- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT01172639
Effectiveness in Daily Practice of Different Treatment Strategies for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.
A 2 Year Prospective Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Effectiveness in Daily Practice of Different Treatment Strategies for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The Combinatietherapie Bij Reumatoide Artritis (CoBRA) trial was a milestone in the development of the present treatment paradigm for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). This study introduced the principle of fast remission induction by means of a combination of standard Disease Modifying AntiRheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) and a step down bridge therapy with high dose glucocorticoids in early Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The purpose of the present study is to compare different combinations of traditional DMARDs and glucocorticoids, based on the original CoBRA protocol, for treatment of early Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Besides the efficacy and effectiveness of these strategies, patient centered outcomes and potential implementation problems of such treatment strategies are evaluated.
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Phase
- Phase 4
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
-
-
-
Aalst, Belgium, 9300
- ASZ
-
Aalst, Belgium, 9300
- OLV Ziekenhuis
-
Bonheiden, Belgium, 2820
- Imelda Ziekenhuis
-
Brugge, Belgium, 8310
- AZ St Lucas
-
Genk, Belgium, 3600
- Reuma praktijk
-
Genk, Belgium, 3600
- Reumacentrum
-
Gent, Belgium, 9000
- UZ Gent, dept. of Rheumatology
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Hasselt, Belgium, 3500
- Reuma Instituut Hasselt
-
Hasselt, Belgium, 3500
- Reumapraktijk
-
Ieper, Belgium, 8900
- Jan Yperman ziekenhuis
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Kortrijk, Belgium, 8500
- AZ Groeninge
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Leuven, Belgium, 3000
- Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
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Leuven, Belgium, 3000
- HHart Ziekenhuis
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Leuven, Belgium, 3000
- MCH
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Mechelen, Belgium, 2800
- AZ St maarten
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Merksem, Belgium, 2170
- ZNA Jan Palfijn
-
Oostende, Belgium, 8400
- Henri Serruys ziekenhuis
-
-
Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of RA as defined by the 1987 or 2010 revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria
- Early RA (less than 1 year)
- Use a reliable method of contraception for women of childbearing potential
- Able and willing to give written informed consent and participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous treatment with DMARDs
- Previous treatment with oral corticosteroids at a dosage of more than 10 milligrams (mg) prednisone within 4 weeks before baseline
- Previous treatment with oral corticosteroids at a dosage equal to or less than 10 mg prednisone within 2 weeks before baseline
- Previous treatment with oral corticosteroids for more than 4 weeks
- Previous treatment with Intra Articular corticosteroids within 4 weeks before baseline
- Previous treatment with an investigational drug for the treatment or prevention of RA
- Contraindications for corticosteroids
- Contraindications for DMARDs
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Underlying cardiac, pulmonary, metabolic, renal or gastrointestinal conditions, chronic or latent infectious diseases or immune deficiency which in the opinion of the investigator places the patient at an unacceptable risk for participation in the study
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding or no use of a reliable method of contraception
- Alcohol or drug abuse
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: None (Open Label)
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
---|---|
Other: CoBRA classic high risk group
|
Methotrexate tablet
Other Names:
Sulfasalazine tablet
Other Names:
Prednisone tablet
|
Other: CoBRA slim high risk group
|
Methotrexate tablet
Other Names:
Prednisone tablet
|
Other: CoBRA avant-garde high risk group
|
Methotrexate tablet
Other Names:
Prednisone tablet
Leflunomide tablet
Other Names:
|
Other: CoBRA slim low risk group
|
Methotrexate tablet
Other Names:
Prednisone tablet
|
Other: Tight Step Up low risk group
|
Methotrexate tablet
Other Names:
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Remission According to DAS28-CRP at Week 16
Time Frame: week 16
|
Number of patients in remission according to DAS28-CRP (Disease Activity Score based on 28 joint count and C-reactive Protein) at week 16. DAS28-CRP is calculated with the following formula : 0.56*SQRT TJC28+0.28*SQRT SJC28+0.36*ln (CRP+1)+0.014*GH+0.96 in which TJC is the tender joint count, SJC the Swollen Joint Count and GH the general health estimated by the patient on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A value below 2.6 is indicating remission, below or equal to 3.2 low disease activity, between 3.2 and 5.1 moderate disease activity and above 5.1 high disease activity. |
week 16
|
Remission According to DAS28-CRP at Week 52
Time Frame: week 52
|
Number of patients in remission according to DAS28-CRP (Disease Activity Score based on 28 joint count and C-reactive Protein) at week 52. (co-primary end point) DAS28-CRP is calculated with the following formula : 0.56*SQRT TJC28+0.28*SQRT SJC28+0.36*ln (CRP+1)+0.014*GH+0.96 in which TJC is the tender joint count, SJC the Swollen Joint Count and GH the general health estimated by the patient on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A value below 2.6 is indicating remission, below or equal to 3.2 low disease activity, between 3.2 and 5.1 moderate disease activity and above 5.1 high disease activity. |
