To investigate the efficacy and safety of abatacept for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in routine clinical practice and to determine the prognostic factors affecting clinical outcomes.
We performed a retrospective study of 194 RA patients treated with abatacept. Clinical outcomes at 1 year after the treatment were assessed. Joint damage was assessed by the van der Heijde-modified total Sharp score (mTSS).
Of the 194 patients, abatacept was discontinued in 51 patients, resulting in a retention rate at week 52 of 73.7%. At week 52, 23.7% of patients achieved clinical remission (SDAI ≤3.3). Lower SDAI and higher RF titre at baseline were the prognostic factor for SDAI at 52 weeks. Structural remission (ΔmTSS ≤0.5) was achieved in 73.4% of patients. However, clinical relevant radiographic progression which was defined as an increase in ΔmTSS >3 in a year, occurred in 7.6% of patients. Likewise, rapid radiological progression, which was defined as an increase in ΔmTSS >5 in a year, was observed in 6.4% of patients. 16.5% of patients achieved comprehensive disease remission, which was defined as SDAI ≤3.3, HAQ-DI ≤0.5, ΔmTSS ≤0.5, while 22.4% of patients achieved comprehensive disease control (CDC), which was defined as SDAI ≤11.0, HAQ-DI ≤0.5, ΔmTSS ≤0.5.
The present results confirm that abatacept is effective and safe in routine clinical practice. It is possible that abatacept is more effective in seropositive RA patients with significant immunological abnormality.