IMPACT OF REMISSION ON DAMAGE ACCRUAL IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE) PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW (SLR)

Background: Treat-to-target strategy with remission as the target has been proposed for the management of SLE. However, there is not a uniform definition of remission. Objectives: To determine the protective value of remission state on organ damage accrual in SLE patients through a SLR. Methods: Two independent reviewers identified studies in Medline and Cochrane Library. Data on remission definitions and rates as well as damage accrual (assessed by the SLICC/ACR damage index [SDI]) were extracted. Definitions of remission included disease activity indices (SLEDAI and its variants and PGA), serological activity, prednisone (PDN) daily dose (mg/day), immunosuppressive (IS) drugs, antimalarial (AM) use and duration of remission. The quality of the studies was evaluated with the Newcastle-Otawa Scale (NOS). Results: Eight manuscripts were included comprising more than 6,000 patients from America, Europe and Asia Pacific. All the studies were longitudinal. The majority of the studies reached more than seven out nine points in the NOS. Remission rates ranged between 10 and almost 50%; they tend to be lower in America as compared to Asia Pacific and Europe. All definitions required a clinical SLEDAI=0, and allowed antimalarial use. However, there were differences regarding the inclusion of serological activity, PGA, prednisone or immunosuppressive drug use as well as minimum remission duration required. Even less stringent definition of remission prevented damage accrual. The risk of damage accrual was two to five-fold lower in those patients on remission. Conclusion: In SLE patients, achieving remission, even with less stringent definitions, prevented damage accrual. Disclosure of Interests: : Manuel F. Ugarte-Gil Grant/research support from: Jannsen, Pfizer, Claudia Mendoza Pinto: None declared, Guillermo Pons-Estel Grant/research support from: JANSSEN and GSK, Consultant of: JANNSEN, GSK and SANOFI, Speakers bureau: PFIZER, JANNSEN and GSK, Cristina Reategui Sokolova: None declared, Ronald van Vollenhoven Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Arthrogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Pfizer, and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Biotest, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB, George Bertsias Grant/research support from: GSK, Consultant of: Novartis, Graciela S Alarcon: None declared, Bernardo Pons-Estel Grant/research support from: GSK, Janssen, Consultant of: GSK, Janssen, Speakers bureau: GSK, Janssen