Clinical trial NCT01172639: Effectiveness in Daily Practice of Different Treatment Strategies for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Official title: A 2 Year Prospective Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Effectiveness in Daily Practice of Different Treatment Strategies for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Keywords: CoBRA
Lead sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie
First posted: 2010-07-30
Enrollment: 400
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Before randomisation patients were stratified to a high-risk or low-risk group according to the presence of risk factors at screening (having erosions, rheumatoid factor and/or anticitrullinated protein antibody and a high disease activity score calculated with C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP)). Randomisation to treatment arms was performed via a digitally generated sequence. Patients in the high-risk group were randomised into CoBRA Classic, Clim or Avant-Garde arm. Patients in the low-risk group were randomised into CoBRA Slim or Tight Step Up arm.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The Combinatietherapie Bij Reumatoide Artritis (CoBRA) trial was a milestone in the development of the present treatment paradigm for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). This study introduced the principle of fast remission induction by means of a combination of standard Disease Modifying AntiRheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) and a step down bridge therapy with high dose glucocorticoids in early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The purpose of the present study is to compare different combinations of traditional DMARDs and glucocorticoids, based on the original CoBRA protocol, for treatment of early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Besides the efficacy and effectiveness of these strategies, patient centered outcomes and potential implementation problems of such treatment strategies are evaluated.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of RA as defined by the 1987 or 2010 revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria
* Early RA (less than 1 year)
* Use a reliable method of contraception for women of childbearing potential
* Able and willing to give written informed consent and participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous treatment with DMARDs
* Previous treatment with oral corticosteroids at a dosage of more than 10 milligrams (mg) prednisone within 4 weeks before baseline
* Previous treatment with oral corticosteroids at a dosage equal to or less than 10 mg prednisone within 2 weeks before baseline
* Previous treatment with oral corticosteroids for more than 4 weeks
* Previous treatment with Intra Articular corticosteroids within 4 weeks before baseline
* Previous treatment with an investigational drug for the treatment or prevention of RA
* Contraindications for corticosteroids
* Contraindications for DMARDs
* Psoriatic Arthritis
* Underlying cardiac, pulmonary, metabolic, renal or gastrointestinal conditions, chronic or latent infectious diseases or immune deficiency which in the opinion of the investigator places the patient at an unacceptable risk for participation in the study
* Pregnancy, breastfeeding or no use of a reliable method of contraception
* Alcohol or drug abuse

Primary outcomes:
measure: Remission According to DAS28-CRP at Week 16
timeFrame: week 16
measure: Remission According to DAS28-CRP at Week 52
timeFrame: week 52
measure: Remission According to DAS28-CRP at Week 104
timeFrame: week 104
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Remission According to SDAI (Simple Disease Activity Index) at Week 16
timeFrame: week 16
measure: Remission According to SDAI at Week 52
timeFrame: week 52
measure: Remission According to SDAI at Week 104
timeFrame: week 104
measure: Clinically Significant Change in HAQ Score
timeFrame: Baseline-week104
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Aalst
country: Belgium
facility: ASZ
city: Aalst
country: Belgium
facility: OLV Ziekenhuis
city: Bonheiden
country: Belgium
facility: Imelda Ziekenhuis
city: Brugge
country: Belgium
facility: AZ St Lucas
city: Genk
country: Belgium
facility: Reuma praktijk
city: Genk
country: Belgium
facility: Reumacentrum
city: Gent
country: Belgium
facility: UZ Gent, dept. of Rheumatology
city: Hasselt
country: Belgium
facility: Reuma instituut Hasselt
city: Hasselt
country: Belgium
facility: Reumapraktijk
city: Ieper
country: Belgium
facility: Jan Yperman Ziekenhuis
city: Kortrijk
country: Belgium
facility: AZ groeninge
city: Leuven
country: Belgium
facility: HHart Ziekenhuis
city: Leuven
country: Belgium
facility: MCH
city: Leuven
country: Belgium
facility: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
city: Mechelen
country: Belgium
facility: AZ St maarten
city: Merksem
country: Belgium
facility: ZNA Jan Palfijn
city: Oostende
country: Belgium
facility: Henri Serruys ziekenhuis
Study officials:
affiliation: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
name: Patrick Verschueren, MD, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Verschueren P, Esselens G, Westhovens R. Predictors of remission, normalized physical function, and changes in the working situation during follow-up of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: an observational study. Scand J Rheumatol. 2009 May-Jun;38(3):166-72. doi: 10.1080/03009740802484846.
citation: Verschueren P, Esselens G, Westhovens R. Daily practice effectiveness of a step-down treatment in comparison with a tight step-up for early rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008 Jan;47(1):59-64. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kem288. Epub 2007 Nov 26.
citation: Durez P, Malghem J, Nzeusseu Toukap A, Depresseux G, Lauwerys BR, Westhovens R, Luyten FP, Corluy L, Houssiau FA, Verschueren P. Treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized magnetic resonance imaging study comparing the effects of methotrexate alone, methotrexate in combination with infliximab, and methotrexate in combination with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone. Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Dec;56(12):3919-27. doi: 10.1002/art.23055.
