SAT0157 Discontinuation of etanercept in rheumatoid arthritis patients in clinical remission: Two-year outcome

Background Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors enable tight control of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Discontinuation of TNF inhibitors after achievement of clinical remission is important for safety and economic reasons. However there is limited data to confirm the effectiveness and safety over a longer time period after discontinuation of etanercept (ETN). Objectives We studied 2-year outcome in RA patients who achieved clinical remission (Disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) Methods After patients had achieved DAS28 Results 9 (39.1%) patients maintained clinical remission and clinical relapse was observed in 14 patients (60.9%) at 2years. Re-treatment with TNF inhibitors in 4 patients (2 patients, ETN; 2 patients, adalimumab) was effective and the majority of patients reached DAS28 Conclusions Some patients could maintain clinical, radiographic and functional remission upto two years after discontinuation of ETN. This study result proves that discontinuation of ETN after achieving of DAS References Brocq O, Millasseau E, Albert C, et al. Effect of discontinuing TNFalpha antagonist therapy in patients with remission of rheumatoid arthritis. Joint Bone Spine. 2009;76:350-5. Miyamura T, Sonomoto K, Nakamura M, et al. Discontinuationof etanercept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were in clinical remission. Clin Rheumatol. 2010;29:87-90. Tanaka Y, Takeuchi T, Mimori T, et al. Discontinuation of infliximab after attaining low disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: RRR (remission induction by Remicade in RA) study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69:1286-91. van Vollenhoven RF. Unresolved issues in biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2011;7:205-15. Disclosure of Interest None Declared