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Biologic DMARDs linked with reduced risks of sepsis, death after infection in patients with RA
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Compared with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, results from this study indicate biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs may reduce the risk of sepsis and death following serious infection among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers assessed the outcomes of serious infections in 947 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were enrolled in the German biologics register. Investigators evaluated patients at baseline and at 3 months, 6 months and every subsequent 6 months for 5 years to 10 years. They reported the effect of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) or conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) on patients’ risks of sepsis or death following serious infection. Outcomes observed included recovery with no complications, sepsis following a serious infection and death after serious infection without sepsis.
Findings showed 135 patients had sepsis within 30 days of a serious infection and 85 of these patients died. Investigators noted that within 90 days following a serious infection without known sepsis, 53 patients died. There was an increased chance of the sepsis development in patients with chronic renal disease and in older patients. At the time of the serious infection, the risk for sepsis and death was significantly lower in patients exposed to bDMARDs compared with patients exposed to csDMARDs. According to the researchers, older age, use of glucocorticoids at higher doses and heart failure were risk factors for fatal serious infections. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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