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  • Infliximab for 6 months added on combination therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: 2-year results from an investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (the NEO-RACo Study)

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Clinical and epidemiological research
Extended report
Infliximab for 6 months added on combination therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: 2-year results from an investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (the NEO-RACo Study)
  1. Marjatta Leirisalo-Repo1,2,
  2. Hannu Kautiainen3,4,
  3. Leena Laasonen5,
  4. Markku Korpela6,
  5. Markku J Kauppi7,8,
  6. Oili Kaipiainen-Seppänen9,
  7. Riitta Luosujärvi1,9,
  8. Reijo Luukkainen10,
  9. Anna Karjalainen11,
  10. Harri Blåfield12,
  11. Toini Uutela13,
  12. Kirsti Ilva14,
  13. Heikki A Julkunen15,
  14. Leena Paimela3,
  15. Kari Puolakka16,
  16. Eeva Moilanen17,
  17. Pekka J Hannonen18,
  18. Timo Möttönen19,20,
  19. for the NEO-RACo Study Group
  1. 1Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
  2. 2Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
  3. 3Rehabilitation Unit, Orton Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
  4. 4Unit of Family Practice, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland
  5. 5Helsinki Medical Imaging Centre, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
  6. 6Department of Internal Medicine, Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
  7. 7Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland
  8. 8Department of Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland
  9. 9Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
  10. 10Department of Rheumatology, Satakunta Central Hospital, Rauma, Finland
  11. 11Department of Medicine, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
  12. 12Department of Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland
  13. 13Department of Medicine, Central Hospital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
  14. 14Department of Medicine, Hämeenlinna Central Hospital, Hämeenlinna, Finland
  15. 15Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Peijas Hospital, Vantaa, Finland
  16. 16Department of Medicine, Lappeenranta Central Hospital, Lappeenranta, Finland
  17. 17The Immunopharmacology Research Group, University of Tampere Medical School and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
  18. 18Department of Medicine, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland
  19. 19Department of Rheumatology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
  20. 20Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
  1. Correspondence to
    Professor Marjatta Leirisalo-Repo, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, P O Box 440, Helsinki FI-00029 HUS, Finland; marjatta.leirisalo-repo{at}hus.fi

Abstract

Objective Early treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with combination treatment starting with methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine and prednisolone (FIN-RACo strategy) is superior to monotherapy. A study was undertaken to determine whether infliximab (INFL) added to intensified FIN-RACo treatment for the initial 6 months improves the 2-year outcome.

Methods 99 patients with early untreated active RA were enrolled in an investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blind, multicentre, parallel-group trial. Primary outcomes were remission and radiological changes at 2 years. All patients started with FIN-RACo. In addition, they were randomised to receive INFL or placebo (Pla) from weeks 4 to 26.

Results At 24 months, 66% and 53%, respectively, of the patients in the FIN-RACo+INFL and FIN-RACo+Pla groups were in remission according to the modified American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria (p=0.19), 26% and 10% were in sustained modified ACR remission (p=0.042) and 82% in both groups were in remission by 28-joint disease activity score (not significant). Mean changes in the total Sharp-van der Heijde score were 0.2 and 1.4, respectively (p=0.0058).

Conclusions Most patients with early active RA achieve clinical remission and develop negligible joint damage with the intensified FIN-RACo regimen. Adding INFL for the first 6 months delays radiological progression.

https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-201365

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    Introduction

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease with the potential to develop into a disabling and destructive disease. There is an abundance of evidence to show that early treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) modifies the course and retards the development of radiological joint damage.1 ,2

    However, strict remissions by the preliminary criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)3 are rare and usually transient.4 Clinical outcomes can be improved by treatment strategies with predefined targets and tight control of disease activity.5 With this knowledge, a recent international task force emphasised that the goal of treatment in RA should be remission.6

    The FIN-RACo study was the first to set the target to strict remission.1 We showed that patients treated from the diagnosis with a combination of methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine (SASP), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and low-dose prednisolone (PRED) reached ACR remission at 2 years significantly more often than a monotherapy group (37% vs 18%).1 The 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) remission7 rates were 68% vs 41%, respectively.8 Induction of ACR remission during the first 6 months prevented work disability9 with subsequent economic consequences.10

    However, a considerable proportion of patients did not reach remission or the remission was transient.1 ,4 We therefore decided to study whether the addition of infliximab (INFL) during the first 6 months on an intensified FIN-RACo regimen (higher dose and more rapid escalation of MTX) would increase the frequency of remissions and reduce the rate of radiological progression compared with the FIN-RACo regimen only. Here we report the 2-year results of this NEO-RACo study.

