Long-term TNF-alpha blockade in patients with amyloid A amyloidosis complicating rheumatic diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with amyloid A amyloidosis.


METHODS
Multicenter, controlled, dynamic prospective cohort study of 36 patients with amyloid A amyloidosis (94% kidney involvement) treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents (drug exposure of 102.97 patient-years). As an external control group, 35 propensity score-matched non-amyloid patients were chosen from the Base de Datos de Productos Biológicos de la Sociedad Española de Reumatología registry. The end points were kidney response and progression, anti-tumor necrosis factor continuation rate, patient survival, and adverse events.


RESULTS
At the end of follow-up, a kidney response was observed in 12 of 22 patients (54.5%) and a kidney progression was observed in 6 of 36 patients (17%). The kidney amyloidosis remained stable in 16 of 36 patients (44%). The level of acute phase reactants diminished but did not reach the normal level. The continuation rates of anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs among patients with amyloid A amyloidosis after 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more years were 80%, 80%, 61%, and 52%, respectively, comparable to controls. The 5-year cumulative survival of amyloid A amyloidosis cases was 90.6%, and the 10-year survival was 78.5%. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, the duration of amyloidosis and the level of proteinuria at the onset of anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment were independent predictors of treatment failure, whereas the level of proteinuria was the only factor that predicts mortality. Most adverse events were similar in both groups, although the number of infections was 3 times higher in amyloid A amyloidosis cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs are effective in treating amyloid A amyloidosis, although they might increase the risk of infection.
Fernández-Nebro
Antonio
A
Servicio de Reumatología y Departamento de Medicina de la Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, Spain. afnebro@gmail.com
Olivé
Alejandro
A
Castro
María Carmen
MC
Varela
Angela Herranz
AH
Riera
Elena
E
Irigoyen
Maria V
MV
García de Yébenes
María Jesús
MJ
García-Vicuña
Rosario
R
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha