Journal Information
Brief Report
Available online 4 December 2025
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with chronic kidney disease: A real-world experience
Tratamiento de la artritis reumatoide en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica: una experiencia de vida real
Wilmer Gerardo Rojas-Zuleta
Corresponding author
gerardo.rojas@udea.edu.co

Corresponding author.
, Yesith Guillermo Toloza-Pérez, Carolina Becerra Arias, Jorge Donado Gómez, Jeixa Jennifer Canizales Rodríguez, Oscar Jair Felipe Díaz
Medicarte SAS, Centro de Enfermedades Inmunomediadas, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Article information
Abstract
Full Text
Bibliography
Download PDF
Statistics
Tables (1)
Table 1. Clinical characteristics of patient with eGFR<30 ml/min/1.73m2.
Tables
Abstract
Introduction/Objectives

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease, which complicates the safe use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), particularly in patients with severe renal impairment. Our aim was to describe treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in this population.

Methods

Descriptive study of a cohort of RA patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 ml/min/1.73 m2, managed in a comprehensive care program between 2022 to 2024. Clinical, therapeutic, and safety data were collected.

Results

A total of 38 patients were identified, most of whom were elderly women with a high burden of comorbidities. Leflunomide was the most frequently used conventional synthetic DMARD. Biologic therapy was used in 42% of cases, with rituximab being the most commonly prescribed agent. Most patients achieved remission or low disease activity, with no serious adverse events reported.

Conclusions

These findings provide real-world evidence on the effectiveness and safety of DMARDs in a population often excluded from clinical trials, underscoring the need for prospective studies to inform long-term therapeutic decisions.

Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Chronic kidney disease
Drug safety
Effectiveness
Resumen
Introducción

La artritis reumatoide se asocia con un mayor riesgo de enfermedad renal crónica, lo que dificulta el uso seguro de DMARDs, especialmente en pacientes con deterioro grave de la función renal. Nuestro objetivo es describir el tratamiento y desenlaces clínicos en esta población.

Métodos

Estudio descriptivo de una cohorte de pacientes con AR y tasa de filtración glomerular estimada (TFGe) <30 ml/min/1,73 m2, atendidos entre 2022 y 2024 en un programa de atención integral. Se recopilaron datos clínicos, terapéuticos y de seguridad.

Resultados

Se identificaron 38 pacientes, la mayoría eran mujeres de edad avanzada con alta carga de comorbilidades. La leflunomida fue el DMARD sintético más utilizado. El 42% recibió terapia biológica, siendo rituximab el más prescrito. La mayoría alcanzó remisión o baja actividad de la enfermedad, sin eventos adversos graves registrados.

Conclusiones

Estos hallazgos aportan evidencia de vida real sobre la efectividad y seguridad de los DMARDs en un escenario poco estudiado, resaltando la necesidad de estudios prospectivos para guiar decisiones terapéuticas a largo plazo.

Palabras clave:
Artritis reumatoide
Enfermedad renal crónica
Seguridad
Efectividad

Article

These are the options to access the full texts of the publication Reumatología Clínica (English Edition)
Member
If you are member of Sociedad Española de Reumatología (SER) or the Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología (CMR):
Please go to the member area of SER or CMR and log in.
Subscriber
Subscriber

If you already have your login data, please click here .

If you have forgotten your password you can you can recover it by clicking here and selecting the option “I have forgotten my password”
Subscribe
Subscribe to

Reumatología Clínica (English Edition)

Purchase
Purchase article

Purchasing article the PDF version will be downloaded

Purchase now
Contact
Phone for subscriptions and reporting of errors
From Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (GMT + 1) except for the months of July and August which will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Calls from Spain
932 415 960
Calls from outside Spain
+34 932 415 960
Email
Idiomas
Reumatología Clínica (English Edition)
Article options
Tools