title: Efficacy of abatacept for arthritis in patients with an overlap syndrome between rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of abatacept for arthritis in patients with rhupus, an overlap syndrome between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who fulfilled both the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria for RA classification and the 1997 ACR revised criteria for classification of SLE and received abatacept treatment for arthritis were retrospectively studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six rhupus patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria above were identified. All patients had active arthritis despite receiving antirheumatic drugs including methotrexate when abatacept was initiated. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) significantly decreased between baseline and 12 weeks (P = 0.028) and remained low through 24 weeks. All patients achieved either a good or moderate response according to the EULAR response criteria at 24 weeks. Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) also significantly decreased between baseline and 24 weeks (P = 0.043). In addition, the levels of immunoglobulin G and anti-DNA antibody significantly decreased between baseline and 24 weeks (P = 0.028 and P = 0.043, resp.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with abatacept is likely to be efficacious in patients with rhupus whose arthritis is refractory to methotrexate. In addition, abatacept may have a moderate effect on abnormal antibody production in rhupus patients.
authors: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Kei
authors: K
authors: Ikeda
authors: Yoshie
authors: Y
authors: Sanayama
authors: Sohei
authors: S
authors: Makita
authors: Junichi
authors: J
authors: Hosokawa
authors: Mieko
authors: M
authors: Yamagata
authors: Daiki
authors: D
authors: Nakagomi
authors: Katsuhiko
authors: K
authors: Takabayashi
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069594:Abatacept