Key clinical point : Identification of swelling in specific large, medium, and small joints in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is correlated with severe disease activity and may indicate the need for more intensive therapy.
Major finding: At baseline, 91.9% and 89.1% of patients had swelling in the wrist and meta-carpophalangeal-2 joint, respectively, and swelling in the knee, temporomandibular joint, wrist, and elbow was associated with severe disease activity ( P < .001). Patients treated with abatacept+methotrexate vs. methotrexate alone showed higher swelling resolution and Boolean remission rates (all P < .01).
Study details: This was a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 study, AGREE, including 509 methotrexate-naive patients with early erosive, seropositive RA and factors associated with poor prognosis who were randomly assigned to receive abatacept+methotrexate or methotrexate alone for 12 months.
Disclosures: This study was funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) . P Durez reported receiving speaker fees from BMS and other sources. Four authors reported being employees or shareholders of BMS or companies contracting with BMS.
Source: Durez P et al. Identification of poor prognostic joint locations in an early rheumatoid arthritis cohort at risk of rapidly progressing disease: a post-hoc analysis of the Phase III AGREE study. BMC Rheumatol. 2022;6:24 (Apr 14). Doi: 10.1186/s41927-022-00252-4