| 1. |
- van Vollenhoven, R.F., et al.
(författare)
-
Addition of infliximab compared with addition of sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine to methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (Swefot trial) : 1-year results of a randomised trial
- 2009
-
Ingår i: The Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 374:9688, s. 459-466
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: New treatment strategies for early rheumatoid arthritis are evolving rapidly. We aimed to compare addition of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine) with addition of a tumour necrosis factor antagonist (infliximab) to methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: We undertook a randomised trial in 15 rheumatology units in Sweden. We enrolled patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (symptom duration less than1 year) and administered methotrexate (up to 20 mg per week). After 3-4 months, those who had not achieved low disease activity but who could tolerate methotrexate were randomly allocated by computer addition of either sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine or infliximab. Primary outcome was achievement of a good response according to European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria at 12 months. Patients were followed up to 24 months; here, we present findings at 12 months. Analysis was by intention to treat and we used non-responder imputation. The Swefot (Swedish Pharmacotherapy) study is registered in the WHO database at the Karolinska University Hospital, number CT20080004. Findings: 487 patients were initially enrolled. Of 258 who had not achieved low disease activity with methotrexate, 130 were allocated sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine and 128 were assigned infliximab. 32 of 130 (25%) patients allocated sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine achieved the primary outcome compared with 50 of 128 (39%) assigned infliximab (risk ratio 1·59 [95% CI 1·10-2·30], p=0·0160). Adverse events were balanced fairly well between the two groups and accorded with known adverse events of the drugs used. No deaths occurred in either group. Interpretation: In patients with early rheumatoid arthritis in whom methotrexate treatment failed, addition of a tumour necrosis factor antagonist to methotrexate monotherapy is clinically superior to addition of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Funding: Swedish Rheumatism Association, Schering-Plough.
|
|
| 2. |
- Ajeganova, S., et al.
(författare)
-
The association between anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies and radiographic progression in early rheumatoid arthritis : A study exploring replication and the added value to ACPA and rheumatoid factor
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 76:1, s. 112-118
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies are reported to associate with more radiographic progression within the total rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-negative subgroup. We explored the association of anti-CarP with radiographic progression in RA and aimed to replicate the association and evaluate the added value of anti-CarP antibodies in relation to ACPA and rheumatoid factor (RF). Methods 576 Swedish and 628 Dutch patients with RA (2394 and 3247 sets of radiographs, respectively) were longitudinally studied. Replication was restricted to the Swedish patients. In both cohorts, the association of anti-CarP with radiographic progression was determined in strata of patients with similar ACPA and RF status; results of both cohorts were combined in fixed-effect meta-analyses. The net percentage of patients for whom the radiographic progression in 5 years was additionally correctly classified when adding anti-CarP to a model including ACPA and RF was evaluated. Results Anti-CarP associated with radiographic progression in the total Swedish RA population (beta=1.11 per year, p=8.75×10-13) and in the ACPAnegative subgroup (beta=1.14 per year, p=0.034). Anti- CarP associated with more radiographic progression in the strata of ACPA-positive/RF-negative, ACPA-negative/ RF-positive and ACPA-positive/RF-positive patients with RA (respective p values 0.014, 0.019 and 0.0056). A model including ACPA and RF correctly classified 54% and 57% of the patients; adding anti-CarP to this model did not increase these percentages (54% and 56% were correctly classified). Conclusions Anti-CarP antibodies associated with more severe radiographic progression in the total and ACPA-negative RA population. Anti-CarP-positivity had a statistically significant additive value to ACPA and RF, but did not improve correct classification of patients.
|
|
| 3. |
- Andersson, Maria L., et al.
