FRI0023 Is Positivity of Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Associated with the Response Rate of Infliximab, Tocilizumab, and Abatacept in Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Authors: M. Sato, M. Takemura, K. Saito
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2014)

<h3>Background</h3> Recent reports have shown that positivity for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) can influence the efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Additionally, RF<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>+</sup> statuses were emphasized in the revised ACR–EULAR Classification Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis. <h3>Objectives</h3> This study examined whether RF<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>+</sup> statuses in patients with RA impacted the clinical efficacy of anti-TNF-α, anti-IL-6, and T-cell costimulation modulator therapy. <h3>Methods</h3> We retrospectively evaluated 295 patients with RA who were observed through 52 weeks of follow-up after infliximab (IFX), tocilizumab (TCZ), and abatacept (ABT) treatment at our hospital and related facilities (IFX, n=142; TCZ, n=93; ABT, n=60). Clinical efficacy was assessed based on a 28-joint disease activity score using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) remission and achievement of Boolean-based remission criteria and its components (≤1) at 52 weeks after initiating treatment. <h3>Results</h3> Before treatment, DAS28-ESR score in IFX, TCZ, and ABT groups was 6.5±1.3, 6.6±1.5, and 5.9±1.9, respectively. The proportion of RF<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>+</sup> patients was 79.6% and 81.7% in the IFX group, 79.6% and 87.1% in the TCZ group, and 80.0% and 93.3% in the ABT group, respectively. The proportion of patients concomitantly treated with MTX was 100% in the IFX group, 55% in the TCZ group, and 57% in the ABT group (<i>p</i> &lt;0.0001); the proportion of patients previously treated with biological products was 0% in the IFX group, 56% in the TCZ group, and 58% in the ABT group (<i>p</i> &lt;0.0001). Among patients who achieved remission at 52 weeks in the IFX group, DAS28-ESR remission was seen in 36% and 59% RF<sup>+</sup> and RF<sup>–</sup> patients (<i>p</i> =0.02), respectively, and in 36% and 62% ACPA<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>–</sup> patients, respectively (<i>p</i> =0.01). TJC ≤1 was seen in 60% and 89% ACPA<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>–</sup> patients, respectively (<i>p</i> =0.005) and SJC ≤1 was seen in 60% and 85% ACPA<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>–</sup> patients, respectively (<i>p</i> =0.01). The proportion of patients who achieved remission was significantly lower in RF<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>+</sup> patients. In the TCZ group, no efficacy index between RF<sup>+</sup> and RF<sup>–</sup> patients or between ACPA<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>–</sup> patients significantly correlated with remission. In the ABT group, however DAS28-ESR remission was seen in 33% and 75% RF<sup>+</sup> and RF<sup>–</sup> patients (<i>p</i> =0.02), respectively, no efficacy index between ACPA<sup>+</sup> and ACPA<sup>–</sup> patients significantly correlated with remission. Correlations between pretreatment patient demographics and achievement of DAS28 remission at 52 weeks were evaluated. In the IFX group, patients who achieved no remission had higher CRP levels (3.0 vs. 1.9 mg/dL; <i>p</i> =0.0007), higher disease activity by DAS28-ESR (6.8 vs. 6.2; <i>p</i> =0.01), and a significantly higher RF<sup>+</sup> (86% vs. 71%; <i>p</i> =0.02) and ACPA<sup>+</sup> rates (88% vs. 72%; <i>p</i> =0.01) than those who achieved remission. In the ABT group, patients who achieved no remission had higher disease activity by DAS28-ESR (6.6 vs. 5.2; <i>p</i> =0.05) and a significantly higher RF<sup>+</sup> (91% vs. 64%; <i>p</i> =0.05) than those who achieved remission. However, similar differences were not observed in the TCZ group. <h3>Conclusions</h3> RF<sup>+</sup> statuses are likely to be risk factors that affect the clinical efficacy of both IFX and ABT treatment, and ACPA<sup>+</sup> statuses are those of IFX treatment, but not TCZ treatment. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared <h3>DOI</h3> 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.4062