Role of adalimumab in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis.

Author(s): Keystone EC, Haraoui B, Bykerk VP

Affiliation(s): Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Publication date & source: 2003-09, Clin Exp Rheumatol., 21(5 Suppl 31):S198-9.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

Adalimumab, a recent addition to the therapeutic armamentarium in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), has been evaluated in patients with early RA. The DE019 study, a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial of adalimumab given 20 mg once a week or 40 mg every other week demonstrated both clinical and radiographic efficacy. A subset analysis of patients with early disease revealed that early treatment with adalimumab may be more efficacious than therapy later in the course of disease, particularly with regard to radiographic progression. The findings support early aggressive intervention in RA.