(författare)
-
Distribution of erosions in hands and feet at the time for the diagnosis of RA and during 8-year follow-up
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Clinical Rheumatology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0770-3198 .- 1434-9949. ; 40:5, s. 1799-1810
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is usually evaluated by radiographs of both hands and feet, while the inflammatory status mostly is evaluated by DAS28 which, however, does not include the feet. Objectives: To investigate the distribution of erosions in hands and feet in early RA over 8 years and its potential clinical implications. Furthermore, the group of patients never showing erosions has been addressed. Methods: This study comprises 1041 patients from the BARFOT study of patients with early RA. Radiographs of hands and feet were performed at baseline, 1, 2, 5, and 8 years and evaluated by the Sharp van der Heijde scoring (SHS) method (32 joints in the hands and 12 in the feet). Disease activity was measured by DAS28, SR, CRP, and function with HAQ. Results: In the feet, there were significantly more eroded joints in percent of examined joints than in the hands at all time points. Patients with erosions only in the feet were younger, more often seropositive and smokers. They had significantly lower baseline DAS28, than the patients with erosions only in the hands. The patients without erosions over time were, at diagnosis, significantly younger and less frequently seropositive compared with patients having erosions. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of evaluating the feet in patients with RA, both with clinical examinations and with imaging and lends support to the notion that seropositivity and smoking are risk factors for erosive disease. Further studies of patients with nonerosive disease are needed.Key Points:• Foot problems are common in RA• This study emphasizes the limitations of DAS28 and Sharp van der Heijde score as regards evaluating disease activity and radiographic damage• This study highlights the importance of evaluating the feet in patients with RA with clinical examinations and imaging• This study also points out the need of further studies of patients with non-erosive RA.
|
|
| 4. |
- Aurell, Y., et al.
(författare)
-
Cone-beam computed tomography, a new low-dose three-dimensional imaging technique for assessment of bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis : reliability assessment and comparison with conventional radiography – a BARFOT study
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0300-9742 .- 1502-7732. ; 47:3, s. 173-177
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To determine the intra- and inter-observer agreement of erosions detected and scored with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of bones in the hands and feet, and to compare CBCT with conventional radiography (CR) for assessment of bone erosions in patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method: Thirty patients with long-standing RA from the Better Anti-Rheumatic PharmacOTherapy (BARFOT) cohort were examined with CBCT and CR of hands and feet at their 15 year follow-up. Intra- and inter-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Erosions were analysed with the total rheumatoid arthritis magnetic resonance imaging erosion score (RAMRIS erosion score) for ICCs with CBCT, and with the modified RAMRIS erosion score (RAMRIS-mod.) for the same locations as used in the Sharp van der Heijde score and Sharp van der Heijde erosion score for CR. Results: All 30 patients showed erosions on CBCT and 26 on CR. The ICCs for both intra- and inter-observer reliability were 0.92–0.99. CBCT showed numerically more erosions than CR for all regions compared, although a statistically significant difference was found only for the metacarpophalangeal joints [median number of eroded joints 1.0 (range 0–14) with CBCT and 0.5 (0–13) with CR, p = 0.044]. Conclusion: CBCT has high reproducibility and is more sensitive than CR in detecting erosions in this cohort of patients with long-standing RA. CBCT has the potential to become an important tool in the detection and follow-up of erosions in patients with RA.
|
|
| 5. |
- Bremander, Ann, 1957-, et al.