    Methods

    Patients

    Eligible patients fulfilled the ACR classification criteria for RA,11 were aged between 18 and 60 years, had symptoms for ≤12 months, were DMARD naïve and not permanently work disabled or retired. They had active disease with ≥6 swollen joints and ≥6 tender joints and at least one of the following: duration of early morning stiffness ≥45 min, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ≥30 mm/h or C-reactive protein ≥20 mg/l.

    Patients were excluded if they had been treated with oral glucocorticoids within the previous 6 months or with intra-articular glucocorticoids within 30 days, had contraindications to study medications, active infection or a history of previous or latent tuberculosis or malignancy (except for basalioma or in situ cervical cancer) within 5 years.

    Study design

    This investigator-initiated, multicentre, randomised, placebo (Pla)-controlled study was conducted between March 2003 and April 2005 at 15 rheumatological centres in Finland. The study protocol was approved by the national health authorities and by the ethics committee of the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa. The study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki. All patients gave informed written consent. The study was registered at http://www.clintrials.gov (NCT00908089).

    Treatment

    We compared the efficacy of INFL with Pla during the first 6 months added on to the intensified FIN-RACo regimen (MTX, SASP, HCQ+PRED) started openly on all patients (see supplementary online figure S1). Intra-articular glucocorticoids were injected in the presence of any swollen joint.

    MTX was started at a dose of 10 mg/week, increased by week 14 up to 25 mg/week. Folic acid was prescribed at a dose of 5 mg/week. In the presence of adverse events, MTX could be switched to the subcutaneous form and continued at the maximum tolerated dose (maximum 25 mg/week). SASP was escalated from 1 g/day to 2 g/day by 2 weeks or to the maximum tolerated dose (1–2 g/day). The total weekly dose of HCQ was 35 mg/kg/week. A fixed dose of PRED (7.5 mg/day) was started. All patients received daily 1000 mg calcium and 800 IU vitamin D3 (see supplementary online table S1).

    The patients were randomised to receive INFL (3 mg/kg) or Pla at weeks 4, 6, 10, 18 and 26 upon the FIN-RACo treatment (see supplementary online figure S1). The randomisation was performed centrally and stratified according to rheumatoid factor with a block size of 10. At 26 weeks the infusions were discontinued while the FIN-RACo treatment and PRED were maintained in both treatment arms.

    The treatment in both groups was targeted to remission. We used the preliminary ACR remission criteria3 with the following modification: the patient was considered to be in remission if five out of six variables (morning stiffness <15 min, no fatigue, joint pain, tender joints, swelling in joints or tendons and ESR <30 mm/h in women and <20 mm/h in men) were present and there was no swollen or tender joint.

    Study procedures

    The patients were assessed clinically at weeks 0, 4, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22 and 26 and at months 8, 10, 12 and 3-monthly thereafter. The evaluation consisted of the number of swollen (66) and tender (68) joints, patients’ self-report of pain, physicians’ and patients’ global assessment of the disease activity, physical function as assessed by the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and acute phase reactants. We calculated modified ACR remission and ACR50 response.12 Dose increments in the drugs were based on clinical disease activity. If the patient had been on maximal tolerated doses of the three DMARDs for at least 3 months and was not in modified ACR remission, it was mandatory to change at least one of the drugs to improve the therapeutic response.

    Substitution rules for DMARDs

    In cases of allergy/intolerance/inefficacy, MTX was substituted by azathioprine, SASP by ciclosporin, and HCQ by auranofin. Other DMARDs (aurothiomalate, ciclosporin, leflunomide and podophyllotoxin) could also be used. The combination had to include three DMARDs+PRED.

    If the patient achieved modified ACR remission, three DMARDs with PRED were continued up to the 24-month check-up visit. If, despite dose and DMARD adjustments and intra-articular glucocorticoid injections, the patient was a non-responder (less than ACR50% response) at two consecutive visits after week 26, the patient was regarded as a treatment failure and the therapy was unrestricted, including an option to use other anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents. Laboratory tests for safety and efficacy were performed at each visit.

