Objectives
Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We characterized tofacitinib efficacy/safety in Indian vs rest of the world (ROW; excluding ...India) RA patients.
Methods
Efficacy data were pooled for disease‐modified antirheumatic drug (DMARD) inadequate responders from Phase (P)3 studies. For Indian patients, ORAL Solo and ORAL Scan; ROW (excluding India), these studies plus ORAL Step, ORAL Sync, and ORAL Standard. Safety data also included ORAL Start (P3; methotrexate‐naïve) and ORAL Sequel (long‐term extension LTE study; data cut‐off March 2017) for Indian patients, and these studies plus A3921041 (LTE study; Japanese study) for ROW. Efficacy outcomes at months 3/6: American College of Rheumatology (ACR)20/50/70; Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate remission/low disease activity; change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire‐Disability Index. Incidence rates (IRs; patients with events/100 patient‐years) for adverse events of special interest (AESIs) were assessed throughout. Descriptive data underwent no formal comparison.
Results
One‐hundred‐and‐ninety‐seven Indian and 3879 ROW patients were included. Compared with ROW patients, Indian patients were younger, had lower body mass index, shorter RA duration, and higher baseline disease activity; most Indian patients were non‐smokers and all were biologic DMARD (bDMARD)‐naïve. Month 3 ACR20 rates with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily/10 mg twice daily/placebo were 67.4%/82.1%/40.9% (India) and 59.0%/66.1%/28.2% (ROW), and month 6 rates were 76.2%/92.1%/88.9% (India) and 69.0%/74.2%/66.5% (ROW). Month 3/6 improvements in other outcomes were generally numerically greater with tofacitinib vs placebo, and similar in both populations. Compared with ROW, Indian patients had numerically fewer AEs/serious AEs, and similar IRs for discontinuations due to AEs and AESIs, except that tuberculosis (TB) IR was higher in Indian (IR = 1.21; 95% CI 0.49, 2.49) vs ROW patients (IR = 0.17; 95% CI 0.11, 0.25).
Conclusions
Tofacitinib efficacy/safety were similar in both populations, except TB IR, which was higher in Indian patients but in line with those in bDMARD‐treated RA patients from high‐risk countries (IR = 0.00‐2.56; TB IR >0.05 World Health Organization). Limitations included the small Indian population and baseline differences between populations.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background: Patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD) may be at an increased risk for COVID-19 infection and poorer outcomes when compared with the general population. We undertook this ...study to estimate the risk of COVID-19 infection in our AIRD population and determine parameters which contribute to its occurrence.
Methods: We prospectively recruited all consecutive AIRD patients on immunosuppressive therapy from 14 specialist rheumatology centers across south Indian state of Karnataka during current COVID-19 pandemic and followed them longitudinally.
Results: Among 3807 participants, the majority were women (2.9:1), mean age was 43.8 (+14.3) years, rheumatoid arthritis (52.1%), and systemic lupus erythematosus (14.8%) were the most frequent diagnosis. Twenty-three (0.6%) patients contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection. Age >60 years (P = 0.01), diabetes (P = 0.009), hypertension (P = 0.001), preexisting lung disease (P = 0.0002), current prescription of either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blockers (P = 0.01), and higher glucocorticoids dosage (P = 0.002) were identified as potential risk factors in our cohort. The past use of cyclophosphamide (P = 0.0001) or mycophenolate mofeti (P = 0.003) or biologics (P = 0.001) also had a significant association with COVID-19 infection. Hydroxychloroquine use did not influence occurrence or outcome. The presence of underlying lung disease (relative risk - 3.08, 95% confidence interval - 1.21, 8.44, P = 0.029) was the only independent risk factor associated with the risk of COVID positivity in the multivariate analysis. Incidence rate of COVID-19 infection was similar to that of the general population (P = 0.22).
Conclusions: The incidence of SARS CoV-2 infection in AIRD population is comparable to the general population. Underlying lung disease was the most important risk factor apart from older age, diabetes, hypertension, and a higher glucocorticoid dosage.
Aim
The use of healthcare resources by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients can be related to the presence of disease, comorbid conditions, use of steroids, and the combined use of immunosuppressants. ...This study evaluated the risk factors associated with infection and hospitalization in RA.
Methods
This multicenter, cross‐sectional study enrolled 3247 RA subjects fulfilling the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria to examine the prevalence of hospitalization and episodes of documentable non‐tubercular infections as a part of the “Karnataka rheumatoid arthritis comorbidity” study (KRAC). The study included 2081 subjects and 1166 were excluded due to incomplete data. Demographic, clinical and treatment variables were collected, and the events related to infections and hospitalization were extracted from the medical records. Comparative analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed.
