ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • 2023 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • ACR Meetings

Abstract Number: 487

Functional Disability in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis – Contributions of Disease Activity and Structural Damage, and the Impact of Different Treatment Strategies

Josef S. Smolen1, Roy Fleischmann2, Paul Emery3, Ronald F. van Vollenhoven4, Stefan Florentinus5, Freddy Faccin6, Suchitrita S. Rathmann7, Hartmut Kupper8 and Arthur Kavanaugh9, 1Medical University of Vienna and Hietzing Hospital, Vienna, Austria, 2Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, 3Medicine, Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Leeds, United Kingdom, 4Unit for Clinical Trial Therapy research, The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 5AbbVie, Rungis, France, 6Abbott, Abbott Park, IL, 7Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, 8Immunology Development, Abbott GmbH and Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany, 9UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA

Meeting: 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: Adalimumab, disability and rheumatoid arthritis, treatment

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Session Information

Title: Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - Small Molecules, Biologics and Gene Therapy

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose: Functional impairment among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be conceptualized as consisting of a reversible component that relates to disease activity (ACT-HAQ) and an irreversible component related to structural damage (DAM-HAQ). We assessed changes in DAM-HAQ and ACT-HAQ in early RA patients receiving different treatment strategies in the OPTIMA trial.

Methods: OPTIMA was a 78-week, phase 4, randomized, controlled trial of adalimumab (ADA) 40 mg every other week + methotrexate (MTX) vs. placebo (PBO)+MTX for 26 wks (period 1) in MTX-naïve patients aged ≥18 yrs with early RA <1 yr in duration. Responders achieving low disease activity (LDA) at both wks 22 and 26 with ADA+MTX were re-randomized to withdraw or continue ADA+MTX; PBO+MTX responders continued PBO+MTX; and inadequate responders (IR) could receive open-label (O-L) ADA+MTX (O-L ADA+MTX) for an additional 52 wks (period 2). HAQ-DI (HAQ) and modified Total Sharp Score (mTSS) were assessed at baseline, wk 26, wk 52, and wk 78. DAM-HAQ was calculated from mTSS, DAM-HAQ = 0.01*mTSS; ACT-HAQ was the difference between HAQ-DI and DAM-HAQ.1

Results: Mean disease activity scores at baseline and wks 26, 52, and 78 are presented in the table. At baseline, HAQ scores were high, indicating substantial functional disability. Since damage was low, ACT-HAQ contributed the vast majority of disability. Baseline DAM-HAQ scores were similar across all treatment groups and remained low throughout the study to wk 78. ACT-HAQ scores improved in patients responding during period 1. HAQ scores also improved in patients not achieving stable LDA during period 1, and continued to improve in period 2. In both ADA+MTX(IR)→O-L ADA+MTX and  PBO+MTX(IR)→O-L ADA+MTX groups, although the extent of improvement was less than in the responders in period 1, scores continued to improve in period 2. Of note, although the HAQ score at week 78 was higher in the 2 groups not achieving LDA at weeks 22 and 26, the major contributor was ACT-HAQ, in line with the higher disease activity; DAM-HAQ was comparable across groups and contributed less to the total HAQ.

Conclusion: In these early RA patients, baseline disease activity resulted in substantial functional impairment. Patients who responded to early treatment with either ADA+MTX or PBO+MTX had low ACT-HAQ and DAM-HAQ values at wk 26 that were sustained through week 78. Patients with an inadequate response after 22 and 26 wks of PBO+MTX or ADA+MTX therapy showed significant improvement in HAQ even though not achieving LDA, and further improvement when treated with O-L ADA+MTX. Notably, even among initial inadequate responders, the disability at week 78 mostly consisted of ACT-HAQ, suggesting the potential for further improvement in these patients with further adjustment of treatment regimen.

 

Table. Summary of mean disease activity scores

 

Na

Treatment Arm

Baseline Score

Week 26 Score

Week 52 Score

Week 78 Score

Period 1

(Week 0–26)

Period 2

(Week 27–78)

HAQ-DIb

102

ADA+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

1.62

0.33

0.44

0.38

104

ADA+MTX(R)

ADA+MTX

1.38

0.35

0.32

0.34

255

ADA+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

1.72

0.99

0.90

0.87

112

PBO+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

1.36

0.29

0.30

0.39

346

PBO+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

1.66

1.07

0.76

0.74

ACT-HAQb,c,e

102

ADA+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

1.50

0.21

0.32

0.26

104

ADA+MTX(R)

ADA+MTX

1.29

0.24

0.21

0.23

255

ADA+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

1.62

0.88

0.78

0.76

112

PBO+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

1.28

0.20

0.21

0.29

346

PBO+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

1.54

0.94

0.63

0.61

DAM-HAQd,e

102

ADA+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

0.12

0.12

0.12

0.12

104

ADA+MTX(R)

ADA+MTX

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.11

256

ADA+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

0.11

0.12

0.11

0.11

112

PBO+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

0.09

0.09

0.09

0.09

347

PBO+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

0.12

0.13

0.13

0.13

mTSSe

102

ADA+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

12.2

12.2

12.0

12.1

104

ADA+MTX(R)

ADA+MTX

10.8

10.9

11.0

11.1

256

ADA+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

11.3

11.6

11.4

11.5

112

PBO+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

8.9

9.2

9.4

9.4

347

PBO+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

11.7

13.0

13.1

13.2

DAS28b

99

ADA+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

5.90

2.19

2.44

2.37

104

ADA+MTX(R)

ADA+MTX 

5.70

2.04

1.96

1.99

255

ADA+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

6.21

4.15

3.56

3.51

108

PBO+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

5.48

2.23

2.30

2.43

341

PBO+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

6.14

4.50

3.27

3.08

SDAIb

99

ADA+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

41.22

4.55

6.25

5.83

104

ADA+MTX(R)

ADA+MTX 

39.12

3.98

3.69

3.96

252

ADA+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

46.99

21.74

15.74

15.99

108

PBO+MTX(R)

PBO+MTX

36.00

4.49

5.40

6.70

341

PBO+MTX(IR)

O-L ADA+MTX

45.25

24.78

13.09

11.82

aIntent-to-treat patients with at least 1 dose in period 2; bLast observation carried forward; cACT-HAQ = HAQ-DI – DAM-HAQ; dDAM-HAQ = 0.01*mTSS ; eMultiple imputations. ACT-HAQ, disability index related to disease activity; ADA, adalimumab; DAM-HAQ, disability index related to joint damage; DAS28, 28-joint disease activity score with C-reactive protein; HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index; IR, inadequate responder; mTSS, modified Total Sharp Score; PBO, placebo, R, responder; SDAI, Simplified Disease Activity Index.

Reference

Ann Rheum Dis 2010;69:1058–1064.


Disclosure:

J. S. Smolen,

Abbott, Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, BMS, Celgene Centocor-Janssen, Glaxo, Lilly, Pfizer (Wyeth), MSD (Schering-Plough), Novo-Nordisk, Roche, Sandoz, and UCB,

2,

Abbott, Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, BMS, Celgene Centocor-Janssen, Glaxo, Lilly, Pfizer (Wyeth), MSD (Schering-Plough), Novo-Nordisk, Roche, Sandoz, and UCB,

5;

R. Fleischmann,

Abbott, Pfizer, Merck, Roche, UCB, Celgene, Centocor-Jannsen, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Lilly, and Novartis. ,

2,

Abbott, Pfizer, Merck, Roche, UCB, Celgene, Centocor-Jannsen, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Lilly, and Novartis. ,

5;

P. Emery,

Abbott, Merck, Pfizer, UCB, Roche, and BMS,

5;

R. F. van Vollenhoven,

Abbott Laboratories,

2,

Bristol-Myers Squibb,

2,

GlaxoSmithKline,

2,

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.,

2,

MSD,

2,

Pfizer Inc,

2,

Roche Pharmaceuticals,

2,

UCB Pharma,

2,

Abbott Laboratories,

5,

Bristol-Myers Squibb,

5,

GlaxoSmithKline,

5,

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.,

5,

MSD,

5,

Pfizer Inc,

5,

Roche Pharmaceuticals,

5,

UCB Pharma,

5;

S. Florentinus,

Abbott Laboratories,

1,

Abbott Laboratories,

3;

F. Faccin,

Abbott Laboratories,

1,

Abbott Laboratories,

3;

S. S. Rathmann,

Abbott Laboratories,

3,

Abbott Laboratories,

1;

H. Kupper,

Abbott Laboratories,

1,

Abbott Laboratories,

3;

A. Kavanaugh,

Abbott, Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, BMS, Celgene, Centocor-Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB,

2,

Abbott, Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, BMS, Celgene, Centocor-Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB,

5.

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

« Back to 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/functional-disability-in-early-rheumatoid-arthritis-contributions-of-disease-activity-and-structural-damage-and-the-impact-of-different-treatment-strategies/

Advanced Search

Your Favorites

You can save and print a list of your favorite abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract. View your favorites »

All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

Accepted abstracts are made available to the public online in advance of the meeting and are published in a special online supplement of our scientific journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Information contained in those abstracts may not be released until the abstracts appear online. In an exception to the media embargo, academic institutions, private organizations, and companies with products whose value may be influenced by information contained in an abstract may issue a press release to coincide with the availability of an ACR abstract on the ACR website. However, the ACR continues to require that information that goes beyond that contained in the abstract (e.g., discussion of the abstract done as part of editorial news coverage) is under media embargo until 10:00 AM ET on November 14, 2024. Journalists with access to embargoed information cannot release articles or editorial news coverage before this time. Editorial news coverage is considered original articles/videos developed by employed journalists to report facts, commentary, and subject matter expert quotes in a narrative form using a variety of sources (e.g., research, announcements, press releases, events, etc.).

Violation of this policy may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the meeting and other measures deemed appropriate. Authors are responsible for notifying colleagues, institutions, communications firms, and all other stakeholders related to the development or promotion of the abstract about this policy. If you have questions about the ACR abstract embargo policy, please contact ACR abstracts staff at [email protected].

Wiley

  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2025 American College of Rheumatology