Effects of half dose etanercept (25 mg once a week) on clinical remission and radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in clinical remission achieved with standard dose

• Published in: Clinical and experimental rheumatology 2015-01, Vol.33 (1), p.63-68
• Main Authors: Raffeiner, Bernd, Botsios, Costantino, Ometto, Francesca, Bernardi, Livio, Stramare, Roberto, Todesco, Silvano, Sfriso, Paolo, Punzi, Leonardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antirheumatic Agents - administration & dosage; Antirheumatic Agents - adverse effects; Antirheumatic Agents - economics; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnostic imaging; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - economics; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; Arthrography; Communicable Diseases - chemically induced; Communicable Diseases - immunology; Cost Savings; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Disease Progression; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Costs; Etanercept; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - administration & dosage; Immunoglobulin G - adverse effects; Immunoglobulin G - economics; Italy; Joints - drug effects; Joints - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - administration & dosage; Remission Induction; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0392-856X

This prospective long-term follow-up study evaluated the effects of half-dose etanercept (25 mg weekly) on clinical remission and radiographic progression in a large cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission after etanercept 25 mg bi-weekly. 524 biologic-naïve RA patients were treated with etanercept 25 mg bi-weekly after failure of conventional drugs. Patients achieving remission (DAS28 0) was not significantly different in the two groups (18.85% vs. 19.0% after the first year and 16.9% vs. 21.6% after the second year, respectively). The incidence ratio of severe infections was 2.3/1.000 patient-years in group A. Etanercept half-dose regimen resulted in a saving of €3.190.545 with a cost saving up to €827.318 per year. Clinical remission and arrest of radiographic progression persisted in a substantial percentage of patients with RA even after reduction of standard-dose etanercept.