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Sulli A, Clini P, Bruzzone G, Signori A, Vojinovic T, Paolino S, Gotelli E, Hysa E, Smith V, Cutolo M. An engineered glove to follow finger function in rheumatoid arthritis: an observational prospective study. Rheumatol Int 2024; 44:307-318. [PMID: 37702804 PMCID: PMC10796736 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05444-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
The engineered Hand Test System (HTS) glove has shown high reliability in assessing the baseline functional status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) hand. Starting from this achievement, the aim of the present observational prospective study was to assess the functionality of the single fingers of rheumatoid hand at follow-up. Eighty RA patients performed HTS glove tests at baseline and among these fifty-six patients were re-tested after 7 months. The HTS glove parameters [Touch Duration (TD), Movement Rate (MR), Inter Tapping Interval (ITI)] were correlated with disease activity and disability clinimetric indexes [Disease Activity Score 28 joint count-C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), grip strength, visual analogue scale of pain (VAS), patient global assessment (PGA)], and with laboratory values. HTS glove parameters (TD, ITI, and MR) showed statistically significant correlations with clinimetric and clinical indexes at both time points (p < 0.05). During follow-up, a statistically significant variation of all HTS glove parameters for the fingers that have performed both the worst or best HTS test at baseline was detected (p < 0.05), while the mean HTS glove parameter values by considering all fingers did not show a statistically significant variation over time, as well as the traditional clinimetric indexes. Besides the objective role in assessing the RA hand function by integrating the traditional clinimetric indexes, the HTS glove seems a useful tool for evaluating worst or best finger function during time by measuring the movement speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sulli
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - P Clini
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - G Bruzzone
- Geriatric Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - A Signori
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Section of Biostatistics, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - T Vojinovic
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - S Paolino
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - E Gotelli
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - E Hysa
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - V Smith
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Unit for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), Vlaams Instituut Voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Cutolo
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
- IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
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2
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Boers M. Correspondence on "Testing different thresholds for patient global assessment in defining remission for rheumatoid arthritis: are the current ACR/EULAR Boolean criteria optimal?". Ann Rheum Dis 2023; 82:e201. [PMID: 37080714 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2022-223599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Boers
- Epidemiology & Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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3
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Westerlind H, Glintborg B, Hammer HB, Saevarsdottir S, Krogh NS, Hetland ML, Hauge EM, Martinez Tejada I, Sexton J, Askling J. Remission, response, retention and persistence to treatment with disease-modifying agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a study of harmonised Swedish, Danish and Norwegian cohorts. RMD Open 2023; 9:e003027. [PMID: 37673441 PMCID: PMC10496677 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Precision medicine in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) requires a good understanding of treatment outcomes and often collaborative efforts that call for data harmonisation. We aimed to describe how harmonisation across study cohorts can be achieved and investigate how the observed proportions reaching remission vary across remission criteria, study types, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and countries, and how they relate to other treatment outcomes. METHODS We used data from eight existing large-scale, clinical RA registers and a pragmatic trial from Sweden, Denmark and Norway. In these, we defined three types of treatment cohorts; methotrexate monotherapy (as first DMARD), tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) (as first biological DMARD) and rituximab. We developed a harmonised study protocol defining time points during 36 months of follow-up, collected clinical visit data on treatment response, retention, persistence and six alternative definitions of remission, and investigated how these outcomes differed within and between cohorts, by treatment. RESULTS Cohort sizes ranged from ~50 to 22 000 patients with RA. The proportions reaching each outcome varied across outcome metric, but with small to modest variations within and between cohorts, countries and treatment. Retention and persistence rates were high (>50% at 1 year), yet <33% of patients starting methotrexate or TNFi, and only 10% starting rituximab, remained on drug without other DMARDs added and achieved American Congress of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology or Simplified Disease Activity Index remission at 1 year. CONCLUSION Harmonisation of data from different RA data sources can be achieved without compromising internal validity or generalisability. The low proportions reaching remission, point to an unmet need for treatment optimisation in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helga Westerlind
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bente Glintborg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- DANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Centre for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Hilde Berner Hammer
- Center for treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Saedis Saevarsdottir
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Niels Steen Krogh
- DANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Centre for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Merete Lund Hetland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- DANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Centre for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Ellen-Margrethe Hauge
- Department of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Isabel Martinez Tejada
- DANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Centre for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Joseph Sexton
- Center for treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Johan Askling
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Studenic P, Aletaha D, de Wit M, Stamm TA, Alasti F, Lacaille D, Smolen JS, Felson DT. American College of Rheumatology/EULAR Remission Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis: 2022 Revision. Arthritis Rheumatol 2023; 75:15-22. [PMID: 36274193 PMCID: PMC10092655 DOI: 10.1002/art.42347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In 2011, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and EULAR endorsed provisional criteria for remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), both Boolean- and index-based. Based on recent studies indicating that a higher threshold for the patient global assessment (PtGA) may improve agreement between the 2 sets of criteria, our goals were to externally validate a revision of the Boolean remission criteria using a higher PtGA threshold and to validate the provisionally endorsed index-based criteria. METHODS We used data from 4 randomized trials comparing biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs to methotrexate or placebo. We tested the higher proposed PtGA threshold of 2 cm (Boolean2.0) (range 0-10 cm) compared to the original threshold of 1 cm (Boolean1.0). We analyzed agreement between the Boolean- and index-based criteria (Simplified Disease Activity Index [SDAI] and Clinical Disease Activity Index [CDAI]) for remission and examined how well each remission definition predicted later good physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ] score ≤0.5) and radiographic nonprogression. RESULTS Data from 2,048 trial participants, 1,101 with early RA and 947 with established RA, were included. The proportion of patients with disease in remission at 6 months after treatment initiation increased when using Boolean2.0 compared to Boolean1.0, from 14.8% to 20.6% in early RA and 4.2% to 6.0% in established RA. Agreement between Boolean2.0 and the SDAI or CDAI remission criteria was better than for Boolean1.0, particularly in early disease. Boolean2.0, SDAI, and CDAI remission criteria had similar positive likelihood ratios (LRs) to predict radiographic nonprogression and a HAQ score of ≤0.5 (positive LR 3.8-4.3). The omission of PtGA (BooleanX) worsened the prediction of good functional outcomes. CONCLUSION Using the Boolean 2.0 criteria classifies more patients as achieving remission and increases the agreement with index-based remission criteria without jeopardizing predictive value for radiographic or functional outcomes. This revised Boolean definition and the previously provisionally endorsed index-based criteria were endorsed by ACR and EULAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Studenic
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine (Solna), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Daniel Aletaha
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Maarten de Wit
- EULAR Community of People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (PARE)ZürichSwitzerland
| | - Tanja A. Stamm
- Institute for Outcomes Research, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent SystemsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Farideh Alasti
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Diane Lacaille
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of MedicineUniversity of British Columbia and Arthritis Research CanadaVancouverCanada
| | - Josef S. Smolen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - David T. Felson
- Section of RheumatologyBoston University School of MedicineBostonMassachusetts
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5
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Studenic P, Aletaha D, de Wit M, Stamm TA, Alasti F, Lacaille D, Smolen JS, Felson DT. American College of Rheumatology/EULAR remission criteria for rheumatoid arthritis: 2022 revision. Ann Rheum Dis 2023; 82:74-80. [PMID: 36280238 PMCID: PMC9811102 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2022-223413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In 2011, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and EULAR endorsed provisional criteria for remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), both Boolean-based and index-based. Based on recent studies indicating that a higher threshold for the patient global assessment (PtGA) may improve agreement between the two sets of criteria, our goals were to externally validate a revision of the Boolean remission criteria using a higher PtGA threshold and to validate the provisionally endorsed index-based criteria. METHODS We used data from four randomised trials comparing biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs to methotrexate or placebo. We tested the higher proposed PtGA threshold of 2 cm (Boolean2.0) (range 0-10 cm) compared with the original threshold of 1 cm (Boolean1.0). We analysed agreement between the Boolean-based and index-based criteria (Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)) for remission and examined how well each remission definition predicted later good physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score≤0.5) and radiographic non-progression. RESULTS Data from 2048 trial participants, 1101 with early RA and 947 with established RA, were included. The proportion of patients with disease in remission at 6 months after treatment initiation increased when using Boolean2.0 compared with Boolean1.0, from 14.8% to 20.6% in early RA and 4.2% to 6.0% in established RA. Agreement between Boolean2.0 and the SDAI or CDAI remission criteria was better than for Boolean1.0, particularly in early disease. Boolean2.0, SDAI, and CDAI remission criteria had similar positive likelihood ratios (LRs) to predict radiographic nonprogression and a HAQ score of ≤0.5 (positive LR 3.8-4.3). The omission of PtGA (BooleanX) worsened the prediction of good functional outcomes. CONCLUSION Using the Boolean 2.0 criteria classifies, more patients as achieving remission and increases the agreement with index-based remission criteria without jeopardising predictive value for radiographic or functional outcomes. This revised Boolean definition and the previously provisionally endorsed index-based criteria were endorsed by ACR and EULAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Studenic
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine (Solna), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Aletaha
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maarten de Wit
- EULAR community of People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (PARE), Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tanja A Stamm
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Farideh Alasti
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Diane Lacaille
