R Polychondritis

Biologic exposure (TNF-α inhibitors [TNFi] or IL-6 receptor inhibitors [IL-6Ri]) is associated with substantially lower relapse rates in relapsing #polychondritis (RP) compared with periods without biologics, as demonstrated by a recent retrospective cohort study (Kyoto University Hospital, 2000–2023). 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ◦ 55 adults with RP followed for 503.5 person-years (28 never exposed to biologics; 27 ever exposed). ◦ Follow-up time was divided into No-Bio, TNFi, and IL-6Ri periods. ◦ Primary outcomes were relapse and hospitalized infection. ◦ Analyses used negative binomial regression with person-time offset, adjustment for prespecified covariates, and regression standardization for absolute rates/differences. 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 ◦ Within the ever-Bio group, crude relapse rates were 46.9 (No-Bio), 22.4 (TNFi), and 12.5 (IL-6Ri) per 100 person-years. In adjusted models: • TNFi vs No-Bio: IRR 0.4 (95% CI 0.2–0.8); adjusted rate difference −54.0 events per 100 person-years (95% CI −141.5 to −5.5). • IL-6Ri vs No-Bio: IRR 0.2 (95% CI 0.1–0.4); adjusted rate difference −68.3 events per 100 person-years (95% CI −149.8 to −21.4). ◦ Hospitalized infection IRRs were imprecise (TNFi 0.3 [0.1–1.4]; IL-6Ri 0.7 [0.2–2.6]). Overall, biologic periods showed lower relapse incidence than non-biologic periods, while data on serious infections remained inconclusive due to limited precision. *Nakayama Y, Aitani Y, Shirakashi M, et al. Association between biologic exposure and relapse incidence in relapsing polychondritis: a retrospective cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2026;65(6):keag305. 🔗doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology…