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TOPLINE:
Eosinopenia and low ratio between eosinophil count (EC) and neutrophil count (NC) are potential indicators of infection for patients with inflammatory disease who are treated with tocilizumab.
METHODOLOGY:
- The researchers reviewed data from 163 patients treated for an inflammatory disease (mostly rheumatoid arthritis) with tocilizumab at a single center between 2009 and 2020.
- The study population included 41 patients with unscheduled hospitalizations for suspected infections. Patients’ median age was 59 years, and 83% were female.
- The researchers assessed the association in tocilizumab-treated patients between infections and eosinopenia (defined as EC < 0.05 g/L) and a low ratio between EC and NC, defined as EC/NC × 1000 < 11.8.
TAKEAWAY:
- Infectious diseases were diagnosed in 20 of the hospitalized patients (49%); the most common diseases were pneumonia (30%), joint or bone infections (25%), and gastrointestinal tract infections (15%).
- The median absolute EC at hospital admission was significantly lower for patients with infections than for those without infections (0.06 g/L vs 0.20 g/L).
- The median EC/NC × 1000 ratios were significantly lower in infected patients vs noninfected patients (6.54 vs 48.50).
- No differences appeared between patients with and without infections in age, sex, type of inflammatory disease, and steroid treatment.
IN PRACTICE:
“This original study suggests that all those easily available parameters should be used to maximize [sensitivity] in the screening of infection in patients undergoing treatment with IL-6 pathway antagonists,” the researchers wrote.
SOURCE:
The lead author on the study was Audrey Glatre, MD, of University Hospital Centre Reims, France. The study was published online in RMD Open on February 9.
LIMITATIONS:
The retrospective, observational design; relatively small study population; and use of data from a single center were potential limitations of the findings.
DISCLOSURES:
The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
Eosinopenia and low ratio between eosinophil count (EC) and neutrophil count (NC) are potential indicators of infection for patients with inflammatory disease who are treated with tocilizumab.
METHODOLOGY:
- The researchers reviewed data from 163 patients treated for an inflammatory disease (mostly rheumatoid arthritis) with tocilizumab at a single center between 2009 and 2020.
- The study population included 41 patients with unscheduled hospitalizations for suspected infections. Patients’ median age was 59 years, and 83% were female.
- The researchers assessed the association in tocilizumab-treated patients between infections and eosinopenia (defined as EC < 0.05 g/L) and a low ratio between EC and NC, defined as EC/NC × 1000 < 11.8.
TAKEAWAY:
- Infectious diseases were diagnosed in 20 of the hospitalized patients (49%); the most common diseases were pneumonia (30%), joint or bone infections (25%), and gastrointestinal tract infections (15%).
- The median absolute EC at hospital admission was significantly lower for patients with infections than for those without infections (0.06 g/L vs 0.20 g/L).
- The median EC/NC × 1000 ratios were significantly lower in infected patients vs noninfected patients (6.54 vs 48.50).
- No differences appeared between patients with and without infections in age, sex, type of inflammatory disease, and steroid treatment.
IN PRACTICE:
“This original study suggests that all those easily available parameters should be used to maximize [sensitivity] in the screening of infection in patients undergoing treatment with IL-6 pathway antagonists,” the researchers wrote.
SOURCE:
The lead author on the study was Audrey Glatre, MD, of University Hospital Centre Reims, France. The study was published online in RMD Open on February 9.
LIMITATIONS:
The retrospective, observational design; relatively small study population; and use of data from a single center were potential limitations of the findings.
DISCLOSURES:
The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
Eosinopenia and low ratio between eosinophil count (EC) and neutrophil count (NC) are potential indicators of infection for patients with inflammatory disease who are treated with tocilizumab.
METHODOLOGY:
- The researchers reviewed data from 163 patients treated for an inflammatory disease (mostly rheumatoid arthritis) with tocilizumab at a single center between 2009 and 2020.
- The study population included 41 patients with unscheduled hospitalizations for suspected infections. Patients’ median age was 59 years, and 83% were female.
- The researchers assessed the association in tocilizumab-treated patients between infections and eosinopenia (defined as EC < 0.05 g/L) and a low ratio between EC and NC, defined as EC/NC × 1000 < 11.8.
TAKEAWAY:
- Infectious diseases were diagnosed in 20 of the hospitalized patients (49%); the most common diseases were pneumonia (30%), joint or bone infections (25%), and gastrointestinal tract infections (15%).
- The median absolute EC at hospital admission was significantly lower for patients with infections than for those without infections (0.06 g/L vs 0.20 g/L).
- The median EC/NC × 1000 ratios were significantly lower in infected patients vs noninfected patients (6.54 vs 48.50).
- No differences appeared between patients with and without infections in age, sex, type of inflammatory disease, and steroid treatment.
IN PRACTICE:
“This original study suggests that all those easily available parameters should be used to maximize [sensitivity] in the screening of infection in patients undergoing treatment with IL-6 pathway antagonists,” the researchers wrote.
