A study of adalimumab treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: analysis of the clinical course and the effect on joint destruction

Abstract

    Clinical squeal of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with adalimumab (ADA) was evaluated. A total of 159 patients with active RA were enrolled at Konan Kakogawa Hospital and Kobe University Hospital. The patients’ profile at the start of study was age 57.8±12.8, women/men 129/30, Class 2.1±0.6 and X-ray stage 2.9±1.0. Of 159 patients, 115 (72.3%) were naïve biologics (naïve group) and 44 (27.7%) experienced more than one another biologics (switch group). Both naïve and switch groups showed significant improvements in disease activity including CRP, ESR and MMP-3 at 12-month periods, whereas it was relatively lesser in the switch group. At 6-month period, the drug adherence rate was approximately 80% both in naïve group and the switch group switched from infliximab. Instead, the drug adherence rate was 38% in the switch group switched from etanercept and 62% in the switch group switched from more than 2 biologics. In our facilities, 51 (32.1%) were treated with ADA, and 108 (67.9%) were treated with ADA and methotrexate (MTX). At 3 to 9-month periods, patients treated with ADA and MTX showed better improvement in CRP than those of treated with ADA solely. Of 46 patients, 14 (30.4%) patients treated with ADA for1year showed no progression in joint destruction as judged by X-ray study.