Early Therapeutic Intervention Significantly Cuts RA Risks

A presentation at the 2017 EULAR Congress found that early therapeutic intervention in patients with “pre-RA” significantly cuts down on the risk of developing moderate to severe RA.

“Our review of the available clinical data supports the rationale for early treatment in these patients,” Stephane Hilliquin, of the Pitié Salpêtrière
University Hospital in Paris, France, said in a press release. “In those studies where pre-RA patients received active treatment, there was a significant reduction in the risk of occurrence of RA at 52 weeks or more,” he said. “Although there was no statistically significant difference in the absence of disease progression as seen on X-ray between those taking active treatments or placebo due to the disease being at such an early stage.”

The researchers sought to expand the understanding of pre-RA, an early stage in the disease progression characterized by undifferentiated arthritis. They conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that focused on pre-RA and undifferentiated arthritis. 

Dr Hilliquin and colleagues found that early intervention significantly reduced the risk for RA onset in among patients with pre-RA symptoms. The therapies used in the meta-analysis included methylprednisolone, Rasuvo (methotrexate, Medac), TNF-inhibitors, Orencia (abatacept; Bristol-Myers Squibb), or Rituxan (rituximab; Genentech).

“Our data nicely complements the newly launched EULAR campaign: ‘Don’t Delay, Connect Today,’ which is emphasizing the importance of early intervention in the treatment of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases through early diagnosis and early referral,” Dr Hilliquin concluded. “However, the benefit/risk balance and feasibility of early aggressive treatment of pre-RA in clinical practice will still need further assessment.” —David Costill