Screening for Flare After b/tsDMARD Discontinuation in Rheumatoid Arthritis

November 12, 2021 updated by: Dr. Peter Mandl, Medical University of Vienna

Screening for Flare After Discontinuation of Biological/Targeted Synthetic Disease Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drug (b/tsDMARD) in Rheumatoid Arthritis

To evaluate whether stringent follow-up consisting of combined laboratory and ultrasound surveillance is superior to clinical monitoring alone to maintain clinical remission in rheumatoid arthritis.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Randomized, controlled, parallel-group, multi-centre study in which patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biological/targeted synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD) in mono- or combination therapy with conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) in a stable dosage and interval for ≥6 months with low disease activity or remission will receive an power Doppler musculoskeletal ultrasound examination (PDUS) and monitoring of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at baseline and several timepoints within a 24 month study period (primary endpoint) and within a 48 month long-term extension. At baseline, b/tsDMARD medication will be withdrawn in all patients, who will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio in an "Assisted monitoring" (arm A) or a "Clinical monitoring" (arm B) arm respectively. Further stratification for remission vs. low disease activity and mono- vs combination therapy will be implemented in the randomisation process. In arm A, CRP and PDUS information will be made available to the clinical assessors who, at each time-point will use this information along with that from clinical examination, to identify patients experiencing recurrence of inflammation which will then be counted as subclinical flare according to predefined criteria. In arm B the results of CRP and PDUS will be recorded but will not be made available to the clinical assessor who will have to identify clinical flares according to predefined criteria based on information from the clinical examination only.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
85

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis classified by the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria

  • biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (tsDMARD) treatment in monotherapy or in combination therapy with conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (csDMARD) in a stable dosage and interval for ≥6 months. Previous extension of bDMARD or tsDMARD interval will also be accepted. bDMARDs and tsDMARDs will include all currently available originator and biosimilar compounds, with the exception of rituximab and its biosimilar compounds
  • No swollen joint by 28-joint count at baseline, and screening
  • C-reactive protein of ≤0.5mg/dL at baseline AND history of C-reactive protein >0,5mg/dl related to rheumatoid arthritis activity
  • Clinical disease activity index ≤10
  • Shared decision between patient and physician to attempt b/tsDMARD withdrawal
  • Willing and able to understand and follow the study procedures
  • Written informed consent
  • Female and male subjects aged ≥ 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of or current extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, with exception of rheumatoid nodules
  • Systemic glucocorticoid treatment in the past 3 months
  • Intraarticular injection with glucocorticoids in the past 1 month
  • Joint replacement surgery other than total knee or hip arthroplasty or complete joint destruction
  • Power Doppler signal ≥2 in any assessed joint and/or tendon at screening or baseline

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Other: Assisted monitoring
In the Assisted monitoring arm, C-reactive protein and musculoskeletal ultrasound information will be made available to the clinical assessors who, at each time-point will use this information, along with information from the clinical examination, to identify patients experiencing recurrence of inflammation which will then be counted as subclinical flare according to predefined criteria.
Other: Discontinuation of biological/targeted synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD)
The biological/targeted synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug will be discontinued in both arms at baseline
Other Names:
  • b/tsDMARD: Adalimumab, Infliximab, Golimumab, Certolizumab pegol, Tocilizumab, Sarilumab, Etanercept, Anakinra, Filgotinib, Updacitinib, Tofacitinib, Baricitinib
Other: Clinical monitoring
In the Clinical monitoring arm, the results of C-reactive protein and musculoskeletal ultrasound information will be recorded but will not be made available to the clinical assessor who at each time-point will make the decision on whether the patient is experiencing or has experienced a clinical flare according to predefined criteria based on information from the clinical examination.
Other: Discontinuation of biological/targeted synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD)
The biological/targeted synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug will be discontinued in both arms at baseline
Other Names:
  • b/tsDMARD: Adalimumab, Infliximab, Golimumab, Certolizumab pegol, Tocilizumab, Sarilumab, Etanercept, Anakinra, Filgotinib, Updacitinib, Tofacitinib, Baricitinib

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of subjects without a clinical flare until week 24
Time Frame: week 24
Proportion of subjects without a clinical flare
week 24

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of subjects without a clinical flare
Time Frame: week 48
Proportion of subjects without a clinical flare
week 48
Time to clinical flare (days)
Time Frame: study period
Time to clinical flare (days)
study period
28 swollen joint count
Time Frame: week 24
28 swollen joint count, scale 0 (best) - 28 (worse)
week 24
28 tender joint count
Time Frame: week 24
28 tender joint count, scale 0 (best) - 28 (worse)
week 24
Proportion of subjects with a clinical flare in the assisted monitoring arm vs. clinical monitoring arm, the latter stratified according to b/tsDMARD reinitiation
Time Frame: week 24
Proportion of subjects with a clinical flare in the assisted monitoring arm vs. clinical monitoring arm, the latter stratified according to b/tsDMARD reinitiation
week 24
Proportion of patients in low disease activity or remission based on simplified disease activity index
Time Frame: week 24
Proportion of patients in low disease activity or remission based on simplified disease activity index
week 24
Proportion of patients in low disease activity or remission based on simplified disease activity index
Time Frame: week 48
Proportion of patients in low disease activity or remission based on simplified disease activity index
week 48
Patient's global assessment
Time Frame: week 24
Patient's global assessment, scale 0 (best) - 100 (worst)
week 24
Evaluator's global assessment
Time Frame: week 24
Evaluator's global assessment, scale 0 (best) - 100 (worst)
week 24
C-reactive protein
Time Frame: week 24
C-reactive protein, scale 0 (best) - infinite (worst)
week 24
Radiographic progression
Time Frame: at week 48 weeks from baseline
change in Sharp Van der Heijde score, scale 0 (best) - 488 (worse)
at week 48 weeks from baseline
Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index
Time Frame: week 24
Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, scale 0 (best) - 3.0 (worse)
week 24
World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time Frame: week 24
World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, scale 0 (worse) - 100 (best)
week 24
Morning stiffness
Time Frame: week 24
Morning joint stiffness, (minutes), scale 0 (best) - infinite (worst)
week 24
Fatigue
Time Frame: week 24
Fatigue, visual analogue scale, scale 0 (worse) - 100 (best)
week 24

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Medical University of Vienna

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Medical University of Graz
Medical University Innsbruck
Hospital Hietzing
Krankenhaus Bruneck

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Anticipated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 1, 2024

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 2, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 12, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 15, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 15, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 12, 2021

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1389/2020

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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