Efficacy and safety of continuing versus withdrawing adalimumab therapy in maintaining remission in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (ABILITY-3): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind study.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-14-2018

Publication Title

Lancet

Keywords

Adalimumab/administration & dosage; Adalimumab/adverse effects; Adult; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/diagnostic imaging; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/drug therapy; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/diagnostic imaging; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/etiology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Success of treatment withdrawal in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who are in remission remains unknown. The ABILITY-3 study explored the ability to withdraw adalimumab treatment in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who achieved sustained clinical remission after open-label treatment with adalimumab.

METHODS: ABILITY-3 was a multicentre, two-period study done in 107 sites in 20 countries. We enrolled adult patients (≥18 years) diagnosed with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, fulfilling Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria but not the modified New York radiologic criterion, who had objective evidence of active inflammation, active disease, and inadequate response to at least two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients who achieved Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) inactive disease (

FINDINGS: Between June 27, 2013, and October 22, 2015, 673 patients were enrolled to the study. The trial completed on April 14, 2017. Of 673 enrolled patients, 305 (45%) achieved sustained remission and were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment (152 patients to adalimumab and 153 to placebo). A greater proportion of patients continuing adalimumab than those receiving placebo did not experience a flare (107 [70%] of 152 patients vs 72 [47%] of 153 patients; p

INTERPRETATION: In patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who achieved sustained remission with adalimumab, continued therapy was associated with significantly fewer patients flaring than was treatment withdrawal.

FUNDING: AbbVie.

Clinical Institute

Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Department

Orthopedics

Department

Rheumatology

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