RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Clinical and ultrasonographic monitoring of response to adalimumab treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 35
OP 40
VO 35
IS 1
A1 Annamaria Iagnocco
A1 Emilio Filippucci
A1 Chiara Perella
A1 Fulvia Ceccarelli
A1 Emanuele Cassarà
A1 Cristiano Alessandri
A1 Emanuela Sabatini
A1 Walter Grassi
A1 Guido Valesini
YR 2008
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/1/35.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: To evaluate by clinical, laboratory, and sonographic assessment the effects of adalimumab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over 24 months of treatment. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with RA were commenced on adalimumab therapy. Before the beginning of the therapy (Time 0) and after 3 (T1), 12 (T2), and 24 (T3) months we evaluated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, physician and patient visual analog scale for disease activity, number of tender and swollen joints, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints. In addition, musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) was performed bilaterally in the 2nd and 5th metacarpophalangeal, 3rd interphalangeal, wrist, and knee joints and in the tendon sheaths and bursae of those areas. A semiquantitative score (0 3) was used to indicate the presence of a localized inflammatory process and/or structural damage. The summed total was used as an indicator of global change in each joint (single joint score). The sum of the single joint scores was used as an indicator of overall polyarticular involvement in each patient (total score). RESULTS: Patients who did not submit to the planned examinations strictly on time were excluded from the study. Then 25 patients were examined at T0 and T1, 20 at T2, and 9 at T3. All clinical and laboratory measures as well as the US scores were significantly reduced during the followup. CONCLUSION: A positive response to treatment with adalimumab was demonstrated by clinical, laboratory, and US evaluation by both short- and longterm followup.