RESEARCH - Orencia improves both the physical and mental health of RA patients with inadequate response to MTX

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Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Sep 19; [Epub ahead of print]

Abatacept improves both the physical and mental health of rheumatoid

arthritis patients with inadequate response to methotrexate therapy.

AS, Wallenstein GV, Li T, M, Maclean R, Blaisdell B, Gajria

K, Cole JC, Becker JC, Emery P.

Clinical Member MD FRCPC, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of added abatacept treatment on health

related quality of life (HRQoL) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with

inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX). METHODS: The impact of abatacept

therapy on HRQoL was examined in a longitudinal, randomized double-blind,

placebo-controlled clinical trial. Effects of treatment on HRQoL were

examined using repeated measures ANCOVA and comparing rates of change in

HRQoL across treatment groups. We also examined the relationship of ACR

clinical markers and disease duration with changes in HRQoL indicators.

Finally, a responder analysis was used to examine the percentage of patients

who improved by 0.5SD in 12 months or who reached normative levels observed

in the US general population. RESULTS: Statistically significant

improvements in the abatacept group relative to controls were observed

across a range of HRQoL measures, including physical function, fatigue, all

8 domains of the SF-36 and the physical and mental component summaries (PCS

and MCS). Improvements were observed as early as Day 29 for fatigue and 5

out of 8 SF-36 domains. By Day 169, all HRQoL measures were significantly

better than placebo. HRQoL gains were associated with greater ACR clinical

improvement, and the effects were consistent for patients with different

disease duration. A significantly greater percentage of patients treated

with abatacept reached normative levels of PCS, MCS, physical functioning,

and fatigue compared to patients treated with MTX alone.

CONCLUSION: Combined abatacept and MTX therapy produces significant

improvements across a wide range of HRQOL domains in RA patients.

PMID: 16984942

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

6984942

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

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s Hopkins Medicine

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