Glucocorticoids and steroid sparing medications monotherapies or in combination for IgG4-RD: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objective. To assess the safety and efficacy of glucocorticoids (GCs), immunosuppressive agents (IM) and rituximab (RTX), alone or in combination, for the treatment of IgG4-RD. Methods. Relevant articles published were searched in the databases with relevant key words. Network meta-analysis was conducted, with various outcomes including relapse rate, remission rate and adverse events. Data were calculated with odds ratio (ORs) and 95% CI. P-score was used to rank the treatments. Results. A total of 15 studies involving 1169 patients were included. Network meta-analysis indicated that RTX maintenance therapy had the lowest relapse rate of all treatments (OR = 0.10, 95% CI [0.01, 1.63]), whereas GCs + IM was associated with a lower relapse rate compared with GCs alone (OR = 0.39, 95% CI [0.20, 0.80]). Further, patients treated with GCs + IM had a higher remission rate than those given GCs (OR = 3.36, 95% CI [1.44, 7.83]), IM (OR = 55.31, 95% CI [13.73, 222.73]) monotherapies or RTX induction therapy only (OR = 7.38, 95% CI [1.56, 34.94]). The rate of adverse events was comparable among the different treatment groups. Conclusion. Treatment of IgG4-RD patients with GCs and IM was associated with higher remission rates and lower relapse rates, as well as comparable safety profiles compared with GC, IM and RTX induction therapy. RTX maintenance therapy had a larger reduction in the relapse rate compared with GC and IM. The current evidence should be carefully scrutinized as the included studies were observational in design. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm.