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Objective To describe the clinical efficacy of tixagevimab/cilgavimab in pre-exposure prophylaxis in patients at risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and unresponsive to vaccination (anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies <260 binding antibody units/ml) in rheumatology. Methods In this multicentre observational study we included patients with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases who received pre-exposure prophylaxis with tixagevimab/cilgavimab between December 2021 and August 2022. The endpoint was incidence of COVID-19 and its severity. Results Tixagevimab/cilgavimab was administered to 115 patients with a median age of 62 years [interquartile range (IQR) 52–71], chronic arthritis (n  = 53), connective tissue disease (n  = 38) or vasculitis (n  = 11). The main background immunosuppressants were rituximab (n  = 98), corticosteroids [ n  = 62; median dose 5 mg (95% CI 5–8)] and methotrexate (n  = 48). During a median follow-up of 128 days (IQR 93–173), COVID-19 occurred in 23/115 patients (20%) and the omicron variant was identified for the eight genotyped patients. During the study period, the average weekly incidence was 1071/100 000 inhabitants in Île-de-France vs 588/100 000 in our patients. Patients who received a two-injection regimen had a lower risk of infection than those with a single injection [16/49 (33%) vs 5/64 (8%), P  = 0.0012]. The COVID-19-positive patients did not differ from uninfected patients concerning age, comorbidities, underlying rheumatic disease and immunosuppressants. All COVID-19 cases were non-severe. The tolerance of injections was excellent. Conclusion In a population with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases at risk of severe COVID-19 unresponsive to vaccination, pre-exposure prophylaxis withy tixagevimab/cilgavimab was associated with a lower incidence of COVID-19 and no severe infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the impact of SpA and its treatments on fertility and pregnancy outcomes, as well as the impact of pregnancy on disease activity. Methods A systematic review and meta-analyses were performed, including studies in women with SpA [axial (axSpA) and peripheral SpA, including PsA]. The heterogeneity between studies was quantified (I 2), and in the case of substantial heterogeneity, the results were reported in a narrative review. Results Of 4397 eligible studies, 21 articles were included, assessing a total of 3566 patients and 3718 pregnancies, compared with 42 264 controls. There is a lack of data on fertility in the literature. We found an increased risk of preterm birth [pooled odds ratio (OR) 1.64 (1.15–2.33), I 2 =24% in axSpA and 1.62 (1.23–2.15), I 2 =0.0% in PsA], small for gestational age [pooled OR 2.05 (1.09–3.89), I 2 =5.8% in axSpA], preeclampsia [pooled OR 1.59 (1.11–2.27], I 2 =0% in axSpA] and caesarean section [pooled OR 1.70 (1.44–2.00), I 2 =19.9% in axSpA and 1.71 (1.14–2.55), I 2 =74.3% in PsA], without any other unfavourable pregnancy outcome. Further analysis showed a significantly higher risk of elective caesarean section [pooled OR 2.64 (1.92–3.62), I 2 =0.0% in axSpA and 1.47 [1.15–1.88], I 2 =0,0% in PsA), without increased risk of emergency caesarean section in PsA. During pregnancy, there appears to be a tendency for unchanged or worsened disease activity in axSpA and unchanged or improved disease activity in PsA. Both conditions tend to flare in the postpartum period. Conclusion SpA seems to be associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, small for gestational age, preeclampsia, and caesarean section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of disease activity and treatment on fertility outcomes in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) has been little explored. This study aimed to describe median time to pregnancy (TTP) in women with SpA and the factors influencing TTP in this population., Methods: This prospective observational multicentre (63 centres) French cohort (GR2 study-NCT02450396) included consecutive women with a diagnosis of SpA (according to their rheumatologist) who wanted to become pregnant between 2015 and 2021. TTP (in months) was the main outcome criterion, prospectively calculated from the date of study inclusion to the date of conception. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, disease activity, severity and treatment were prospectively collected at inclusion and each year thereafter until pregnancy occurred. TTP and its associated factors were estimated by survival analysis (Shared Frailty Cox models), with a random centre effect and multiple imputation to address missing data., Results: We analysed 88 women included before conception. Among them, 56 (63.6%) became pregnant during follow-up. Median TTP was 16.1 (95% CI (12.2 to 25.3)) months. Mean preconceptional Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index at inclusion was 2.9 (±SD 2.1). Patients were treated with TNF inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and glucocorticoids in 61 (69.3%), 23 (26.1%), 12 (13.6%) and 8 (9.1%) cases, respectively. The multivariate model found a significant association between TTP and age (HR) (per year) 1.22 95% CI (1.08 to 1.40); p<0.001) and the use of NSAIDs during preconception (HR 3.01 95% CI (2.15 to 3.85); p=0.01)., Conclusion: Age and NSAID use during preconception were significantly associated with a longer TTP, after adjustment for other confounding factors. These findings warrant caution in the use of NSAIDs in SpA patients trying to conceive., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)