Which factors influence radiographic progression during treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in clinical practice? Results from 930 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the nationwide Danish DANBIO registry

Lykke Midtbøll Ørnbjerg, Mikkel Østergaard, Pernille Bøyesen, Niels Steen Krogh, Anja Thormann, Ulrik Tarp, Uta Engling Poulsen, Jakob Espesen, Annette Schlemmer, Niels Graudal, Gina Kollerup, Dorte Vendelbo Jensen, Ole Rintek Madsen, Bente Glintborg, Torben Christensen, Hanne Lindegaard, Wolfgang Bøhme, Annette Hansen, Anne Rødgaard Andersen, Merete Lund Hetland

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate baseline characteristics associated with radiographic progression and the effect of disease activity, drug, switching, and withdrawal on radiographic progression in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) followed for about 2 years after anti-TNF initiation in clinical practice.

METHODS: DANBIO-registered patients with RA who had available radiographs (anti-TNF initiation and ∼2 yrs followup) were included. Radiographs were scored, blinded to chronology with the Sharp/van der Heijde method and linked with DANBIO data. Baseline characteristics were investigated with univariate regression and significant variables included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis with ± radiographic progression [Δ total Sharp score (TSS) > 0] as dependent variable. Effect of time-averaged C-reactive protein (CRP), 28-joint Disease Activity Score with CRP (DAS28-CRP), and treatment status at followup were investigated with univariate regression analysis.

RESULTS: The study included 930 patients. They were 75% women, 79% positive for IgM-rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF), median age was 57 yrs (range 19-88), disease duration 9 yrs (1-59), DAS28-CRP 5.0 (1.4-7.8), TSS median 15 [3-45 interquartile range (IQR)] and mean 31 (SD 40). Patients started treatment with infliximab (59%), etanercept (18%), or adalimumab (23%). At followup (median 526 days, IQR 392-735), 61% were treated with the initial anti-TNF, 29% had switched TNF inhibitor, and 10% had withdrawn. Twenty-seven percent of patients had progressed radiographically. ΔTSS was median 0.0 [0.0-0.5 IQR/mean 0.6 (SD 2.4)] units/year. Higher TSS, older age, positive IgM-RF, and concomitant prednisolone at baseline were associated with radiographic progression. Time-averaged DAS28-CRP and time-averaged CRP, but not type of TNF inhibitor, were associated with radiographic progression. Patients who stopped/switched during followup progressed more than patients who continued treatment.

CONCLUSION: High TSS, older age, IgM-RF positivity, and concomitant prednisolone were associated with radiographic progression during 2 years of followup of 930 anti-TNF-treated patients with RA in clinical practice. High disease activity and switching/stopping anti-TNF treatment were associated with radiographic progression.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Rheumatology
Volume41
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)2352-60
Number of pages9
ISSN0315-162X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2014

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