Relapse risk after glucocorticoid withdrawal in stable Sjögren’s disease-associated interstitial lung disease: a retrospective cohort study in China
摘要
To explore the risk of relapse after glucocorticoids (GCs) withdrawal in patients with stable Sjögren’s disease-associated interstitial lung disease (SjD-ILD).
MethodsThis was a single-center, retrospective cohort study conducted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between February 2016 and January 2024. The study compared two treatment strategies for patients with stable SjD-ILD: GC withdrawal versus GC maintenance. The primary endpoint was to compare the relapse rates between the two groups over a 3-year follow-up period. The secondary endpoints included changes in pulmonary function, serological markers, and adverse events.
ResultsA total of 134 patients were included in this study, with 61 in the GC withdrawal group and 73 in the GC maintenance group. Over the 3-year follow-up, 16 patients (27.93%) in the withdrawal group and 19 patients (28.77%) in the maintenance group experienced a relapse. No significant difference was found in relapse rates between the two groups (HR = 1.011, 95% CI 0.517–1.977, p = 0.974). Changes in pulmonary function, ESR, hs-CRP, C3, and C4 levels showed no significant differences, while IgG changes differed at the 2- and 3-year follow-up (p < 0.05). Adverse event rates were similar between groups.
ConclusionsGCs’ withdrawal in patients with stable SjD-ILD did not increase the relapse risk compared to continuing low-dose GCs’ therapy. These findings suggest that cautious GCs’ withdrawal might be a viable option for patients with stable, clinically inactive SjD-ILD.