Adalimumab in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-associated Uveitis Stopping Trial

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis is a chronic pediatric ocular inflammatory condition that can result in visual impairment. Chronic anterior uveitis (CAU) does not have systemic manifestations of disease but presents similarly in the eye and can result in identical visual complications as JIA-associated uveitis. Adalimumab, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, effectively controls joint and eye inflammation; however, its long-term use may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes and place an undue financial burden on the patient and healthcare system given its high cost. There is great interest for patients to stop adalimumab following remission due to these reasons but there is a lack of information on the ability to maintain control after discontinuing adalimumab.

Methods: The Adalimumab in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-associated Uveitis Trial (ADJUST) is a multi-center international trial that will randomize 118 participants aged 2 years and older with controlled JIA-associated uveitis or chronic anterior uveitis to either continue adalimumab or discontinue adalimumab and receive a placebo. The trial will compare the time to uveitis recurrence between the two groups over 12 months. All participants will receive the standard weight-based dose of adalimumab or placebo: 20 mg biweekly (if < 30 kg) or 40 mg biweekly (if ≥ 30 kg).

Impact: This is the first randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of discontinuing adalimumab after demonstrating control of JIA-associated uveitis for at least 12 months. The results of ADJUST will provide information on clinical outcomes to guide clinicians in their decision-making regarding discontinuation of adalimumab.