Abatacept inhibits radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective analysis of 6 months of abatacept treatment in routine clinical practice. The ALTAIR study.

Objectives: Our objectives in this study were to determine the inhibitory effects of abatacept on joint damage and its clinical efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: Fifty Japanese patients with RA were treated with abatacept for 24 weeks in routine clinical practice.
Results: At week 24, 20 % of patients achieved clinical remission [Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) ≤3.3], whereas 50 % were in remission or had a low disease activity. Structural remission [progression of modified total Sharp score (ΔmTSS) ≤0.5] was achieved in 76 % of patients. The ΔmTSS decreased significantly from 7.1 ± 7.3 at baseline to 1.8 ± 5.7 at week 24. C-reactive protein (CRP) was the only independent prognostic factor for joint damage progression at week 24, whereas SDAI and matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels were not. A very high proportion of patients with CRP levels <1.5 mg/dl (88 %) achieved structural remission. In terms of safety, the retention rate for all patients was favorable (80 %), and stomatitis was the only adverse event observed. No patient withdrew from the study because of infections.
Conclusions: Abatacept has favorable clinical and structural effects, inhibits radiographic progression, and has a good safety profile in routine clinical practice.