Treatment of early arthritis – recommendations of EULAR

Czech version

Authors: K. Pavelka
Authors‘ workplace: Revmatologický ústav, Praha, ředitel prof. MUDr. Karel Pavelka, DrSc.
Published in: Vnitř Lék 2006; 52(7-8): 665-672
Category: 130th Internal Medicine Day - Rheumatology in clinical practice

Overview

Team of fourteen prominent rheumatologists created the “Recommendations for the therapy of early arthritis” based on standard operating procedures. This publication was made on the basis of analysis of previously published doubleblind studies (the so-called evidence based procedure) and mutual consensus of the authors.

Key words:
rheumatoid arthritis – disease modifying therapy

Sources

1. Combe B, Landewe R, Lukas C et al. EULAR recommendations for management of early arthritis (Report of ESCISIT). Ann Rheum Dis 2006

2. Jordan KM, Arden NK, Doherty M et al. EULAR Recommendation 2003: an evidence based approach to the management of knee osteoarthritis: Report of a Task Force of the Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutic Trials (ESCISIT). Ann Rheum Dis 2003; 62: 1145-1155.

3. Zhang W, Doherty M, Arden N et al. EULAR evidence based recommendations for the management of hip osteoarthritis: report of a task force of the EULAR Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics (ESCISIT). Ann Rheum Dis 2005; 64: 669-681.

4. Zochling J, van der Heide D, Burgos-Vargas R et al. ASAS/EULAR recommendation for the management of ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis 2006; 65: 442-452.

5. Arnett FC, Edworthy SM, Block DA. The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1988; 31: 315-324.

6. Sharp JT, Strnad V, Leung H et al. Treatment with leflunomide slows radiographic progression of rheumatoid arthritis: results from three randomized controlled trials of leflunomide in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Leflunomide Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigators Group. Arthritis Rheum 2000; 43: 495-505.

7. Korpela M, Laasonen L, Hannonen P et al. Retardation of joint damage in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis by initial aggressive treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: five-year experience from the FIN-RACo study. Arthritis Rheum 2004; 50: 2072-2081.

8. Klareskog L, van der Heijde D, de Jager JP et al. Therapeutic effect of the combination of etanercept and methotrexate compared with each treatment alone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: double-blind randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2004; 363: 675-681.

9. Breedveld FC, Weisman MH, Kavanaugh AF et al. The PREMIER Study. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial of combination therapy with adalimumab plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone or adalimumab alone in patients with early, aggressive rheumatoid arthritis who had not had previous methotrexate treatment. Arthritis Rheumatism 2006; 54: 26-37.

10. Emery P, Breedveld FC, Dougados M et al. Early referral recommendation of newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis: evidence based development of a clinical guide. Ann Rheum Dis 2002; 61: 290-297.

11. Anderson JJ, Wells G, Verhoeven AC et al. Factors predicting response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: the importance of disease duration. Arthritis Rheum 2000; 43: 22-29.

12. van der Heide A, Jacobs JW, Bijlsma JW et al. The effectiveness of early treatment with “second-line” antirheumatic drugs. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 1996; 124: 699-707.

13. Tsakonas E, Fitzgerald AA, Fitzcharles MA et al. Consequences of delayed therapy with second-line agents in rheumatoid arthritis: a 3 year followup on the hydroxychloroquine in early rheumatoid arthritis (HERA) study. J Rheumatol 2000; 27: 623-629.

14. van Aken J, Lard LR, le Cessie S et al. Radiological outcome after four years of early versus delayed treatment strategy in patients with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 63: 274-279.

15. Lard LR, Visser H, Speyer I et al. Early versus delayed treatment in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis: comparison of two cohorts who received different treatment strategies. Am J Med 2001; 111: 446-451.

16. Nell VP, Machold KP, Eberl G et al. Benefit of very early referral and very early therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2004; 43: 906-914.

17. Sugimoto H, Takeda A, Hyodoh K. Early-stage rheumatoid arthritis: prospective study of the effectiveness of MR imaging for diagnosis. Radiology 2000; 216: 569-575.

18. Kane D, Balint PV, Sturrock RD. Ultrasonography is superior to clinical examination in the detection and localization of knee joint effusion in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 2003; 30: 966-971.

19. Szkudlarek M, Narvestad E, Klarlund M et al. Ultrasonography of the metatarsophalangeal joints in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging, conventional radiography, and clinical examination. Arthritis Rheum 2004; 50: 2103-2112.

20. Forslind K, Larsson EM, Johansson A et al. Detection of joint pathology by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 1997; 36: 683-688.

21. Sugimoto H, Takeda A, Hyodoh K. Early-stage rheumatoid arthritis: prospective study of the effectiveness of MR imaging for diagnosis. Radiology 2000; 216: 569-575.

