Premium
Efficacy and Safety of Cyclophosphamide Treatment in Severe Juvenile Dermatomyositis Shown by Marginal Structural Modeling
Author(s) -
Deakin Claire T.,
CampanilhoMarques Raquel,
Simou Stefania,
Moraitis Elena,
Wedderburn Lucy R.,
Pullenayegum Eleanor,
Pilkington Clarissa A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
arthritis and rheumatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.106
H-Index - 314
eISSN - 2326-5205
pISSN - 2326-5191
DOI - 10.1002/art.40418
Subject(s) - juvenile dermatomyositis , medicine , cyclophosphamide , adverse effect , juvenile , connective tissue disease , dermatomyositis , gastroenterology , marginal structural model , cohort , biomarker , disease , confounding , chemotherapy , autoimmune disease , biology , biochemistry , genetics
Objective In patients with severe or refractory juvenile dermatomyositis ( DM ), second‐line treatments may be required. Cyclophosphamide ( CYC ) is used to treat some connective tissue diseases, but evidence of its efficacy in juvenile DM is limited. This study was undertaken to describe clinical improvement in juvenile DM patients treated with CYC and model the efficacy of CYC treatment compared to no CYC treatment. Methods Clinical data on skin, global, and muscle disease for patients recruited to the Juvenile DM Cohort and Biomarker Study were analyzed. Clinical improvement following CYC treatment was described using unadjusted analysis. Marginal structural models ( MSM s) were used to model treatment efficacy and adjust for confounding by indication. Results Compared to the start of CYC treatment, there were reductions at 6, 12, and 24 months in skin disease ( P = 1.3 × 10 ‐10 ), global disease ( P = 2.4 × 10 ‐8 ), and muscle disease ( P = 8.0 × 10 ‐10 ) for 56 patients treated with CYC in unadjusted analysis. Limited evidence suggested a reduction in glucocorticoid dose ( P = 0.047) in patients treated with CYC . MSM analysis showed reduced global disease and skin disease in patients who started an ~6‐month course of CYC treatment >12 months ago compared to patients never or not yet treated with CYC . In the treated patients, the modified skin Disease Activity Score for juvenile DM was 1.19 units lower ( P = 0.0085) and the physician's global assessment was 0.66 units lower ( P = 0.027). Minor adverse events were reported in 3 patients within 1 year of stopping CYC . Conclusion Our findings indicate that CYC is efficacious with no short‐term side effects. Improvements in skin, global, and muscle disease were observed. Further studies are required to evaluate longer‐term side effects.