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Although nodulosis is a common extraarticular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, accelerated pulmonary nodulosis is a rare event. The etiology of rheumatoid nodules is still unknown. Nodulosis is not necessarily associated with active joint inflammation, suggesting different pathogenic mechanisms for nodule formation and synovial tissue inflammation. We describe a patient with extensive pulmonary nodulosis, probably related to etanercept treatment. Our case emphasizes the need for careful monitoring for adverse events during treatment with biologicals, especially since the differential diagnosis often includes a broad spectrum of diseases.

To estimate a threshold for minimal clinically important radiological progression of joint damage using its longitudinal relation with functional disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To validate existing estimates of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) using this relation with functional disability.We reanalyzed published data of 185 patients with early RA followed for a maximum of 9 years. Longitudinal regression (mixed models) was used, relating radiological damage (modified Sharp score) to functional disability (HAQ-DI), correcting for age (age at diagnosis and increasing disease duration), disease activity (DAS28), and demographic variables. Several shapes of the relation were investigated. Based on the observed relationship between radiological damage, functional disability, and the minimal clinically relevant increase in functional disability found in earlier studies, MCID for progression of joint damage was discussed. Existing estimates of MCID were evaluated for their influence on functional disability over the disease course.A longitudinal relation between the modified Sharp score and the HAQ-DI was found. Significant covariates were age, gender, and disease activity. The model indicated that the relation between the Sharp score and the HAQ-DI was dependent on the amount of damage (a threshold effect) and on patients' age. With lower age, no effect of joint damage on functional disability could be demonstrated and with higher age the effect of joint damage increased. With a typical patient from our cohort (age at diagnosis 55 yrs, some baseline damage, and an expected disease duration of 30 yrs), a (constant) progression of 6 points per year led to an increase of about 0.2 on the HAQ score, solely related to damage, over the disease course. This estimate of MCID was close to estimates based on expert opinion and equal or smaller than most estimates based on the smallest detectable difference.The MCID, defined using longitudinal effect on functional disability, is dependent on age and (progression of) joint damage. However, with a typical patient population this MCID was similar to thresholds based on expert opinion, adding to the validity of these estimates.

The RELIEF investigation was a 48-week, multicenter, international study comprising 2 phases. Results from the first phase, a 24-week open-label cohort study that evaluated the safety and efficacy of leflunomide, as well as predisposing factors to treatment response, are reported here.Patients received leflunomide 100 mg once daily for 3 days, followed by 20 mg once daily thereafter. All adverse events were documented. Efficacy variables were the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria using the Disease Activity Score (DAS 28) responder rate and the response rate according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. At Week 24, baseline data were analyzed to determine predictive factors for treatment response.A total of 969 patients were entered in the trial. No adverse events that have not previously been seen with leflunomide were reported. Among 968 evaluable patients, 673 (69.6%) completed 24 weeks of treatment and were responders according to DAS 28 response rate, and 587 (60.6%) completed 24 weeks of treatment and were responders according to ACR 20%. Thus, there was a high correlation between the EULAR and ACR criteria in determining treatment response. In addition, 240 (24.8%) patients had a low DAS 28 (or = 3.2) and 123 (12.7%) patients fulfilled the disease remission criteria (DAS 282.6) at the end of the study.This study demonstrates that leflunomide is well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that seen previously in Phase III studies, and confirms the efficacy of leflunomide across a range of patient categories.

To determine the optimal dose regimen for intravenous Ro 45-2081 (lenercept) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by evaluating efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics.Adult patients with longstanding RA who were taking stable doses of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug and/or low dose corticosteroids but who had stopped their previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drug were randomly assigned to receive 3 intravenous infusions, one every 4 weeks, of placebo or Ro 45-2081 in a double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group multicenter trial. Patients received one of the following: (1) placebo, (2) low dose Ro 45-2081 (0.05 mg/kg, maximum 5 mg), (3) middle dose (mid-dose) Ro 45-2081 (0.2 mg/kg, maximum 20 mg), or (4) high dose Ro 45-2081 (0.5 mg/kg, maximum 50 mg). Efficacy measures included change from baseline in number of swollen joints and tender joints, scores on physician and patient assessments of disease activity, and patient assessment of pain, as well as acute phase reactants.Patients treated with Ro 45-2081 exhibited improvement after one day of the first intravenous infusion. This treatment benefit maximized by 2 weeks but diminished thereafter. After the second and third infusion, improvement was of shorter duration as non-neutralizing anti-Ro 45-2081 antibodies developed and accelerated clearance of Ro 45-2081. There were no antibodies after the first infusion. This made efficacy transient in the mid-dose group and modest in the low and high dose groups at 12 weeks of treatment, resulting in no statistical differences at most time points or doses of Ro 45-2081. The majority of adverse experiences were mild or moderate, and were not related or only remotely related to study drug. No clinically relevant changes in mean laboratory values were reported. The third dose pharmacokinetic measurements showed that the average Ro 45-2081 clearance rate more than doubled compared with the first dosing interval, thus reducing the average Ro 45-2081 AUC by 36%.Intravenous Ro 45-2081 every 4 weeks proved to be well tolerated and transiently effective in the mid-dose group and modestly effective in the low and high dose groups in patients with longstanding RA. The interactions between Ro 45-2081, its non-neutralizing anti-Ro 45-2081 antibody, and the clinical benefit remain complex, but affected efficacy over the 12 weeks of treatment as Ro 45-2081 concentrations fell.

To assess the pharmacokinetics, safety profile, and efficacy of the fully human anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) monoclonal antibody adalimumab (D2E7) in patients with long-standing, active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).This was a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of single intravenous injections of ascending doses (0.5 to 10 mg/kg) of adalimumab in 5 cohorts of 24 patients each (18 adalimumab and 6 placebo in all cohorts except the 0.5 mg/kg cohort of 17 adalimumab, 7 placebo). A total of 120 patients participated (adalimumab 89, placebo 31). The clinical response was measured by changes in composite scores defined by the criteria of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology.Single doses of adalimumab showed a rapid onset of clinical effect (24 hours to 1 week), with peak efficacy at 1 to 2 weeks that was sustained for at least 4 weeks and for as long as 3 months in some patients. EULAR response was seen at least once during the 4 week period after drug injection in 29% of patients in the placebo group as well as in 41%, 78%, 72%, 89%, and 100% in the 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 10 mg/kg groups, respectively. No dose related increases in adverse events were observed in the adalimumab patients compared with the placebo group. Adalimumab systemic drug exposure (AUC0-( )) increased linearly with an increase in dose. The mean total serum clearance was 0.012 to 0.017 l/h, and the steady-state volume of distribution ranged from 4.7 to 5.5 l. The estimated mean terminal half-life ranged from 10.0 to 13.6 days for the 5 cohorts, with an overall mean half-life of 12 days.Treatment with the fully human Mab adalimumab was safe and well tolerated when administered as a single intravenous injection at doses up to 10 mg/kg, and was associated with a clinically significant improvement in the signs and symptoms of active RA.