week 52
|
Remission According to DAS28-CRP at Week 104
Time Frame: week 104
|
Number of patients in remission according to DAS28-CRP (Disease Activity Score based on 28 joint count and C-reactive Protein) at week 104. (co-primary endpoints) DAS28-CRP is calculated with the following formula : 0.56*SQRT TJC28+0.28*SQRT SJC28+0.36*ln (CRP+1)+0.014*GH+0.96 in which TJC is the tender joint count, SJC the Swollen Joint Count and GH the general health estimated by the patient on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A value below 2.6 is indicating remission, below or equal to 3.2 low disease activity, between 3.2 and 5.1 moderate disease activity and above 5.1 high disease activity. |
week 104
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Remission According to SDAI (Simple Disease Activity Index) at Week 16
Time Frame: week 16
|
Number of patients in remission according to SDAI (Simplified Disease Activity Index) at week 16. SDAI is calculated with the following formula : TJC28+SJC28+GH+GA ph in which TJC is the number of tender joints, SJC the number of Swollen Joint and GH the general health assessed by the patient on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and GA ph the general assessment of the physician on a VAS. A value below 3.3 is indicating remission, between 3.4 and 11.0 low disease activity, between 11.1 and 26.0 moderate disease activity and above 26.0 high disease activity. |
week 16
|
Remission According to SDAI at Week 52
Time Frame: week 52
|
Number of patients in remission according to SDAI (Simplified Disease Activity Index) at week 52. SDAI is calculated with the following formula : TJC28+SJC28+GH+GA ph in which TJC is the number of tender joints, SJC the number of Swollen Joint and GH the general health assessed by the patient on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and GA ph the general assessment of the physician on a VAS. A value below 3.3 is indicating remission, between 3.4 and 11.0 low disease activity, between 11.1 and 26.0 moderate disease activity and above 26.0 high disease activity. |
week 52
|
Remission According to SDAI at Week 104
Time Frame: week 104
|
Number of patients in remission according to SDAI (Simplified Disease Activity Index) at week 104. SDAI is calculated with the following formula : TJC28+SJC28+GH+GA ph in which TJC is the number of tender joints, SJC the number of Swollen Joint and GH the general health assessed by the patient on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and GA ph the general assessment of the physician on a VAS. A value below 3.3 is indicating remission, between 3.4 and 11.0 low disease activity, between 11.1 and 26.0 moderate disease activity and above 26.0 high disease activity. |
week 104
|
Clinically Significant Change in HAQ Score
Time Frame: Baseline-week104
|
Number of patients with a change of > 0.22 in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score over the period between baseline and week 104. A change of > 0.22 in this score is considered as clinical relevant for rheumatoid arthritis patients. |
Baseline-week104
|
Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Collaborators
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Patrick Verschueren, MD, PhD, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Publications and helpful links
General Publications
- Verschueren P, Esselens G, Westhovens R. Predictors of remission, normalized physical function, and changes in the working situation during follow-up of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: an observational study. Scand J Rheumatol. 2009 May-Jun;38(3):166-72. doi: 10.1080/03009740802484846.
- Verschueren P, Esselens G, Westhovens R. Daily practice effectiveness of a step-down treatment in comparison with a tight step-up for early rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008 Jan;47(1):59-64. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kem288. Epub 2007 Nov 26.
- Durez P, Malghem J, Nzeusseu Toukap A, Depresseux G, Lauwerys BR, Westhovens R, Luyten FP, Corluy L, Houssiau FA, Verschueren P. Treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized magnetic resonance imaging study comparing the effects of methotrexate alone, methotrexate in combination with infliximab, and methotrexate in combination with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone. Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Dec;56(12):3919-27. doi: 10.1002/art.23055.
- Esselens G, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Effectiveness of an integrated outpatient care programme compared with present-day standard care in early rheumatoid arthritis. Musculoskeletal Care. 2009 Mar;7(1):1-16. doi: 10.1002/msc.136.
- Boers M, Verhoeven AC, Markusse HM, van de Laar MA, Westhovens R, van Denderen JC, van Zeben D, Dijkmans BA, Peeters AJ, Jacobs P, van den Brink HR, Schouten HJ, van der Heijde DM, Boonen A, van der Linden S. Randomised comparison of combined step-down prednisolone, methotrexate and sulphasalazine with sulphasalazine alone in early rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 1997 Aug 2;350(9074):309-18. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)01300-7. Erratum In: Lancet 1998 Jan 17;351(9097):220.
- De Cock D, Van der Elst K, Meyfroidt S, Verschueren P, Westhovens R. The optimal combination therapy for the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2015;16(11):1615-25. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2015.1056735. Epub 2015 Jun 10.
