A multicentre, randomised, controlled, open-label pilot study on the feasibility of discontinuation of adalimumab in established patients with rheumatoid arthritis in stable clinical remission

• Published in: Rheumatic & musculoskeletal diseases open Vol. 2; no. 1; p. e000133
• Main Authors: Chatzidionysiou, Katerina, Turesson, Carl, Teleman, Annika, Knight, Ann, Lindqvist, Elisabet, Larsson, Per, Cöster, Lars, Forslind, Kristina, van Vollenhoven, Ronald, Heimbürger, Mikael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group 01-01-2016
• Series: Extended report
• Subjects: Clinical Medicine; Klinisk medicin; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Reumatologi och inflammation; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Rheumatology and Autoimmunity; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Anti-TNF; Treatment
• ISSN: 2056-5933; 2056-5933
• DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2015-000133

ObjectivesTreatment with tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, once started as therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is usually continued indefinitely. The aim of this trial was to assess the possibility of discontinuing treatment with adalimumab (ADA) while maintaining remission in patients with RA with established disease in stable remission on combination therapy with ADA and methotrexate (MTX).MethodsIn a randomised, controlled, open-label pilot study of patients with RA in stable remission treated with ADA+MTX, patients were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to continue with ADA plus MTX (arm AM) or MTX monotherapy (arm M) for 52 weeks. Flare was defined as Disease Activity Score (DAS28) ≥2.6 or a change in DAS28 (ΔDAS28) of >1.2 from baseline at any time. Patients in arm M with a flare restarted ADA. The primary end point was the proportion of patients in remission at week 28.Results31 patients were enrolled in the study and randomised to arm AM (n=16) or arm M (n=15). At 28 weeks, 15/16 patients (94%) and 5/15 patients (33%) in arms AM and M, respectively, were in remission (p=0.001). During the first 28 weeks, 50% (8/16) in the AM arm and 80% (12/15) in the M arm had a flare (p=0.08). The number of patients in the AM and M arms with ≥1 ΔDAS28 >1.2 during the first 28 weeks was 1/16 (6%) and 8/15 (53%), respectively (p=0.005).ConclusionsIn this study, remission was rarely maintained in patients with long-standing disease who discontinued ADA. Discontinuation may be feasible in only a minority of patients with established RA in stable clinical remission.Trial registration numberNCT00808509.