Autoinflammatory & rare systemic diseases
Association between biologic exposure and relapse incidence in relapsing polychondritis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Biologic exposure was associated with lower relapse rates than during No-Bio periods in relapsing polychondritis, whereas estimates for hospitalized infection were imprecise.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with relapsing polychondritis, Kyoto University Hospital, 2000–23
- Participants
- 55 adults503.5 person-years
- Exposure
- Periods with TNFi or IL-6Ri vs periods without biologics
- Outcome
- Primary outcomes: relapsing polychondritis relapse and hospitalized infection
Methodological detailssingle-centre, negative binomial regression with log(person-time) offset, regression standardization
- Single-centre
- Negative binomial regression with log(person-time) offset
- Regression standardization
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Relapse
Each group vs No-BioIncidence rate ratio (95% CI)
TNFiadjusted
0.4(0.2–0.8)
IL-6Riadjusted
0.2(0.1–0.4)
Each group vs No-BioAdjusted rate difference, events per 100 person-years (95% CI)
TNFi
−54.0(−141.5 to −5.5)
IL-6Ri
−68.3(−149.8 to −21.4)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Safety
| Outcome | IRR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalized infection (co-primary)TNFivs No-BioEstimates imprecise | 0.3 (0.1–1.4) | |
| Hospitalized infection (co-primary)IL-6Rivs No-BioEstimates imprecise | 0.7 (0.2–2.6) | |
| 0.10.31310Incidence rate ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Association between biologic exposure and relapse incidence in relapsing polychondritis: a retrospective cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 11 June 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →