Factors associated with physicians' prescriptions for rheumatoid arthritis drugs not filled by patients.

Background: This study estimated the extent and predictors of primary nonadherence (i.e., prescriptions made by physicians but not initiated by patients) to methotrexate and to biologics or tofacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who were newly prescribed these medications.

Presentation of SLE in UK primary care using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Objectives: To describe the presenting symptoms of SLE in primary care using the Clinical Practice Research Database (CPRD) and to calculate the time from symptom presentation to SLE diagnosis.

Methods: Incident cases of SLE were identified from the CPRD between 2000 and 2012. Presenting symptoms were identified from the medical records of cases in the 5 years before diagnosis and grouped using the British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) symptom domains.

Cumulative Corticosteroid Dose Over Fifty-Two Weeks in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Pooled Analyses From the Phase III Belimumab Trials.

Objective: To examine the effects of treatment with belimumab on corticosteroid dose in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) over 52 weeks in 2 randomized, controlled trials.

Methods: Data on patients who were taking corticosteroids at baseline in the Study of Belimumab in Subjects with SLE trials were pooled post hoc to compare patients who received belimumab 10 mg/kg plus standard therapy with those who received placebo plus standard therapy. The primary end point was cumulative change from baseline in corticosteroid dose (prednisone equivalent) through week 52.

Longitudinal Treatment Patterns and Associated Outcomes in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Purpose: The treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is complex, with a wide range of drugs commonly prescribed. The aims of this study were to identify longitudinal treatment patterns in patients with incident SLE and to estimate the associations of treatment patterns with clinical and economic outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study used a US managed care claims database to identify patients with newly diagnosed SLE and 4-year treatment follow-up.

Post-marketing experiences with belimumab in the treatment of SLE patients.

Belimumab (Benlysta) is a human recombinant monoclonal antibody that targets and inhibits soluble B-lymphocyte stimulator, also known as B-cell activating factor, a proliferation and survival factor for B cells. The published clinical trials data showed that in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), belimumab effectively reduced peripheral B-cell levels and improved disease activity. This article reviews the belimumab clinical trials and the post-marketing experience with belimumab in the treatment of those lupus patients with persistent active disease despite current standard of care (SOC) therapy.

Burden of systemic lupus erythematosus on employment and work productivity: data from a large cohort in the southeastern United States.

Objective: To examine the burden of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on work loss, unemployment, and work productivity impairment in an SLE cohort from the southeastern US.

Methods: We examined 689 SLE patients ages 18-64 years from the Georgians Organized Against Lupus (GOAL) cohort. GOAL is a longitudinal cohort predominantly derived from the Georgia Lupus Registry, a population-based registry established in metropolitan Atlanta.

A longitudinal analysis of costs associated with change in disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To estimate the economic consequences of changes in disease activity on healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs.

Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients receiving care in a regional integrated health delivery system in the US from 01/2004 through 03/2011 was conducted using electronic health records, medical chart reviews, and claims. Eligible patients were ≥18 years old, with ≥1 rheumatologist-confirmed SLE diagnosis and ≥1 eligible rheumatology encounter.

Cumulative burden of oral corticosteroid adverse effects and the economic implications of corticosteroid use in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Corticosteroids (CSs) are used to treat patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are associated with potential adverse events (AEs). However, few data are currently available on the risk of AEs in CS users in an SLE population.

Objective: To examine AEs related to CS use and costs of treating CS-related AEs in patients with SLE.

Healthcare utilization and costs of systemic lupus erythematosus in Medicaid.

Objective. Healthcare utilization and costs associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a US Medicaid population were examined. Methods.

Clinical improvement and satisfaction with biologic therapy in patients with severe plaque psoriasis: results of a European cross-sectional observational study.

Background: Efficacy of biologic therapies for psoriasis has been demonstrated in randomized trials, but effectiveness in real-world settings has yet to be fully determined.

Objective: To compare clinical improvement and treatment satisfaction with biologic versus other therapies in patients with plaque psoriasis.

Methods: European dermatologists recruited psoriasis patients into an observational study.

The efficacy and safety of etanercept when used with as-needed adjunctive topical therapy in a randomised, double-blind study in subjects with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (the PRISTINE trial).

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of two etanercept dose regimens for psoriasis treatment.

Methods: Subjects were ≥18 years old with stable moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Subjects were randomised to etanercept 50 mg once weekly (QW) or 50 mg twice weekly (BIW) double-blind for 12 weeks, followed by 50 mg QW open label in all subjects through week 24.

Application of composite disease activity scores in psoriatic arthritis to the PRESTA data set.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the performances of the Modified Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index (mCPDAI) and the Disease Activity index for PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) in an interventional study of etanercept in psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: The components of the CPDAI and DAPSA were extracted using PRESTA (Psoriasis Randomized Etanercept STudy in subjects with psoriatic Arthritis) study data. Data for four of the five domains of the CPDAI-thus an mCPDAI-were available: joints, skin, dactylitis and enthesitis (spinal involvement was not assessed).

Efficacy and safety of etanercept in children and adolescents aged > or = 8 years with severe plaque psoriasis.

Etanercept, a fully human soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha receptor, is approved in Europe for treatment of severe plaque psoriasis in children > or = 8 years. The efficacy and safety of etanercept for this population was evaluated in a retrospective analysis of a previous study, which included 211 children (4-17 years) with psoriasis involving > or = 10% body surface area and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) > or = 12. In this subanalysis, subjects aged 8-17 years received once-weekly subcutaneous etanercept 0.

Comparison of two etanercept regimens for treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: PRESTA randomised double blind multicentre trial.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy over 12 weeks of two different etanercept regimens in treating the skin manifestations of psoriasis in patients who also have psoriatic arthritis and to evaluate efficacy and safety over an additional 12 weeks of open label etanercept treatment. Design Randomised double blind multicentre outpatient study.

Setting: 98 outpatient facilities in Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region.