Results
Around 22% of the subjects had hospitalizations and 2.9% had infections. Infections were pertaining to dental (1.3%), urinary tract (1.6%) and candidiasis (0.2%). Skin‐ and soft tissue‐related infections were found in 1.8% and 0.3% of patients, respectively. Increased need of hospitalization in RA patients was associated with advanced age (≥60 years), lower education, family income, and longer duration of RA. Presence of comorbidity, usage of three or more disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and family income influenced the likelihood of infection. Dental infections were less likely in working subjects and more likely in patients with increased disease duration, higher family income, comorbidities and those between the age group 40‐59 years. Urinary tract infection was associated with DMARD usage.
Conclusion
Patient‐specific risk factors should be considered to improve treatment strategies and to reduce the risk of infection and hospitalization in RA patients.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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Arthritis in sarcoidosis: A multicentric study from India Agarwal, Vikas; Agrawal, Vinita; Aggarwal, Amita ...
International journal of rheumatic diseases,
September 2018, 2018-Sep, 2018-09-00, 20180901, Volume:
21, Issue:
9
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Introduction
Ten to 15% of patients with sarcoidosis have associated arthritis. Chronic arthritis is fairly uncommon. There is a paucity of data on articular manifestations of the disease from India.
...Methods
Case records of adult patients with sarcoidosis presenting to 11 rheumatology centers from 2005 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Joint involvement was assessed clinically, classified as acute or chronic depending on duration of symptoms less or greater than 6 months, respectively.
Results
A total of 117 patients with sarcoid arthritis were reviewed. Forty‐five patients were classified as having Lofgren's syndrome. The pattern of joint involvement revealed the ankle to be most commonly affected in both the groups. Shoulder, wrist, metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal joints of hands and knee joint involvement were significantly more common in chronic sarcoid arthritis. Peripheral lymphadenopathy and uveitis were significantly more frequent in chronic sarcoid arthritis. Forty out of 49 patients with acute arthritis followed up over a median of 1.8 years had achieved complete remission. Twelve out of 16 chronic sarcoid arthritis (median follow up 2.5 years) had achieved complete remission with 15, 12 and five patients on steroids, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, respectively. One patient with acute sarcoid arthritis with concomitant interstitial lung disease had died due to lung infection.
Conclusion
Acute oligoarthritis was the commonest presentation with the ankle being the most commonly affected joint. Upper limb joint (predominantly distal) and knee involvement were more common as reported in our largest series worldwide of chronic sarcoid arthritis in adults. Hilar adenopathy and erythema nodosum were common extra‐articular features in both acute and chronic sarcoid arthritis. A limitation of the study was the retrospective nature of the analysis.
Full text
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Aim
To study the prevalence of remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and the influence of different factors like literacy, socioeconomic status, presence of comorbidity and treatment ...strategy in achieving remission.
Methods
The study involved 1990 RA patients who were recruited for the Karnataka Rheumatoid arthritis comorbidity (KRAC) study. Based on the factors evaluated, the study participants were classified as follows: age, < 30 years, 30–39 years, 40–49 years, 50–59 years and ≥ 60 years; educational status, illiterate/no formal education, high school or less, graduate, post‐graduate and doctorate; family income (₹ per annum), < 50 000, 50–100 000, 100–500 000, and > 500 000; duration of illness prior (DOIP): ≤ 6 months, 6–24 months, 24–120 months and > 120 months. Joint counts were performed by a rheumatologist or trained joint assessor. To assess the treatment outcome, the disease activity score was calculated using the Disease activity Score of 28 joints – erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS 28–3 ESR).
Results
As per the DAS 28–3 ESR score, around 20% (n = 397) of the study subjects achieved remission. The corresponding mean ± SD of DAS 28–3 ESR noted for remission and non‐remission groups were 2.13 ± 0.42 and 4.32 ± 1.28. The majority of the patients were treated with double disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (60.7%). The likelihood of remission was found to be more in patients who reported DOIP ≤ 6 months. Furthermore, the chances of remission reduced with increase in patient's age and the highest remission rate was noted for 30–39 years age group (59%), followed by 40–49 years (35.4%) and 50–59 years (19.7%).
Conclusion
The prevalence of remission noted was around 20%. Early treatment, escalating dose of DMARDs, and patient counseling are important contributing factors for attaining remission.
Full text
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Sickle cell anaemia coexisting with gout is a rare clinical association, as is gout and eosinophilia. This report records the second case of chronic tophaceous deposits in Sickle cell anaemia. The ...patient also had eosinophilia in association with gout. Skeletal fluorosis was an incidental finding in this patient. Treatment with packed cell transfusions, hydroxyurea and colchicine lead to the resolution of anaemia and symptoms of acute gout.
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