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Abatacept did not reduce risk for relapse in patients with Takayasu's arteritis
The addition of abatacept to a prednisone treatment regimen did not reduce the risk for relapse in patients with Takayasu’s arteritis, according to recently published data.
“This study was novel both in exploring abatacept for this disease and in being the first international comparative trial to be conducted in [Takayasu’s arteritis] TAK,” Carol A. Langford, MD, in the Center for Vasculitis Care and Research at the Cleveland Clinic, told Healio Rheumatology. “Although the addition of abatacept was not found to provide added benefit, it had a favorable safety profile when combined with high-dose prednisone.”
Langford and colleagues assessed 34 patients with TAK treated with prednisone and 10 mg/kg of intravenous abatacept on days 1, 15, 29 and week 8. After 12 weeks, 26 patients in remission were randomized to either continue abatacept or switch to placebo. Patients in both groups received a standard prednisone regimen that reached 20 mg daily at week 2 with discontinuation after 28 weeks. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival.
Researchers found the relapse-free survival at 12 months was 22% for the abatacept group and 40% for the placebo group. The study drug was not associated with a longer median duration of remission (5.5 months vs. 5.7 months for placebo). In addition, there was no difference in the frequency or severity of adverse events between the groups.
“This trial proved that comparative trials in TAK are possible and provided information that will advance investigations of novel treatment approaches in the future,” Langford said. – by Will Offit
Disclosure: Langford reports receiving federal funds from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract HHSN2682007000036C.