title: Clinical and functional remission: even though biologics are superior to conventional DMARDs overall success rates remain low--results from RABBIT, the German biologics register.
abstract: We investigated the frequency of remission according to the disease activity score (DAS28) definition, modified American Rheumatology Association (ARA) criteria, and the frequency of an achievement of a functional status above defined thresholds ('functional remission', 'physical independence') in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with either biologics or conventional DMARDs. We used the data of a prospective cohort study, the German biologics register RABBIT (German acronym for Rheumatoid Arthritis--Observation of Biologic Therapy) to investigate the outcomes in RA patients with two or more DMARD failures who received new treatment with biologics (BIOL; n = 818) or a conventional DMARD (n = 265). Logistic regression analysis was applied to adjust for differences in baseline risks. Taking risk indicators such as previous DMARD failures or baseline clinical status into account, we found that biologics doubled the chance of remission compared to conventional DMARD therapies (DAS28 remission, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.95 (95% confidenece interval (CI) 1.2-3.2)); ARA remission, OR 2.05 (95% CI 1.2-3.5)). High remission rates (DAS28 remission, 30.6%; ARA remission, 16.9%) were observed in BIOL patients with a moderate disease activity (DAS28, 3.2 to 5.1) at the start of treatment. These rates decreased to 8.5% in patients with DAS28 > 6. Sustained remission at 6 and 12 months was achieved in <10% of the patients. Severely disabled patients (< or = 50% of full function) receiving biologic therapies were significantly more likely to achieve a status indicating physical independence (> or = 67% of full function) than controls (OR 3.88 (95% CI 1.7-8.8)). 'Functional remission' (> or = 83% of full function) was more often achieved in BIOL than in controls (OR 2.18 (95% CI 1.04-4.6)). In conclusion, our study shows that biologics increase the chance to achieve clinical remission and a status of functional remission or at least physical independence. However, temporary or even sustained remission remain ambitious aims, which are achieved in a minority of patients only.
authors.affiliation: German Rheumatism Research Centre, Berlin, Germany. Listing@drfz.de
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Listing
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strangfeld
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rau
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kekow
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gromnica-Ihle
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klopsch
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Demary
authors.forename: Gerd-Rüdiger
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Burmester
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products