title: Biologics in relapsing polychondritis: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the effects of biologics in an unbiased series of relapsing polychondritis cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extracted all the cases encoded 'polychondritis' from the computerized medical files of our department. The relapsing polychondritis diagnosis was confirmed using Damiani's criteria. Patients treated with biologics were evaluated for efficacy and adverse drugs reactions until October 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients were exposed to 22 biologics as corticosteroid-sparing drugs. Biologics were used at the same doses as in rheumatoid arthritis. Mean duration of exposure to biologics was 28 months. A TNF-antagonist was most frequently used as first-line biologic therapy (7/9), leading to partial or complete efficacy in six cases (85.7%). Loss of efficacy occurred in 5 cases. Abatacept (n=3) and tocilizumab (n=2) were effective as second-line biologic therapy while anakinra (n=2) and certolizumab (n=1) were not. Seven serious adverse drug reactions occurred, including 5 infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TNF-α antagonists may be proposed earlier in relapsing polychondritis to spare corticosteroids. Switching to another biologic can be proposed in case of loss of efficacy. Tocilizumab or abatacept can be proposed as third-line therapy. The benefit-to-risk ratio of biologics in relapsing polychondritis should be evaluated prospectively.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Toulouse University Hospital, UMR INSERM-UPS 1027, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France. guillaume.moulis@univ-tlse3.fr.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moulis
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sailler
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pugnet
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Astudillo
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arlet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057915:Drug Substitution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha