Ab0232 prevalence of Infections Under Biotherapy During Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Background:Biologic therapies are emerging as a significant therapeutic option for many with debilitating inflammatory and autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA).These biological agents are highly effective in RA. Potential complications are dominated by infections.Objectives:To evaluate the different infections occurred under biotherapy.Methods:This is a descriptive retrospective study including patients under biotherapy, hospitalized between 2000-2016 in the Rheumatology Department of Farhat Hached hospital in Sousse,Tunisia. We evaluated for each patient the different infections that have occurred, specifying the different types of biotherapy received.Results:Sixty one patients are included (54 women and 7 men).The average age is 55.33 years ±11.51 [34-81 years].We found 47 infections in 40 patients (65.57%) with at least one infection under biotherapy: 41 women and 6 men with a mean age at 57.72 years [34-81 years]. Infections occurred under anti IL6 in 46.32%, Infliximab in 31.58%, anti CD20 in 11.58%, Etanercept in 7.37% and under Certolizumab in 3.16%. The infection was bacterial in 68.42%: 28 pulmonary infections, 8 oto rhino laryngology infections, 14 urinary infections, 2 soft tissue abscess, 13 cutaneous infections, 02 ocular infections. A viral origin of the infection was noted in 12.63% of cases. As for mycosis infections they represent 18.75% of the etiologies identified. The treatment was medical in 100% of cases and the evolution was favorable in all patients without resorting to the definitive discontinuation of biotherapy.Conclusion:The infections reported in our series are much more frequent under anti IL6 treatment and bacteria are the most incriminating pathogenic agents in our patients.References:[1]Simon, T. A.,and al. Comparative risk of malignancies and infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis initiating abatacept versus other biologics: a multi-database real-world study. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 21(1).(2019).[2]Pawar, A.,and al Risk of serious infections in tocilizumab versus other biologic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a multidatabase cohort study. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, annrheumdis–2018–214367(2019).Disclosure of Interests:None declared