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Predicting drug-free remission in rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective interventional cohort study

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ken BakerORCiD, Andrew Skelton, Dr Dennis LendremORCiD, Adam Scadeng, Dr Ben Thompson, Dr Arthur PrattORCiD, Professor John IsaacsORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Background Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) achieve disease remission with modern treatment strategies. However, having achieved this state, there are no tests that predict when withdrawal of therapy will result in drug-free remission rather than flare. We aimed to identify predictors of drug-free remission in RA.MethodsThe Biomarkers of Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis (BioRRA) Study was a unique, prospective, interventional cohort study of complete and abrupt cessation of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients with RA of at least 12 months duration and in clinical and ultrasound remission discontinued DMARDs and were monitored for six months. The primary outcome was time-to-flare, defined as disease activity score in 28 joints with C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) ≥ 2.4. Baseline clinical and ultrasound measures, circulating inflammatory biomarkers, and peripheral CD4+ T cell gene expression were assessed for their ability to predict time-to-flare and flare/remission status by Cox regression and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis respectively.Results23/44 (52%) eligible patients experienced an arthritis flare after a median (IQR) of 48 (31.5–86.5) days following DMARD cessation. A composite score incorporating five baseline variables (three transcripts [FAM102B, ENSG00000228010, ENSG00000227070], one cytokine [interleukin-27], one clinical [Boolean remission]) differentiated future flare from drug-free remission with an area under the ROC curve of 0.96 (95% CI 0.91–1.00), sensitivity 0.91 (0.78–1.00) and specificity 0.95 (0.84–1.00).ConclusionWe provide proof-of-concept evidence for predictors of drug-free remission in RA. If validated, these biomarkers could help to personalize immunosuppressant withdrawal: a therapy paradigm shift with ensuing patient and economic benefits.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Baker KF, Skelton AJ, Lendrem DW, Scadeng A, Thompson B, Pratt AG, Isaacs JD

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Autoimmunity

Year: 2019

Volume: 105

Print publication date: 01/12/2019

Online publication date: 04/07/2019

Acceptance date: 29/06/2019

Date deposited: 09/07/2019

ISSN (print): 0896-8411

ISSN (electronic): 1095-9157

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2019.06.009

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2019.06.009


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
102595/Z/13/A
Wellcome Trust

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