Project description:BackgroundAnti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB). Given limitations of screening techniques, it remains uncertain if patients receiving anti-TNF in TB endemic regions should be screened for latent infection with chemoprophylaxis restricted to those with proven infection, or if all patients should receive chemoprophylaxis.AimsTo compare the incidence of active TB with infliximab (IFX) following targeted and universal TB chemoprophylaxis, and to determine the rates of adverse events (AE) related to TB chemoprophylaxis METHODS: A multi-centre retrospective cohort study was performed at 18 hospitals in China of 1968 adult patients with IBD receiving IFX from 2009 to 2017. TB screening prior to IFX was performed with chest X-ray and/or computed tomography [CT] and immune reactivity testing (interferon-γ release assay and/or tuberculin skin test). Patients were followed-up for a minimum of 3 months after IFX discontinuation, or until last hospital visit if IFX therapy was ongoing. Targeted strategy was defined as TB chemoprophylaxis only for patients with a positive latent TB screen, with universal strategy defined as TB chemoprophylaxis for all patients.ResultsMean follow-up was 1.07 ± 0.87 years with a total follow-up of 2102 patient-years. There were 1433 patients in the targeted and 483 patients in the universal TB chemoprophylaxis groups, with no significant difference in the incidence rates of active TB between groups (673.3 per 100 000 population per year vs 891.5 per 100 000 population per year, P = 0.60). In the targeted group, 55/1433 patients received TB chemoprophylaxis compared with 483/483 in the universal group, with significantly fewer AEs related to TB chemoprophylaxis in the targeted compared to the universal group (0.35% (5/1433) vs 6.8% (33/483), P < 0.05).ConclusionsIn this study of patients receiving IFX in a TB endemic area, universal chemoprophylaxis was not associated with a reduced risk of active TB when compared to a targeted chemoprophylaxis strategy, and AEs were more common. This supports the use of targeted TB chemoprophylaxis when anti-TNF therapy is initiated in TB endemic regions.
Project description:Tuberculosis (TB) still represents an important issue for public health in underdeveloped countries, but the use of antitumor necrosis factor agents (anti-TNF) for the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic disorders has reopened the problem also in countries with low TB incidence, due to the increased risk of TB reactivation in subjects with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Over the last 5 years, several non-anti-TNF-targeted biologics have been licensed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. We reviewed the epidemiology of TB, the role of different cytokines and of the immune system cells involved in the immune response against TB infection, the methods to detect LTBI, and the risk of TB reactivation in patients exposed to non-anti-TNF-targeted biologics. Given the limited role exerted by the cytokines different from TNF, as expected, data from controlled trials, national registries of biologics, and postmarketing surveillance show that the risk of TB reactivation in patients receiving non-anti-TNF-targeted biologics is negligible, hence raising the question whether the screening procedures for LTBI would be necessary.
Project description:Psoriasis is a skin inflammatory condition for which significant progress has been made in its management by the use of targeted biological drugs. Detection of latent M. tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is mandatory before starting biotherapy that is associated with reactivation risk. Together with evaluation of TB risk factors and chest radiographs, tuberculin skin tests (TST) and/or blood interferon-γ-release assays (IGRA), like the QuantiFERON (QFT), are usually performed to diagnose M. tuberculosis infection. Using this approach, 14/49 psoriatic patients prospectively included in this study were identified as LTBI (14 TST+, induration size ≥ 10mm, 8 QFT+), and 7/14 received prophylactic anti-TB treatment, the other 7 reporting past-treatment. As the specificity and sensitivity of these tests were challenged, we evaluated the added value of an IGRA in response to a mycobacterial antigen associated with latency, the heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA). All but one TST+ patient had a positive HBHA-IGRA, indicating higher sensitivity than the QFT. The HBHA-IGRA was also positive for 12/35 TST-QFT- patients. Measurement for 15 psoriatic patients (12 with HBHA-IGRA+) of 8 chemokines in addition to IFN-γ revealed a broad array of HBHA-induced chemokines for TST+QFT- and TST-QFT- patients, compared to a more restricted pattern for TST+QFT+ patients. This allowed us to define subgroups within psoriatic patients characterized by different immune responses to M. tuberculosis antigens that may be associated to different risk levels of reactivation of the infection. This approach may help in prioritizing patients who should receive prophylactic anti-TB treatment before starting biotherapies in order to reduce their number.
