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Abstract
Background Biologic agents are effective therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It has been suggested that biologic taper and discontinuation may be a viable option for a subset of RA patients whose disease activity is in control.
Objectives The objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of biologic withdrawal in RA in the real world setting.
Methods Data from the Corrona registry were used. RA patients who discontinued biologic therapies after ≥1 year of continuous use, and who had no additional biologic use for the subsequent 12 months were included. Disease activity were evaluated at baseline (time of biologic discontinuation), 3, 6 and 12 months post biologic discontinuation. The percentage of patients who had at least 1 flare (i.e. an increase in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) by ≥16.11, 2) off biologic therapy was assessed.
Results Of the 120 included patients: 97 (80.8%) were female; age (mean ± SD) was 58.7±12.5 years, CDAI was 15.2±15.1, ESR was 48.7±34.3, CRP was 9.1±10.2 and HAQ 1.0±0.7, all at baseline. After biologic discontinuation, 8.3% of patients had at least 1 flare by 3 months, 30% by 6 months and 41.7% by 12 months.
Conclusions In the current study using data from Corrona, biologic discontinuation in RA was associated with flares whose rates increase over time.
References
Yoshida et al. Annals of the rheumatic diseases (2013).
Ranganath, et al. Annals of the rheumatic diseases (2007).
Acknowledgements The Corrona, LLC. RA registry has been supported through contracted subscriptions in the last two years by AbbVie, Amgen, Astra Zeneca, BMS, Genentech, Horizon Pharma USA, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB. The design, study conduct, and financial support for the study was provided by AbbVie. AbbVie participated in the interpretation of data, review, and approval of the abstract.
Disclosure of Interest D. Pappas Employee of: Corrona, LLC., Paid instructor for: Novartis, G. Reed Employee of: Corrona, LLC., Y. Bao Shareholder of: AbbVie, Inc., Employee of: AbbVie, Inc., S. Grant Employee of: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, V. Garg Shareholder of: AbbVie, Inc., Employee of: AbbVie, Inc.