{
  "abstract": "Objectives To determine whether a BILAG-based definition of remission (BILAG-R) is achievable in patients with SLE.Methods We analysed patients in our prospective cohort who were recruited within 3 years of meeting the ACR Classification Criteria for SLE. Disease activity was measured at each visit using the Classic BILAG Index (until December 2013) or the BILAG-2004 Index. Visit frequency was determined by disease severity. BILAG-R was defined as i) a BILAG D or E score in all domains including haematology, ii) no increase in medication and iii) prednisolone dose <=5mg/day on at least 2 consecutive visits at least 6 months apart. BILAG-R+ was defined as above with no medication allowed apart from antimalarials for>=6 months. BILAG-R-NT was defined as no disease activity and no treatment for >=6 months. Non-parametric tests were used to analyse the data and time-to-first-remission was investigated using Kaplan-Meier (K-M) analysisResults We included 361 patients of whom 92.5% were female with a median (IQR) age at enrolment of 34 (26-45) years. The median follow-up was 14.7 (7.5-20.1) years. Over the follow-up period 117/361 (32.4%) patients met the BILAG-R definition. The median time to enter BILAG-R was 11.7 (4.6-17.1) years. Fewer patients (16.9% and 5.0%) met BILAG-R+ and BILAG-R-NT respectively. The table 1 shows the median time to first meeting the remission definition. The number of patients entering BILAG-R was relatively constant over time (figure 1). In the K-M analysis the number at risk excluded patients who have already entered remission, died or were lost to follow-up.There was no difference in age, sex, ethnic group or ACR criteria at enrolment between patients who did and did not meet BILAG-R over follow-up. In patients with Classic BILAG data at enrolment, fewer patients with musculoskeletal domain involvement (A or B score) at study entry achieved BILAG-R during follow-up (25.9% vs. 42.3%, p=0.007). There were no differences in activity at enrolment in the other BILAG domains.Abstract PO:05:128 Table 1Number of patients entering remission according to each definitionAbstract PO:05:128 Figure 1K-M analysis of the number of patients entering BILAG-R over timeConclusions BILAG-R is achievable in a real-world cohort of patients with SLE. Patients with musculoskeletal disease may be less likely to enter BILAG-R. Drug-free remission is only obtained by a small number of patients with current treatment regimes.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Aidan Aherne"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, Birmingham, UK",
        "Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Arab Republic of Egypt, Mansoura, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Ahmed Saleh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, Birmingham, UK",
        "Rheumatology Department, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Caroline Gordon"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, Birmingham, UK",
        "Rheumatology Department, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "John Reynolds"
    }
  ],
  "title": "PO:05:128 Frequency of remission in a real-world lupus cohort using a BILAG-based definition",
  "uid": "a0fadc65-ff49-55e6-8b27-53299c9c0502"
}