Marjan Ghiti Moghadam1, Harald E Vonkeman1, Peter M Ten Klooster1, Janneke Tekstra2, Dirkjan van Schaardenburg3, Mirian Starmans-Kool4, Elisabeth Brouwer5, Reinhard Bos6, Willem F Lems3, Edgar M Colin7, Cornelia F Allaart8, Inger L Meek9, Robert Landewé10, Hein J Bernelot Moens7, Piet L C M van Riel9, Mart A F J van de Laar1, Tim L Jansen11. 1. Arthritis Center Twente Medical Spectrum Twente and University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. 2. University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 3. VU University Medical Center and Reade Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 4. Atrium Medical Center, Heerlen, The Netherlands, and Orbis Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands. 5. University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 6. Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. 7. Hospital Group Almelo, Almelo, The Netherlands, and Hengelo Twente Hospital Group, Hengelo, The Netherlands. 8. Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. 9. Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 10. Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 11. VieCuri Medical Center, Rheumatology, Venlo, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biologic agents are an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear whether patients whose disease is in remission or who have stable low disease activity need to continue use of TNFi or can stop this treatment. This study was undertaken to assess whether patients with established RA who are in remission or have stable low disease activity can effectively and safely stop their TNFi therapy. METHODS: The study was designed as a pragmatic multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of RA according to the American College of Rheumatology 1987 classification criteria, as well as use of a TNFi for at least 1 year along with a stable dose of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) of <3.2 over the 6 months preceding trial inclusion. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either stop or continue treatment with their current TNFi. Flare was defined as a DAS28 of ≥3.2 during the 12-month follow-up period and an increase in score of ≥0.6 compared to the baseline DAS28. RESULTS: In total, 531 patients were allocated to the stop group and 286 to the TNFi continuation group. At 12 months, more patients had experienced a flare in the stop group (272 [51.2%] of 531) than in the continuation group (52 [18.2%] of 286; P < 0.001). The hazard ratio for occurrence of a flare after stopping TNFi was 3.50 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.60-4.72). The mean DAS28 in the stop group was significantly higher during the follow-up period compared to that in the continuation group (P < 0.001). Of the 195 patients who restarted TNFi treatment after experiencing a flare and within 26 weeks after stopping, 165 (84.6%) had regained a DAS28 of <3.2 by 6 months later, and the median time to a regained DAS28 of <3.2 was 12 weeks (95% Cl 10.7-13.3). There were more hospitalizations in the stop group than in the continuation group (6.4% versus 2.4%). CONCLUSION: Stopping TNFi treatment results in substantially more flares than does continuation of TNFi in patients with established RA in remission or with stable low disease activity.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biologic agents are an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear whether patients whose disease is in remission or who have stable low disease activity need to continue use of TNFi or can stop this treatment. This study was undertaken to assess whether patients with established RA who are in remission or have stable low disease activity can effectively and safely stop their TNFi therapy. METHODS: The study was designed as a pragmatic multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of RA according to the American College of Rheumatology 1987 classification criteria, as well as use of a TNFi for at least 1 year along with a stable dose of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) of <3.2 over the 6 months preceding trial inclusion. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either stop or continue treatment with their current TNFi. Flare was defined as a DAS28 of ≥3.2 during the 12-month follow-up period and an increase in score of ≥0.6 compared to the baseline DAS28. RESULTS: In total, 531 patients were allocated to the stop group and 286 to the TNFi continuation group. At 12 months, more patients had experienced a flare in the stop group (272 [51.2%] of 531) than in the continuation group (52 [18.2%] of 286; P < 0.001). The hazard ratio for occurrence of a flare after stopping TNFi was 3.50 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.60-4.72). The mean DAS28 in the stop group was significantly higher during the follow-up period compared to that in the continuation group (P < 0.001). Of the 195 patients who restarted TNFi treatment after experiencing a flare and within 26 weeks after stopping, 165 (84.6%) had regained a DAS28 of <3.2 by 6 months later, and the median time to a regained DAS28 of <3.2 was 12 weeks (95% Cl 10.7-13.3). There were more hospitalizations in the stop group than in the continuation group (6.4% versus 2.4%). CONCLUSION: Stopping TNFi treatment results in substantially more flares than does continuation of TNFi in patients with established RA in remission or with stable low disease activity.
Authors: Gerard A Rongen; Iris van Ingen; Marc Kok; Harald Vonkeman; Matthijs Janssen; Tim L Jansen Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2018-01-07 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: E M H Schmitz; S Benoy-De Keuster; A J L Meier; V Scharnhorst; R A M Traksel; M A C Broeren; L J J Derijks Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2017-06-07 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: Katie Bechman; Lieke Tweehuysen; Toby Garrood; David L Scott; Andrew P Cope; James B Galloway; Margaret H Y Ma Journal: J Rheumatol Date: 2018-09-01 Impact factor: 4.666