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Reduction, removal of glucocorticoids possible under abatacept therapy for RA
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who received treatment with abatacept were able to reduce the use of concomitant glucocorticoids or cease their use altogether, according to results from the 2-year ACTION study.
Researchers studied the results from the ACTION (AbataCepT In rOutiNe clinical practice) non-interventional cohort study, which included 1,137 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Results from a group of 1,009 patients from Europe and Canada who previously failed a biologic agent prior to treatment with abatacept (Orencia, Bristol-Myers Squibb) and had glucocorticoid status available were analyzed. Of 1,009 patients, 407 (40.3%) remained on abatacept for 24 months.
Women comprised 82.7% of the patients, the mean age was 56.2 years and the mean disease duration was 11.8 years. The mean DAS28 based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 5.7. Concomitant use of glucocorticoids occurred in 72.7% of patients (n = 734) during the trial.
Over 24 months, the proportion of patients who received more than 5-mg glucocorticoids per day decreased from 53.8% to 29.3% following treatment with abatacept. At initiation of abatacept, the median glucocorticoid dose was 7.5 mg per day for patients with available data (n = 692) and 6 mg per day for patients with data available across the 24-month period (n = 217) compared to 5 mg per day at 24 months for 232 patients.
Glucocorticoid reduction occurred in 40.7% of patients over the 24-month period, primarily during the first 3 months. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: Alten reports the receipt of research grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and membership with the speakers bureau for Bristol-Myers Squibb. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.