    Radiology

    Radiology of hands and feet were taken at baseline and at 8 and 24 months. Radiographs were scored according to the modified Sharp-van der Heijde (SvdH)13 and by the Larsen methods.14

    Targets for treatment

    The primary endpoints were modified ACR remission and radiological changes at 24 months and the secondary endpoint was the number of patients with sustained remission (remission at each visit from 6 to 24 months). We also assessed the DAS287 and ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70 responses.12

    Statistical analysis

    The target sample size of 100 patients was calculated based on the FIN-RACo study1 in which 25% of the patients in the combination therapy group were in remission at the 6-month visit. With a power of 85% to detect a difference of 30% or greater in the remission rates in patients receiving INFL versus Pla, the size in each group was 50 patients (two-sided α=0.05).

    Efficacy variables were analysed by intention to treat. All patients who received at least one dose of a DMARD were included in the primary endpoint analysis. Statistical comparisons between groups were made using the t test, Mann–Whitney test, χ2 test or Fisher exact test as appropriate. The generalised estimating equations model with unstructured correlation structure and binomial link function was adapted for longitudinal remission data. Repeated measures for HAQ were analysed using generalised linear mixed models. Fixed effects were group, time and group–time interactions. Radiological progression outcomes were analysed by bootstrap type analysis of covariance with baseline value as covariate because of the violation of distributions assumptions. The CIs for means of radiological outcome were also obtained by bias-corrected bootstrapping (5000 replications). Time-to-event analysis was based on the product limit estimate of the cumulative ‘survival’ function and the log-rank test with Monte-Carlo p values was used to identify the cumulative proportion statistical difference.

    Results

    Patients

    Ninety-nine patients (67% female, median duration of symptoms 4 months (IQR 2, 6)) started the study (figure 1). Seventy-five (76%) patients were seropositive and 36 (37%) had erosions at baseline. The randomisation was successful (table 1).

    View this table:
    Table 1

    Baseline characteristics of the patients

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Trial profile. FIN-RACo, combination therapy started with methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine and prednisolone; INFL, infliximab; Pla, placebo.

    Clinical response

    At 24 months, 33 patients (66%) in the FIN-RACo+INFL group and 26 (53%) in the FIN-RACo+Pla group were in remission according to the modified ACR criteria (p=0.19). Sustained modified ACR remission was achieved by 13 (26%) and 5 (10%) patients, respectively (p=0.042; figure 2A, table 2).

    View this table:
    Table 2

    Outcome at 24 months

    Figure 2
    Figure 2

    (A) Remission proportions during the first 2 years by the modified American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) remission criteria. Proportions with 95% CIs based on generalised estimating equations model. (B) Cumulative percentage to first modified ACR remission. (C) Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Values are mean and 95% CIs. FIN-RACo, combination therapy started with methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine and prednisolone; INFL, infliximab; Pla, placebo.

    The time to first remission was shorter in the FIN-RACo+INFL group (p=0.049; figure 2B). From month 3, HAQ was low in both groups (figure 2C).

    Radiology

    Radiological progression was minimal in both treatment arms (table 2). Joint changes did not progress in 80% of the patients in FIN-RACo+INFL group and in 53% of the patients in the FIN-RACo+Pla group (p=0.006).

    Treatment

    The median (IQR) maximal dose of MTX was 20 mg (15, 25) in the FIN-RACo+Pla group and17.5 mg (15, 25) in the FIN-RACo+INFL group (p=0.040). There was no statistically significant difference between the treatment arms in the discontinuations of MTX, SASP and HCQ (see supplementary online figure S2). MTX was discontinued permanently in four patients (8%) in the FIN-RACo+Pla group and in six patients (12%) in the FIN-RACo+INFL group (not significant). The median (IQR) number of intra-articular glucocorticoid injections was slightly higher in the FIN-RACo+Pla group than in the FIN-RACo+INFL group (4 (1, 10) vs 2 (0, 6); p=0.016). The cumulative dose of methylprednisolone equivalents injected intra-articularly was 212 mg vs 92 mg, respectively (p=0.008, figure 3).

    Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Cumulative dose of glucocorticoids injected (methylprednisolone equivalents). FIN-RACo, combination therapy started with methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine and prednisolone; INFL, infliximab; Pla, placebo.

    Treatment with a TNF-blocking drug was started in three patients (two in the FIN-RACo+INFL group and one in the FIN-RACo+Pla group).

    Adverse events

    Adverse events occurred in 92 patients (93%, table 3). A DMARD was switched to another due to adverse event in 37 patients (37%). Nine (9%) serious adverse events occurred in seven patients. Serious infections needing hospitalisation occurred in five patients (table 3).The prevalence of adverse events did not differ significantly between the treatment arms.

    View this table:
    Table 3

    Number (%) of patients experiencing adverse events during the trial

    Compliance

    Three patients discontinued due to insufficient efficacy. Protocol violation led to discontinuation in two patients (figure 1).

    Discussion

    This study confirms that the majority of patients with early RA reach clinical remission with tight control and by the use of the intensified combination drug regimen. Further, this treatment strategy results in negligible joint damage. After 24 months, 53% of the patients in the intensified FIN-RACo+Pla group were in modified ACR remission. Adding INFL to the regimen for the initial 6 months increased the modified ACR remission rate up to 66% and almost completely delayed radiological progression. The DAS28 remission rate was very high (82%) in both treatment arms. The higher remission rates than in the original FIN-RACo trial1 ,4 ,8 are probably due to the higher doses and more rapid escalation phase of MTX. Also, unlike in the original FIN-RACo study, we did not taper down the DMARDs in the case of remissions.

    Recent international consensus emphasises remission as the target of treatment.6 Our results strengthen the almost unanimous concept of the rheumatology community that early institution of treatment in patients with recent onset RA increases the frequency of remissions and retards joint destruction.2 Use of DMARD combinations,1 ,15–20 tight control of disease activity and treatment modifications to reach the preset targets further increase the good outcome.19 ,21–23

    Our protocol did target remission in all patients and the drug treatment was modified accordingly. We calculated both the modified ACR and DAS28 remissions. The modified ACR remission accepts only patients with no swollen joints (66 joint count) and no tender joints (68 joint count) while the DAS28 remission is more permissive, so the DAS28 remission rates were higher. The same holds true for sustained remissions by modified ACR and DAS28 criteria.

    The treatment responses of the FIN-RACo+Pla arm were superior to the previously reported strategy studies. A total of 92% of our patients reached the ACR50 response at 2 years. In the CAMERA study, in which ciclosporin was added to MTX in cases with an inadequate response, 50% of the intensively monitored group and 37% of the routine care group reached the ACR50 response.22 In the TICORA study, where the intensive DMARD treatment strategy consisted of monthly visits and SASP monotherapy with escalation of DMARD(s) and mandatory use of intra-articular or intramuscular glucocorticoids, the ACR50 response in the intensive treatment arm was 84%.21

    Active use of intra-articular glucocorticoids also contributes to the excellent outcomes. In the CIMESTRA study, where intra-articular injections of betametasone were part of the treatment strategy,23 the 2-year ACR and DAS28 remission rates were 35–41% and 50%, respectively, and sustained DAS28 remission rates were 10–15%. Probably because of the more intense use of traditional DMARDs in the current study, the remission rates by both the modified ACR and the DAS28 criteria even in the FIN-RACo+Pla treatment arm were higher than in the CIMESTRA study.

    We examined whether early use of INFL added to the treatment for the first 6 months could improve the 2-year outcome of the patients. The rate of modified ACR remission was slightly increased (from 53% to 66%), but the DAS28 remission was at the same high level (82%). The ACR50 (96%) and ACR70 (86%) responses were extremely high.

    In published randomised controlled studies with biological agents in early RA, the ACR50 response rates with a combination of a TNF-blocking agent and MTX varied between 46% and 71%, while the ACR70 responses varied between 33% and 50%.24–27 The DAS28 remission rate varied between 31% and 50%.24 ,25 These figures are all lower than those observed in the present NEO-RACo study in patients in both treatment arms. The results are as expected since, in the clinical trial protocols, dose adjustments of MTX, combinations with other DMARDs or intra-articular injections are not allowed.

    In strategy studies with preset targets and allowing dose titrations and changes of DMARDs and the addition of biological agents, the outcome in different treatment arms is not very different. The GUEPARD study started MTX combined with adalimumab or MTX as monotherapy in early RA.28 The treatment was adjusted by low disease activity allowing MTX and adalimumab to be tapered down or up after 3 months and the addition of a TNF-blocking drug later in the case of a flare. The DAS28 was more rapidly suppressed in the MTX+adalimumab arm than in the MTX arm. The DAS28 remission rates in the two arms were 36.4% vs 12.5% at week 12 (p=0.0223) and 39.4% vs 59.4% at week 52, respectively (difference not significant) without a significant difference in the consumption of TNF-blocking drugs. The results are lower than in the NEO-RACo study, probably due to targeting to low disease activity (and not to remission) and rapid tapering of MTX and adalimumab. Also, the results in the CIMESTRA study23 and the clinical outcomes in the BeSt study17 were much the same between the treatment arms.

