The Incidence of Extra-Articular Manifestations in Participants With Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated With Golimumab (MK-8259-012) (GO-EASY)

Uveitis is an extra-articular manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) involving inflammation of the eye. The occurrence rate (assessed as present/absent) of uveitis attacks was determined over two 1-year long periods regardless of whether the event started during the assessed year: 1) the historical observation period consisting of the year before initial anti-TNF treatment (for anti-TNF experienced participants) or prior to first GLM dose (for anti-TNF naïve participants); and 2) the GLM observation period consisting of the year after first GLM dose.

Uveitis is an extra-articular manifestation of AS involving inflammation of the eye. The annual incidence rate of new uveitis attacks was determined over two 1-year long periods: 1) the historical observation period consisting of the year before initial anti-TNF treatment (for anti-TNF experienced participants) or prior to first GLM dose (for anti-TNF naïve participants); and 2) the GLM observation period consisting of the year after first GLM dose. All participants were counted as contributing a full year of GLM exposure even if discontinuing early. Due to ongoing uveitis cases at time of period entry, participants did not have the same risk of new events during the one year periods. Participants with ongoing uveitis at start of GLM who had the adverse event for the entire treatment period were counted as having the 'new attack' before and no "new attack" after GLM treatment start.

IBD (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) and psoriaris are extra-articular manifestations of AS involving the intestinal tract and skin, respectively. The annual incidence rates of new-onset or flares of IBD and psoriasis were to be determined separately (i.e., for each condition) over two 1-year long periods: 1) the historical observation period consisting of the year before initial anti-TNF treatment (for anti-TNF experienced participants) or prior to first GLM dose (for anti-TNF naïve participants); and 2) the GLM observation period consisting of the year after first GLM dose.

The percentage of participants with a BASDAI 50 response (defined as a 50% improvement or as an absolute improvement of 2 points in their BASDAI physical function score) at three months was determined. The BASDAI consists of total of six visual analog scales (VAS): five VAS (0 to 10 cm; increasing severity) measuring severity of fatigue, spinal pain, peripheral joint pain or swelling, localized tenderness, and severity of morning stiffness and one VAS (0 to 10 cm; increasing duration up to 2 hours) measuring duration of morning stiffness. The morning stiffness scores are averaged and summed with the scores for the remaining four items resulting in a composite score (0-50); the final BASDAI score (0-10) is derived by dividing by 5.

The percentage of participants with ASDAS clinically important improvement (ASDAS-CII; ≥ 1.1 units) and major improvement (ASDAS-MI; ≥ 2.0 units) at 3 months were determined. The ASDAS incorporates three items from the BASDAI (spinal pain, duration of morning stiffness, and peripheral joint pain or swelling) each assessed on a VAS (0 to 10 cm; increasing severity) as well as patient global assessment of disease activity (VAS; 0 to 10 cm; increasing severity) and a laboratory measure of inflammation (CRP level [mg/L] or ESR [mm/hr]). ASDAS was calculated using the formula: 0.12*Spinal Pain + 0.06*Duration of Morning Stiffness + 0.11*Patient Global + 0.07*Peripheral Pain/Swelling + 0.58*ln(CRP (mg/L) +1). A decrease in ASDAS at 3 months relative to BL signifies an improvement in physical function; ASDAS-MI (≥ 2.0 units decrease from BL) signifies a comparatively greater improvement in physical function than ASDAS-CII (≥ 1.1 units decrease from BL).