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| This article is part of the supplement: 24th European Workshop for Rheumatology ResearchMeeting abstractAbatacept (CTLA4Ig) treatment increases the remission rate in rheumatoid arthritis patients refractory to methotrexate treatment1Department of Rheumatology, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Leuven, Belgium 2Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands 3Department of Rheumatology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France 4Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Princeton, NJ, USA from 24th European Workshop for Rheumatology Research Arthritis Res Ther 2004, 6(Suppl 1):86doi:10.1186/ar1128
BackgroundEffective amelioration of symptoms and induction of remission are goals in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ObjectivesData from a Phase II study for RA treatment with abatacept, a selective co-stimulation modulator, showing induction of remission (DAS-28 score < 2.6) are presented. MethodsPatients on background methotrexate (MTX) who met ACR criteria for active RA with ≥ 10 swollen joints (66 joint count) and ≥ 12 tender joints (68 joint count) were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/kg abatacept (n = 115) or placebo (n = 119) treatment for 1 year. DAS-28 scores and serum cytokine levels were assessed at days 1, 90, 180 and 360. ResultsAbatacept-treated patients showed a progressive increase in remission rates up to 1 year (analysis not prespecified) compared with placebo (P < 0.001; Fig. 1). Abatacept treatment also decreased serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines. In particular, levels of serum IL-6, a multifunctional cytokine that contributes both to acute phase response and to pathological B cell activation, were reduced by 67% at 180 days and by 73% at 360 days (P < 0.05). Placebo-treated patients showed no reduction. Abatacept was generally safe and well tolerated.
ConclusionsIn patients with active RA who were receiving MTX, abatacept treatment significantly improved RA symptoms and produced a progressive increase in remission rates for over one-third of the treatment group, which was sustained at 1 year. In addition, abatacept decreased serum IL-6 levels. The results of this phase II study suggest that abatacept may have potential as therapy for patients with active RA despite MTX treatment. AcknowledgementStudy supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Have something to say? Post a comment on this article! |



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Figure 1.