In a randomized controlled clinical trial, investigators will compare the effects on \[18F\]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) from two treatment regimens in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients deemed methotrexate inadequate responders (MTX-IRs). Two common RA treatments will be compared: triple therapy (sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and hydroxychloroquine) versus tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor (etanercept or adalimumab, plus background methotrexate for all subjects and hydroxychloroquine for subjects who were taking this at screening).
Consenting subjects will be screened for eligibility and randomized to a treatment arm. Subjects will be randomized to a treatment arm with either synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) \[triple therapy: sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and hydroxychloroquine\] or biologic DMARDs \[etanercept or adalimumab, plus background methotrexate for all subjects and hydroxychloroquine for subjects who were taking this at screening\]. Once randomized, a baseline visit will be conducted with each subject. Baseline data collection includes questionnaires, disease activity score, and the first FDG-PET/CT imaging. After the baseline at week 0, subjects will visit with their rheumatologist at weeks 6, 12, 18, and 24 for safety labs and further collection of disease activity scores and questionnaires. The second FDG-PET/CT will be performed at week 24. Blood specimens will be collected at weeks 0, 6, 18, and 24 for bioassays. Subject participation will end after the week 24 visit. Patients and care providers will be unblinded. The FDG-PET/CT image readers will be blinded to treatment arm as well as timepoint of image acquisition.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
159
Subjects entering trial will continue on MTX dose of at least 15mg MTX/week. At the discretion of the treating rheumatologist, may be switched to SQ route.
1 gm bid
200 mg twice daily, not to exceed 6.5mg/kg
Change From Baseline in Vascular Inflammation as Measured by FDG-PET/CT at 6 Months
The primary outcome was the change in the mean of the maximum of the target to background ratio (TBR) in the most diseased segment (MDS) of of the index vessel as measured by FDG-PET/CT scans conducted at baseline and after 24 weeks of randomized treatment allocation (MDS meanmaxTBR). The index vessel is the vessel (either aorta, left carotid, or right carotid) with the highest meanmaxTBR at baseline. Higher values indicate greater vascular inflammation. FDG uptake measurement: PET-CT images were batch-analyzed by an investigator blinded to the patients' clinical information. FDG uptake was evaluated within the wall of the ascending aorta and bilateral carotid arteries (as maximum and mean standardized FDG uptake value \[SUVmax and SUVmean, respectively\]) approximately every 5 mm on axial images. Subsequently, the target-to-background ratio (TBR) was reported (ratio of the average arterial to blood axial slice SUVmax) to correct for the blood compartment contribution.
Time frame: 0, 6 months
Change From Baseline in the MDS of the Aorta
The outcome was the change in the mean of the maximum of the target to background ratio (TBR) in the most diseased segment (MDS) of the aorta as measured by FDG-PET/CT scans conducted at baseline and after 24 weeks of randomized treatment allocation (MDS meanmaxTBR). Higher values indicate greater vascular inflammation. FDG uptake measurement: PET-CT images were batch-analyzed by an investigator blinded to the patients' clinical information. FDG uptake was evaluated within the wall of the ascending aorta and bilateral carotid arteries (as maximum and mean standardized FDG uptake value \[SUVmax and SUVmean, respectively\]) approximately every 5 mm on axial images. Subsequently, the target-to-background ratio (TBR) was reported (ratio of the average arterial to blood axial slice SUVmax) to correct for the blood compartment contribution.
Time frame: 0, 6 months
Change From Baseline in the Average TBR of the Aorta
The outcome was the change in the target to background ratio (TBR) of the aorta as measured by FDG-PET/CT scans conducted at baseline and after 24 weeks of randomized treatment allocation (MDS meanmaxTBR). Higher values indicate greater vascular inflammation. FDG uptake measurement: PET-CT images were batch-analyzed by an investigator blinded to the patients' clinical information. FDG uptake was evaluated within the wall of the ascending aorta and bilateral carotid arteries (as maximum and mean standardized FDG uptake value \[SUVmax and SUVmean, respectively\]) approximately every 5 mm on axial images. Subsequently, the target-to-background ratio (TBR) was reported (ratio of the average arterial to blood axial slice SUVmax) to correct for the blood compartment contribution.
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50 mg SC weekly
40 mg SQ every other week
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Loma Linda University Clinical Trial Center
Loma Linda, California, United States
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, California, United States
Brigid Freyne, MD Inc.
Murrieta, California, United States
Desert Medical Advances
Palm Desert, California, United States
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
Nazanin Firooz MD, Inc.
West Hills, California, United States
Robert W. Levin, MD, PA
Clearwater, Florida, United States
IRIS Research and Development
Plantation, Florida, United States
Southwest Florida Clinical Research Center
Tampa, Florida, United States
...and 21 more locations
Time frame: 0, 6 months
Change From Baseline in the Average TBR of the Bilateral Carotids
The outcome was the change in the target to background ratio (TBR) of the average of the left and right carotids as measured by FDG-PET/CT scans conducted at baseline and after 24 weeks of randomized treatment allocation (MDS meanmaxTBR). The baseline values of the left and right carotids were averaged and then the follow-up values of the left and right carotids were averaged resulting in one value at each time point. Higher values indicate greater vascular inflammation. FDG uptake measurement: PET-CT images were batch-analyzed by an investigator blinded to the patients' clinical information. FDG uptake was evaluated within the wall of the ascending aorta and bilateral carotid arteries (as maximum and mean standardized FDG uptake value \[SUVmax and SUVmean, respectively\]) approximately every 5 mm on axial images. Subsequently, the target-to-background ratio (TBR) was reported (ratio of the average arterial to blood axial slice SUVmax) to correct for the blood compartment contribution.
Time frame: 0, 6 months
Change From Baseline in the Average TBR of the Index Vessel
The outcome was the change in the target to background ratio (TBR) in the index vessel as measured by FDG-PET/CT scans conducted at baseline and after 24 weeks of randomized treatment allocation (MDS meanmaxTBR). Higher values indicate greater vascular inflammation. FDG uptake measurement: PET-CT images were batch-analyzed by an investigator blinded to the patients' clinical information. FDG uptake was evaluated within the wall of the ascending aorta and bilateral carotid arteries (as maximum and mean standardized FDG uptake value \[SUVmax and SUVmean, respectively\]) approximately every 5 mm on axial images. Subsequently, the target-to-background ratio (TBR) was reported (ratio of the average arterial to blood axial slice SUVmax) to correct for the blood compartment contribution.
Time frame: 0, 6 months