    Compared with the current study, the BeSt study had a similar approach in one of the treatment arms (start MTX with INFL, allowing dose changes and targeting to low disease activity).17 After 2 years about 30% of the patients had ACR70 response,17 a figure considerably lower than the 86% in the FIN-RACo+INFL arm in the current study and also lower than the 71% response in the FIN-RACo+Pla arm. The use of MTX as monotherapy, targeting to low disease activity instead of remission and tapering down/discontinuing drugs in the case of low disease activity for >6 months may have contributed to the results.

    In the present NEO-RACo study the radiological progression was negligible. Although there was a statistically significant difference in the radiological progression between the groups, the difference was not clinically significant. The results are in line with the CIMESTRA study23 and can partly be attributed to the flexible treatment protocol and liberal use of intra-articular glucocorticoid injections. Patients in the FIN-RACo+INFL arm managed even better with a mean radiological progression in the total SvdH score of −0.2. In some controlled trials with anti-TNF therapies, the 2-year radiological progression has varied from −0.56 to 12.17 ,25 ,27–30

    The combination of MTX, SASP and HCQ has a good safety profile,31 as has the combination of MTX with INFL.32 In the present study the rate of adverse events was equal in both treatment arms. Most adverse events were mild but resulted in a change in antirheumatic drug in 27% of the patients. This percentage is slightly higher than in the original FIN-RACo study, probably due to higher doses of MTX. Nine (9%) adverse events were serious, a figure lower than that reported for INFL in combination with MTX29 but slightly higher (9% vs 3%) than in the combination arm in the FIN-RACo study.1

    In conclusion, the present NEO-RACo study confirms that intense treatment from the time of diagnosis with a combination of three DMARDs and prednisolone, liberal use of intra-articular glucocorticoid injections and targeting to remission results in excellent clinical outcomes in the vast majority of patients. The addition of INFL for the first 6 months induces remission more rapidly, increases the probability of sustained remission during the first 2 years and further retards radiological progression. The differences compared with the Pla arm were, however, very small. At present the routine addition of INFL to the NEO-RACo treatment strategy is not justified.

    Acknowledgments

    The authors would like to thank all participating patients, study nurses and co-investigators.

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    Supplementary materials

    • Supplementary Data

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors The study was designed by the principal investigator in collaboration with other investigators of the NEO-RACo Study Group and all data were collected by the Study Group. All the investigators contributed to the design, analysis and writing of the report. ML-R was the principal investigator and study centre coordinator. The administrative board of the study consisted of ML-R, TM, MK, MJK, OK-S and RL. LL evaluated the radiographs. Data collection and statistical analysis were done by HK.

    • Funding The study was supported by grants from the Helsinki University Central Hospital Research Funds, from Finska Läkaresällskapet and from the research funds of participating hospitals. An unrestricted grant was provided by Schering-Plough Finland, which was used for the purchase of infliximab. Schering-Plough Finland also provided support for investigator meetings.

    • Competing interests ML-R has received honoraria and consulting fees from Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Centocor, MSD, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. LL has received consulting fees from Abbott. MK has received honoraria and consulting fees from Abbott, BMS, GSK, MSD, Pfizer, Roche and UCB Pharma. MJK has received honoraria from Abbott, BMS, GSK, MSD Finland, Mundipharma, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. OK-S has received honoraria from Abbott, BMS, GSK, MSD Finland, Roche and UCB. AK has received honoraria from Abbott, Actelion, BMS, GSK, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Schering-Plough and UCB. KP has received honoraria from Pfizer, MSD, Abbott, BMS, Roche and UCB. PJH has received honoraria from Abbott, AstraZeneca, BMS, GSK, MSD Finland, Mundipharma, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. HAJ has received consulting fees and travel grants from Abbott, GSK, MSD Finland, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. LP has received honoraria from Abbott, MSD Finland, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. HK, RL and EM have nothing to disclose.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Ethics approval The study protocol was approved by the National Health Authorities and by the ethics committee of the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Other members of the NEO-RACo Study Group Eeva Alasaarela, Kari K Eklund, Mikko Hakola, Aulikki Kononoff, Maija-Liisa Krogerus, Kari Laiho, Timo Malmi, Helena Niinisalo, Ritva Peltomaa, Jari Pöllänen, Tea Uusitalo, Heikki Valleala, and Kaisa Vuori (rheumatologists) and Riina Nieminen and Katariina Vuolteenaho (pharmacologists).