High remission and low relapse with prolonged intensive DMARD therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (PRINT): A multicenter randomized clinical trial. Issue 28 (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Ru; Zhao, Jin-Xia; Su, Yin; He, Jing; Chen, Li-Na; Gu, Fei; Zhao, Cheng; Deng, Xue-Rong; Zhou, Wei; Hao, Yan-Jie; Xue, Yu; Liu, Hua-Xiang; Zhao, Yi; Zou, Qing-Hua; Liu, Xiang-Yuan; Zhu, Ping; Sun, Ling-Yun; Zhang, Zhuo-Li; Zou, He-Jian; Li, Xing-Fu; Liu, Yi; Fang, Yong-Fei; Keystone, Edward; McInnes, Iain B.; Li, Zhan-Guo
• Other Names: Astete. Carlos Guillen section editor.
• Is Part Of: Medicine. Volume 95:Issue 28(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: DMARDs (synthetic) -- outcomes research -- rheumatoid arthritis; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Geneeskunde; Medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000003968
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-7974

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To determine whether prolonged intensive disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment (PRINT) leads to high remission and low relapse rates in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: In this multicenter, randomized and parallel treatment trial, 346 patients with active RA (disease activity score (28 joints) [DAS28] (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) > 5.1) were enrolled from 9 centers. In phase 1, patients received intensive treatment with methotrexate, leflunomide, and hydroxychloroquine, up to 36 weeks, until remission (DAS28 ⩽ 2.6) or a low disease activity (2.6 < DAS28 ⩽ 3.2) was achieved. In phase 2, patients achieving remission or low disease activity were followed up with randomization to 1 of 2 step-down protocols: leflunomide plus hydroxychloroquine combination or leflunomide monotherapy. The primary endpoints were good European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response (DAS28 (ESR) < 3.2 and a decrease of DAS28 by at least 1.2) during the intensive treatment and the disease state retention rate during step-down maintenance treatment. Predictors of a good EULAR response in the intensive treatment period and disease flare in the maintenance period were sought. Results: A good EULAR response was achieved in 18.7%, 36.9%, and 54.1% of patients at 12, 24, and 36 weeks, respectively. By 36 weeks, 75.4% of patients achieved good and moderate EULAR responses. Compared with those achieving low disease activity and a high health assessment questionnaire (HAQ > 0.5), patients achieving remission (DAS28 ⩽ 2.6) and low HAQ (⩽ 0.5) had a significantly higher retention rate when tapering the DMARDs treatment ( P = 0.046 and P = 0.01, respectively). There was no advantage on tapering to combination rather than monotherapy. Conclusions: Remission was achieved in a proportion of patients with RA receiving prolonged intensive DMARD therapy. Low disease activity at the start of disease taper leads to less subsequent flares. Leflunomide is a good maintenance treatment as single treatment.