Project description:ObjectiveReports of tuberculosis (TB) during anticancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasing. However, it is not clear whether the use of ICIs is a significant risk factor for TB, including reactivation or latent TB infection (LTBI).MethodsTo determine the risk of TB reactivation in patients with lung cancer who use ICIs or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), we conducted a retrospective study using a hospital-based cancer registry. In addition, we monitored patients with cancer using ICI or TKI in a multicenter prospective study to check the incidence of LTBI.ResultsIn the retrospective study, several demographic factors were imbalanced between the ICI and TKI groups: the ICI group was younger, had more males, exhibited more squamous cell carcinoma in histology rather than adenocarcinoma, had fewer EGFR mutations, and received more chemotherapy. Propensity score matching was used to control for confounding factors, and we found that the incidence of TB was higher among patients with lung cancer who received ICIs than among those who received TKIs (2298 vs 412 per 100 000 person-years, P = .0165). Through multivariable analysis, group (ICI vs TKI) was the independent risk factor for TB development (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 6.29, 95% CI, 1.23-32.09, P = .0269). In the prospective cohort, which included 72 patients receiving ICIs and 50 receiving TKIs, we found that the incidence of positive seroconversion of LTBI by interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) was significantly higher in patients receiving ICIs (18% vs 0%, aHR: 9.88, P = 0.035) under multivariable Cox regression.ConclusionThe use of ICIs may be linked to a higher likelihood of TB reactivation and LTBI than individuals solely receiving TKIs as anticancer therapy. Consequently, the implementation of a screening program for TB reactivation and LTBI among patients undergoing ICI treatment could prove advantageous by enabling early detection and prompt treatment of the infection.
Project description:Although there has been much success in identifying genetic variants associated with common diseases using genome-wide association studies (GWAS), it has been difficult to demonstrate which variants are causal and what role they have in disease. Moreover, the modest contribution that these variants make to disease risk has raised questions regarding their medical relevance. Here we have investigated a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the TNFRSF1A gene, that encodes tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), which was discovered through GWAS to be associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), but not with other autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease. By analysing MS GWAS data in conjunction with the 1000 Genomes Project data we provide genetic evidence that strongly implicates this SNP, rs1800693, as the causal variant in the TNFRSF1A region. We further substantiate this through functional studies showing that the MS risk allele directs expression of a novel, soluble form of TNFR1 that can block TNF. Importantly, TNF-blocking drugs can promote onset or exacerbation of MS, but they have proven highly efficacious in the treatment of autoimmune diseases for which there is no association with rs1800693. This indicates that the clinical experience with these drugs parallels the disease association of rs1800693, and that the MS-associated TNFR1 variant mimics the effect of TNF-blocking drugs. Hence, our study demonstrates that clinical practice can be informed by comparing GWAS across common autoimmune diseases and by investigating the functional consequences of the disease-associated genetic variation.
Project description:This study evaluated the effect of early anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the subsequent risk of total knee replacement (TKR) surgery.This retrospective observational study included a hospital-based cohort of 200 patients diagnosed with severe RA who received treatment with anti-TNF therapy between 2003 and 2014. Clinical parameters including age, sex, body mass index, and the time from the diagnosis of RA to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy were analyzed.Of the 200 enrolled patients, 84 underwent an early intervention (≤3 years from the diagnosis of RA to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy), and 116 underwent a late intervention(>3 years from the diagnosis of RA to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy). Five (6.0%) patients in the early intervention group underwent TKR compared to 31 (26.7%) in the late intervention group (p = 0.023). After adjusting for confounding factors, the late intervention group still had a significantly higher risk of TKR (p = 0.004; odds ratio, 5.572; 95% confidence interval, 1.933-16.062). Those receiving treatment including methotrexate had a lower risk of TKR (p = 0.004; odds ratio, 0.287; 95% confidence interval, 0.122-0.672).Delayed initiation of anti-TNF therapy in the treatment of severe RA was associated with an increased risk of TKR surgery. Adding methotrexate treatment decreased the risk of future TKR.
Project description:PurposeHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with increased systemic oxidative stress, which leads to cardiovascular events, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Similarly, cataract is also associated with increased oxidative stress. The association between HCV infection and increased risk of cataract remains unclear.MethodsA total of 11,652 HCV-infected patients and 46,608 age- and sex-matched non-HCV infected patients were identified during 2003-2011. All patient data were tracked until a diagnosis of cataract, death, or the end of 2011. Cumulative incidences and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated.ResultsThe mean follow-up durations were 5.29 and 5.86 years for the HCV and non-HCV cohorts, respectively. The overall incidence density rate for cataract was 1.36 times higher in the HCV cohort than in the non-HCV cohort (1.86 and 1.37 per 100 person-y, respectively). After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, and anxiety, patients with HCV infection had an increased risk of cataract compared with those without HCV infection [adjusted HR = 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-1.32]. HCV-infected patients receiving interferon-ribavirin therapy had a 1.83 times higher (95% CI = 1.40-2.38) risk of cataract than non-HCV infected patients did.ConclusionHCV infection, even without the complication of cirrhosis, is associated with an increased risk of cataract, and this risk is higher in HCV-infected patients undergoing interferon-ribavirin therapy.
Project description:Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal condition characterized by severe gut inflammation, commonly presenting as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or categorized as IBD- unclassified. While various treatments have demonstrated efficacy in adult IBD patients, the advent of anti-TNF therapies has significantly revolutionized treatment outcomes and clinical management. These therapies have played a pivotal role in achieving clinical and endoscopic remission, promoting mucosal healing, averting disease progression, and diminishing the necessity for surgery. Nevertheless, not all patients exhibit positive responses to these therapies, and some may experience a loss of responsiveness over time. This review aims to present a comprehensive examination of predictive biomarkers for monitoring the therapeutic response to anti-TNF therapy in IBD patients. It will explore their limitations and clinical utilities, paving the way for a more personalized and effective therapeutic approach.