Impact of the 2008 US FDA warnings for fluoroquinolone use in veterans ≥ 60 years of age with lung cancer

To estimate the relative, absolute and attributable risk of non-traumatic tendon rupture, at various sites, associated with use of fluoroquinolones, with and without concomitant corticosteroids. We conducted cohort and nested case-control studies among fluoroquinolone users in the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink Gold. We estimated the excess risk (cohort analysis) and odds ratios (ORs) (case control) of tendon rupture by fluoroquinolone (current, recent and past use versus unexposed) and corticosteroid (current versus unexposed) use. Among 740926 patients with a fluoroquinolone prescription, 3957 cases of tendon rupture were identified. The excess risk due to current fluoroquinolone use was low: any tendon rupture 3.73 (95% confidence interval, CI, 2.08-5.39) per 10000 person-years (PY) and Achilles tendon rupture 2.91 (1.71-4.11) per 10000 PY. The excess risk of any tendon rupture was much higher for current concomitant fluoroquinolone and corticosteroid use versus corticosteroids alone: 21.2 (11.3-31.2) per 10000 PY. In the case-control, OR (95% CI) among current fluoroquinolone users versus unexposed patients was elevated: any tendon rupture 1.60 (1.22-2.09), Achilles tendon 2.71 (1.76-4.17) and bicep tendon 1.53 (0.85-2.73). The risk of any tendon rupture was higher among women (OR 2.27 [1.54-3.34]), patients aged 60+ (OR 2.42 [1.74-3.37]), and concomitant corticosteroid use (OR 6.64 [3.99-11.1]). Fluoroquinolones increase the risk of Achilles tendon rupture and, to a lesser extent, bicep tendon rupture, but the attributable risk is low. The risk is materially increased with concomitant use of corticosteroids.

Evaluation of Fluoroquinolone Use in Hospice Patients (GP783)

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Evidence of Tendinitis Provoked by Fluoroquinolone Treatment

Adalimumab and golimumab are subcutaneously administered anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) biologics used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). To date, no studies have directly compared treatment patterns and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) among patients with UC receiving these therapies in a real-world setting. The objective of this study was to compare these outcomes among patients with UC treated with either adalimumab or golimumab using a US claims database. Patients with UC treated with golimumab or adalimumab were identified using the US Optum Clinformatics® Data Mart database. Outcomes of interest included treatment patterns (discontinuations, dose optimizations, persistence, and concomitant medication use) and HRU (outpatient office visits, emergency room [ER] visits, and inpatient stays). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to account for differences in confounding variables between groups. Overall, 990 patients were identified (golimumab: n = 277; adalimumab: n = 713). After PSM, 246 patients were included in each group. There were no significant differences between the adalimumab and golimumab groups over the full follow-up period in terms of treatment discontinuations (53.7% vs. 51.2%; P = 0.5881), dose optimizations (35.4% vs. 39.4%; P = 0.3515), or persistence (338.2 vs. 361.2days; P = 0.4194). During the year after initiating therapy, there were no significant differences in concomitant immunosuppressant (21.9% vs. 21.7%; P = 0.9686) or corticosteroid use (74.7% vs. 78.8%; P = 0.3573) or in HRU outcomes including outpatient office visits (93.3% vs. 94.0%; P = 0.7660), ER visits (15.2% vs. 10.9%; P = 0.2238), and inpatient stays (15.2% vs. 13.6%; P = 0.6680). In this nationwide PSM cohort study of patients with UC receiving golimumab or adalimumab, no significant differences were observed between groups for treatment patterns or HRU outcomes. High rates of concomitant corticosteroid use, treatment discontinuations, and HRU while on therapy highlight key unmet needs in the treatment of UC.

Prevalence of guideline adherence for antiulcer drug prescription in patients receiving low-dose aspirin (LDA) therapy was examined and the association of risk factors with the adherence was assessed. A retrospective cohort study using a population-based longitudinal healthcare database was conducted. Claims data between January 2005 and April 2016 were analyzed. A total of 3,079 patients were included in the study. The selected patients taking LDA were divided into two categories: those taking and those not taking antiulcer drugs in an inpatient setting. Additionally, they were classified into four groups according to the time antiulcer therapy was initiated. The risk factors for ulcer, such as history of gastrointestinal injuries; age ≥65years; and concomitant use of anticoagulants, antiplatelets, oral corticosteroids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs except aspirin, were assessed. A total of 3,079 patients were included in the study. The rate of LDA patients using antiulcer drugs was 65.2%, with the strongest single factor associated with the use of antiulcer drugs being the concomitant use of corticosteroids. Among the LDA patients not taking antiulcer drugs, 66.8% had more than one risk factor. Irrespective of the use of concomitant treatment with antiulcer drug prior to hospital admission, 78.3% of the LDA patients continued their home regimen after hospital admission. Our results showed that the requirement of antiulcer therapy is not routinely evaluated at hospital admission, and antiulcer drugs for patients with ulcer risks are under-prescribed. Developing strategies to screen gastrointestinal risk factors at hospital admission is required to improve the guideline adherence for LDA-induced ulcer.

