Abstract 5 — Prediction of Flare Following Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Continuation of csDMARDs: A Real-Life Study

Background In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), glucocorticoids (GC) should be firstly discontinued before considering tapering conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARD) or other biological agents. We aim to determine risk factors for flare after GC withdrawal in...

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Main Authors: Wenhui Xie, Zhuoli Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: World Scientific Publishing 2023-11-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Rheumatology and Immunology
Online Access:https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2661341723740218
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author Wenhui Xie
Zhuoli Zhang
author_facet Wenhui Xie
Zhuoli Zhang
author_sort Wenhui Xie
collection DOAJ
description Background In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), glucocorticoids (GC) should be firstly discontinued before considering tapering conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARD) or other biological agents. We aim to determine risk factors for flare after GC withdrawal in RA patients undergoing csDMARDs. Method RA patients who discontinued GC with continuation of csDMARD were selected from a longitudinal real-world cohort. Established RA was defined as disease duration over 12 months. Dissatisfied RA control was defined as the proportion of simplified disease activity index (SDAI)-based remission time to total time from GC initiation to discontinuation less than 50%. Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for flare after GC discontinuation and results were expressed as odds ratio (OR). Results There were 115 eligible RA patients discounted GC with continuation of csDMARDs (methotrexate: 80%; hydroxychloroquine: 61%; csDMARDs combination: 79%). Of these, 24 patients experienced flare after GC discontinuation. Compared with relapse-free patients, flare patients were more likely to have established RA (75% vs. 49%, p=0.025), higher median cumulative prednisolone dosages (3.3g vs. 2.2g, p=0.004), and higher proportion of dissatisfied RA control during GC usage (66% vs. 33%, p=0.038). In multivariate analysis, significantly increased flare risk was predicted by established RA (OR 2.93 [1.02-8.43]), cumulative prednisolone dose > 2.5g (OR 3.69 [1.34-10.19]) and dissatisfied RA control (OR 3.00 [1.09-8.30]). Flare risk was increased with increases in number of risk factors, with highest OR of 11.56 in patients with three risk factors (p for trend=0.002). Conclusions Flare following GC withdrawal is not common in RA patients with undergoing csDMARDs therapy. Established RA, higher cumulative GC dose and dissatisfied RA control before GC discontinuation are important factors associated with flare after GC withdrawal.
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spelling doaj.art-3a44b4c89c63420dbce87861b89005712023-11-30T07:52:32ZengWorld Scientific PublishingJournal of Clinical Rheumatology and Immunology2661-34172661-34252023-11-0123Supp01212210.1142/S2661341723740218Abstract 5 — Prediction of Flare Following Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Continuation of csDMARDs: A Real-Life StudyWenhui Xie0Zhuoli Zhang1Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaPeking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaBackground In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), glucocorticoids (GC) should be firstly discontinued before considering tapering conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARD) or other biological agents. We aim to determine risk factors for flare after GC withdrawal in RA patients undergoing csDMARDs. Method RA patients who discontinued GC with continuation of csDMARD were selected from a longitudinal real-world cohort. Established RA was defined as disease duration over 12 months. Dissatisfied RA control was defined as the proportion of simplified disease activity index (SDAI)-based remission time to total time from GC initiation to discontinuation less than 50%. Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for flare after GC discontinuation and results were expressed as odds ratio (OR). Results There were 115 eligible RA patients discounted GC with continuation of csDMARDs (methotrexate: 80%; hydroxychloroquine: 61%; csDMARDs combination: 79%). Of these, 24 patients experienced flare after GC discontinuation. Compared with relapse-free patients, flare patients were more likely to have established RA (75% vs. 49%, p=0.025), higher median cumulative prednisolone dosages (3.3g vs. 2.2g, p=0.004), and higher proportion of dissatisfied RA control during GC usage (66% vs. 33%, p=0.038). In multivariate analysis, significantly increased flare risk was predicted by established RA (OR 2.93 [1.02-8.43]), cumulative prednisolone dose > 2.5g (OR 3.69 [1.34-10.19]) and dissatisfied RA control (OR 3.00 [1.09-8.30]). Flare risk was increased with increases in number of risk factors, with highest OR of 11.56 in patients with three risk factors (p for trend=0.002). Conclusions Flare following GC withdrawal is not common in RA patients with undergoing csDMARDs therapy. Established RA, higher cumulative GC dose and dissatisfied RA control before GC discontinuation are important factors associated with flare after GC withdrawal.https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2661341723740218
spellingShingle Wenhui Xie
Zhuoli Zhang
Abstract 5 — Prediction of Flare Following Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Continuation of csDMARDs: A Real-Life Study
Journal of Clinical Rheumatology and Immunology
title Abstract 5 — Prediction of Flare Following Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Continuation of csDMARDs: A Real-Life Study
title_full Abstract 5 — Prediction of Flare Following Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Continuation of csDMARDs: A Real-Life Study
title_fullStr Abstract 5 — Prediction of Flare Following Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Continuation of csDMARDs: A Real-Life Study
title_full_unstemmed Abstract 5 — Prediction of Flare Following Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Continuation of csDMARDs: A Real-Life Study
title_short Abstract 5 — Prediction of Flare Following Glucocorticoids Withdrawal in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Continuation of csDMARDs: A Real-Life Study
title_sort abstract 5 prediction of flare following glucocorticoids withdrawal in rheumatoid arthritis patients with continuation of csdmards a real life study
url https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2661341723740218
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