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Multidimensional improvement in connective tissue disease‐associated interstitial lung disease: Two courses of pulse dose methylprednisolone followed by low‐dose prednisone and tacrolimus
Author(s) -
Yamano Yasuhiko,
Taniguchi Hiroyuki,
Kondoh Yasuhiro,
Ando Masahiko,
Kataoka Kensuke,
Furukawa Taiki,
Johkoh Takeshi,
Fukuoka Junya,
Sakamoto Koji,
Hasegawa Yoshinori
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/resp.13365
Subject(s) - medicine , tolerability , interstitial lung disease , tacrolimus , adverse effect , dlco , methylprednisolone , hypersensitivity pneumonitis , vital capacity , diffusing capacity , connective tissue disease , rheumatoid arthritis , gastroenterology , surgery , lung , disease , transplantation , autoimmune disease , lung function
Background and objective Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents are considered mainstays of therapy for connective tissue disease‐related interstitial lung disease (CTD‐ILD); however, tacrolimus with corticosteroid therapy has not been fully investigated. Our objectives were to examine the multidimensional therapeutic benefit and tolerability of the combined therapy for the initial treatment of patients with CTD‐ILD. Methods In this retrospective case series, we identified consecutive CTD‐ILD patients treated with tacrolimus plus intravenous (i.v.) methylprednisolone (1000 mg i.v. 3 days a week for 2 weeks) followed by low‐dose prednisolone (10 mg/day). We assessed the multidimensional therapeutic benefit and tolerability including lung physiology, exercise capacity, exercise oxygen desaturation, modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results A total of 26 ILD patients with the underlying CTD diagnoses included 11 with rheumatoid arthritis, 9 with dermatomyositis, 4 with Sjögren's syndrome and 2 others. From baseline to 12 months, the combined therapy significantly improved forced vital capacity (FVC; 77.8% to 94.6%, P < 0.001), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL CO ; 66.1% to 75.1%, P < 0.001), 6‐min walk distance (6MWD; 530 to 568 m, P = 0.02), lowest oxygen saturation on pulse oximetry (SpO 2 ; 85% to 89%, P = 0.01), MMRC (1.3 to 0.8, P = 0.01) and SGRQ (38 to 21, P < 0.001). During the study period, only one patient's therapy was discontinued due to an adverse event and none had a life‐threatening adverse event attributed to the combined therapy. Conclusion In our cohort of CTD‐ILD, two courses of pulse dose methylprednisolone therapy followed by prednisone and oral tacrolimus appeared to be well tolerated, and to have multidimensional efficacy.