Anifrolumab in systemic lupus erythematosus: real-world evidence from a Spanish multicentre cohort of 206 patients and literature review


Por: Calvo-Río, V, Secada-Gómez, C, Gutiérrez, AM, Retuerto-Guerrero, M, Font, J, Casafont-Solé, I, Mayo-Juanatey, A, Sancho, JJA, Freites, D, Hormigos, C, Puñal, NG, Arribas, GG, Sanchez, JRM, García-Valle, A, Ibañez, M, Morillo, FL, Manzanares, AG, Sandoval-Moreno, S, Cortes-Hernandez, J, Sanchez, DP, Lojo, L, Pérez, ECC, Collado, P, Larios, CA, Icardo, LS, Labrador-Sánchez, E, Peralta-Ginés, C, Onaindia, IU, Plaza-Aulestia, N, Malone, MM, de Salazar, JRG, Corteguera, M, Cebrián-Méndez, L, Pages, FAA, Riazuelo, JRL, Canales, MDF, Hernández, MJA, Bufort, MG, Pàmies, A, de Ardanaz, LS, Aguirre-del-Pino, R, Lefler, JAC, Seijas-Lopez, A, Cubero, MDC, Cofiño, ALC, Ortiz-Santamaria, V, Piñeiro, ML, Calvo, CO, Lopez, CA, Urruticoechea-Arana, A, Magallon, BG, Alfaro, AVA, Rodriguez, SL, Olivares, MS, Villar, PL, Brandy-García, AM, Vilamajo, IR, Martos, AG, Lopez, BPM, Urmeneta, GS, Martín, CC, Riera, E, Bejerano, C, Castañeda, S, Blanco, R

Publicada: 1 mar 2026
Resumen:
Background Anifrolumab is approved for adults with moderate-to-severe active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) based on Randomised clinical trials (RCTs). While randomised pivotal RCTs have demonstrated their efficacy and safety, real-world evidence (RWE) remains limited.Objectives To describe the clinical characteristics, effectiveness and safety of anifrolumab in clinical practice and to assess findings from published observational studies.Methods Multicentre study of patients with SLE classified according to EULAR/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2019. Data were collected from medical records up to 30 April 2025. Variables included demographic characteristics, clinical and serological features, prior and concomitant therapies, disease activity indices including the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), SLE Disease Activity Score (SLE-DAS) and Physician Global Assessment (PGA), damage and disease control measures including the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index, Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) and Definitions of Remission in SLE (DORIS) remission and the association with adverse events (AEs). A review of published observational studies was also conducted.Results We included 206 patients (183 women; mean age 44.6 +/- 12.6 years) from 54 Spanish centres. The most common indications for anifrolumab were cutaneous (61.7%), musculoskeletal (48.5%) and haematological (27.2%). A rapid and sustained improvement was observed in disease activity (SLEDAI-2K, SLE-DAS, PGA), LLDAS, DORIS remission, serological markers (anti-double-stranded DNA, C3/C4) and corticosteroid tapering. Organ damage remained stable. After a mean follow-up of 7.5 +/- 5.3 months, the most frequent AEs were herpes zoster (n= 5), respiratory infections (n= 6) and headache (n= 3). Twenty patients discontinued treatment. These results were consistent with published observational studies.Results We included 206 patients (183 women; mean age 44.6 +/- 12.6 years) from 54 Spanish centres. The most common indications for anifrolumab were cutaneous (61.7%), musculoskeletal (48.5%) and haematological (27.2%). A rapid and sustained improvement was observed in disease activity (SLEDAI-2K, SLE-DAS, PGA), LLDAS, DORIS remission, serological markers (anti-double-stranded DNA, C3/C4) and corticosteroid tapering. Organ damage remained stable. After a mean follow-up of 7.5 +/- 5.3 months, the most frequent AEs were herpes zoster (n= 5), respiratory infections (n= 6) and headache (n= 3). Twenty patients discontinued treatment. These results were consistent with published observational studies.Conclusion In this large RWE cohort, anifrolumab demonstrated early and sustained clinical benefit, a favourable safety profile and a significant corticosteroid-sparing effect. These findings reinforce the evidence from CT and support the incorporation of anifrolumab into routine care for patients with SLE.

Filiaciones:
Calvo-Río, V:
 Univ Cantabria, Hosp Univ Marques Valdecilla, IDIVAL,Immunopathol Grp, Div Rheumatol,Rheumatol,Dept Med & Psychiat, Santander, Spain

Secada-Gómez, C:
 Univ Cantabria, Hosp Univ Marques Valdecilla, IDIVAL,Immunopathol Grp, Div Rheumatol,Rheumatol,Dept Med & Psychiat, Santander, Spain

Gutiérrez, AM:
 Univ Cantabria, Hosp Univ Marques Valdecilla, IDIVAL,Immunopathol Grp, Div Rheumatol,Rheumatol,Dept Med & Psychiat, Santander, Spain

Retuerto-Guerrero, M:
 Hosp Univ Leon, Rheumatol, Leon, Spain

Font, J:
 Hosp Univ Germans Trias i Pujol, Rheumatol, Barcelona, Spain

Casafont-Solé, I:
 Hosp Univ Germans Trias i Pujol, Rheumatol, Barcelona, Spain

Mayo-Juanatey, A:
 Hosp Univ Doctor Peset, Rheumatol, Valencia, Spain

Sancho, JJA:
 Hosp Univ Doctor Peset, Rheumatol, Valencia, Spain

Freites, D:
 Hosp Clin Univ San Carlos, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Hormigos, C:
 Hosp Clin Univ San Carlos, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Puñal, NG:
 Hosp Quironsalud Infanta Luisa, Rheumatol, Seville, Spain