22. Klarlund M, Ostergaard M, Jensen KE et al. Magnetic resonance imaging, radiography, and scintigraphy of the finger joints: one year follow up of patients with early arthritis. The TIRA Group. Ann Rheum Dis 2000; 59: 521-528.

23. Harrison B, Symmons D. Early inflammatory polyarthritis: results from the Norfolk Arthritis Register with a review of the literature. II. Outcome at three years. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2000; 39: 939-949.

24. Guillemin F, Gerard N, van Leeuwen M et al. Prognostic factors for joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective longitudinal study of 318 patients. J Rheumatol 2003; 30: 2585-2589.

25. Dixey J, Solymossy C, Young A. Is it possible to predict radiological damage in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? A report on the occurrence, progression, and prognostic factors of radiological erosions over the first 3 years in 866 patients from the Early RA Study (ERAS). J Rheumatol Suppl 2004; 69: 48-54.

26. Mottonen T, Paimela L, Leirisalo-Repo M et al. Only high disease activity and positive rheumatoid factor indicate poor prognosis in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis treated with “sawtooth” strategy. Ann Rheum Dis 1998; 57: 533-539.

27. Visser H, le Cessie S, Vos K et al. How to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis early: a prediction model for persistent (erosive) arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2002; 46: 357-365.

28. Kaarela K. Prognostic factors and diagnostic criteria in early rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol Suppl 1985; 57: 1-54.

29. Vencovský J, Macháček S, Šedová L et al. Autoantibodies can be prognostic markers of an erosive disease in early rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2003; 62: 427-430.

30. Kastbom A, Strandberg G, Lindroos A et al. Anti-CCP antibody test predicts the disease course during 3 years in early rheumatoid arthritis (the Swedish TIRA project). Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 63: 1085-1089.

31. McQueen FM, Benton N, Perry D et al. Bone edema scored on magnetic resonance imaging scans of the dominant carpus at presentation predicts radiographic joint damage of the hands and feet six years later in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 48: 1814-1827.

32. Mottonen T, Hannonen P, Korpela M et al. Delay to institution of therapy and induction of remission using single-drug or combination-disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2002; 46: 894-898.

33. Choy EH, Scott DL, Kingsley GH et al. Treating rheumatoid arthritis early with disease modifying drugs reduces joint damage: a randomised double blind trial of sulphasalazine vs diclofenac sodium. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2002; 20: 351-358.

34. Gibbs S, Waters WE, George CF. Prescription information leaflets: a national survey. J R Soc Med 1990; 83: 292-297.

35. Riemsma RP, Kirwan JR, Taal E et al. Patient education for adults with rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003; CD003688.

36. Wienecke T, Gotzsche PC. Paracetamol versus nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004; CD003789.

37. Rostom A, Dubé C, Jolicoeur E et al. Gastro-duodenal ulcers associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a systematic review of preventive pharmacological interventions. Ottawa: Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment; 2003. Technology report no. 38.

38. Bresalier R, Sandler R, Quan H et al. Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on Vioxx (APPROVe) Trial Investigators. N Engl J Med 2005; 352: 1092-1102.

39. Solomon SD, McMurray JJV, Pfeffer MA et al. The Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib (APC) Study Investigators. The Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib (APC) Study Investigators. Cardiovascular Risk Assiociated with Celecoxib in a Clinical Trial for Colorectal Adenoma Prevention. N Engl J Med 2005; 352: 1071-1080.

40. Gotzsche PC, Johansen HK. Short-term low-dose corticosteroids vs placebo and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004; CD000189.

41. Svensson B, Ahlmen M, Forslind K. Treatment of early RA in clinical practice: a comparative study of two different DMARD/corticosteroid options. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2003; 21: 327-332.

42. van Gestel AM, Laan RF, Haagsma CJ et al. Oral steroids as bridge therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients starting with parenteral gold. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Br J Rheumatol 1995; 34: 347-351.

43. Quinn MA, Green JM, Marzo-Ortega H et al. Prognostic factors in a large cohort of patients with early undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis after application of a structured management protocol. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 48: 3039-3045.

44. Kirwan JR. The effect of glucocorticoids on joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis and Rheumatism Council Low-Dose Glucocorticoid Study Group. N Engl J Med 1995; 333: 142-146.

45. van Everdingen AA, Jacobs JW, Siewertsz Van Reesema DR et al. Low-dose prednisone therapy for patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis: clinical efficacy, disease-modifying properties, and side effects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ann Intern Med 2002; 136: 1-12.

46. Capell HA, Madhok R, Hunter JA et al. Lack of radiological and clinical benefit over two years of low dose prednisolone for rheumatoid arthritis: results of a randomised controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 63: 797-803.

