Survival of TNF-alpha antagonists in rheumatoid arthritis: a long-term study

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012 Jan-Feb;30(1):31-8. Epub 2012 Mar 6.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy, safety and survival of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α antagonists in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: One hundred and fifty-one RA patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors during the time period 2000 to 2009 were studied. Kaplan-Meier statistic analysis was applied, in which discontinuation from anti-TNF-α therapy was used as the terminal event.

Results: Eighty-two patients received infliximab, 49 adalimumab and 20 etanercept: they were followed up over 7, 5 and 4 years, respectively. Anti-TNF-α therapy resulted in a rapid clinical improvement associated with a reduction in inflammatory markers in the first year of the treatment, which was sustained throughout the following years. Ninety (59.6%) patients were withdrawn during the observational period overall. The patients who discontinued infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept therapy were 55/82 (67.1%), 27/49 (55.1%) and 8/20 (40%) respectively. The main reasons for discontinuation were drug adverse events and inefficacy. According to Kaplan-Meier methods, the 'survival rate' of infliximab after the first year of treatment reached 82.9%, while after 7 years the proportion was 32.9%. With regard to adalimumab, after the first year of treatment its 'survival rate' was 83.7% and after 5 years it reached 44.9%. As far as etanercept is concerned, after the first year of treatment, the 'survival rate' reached 70% and after 4 years it remained 60%.

Conclusions: TNF-α antagonists constitute an effective therapeutic option for patients with RA refractory to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. They demonstrate an acceptable safety profile. Their survival rate is high in the first years of treatment, while after the fifth year it decreases considerably.

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Etanercept
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / adverse effects
  • Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use*
  • Infliximab
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Infliximab
  • Adalimumab
  • Etanercept