Arribas, GG:
 Hosp Univ A Coruna, Rheumatol, La Coruna, Spain

Sanchez, JRM:
 Hosp Univ Mostoles, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

García-Valle, A:
 Hosp Gen Rio Carrion, Rheumatol, Palencia, Spain

Ibañez, M:
 Hosp Clin Univ Salamanca, Rheumatol, Salamanca, Spain

Morillo, FL:
 Hosp Cent Def Gomez Ulla, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Manzanares, AG:
 Hosp Univ Torrevieja, Rheumatol, Alicante, Spain

Sandoval-Moreno, S:
 Hosp Univ Vall dHebron, Rheumatol, Barcelona, Spain

Cortes-Hernandez, J:
 Hosp Univ Vall dHebron, Rheumatol, Barcelona, Spain

Sanchez, DP:
 Hosp Rafael Mendez, Rheumatol, Murcia, Spain

Lojo, L:
 Hosp Univ Infanta Leonor, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Pérez, ECC:
 Hosp Prov Pontevedra, Rheumatol, Pontevedra, Spain

Collado, P:
 Hosp Univ Severo Ochoa, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Larios, CA:
 Hosp Merida, Rheumatol, Badajoz, Spain

Icardo, LS:
 Hosp Univ Torrejon, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Labrador-Sánchez, E:
 Hosp Gen La Rioja, Rheumatol, Logrono, Spain

Peralta-Ginés, C:
 Hosp Clin Univ Lozano Blesa, Rheumatol, Zaragoza, Spain

Onaindia, IU:
 Hosp Galdakao, Rheumatol, Vizcaya, Spain

Plaza-Aulestia, N:
 Hosp Galdakao, Rheumatol, Vizcaya, Spain

Malone, MM:
 Hosp Calahorra, Rheumatol, Calahorra, Spain

de Salazar, JRG:
 Hosp Marina Baixa, Rheumatol, Villajoyosa, Spain

Corteguera, M:
 Complejo Asistencial Avila, Rheumatol, Avila, Spain

Cebrián-Méndez, L:
 Hosp Univ Infanta Leonor, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Pages, FAA:
 Hosp Gen Segovia, Rheumatol, Segovia, Spain

Riazuelo, JRL:
 Hosp Univ Henares, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Canales, MDF:
 Hosp Barbastro, Rheumatol, Huesca, Spain

Hernández, MJA:
 Hosp Univ Puerta Mar, Rheumatol, Cadiz, Spain

Bufort, MG:
 Hosp Sagunto, Rheumatol, Valencia, Spain

Pàmies, A:
 Hosp Verge Cinta, Rheumatol, Tortosa, Spain

de Ardanaz, LS:
 Complejo Hosp Jaen, Rheumatol, Jaen, Spain

Aguirre-del-Pino, R:
 Hosp Univ Lucus Augusti, Rheumatol, Lugo, Spain

Lefler, JAC:
 Complejo Asistencial Zamora, Rheumatol, Zamora, Spain

Seijas-Lopez, A:
 Hosp Univ Lucus Augusti, Rheumatol, Lugo, Spain

Cubero, MDC:
 Complejo Hosp Univ Badajoz, Rheumatol, Badajoz, Spain

Cofiño, ALC:
 Hosp Santa Barbara, Rheumatol, Soria, Spain

Ortiz-Santamaria, V:
 Hosp Gen Granollers, Rheumatol, Barcelona, Spain

Piñeiro, ML:
 Hosp Univ Navarra, Rheumatol, Pamplona, Spain

Calvo, CO:
 Hosp Univ Cabuenes, Rheumatol, Gijon, Spain

Lopez, CA:
 Hosp Univ Infanta Elena, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Urruticoechea-Arana, A:
 Hosp Univ Son Espases, Rheumatol, Illes Balears, Spain

Magallon, BG:
 Hosp Univ Puerta Hierro, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Alfaro, AVA:
 Hosp Univ Infanta Sofia, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Rodriguez, SL:
 Hosp Univ La Fe, Rheumatol, Valencia, Spain

Olivares, MS:
 Hosp Infanta Cristina, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Villar, PL:
 Hosp Gen Villalba, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Brandy-García, AM:
 Hosp Univ Cabuenes, Rheumatol, Gijon, Spain

Vilamajo, IR:
 Hosp Son Llatzer, Rheumatol, Manacor, Spain

Martos, AG:
 Hosp Tajo, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Lopez, BPM:
 Hosp Santa Creu & Sant Pau, Rheumatol, Barcelona, Spain

Urmeneta, GS:
 Hosp Reina Sofia, Rheumatol, Navarra, Spain

Martín, CC:
 Hosp Univ Nuestra Senora Candelaria, Rheumatol, Canarias, Spain

Riera, E:
 Hosp Univ Mutua Terrassa, Rheumatol, Barcelona, Spain

Bejerano, C:
 Univ Cantabria, Hosp Univ Marques Valdecilla, IDIVAL,Immunopathol Grp, Div Rheumatol,Rheumatol,Dept Med & Psychiat, Santander, Spain

Castañeda, S:
 Hosp Univ Princesa, IIS Princesa, Rheumatol, Madrid, Spain

Blanco, R:
 Univ Cantabria, Hosp Univ Marques Valdecilla, IDIVAL,Immunopathol Grp, Div Rheumatol,Rheumatol,Dept Med & Psychiat, Santander, Spain
ISSN: 20565933





RMD Open
Editorial
BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, BRITISH MED ASSOC HOUSE, TAVISTOCK SQUARE, LONDON WC1H 9JR, ENGLAND, Reino Unido
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 12 Número: 1
Páginas:
WOS Id: 001722180100001
ID de PubMed: 41856562
imagen Green Submitted, gold

MÉTRICAS