Background: The effect of different treatment escalations on MRI inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients following an MRI treat-to-target (T2T) strategy has not previously been investigated.
Objectives: To compare the effect of different treatment escalations on MRI inflammation, physical function and disease activity in RA patients in clinical remission, following an MRI T2T strategy.
Methods: One hundred RA patients in clinical remission (DAS28-CRP<3.2 and no swollen joints), on conventional synthetic (cs) DMARDs following an MRI T2T strategy targeting DAS28-CRP≤3.2, no swollen joints plus absence of MRI osteitis, were followed for 2 years with clinical and MRI (wrist and 2 nd -5 th MCP joints) evaluation every 4 months 1 . If target was not met, a predefined treatment escalation algorithm dictated: First: increase in csDMARDs (A), second: adding a TNF inhibitor (TNFi) (B), third and onwards: switch between biologics (C). If target was met, no change in baseline csDMARDs was done (D). Outcomes were assessed 4 months after treatment change. MRIs were evaluated with known chronology by one experienced reader. Repeated measures mixed linear models were used to express estimates of group differences on predefined co-primary outcomes (MRI osteitis, HAQ) and key secondary outcomes (MRI combined inflammation, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI)).
Results: Escalation to first TNFi (B) or to 2
nd
or later biologic (C) compared to csDMARDs (A) was consistently more effective on all outcomes (e.g. in group B osteitis was reduced with 1.8 units more than A) (
Comparisons of treatment escalations
1
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A vs B | A vs C | A vs D | B vs C | B vs D | C vs D | |
Outcomes | ||||||
Primary | ||||||
MRI
| 1.8 (1.0; 2.6) p<.0001 | 3.6 (2.3; 4.8) p<.0001 | 0.3 (−0.3; 1.0)
| 1.8 (0.8; 2.9) p=.0006 | −1.4 (−2.4; −0.5) p=.0045 | −3.3 (−4.6; −1.9) p<.0001 |
HAQ | 0.081
| 0.091
| 0.054
| 0.0092
| −0.027
| −0.037
|
Key secondary | ||||||
MRI combined inflammation a | 2.5 (0.9; 4.1) p=.0018 | 5.4 (3.1; 7.7) p<.0001 | 0.4 (−0.9; 1.8)
| 2.9 (0.8; 4.9) p=.0064 | −2.1 (−4.0; −0.2) p=.032 | −5.0 (−7.5; −2.4) p=.0002 |
SDAI | 2.7 (1.9; 3.5) p<.0001 | 2.4 (1.4; 3.4) p<.0001 | 0.5 (−0.2; 1.2)
| −0.3 (−1.3; 0.7)
| −2.2 (−3.1; −1.3) p<.0001 | −1.9 (−3.0; 0.8) p=.0006 |
1 Estimates of group differences (least squares means (95% CI)).
a Sum score of synovitis, osteitis and tenosynovitis
Conclusion: T2T-based treatment escalations to biologics compared to csDMARD-escalations more effectively improved MRI inflammation, physical function and disease activity. Further optimization of the treatment in RA patients in clinical remission may improve long-term outcomes.
REFERENCES:
[1]Møller-Bisgaard et al. JAMA 2019
Disclosure of Interests: Signe Møller-Bisgaard Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Consultant of: BMS, Speakers bureau: BMS, Celgene, Pfizer, Kim Hørslev-Petersen: None declared, Bo Ejbjerg: None declared, Merete L. Hetland Grant/research support from: BMS, MSD, AbbVie, Roche, Novartis, Biogen and Pfizer, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Speakers bureau: Orion Pharma, Biogen, Pfizer, CellTrion, Merck and Samsung Bioepis, Robin Christensen: None declared, Lykke Ørnbjerg: None declared, Daniel Glinatsi: None declared, Jakob Møllenbach Møller: None declared, Mikael Boesen Consultant of: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Esaote, Glenmark, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Paid instructor for: IAG, Image Analysis Group, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, esaote, Glenmark, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB (scientific advisor)., Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly, Esaote, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Kristian Stengaard-Pedersen: None declared, Ole Rintek Madsen: None declared, Bente Jensen: None declared, Jan Villadsen: None declared, Ellen Margrethe Hauge: None declared, Philip Bennett: None declared, Oliver Hendricks: None declared, Karsten Asmussen: None declared, Marcin Kowalski: None declared, Hanne Merete Lindegaard: None declared, Henning Bliddal Grant/research support from: received research grant fra NOVO Nordic, Consultant of: consultant fee fra NOVO Nordic, Niels Steen Krogh: None declared, Torkell Ellingsen: None declared, Agnete Nielsen: None declared, Anne Grethe Jurik: None declared, Lone Balding: None declared, Henrik Thomsen: None declared, Mikkel Ǿstergaard Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Merck, and Novartis, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, and UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, and UCB