Effect of Dysmetabolisms and Comorbidities on the Efficacy and Safety of Biological Therapy in Chronic Inflammatory Joint Diseases

In the present study we evaluated how systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus influence the efficacy, safety and retention rate of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) treatment in rheumatic musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs). The charts of RMD patients treated with the first-line bDMARD were reviewed, collecting data on safety, efficacy and comorbidities at prescription (baseline, BL), after 6 months (6M) and at last observation on bDMARD (last observation time, LoT). In 383 RMD patients, a higher rate of adverse events at 6M (p = 0.0402) and at LoT (p = 0.0462) was present in dyslipidemic patients. Patients who developed dyslipidemia or SAH during bDMARD treatment had similar results (dyslipidemia p = 0.0007; SAH p = 0.0319) with a longer bDMARD retention as well (dyslipidemia p < 0.0001; SAH p < 0.0001). SAH patients on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) or angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) continued bDMARDs for longer than non-exposed patients (p = 0.001), with higher frequency of drug interruption for long-standing remission rather than inefficacy or adverse reactions (p = 0.0258). Similarly, dyslipidemic patients on statins had a better bDMARD retention than not-exposed patients (p = 0.0420). In conclusion, SAH and dyslipidemia may be associated with higher frequency of adverse events but a better drug retention of first-line bDMARD in RMDs, suggesting an additional effect of ACEis/ARBs or statins on the inflammatory process and supporting their use in RMD bDMARD patients with SAH/dyslipidemia.