AB0277 PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS MARKERS IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH BIOLOGICAL DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS: RESULTS OF THE TUNISIAN REGISTRY BINAR
Authors: A. Fazaa, H. Boussaa, S. Miladi, K. Ouenniche, L. Souabni, S. Kassab, S. Chekili, K. Ben Abdelghani, L. Abdelmoula, S. Baklouti, N. Bergaoui, E. Bouajina, M. Elleuch, I. Gharsallah, Y. Mohamed, M. M. Kchir, S. Kochbati, A. Laatar
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: In the recent decades, biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) have significantly improved management and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA). However, bDMARDs have also a strong influence on the immune system, leading to a risk of serious infection. Reactivation of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus is one of the most redoubtable complications of these immunosuppressive agents. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the screening rate for hepatitis B and C before starting a biological treatment and to examine the prevalence of their markers in patients with RA or SpA. Methods: Our study evaluated all patients included in the Tunisian registry BINAR (Biologic National Registry) since 2018 who had RA (ACR/EULAR 2010) or SpA (ASAS criteria) aged with more than eighteen years old and receiving their first bDMARDs during the two past years. The following information were retrieved from the registry: demographic data on the patients, disease parameters, medication, HBV surface antigen (HBs Ag), antibody to HBs Ag (Anti HBs), antibody to HBV core antigen (Anti HBc), HBV-DNA, antibody to HCV (anti HCV) status and liver function tests (AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT:alanine aminotransferase). Results: A total of 298 patients was included, 111 men and 178 women, with a mean age of 49.2 ± 14.1 years old [18-79]. Among them, 58.7% were diagnosed with RA and 41.3% were diagnosed with SpA. The mean disease duration was 6.7±3.5 years [1-12] in patients with RA and 6.5±3 [1-12] in patients with SpA. The mean Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were respectively of 4.9±1.5 [1-8] and 4.1±1.8 [0-9]. Therapeutically, 167 patients (56%) were on Prednisone at a mean daily posology of 8.2±5.4 mg [4-60] and 70.3% on conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) in association with bDMARDs. It was about Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha antibodies (anti TNF a) in 87.9% of cases, Tocilizumab in 10.4% of cases and Rituximab in 5% of cases. A screening of HBV was performed in 286 patients (96%). Ag HBs was positive in two cases (0.7%), and anti-HBc was positive in 16 cases (6.4%) which indicate a prior HBV infection. Fifteen patients (6%) were immunized with positive anti HBs. HBV-DNA was measured in 177 cases (66.8%) and was positive in 15 patients (6%). HCV infection was searched in 282 patients (94.6%) and anti-HCV was negative in all cases. AST and ALT mean rates were respectively of 18.3 [2-108] and 17.9 UI/l [2-74]. A perturbation of these liver function tests was observed in 13 patients (4.4%). Conclusion: Screening for hepatitis B and C were performed respectively in 96% and 94% of our Tunisian patients before receiving any bDMARDs. This should be systematic to avoid HBV reactivation which can lead to fulminant hepatic failure with a severe prognosis. Disclosure of Interests: None declared