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia and Arthritis Research Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Josef S Smolen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - David T Felson
- Section of Rheumatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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6
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Bugatti S, De Stefano L, D'Onofrio B, Nicrosini A, Mauric E, di Lernia M, Sakellariou G, Favalli EG, Manzo A, Caporali R, Montecucco C. Inflammatory correlates of the Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity vary in relation to disease duration and autoantibody status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2022; 81:1206-1213. [PMID: 35623639 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-222436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the associations between the Patient Global Assessment (PGA) and measures of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to disease duration and autoantibody status. METHODS 1412 patients from three independent cohorts were studied: a prospective cohort of 810 patients with early RA followed up for 24 months; a cross-sectional cohort of 210 patients with established RA in low disease activity; a cross-sectional cohort of 401 patients with established RA in moderate-to-high disease activity. Correlations of the PGA were analysed by Pearson's coefficients and multivariable linear regression at baseline and at months 6, 12 and 24 in the overall populations and after stratification for autoantibody subgroup and remission status (Boolean remission, PGA near remission and non-remission). RESULTS In patients with early RA in non-remission, swollen joints correlated independently with the PGA; the correlation became progressively weaker but persisted at all time points in autoantibody-positive patients (adjusted r=0.30-0.12) but lost significance after month 12 in autoantibody-negative patients. Swollen joints independently correlated with the PGA also in near remission until month 12 (adjusted r=0.18-0.16) in autoantibody-positive patients. No independent correlations of inflammatory variables were instead found in patients with established RA irrespective of disease activity and autoantibody status. CONCLUSIONS In the early phases of RA, particularly in autoantibody-positive patients, inflammatory variables directly correlate with the PGA across different disease activity states. The optimal cut-off values of the PGA capable of identifying absence of disease should be better explored in relation to disease duration and autoantibody status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Bugatti
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ludovico De Stefano
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Bernardo D'Onofrio
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrea Nicrosini
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Mauric
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Michele di Lernia
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Garifallia Sakellariou
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Maugeri Clinical Research Institutes IRCCS Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ennio Giulio Favalli
- Department of Rheumatology, Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milano, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Antonio Manzo
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Caporali
- Department of Rheumatology, Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milano, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Carlomaurizio Montecucco
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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7
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Ferreira RJO, Gossec L, da Silva JAP. Overtreatment in rheumatoid arthritis: are there reasons for concern? RMD Open 2022; 8:rmdopen-2022-002212. [PMID: 36180100 PMCID: PMC9528607 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo J O Ferreira
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Higher School of Nursing of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal .,Rheumatology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.,Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Laure Gossec
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, INSERM, Paris, France.,Rheumatology, Pitié Salpêtrière hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Jose Antonio Pereira da Silva
- Rheumatology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.,Clínica Universitária de Reumatologia, and i-CBR Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biological Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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8
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Zhao SS, Kearsley-Fleet L, Bosworth A, Watson K, Hyrich KL. Effectiveness of sequential biologic and targeted disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2022; 61:4678-4686. [PMID: 35357421 PMCID: PMC9707051 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Whether patients with RA benefit from repeated trials of biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs) after three or more attempts is unknown. We aimed to describe treatment outcomes in each line of b/tsDMARD therapy. METHODS Using data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for RA from 2001 to 2020, change to a new b/tsDMARD (except biosimilar switches) was defined as a new line of therapy. Treatment outcomes were compared across lines of therapy, including DAS28 remission (≤2.6), low disease activity (LDA, ≤3.2) at 6 months and median time to drug discontinuation. Multiple imputation was used for missing data. RESULTS A total of 22 934 individuals starting a first b/tsDMARD were included (mean age 56 years, 76% female), among whom 10 823 commenced a second-line drug, 5056 third, 2128 fourth, 767 fifth and 292 sixth. Most (71%) had sufficient data for DAS28-derived outcome analyses. TNF inhibitors were the most common first-line drug, but choice of subsequent-line drugs changed over time. Seventeen percent achieved DAS28 remission following first-line, 13% second and 8-13% with third through sixth. LDA was achieved in 29% of first-line, 23% second, 17-22% through to the sixth. Patients stayed on first-line therapy for a median of 2.6 years, ranging from 1.0-1.4 years for lines two to six. CONCLUSION Many patients will eventually benefit after repeated trials of b/tsDMARD. Further research to improve treatment selection are needed to prevent prolonged trial and error approaches in some patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sizheng Steven Zhao
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester
| | - Lianne Kearsley-Fleet
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester
| | - Ailsa Bosworth
- National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), Maidenhead
| | - Kath Watson
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester
| | - BSRBR-RA Contributors Group
