Major Recommendations
The levels of evidence supporting the recommendations (A-C) are defined at the end of the "Major Recommendations" field.
Recommendations for the Use of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) and Biologic Agents in Patients Who Qualify for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
This 2012 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recommendations update incorporates the evidence from systematic literature review synthesis and recommendations from 2008 and rates updated and new clinical scenarios regarding the use of DMARDs and biologic agents for the treatment of RA. Terms used in the recommendations are defined in Table 2 of the original guideline document. The 2012 recommendations are listed in the 4 sections below and in the following order:
- Indications for and switching DMARDs and biologic agents: early RA (indications, see Figure 1 in the original guideline document) followed by established RA (indications and switching, see Figure 2 in the original guideline document), along with details of the level of evidence supporting these recommendations (see Supplementary Appendix 7, available in the online version at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2151-4658 )
- Use of biologic agents in patients with hepatitis, malignancy, or congestive heart failure (CHF) who qualify for RA management (see Table 4 in the original guideline document)
- Screening for tuberculosis (TB) in patients starting or currently receiving biologic agents as part of their RA therapy (see Figure 3 in the original guideline document)
- Vaccination in patients starting or currently receiving DMARDs or biologic agents as part of their RA therapy (see Table 5 in the original guideline document)
The recommendations in the text below and in Tables 4 and 5 in the original guideline document represent the results of the 2012 update only, whereas Figures 1–3 in the original guideline document also incorporate some of the 2008 ACR RA recommendations that did not change. Areas of uncertainty by the panel (that did not lead to recommendations) are noted in Supplementary Appendix 8 (available in the online version of this article at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2151-4658
- Indications for Starting, Resuming, Adding, or Switching DMARDs or Biologic Agents
The panel first describes a recommendation targeting remission or low disease activity in RA (section 1A). This is followed by recommendations for DMARD or biologic agent use in early RA (section 1B). Next, the panel provides recommendations for initiating and switching between DMARDs and biologic agents in established RA (section 1C).
1A. Target Low Disease Activity or Remission
The panel recommends targeting either low disease activity (see Table 3 in the original guideline document) or remission (see Table 2 in the original guideline document) in all patients with early RA (see Figure 1 in the original guideline document; level of evidence C) and established RA (see Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence C) receiving any DMARD or biologic agent.
1B. Early RA (Disease Duration <6 Months)
In patients with early RA, the panel recommends the use of DMARD monotherapy both for low disease activity and for moderate or high disease activity with the absence of poor prognostic features (see Figure 1 in the original guideline document; level of evidence A–C) (details are shown in Supplementary Appendix 7, available in the online version of this article at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2151-4658
).In patients with early RA, the panel recommends the use of DMARD combination therapy (including double and triple therapy) in patients with moderate or high disease activity plus poor prognostic features (see Figure 1 in the original guideline document; level of evidence A–C).
In patients with early RA, the panel also recommends the use of an anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) biologic with or without methotrexate in patients who have high disease activity with poor prognostic features (see Figure 1 in the original guideline document; level of evidence A and B). Infliximab is the only exception and the recommendation is to use it in combination with methotrexate, but not as monotherapy.
1C. Established RA (Disease Duration ≥6 Months or Meeting the 1987 ACR RA Classification Criteria)
The remainder of panel recommendations regarding indications for DMARDs and biologic agents are for patients with established RA. The 3 subsections below define recommendations for initiating and switching therapies in established RA (see Figure 2 in the original guideline document). Where the prognosis is not mentioned, the recommendation to use/switch to a DMARD or a biologic agent applies to all patients, regardless of prognostic features.
Initiating and Switching Among DMARDs
If after 3 months of DMARD monotherapy (in patients without poor prognostic features), a patient deteriorates from low to moderate/high disease activity, then methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, or leflunomide should be added (see rectangle A of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence A and B).
If after 3 months of methotrexate or methotrexate/DMARD combination, a patient still has moderate or high disease activity, then add another non-methotrexate DMARD or switch to a different non-methotrexate DMARD (see rectangle B of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence B and C).
Switching from DMARDs to Biologic Agents
If a patient has moderate or high disease activity after 3 months of methotrexate monotherapy or DMARD combination therapy, as an alternative to the DMARD recommendation just noted above, the panel recommends adding or switching to an anti-TNF biologic, abatacept, or rituximab (see rectangles C and D of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence A–C).
If after 3 months of intensified DMARD combination therapy or after a second DMARD, a patient still has moderate or high disease activity, add or switch to an anti-TNF biologic (see rectangle C of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence C).
Switching Among Biologic Agents Due to Lack of Benefit or Loss of Benefit
If a patient still has moderate or high disease activity after 3 months of anti-TNF biologic therapy and this is due to a lack or loss of benefit, switching to another anti-TNF biologic or a non-TNF biologic is recommended (see rectangles F and G of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence B and C).
If a patient still has moderate or high disease activity after 6 months of a non-TNF biologic and the failure is due to a lack or loss of benefit, switch to another non-TNF biologic or an anti-TNF biologic (see rectangles F and G of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence B and C). An assessment period of 6 months was chosen rather than 3 months, due to the anticipation that a longer time may be required for efficacy of a non-TNF biologic.
Switching Among Biologic Agents Due to Harms/Adverse Events
If a patient has high disease activity after failing an anti-TNF biologic because of a serious adverse event, switch to a non-TNF biologic (see rectangle E of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence C).
If a patient has moderate or high disease activity after failing an anti-TNF biologic because of a nonserious adverse event, switch to another anti-TNF biologic or a non-TNF biologic (see rectangle F of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence B and C).