(författare)
-
Functional Impairment in Patients with RA in an Eight Year Perspective
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - London : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 76:Suppl. 2, s. 1513-1514
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In people with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) impaired physical functioning is an acute as well as long term effect of the disease. Observational performance tests reflecting range of motion in upper as well as in lower extremities should be easy to perform in the clinic as well as in research as a complement to self-reported measures of physical functioning. The Signal Of Functional Impairment (SOFI)1 is a performance test which so far has been applied only in Sweden but commonly used in the clinic and in long term follow-up clinical studies.Objectives: The aim was to study performance-based function assessed with SOFI over 8 years and, secondly, to study which items included in SOFI that were associated with change in functioning over time.Methods: An inception cohort of 1 052 patients with early RA, from the BARFOT-study, recruited 1992–2006 was investigated, mean (SD) age was 54 years (14), 70% were women. The patients were followed by a structured protocol at baseline, 3 and 6 months and at 1, 2, 5, and 8 years. SOFI consists of 3 parts measuring hand, arm (upper), and leg (lower) function (1). Hand function is tested by 4 movements; cylinder grip (H1), pen grip (H2), pincer grip (H3) and opposition of the thumb (H4). Arm function is assessed by 3 movements; hand behind the head and the ability to touch the cervical spine processes with fingers (A1), elbow supination (A2) and elbow extension (A3). Leg function is tested by 4 movements; the ability to touch the opposite knee with the heel while sitting (L1), knee extension in supine position (L2), dorsiflexion of the foot standing on a balance board (L3), and the ability to stand on tip toes without shoes (L4). An assessor scores the patient's ability to perform the different tests on an ordinal scale (0=normal, 1= partly impaired and 2= unable to perform). The range of SOFI scores is 0–44 (best to worst).Results: At baseline the mean (SD) SOFI was 7.2 (5.8), and at 1 year follow-up the improvement was 2.75 (5.65), p<0.001. From 1 year to 8 year follow-up the deterioration was 1.5 (4.6), p<0.001. When studying hand, upper and lower function separately, the pen grip and the ability to stand on tip toes improves most during the first year. From 1 to 8 year the pincer grip and the ability to stand on tip toes are the items that deteriorate most (Figure). Assessment of the pen grip, the pincer grip and the ability to stand on tip toes explain 58% to 70% of the SOFI score over time, with the highest rate at 5 (65%) and 8 years follow-up (70%).Conclusions: Functioning as assessed by SOFI improved during the first year in patients with early RA and then deteriorated slowly. Over a longer period, pincer grip and the ability to stand on tip toes seemed to be the two most important items to measure when assessing functional impairment over time. © 2017, BMJ Publishing Group Limited
|
|
| 6. |
- Forslind, K., et al.
(författare)
-
Hand bone loss measured by digital X-ray radiogrammetry is a predictor of joint damage in early rheumatoid arthritis
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0300-9742 .- 1502-7732. ; 38:6, s. 431-438
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether loss of bone measured by digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) of hands early in the course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may predict future radiographic joint damage after 1 and 2 years. Methods: A total of 166 patients with early RA, who were part of the Better Anti-Rheumatic FarmacOTherapy (BARFOT) low-dose prednisolone study, were included. The patients had been randomized to treatment with 7.5 mg prednisolone daily or no prednisolone when they started with their first disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Radiographs of hands and feet were taken at baseline and after 1 and 2 years and assessed by the van der Heijde modified Sharp (vdH-S) score. Hand bone density (HBD) was measured on the same radiographs by DXR. Changes in HBD and hand bone loss (HBL) were calculated. HBL was defined as a change in DXR bone mineral density (DXR-BMD) during the first year by more than 0.0048 g/cm. Results: HBL was found in 64% of the patients. Patients with HBL had radiological progression significantly more often than patients without (80% vs. 57%, p=0.012). Patients not treated with prednisolone had HBL more often than patients with this treatment (83% vs. 44%, p=0.001). In multiple regression analyses, HBL and change in DXR-BMD during the first year proved to be independent predictors of radiological progression. Conclusions: Loss of bone measured by DXR was found to be an independent predictor of radiological joint damage and may thus be an additional tool in the process of treatment decision in early RA.
|
|
| 7. |
- Forslind, K, et al.
(författare)
-
Magnetic resonance imaging of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint compared with conventional radiography in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-7732 .- 0300-9742. ; 32:3, s. 131-137
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To evaluate if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to conventional radiography for detection of erosions in the fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP5) joint. Methods. Within one year from the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (baseline), one and three years thereafter MRI and conventional radiographs of the MTP5 joint were performed in 23 patients. Results. MRI revealed erosions in 10 patients at baseline, in 15 after one year and in 15 patients after 3 years. On conventional radiography, there were erosions in 10 patients at baseline, 16 after one year as well as after 3 years. The agreement between the two imaging methods was fair to good at baseline and after one and three years (kappa 0,65, 0,51 and 0,51 respectively). The number of patients with clinical evidence of synovitis decreased considerably over time although the number of patients with MRI-synovitis was unchanged and the number of patients with erosions increased. Conclusions. MRI was not superior to conventional radiography in detecting erosions in MTP5 joints in patients with early RA. Most erosions developed during the first year of observation. Synovitis on MRI may be a marker of future development of erosions in the MTP5 joint.
|
|
| 8. |
- Forslind, K, et al.
