Factors predicting survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients on non-invasive ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: Non invasive ventilation (NIV) improves quality of life and extends survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. However, few data exist about the factors related to survival. We intended to assess the predictive factors that influence survival in patients after NIV initiation. METHODS: Patients who started NIV from 2000 to 2014 and were tolerant (compliance ≥ 4 hours) were included; demographic, disease related and respiratory variables at NIV initiation were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier test and Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: 213 patients were included with median survival from NIV initiation of 13.5 months. In univariate analysis, the identified risk factors for mortality were severity of bulbar involvement (HR 2), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) % (HR 0.99) and ALSFRS-R (HR 0.97). Multivariate analysis showed that bulbar involvement (HR 1.92) and ALSFRS-R (HR 0.97) were independent predictive factors of survival in patients on NIV. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the two prognostic factors in ALS patients following NIV were the severity of bulbar involvement and ALSFRS-R at the time on NIV initiation. A better assessment of bulbar involvement, including evaluation of the upper airway, and a careful titration on NIV are necessary to optimize treatment efficacy.

Documento de consenso sobre la prevención y el tratamiento de la tuberculosis en pacientes candidatos a tratamiento biológico / Consensus Document on Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis in Patients for Biological Treatment

El riesgo de enfermar de tuberculosis ha aumentado en los pacientes con enfermedades inflamatorias crónicas que reciben tratamiento inmunosupresor, en particular en aquellos tratados con terapia anti-TNF (del inglés tumor necrosis factor). En estos pacientes es obligatoria la detección de la infección tuberculosa latente y el tratamiento de dicha infección, dirigido a reducir el riesgo de progresión a enfermedad tuberculosa. Este documento de consenso resume la opinión de expertos y los conocimientos actuales sobre tratamientos biológicos, incluidos los bloqueantes del TNF. Se establecen recomendaciones para la utilización de las técnicas de liberación de interferón-gamma (IGRA) y la prueba de la tuberculina (PT) para el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la infección tuberculosa latent

Tuberculosis risk is increased in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases receiving any immunosuppressive treatment, notably tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists therapy. Screening for the presence of latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and targeted preventive treatment to reduce the risk of progression to TB is mandatory in these patients. This Consensus Document summarizes the current knowledge and expert opinion of biologic therapies including TNF-blocking treatments. It provides recommendations for the use of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) and tuberculin skin test (TST) for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in these patients, and for the type and duration of preventive therapy

Consensus Document on Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis in Patients for Biological Treatment.

Tuberculosis risk is increased in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases receiving any immunosuppressive treatment, notably tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists therapy. Screening for the presence of latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and targeted preventive treatment to reduce the risk of progression to TB is mandatory in these patients. This Consensus Document summarizes the current knowledge and expert opinion of biologic therapies including TNF-blocking treatments. It provides recommendations for the use of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) and tuberculin skin test (TST) for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in these patients, and for the type and duration of preventive therapy.