Effectiveness and safety of abatacept for the treatment of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the exocrine glands. The disease can be primary or secondary (if it is associated with another autoimmune disease). In Barring symptom management, there is no established treatment. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of abatacept as a treatment of primary Sjogren’s syndrome over the course of 24 months. Eleven patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome from the Rheumatology Department of Universidade Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil were enrolled for a prospective observational study. Eligible participants were diagnosed according to the 2002 American-European consensus criteria and had a score greater than 3 on the EULAR Sjogren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI). Participants received intravenous abatacept for 24 months at a weight-adjusted dose of 500 mg for patients weighing 60 kg. The outcomes were ESSDAI activity index, non-stimulated salivary flow rate, ocular dryness (Schirmer test, tear film break-up time, and ocular staining score), SF-36 questionnaire, and Fatigue domain of the FACIT (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy) index. There was a statistically significant reduction in ESSDAI index and improvement of salivary flow. One subscale of the SF-36 index—emotional role functioning—showed improvement. There was no change in ocular parameters or in the FACIT index. In this sample of 11 patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome, abatacept therapy improved xerostomia and systemic disease activity. Key Points • Abatacept is safe and effective for the treatment of primary Sjogren’s syndrome. • Abatacept can improve salivary flow and ESSDAI index in this patient population.