Glucocorticoid Effect on Radiographic Progression in Placebo Arms of Rheumatoid Arthritis Biologics Trials.

Boers, Maarten; Aletaha, Daniel; Mela, Christopher M; Baker, Daniel G; Smolen, Josef S · J Rheumatol · 2016

meta_analysis · Level I

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Abstract

To assess the effect of glucocorticoids (GC) on damage progression in placebo-biologic arms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) biologics trials. Posthoc metaanalysis of 2 infliximab (IFX) trials (established and early RA) and 1 tocilizumab (TCZ) trial (established RA). The proportion of patients receiving GC was 38%-64%, baseline damage was 11-82 Sharp/van der Heijde points, and progression in the placebo groups was 0.5-4.8 points in 6 months. In the pooled IFX studies, GC cotreatment reduced 6-month progression by 2.6 points (95% CI 0.6-4.5). In the TCZ study (progression rate 0.5 Genant points), no such difference was seen. GC cotreatment may affect results in RA trials.

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