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Anti-TNF treatment improved skin, muscle involvement in patients with juvenile dermatomyositis

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Results presented at the EULAR Annual Congress showed anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy improved both muscle and skin involvement in children with juvenile dermatomyositis.

“High levels of the cell-signaling protein [tumor necrosis factor] TNF have been reported in [juvenile dermatomyositis] JDM patients with a long disease course, suggesting the immune cell regulator may play a role in refractory disease,” Raquel Campanilho-Marques, MD, of the Institute of Child Health, University College, London, said in a press release from EULAR. “There are no published clinical trials (only case reports) of this therapy, but some are in progress. Our study is one of the largest to explore the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF therapy in a large independent cohort of JDM patients.”

Campanilho-Marques and colleagues analyzed 66 children from the United Kingdom JDM Cohort and Biomarker study. According to the study abstract, patients had a mean age of 16.8 years. Patients were given anti-TNF treatment during the analysis and had at least 3 months of therapy. Overall, patients were on the therapy for a mean of 2.76 years. Investigators assessed patients with the childhood myositis assessment scale, manual muscle testing, muscle enzymes and the physician global assessment scale. The modified skin disease activity score (DAS) was used to evaluate skin disease.

Results showed the childhood myositis assessment scale and the manual muscle testing outcomes significantly improved following the start of the anti-TNF therapy. Investigators noted the skin involvement and global disease activity also significantly improved.

Campanilho-Marques and colleagues found 16 patients switched their anti-TNF treatment due to either therapy failure, adverse events or patient preference. Seven out of the 21 adverse events seen were severe. – by Monica Jaramillo

References:

Campanilho-Marques R, et al. Abstract #OP0221. Presented at: EULAR Annual Congress; June 8-11, 2016; London.

www.eular.org