SAT0329 Intravenous cyclophosphamide according to the euro-lupus nephritis protocol for progressive interstitial lung disease in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis
Authors: A Notarnicola, M Dastmalchi, S Nyren, K Gunnarsson, L Dani, IE Lundberg
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> Interstitial lung disease (ILD) affects 30–70% of patients with Polymyositis (PM) and Dermatomyositis (DM) and is one of the major contributors of morbidity and mortality. <h3>Objectives</h3> To study the efficacy and the safety of intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCYC) according to the Euro-Lupus nephritis protocol for ILD in PM/DM patients. <h3>Methods</h3> Twelve patients with PM/DM (mean age 54± SD 8), who received, 500 mg IVCYC every other week, up to 12 times, according to the treating physician, as first line treatment, were retrospectively studied. Six patients had anti-Jo1, 4 anti-PL7, 1 anti-PL12, and 1 anti-MDA5 auto-antibodies. The median (IQR) disease duration before IVCYC was 4 (10,8) months. High doses of prednisolone were given for the first month and then gradually tapered. Response to treatment after a median (IQR) follow-up of 5 (2,8) months was based on pulmonary function tests (PFT) and HRCT). The extent of pure ground-glass opacity (pGGO), pulmonary fibrosis (PF), honeycomb cysts (HCs) and emphysema was scored (0=0%, 1=1–5%, 2=6–15%, 3=16–20%, 4=21–25%, 5=26–50%, 6=51–75%, 7= &gt;75%) in the upper, middle and lower lung zones before and after therapy. The total score for each finding was calculated as the sum of the scores of the 3 zones (1). <h3>Results</h3> The mean IVCYC total amount was 4.75 ± SD 1.4 gr. Before IVCYC, the median (IQR) values of forced vital capacity (FVC)%, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)%, vital capacity (VC)%, total lung capacity (TLC)% and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO)% were 67 (26), 60 (14), 63 (11), 63 (12) and 57 (25), respectively. After therapy, the median (IQR) values became 74 (29), 80 (18), 80 (24), 77 (19) and 68 (27), respectively. The difference between baseline and follow-up TLC%, FVC% (fig.1) and VC% median values was statistically significant (p&lt;0,05). FVC% and TLC% improved &gt;10% in 6 and 5 patients, respectively; DLCO% improved &gt;15% in 3 patients. Before IVCYC, the median (IQR) scores of pGGO and PF were 12,5 (9) and 12 (7), respectively. After IVCYC, they decreased (7 (6) and 9 (12), respectively). In the group of anti-Jo-1 positive patients, the difference was close to the statistically significant (from 13,5 (10) to 7,5 (15), p=0,06 and from 9,5 (10) to 4,5 (16), p=0,07, respectively). The median (IQR) pGCO scores of anti-Jo-1 negative patients improved (from 11,5 (11) to 8,50 (17)), while the median (IQR) PF scores were unchanged (from 13,5 (4) to 14 (10)). At baseline and follow up, the median scores of HCs and emphysema were 0. No statistically significant correlations were found between PFT values and HRCT scores. The difference of PF extent was negatively correlated with the disease duration before the first IVCYC (r=-0,56, p=0,056, fig 1). No adverse events or drug toxicity were observed. <h3>Conclusions</h3> After IVCYC according to the Euro-Lupus nephritis protocol PFT and HRCT findings improved in PM/DM patients with ILD without any adverse events or drug toxicity. Longitudinal controlled studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and the safety of this treatment protocol. <h3>References</h3> Goldin JG, et al.High-resolution CT scan findings in patients with symptomatic scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease.Chest. 2008 Aug;134(2):358–67. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared