Comparison of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F with methotrexate in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (TRIFRA): a randomised, controlled clinical trial

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1078-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian-wen Lv ◽  
Wen Zhang ◽  
Qun Shi ◽  
Wen-jie Zheng ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo compare the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) with methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsDesign: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. All patients were assessed by trained investigators who were unaware of the therapeutic regimen. Intervention: 207 patients with active RA were randomly allocated (1:1:1) to treatment with MTX 12.5 mg once a week, or TwHF 20 mg three times a day, or the two in combination. At week 12, if reduction of the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) was <30% in the monotherapy groups, the patient was switched to MTX+TwHF. The primary efficacy point was the proportion of patients achieving an American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 50 response at week 24.Results174/207 (84.1%) patients completed 24 weeks of the trial. In an intention-to-treat analysis, the proportion of patients reaching the ACR50 response criteria was 46.4% (32/69), 55.1% (38/69) and 76.8% (53/69), respectively, in the MTX, TwHF and MTX+TwHF groups (TwHF vs MTX monotherapy, p=0.014; MTX+TwHF vs MTX monotherapy, p<0.001). Similar statistically significant patterns at week 24 were found for ACR20, ACR70, clinical Disease Activity Index good responses, EULAR good response, remission rate and low disease activity rate. Significant improvement in the Health Assessment Questionnaire and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire scores from baseline to week 24 was seen in each treatment arm (p<0.05), though no significant difference was found among the treatment arms (p>0.05). The result of per-protocol analysis agreed with that seen in the intention-to-treat analysis. Seven, three and five women in the TwHF, MTX and combination groups, respectively, developed irregular menstruation (TwHF vs MTX monotherapy, p=0.216).ConclusionsTwHF monotherapy was not inferior to, and MTX+TwHF was better than, MTX monotherapy in controlling disease activity in patients with active RA.Trial registration numberNCT01613079.

2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1058-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef S Smolen ◽  
Daniel Aletaha ◽  
Johannes C Grisar ◽  
Tanja A Stamm ◽  
John T Sharp

BackgroundJoint damage is an important outcome in trials of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), usually assessed by Total Sharp Score (TSS). It is currently unknown how it translates numerically into disability by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).ObjectiveTo determine the units of HAQ score corresponding to one TSS unit.MethodsA short-term observational trial of glucocorticoids in RA (the ‘BEst LIfe with Rheumatoid Arthritis’ (BELIRA) trial) was evaluated, using randomised controlled clinical trial (RCT) data for confirmation. For each trial arm HAQ, TSS and the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) were assessed. Based on the hypothesis that short-term HAQ changes will mostly be due to changes of disease activity, activity HAQ (ACT-HAQ) at end point (EP) was determined and remaining disability defined as damage related (DAM-HAQ). Using TSS at EP, the HAQ units corresponding to a TSS unit were estimated.ResultsIn BELIRA, one TSS unit corresponded to a mean of 0.017 HAQ units; to account for other causes of irreversible disability, the 25th percentile was used: 0.011 HAQ units/TSS unit. In RCT trial arms, the HAQ/TSS were similar (0.013 and 0.015 in established and early RA, respectively; 25th percentile: 0.010). The correlation between DAM-HAQEP and TSS was r=0.829. Over 5 years, damage would amount to an increase of irreversible HAQ of 0.33 on placebo, 0.13 on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and 0.03 on TNF inhibitors+methotrexate (MTX).ConclusionAn approach to estimate the numerical relationship between HAQ and damage as 0.01 HAQ points/TSS unit is presented, although the linear relationship may not be generally valid. This allows the assessment of functional correlates of radiographic changes in trials.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e047758
Author(s):  
Anika M Hartmann ◽  
Melanie Dell'Oro ◽  
Christian S Kessler ◽  
Dania Schumann ◽  
Nico Steckhan ◽  
...  

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown beneficial effects of therapeutic fasting and plant-based dietary interventions on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for a duration of up to 1 year. To date, the effects of such interventions on the gut microbiome and on modern diagnostic markers in patients with RA have not been studied. This trial aims to investigate the clinical effects of therapeutic fasting and a plant-based diet in patients with RA, additionally considering current immunological diagnostic tools and microbiome analyses.Methods/designThis trial is an open-label, single-centre, randomised, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. We will randomly assign 84 patients with RA under a stable standard therapy to either (1) therapeutic fasting followed by a plant-based dietary intervention or (2) to a conventional nutritional counselling focusing on an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern according to the recommendations of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (German society for nutrition). Primary outcome parameter is the group difference from baseline to 12 weeks on the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Other secondary outcomes include established clinical criteria for disease activity and treatment response in RA (Disease Activity Score 28, Simple Disease Activity Index, ACR-Response Criteria), changes in self-reported health and physical functional ability, mood, stress, quality of life, dietary behaviour via 3-day food records and a modified Food Frequency Questionnaire, body composition, changes in the gut microbiome, metabolomics and cytometric parameters. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and day 7, after 6 weeks, 12 weeks and after 6 months.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval to process and analyse data, and to publish the results was obtained through the institutional review board of Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Results of this trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.Trial registration numberNCT03856190.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Zhao ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Yangfeng Wu ◽  
Ping Ji ◽  
Li Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFi) is effective for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who fail to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs). Because of high cost, the discontinuation is common but often lead to disease relapse. The study aims to investigate, if the combination therapy of csDMARDs is more effective in reducing disease relapse than methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy, and more cost-effective than continuing TNFi and MTX. Methods It will be a two-stage trial. In the first stage, all RA patients who failed to csDMARDs treatment [disease activity score 28 (DAS28)-CRP > 3.2] will receive MTX plus TNFi for no more than 12 weeks. Patients achieving DAS28-CRP < 3.2 during the first stage will be randomized into three groups at 1:1:1 ratio: (A) add hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and sulfasalazine (SSZ) for the first 12 weeks and then remove TNFi but continue other treatments for the next 48 weeks; (B) maintain TNFi + MTX for 60 weeks; and (C) maintain TNFi + MTX for the first 12 weeks and then remove TNFi but continue MTX monotherapy for the next 48 weeks. The primary outcome will be disease relapse (DAS28-CRP increases by at least 0.6 and > 3.2). Secondary outcomes will include the incremental cost per reducing 1 case of relapse; patient reported intolerance to the treatment; adverse events; change of mean disease activity measured by DAS28, clinical disease activity index (CDAI) and simplified disease activity index (SDAI); the proportion of modified Sharp score increase < 0.3; ultrasound-detected remission in hands; Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and health related quality of life [the five-level EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D-5L) and short form-6D (SF-6D)]. Discussion The aim of this trail will be to seek effective treatment options of preventing relapse of RA. The results of the current study may provide an instructive recommendation for more economical application of TNFi treatment in RA. Trial registration NCT, NCT02320630. Registered on 16 December 2014. https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/LoginUser?ts=3&cx=-jg9qo2.


Author(s):  
Sahar A. Ahmed ◽  
Enas M. Darwish ◽  
Walaa A. Attya ◽  
Mai Samir ◽  
Mennatallah Elsayed ◽  
...  

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common progressive chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease which affects mostly small joints, causing pain, swelling, deformity, and disability. Although progress has been made in exploring RA nature, still there is a lot to know about the disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Aim of the Work: To investigate the role of serum anti-carbamylated protein antibodies and 14-3-3η in the diagnosis of RA compared to rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP antibodies, and highfrequency musculoskeletal ultrasound used to assess the disease activity and joint damage. Methods: Serum anti-carbamylated protein antibodies and 14-3-3η were measured using ELISA in 61 RA patients and 26 normal controls. RA Disease Activity Score (DAS 28), X-ray and musculoskeletal ultrasound (hands and feet), carotid ultrasound (Intima-Media Thickness IMT) were used in assessing the RA disease. Results: Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies were significantly elevated in RA patients 4.5 (4.1- 8.9 U⁄ml) compared to the control 3.2(1.9- 4.3 U⁄ml) (p< 0.001) but 14-3-3η showed no significant difference. There was a significant positive correlation between anti-carbamylated protein antibodies, 14-3-3η levels and disease activity score assessed by DAS 28, increased IMT measured by carotid duplex, total synovitis and total erosion score were assessed by musculoskeletal ultrasound. There was no correlation between RF and anti-CCP antibodies. Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies were found to have 66.7% sensitivity and 85.2% specificity in RA diagnosis, while 14- 3-3η had 51.9% sensitivity and 72.1% specificity. Conclusion: Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies and 14-3-3η have a high sensitivity and specificity in RA diagnosis and had a correlation with the disease activity and joint damage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1360.1-1360
Author(s):  
M. Jordhani ◽  
D. Ruci ◽  
F. Skana ◽  
E. Memlika

Background:The COVID-19 global pandemic has had a great impact on world population due to morbidity, mortality and restriction measures in order to stop the progression of COVID-19.Patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletic diseases, and especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, being one of the vulnerable classes of chronic patients, were recommended to follow the government’s rules1.Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate DAS-28-ESR in patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after lockdown period.Methods:This is a multi-center observational study including 85 patients which were evaluated before and after lockdown for their disease activity score according to DAS-28-ESR score. They had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis more than 5 years ago. A thorough physical examination was performed before and after the lockdown period. It included examination of tender and swollen joints and patient’s global health. They were completed with all required laboratory data, including erythrosedimentation rate. For a more accurate calculation, DAS-28-ESR was used in an electronic version. Patients with other inflammatory or infective diseases were excluded from the study. All data were statistically evaluated using statistical tests such as t-student test.Results:The first group (the one before lockdown) had an average DAS-28-ESR of 4.7 while after the lockdown period, the average DAS-28-ESR was 5.16.After statistically evaluating all data, it was found that there exists a significant difference between DAS-28-ESR score before and after COVID-19 lockdown (p=0.0011).Conclusion:Our study showed that lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic, has aggravated disease activity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This may be consequence of various causes such as physical inactivity and difficulty to follow-up or to take the medication properly.References:[1]Landewé RB, Machado PM, Kroon F, et al, EULAR provisional recommendations for the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in the context of SARS-CoV-2, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2020;79:851-858.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1848.2-1849
Author(s):  
M. A. Mortada ◽  
H. Eitta ◽  
R. Elmallah ◽  
A. Radwan ◽  
A. Elsaman

Background:Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (MSUS) is now a widely used tool for monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although there are many proposed sets of composite scores, a fixed set of joints may not be an ideal tool to assess a disease like RA, which affects many joints and tendons in different presentations. In previous study (1) U9 score was proven to be correlated with disease activity parameters.Objectives:To determine whether US assessment using U9 score is useful for monitoring response to treatment for RA or not?Methods:A prospective, multicenter study were conducted in period from July 2019 to December 2019. All recruited RA patients were subjected to: Disease activity assessment by clinical disease activity indices (CDAI and DAS28 ESR). Functional status assessment by (HAQ) and ultrasonographic assessment using U9 score which include 8 joints (bilateral wrists,2ndMCP,3RDMCP and knees) plus most clinically affected joint or tendon (one joint or one tendon). Most clinically affected joints from 48 joints. Any affected tendons could be choosing. All targeted joints were evaluated according to EULAR guidlines and by EULAR/ OMERACT combined score (0-3). Targeted tendons were scored (0-3).All patients received their treatment (biologic and non biologic DMARDs) according to the decision of the treating physicians. No specific therapy is needed. CDAI and DAS28 ESR, HAQ and U9 score were repeated after 3 months to detect the response to change after receiving the therapy.Results:One hundred and forty patients (23.6% were male) with mean age 39.26±11.30 were recruited from 4 tertiary referral university hospitals.There was a significant difference (<0.001) between the first and second visits as regards clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic parameters. DAS 28 decreased form (5.29±1.21) to (3.95±0.99), ESR decreased from (42.12±15.24) to (26.84±12.32), HAQ2 improved from (0.652±0.350) to (0.510±0.237) and U9 total US score decreased from (13.56±5.18) to (8.02±4.28).There was significant correlation between U9 ultrasonographic score and clinical parameters at both visits (table 1).Table 1.correlation between U9 ultrasonographic score and clinical parameters.U9 at 1stvisitU9 at 2ndvisitDAS-28Pearson Correlation(P value)0.806<0.0010.790<0.001CDAIPearson Correlation(P value)0.787<0.0010.773<0.001HAQPearson Correlation(P value)0.431<0.0010.317<0.001We found that the most suitable cut-off value of U9 score to predict high disease activity was 11.5 (sensitivity 85.7% and specificity 80.6%), cut off value for moderate disease activity was 5.5(sensitivity 83.2% and specificity 88%) and cut off value for low disease activity was 3.5 (sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity 57.1%). These results are summarized in the following table:Conclusion:U9 ultrasonographic score is very useful method for evaluating the monitoring the response of treatment.References:[1]Mortada, et al. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2019;78:1009.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
pp. 205064062098295
Author(s):  
Martin Floer ◽  
Laura Tschaikowski ◽  
Michael Schepke ◽  
Radoslaw Kempinski ◽  
Katarzyna Neubauer ◽  
...  

Background and aims Adenoma detection rate (ADR) in colon cancer screening is most important for cancer prophylaxis. This work is the first three-armed randomised controlled clinical trial aimed at comparing a head-to-head setting standard colonoscopy (SC) with Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy (EC) and cap-assisted colonoscopy (CAC) for improvement of ADR. Methods Patients from Poland and Germany with independent indication for colonoscopy were randomised into three arms of this trial: EC, CAC and SC. Exclusion criteria were age <18 years, active Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, known stenosis and post-colonic resection status. Results A total of 585 patients (195 SC, 189 EC and 186 CAC) were enrolled in this study. Indications were not different between the groups (colorectal cancer screening 51%, diagnostic colonoscopy in 31% and post polypectomy follow-up in 18%; p=0.94). Withdrawal time was a mean of seven minutes in all groups ( p=0.658), and bowel preparation did not differ between the groups. The time to reach the caecum was significantly reduced when using the cap (a mean of six minutes for CAC vs. seven minutes for SC; p=0.0001). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of the ADR between the groups (EC 32%, CAC 30%, SC 30%; p=0.815). EC proved to be superior (EC vs. SC) in the sigmoid colon and transverse colon for polyp detection. Conclusion The use of EC increased the total number of polyps seen during colonoscopy. In contrast to recent studies, no significant improvement of the ADR was detected.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1086.2-1087
Author(s):  
T. Okano ◽  
T. Koike ◽  
K. Inui ◽  
K. Mamoto ◽  
Y. Yamada ◽  
...  

Background:In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), biologics treatment is one of the effective treatment options. Usually, there is no difference in therapeutic effect regardless of which biologics is used, but the effect for joint synovitis is unknown. Recently, ultrasound (US) has played a role of sensitive imaging modality in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with RA.Objectives:The aim of this study was to compare the improvement of US findings between TNF inhibitors and non-TNF inhibitors at first biologics in patients with RA.Methods:Fifty-four RA patients who started the first biologics from September 2016 to December 2018 were included in this longitudinal study (SPEEDY study, UMIN000028260). All the patients were performed clinical examination, blood test and US examination at baseline, 4, 12, 24, 36 and 52 weeks. A US examination was performed at the bilateral first to fifth metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, first interphalangeal (IP) and second to fifth proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, wrist joints (three part of radial, medial and ulnar) and first to fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, by using HI VISION Ascendus (Hitachi Medical Corporation, Japan) with a multifrequency linear transducer (18-6 MHz). The gray scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) findings were assessed by the semi-quantitative method (0-3). GS score and PD score (both 0-108 points) were defined as the sum of each score. The change of disease activity and US findings were compared between TNF group and non-TNF group.Results:Among 54 cases, 32 patients were used TNF inhibitor and 22 were non-TNF inhibitor. Age and duration of RA were significantly higher in the non-TNF group, and MTX dose was significantly lower in the non-TNF group. The baseline inflammatory markers tended to be higher in the non-TNF group and the disease activity was also higher in the non-TNF group. However, the US findings showed no significant difference in both GS and PD between two groups at baseline. US improvement ratio was no difference between TNF group and non-TNF group at 4, 12, 24, 36 and 52 weeks in both GS and PD score. Regardless of the type of biologics, patients with long-term disease duration tended to have poor improvement in US synovial fingings.Table 1.Baseline patient and disease characteristicsTNF (n=32)non-TNF (n=22)P valueFemale patients, n (%)21 (65.6)16 (72.7)0.767Age (years)63.5±15.471.0±9.00.030Disease duration (years)6.5±8.213.0±11.70.032CRP (mg/dl)1.8±2.53.0±3.20.170DAS28-ESR5.0±1.45.8±1.20.022GS score26.1±18.831.8±21.10.313PD score17.6±11.423.1±14.60.150Figure 1.GS and PD improvement ratio at 4, 12, 24, 36 and 52 weeksConclusion:There was no difference in the US findings improvement between patients with TNF inhibitor and non-TNF inhibitor at first biologics in patients with RA.References:[1]Grassi W, Okano T, Di Geso L, Filippucci E. Imaging in rheumatoid arthritis: options, uses and optimization. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2015;11:1131-46.[2]Nishino A, Kawashiri SY, Koga T, et al. Ultrasonographic Efficacy of Biologic andTargeted Synthetic Disease-ModifyingAntirheumatic Drug Therapy in RheumatoidArthritis From a Multicenter RheumatoidArthritis Ultrasound Prospective Cohort in Japan. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70:1719-26.Acknowledgements:We wish to thank Atsuko Kamiyama, Tomoko Nakatsuka for clinical assistant, Setsuko Takeda, Emi Yamashita, Yuko Yoshida, Rika Morinaka, Hatsue Ueda and Tomomi Iwahashi for their special efforts as a sonographer and collecting data.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irazú Contreras-Yáñez ◽  
Pilar Lavielle ◽  
Patricia Clark ◽  
Virginia Pascual-Ramos

Abstract Background Assessing risk perception (RP) helps explain how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients integrate their ideas concerning the disease and how this understanding affects their self-care management. Compliance with treatment impacts disease-related outcomes and could be associated with RP to variable degrees and at different levels. The primary objective was to determine a potential association between RP and compliance with therapy in RA outpatients and to identify additional factors. The secondary objective was to identify factors associated with judgment bias such as unrealistic RP. Patients and methods Between January 2018 and June 2019, 450 consecutive outpatients who received RA-related treatment were invited to a face-to-face interview to obtain socio-demographic data, RA-related information, comorbidities, and the following outcomes: adherence, persistence, and concordance with medications assessed with a questionnaire locally designed; RP with the RP questionnaire (RPQ); disease activity with the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data-3 (RAPID-3); disability with the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI); quality of life with Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) instrument; pain and overall disease with the respective visual analogue scale (VAS); and health literacy assessed with 3 questions. Significant RP was defined according to a cut-off based on the 75th percentile value of the sample in which the RPQ was validated. Unrealistic RP was defined based on the coincidence of the presence/absence of significant RP and less/more than 7 unfavorable medical criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used. Patients provided written informed consent and the study received Internal Review Board approval. Results There were 415 patients included, primarily middle-aged women with long-standing disease and moderate disease activity. Almost half of the patients were receiving corticosteroids and 15.9% intensive RA-related treatment. There were 44.1% of the patients concordant with treatment and 22.6% had significant RP. The patients’ treatment behavior was not retained in the regression analysis; meanwhile, rheumatoid nodes, surgical joint replacement, family history of RA, and higher RAPID-3 score were associated with significant RP. There were 56 patients with unrealistic RP; significant RP and more unfavorable medical criteria were associated with unrealistic RP. Conclusions Compliance with therapy was not associated with significant RP in RA outpatients.


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