GJZH
11-15-2006, 12:35 AM
Adalimumab With Methotrexate Better Than Monotherapy for RA
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/547481
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 08 - Combination therapy with the anti-tumor necrosis factor agent adalimumab along with methotrexate appears to provide results superior to adalimumab alone in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Norwegian researchers report.
Dr. Marte Schrumpf Heiberg of Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo and colleagues used data from an on going longitudinal study to compare the two regimens. Their findings are published in the October issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Eighty-four patients received adalimumab monotherapy and 99 received adalimumab in combination with methotrexate. They were assessed at baseline and again at 3 and 6 months.
The improvements in the combination group were consistently superior to those in the monotherapy group. After adjustments, there were significant differences in C reactive protein levels, disease activity scoring, health assessment questionnaire rating, the investigator's global assessment and other measures of response.
In addition, at 6 months, significantly more patients in the combination group achieved a European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) good response (42.9% versus 9.1%) and significantly more were in remission (15.6% versus 5.5%).
At the end of the analysis, 80.8% of combination patients were still on therapy versus 59.5% of the monotherapy group. There were more withdrawals in the monotherapy group because of adverse reactions.
Thus, Dr. Heiberg told Reuters Health, "one should treat RA patients with the combination of adalimumab and methotrexate rather than adalimumab monotherapy whenever possible."
Ann Rheum Dis 2006;65:1379-1383.
Related Links
Resource Centers
Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/547481
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 08 - Combination therapy with the anti-tumor necrosis factor agent adalimumab along with methotrexate appears to provide results superior to adalimumab alone in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Norwegian researchers report.
Dr. Marte Schrumpf Heiberg of Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo and colleagues used data from an on going longitudinal study to compare the two regimens. Their findings are published in the October issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Eighty-four patients received adalimumab monotherapy and 99 received adalimumab in combination with methotrexate. They were assessed at baseline and again at 3 and 6 months.
The improvements in the combination group were consistently superior to those in the monotherapy group. After adjustments, there were significant differences in C reactive protein levels, disease activity scoring, health assessment questionnaire rating, the investigator's global assessment and other measures of response.
In addition, at 6 months, significantly more patients in the combination group achieved a European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) good response (42.9% versus 9.1%) and significantly more were in remission (15.6% versus 5.5%).
At the end of the analysis, 80.8% of combination patients were still on therapy versus 59.5% of the monotherapy group. There were more withdrawals in the monotherapy group because of adverse reactions.
Thus, Dr. Heiberg told Reuters Health, "one should treat RA patients with the combination of adalimumab and methotrexate rather than adalimumab monotherapy whenever possible."
Ann Rheum Dis 2006;65:1379-1383.
Related Links
Resource Centers
Rheumatoid Arthritis