SOURCE:
The lead author on the study was Audrey Glatre, MD, of University Hospital Centre Reims, France. The study was published online in RMD Open on February 9.
LIMITATIONS:
The retrospective, observational design; relatively small study population; and use of data from a single center were potential limitations of the findings.
DISCLOSURES:
The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
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All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, copied, or otherwise reproduced or distributed without the prior written permission of Frontline Medical Communications Inc.</copyrightNotice> </rightsInfo> </provider> <abstract/> <metaDescription>Eosinopenia and low ratio between eosinophil count (EC) and neutrophil count (NC) are potential indicators of infection for patients with inflammatory disease w</metaDescription> <articlePDF/> <teaserImage/> <teaser>The discriminating capacity of certain routinely obtained cell count and protein biomarkers distinguished infected and noninfected adults with inflammatory diseases.</teaser> <title>What Markers Are Helpful to Diagnose Infection in Tocilizumab Users?</title> <deck/> <disclaimer/> <AuthorList/> <articleURL/> <doi/> <pubMedID/> <publishXMLStatus/> <publishXMLVersion>1</publishXMLVersion> <useEISSN>0</useEISSN> <urgency/> <pubPubdateYear/> <pubPubdateMonth/> <pubPubdateDay/> <pubVolume/> <pubNumber/> <wireChannels/> <primaryCMSID/> <CMSIDs/> <keywords/> <seeAlsos/> <publications_g> <publicationData> <publicationCode>rn</publicationCode> <pubIssueName/> <pubArticleType/> <pubTopics/> <pubCategories/> <pubSections/> </publicationData> <publicationData> <publicationCode>idprac</publicationCode> <pubIssueName/> <pubArticleType/> <pubTopics/> <pubCategories/> <pubSections/> </publicationData> </publications_g> <publications> <term canonical="true">26</term> <term>20</term> </publications> <sections> <term canonical="true">27970</term> <term>39313</term> </sections> <topics> <term canonical="true">289</term> <term>271</term> <term>241</term> <term>50732</term> </topics> <links/> </header> <itemSet> <newsItem> <itemMeta> <itemRole>Main</itemRole> <itemClass>text</itemClass> <title>What Markers Are Helpful to Diagnose Infection in Tocilizumab Users?</title> <deck/> </itemMeta> <itemContent> <h2>TOPLINE:</h2> <p>Eosinopenia and low ratio between eosinophil count (EC) and neutrophil count (NC) are potential indicators of infection for patients with inflammatory disease who are treated with <span class="Hyperlink">tocilizumab</span>.</p> <h2>METHODOLOGY:</h2> <ul class="body"> <li>The researchers reviewed data from 163 patients treated for an inflammatory disease (mostly <span class="Hyperlink">rheumatoid arthritis</span>) with tocilizumab at a single center between 2009 and 2020.</li> <li>The study population included 41 patients with unscheduled hospitalizations for suspected infections. Patients’ median age was 59 years, and 83% were female.</li> <li>The researchers assessed the association in tocilizumab-treated patients between infections and eosinopenia (defined as EC < 0.05 g/L) and a low ratio between EC and NC, defined as EC/NC × 1000 < 11.8.</li> </ul> <h2>TAKEAWAY:</h2> <ul class="body"> <li>Infectious diseases were diagnosed in 20 of the hospitalized patients (49%); the most common diseases were pneumonia (30%), joint or bone infections (25%), and gastrointestinal tract infections (15%).</li> <li>The median absolute EC at hospital admission was significantly lower for patients with infections than for those without infections (0.06 g/L vs 0.20 g/L).</li> <li>The median EC/NC × 1000 ratios were significantly lower in infected patients vs noninfected patients (6.54 vs 48.50).</li> <li>No differences appeared between patients with and without infections in age, sex, type of inflammatory disease, and steroid treatment.</li> </ul> <h2>IN PRACTICE:</h2> <p>“This original study suggests that all those easily available parameters should be used to maximize [sensitivity] in the screening of infection in patients undergoing treatment with IL-6 pathway antagonists,” the researchers wrote.</p> <h2>SOURCE:</h2> <p>The lead author on the study was Audrey Glatre, MD, of University Hospital Centre Reims, France. The study was <span class="Hyperlink"><a href="https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/10/1/e003998.long">published online</a></span> in <em>RMD Open</em> on February 9.</p> <h2>LIMITATIONS:</h2> <p>The retrospective, observational design; relatively small study population; and use of data from a single center were potential limitations of the findings.</p> <h2>DISCLOSURES:</h2> <p>The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.<br/><br/></p> <p> <em>A version of this article appeared on <span class="Hyperlink"><a href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/diagnosing-infection-tocilizumab-users-whats-helpful-2024a10003li?src=">Medscape.com</a></span>.</em> </p> </itemContent> </newsItem> <newsItem> <itemMeta> <itemRole>teaser</itemRole> <itemClass>text</itemClass> <title/> <deck/> </itemMeta> <itemContent> </itemContent> </newsItem> </itemSet></root>