JPM, Vol. 14, Pages 1105: Secukinumab for the Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis: Long-Term Real-Life Data from Five Italian Referral Centers
Journal of Personalized Medicine doi: 10.3390/jpm14111105
Authors: Stefano Gentileschi Carlo CannistrĂ Carla Gaggiano Arianna Damiani Linda Carli Maurizio Benucci Fabrizio Cantini Laura Niccoli Antonio Vitale Caterina Baldi Andrea Delle Sedie Luca Cantarini Marta Mosca Bruno Frediani Serena Guiducci
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and drug retention rate of secukinumab (SCK) in axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) within a multicentric real-life cohort. Methods: Data from patients with ax-SpA treated with SCK at five Italian centers were collected retrospectively, excluding those with a diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis. Evaluations were conducted at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Assessments included C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), BASDAI, and ASDAS-CRP. Results: Seventy-one ax-SpA patients (57.7% female, mean age: 53.86 ± 12.67 years) were enrolled. Baseline mean BASDAI was 6.2 ± 1.4 and ASDAS-CRP was 2.9 ± 1.3. Significant improvements in BASDAI and ASDAS-CRP were observed over time, with BASDAI reducing to 3.5 ± 1.9 (p < 0.0001) and ASDAS-CRP to 1.7 ± 0.9 (p < 0.0001) at 24 months. The follow-up duration averaged 20.46 ± 13.46 months. By the end of follow-up, 29.5% of patients discontinued SCK. The two-year retention rate was 72%. Dropout risk was higher in patients with fibromyalgia (HR: 2.896, p = 0.026). No significant retention differences were found based on sex, age, enthesitis, radiographic disease, combination with cDMARDs, SCK dosage, or previous bDMARD exposure. Lower ASDAS-CRP at the study’s end was noted in patients without fibromyalgia (1.4 vs. 2.5, p < 0.001). Conclusions: SCK showed rapid and lasting effectiveness for ax-SpA with a favorable retention rate, though fibromyalgia may reduce treatment persistence.