47. Bathon JM, Martin RW, Fleischmann RM et al. A comparison of etanercept and methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 1586-1593.

48. Conaghan PG, O´Connor P, McGonagle D et al. Elucidation of the relationship between synovitis and bone damage: a randomized magnetic resonance imaging study of individual joints in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 48: 64-71.

49. Proudman SM, Conaghan PG, Richardson C et al. Treatment of poor-prognosis early rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized study of treatment with methotrexate, cyclosporin A, and intraarticular corticosteroids compared with sulfasalazine alone. Arthritis Rheum 2000; 43: 1809-1819.

50. Zulian F, Martini G, Gobber D et al. Triamcinolone acetonide and hexacetonide intra-articular treatment of symmetrical joints in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a double-blind trial. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2004; 431: 288-291.

51. Menninger H, Herborn G, Sander O et al. A 36 month comparative trial of methotrexate and gold sodium thiomalate in the treatment of early active and erosive rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 1998; 37: 1060-1068.

52. Pincus T, Marcum SB, Callahan LF. Longterm drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in seven rheumatology private practices: II. Second line drugs and prednisone. J Rheumatol 1992; 19: 1885-1894.

53. Haagsma CJ, van Riel PL, de Jong AJ et al. Combination of sulphasalazine and methotrexate versus the single components in early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, controlled, double-blind, 52 week clinical trial. Br J Rheumatol 1997; 36: 1082-1088.

54. Maetzel A, Wong A, Strand V et al. Meta-analysis of treatment termination rates among rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2000; 39: 975-981.

55. Sharp JT, Strand V, Leung H et al. Treatment with leflunomide slows radiographic progression of rheumatoid arthritis: results from three randomized controlled trials of leflunomide in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Leflunomide Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigators Group. Arthritis Rhuem 2000; 43: 495-505.

56. Haagsma CJ, van Riel PL, de Jong AJ et al. Combination of sulphasalazine and methotrexate versus the single components in early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, controlled, double-blind, 52 week clinical trial. Br J Rheumatol 1997; 36: 1082-1088.

57. Dougados M, Combe B, Cantagrel A et al. Combination therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised, controlled, double blind 52 week clinical trial of sulphasalazine and methotrexate compared with the single components. Ann Rheum Dis 1999; 58: 220-225.

58. Bathon JM, Martin RW, Fleischmann RM et al. A comparison of etanercept and methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 1586-1593.

59. Breedveld FC, Kavananaugh AF, Cohen SB et al. Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with adalimumab plus methotrexate vs adalimumab alone or methotrexate alone: the PREMIER study. Arthritis Rheum 2004; 50: 4096 (LBP 5).

60. Pincus T, Marcum SB, Callahan LF. Longterm drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in seven rheumatology private practices: II. Second line drugs and prednisone. J Rheumatol 1992; 19: 1885-1894.

61. Quinn MA, Conaghan PG, O´Connor PJ et al. Very early treatment with infliximab in addition to methotrexate in early, poor-prognosis rheumatoid arthritis reduces magnetic resonance imaging evidence of synovitis and damage, with sustained benefit after infliximab withdrawal: Results from a twelve-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum 2005; 52: 27-35.

62. Osiri M, Shea B, Robinson V et al. Leflunomide for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003; CD002047.

63. Landewe RB, Boers M, Verhoeven AC et al. COBRA combination therapy in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: long-term structural benefits of a brief intervention. Arthritis Rheum 2002; 46: 347-356.

64. Korpela M, Laasonen L, Hannonen P et al. Retardation of joint damage in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis by initial aggressive treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: five-year experience from the FIN-RACo study. Arthritis Rheum 2004; 50: 2072-2081.

65. Osiri M, Shea B, Robinson V et al. Leflunomide for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003; CD002047.

66. Grigor C, Capell H, Stirling A et al. Effect of a treatment strategy of tight control for rheumatoid arthritis (the TICORA study): a single-blind randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2004; 364: 263-269.

67. Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for therapeutic exercises in the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Phys Ther 2004; 84: 934-972.

68. Van Den Ende CH, Vliet Vlieland TP, Munneke M et al. Dynamic exercise therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000; CD000322.

69. Steultjens EM, Dekker J, Bouter LM et al. Occupational therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004; CD003114.

70. Verhagen AP, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Cardoso JR et al. Balneotherapy for rheuamtoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003; CD000518.

71. Karagulle MZ, Karagulle M. Balneotherapy and spa therapy of rheumatic diseases in Turkey: a systematic review. Forsch Komplementamed Klass Naturheilkd 2004; 11: 33-41.

72. Bruynesteyn K, Landewe R, van der Linden S et al. Radiography as primary outcome in rheumatoid arthritis: acceptable sample sizes for trials with 3 months´follow up. Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 63: 1413-1418.