Prevalence, demographics, and clinical characteristics of Latin American patients with spondyloarthritis

Large epidemiologic and clinical estimates of spondyloarthritis (SpA) in Latin America are not available. In this narrative review, our goal was to descriptively summarize the prevalence and features of SpA in Latin America, based on available small studies. A review of peer-reviewed literature identified 41 relevant publications. Of these, 11 (mostly based on Mexican data) estimated the prevalence of SpA and its subtypes, which varied from 0.28 to 0.9% (SpA), 0.02 to 0.8% (ankylosing spondylitis), 0.2 to 0.9% (axial SpA), and 0.004 to 0.08% (psoriatic arthritis). Demographic and/or clinical characteristics were reported in 31 of the 41 publications, deriving data from 3 multinational studies, as well as individual studies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Data relating to treatment, disease manifestations (articular and extra-articular), and comorbidities were summarized across the countries. Available data suggest that there is a variability in prevalence, manifestations, and comorbidities of SpA across Latin America. Basic epidemiologic and clinical data are required from several countries not currently represented. Data relating to current treatment approaches, patient outcomes, and socioeconomic impact within this large geographic region are also needed

Etanercept withdrawal and retreatment in nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis: results of RE-EMBARK, an open-label phase IV trial

Clinical trial[Abstract] Objective: RE-EMBARK investigated etanercept (ETN) withdrawal and retreatment in patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) achieving inactive disease. Methods: Patients received ETN and a background nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug for 24 weeks in period 1 (P1); those achieving inactive disease (Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score [ASDAS] with C-reactive protein [CRP] < 1.3) discontinued ETN for 40 weeks or less (period 2 [P2]). Patients who flared (ASDAS with erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] ≥ 2.1) were retreated for 12 weeks in period 3 (P3). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with inactive disease who flared within 40 weeks of ETN withdrawal. Baseline characteristics were analyzed post hoc as predictors of maintenance and regaining of inactive disease, respectively, using univariate logistic and stepwise multivariable logistic regression models. Results: The proportion of patients experiencing flare following ETN withdrawal (P2) increased from 22.3% (25/112) after 4 weeks to 67% (77/115) after 40 weeks; 74.8% (86/115) experienced flare at any time during P2. Median time to flare was 16.1 weeks. Most patients (54/87, 62.1%) who were retreated with ETN in P3 reachieved inactive disease. Absence of both sacroiliitis detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) > 3 mg/L at baseline predicted inactive disease maintenance in P2 following ETN withdrawal in multivariable analysis; male sex and age younger than 40 years predicted regaining of inactive disease in P3 after flare/retreatment. There were no unexpected safety signals. Conclusion: Approximately 25% of patients maintained inactive disease for 40 weeks after discontinuing ETN. Absence of both MRI sacroiliitis and high hs-CRP at baseline predicted response maintenance after ETN withdrawal

Predictors of response to etanercept-methotrexate treatment: a post hoc logistic regression analysis of a randomized, open-label study in Latin American patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Determining potential predictors of clinical response would allow a more personalized rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment approach in heterogeneous populations such as Latin American (LA) patients. Methods: Post hoc analysis to identify baseline characteristics predictive of clinical remission in response to treatment with etanercept (ETN) plus methotrexate (MTX) in LA patients with moderate to severe MTX-resistant RA. We report data from the group of patients who received ETN 50 mg/week plus MTX (ETN + MTX, n = 281) in a clinical trial consisting of an initial 24-week open-label phase, followed by a 104-week extension. Remission was defined as 28-joint Disease Activity Score with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) score  28.5 kg/m2 (OR 3.24), disease duration > 3.7 years (OR 2.22), ESR ≤ 42 mm/h (OR 2.72), PGA ≤ 6 (OR 3.21), tender joint count ≤ 14 (OR 2.25), and total HAQ score ≤ 1.6 (OR 2.86). At Week 128, age ≤ 42 years (OR 2.21), SF-36 Mental Health Scale score > 39.6 (OR 2.16), White race (OR 4.07), > 18 swollen joints (OR 2.11), and VAS Pain ≤ 41 (OR 6.05) at baseline were the best subset of significant predictors of remission. Conclusions In LA patients with RA, younger age, higher BMI, longer disease duration, higher SF-36 Mental Health Scale score, higher swollen joint count, and overall lower disease activity predicted clinical response to ETN + MTX therapy