FRI0542 Course of Biotherapies in A Large Cohort of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at Adulthood

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant problem globally. Treatment includes a multiple drug regimen with isoniazid, rifampicin (rifampin), pyrazinamide and ethambutol. Often, one of these medications needs to be replaced as a result of adverse events or because Mycobacterium tuberculosis develops resistance against one these first-line agents. Fluoroquinolones, particularly the newer ones, possess good in vitro (levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin) and in vivo (gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin) bactericidal activity against M. tuberculosis, making them attractive agents for the treatment of pulmonary TB. All relevant clinical trials, cohort studies and case reports investigating the clinical efficacy and tolerability of fluoroquinolones when used for the treatment of pulmonary TB were evaluated for this review. Specifically, efficacy and safety in the following indications were investigated: (i) first-line treatment of drug-sensitive pulmonary TB; (ii) first-line treatment for multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB; and (iii) treatment of patients with drug intolerance. Twenty-seven articles met our inclusion criteria; nine articles presented data from randomised, controlled or cohort studies. Seven studies used fluoroquinolones as first-line agents in drug-sensitive TB (1469 patients), 15 studies used fluoroquinolones to treat MDR-TB (1025 patients) and six studies (951 patients) investigated the use of fluoroquinolones in patients intolerant to other TB medications. In patients with susceptible M. tuberculosis strains, substitution with a fluoroquinolone did not have an effect on cure or radiological improvement at 8 weeks or failure at 12 months. Substitution of older fluoroquinolones into a regimen, especially ciprofloxacin, resulted in a higher rate of relapse and a longer time to sputum-culture conversions. The use of fluoroquinolones in patients with MDR-TB is supported by some trials where others show a lack of improvement in efficacy of a regimen. Our review of the literature does not support the use of older fluoroquinolones, especially ciprofloxacin, as substitute agents for drug-sensitive or drug-resistant TB. However, newer fluoroquinolones, such as moxifloxacin, may be a reasonable alternative based on results from one large clinical trial. Fluoroquinolones have an important role as substitute agents for those who are intolerant of first-line TB agents.

Introduction

Antibiotic Use in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis

Background Real-world evidence to support optimal ustekinumab dosing for refractory Crohn’s disease (CD) patients remains limited. Data from a retrospective nationwide chart review study was utilized to explore ustekinumab dosing dynamics and optimization, identify possible clinical predictors of dose intensification, and to evaluate ustekinumab trough concentrations (TCs) and concomitant medication use in Finland. Methods Information gathered from17 Finnish hospitals included clinical chart data from 155 adult CD patients who received intravenous ustekinumab induction during 2017–2018. Data on ustekinumab dosing and TCs, concomitant corticosteroid and immunosuppressant use, and antiustekinumab antibodies were analyzed in a two-year follow-up, subject to availability. Results Among 140 patients onustekinumab maintenance therapy, dose optimization was required in 55(39%) of the patients, and 41/47 dose-intensified patients (87%) persisted on ustekinumab. At baseline, dose-intensified patient group had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and at week 16, significantly lower ustekinumab TCs than in patients without dose intensification. Irrespective of dose optimization, a statistically significant reduction in the use of corticosteroids was observed at both 16 weeks and one year, coupled with an increased proportion of patients on ustekinumab monotherapy. Antiustekinumab antibodies were undetectable in all 28 samples from 25 patients collected throughout the study period. Conclusions Nearly a third of all CD patients on ustekinumab maintenance therapy, with a history of treatment-refractory and long-standing disease, required dose intensification. These patients persisted on ustekinumab and had significant reduction of corticosteroid use. Increased baseline CRP was identified as the sole indicator of dose intensification. Trial registration EUPAS30920

Introduction: Fluoroquinolone exposure is reportedly associated with a higher risk of tendon disorders, tendonitis, or tendon rupture. However, studies in East Asian populations have not confirmed these risks in patients with comorbidities or concomitant medication use. This cohort study was designed to investigate the associations among fluoroquinolone exposure, comorbidities, medication use, and tendon disorders in Taiwan.Materials and Methods: This population-based, nationwide, observational, cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Research database in Taiwan, a nationwide claims database that covers more than 99% of the Taiwanese population. The study period was from January 2000 to December 2015, and the median follow-up time was 11.05 ± 10.91 years. Patients who were exposed to fluoroquinolones for more than three consecutive days were enrolled, and patients without fluoroquinolone exposure who were matched by age, sex, and index year were enrolled as controls. The associations of comorbidities and concomitant medication use with tendon disorder occurrence were analyzed using Cox regression models.Results: The incidence of tendon disorders were 6.61 and 3.34 per 105 person-years in patients with and without fluoroquinolone exposure, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.423; 95% confidence interval [1.02,1.87]; p = 0.021). Sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. Patients under 18 and over 60 years with fluoroquinolone exposure; those with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, rheumatologic disease, cardiac disease, lipid disorder, or obesity; and those who concomitantly used statins, aromatase inhibitors, or glucocorticoids, had a significantly higher risk of tendon disorders.Conclusion: The long-term risk of tendon disorders was higher in patients with fluoroquinolone exposure than in those without fluoroquinolone exposure. Clinicians should assess the benefits and risks of fluoroquinolone use in patients at high risk of tendon disorders who require fluoroquinolone administration.

Background Long-term corticosteroid (CS) use is not recommended for patients (pts) with ulcerative colitis (UC). Receiving early advanced therapy (AT) may help limit CS overuse, but there is a need to identify pt populations who may benefit most from receiving early AT as monotherapy. Previous post hoc analyses of the phase 3 True North (TN) study (NCT02435992) demonstrated ozanimod (OZA) efficacy in 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA)–exposed, AT-naive, immunomodulator (IMM)–naive pts. This analysis further assessed the efficacy of OZA induction therapy with and without concomitant CS in this pt population by baseline (BL) endoscopic disease severity. Methods In TN, pts in Cohort 1 (C1) were randomised to OZA or placebo (PBO); pts in Cohort 2 (C2) received open-label OZA through Week (W) 10. Pts were on stable doses of oral 5-ASA and/or CS for ≥2 wk before screening and continuing through W10. 5-ASA–exposed, AT-naive, IMM-naive pts were grouped as moderate (Mayo endoscopy subscore [MES]=2 at BL) or severe (MES=3 at BL). Data were analysed in all moderate and severe pts and by concomitant CS use. Clinical remission, clinical response, endoscopic improvement, mucosal healing, and histologic remission were assessed at W10. Results Of the 464 5-ASA–exposed, AT-naive, IMM-naive pts, 237 had moderate (PBO, n=47; OZA C1, n=108; OZA C2], n=82) and 227 had severe (PBO, n=54; OZA C1, n=97; OZA C2, n=76) BL endoscopic disease. BL pt characteristics were generally similar between moderate and severe pts with or without concomitant CS use. Overall, OZA was significantly more effective in moderate pts and numerically more effective in severe pts vs PBO in C1, with numerically greater treatment differences in moderate vs severe pts (Figure 1A). The moderate and severe groups each had 51 pts (~22%) on concomitant CS. In moderate pts, numerically greater OZA vs PBO C1 treatment differences were observed in those without concomitant CS use vs those with concomitant CS use for clinical remission and clinical response; treatment differences were significant for all endpoints in pts without concomitant CS use (Figure 1B). In contrast, severe pts with concomitant CS use demonstrated greater OZA vs PBO C1 treatment differences vs those without concomitant CS use for all endpoints (Figure 1C). Results in OZA C2 were generally similar to OZA C1. Conclusion OZA treatment was efficacious in 5-ASA–exposed, AT-naive, IMM-naive pts with UC, with numerically greater efficacy in moderate pts than severe pts. Additionally, the results suggest that concomitant CS may not provide additional benefit over OZA monotherapy in moderate pts. These findings support OZA positioning after 5-ASA, but before CS, in pts with moderate UC.

Unlike other biologic agents for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that are administered at regular intervals even without flare, rituximab can be administered according to the timing of retreatment determined by the physician. Recently, there has been a tendency to prefer on-demand administration for disease flares rather than regular retreatment. We aimed to investigate the retreatment patterns of rituximab in patients with RA and to identify factors associated with extension of the time interval between retreatment courses. This study included RA patients on rituximab treatment who were enrolled in the Korean Rheumatology Biologics registry (KOBIO) or treated at Ajou University Hospital. Previous or current concomitant conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), corticosteroids, number of previous biologic agents, withdrawal, and time intervals of rituximab retreatment were collected. In case of treatment failure, the reasons such as lack of efficacy, adverse events, and others, were also identified. A total of 82 patients were enrolled. The mean follow-up period from the first cycle of rituximab was 46.1 months, and the mean interval between the retreatment courses was 16.3 months. The persistent rates of rituximab after 5 years was 72.4%. Concomitant use of at least two csDMARDs (β = 4.672; 95% CI: 0.089–9.255, p = 0.046) and concomitant use of corticosteroids (β = 7.602; 95% CI: 0.924–14.28, p = 0.026) were independent factors for extending the time interval between the retreatment courses. In conclusion, RA patients treated with rituximab in Korea show high persistence rates. Concomitant use of two or more csDMARDs and concomitant use of corticosteroids with rituximab are associating factors of extending the retreatment time interval. These findings should be considered when selecting rituximab as a treatment for patients with RA.

ObjectivesTo analyse the impact of the concomitant use of corticosteroids on the treatment of patients with long-term rheumatoid arthritis in different clinical outcomes.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in a...