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester
| | - Kimme L Hyrich
- Correspondence to: Kimme L. Hyrich, Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, Manchester, UK. E-mail:
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9
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De Cock D, Buckinx E, Pazmino S, Bertrand D, Stouten V, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Belgian rheumatologists' preferences regarding measures of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from a mixed-methods study. Rheumatol Int 2021; 42:815-823. [PMID: 34687348 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-05020-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The reliability and clinical usefulness of the different composite disease activity scores and their individual components in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are still debated. This study investigated which measures of disease activity were preferred by rheumatologists. A mixed-method study was performed. First, ten Belgian rheumatologists were invited for individual interviews on their current practice and preferences for measurement of RA disease activity. Results of this qualitative study and evidence from literature served as input for developing a survey. This survey asked rheumatologists to rate preferred standard disease activity score(s), their individual components, ultrasound and related patient-reported outcomes (PROs), by maximum difference scaling. The relative importance score (RIS) for each indicator was calculated using hierarchical Bayes modeling. The qualitative study included 6/10 invited rheumatologists. Composite scores and components were perceived as useful, while PROs were found subjective. Interestingly, ultrasound was used to mediate discrepancies between physician and patient. The survey based on this was sent to 244 Belgian rheumatologists, 83/244 (34%) responded, including 66/83 (80%) complete and 17/83 (20%) incomplete surveys (two missing essential information). Most rheumatologists (75/81, 93%) used a disease activity score and 68/81 (84%) preferred the DAS28-CRP. Swollen joint count obtained the highest mean ± SD RIS (22.54 ± 2.64), followed by DAS28 ESR/CRP (20.61 ± 4.06), ultrasound (16.47 ± 7.97), CRP (13.34 ± 6.11) and physician's global assessment (12.59 ± 7.83). PROs including fatigue, pain, and patient's global assessment, and Health Assessment Questionnaire, obtained the lowest mean RIS (0.34-2.54). Rheumatologists place more faith in self-assessed disease activity components or in laboratory tests. Trust in PROs to evaluate disease activity is low in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- D De Cock
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, ON IV Herestraat 49, P. O. Box 813, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - E Buckinx
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, ON IV Herestraat 49, P. O. Box 813, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Pazmino
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, ON IV Herestraat 49, P. O. Box 813, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - D Bertrand
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, ON IV Herestraat 49, P. O. Box 813, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - V Stouten
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, ON IV Herestraat 49, P. O. Box 813, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - R Westhovens
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, ON IV Herestraat 49, P. O. Box 813, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Rheumatology, University Hospitals of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - P Verschueren
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, ON IV Herestraat 49, P. O. Box 813, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Rheumatology, University Hospitals of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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Bugatti S, De Stefano L, Manzo A, Sakellariou G, Xoxi B, Montecucco C. Limiting factors to Boolean remission differ between autoantibody-positive and -negative patients in early rheumatoid arthritis. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2021; 13:1759720X211011826. [PMID: 34093745 PMCID: PMC8141996 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x211011826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The patient global assessment of disease activity (PGA) is the major limiting factor to Boolean remission in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we investigated the limiting variables to disease remission in patients with early RA treated with conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, also in relation to autoantibody status. Methods: Data were retrieved from 535 early RA patients (<12 months of symptoms) with an observation period of 6–12 months upon initiation of therapy with methotrexate aimed at the achievement of low disease activity based on the 28-joints disease activity score. Near-remission was defined as any of the four core items of Boolean remission >1 with the remaining three all ⩽1. Reasons for missing Boolean remission and predictors of near-remission subcategories were analyzed in relation to baseline disease variables. Results: After 6 and 12 months, near-remission was two-times more frequent than Boolean remission (25.6% and 26.9% at the two time-points). A 28-swollen joint count (SJC28) >1 was responsible for the majority of near-remission (56.2% and 57.6% at 6 and 12 months, respectively), and PGA > 1 accounted for approximatively 35% of the cases. Autoantibody-positivity independently predicted the risk of missing remission because of SJC28 > 1 [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.81 (1.59–4.9) at 6 months and 1.73 (1.01–3.01) at 12 months], whilst autoantibody-negativity was an independent predictor of PGA near-remission [adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.45 (1.25–4.80) at 6 months and 5.71 (2.47–13.2) at 12 months]. Conclusion: In early RA, Boolean remission is more frequently missed because of persistent swollen joints. However, barriers to full-remission vary in relation to the autoantibody status. Autoantibody-positive patients more commonly experience residual swollen joints, whilst PGA more frequently impairs remission in autoantibody-negative patients. Efforts to target full-remission in early RA may thus require different strategies according to autoantibody profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Bugatti
- Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation University Hospital, Viale Golgi 19, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Ludovico De Stefano
- Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Manzo
- Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Blerina Xoxi
- Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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