Long-term Etanercept Response for Patients with Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis Based on Achievement of Early, Intermediate, or Late Responses During Index Studies

Abstract Introduction Short-term placebo (PBO)- or active-controlled clinical studies have demonstrated that etanercept (ETN) is effective and well tolerated in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) with long-term efficacy and safety continuing for up to 7 years after treatment start. Short-term randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown the efficacy of ETN after 12–24 weeks, with statistically significant improvements as early as week 2. This post hoc analysis investigated the timeframe (i.e., temporal responses) in which patients with r-axSpA achieved their first clinical response with ETN and how patients responded over a longer period according to different temporal responses in index studies. Methods Data were analyzed from three phase 3/4 PBO- or sulfasalazine-controlled RCTs of ETN for the treatment of r-axSpA (index studies). Long-term open-label extension (OLE) studies assessed how patients responded over a longer period according to different temporal responses (“Early,” “Intermediate,” “Late,” or “Non-response”) in their corresponding index studies. Results Within each index study, patient responses differed significantly between ETN and control arms for achievement of Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) 20 and other measures of treatment response. In general, the proportion of responders in the OLE studies was high for those with “Early” and “Intermediate” responses as defined in the index studies. Despite patients being considered non-responders in the index studies, a large proportion achieved response on continued treatment in the OLE studies over the longer term, including through 48 weeks. Conclusions Response in the index studies was maintained in the long term, and continued treatment was warranted in a large proportion of patients despite initial non-response. Absence of an early response in index studies did not predict non-response over the long term, and early response to treatment was not always a predictor for later response. Trial Registration NCT00421915; NCT00247962; NCT00356356; NCT00421980; NCT00410046

Psoriasis in Latin America

© 2016 by the article author(s). During the last few decades, management of psoriasis has changed worldwide, owing to a better understanding of its pathophysiology and the introduction of new treatments. As experts in the field of dermatology, specialists from Latin America collaborated to develop this review and further provide an update on the current state of psoriasis management in Latin America. With the goal of summarizing the latest information on psoriasis in most countries in Latin America, we conducted a literature search to obtain relevant articles published in the medical/scientific literature in Latin American countries over the last 10 years; in addition, we completed a questionnaire comprised of 20 questions on important issues related to psoriasis. The aim of this final document is to help improve understanding and management of the disease and to help patients gain better access to new approaches and medical solutions

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in acute leukemia: a still frequent condition with a negative impact on the overall treatment outcome

We evaluated the impact of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) on epidemiology and outcome in acute leukemia (AL), analyzing all acute myeloid (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) consecutively admitted to our Institution during a 5-year period of observation. Only AML patients received anti-mold prophylaxis. Among 175 AL patients (136 AML/39 ALL), possible and proven/probable IPA were diagnosed in 28 (16%). Frequency of IPA was similar in AML (16.2%) and in ALL (15.4%). Two-year overall survival (OS) was significantly affected by IPA (no IPA: 69.8% vs IPA: 31.7% p = .002). OS was similar in patients with proven/probable (28.2%) and possible IPA (36.4%) (p = .003 and .065, respectively). When censoring patients at transplant, IPA still affected 2-year survival (49.6% vs 79.2%, p = .02), but only proven/probable IPA was associated with lower survival (34.7%, p = .0003). IPA negatively impacts on long-term survival of leukemia patients; antifungal prophylaxis should be adopted also during induction in ALL and in AML beyond induction therapy

Plain language summary for the manuscript: Etanercept Withdrawal and Re-Treatment in Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results of RE-EMBARK, an Open-Label, Phase IV Trial

This is a plain language summary (PLS) of an article published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This PLS is not peer-reviewed. The publisher of the orignial manuscript was not involved in the preparation of this PLS and has neither reviewed not approved its content.</p