A multicentre randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study comparing two regimens of combination induction therapy in early disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug naïve rheumatoid arthritis

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Early rheumatoid arthritis; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthropathies

• Registration Number: ISRCTN48638981
• Lead Sponsor: niversity of Leeds (UK)

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-04-30
• Last Update Posted: 17 October 2016

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 112

Inclusion Criteria

1. Men and women 18 to 80 years of age
2. Fulfil 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
3. Symptoms of more than three months and less than 12 months duration
4. Men and women must use adequate birth control measures (e.g., abstinence, oral contraceptives, intra-uterine device, barrier method with spermicide, or surgical sterilisation) for the duration of the study and should continue such precautions for six months after receiving the last infusion or dose of methotrexate
5. The patient must be able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements
6. The patient must be capable of giving informed consent and the consent must be obtained prior to any screening procedures
7. Must have a chest radiograph within three months prior to first treatment dose with no evidence of malignancy, infection or fibrosis
8. Are considered eligible according to the tuberculosis (TB) eligibility assessment, screening, and early detection of reactivation rules defined in the protocol
9. Active disease as defined by Disease Activity Score (DAS) more than 2.4
10. Tumour necrotising factor (TNF) therapy naïve
11. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy naïve
12. Negative hepatitis B and C screening tests within three months prior to screening visit

Exclusion Criteria

1. Women who are pregnant, nursing, or men or women planning pregnancy within 24 months after screening (i.e., approximately six months following last study medications)
2. Use of any investigational (unlicensed) drug within one month prior to screening or within five half-lives of the investigational agent, whichever is longer
3. Previous or current treatment with any other therapeutic agent targeted at reducing TNF (e.g., pentoxifylline, thalidomide, etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab etc.)
4. Prior treatment with any DMARD
5. Serious infections (such as pneumonia or pyelonephritis) in the previous three months. Less serious infections (such as acute upper respiratory tract infection [colds] or simple urinary tract infection) need not be considered exclusions at the discretion of the investigator
6. Documented human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
7. Hepatitis B or hepatitis C serology positive (must be checked within three months prior to screening)
8. Are considered ineligible according to the TB eligibility assessment, screening, and early detection of reactivation rules defined in the protocol
9. Have or have had an opportunistic infection (e.g., herpes zoster [shingles], cytomegalovirus, Pneumocystis carinii, aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, or mycobacteria other than TB) within six months prior to screening
10. Significant haematological or biochemical abnormality:
10.1. Haemoglobin less than or equal to 8.5 g/dL
10.2. White blood cells (WBC) less than or equal to 3.5 x 10^9/L
10.3. Neutrophils less than or equal to 1.5 x 10^9/L
10.4. Platelets less than or equal to 100 x 10^9/L
10.5. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) more than two times upper limit of normal (ULN) for the laboratory conducting the test
10.6. Creatinine more than 1.5 times ULN for the laboratory conducting the test
11. Have current signs or symptoms of severe, progressive or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, haematologic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, neurologic, or cerebral disease (including demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis)
12. Concomitant congestive heart failure, including medically controlled asymptomatic patients
13. Presence of a transplanted organ (with the exception of a corneal transplant more than three months prior to screening)
14. Malignancy within the past five years (except for squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been treated with no evidence of recurrence)
15. History of lymphoproliferative disease including lymphoma, or signs and symptoms suggestive of possible lymphoproliferative disease, such as lymphadenopathy of unusual size or location (such as nodes in the posterior triangle of the neck, infra-clavicular, epitrochlear, or periaortic areas), or splenomegaly
16. Known recent substance abuse (drug or alcohol)
17. Poor tolerability of venipuncture or lack of adequate venous access for required blood sampling during the study period
18. Have a chest radiograph at screening that shows evidence of malignancy, infection, or any abnormalities suggestive of TB as described in the protocol
19. Have a positive Mantoux test or evidence of active TB infection, or recent close contact with an individual with active TB
20. Previous oral, intramuscular (IM), intra-arterial (IA) or intravenous (IV) corticosteroids within one month
21. Receiving treatment with anakinra
22. Contraindications to methotrexate, infliximab or steroids

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified