Rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD): a possible association between disease activity and prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that RA disease activity might be associated with the survival of RA-ILD patients. To evaluate this possibility, we analyzed data on disease activity during follow-up in an RA-ILD cohort and compared disease activity between surviving patients and those who died during follow-up. METHODS: RA-ILD patients referred for medical evaluation and treatment at a single center, with CDAI scores during all follow up were included. We estimated the HR of the mean of the CDAI score during follow-up with survival. Also, we compared the survival function of patients with high disease activity (CDAI scores ≥ 22) during all follow-up with those with moderate and low disease activity. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were included. The mean of the CDAI score during follow-up was higher in death patients (median 30.8 ± 18.5 Vs. 16.8 ± 11.3), and a single unit increase in the mean of the CDAI score was associated with non-survival, HR:1.07 (95% CI: 1.02 -1.12). Patients with high disease activity during all follow-up (CDAI scores > 22) had lower survival function in comparison with moderate and low disease activity (P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that higher RA disease activity is associated with a worse prognosis of RA-ILD patients. The hypothesis that high disease activity is associated with worse survival in RA-ILD patients must be evaluated in more extensive cohort studies and clinical trials. KEY POINTS: • RA-ILD patients with high disease activity during follow-up had a worse prognosis than those with moderate or low disease activity. • The study results suggest the hypothesis that patients with RA-ILD must be treated with a treat to target strategy, with the aim of remission or low RA disease activity.

Outcomes after rheumatoid arthritis patients complete their participation in a long-term observational study with tofacitinib combined with methotrexate: practical and ethical implications in vulnerable populations after tofacitinib discontinuation.

To describe disease activity and disability during the first year of follow-up, from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who discontinue tofacitinib after they end participation in a clinical trial. From 2008 to 2016, 36 patients were enrolled in the "Long term follow-up study with tofacitinib (and methotrexate) for RA treatment". At the end of the study, tofacitinib was discontinued and patients were proposed to enter an observational study; 35 agree and had scheduled evaluations at baseline, at 15 and 30 days of follow-up, at month 2 and 3, and thereafter every 3 months. Disease activity was evaluated as per DAS28-ESR and disability as per HAQ. During follow-up, treatment was treat-to-target oriented, only conventional DMARDs were indicated. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric test were used. The study was approved by IRB. Patients were primarily females (N = 34), had median (Q25-75) age of 52 years (45-58), and had received tofacitinib for a median of 7.9 years (6.3-8.3). The proportion of patients with remission and low disease activity decreased from day 30 of follow-up and recovered after 270 days, meanwhile patients with high disease activity increased from 0% at baseline to 6.3% at 1 year. At study entry, 20 patients had remission/low disease activity; during follow-up, 85% deteriorated after (median) 30 days; among them, 23.5% recovered their baseline status after a median of 172.5 days. The HAQ showed a similar behavior, but 66.7% recovered. A substantial proportion of RA patients deteriorated outcomes early after tofacitinib cessation; some patients recovered baseline status with traditional DMARDS.

Rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD): methotrexate and the severity of lung disease are associated to prognosis.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) manifestation. The worst survival has been associated with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) definitive pattern in high-resolution chest tomography (HRCT) scans. Moreover, the use of methotrexate in RA-ILD is controversial. Our aim was to evaluate prognostic factors including methotrexate in an RA-ILD cohort and their association with survival. RA-ILD patients referred for medical evaluation and treatment at a single center were included. At the baseline, pulmonary function tests were carried out and a HRCT was obtained. A radiologist evaluated the ILD tomographic pattern and the extent of lung disease. Patients were considered as receiving methotrexate therapy if this drug was specifically prescribed for the treatment of RA-ILD at the beginning of follow up. Seventy-eight patients were included. UIP definite pattern in HRCT was not associated to worse survival. Variables associated with mortality reflected the severity of lung disease. Treatment with methotrexate was associated with survival (HR 0.13, 95% CI 0.02-0.64); older patients had worse prognosis (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.003-1.09). After adjusting for confounding variables, methotrexate was strongly associated with survival. Methotrexate treatment during follow up was associated with survival. The severity of lung disease and not the tomographic pattern is associated with mortality; older patients had worse prognosis.

Interstitial lung disease and myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies: Clinical manifestations, survival and the performance of the new ATS/ERS criteria for interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF).

OBJECTIVE: to describe the clinical manifestations and survival of patients with ILD and myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies, and to evaluate the performance of the new ATS/ERS classification criteria for IPAF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with ILD and positive in at least one of the following autoantibodies: anti-Jo-1, anti-Ej, anti-PL7, anti-PL 12, anti-PM/SCL 75 and anti-PM/SCL100 were included. Patients were separated into three groups according to their autoantibody profile: 1. Jo-1 positive patients, 2. Non-Jo-1 antisynthetase autoantibody positive patients, and 3. PM/SCL positive patients. Relevant clinical characteristics were registered. Patients were evaluated had they fulfilled Bohan and Peter's criteria (BPC) for inflammatory myopathies. We evaluated the performance of the IPAF ATS/ERS proposal to classify as such the patients that did not fulfilled BPC, and evaluated whether IPAF patients had a worse survival that BPC patients. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included. Jo-1 was the most frequent autoantibody (65%), followed by non Jo1 anti-synthetase autoantibodies (31%). Non-Jo1 patients had lower Creatin Kinase serum levels at the baseline and less frequency of arthritis. Only 50% of patients fulfilled BPC. All patients not complying with BPC did comply with IPAF criteria. There was no difference in survival between IPAF and BPC patients. Anti Jo-1 positive was associated to survival and the extent of lung inflammation was associated to mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients differ in clinical manifestations according to the autoantibody profile. All patients not complying with BPC did comply with the new IPAF criteria. There was no difference in survival between BPC and IPAF patients. Jo-1 patients had a better survival. Extent of lung inflammation was associate to mortality.