(författare)
-
Magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: a tool for prediction of joint damage in early rheumatoid arthritis?
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-7732 .- 0300-9742. ; 33:3, s. 154-161
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting destructive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the knee joint, and to compare this method with clinical examination and conventional radiography (CR). Methods: Clinical evaluations of the knee joint, followed by MRI and CR examinations were performed in 30 patients with early RA. The MRI examination included evaluation of inflammation using a synovitis score and evaluation of destruction with an erosion score. The first examinations were performed within 14 months from disease onset. Twenty-eight patients were re-examined after 1 year, and 23 patients after 3 years. 'Disease activity score' (DAS), using a 28 joints score (DAS28); health assessment questionnaire (HAQ); rheumatoid factor (RF); and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also analysed. Results: At baseline, MRI found synovitis in 29 patients, of whom 18 also had clinical synovitis. At baseline five patients had 17 MRI erosions, whereas on CR two patients had one erosion each. After 1 year 17 of 35 and after 3 years 28 of 55 MRI erosions were detected also on CR. In only one case CR showed an erosion that was not visible on MRI. The MRI synovitis score ( reflecting the extent of the synovitis) at baseline correlated significantly with the number of erosions on MRI both at year 1 and 3, and with the number of erosions on CR at 3 years. In logistic multiple regression analyses the MRI-synovitis score proved to be the best independent predictor of erosiveness. Conclusion: MRI was superior to clinical examination and CR in detecting erosions. MRI synovitis score was the best independent predictor of erosiveness in the knee joint in patients with early RA.
|
|
| 9. |
- Forslind, K, et al.
(författare)
-
Prediction of radiological outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis in clinical practice: role of antibodies to citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP)
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 63:9, s. 1090-1095
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate the role of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) for the prediction of radiological outcome in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Anti-CCP was assessed at baseline in 379 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis ( disease duration <1 year). Radiological joint damage and progression were assessed by Larsen score after two years of follow up (end point) and used as outcome variables. The prognostic value of anti-CCP and other demographic and disease related baseline variables were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses, including calculation of odds ratios (OR), predictive values, and multiple logistic regression models. Results: The presence of anti-CCP was associated with significantly higher Larsen score both at baseline and at end point. Univariate predictor analysis showed that anti-CCP had the highest significant OR for radiological joint damage and progression after baseline Larsen score, followed by rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein, age, smoking status, and sex. In stepwise multiple regression analyses, baseline Larsen score, anti-CCP, and ESR were selected as significant independent predictors of the radiological outcomes. Conclusions: There is good evidence for an association of anti-CCP with radiological joint changes in rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-CCP is an independent predictor of radiological damage and progression. Though prediction in early rheumatoid arthritis is still far from perfect, the use of anti-CCP in clinical practice should make it easier for rheumatologists to reach judicious treatment decisions.
|
|
| 10. |
- Forslind, K, et al.
(författare)
-
Repair of bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis : a systematic literature review
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-7732 .- 0300-9742. ; 48:6, s. 448-453
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to review the literature to identify studies reporting repair of erosions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method: A systematic literature search for publications on the repair of erosions was performed in PubMed and Embase, limited to human adults and published in English. Titles, abstracts, and full reports of articles identified were screened by the first author and verified by the second author. Results: The search yielded 411 publications, of which 33 (20 articles and 13 case reports) suggested repair of erosions in RA. There was heterogeneity in study design and different definitions of repair were used. Twelve articles showed strong evidence of repair, in eight articles repair was probable, and in all 13 case reports repair was evident. Conclusion: Repair of erosions does occur in RA. The definition and frequency of repair vary and the possible clinical relevance is unclear, motivating further studies.
|
|
