Predicting rapid radiographic progression in difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis: insights from long-term follow-up.
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All Authors
Abacar, K.
Di Matteo, A.
David, P.
Dass, S.
Emery, P.
Mankia, K.
Saleem, B.
McGonagle, D.
LTHT Author
Abacar, Kerem
Di Matteo, Andrea
Dass, Shouvik
Emery, Paul
Mankia, Kulveer
Saleem, Benazir
McGonagle, Dennis
Di Matteo, Andrea
Dass, Shouvik
Emery, Paul
Mankia, Kulveer
Saleem, Benazir
McGonagle, Dennis
LTHT Department
NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre
Rheumatology
Rheumatology
Non Medic
Publication Date
2025
Item Type
Journal Article
Language
Subject
Subject Headings
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the long-term trajectory of radiographic progression in difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA) and poly-refractory RA (pr-RA) patients and to evaluate the impact of ultrasound-based persistent inflammatory refractory RA (PIRRA) and non-inflammatory refractory RA (NIRRA) classification on predicting rapid radiographic progression (RRP, >=5 mSvdH units/year).
METHODS: Radiographic damage was assessed using the modified Sharp/van der Heijde (mSvdH) score in EULAR-defined D2T RA patients. PIRRA and NIRRA subgroups were classified based on a single ultrasound timepoint assessing grayscale and power Doppler synovitis. The impact of time-integrated CRP and swollen joint counts (SJC) on radiographic progression was examined.
RESULTS: Among 254 D2T RA patients, 114 had serial radiographs with a mean follow-up of 9 years. The mean annual mSvdH progression was 2.8 units with both time-integrated CRP (p< 0.001) and the PIRRA patients (n = 43) having significantly greater annual radiographic progression (3.3 in PIRRA vs 2.4 units in NIRRA, p= 0.025). In multivariable analysis, older age (p= 0.017) and swollen joint count (p= 0.009) were independently associated with RRP. Additionally, RRP was observed in 50% of pr-RA patients (n = 14) vs 19.4% in other D2T RA cases (p= 0.048).
CONCLUSION: Although an uncommon subgroup, half of pr-RA cases demonstrated RRP, emphasizing the need for more aggressive treatment approaches. In contrast, many D2T RA patients exhibited comparatively slow radiographic progression indicating that many D2T RA cases are at least partially treated. These findings underscore the heterogeneity within D2T RA and highlight the need for additional strategies for the pr-RA subgroup.
Journal
Rheumatology