Variation in risk profiles of early RA treatment regimens

Key clinical point: Early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) strategies have different risk profiles. Moreover, the use of early steroid-based regimens did not emerge as more harmful.

Major finding: The risk for serious adverse events was higher with biologic monotherapy vs. methotrexate (MTX)+steroid therapy (rate ratio [RR], 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-7.07) and with biological monotherapy vs. MTX monotherapy (RR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.12-1.73) and MTX+biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD; RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.02-1.54).

Study details: Findings are from a network meta-analysis of 20 double-blind randomized clinical trials involving 9,202 adult patients with RA who were initiated on DMARD therapy.

Disclosures: This study received no external funding. The authors received speaker’s fees and honoraria from various pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie. None of the authors reported any conflict of interest.

Source: Adas MA et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 May 18. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab429.

Key clinical point: Early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) strategies have different risk profiles. Moreover, the use of early steroid-based regimens did not emerge as more harmful.

Major finding: The risk for serious adverse events was higher with biologic monotherapy vs. methotrexate (MTX)+steroid therapy (rate ratio [RR], 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-7.07) and with biological monotherapy vs. MTX monotherapy (RR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.12-1.73) and MTX+biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD; RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.02-1.54).

Study details: Findings are from a network meta-analysis of 20 double-blind randomized clinical trials involving 9,202 adult patients with RA who were initiated on DMARD therapy.

Disclosures: This study received no external funding. The authors received speaker’s fees and honoraria from various pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie. None of the authors reported any conflict of interest.

Source: Adas MA et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 May 18. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab429.

Key clinical point: Early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) strategies have different risk profiles. Moreover, the use of early steroid-based regimens did not emerge as more harmful.

Major finding: The risk for serious adverse events was higher with biologic monotherapy vs. methotrexate (MTX)+steroid therapy (rate ratio [RR], 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-7.07) and with biological monotherapy vs. MTX monotherapy (RR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.12-1.73) and MTX+biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD; RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.02-1.54).

Study details: Findings are from a network meta-analysis of 20 double-blind randomized clinical trials involving 9,202 adult patients with RA who were initiated on DMARD therapy.

Disclosures: This study received no external funding. The authors received speaker’s fees and honoraria from various pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie. None of the authors reported any conflict of interest.

Source: Adas MA et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 May 18. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab429.