Therapeutic efficacy of denosumab for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Objectives Denosumab is used for osteoporosis, as it inhibits osteoclast maturation and suppresses bone resorption. Although denosumab is expected to inhibit the bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its therapeutic efficacy is not well established. The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of denosumab on RA through a meta-analysis. Methods A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for original studies providing information on bone mineral density (BMD), joint destruction and disease activity in denosumab-treated RA. A random-effects model was used in the meta-analysis. Results Of the 367 studies identified, 18 met the selection criteria. The BMDs of the lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck at 12 months after denosumab treatment increased by 5.27% (95% confidence interval: 4.37–6.18), 2.82% (2.46–3.18) and 3.07% (2.66–3.48), respectively. In the sensitivity analysis, age and gender tended to influence the effect of denosumab therapy on the variation rate of BMD, but not glucocorticoid use. The changes in the modified total sharp, erosion and joint space narrowing scores at 12 months after denosumab treatment were significantly smaller with denosumab than with placebo, although the disease activity score did not change after denosumab treatment. Conclusion Although denosumab has an inhibitory effect on the bone resorption in RA, its effects may be influenced by age and gender of RA, but not glucocorticoid use.