Standardization of joint examination technique leads to a significant decrease in variability among different examiners.

OBJECTIVE: To reduce the amount of variability among assessors, we conducted joint examination standardization seminars in conjunction with multicenter clinical trials for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The examination techniques used were based on the recommendations of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). METHODS: To evaluate the effect of standardization, participants at the seminars examined a given patient with RA before and after they were made familiar with the EULAR examination technique. The number of tender and swollen joints as well as the variance among the examiners before and after the training were compared. Joints were rated positive or negative for tenderness and swelling without grading. RESULTS: Overall, 553 individuals from a variety of countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia participated. Examiners included different kinds of health professionals, mainly physicians and nurses. We found a substantial variance among examiners before the training in the standardized method. This variance could be significantly reduced by the training. We also found that the number of joints considered active was markedly reduced after the training. CONCLUSION: Standardized joint examination training significantly reduces variability among different assessors.

Two-year efficacy and safety of infliximab treatment in patients with active psoriatic arthritis: findings of the Infliximab Multinational Psoriatic Arthritis Controlled Trial (IMPACT).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate longterm efficacy/safety of infliximab over 2 years in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: Initially, 104 patients were randomized to receive blinded infusions of infliximab 5 mg/kg or placebo at Weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14. At Week 16, all patients received infliximab 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks through Week 46. Seventy-eight of the 87 patients completing the first year continued into the open-label longterm extension and received infliximab 5 mg/kg at Weeks 54, 62, 70, 78, 86, and 94. The primary efficacy endpoint for the study extension was the proportion of patients with at least 20% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology response criteria (ACR20) at Week 98. Radiographic progression was assessed by the PsA-modified van der Heijde-Sharp score in patients with radiographs available at baseline and Week 98 (n = 43). RESULTS: At Week 98, 62% (48/78) of infliximab-treated patients achieved an ACR20 response; 45% (35/78) and 35% (27/78) of patients achieved ACR50 and ACR70 responses, respectively. Among patients with baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores >or= 2.5, 64% (16/25) achieved > 75% improvement from baseline to Week 98. The average estimated annual radiographic progression with infliximab treatment was significantly reduced versus the estimated baseline rate of progression. No new safety issues were observed during the second year of the study. CONCLUSION: Therapy with infliximab 5 mg/kg through Week 94 produced sustained improvement in joint and skin symptoms, inhibited radiographic progression, and continued to exhibit a favorable benefit-risk ratio in this population with treatment-refractory PsA.

An open-label pilot study of the effectiveness of adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and previous infliximab treatment: relationship to reasons for failure and anti-infliximab antibody status.

This prospective open-label pilot study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab and the relationship to antibodies against infliximab (IFX) in adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had been treated previously with IFX and experienced treatment failure owing to lack or loss of response or intolerance. Patients self-administered adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every other week for 16 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy for up to Week 56. Measures of effectiveness included American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index. Serum IFX concentrations, human antichimeric antibody against IFX (HACA), adalimumab serum concentrations, antiadalimumab antibody, and safety also were assessed. Of the 41 enrolled patients, 37 completed 16 weeks and 30 completed 56 weeks of treatment. Patients experienced clinically meaningful improvements in all measures of RA activity, with greater response rates observed for patients who had experienced loss of initial response to or intolerance of IFX. At Week 16, 46% of patients achieved an ACR20 and 28% achieved an ACR50; 61% achieved an at least moderate and 17% achieved a good EULAR response. Clinical benefit was maintained through Week 56 in all effectiveness parameters. Baseline HACA status did not significantly impact effectiveness. No new safety signals were observed; neither former IFX intolerance status nor baseline HACA status had a clinically relevant impact on adverse event frequency or severity. Adalimumab was effective and well-tolerated in patients with RA who previously failed IFX therapy, irrespective of reason for discontinuation and of HACA status.

Sustained benefits of infliximab therapy for dermatologic and articular manifestations of psoriatic arthritis: results from the infliximab multinational psoriatic arthritis controlled trial (IMPACT).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of infliximab therapy for the articular and dermatologic manifestations of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: One hundred four patients with PsA in whom prior therapy with at least 1 disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) had failed were recruited into this investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. During the initial blinded portion of the study, patients received infusions of infliximab (5 mg/kg) or placebo at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14. After week 16, patients initially assigned to receive placebo crossed over to receive infliximab 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks through week 50, while patients initially randomized to infliximab continued to receive active treatment at the same dose through week 50. The primary efficacy outcome was achievement of the American College of Rheumatology 20% criteria for improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (ACR20) at week 16. Additional predefined clinical efficacy assessments included the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, the ACR50 and ACR70 criteria, the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, the Health Assessment Questionnaire, ratings of enthesitis and dactylitis, and the Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria score. RESULTS: The proportion of infliximab-treated patients who achieved an ACR20 response at week 16 (65%) was significantly higher than the proportion of placebo-treated patients who achieved this response (10%). In addition, 46% of infliximab-treated patients achieved an ACR50 response, and 29% achieved an ACR70 response; no placebo-treated patient achieved these end points. Among patients who had PASI scores of >/=2.5 at baseline, 68% of infliximab-treated patients achieved improvement of >/=75% in the PASI score at week 16 compared with none of the placebo-treated patients. Continued therapy with infliximab resulted in sustained improvement in articular and dermatologic manifestations of PsA through week 50. The incidence of adverse events was similar between the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Therapy with infliximab at a dose of 5 mg/kg significantly improved the signs and symptoms of arthritis, psoriasis, dactylitis, and enthesitis in patients with active PsA that had been resistant to DMARD therapy. With continued infliximab treatment, benefits were sustained through 50 weeks. The benefit-to-risk ratio appeared favorable in this study population.

Treating psoriatic arthritis: how effective are TNF antagonists?

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a seronegative spondyloarthropathy that commonly appears after the onset of the characteristic cutaneous lesions. This complication affects about 40% of patients with moderate to severe cutaneous disease. Analysis of synovial fluid and tissue in patients with PsA demonstrates a profile of high levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plus other cytokines similar to those seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the past, medical management of patients with this disease consisted of treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Patients with more severe disease have tried a number of different disease-modifying drugs including methotrexate, azathioprine, and gold salts. However, there is no evidence that these agents can arrest the progress of structural joint damage. Infliximab and etanercept are TNF antagonists that have demonstrated significant efficacy and safety in patients with RA. Clinical trials with these two agents in patients with PsA have shown significant improvement in the rheumatologic and cutaneous manifestations of the disease.