Discontinuation of adalimumab after achieving remission in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: 1-year outcome of the HONOR study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the possibility of discontinuing adalimumab (ADA) for 1 year without flaring (DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ≥3.2), and to identify factors enabling established patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to remain ADA-free.

METHODS:

Of 197 RA patients treated with ADA+methotrexate (MTX), 75 patients who met the ADA-free criteria (steroid-free and sustained DAS28-ESR remission for 6 months with stable MTX doses) were studied for 1 year.

RESULTS:

The mean disease duration and DAS28-ESR score in 75 patients was 7.5 years and 5.1 at baseline, respectively. The proportion of patients who sustained DAS28-ESR <2.6 (48%) and DAS28-ESR <3.2 (62%) for 1 year were significantly lower in the ADA discontinuation group than in the ADA continuation group; however, in patients with deep remission (DAS28-ESR ≤1.98) identified by receiver operating characteristics analysis following logistic analysis, these rates increased to 68% and 79%, respectively, with no significant difference between both groups. Remarkably, ADA readministration to patients with flare was effective in returning DAS28-ESR to <3.2 within 6 months in 90% and 9 months in 100% patients; among the patients who sustained DAS28-ESR <3.2 during ADA discontinuation, 100% remained in structural remission and 94% in functional remission.

CONCLUSIONS:

The possibility of remaining ADA-free for 1 year was demonstrated in established patients with RA with outcomes that ADA can be discontinued without flaring in 79% patients with deep remission, with similar rates in the ADA continuation group, and showed no functional or structural damage in patients with DAS28-ESR <3.2. ADA readministration to patients with flare during ADA discontinuation was effective.

• Authors: Yoshiya Tanaka, Shintaro Hirata, Satoshi Kubo, Shunsuke Fukuyo, Kentaro Hanami, Norifumi Sawamukai, Kazuhisa Nakano, Shingo Nakayamada, Kunihiro Yamaoka, Fusae Sawamura, Kazuyoshi Saito
• Journal: Annals of the rheumatic diseases (Ann Rheum Dis) Vol. 74 Issue 2 Pg. 389-95 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1468-2060 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24288014 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antirheumatic Agents
• Adalimumab

Topics

• Adalimumab
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (therapeutic use)
• Antirheumatic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Area Under Curve
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• ROC Curve
• Remission Induction