years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis and the use of rituximab were associated with more severe courses of COVID-19. Female gender and the use of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors (TNF-I) were associated with a better outcome of COVID-19. Conclusion: Inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) patients have the same risk factors for severe COVID-19 regarding comorbidities compared to the general population without any immune-mediated disease or immunomodulation. The use of rituximab was associated with an increased risk for severe COVID-19. On the other hand, the use of TNF-I was associated with less severe COVID-19 compared to the general population, which might indicate a protective effect of TNF-I against severe COVID-19 disease.

Tryptophan degradation as a systems phenomenon in inflammation - an analysis across 13 chronic inflammatory diseases.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) are systems disorders that affect diverse organs including the intestine, joints and skin. The essential amino acid tryptophan (Trp) can be broken down to various bioactive derivatives important for immune regulation. Increased Trp catabolism has been observed in some CIDs, so we aimed to characterise the specificity and extent of Trp degradation as a systems phenomenon across CIDs. METHODS: We used high performance liquid chromatography and targeted mass spectrometry to assess the serum and stool levels of Trp and Trp derivatives. Our retrospective study incorporates both cross-sectional and longitudinal components, as we have included a healthy population as a reference and there are also multiple observations per patient over time. FINDINGS: We found reduced serum Trp levels across the majority of CIDs, and a prevailing negative relationship between Trp and systemic inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP). Notably, serum Trp was low in several CIDs even in the absence of measurable systemic inflammation. Increases in the kynurenine-to-Trp ratio (Kyn:Trp) suggest that these changes result from increased degradation along the kynurenine pathway. INTERPRETATION: Increases in Kyn:Trp indicate the kynurenine pathway as a major route for CID-related Trp metabolism disruption and the specificity of the network changes indicates excessive Trp degradation relative to other proteogenic amino acids. Our results suggest that increased Trp catabolism is a common metabolic occurrence in CIDs that may directly affect systemic immunity. FUNDING: This work was supported by the DFG Cluster of Excellence 2167 "Precision medicine in chronic inflammation" (KA, SSchr, PR, BH, SWa), the BMBF (e:Med Juniorverbund "Try-IBD" 01ZX1915A and 01ZX2215, the e:Med Network iTREAT 01ZX2202A, and GUIDE-IBD 031L0188A), EKFS (2020_EKCS.11, KA), DFG RU5042 (PR, KA), and Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertakings ("Taxonomy, Treatments, Targets and Remission", 831434, "ImmUniverse", 853995, "BIOMAP", 821511).

Breastfeeding Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Data from the CRONOS Registry.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease are thought to have an impact on breastfeeding rate - besides other known peripartal issues. Data of the national CRONOS registry regarding breastfeeding behavior in 6,746 women was analyzed regarding the time window between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and time of delivery. In addition, other influencing factors like the predominant viral variant, maternal disease severity, and gestational age at delivery were taken into account. Our data suggest that within the variables analyzed, in the case of acute maternal infection (<14 days before birth), breastfeeding behavior improved with increasing gestational age at birth (p<0.0001), with less severe maternal illness (p<0.0001) and as the pandemic progressed with less virulent viral variants (p=0.01). When adjusting for COVID-19-associated and non-associated factors, rooming-in remains the most important factor positively influencing breastfeeding behavior. With regards to the benefits for mother and infants from breastfeeding, a separation of mother and child even in case of infectious settings should be avoided.

[Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in Germany : A cross-sectional analysis of comorbidities and pharmacotherapy]. / Chronische Entzündungserkrankungen in Deutschland : Eine Querschnittanalyse über Begleiterkrankungen und Arzneimitteleinsatz.

BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) can lead to a substantial disease burden for those affected, in particular by the concomitant occurrence of other IMIDs or in the presence of comorbidities. The care of patients with IMIDs is complex and involves various medical disciplines. OBJECTIVE: To describe the burden of disease and the current routine drug treatment of patients with IMID. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective cross-sectional analysis was based on statutory health insurance claims data from the InGef database. Prevalent patients with psoriasis (Pso), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), spondylarthritis (SpA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's disease (MC), ulcerative colitis (CU), or connective tissue disease were identified among 3,988,695 insured patients in 2018. The concomitant occurrence of different IMIDs and the extent to which patients with IMID are affected by other comorbidities compared to a reference population were investigated. The current routine drug treatment was described based on the use of predefined forms of treatment. RESULTS: In the database 188,440 patients with IMID (4.7%) were identified. Compared to the reference population the prevalence of comorbidities, such as depressive episodes and cardiovascular risk factors was higher in patients with IMID. For MC, CU, RA, and PsA disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) and classical systemic forms of treatment were used most commonly. In Pso, SpA, and connective tissue disease nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) were the most frequently used treatment often in combination with other drugs. CONCLUSION: A considerable number of patients with IMIDs (16.9-27.5%) suffer from different diseases of the IMID group. They are frequently affected by accompanying illnesses and require interdisciplinary medical treatment.

'Status Quo' on Different Aspects of Gender Distribution in Rheumatology in Germany-Results from a Nationwide Online Survey among Physicians.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the increasing number of female medical students and fellows in Europe, women are still under-represented in higher academic careers and positions in medicine. The aim of this survey was to assess the 'status quo' on gender distribution among rheumatologists in Germany. METHODS: A web-based anonymous survey (21 questions with multiple answers and free text) using QuestionPro® was distributed among rheumatologists in Germany via newsletters, social media and personal contact, including questions regarding hierarchical positions and work characteristics. RESULTS: Among the total of 170 respondents (72% women, 28% men, 1% diverse), 48% were rheumatologists in training, 35% were trained rheumatologists and 7% were heads of rheumatology departments. Regarding the gender ratio at different hierarchical levels, 74% of respondents reported more men than women in leadership positions. Part-time work was possible in the departments of 86% of respondents, with more women working part-time (56%) compared to men (29%). Most respondents stated their impression that employees working part-time did not have the same career chances as full-time workers in their departments. In total, 66% agreed that activities to improve gender equity are necessary. The highest need was seen in reconciling work and family through, e.g., part-time models, flexible childcare options at work and a higher acceptance of part-time work in leadership positions. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, a gender imbalance is prevalent among rheumatologists in Germany, with lower numbers of women evident at higher hierarchical levels. Traditional role assignments are still represented by a higher proportion of part-time work in women. The establishment of structural changes to achieve better gender equity is needed.

The GAIN Registry - a New Prospective Study for Patients with Multi-organ Autoimmunity and Autoinflammation.

Patient registries are a very important and essential tool for investigating rare diseases, as most physicians only see a limited number of cases during their career. Diseases of multi-organ autoimmunity and autoinflammation are especially challenging, as they are characterized by diverse clinical phenotypes and highly variable expressivity. The GAIN consortium (German multi-organ Auto Immunity Network) developed a dataset addressing these challenges. ICD-11, HPO, and ATC codes were incorporated to document various clinical manifestations and medications with a defined terminology. The GAIN dataset comprises detailed information on genetics, phenotypes, medication, and laboratory values. Between November 2019 and July 2022, twelve centers from Europe have registered 419 patients with multi-organ autoimmunity or autoinflammation. The median age at onset of symptoms was 13 years (IQR 3-28) and the median delay from onset to diagnosis was 5 years (IQR 1-14). Of 354 (84.5%) patients who were genetically tested, 248 (59.2%) had a defined monogenetic cause. For 87 (20.8%) patients, no mutation was found and for 19 (4.5%), the result was pending. The most common gene affected was NFkB1 (48, 11.5%), and the second common was CTLA4 (40, 9.5%), both genetic patient groups being fostered by specific research projects within GAIN. The GAIN registry may serve as a valuable resource for research in the inborn error of immunity community by providing a platform for etiological and diagnostic research projects, as well as observational trials on treatment options.

Characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections among double-vaccinated and triple-vaccinated patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the clinical profile of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in at least double-vaccinated patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs). METHODS: Data from the physician-reported German COVID-19-IRD registry collected between February 2021 and July 2022 were analysed. SARS-CoV-2 cases were stratified according to patients' vaccination status as being not vaccinated, double-vaccinated or triple-vaccinated prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection and descriptively compared. Independent associations between demographic and disease features and outcome of breakthrough infections were estimated by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 2314 cases were included in the analysis (unvaccinated n=923, double-vaccinated n=551, triple-vaccinated n=803, quadruple-vaccinated n=37). SARS-CoV-2 infections occurred after a median of 151 (range 14-347) days in patients being double-vaccinated, and after 88 (range 14-270) days in those with a third vaccination. Hospitalisation was required in 15% of unvaccinated, 8% of double-vaccinated and 3% of triple-vaccinated/quadruple-vaccinated patients (p<0.001). Mortality was 2% in unvaccinated, 1.8% in the double-vaccinated and 0.6% in triple-vaccinated patients. Compared with unvaccinated patients, double-vaccinated (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.62) and triple-vaccinated (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.21) patients showed a significant lower risk of COVID-19-related hospitalisation. Using multivariable analysis, the third vaccination was significantly associated with a lower risk for COVID-19-related death (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: Our cross-sectional data of COVID-19 infections in patients with IRD showed a significant reduction of hospitalisation due to infection in double-vaccinated or triple-vaccinated patients compared with those without vaccination and even a significant reduction of COVID-19-related deaths in triple-vaccinated patients. These data strongly support the beneficial effect of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with IRD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: EuDRACT 2020-001958-21.

Increased protease-activated receptor 1 autoantibodies are associated with severe COVID-19.

In patients with severe #COVID19, increased levels of autoantibodies against PAR1 were found. These might serve as allosteric agonists of PAR1 on endothelial cells and platelets, and thus might contribute to the pathogenesis of microthrombosis in COVID-19. https://bit.ly/3pqM9Vv.

The long term vaccine-induced anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response is impaired in quantity and quality under TNFα blockade.

The humoral immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in patients with chronic inflammatory disease (CID) declines more rapidly with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibition. Furthermore, the efficacy of current vaccines against Omicron variants of concern (VOC) including BA.2 is limited. Alterations within immune cell populations, changes in IgG affinity, and the ability to neutralize a pre-VOC strain and the BA.2 virus were investigated in these at-risk patients. Serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgG avidity, and neutralizing antibodies (NA) were determined in anti-TNF-α patients (n = 10) and controls (n = 24 healthy individuals; n = 12 patients under other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, oDMARD) before and after the second and third vaccination by ELISA, immunoblot and live virus neutralization assay. SARS-CoV-2-specific B- and T cell subsets were analysed by multicolor flow cytometry. Six months after the second vaccination, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels, IgG avidity and anti-pre-VOC NA titres were significantly reduced in anti-TNF-α recipients compared to controls (healthy individuals: avidity: p ≤ 0.0001; NA: p = 0.0347; oDMARDs: avidity: p = 0.0012; NA: p = 0.0293). The number of plasma cells was increased in anti-TNF-α patients (Healthy individuals: p = 0.0344; oDMARDs: p = 0.0254), while the absolute number of SARS-CoV-2-specific plasma cells 7 days after 2nd vaccination were comparable. Even after a third vaccination, these patients had lower anti-BA.2 NA titres compared to both other groups. We show a reduced SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing capacity in patients under TNF-α blockade. In this cohort, the plasma cell response appears to be less specific and shows stronger bystander activation. While these effects were observable after the first two vaccinations and with older VOC, the differences in responses to BA.2 were enhanced.