citation: Esselens G, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Effectiveness of an integrated outpatient care programme compared with present-day standard care in early rheumatoid arthritis. Musculoskeletal Care. 2009 Mar;7(1):1-16. doi: 10.1002/msc.136.
citation: Boers M, Verhoeven AC, Markusse HM, van de Laar MA, Westhovens R, van Denderen JC, van Zeben D, Dijkmans BA, Peeters AJ, Jacobs P, van den Brink HR, Schouten HJ, van der Heijde DM, Boonen A, van der Linden S. Randomised comparison of combined step-down prednisolone, methotrexate and sulphasalazine with sulphasalazine alone in early rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 1997 Aug 2;350(9074):309-18. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)01300-7.
citation: De Cock D, Van der Elst K, Meyfroidt S, Verschueren P, Westhovens R. The optimal combination therapy for the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2015;16(11):1615-25. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2015.1056735. Epub 2015 Jun 10.
citation: Verschueren P, De Cock D, Corluy L, Joos R, Langenaken C, Taelman V, Raeman F, Ravelingien I, Vandevyvere K, Lenaerts J, Geens E, Geusens P, Vanhoof J, Durnez A, Remans J, Vander Cruyssen B, Van Essche E, Sileghem A, De Brabanter G, Joly J, Meyfroidt S, Van der Elst K, Westhovens R. Methotrexate in combination with other DMARDs is not superior to methotrexate alone for remission induction with moderate-to-high-dose glucocorticoid bridging in early rheumatoid arthritis after 16 weeks of treatment: the CareRA trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015 Jan;74(1):27-34. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-205489. Epub 2014 Oct 30.
citation: Verschueren P, De Cock D, Corluy L, Joos R, Langenaken C, Taelman V, Raeman F, Ravelingien I, Vandevyvere K, Lenaerts J, Geens E, Geusens P, Vanhoof J, Durnez A, Remans J, Vander Cruyssen B, Van Essche E, Sileghem A, De Brabanter G, Joly J, Van der Elst K, Meyfroidt S, Westhovens R; CareRA study group. Patients lacking classical poor prognostic markers might also benefit from a step-down glucocorticoid bridging scheme in early rheumatoid arthritis: week 16 results from the randomized multicenter CareRA trial. Arthritis Res Ther. 2015 Apr 9;17(1):97. doi: 10.1186/s13075-015-0611-8.
citation: Verschueren P, De Cock D, Corluy L, Joos R, Langenaken C, Taelman V, Raeman F, Ravelingien I, Vandevyvere K, Lenaerts J, Geens E, Geusens P, Vanhoof J, Durnez A, Remans J, Vander Cruyssen B, Van Essche E, Sileghem A, De Brabanter G, Joly J, Meyfroidt S, Van der Elst K, Westhovens R. Effectiveness of methotrexate with step-down glucocorticoid remission induction (COBRA Slim) versus other intensive treatment strategies for early rheumatoid arthritis in a treat-to-target approach: 1-year results of CareRA, a randomised pragmatic open-label superiority trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Mar;76(3):511-520. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209212. Epub 2016 Jul 18.
citation: Pazmino S, Boonen A, De Cock D, Stouten V, Joly J, Bertrand D, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Short-term glucocorticoids reduce risk of chronic NSAID and analgesic use in early methotrexate-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients with favourable prognosis: subanalysis of the CareRA randomised controlled trial. RMD Open. 2021 May;7(2):e001615. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001615.
citation: Stouten V, Westhovens R, De Cock D, Van der Elst K, Pazmino S, Bertrand D, Joly J, Verschueren P. Having a co-morbidity predicts worse outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis despite intensive treatment: a post hoc evaluation of the pragmatic randomized controlled CareRA trial. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Aug 2;60(8):3699-3708. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa841.
citation: Pazmino S, Lovik A, Boonen A, De Cock D, Stouten V, Joly J, Bertrand D, Van der Elst K, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Does Including Pain, Fatigue, and Physical Function When Assessing Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Provide a Comprehensive Picture of Disease Burden? J Rheumatol. 2021 Feb;48(2):174-178. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.200758. Epub 2020 Nov 15.
citation: Pazmino S, Boonen A, Stouten V, De Cock D, Joly J, Van der Elst K, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Two-year cost-effectiveness of different COBRA-like intensive remission induction schemes in early rheumatoid arthritis: a piggyback study on the pragmatic randomised controlled CareRA trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 May;79(5):556-565. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216874. Epub 2020 Apr 2.
citation: Stouten V, Michiels S, Westhovens R, De Cock D, Belba A, Pazmino S, Van der Elst K, Joly J, Verschueren P. Effectiveness of maintenance therapy with methotrexate compared with leflunomide for patients with RA having achieved disease control with both these drugs: results of a predefined sub-analysis of CareRA, a pragmatic RCT. Clin Rheumatol. 2020 Sep;39(9):2593-2601. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05008-4. Epub 2020 Mar 12.
citation: Stouten V, Westhovens R, Pazmino S, De Cock D, Van der Elst K, Joly J, Verschueren P; CareRA study group. Effectiveness of different combinations of DMARDs and glucocorticoid bridging in early rheumatoid arthritis: two-year results of CareRA. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2019 Dec 1;58(12):2284-2294. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kez213.