If a patient has moderate or high disease activity after failing a non-TNF biologic because of an adverse event (serious or nonserious), switch to another non-TNF biologic or an anti-TNF biologic (see rectangle F of Figure 2 in the original guideline document; level of evidence C).
- Use of Biologic Agents in RA Patients With Hepatitis, Malignancy, or Chronic Heart Failure (CHF), Qualifying for More Aggressive Treatment (level of evidence C for all recommendations)
Hepatitis B or C
The panel recommends that etanercept could potentially be used in RA patients with hepatitis C requiring RA treatment (see Table 4 in the original guideline document).
The panel also recommends not using biologic agents in RA patients with untreated chronic hepatitis B (disease not treated due to contraindications to treatment or intolerable adverse events) and in RA patients with treated chronic hepatitis B with Child-Pugh class B and higher (see Table 4 in the original guideline document; for details of Child-Pugh classification, see Table 2 in the original guideline document). The panel did not make recommendations regarding the use of any biologic agent for treatment in RA patients with a history of hepatitis B and a positive hepatitis B core antibody.
Malignancies
For patients who have been treated for solid malignancies more than 5 years ago or who have been treated for nonmelanoma skin cancer more than 5 years ago, the panel recommends starting or resuming any biologic agent if those patients would otherwise qualify for this RA management strategy (see Table 4 in the original guideline document).
The panel only recommends starting or resuming rituximab in RA patients with: 1) a previously treated solid malignancy within the last 5 years, 2) a previously treated nonmelanoma skin cancer within the last 5 years, 3) a previously treated melanoma skin cancer, or 4) a previously treated lymphoproliferative malignancy. Little is known about the effects of biologic therapy in patients with a history of a solid cancer within the past 5 years owing to the exclusion of such patients from participation in clinical trials and the lack of studies examining the risk of recurrent cancer in this subgroup of patients.
CHF
The panel recommends not using an anti-TNF biologic in RA patients with CHF that is New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV and who have an ejection fraction of 50% or less (see Table 4 in the original guideline document).
- TB Screening for Biologic Agents (level of evidence C for all recommendations except for initiation of biologic agents in patients being treated for latent TB infection [LTBI], where the level of evidence is B)
The panel recommends screening to identify LTBI in all RA patients being considered for therapy with biologic agents, regardless of the presence of risk factors for LTBI (see diamond A of Figure 3 in the original guideline document). It recommends that clinicians assess the patient's medical history to identify risk factors for TB (specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]) (see Table 2 in the original guideline document).
The panel recommends the tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma–release assays (IGRAs) as the initial test in all RA patients starting biologic agents, regardless of risk factors for LTBI (see diamond A of Figure 3 in the original guideline document). It recommends the use of the IGRA over the TST in patients who had previously received a bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination, due to the high false-positive test rates for TST (see Figure 3 in the original guideline document).
The panel recommends that RA patients with a positive initial or repeat TST or IGRA should have a chest radiograph and, if suggestive of active TB, a subsequent sputum examination to check for the presence of active TB (see diamonds B and C of Figure 3 in the original guideline document). RA patients with a negative screening TST or IGRA may not need further evaluation in the absence of risk factors and/or clinical suspicion for TB. Since patients with RA may have false-negative TST or IGRA results due to immunosuppression, a negative TST or IGRA should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that a patient has LTBI. Accordingly, in immunosuppressed RA patients with risk factors for LTBI and negative initial screening tests, the panel recommends that a repeat TST or IGRA could be considered 1–3 weeks after the initial negative screening (see diamond A of Figure 3 in the original guideline document).
If the RA patient has active or latent TB based on the test results, the panel recommends appropriate antitubercular treatment and consideration of referral to a specialist. Treatment with biologic agents can be initiated or resumed after 1 month of latent TB treatment with antitubercular medications and after completion of the treatment of active TB, as applicable (see Figure 3 in the original guideline document).
The panel recommends annual testing in RA patients who live, travel, or work in situations where TB exposure is likely while they continue treatment with biologic agents (see diamond D of Figure 3 in the original guideline document). Patients who test positive for TST or IGRA at baseline can remain positive for these tests even after successful treatment of TB. These patients need monitoring for clinical signs and symptoms of recurrent TB, since repeating tests will not help in the diagnosis of recurrent TB.
- Vaccination in Patients Starting or Currently Receiving DMARDs or Biologic Agents as Part of Their RA Therapy (level of evidence C for all recommendations)
The panel recommends that all killed (pneumococcal, influenza intramuscular, and hepatitis B), recombinant (human papillomavirus [HPV] vaccine for cervical cancer), and live attenuated (herpes zoster) vaccinations should be undertaken before starting a DMARD or a biologic agent (see Table 5 in the original guideline document).
It also recommends that, if not previously done, vaccination with indicated pneumococcal (killed), influenza intramuscular (killed), hepatitis B (killed), and HPV vaccine (recombinant) should be undertaken in RA patients already taking a DMARD or a biologic agent (see Table 5 in the original guideline document).
The panel recommends vaccination with herpes zoster vaccine in RA patients already taking a DMARD. All vaccines should be given based on age and risk, and physicians should refer to vaccine instructions and CDC recommendations for details about dosing and timing issues related to vaccinations.
Definitions:
Level of Evidence
- Level of Evidence A: Data derived from multiple randomized clinical trials.
- Level of Evidence B: Data derived from a single randomized trial, or nonrandomized studies.
- Level of Evidence C: Only consensus opinion of experts, case studies, or standard-of-care.
Note: Level C evidence often denoted a circumstance where medical literature addressed the general topic under discussion but it did not address the specific clinical situations or scenarios reviewed by the panel.