- Verschueren P, De Cock D, Corluy L, Joos R, Langenaken C, Taelman V, Raeman F, Ravelingien I, Vandevyvere K, Lenaerts J, Geens E, Geusens P, Vanhoof J, Durnez A, Remans J, Vander Cruyssen B, Van Essche E, Sileghem A, De Brabanter G, Joly J, Meyfroidt S, Van der Elst K, Westhovens R. Methotrexate in combination with other DMARDs is not superior to methotrexate alone for remission induction with moderate-to-high-dose glucocorticoid bridging in early rheumatoid arthritis after 16 weeks of treatment: the CareRA trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015 Jan;74(1):27-34. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-205489. Epub 2014 Oct 30.
- Verschueren P, De Cock D, Corluy L, Joos R, Langenaken C, Taelman V, Raeman F, Ravelingien I, Vandevyvere K, Lenaerts J, Geens E, Geusens P, Vanhoof J, Durnez A, Remans J, Vander Cruyssen B, Van Essche E, Sileghem A, De Brabanter G, Joly J, Van der Elst K, Meyfroidt S, Westhovens R; CareRA study group. Patients lacking classical poor prognostic markers might also benefit from a step-down glucocorticoid bridging scheme in early rheumatoid arthritis: week 16 results from the randomized multicenter CareRA trial. Arthritis Res Ther. 2015 Apr 9;17(1):97. doi: 10.1186/s13075-015-0611-8.
- Verschueren P, De Cock D, Corluy L, Joos R, Langenaken C, Taelman V, Raeman F, Ravelingien I, Vandevyvere K, Lenaerts J, Geens E, Geusens P, Vanhoof J, Durnez A, Remans J, Vander Cruyssen B, Van Essche E, Sileghem A, De Brabanter G, Joly J, Meyfroidt S, Van der Elst K, Westhovens R. Effectiveness of methotrexate with step-down glucocorticoid remission induction (COBRA Slim) versus other intensive treatment strategies for early rheumatoid arthritis in a treat-to-target approach: 1-year results of CareRA, a randomised pragmatic open-label superiority trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Mar;76(3):511-520. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209212. Epub 2016 Jul 18.
- Pazmino S, Boonen A, De Cock D, Stouten V, Joly J, Bertrand D, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Short-term glucocorticoids reduce risk of chronic NSAID and analgesic use in early methotrexate-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients with favourable prognosis: subanalysis of the CareRA randomised controlled trial. RMD Open. 2021 May;7(2):e001615. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001615.
- Stouten V, Westhovens R, De Cock D, Van der Elst K, Pazmino S, Bertrand D, Joly J, Verschueren P. Having a co-morbidity predicts worse outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis despite intensive treatment: a post hoc evaluation of the pragmatic randomized controlled CareRA trial. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Aug 2;60(8):3699-3708. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa841.
- Pazmino S, Lovik A, Boonen A, De Cock D, Stouten V, Joly J, Bertrand D, Van der Elst K, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Does Including Pain, Fatigue, and Physical Function When Assessing Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Provide a Comprehensive Picture of Disease Burden? J Rheumatol. 2021 Feb;48(2):174-178. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.200758. Epub 2020 Nov 15.
- Pazmino S, Boonen A, Stouten V, De Cock D, Joly J, Van der Elst K, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Two-year cost-effectiveness of different COBRA-like intensive remission induction schemes in early rheumatoid arthritis: a piggyback study on the pragmatic randomised controlled CareRA trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 May;79(5):556-565. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216874. Epub 2020 Apr 2.
- Stouten V, Michiels S, Westhovens R, De Cock D, Belba A, Pazmino S, Van der Elst K, Joly J, Verschueren P. Effectiveness of maintenance therapy with methotrexate compared with leflunomide for patients with RA having achieved disease control with both these drugs: results of a predefined sub-analysis of CareRA, a pragmatic RCT. Clin Rheumatol. 2020 Sep;39(9):2593-2601. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05008-4. Epub 2020 Mar 12.
- Stouten V, Westhovens R, Pazmino S, De Cock D, Van der Elst K, Joly J, Verschueren P; CareRA study group. Effectiveness of different combinations of DMARDs and glucocorticoid bridging in early rheumatoid arthritis: two-year results of CareRA. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2019 Dec 1;58(12):2284-2294. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kez213.
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start
Primary Completion (Actual)
Study Completion (Actual)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Estimate)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
- Immune System Diseases
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Joint Diseases
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
- Rheumatic Diseases
- Connective Tissue Diseases
- Arthritis
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
- Physiological Effects of Drugs
- Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
- Anti-Infective Agents
- Peripheral Nervous System Agents
- Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
- Enzyme Inhibitors
- Analgesics
- Sensory System Agents
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
- Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Antirheumatic Agents
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
- Antimetabolites
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Immunosuppressive Agents
- Immunologic Factors
- Gastrointestinal Agents
- Glucocorticoids
- Hormones
- Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists
- Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
- Dermatologic Agents
- Reproductive Control Agents
- Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
- Abortifacient Agents
- Folic Acid Antagonists
- Prednisone
- Methotrexate
- Leflunomide
- Sulfasalazine
Other Study ID Numbers
- CareRA
- 2008-007225-39 (EudraCT Number)
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
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