best study: patient characteristics

BeSt Study: Patient Characteristics

Total Population 508Female 67%Male 33%Age (years) 54Duration of symptoms (weeks) 23Time diagnosis – inclusion (weeks) 2DAS 44 4.4RF-positive 65%With erosion 72%Sharp/vdHeijde score 4

Adapted from Goekoop-Ruiterman et al. Arthritis Rheum 2005;52(11):3381-90.

Remission Rates for Patients on Initial Methotrexate/Infliximab Treatment for Early RA

Adapted from: 1. Allaart et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2006;24:S77-S82. 2. Van der Kooij et al. ACR 2006, abstract 658. 3. Van der Kooij et al. EULAR 2007, abstract THU0215. 4. Klarenbeek et al. EULAR 2008, abstract THU0162.

DAS Results for Initial vs. Delayed Treatment with IFX + MTX at 2-year follow-up

Adapted from van der Kooij et al. EULAR 2007, abstract OP0010.

P<0.001

P=0.005

Delayed: Early RA patients started combination IFX + MTX therapy after failing DMARDs

25

56

18

28

15

5

0

20

40

60

80

100

% failed on IFX + MTX

Initial IFX + MTX (n=120)Delayed IFX+ MTX (n=86)

% stopped IFX and still DAS <2.4

% stopped IFX and still DAS <1.6

IFX = infliximab MTX = methotrexate

CR

P (

mg

/dL

)

Infliximab 3 mg/kg q 8 + MTX (N=10)

MTX alone (N=10)

Comparative Reduction in CRP Levels

Adapted from Quinn et al. Arthritis Rheum 2005;52:27-35.

0

10

20

30

40

50

Weeks

0 2 6 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 78 104

= Infliximab/placebo infusions

0 to 54 weeks CRP AUC (P<0.05)

Infliximab-free period

BeSt Safety Results

Sequential monotherapy

Step-up

combination

Initial

combination with prednisone

Initial combination

with infliximab

1 adverse event (% of pts) 43% 47% 37% 39%

No. of adverse events 54 57 49 50

Gastrointestinal symptoms 16% 15% 8% 11%

Rash/mild dermal or mucosal events

10% 12% 9% 6%

Infections 4% 7% 8% 8%

Cardiovascular events 2% 2% 6% 2%

No. of serious adverse events 8 9 17 6

Adapted from Goedkoop-Ruiterman et al. Arthritis Rheum 2005;52:3381-90.