scholarly journals Tocilizumab discontinuation after attaining remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with tocilizumab alone or in combination with methotrexate: results from a prospective randomised controlled study (the second year of the SURPRISE study)

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 1268-1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Kaneko ◽  
Masaru Kato ◽  
Yoshiya Tanaka ◽  
Masayuki Inoo ◽  
Hitomi Kobayashi-Haraoka ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate the sustained remission and low disease activity after discontinuation of tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with tocilizumab alone or in combination with methotrexate.MethodsThe SURPRISE study was a 2-year, open-label randomised controlled study. Among patients who had been randomised to additional tocilizumab (ADD-ON) or switch to tocilizumab (SWITCH) in the first year, those who achieved remission based on the disease activity score for 28 joints (DAS28-ESR<2.6) discontinued tocilizumab at week 52 and were observed for the following 52 weeks. The endpoint of the second year included tocilizumab-free remission and low disease-activity rates, functional outcome, radiological outcomes assessed with the modified total Sharp score (mTSS) and safety. The efficacy of reinstituted tocilizumab/methotrexate was also evaluated.ResultsA total of 105 patients who achieved remission at week 52 discontinued tocilizumab; 51 in ADD-ON continued methotrexate and 54 in SWITCH received no disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Sustained DAS28 low disease-activity rates were significantly higher in ADD-ON than in SWITCH (55%vs27%, p=0.005). Sustained remission rates at week 104 were 24% for ADD-ON and 14% for SWITCH (p=0.29). Radiological progression was comparable between both groups (mTSS; 0.37vs0.64, p=0.36). The restart of tocilizumab induced remission in all except two patients after 36 weeks, irrespective of concomitant methotrexate.ConclusionSustained low disease activity after tocilizumab discontinuation could be maintained with continued methotrexate in more than half of the patients. Retreatment with tocilizumab led to remission in more than 90% of patients.Trial registration numberNCT01120366; Results.

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Youn Jung ◽  
Jung Hee Koh ◽  
Ki-Jo Kim ◽  
Yong-Wook Park ◽  
Hyung-In Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tapering or stopping biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs has been proposed for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission, but it frequently results in high rates of recurrence. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC) as maintenance therapy in patients with established RA in remission after receiving combination therapy with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and methotrexate (MTX). Methods This 24-week, prospective, open-label trial included patients who received TNFi and MTX at stable doses for ≥24 weeks and had low disease activity (LDA), measured by Disease Activity Score-28 for ≥12 weeks. Patients selected one of two arms: maintenance (TNFi plus MTX) or switched (TAC plus MTX). The primary outcome was the difference in the proportion of patients maintaining LDA at week 24, which was assessed using a logistic regression model. Adverse events were monitored throughout the study period. Results In efficacy analysis, 80 and 34 patients were included in the maintenance and switched arms, respectively. At week 24, LDA was maintained in 99% and 91% of patients in the maintenance and switched arms, respectively (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.01–1.59). Drug-related adverse effects tended to be more common in the switched arm than in the maintenance arm (20.9% versus 7.1%, respectively) but were well-tolerated. Conclusion This controlled study tested a novel treatment strategy of switching from TNFi to TAC in RA patients with sustained LDA, and the findings suggested that TNFi can be replaced with TAC in most patients without the patients experiencing flare-ups for at least 24 weeks. Trial registration Korea CDC CRIS, KCT0005868. Registered 4 February 2021—retrospectively registered


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merel J l’Ami ◽  
Charlotte LM Krieckaert ◽  
Michael T Nurmohamed ◽  
Ronald F van Vollenhoven ◽  
Theo Rispens ◽  
...  

ObjectiveHigh adalimumab serum concentrations do not result in better response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), suggesting overexposure. We investigated whether patients with adalimumab concentrations >8 µg/mL can prolong their dosing interval by 50% without a clinically relevant change in disease activity.MethodsConsecutive patients with RA, treated with adalimumab 40 mg every other week for at least 28 weeks, were approached for this randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial. Patients with adalimumab trough concentrations >8 µg/mL were randomly (1:1) assigned to dose-interval prolongation of once every 3 weeks or continuation of every other week. Primary outcome was the change in disease activity score of 28 joints (ΔDAS28-ESR) after 28 weeks, with a non-inferiority margin of 0.6 points.ResultsIn total, 147 patients were screened. Fifty-five patients had concentrations >8 µg/mL and were randomised. Mean ΔDAS28 after 28 weeks was –0.14±SD 0.61 in the prolongation group and 0.30±0.52 in the continuation group. Mean difference was significantly in favour of the prolongation group: 0.44 (95% CI 0.12 to 0.76, p=0.01).ConclusionsAdalimumab-treated patients with RA with trough concentrations >8 µg/mL can prolong their standard dosing interval to once every 3 weeks without loss of disease control.Trial registration numberNTR3509; Results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Chinmay Saha Podder ◽  
Nandini Chowdhury ◽  
Mohim Ibne Sina ◽  
Wasim Md Mohosin Ul Haque

Background and objectives: Various existing non-antiviral drugs are being used to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based mostly on existing data from previous coronavirus outbreaks. Ivermectin is one of such agents being widely used to treat early-stage of COVID-19. This study evaluated the outcome of ivermectin treated mild to moderate COVID-19 cases compared to usual care. Methods: This open-label randomised controlled study was conducted at a sub-district (Upazila) health complex from 1st May 2020 to the end of July 2020. Consecutive RT-PCR positive eligible COVID-19 patients were randomised into control and intervention arms. In the intervention arm, ivermectin 200 micrograms/kg single dose was administered orally in addition to usual care and was followed up till recovery. Repeat RT-PCR was done on day ten since the first positive result. The end point with regard to treatment outcome was time required for the resolution of symptoms from the onset of the symptoms and following enrollement in the study. Results: A total of 62 mild to moderate COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. There were 30 patients in the control arm and 32 patients in the intervention arm. Total recovery time from the onset of symptoms to complete resolution of symptoms of the patients in the intervention arm was 10.09 ± 3.236 days, compared to 11.50 ± 5.32 days in the control arm (95% CI -0.860,3.627, p>. 05) and was not significantly different. The mean recovery time after enrolment in the intervention arm was 5.31 ± 2.48 days, which also did not differ significantly from the control arm of 6.33 ± 4.23 days (95% CI – 0.766, 2.808, p> 0.05). Results of negative repeat RT- PCR were not significantly different between control and intervention arms (control 90% vs intervention 95%, p>.05). Conclusion: Ivermectin had no beneficial effect on the disease course over usual care in mild to moderate COVID-19 cases. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2020; 14(2): 11-18


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