High remission and low relapse with prolonged intensive DMARD therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (PRINT): A multicenter randomized clinical trial

Li, R. et al. (2016) High remission and low relapse with prolonged intensive DMARD therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (PRINT): A multicenter randomized clinical trial. Medicine, 95(28), e3968. (doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000003968) (PMID:27428186) (PMCID:PMC4956780)

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Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether prolonged intensive disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment (PRINT) leads to high remission and low relapse rates in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: In this multicenter, randomized and parallel treatment trial, 346 patients with active RA (disease activity score (28 joints) [DAS28] (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) > 5.1) were enrolled from 9 centers. In phase 1, patients received intensive treatment with methotrexate, leflunomide, and hydroxychloroquine, up to 36 weeks, until remission (DAS28 ≤ 2.6) or a low disease activity (2.6 < DAS28 ≤ 3.2) was achieved. In phase 2, patients achieving remission or low disease activity were followed up with randomization to 1 of 2 step-down protocols: leflunomide plus hydroxychloroquine combination or leflunomide monotherapy. The primary endpoints were good European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response (DAS28 (ESR) < 3.2 and a decrease of DAS28 by at least 1.2) during the intensive treatment and the disease state retention rate during step-down maintenance treatment. Predictors of a good EULAR response in the intensive treatment period and disease flare in the maintenance period were sought. Results: A good EULAR response was achieved in 18.7%, 36.9%, and 54.1% of patients at 12, 24, and 36 weeks, respectively. By 36 weeks, 75.4% of patients achieved good and moderate EULAR responses. Compared with those achieving low disease activity and a high health assessment questionnaire (HAQ > 0.5), patients achieving remission (DAS28 ≤ 2.6) and low HAQ (≤ 0.5) had a significantly higher retention rate when tapering the DMARDs treatment (P = 0.046 and P = 0.01, respectively). There was no advantage on tapering to combination rather than monotherapy. Conclusions: Remission was achieved in a proportion of patients with RA receiving prolonged intensive DMARD therapy. Low disease activity at the start of disease taper leads to less subsequent flares. Leflunomide is a good maintenance treatment as single treatment.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McInnes, Professor Iain
Authors: Li, R., Zhao, J.-X., Su, Y., He, J., Chen, L.-N., Gu, F., Zhao, C., Deng, X.-R., Zhou, W., Hao, Y.-J., Xue, Y., Liu, H.-X., Zhao, Y., Zou, Q.-H., Liu, X.-Y., Zhu, P., Sun, L.-Y., Zhang, Z.-L., Zou, H.-J., Li, X.-F., Liu, Y., Fang, Y.-F., Keystone, E., McInnes, I. B., and Li, Z.-G.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Medicine
Publisher:Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins
ISSN:0025-7974
ISSN (Online):1536-5964
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Medicine 95(28):e3968
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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