The effect of anti-TNF on renal function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Biologicals, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Impaired renal function is a known predictor of CVD and elevated in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of anti-TNF on renal function in patients with AS and whether anti-TNF use is safe in AS patients with pre-existing risk factors for renal decline. METHOD: Biological-naïve consecutive AS patients treated with etanercept or adalimumab were prospectively followed from 2005 to 2014. Renal function was determined by calculation of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), estimated with the abbreviated modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula. The effect of anti-TNF on eGFR was analyzed using mixed model analysis. RESULTS: 211 AS patients were followed for a median of 156 (36-286) weeks. Overall mixed model analyses showed a significant decrease of eGFR over time (ß = - 0.040, p = 0.000), although this association did not remain significant after adjustment for responding to anti-TNF, alcohol use, disease duration, body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity (ß = - 0.018, p = 0.094). However, patients with pre-existing risk factors for renal decline did have a significant change in eGFR over time (ß = - 0.029, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant change in eGFR over time, although this small decrease was not clinically relevant. This study further demonstrates that anti-TNF does not affect renal function in AS patients with and without existing risk factors for renal decline, which means that use of anti-TNF is safe concerning renal function in patients with AS. Key Points • Previous studies showed that biologicals, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS). • Impaired renal function is a known predictor of CVD, and also a known concern for many AS patients. • Use of anti-TNF is safe with regard to renal function in patients with AS. • The effect of anti-TNF on CVD in AS patients does not seem to be mediated by changes in renal function.

Beneficial effect of 1-year etanercept treatment on the lipid profile in responding patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the ETRA study.

BACKGROUND: Effective anti-inflammatory treatment with tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors may have favourable effects on the lipid profile. Available evidence is derived from short-term studies, and it is not clear whether TNFα inhibitors have a similar effect on the lipid profile in responders and non-responders to the treatment. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of long-term etanercept treatment on the lipid profile in a large sample of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), stratified for European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2008, 292 consecutive patients with active RA (DAS28 >3.2) and a new etanercept prescription were included in an observational cohort. Clinical response variables and lipid samples were collected at baseline and after 4 months and 1 year of etanercept treatment. Generalised estimating equation analyses were used to investigate the longitudinal course of lipid levels in relation to clinical response variables. RESULTS: According to the EULAR response criteria, 76% of the patients were good or moderate responders at 4 months, and 85% of the remainder at 1 year. Significant changes in apoA-I (increased by 3.5% (p=0.002) at 4 months and 3.1% (p=0.005) at 1 year) and apoB/apoA-I ratio (decreased by 6.2% (p<0.001) at 4 months and 3.6% (p=0.025) at 1 year) were observed in EULAR responders. No significant differences were observed in EULAR non-responders at all time points. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with etanercept resulted in a significant and sustained decrease in the apoB/apoA-I ratio in patients with good or moderate EULAR response. This may have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular risk in patients with RA.