Table 1

Gain of a major response by switching between different available biological agents in rheumatoid arthritis


Results


Study
Number of patients
Switch type
ACR20
ACR50
ACR70
DAS44 <1.6 or DAS28 <2.6
ΔDAS P < 0.05
Evidence levela
Strengtha

Anti-TNFα blockers
[3]
25
IFX → ETA
64%
23%
5%
-
-
3b
B
[4]
95
IFX → ETA
38%
24%
15%
-
6.46 → 4.97
3b
B
[5]
28
ETA → IFX
62%
30.7%
-
15.4%
5.2 → 4
3b
B
[6]
6,610
ETA/IFX → ADA
60%
33%
13%
12%
31% (-1.9 ± 1.4)
2b
B
[7]
25
IFX → ADA
75%
50%
33%
-
5.6 → 3.2
3b
B

Anti-CD20
[8]
311
Anti-TNFα → RTX
51%
27%
12%
9%
15% (ΔDAS > 1.2)
1b
A

SR CTLA-4
[10]
391
Anti-TNFα → ABA
50.4%
20.3%
10.2%
10.0%
-
1b
A
[11]
1,046
Anti-TNFα → ABA
-
-
-
13.0%
56.1% (-2.0)
1b
A

Interleukin-6R inhibitor
[12]
499
Anti-TNFα → TOC
50.0%
28.8%
12.4%
30.1%
-
1b
A

aAccording to the levels of evidence of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (Oxford, UK). ΔDAS P <0.05, significant difference in disease activity score value before and after switching; ABA, abatacept; ACR20, American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria; ACR50, American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement criteria; ACR70, American College of Rheumatology 70% improvement criteria; ADA, adalimumab; anti-TNFα, anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha; DAS28, disease activity score using 28 joint counts; DAS44, disease activity score using 44 joint counts; ETA, etanercept; IFX, infliximab; RTX, rituximab; TOC, tocilizumab (8 mg/kg group).

Alivernini et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009 11:R163   doi:10.1186/ar2848