OPINION - Orencia in undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis or early RA - can it prevent progression?

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Medscape

Deane, MD

Posted 11 Feb 2010

Abatacept in Undifferentiated Inflammatory Arthritis or Early

Rheumatoid Arthritis -- Can it Prevent Progression of Disease?

The impact of T-cell Co-stimulation Modulation in Patients With

Undifferentiated Inflammatory Arthritis or Very Early Rheumatoid

Arthritis: A Clinical and Imaging Study of Abatacept

Emery P, Durez P, Dougados M, et al

Ann Rheum Dis. 2009 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Introduction

There is now great hope that use of available therapies for early

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) will lead to better long-term outcomes. This

hope is supported by the results from several trials in early RA

showing improved disease control and even increased rates of drug-free

remission in patients with early RA who receive aggressive therapy,

including biologic therapy.[1] These authors evaluated whether use of

abatacept in patients with early undifferentiated arthritis or early

RA would delay fulfillment of the American College of Rheumatology's

1987 RA criteria.[2] The rationale for the use of this

T-cell-modulating agent was based on multiple T-cell-related responses

in mouse and human arthritis and inhibition of collagen-induced

arthritis by prophylactic use of abatacept.[3]

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http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716488

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