Biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A pilot study

Background: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors are the most widely used biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. After achieving remission with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor treatment, experts recommend tapering tumor necrosis factor inhibitor. Howev...

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Main Authors: Hong Ki Min, Ji-Yeon Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-04-01
Series:SAGE Open Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121251330812
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author Hong Ki Min
Ji-Yeon Lee
author_facet Hong Ki Min
Ji-Yeon Lee
author_sort Hong Ki Min
collection DOAJ
description Background: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors are the most widely used biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. After achieving remission with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor treatment, experts recommend tapering tumor necrosis factor inhibitor. However, biomarkers for successful tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis have not been identified. Objectives: To identify biomarkers associated with successful tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Design: We prospectively collected blood samples from radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients at single tertiary hospital. Methods: Patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who achieved remission (axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score < 1.3) after treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor were enrolled. Baseline demographics, medication history, and laboratory data were collected when the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor dose was tapered. The percentage of helper T cell subtypes (Th1/Th2/Th17/Th22) in peripheral blood, and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-12, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23, interferon (IFN)-γ, soluble CD14, and zonulin, were measured. Patients were assigned to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering success (axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score < 2.1) or failure (axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score ⩾ 2.1) groups according to disease activity (assessed at 12 weeks posttumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering). Results: Twenty radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients were enrolled (median age, 31.0 years; 65% males). Most (80%) were positive for human leukocyte antigen-B27. The change of axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-tapering failure group was 1.36, while that in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-tapering success group was 0.07. The percentage of Th1 and Th17 cells was significantly lower, and that of Th2 cells higher, in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-tapering success group. In addition, serum levels of IL-12, IL-17A, IL-22, IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, zonulin, and soluble CD14 were significantly lower in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-tapering success group. Conclusion: Patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who achieve successful tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering had lower percentages of Th1 and Th17 cells, a higher percentage of Th2 cells, and lower serum levels of IL-12, IL-17A, IL-22, IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, zonulin, and soluble CD14 at the time of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering. These findings may help to identify patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis for whom tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering is appropriate.
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spelling doaj-art-fe9694ecc5c842c8b3bd7b71cf893cfd2025-08-20T01:48:28ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medicine2050-31212025-04-011310.1177/20503121251330812Biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A pilot studyHong Ki Min0Ji-Yeon Lee1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaThe Rheumatism Research Center, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaBackground: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors are the most widely used biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. After achieving remission with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor treatment, experts recommend tapering tumor necrosis factor inhibitor. However, biomarkers for successful tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis have not been identified. Objectives: To identify biomarkers associated with successful tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Design: We prospectively collected blood samples from radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients at single tertiary hospital. Methods: Patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who achieved remission (axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score < 1.3) after treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor were enrolled. Baseline demographics, medication history, and laboratory data were collected when the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor dose was tapered. The percentage of helper T cell subtypes (Th1/Th2/Th17/Th22) in peripheral blood, and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-12, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23, interferon (IFN)-γ, soluble CD14, and zonulin, were measured. Patients were assigned to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering success (axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score < 2.1) or failure (axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score ⩾ 2.1) groups according to disease activity (assessed at 12 weeks posttumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering). Results: Twenty radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients were enrolled (median age, 31.0 years; 65% males). Most (80%) were positive for human leukocyte antigen-B27. The change of axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-tapering failure group was 1.36, while that in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-tapering success group was 0.07. The percentage of Th1 and Th17 cells was significantly lower, and that of Th2 cells higher, in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-tapering success group. In addition, serum levels of IL-12, IL-17A, IL-22, IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, zonulin, and soluble CD14 were significantly lower in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-tapering success group. Conclusion: Patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who achieve successful tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering had lower percentages of Th1 and Th17 cells, a higher percentage of Th2 cells, and lower serum levels of IL-12, IL-17A, IL-22, IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, zonulin, and soluble CD14 at the time of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering. These findings may help to identify patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis for whom tumor necrosis factor inhibitor tapering is appropriate.https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121251330812
spellingShingle Hong Ki Min
Ji-Yeon Lee
Biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A pilot study
SAGE Open Medicine
title Biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A pilot study
title_full Biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A pilot study
title_fullStr Biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A pilot study
title_full_unstemmed Biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A pilot study
title_short Biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A pilot study
title_sort biomarkers for successful tapering of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis a pilot study
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121251330812
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AT jiyeonlee biomarkersforsuccessfultaperingofatumornecrosisfactorinhibitorinpatientswithradiographicaxialspondyloarthritisapilotstudy