Cyclosporine benefits patients through more rapid remission of proteinuria in lupus nephritis

Madrid, Spain, 12 June 2019: The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) suggest maintenance therapy with cyclosporine (CYA) results in more rapid remission of proteinuria compared to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine (AZA) in patients with lupus nephritis. The efficacy of CYA, MMF and AZA in obtaining and maintaining remission of lupus nephritis (LN) is comparable over the long term.

“Our study is the first to compare these three drugs as maintenance therapy in the long term,” said Lorenza Maria Argolini, Rheumatology Consultant of the Lupus Clinic, ASST Pini CTO, Milan, Italy. “Of interest are the results achieved in the CYA group where, despite worse clinical conditions at the beginning of maintenance therapy, we observed a rapid achievement of remission in the great majority of patients.”

The study followed 104 patients with lupus nephritis over 10 years who, after six months of induction therapy, received maintenance therapy of either CYA, MMF or AZA (32, 36, and 36 patients respectively). At the beginning of maintenance therapy complete, partial and no response rates were 28.2%, 59.3%, and 12.5% in CYA, 50%, 44.5% and 5.5% in MMF and 38.8%, 55.2% and 6% in AZA group. At one year, after six months of maintenance therapy, in CYA the percentage of patients in complete remission increased to 72% (vs. 64% in MMF and 44.2% in AZA), at five years it was 81.5% (vs. 86% in AZA and 81% in MMF) and 84.5% at 10 years vs. 72% in MMF and 70% in AZA.

“Lupus nephritis is a serious condition requiring early aggressive therapy to achieve remission, however, the type and duration of immunosuppression after achieving response remain a matter of controversy,” said Professor John D. Isaacs, Chairperson of the Abstract Selection Committee, EULAR. “It is great to see these long-term data which will help further our understanding in this complex area.”

Lupus nephritis is inflammation or swelling in the kidneys that stops them working properly. It is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease that can affect different organs and parts of the body. Treatment often consists of a period of intensive immunosuppressive therapy (induction therapy) followed by a longer period of less intensive maintenance therapy.

This multi-centre retrospective observational study included patients with SLE and biopsy proven lupus nephritis who entered the study either at diagnosis or during a flare. At induction there were no significant differences between the three groups in histological classes at renal biopsy, mean serum creatinine, eGFR and proteinuria, and type of induction therapy. Renal response was measured at one, five, and 10 years and recorded as total response (eGFR>60ml/min and proteinuria 60ml/min and proteinuria >0.5g/die), or no response (eGFR

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Abstract number: OP0046

NOTES TO EDITORS

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About Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are a diverse group of diseases that commonly affect the joints, but can also affect the muscles, other tissues and internal organs. There are more than 200 different RMDs, affecting both children and adults. They are usually caused by problems of the immune system, inflammation, infections or gradual deterioration of joints, muscle and bones. Many of these diseases are long term and worsen over time. They are typically painful and Iimit function. In severe cases, RMDs can result in significant disability, having a major impact on both quality of life and life expectancy.

About EULAR

The European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) is the European umbrella organisation representing scientific societies, health professional associations and organisations for people with RMDs. EULAR aims to reduce the burden of RMDs on individuals and society and to improve the treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of RMDs. To this end, EULAR fosters excellence in education and research in the field of rheumatology. It promotes the translation of research advances into daily care and fights for the recognition of the needs of people with RMDs by the EU institutions through advocacy action.

To find out more about the activities of EULAR, visit: http://www.eular.org

References

1. Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Alunno A, et al. 2019 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019 Mar 29. [Epub ahead of print].

2. van der Heijde D, Daikh DI, Betteridge N, et al. Common language description of the term rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) for use in communication with the lay public, healthcare providers and other stakeholders endorsed by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Ann Rheum Dis. 2018 Jun;77(6):829-832.