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24-07-2018 | Rheumatoid arthritis | Article

Clinical, Ultrasound, and Predictability Outcomes Following Certolizumab Pegol Treatment (with Methotrexate) in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis: 52-Week Results from the CZP-SPEED Study

Journal: Advances in Therapy

Authors: Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini, Emilio Filippucci, Silvano Adami, Pier Luigi Meroni, Alberto Batticciotto, Luca Idolazzi, Orazio De Lucia, Pablo Talavera, Thomas Kumke, Walter Grassi

Publisher: Springer Healthcare

Abstract

Introduction

To assess the impact of certolizumab pegol (CZP) treatment on clinical, patient-reported, and musculoskeletal ultrasound outcomes and to determine the treatment response time point most predictive of long-term outcomes in Italian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

CZP-SPEED (NCT01443364) was a 52-week, open-label, prospective, interventional, multicenter study. Biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe active RA, who had failed at least one DMARD treatment, received CZP (400 mg at weeks 0, 2, and 4, then 200 mg every 2 weeks) concomitantly with methotrexate. The primary objective was to identify the time point of clinical response {decrease in 28-joint Disease Activity Score [DAS28(ESR)] ≥ 1.2} most predictive of a clinical response at week 52. Additional clinical and patient-reported outcomes were measured. Power Doppler (PD) ultrasound was used to assess synovial effusion, synovial proliferation, PD signal, cartilage damage, and bone erosion according to international guidelines.

Results

A total of 132 patients were enrolled and received CZP; 91/132 (69%) completed to week 52. Predicted 52-week responses for early responders (week 2 onwards) were between 65% and 70%. Rapid improvements in joint cavity widening and PD signal were observed to week 8 and maintained to week 52. Cartilage damage and bone erosion were stable over 52 weeks. No new safety signals were identified.

Conclusion

In Italian CZP-treated patients with moderate-to-severe RA, week 12 clinical responses may be predictive of long-term response at week 52. Rapid improvements in clinical, patient-reported, and musculoskeletal ultrasound outcomes were maintained to week 52. These data may aid rheumatologists to make earlier treatment decisions.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01443364.

Funding

UCB Pharma.
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