Off-label use of biologics for the treatment of refractory and/or relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Objective: To describe the efficacy and safety of off-label use of biologics for refractory and/or relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Methods: We conducted a French retrospective study including GPA patients who received off-label biologics for refractory and/or relapsing disease after failure of conventional immunosuppressive regimens. Results: Among 26 patients included, 18 received infliximab (IFX), 2 adalimumab (ADA) and 6 abatacept (ABA). Biologics were initiated in median as 4th-line therapy (IQR 3-6) for relapsing and/or refractory disease in 23 (88%) and/or significant glucocorticoid-dependency in 8 cases (31%). At biologics initiation, median (IQR) BVAS and prednisone dose in anti-TNF-alpha and ABA recipients were 7 (3-8) and 2 (1-6), and 20 (13-30) mg/day and 20 (15-25) mg/day, respectively. Clinical manifestations requiring biologics were mainly pulmonary and ENT manifestations in 58% each. Anti-TNF-alpha and ABA were continued for a median duration of 8 months (IQR 6-13) and 11 months (IQR 6-18) respectively. Anti-TNF-alpha recipients showed remission, partial response and treatment failure in 10%, 30% and 60% at 6 months, and 25%, 20% and 55% at 12 months, respectively. ABA recipients showed remission, partial response and treatment failure in 17%, 33% and 50% at 6 months and 17%, 33% and 50% at 12 months. One patient treated with IFX experienced life-threatening reaction while one patient treated with ABA experienced a severe infection. Conclusion: This real-life study suggests that off-label use of anti-TNF-alpha and abatacept shows efficacy in less than 50% of refractory and/or relapsing GPA.

Automated summary

This retrospective study examines the efficacy and safety of off-label use of biologics for refractory and/or relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). The study suggests that the use of anti-TNF-alpha and abatacept shows efficacy in less than 50% of patients with refractory and/or relapsing GPA.