Key clinical point: Abatacept stabilized pulmonary function and joint inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) and had a favorable safety profile.
Major finding: Abatacept improved or stabilized lung disease in 72% of patients, with the median survival until progression or death being 72 months (95% CI 34-110 months). No significant decrease in the forced vital capacity or diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide and a significant improvement in 28-joint Disease Activity Score ( P = .024) were observed. Overall, 10.5% of patients reported severe adverse events.
Study details: This was a prospective, observational cohort study including 57 patients with RA-ILD who received abatacept as monotherapy or in combination with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, immunosuppressants, antifibrotic agents, or corticosteroids.
Disclosures: This study received grants from Fundación Andaluza de Reumatología and Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, Spain. The authors declared no conflicts of interest .
Source: Mena-Vázquez N et al. Safety and effectiveness of abatacept in a prospective cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis–associated interstitial lung disease. Biomedicines. 2022;10(7):1480 (Jun 22). Doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10071480