{"markup":"\u003C?xml version=\u00221.0\u0022 encoding=\u0022UTF-8\u0022 ?\u003E\n    \u003Chtml version=\u0022HTML+RDFa+MathML 1.1\u0022\n    xmlns:content=\u0022http:\/\/purl.org\/rss\/1.0\/modules\/content\/\u0022\n    xmlns:dc=\u0022http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/\u0022\n    xmlns:foaf=\u0022http:\/\/xmlns.com\/foaf\/0.1\/\u0022\n    xmlns:og=\u0022http:\/\/ogp.me\/ns#\u0022\n    xmlns:rdfs=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/01\/rdf-schema#\u0022\n    xmlns:sioc=\u0022http:\/\/rdfs.org\/sioc\/ns#\u0022\n    xmlns:sioct=\u0022http:\/\/rdfs.org\/sioc\/types#\u0022\n    xmlns:skos=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2004\/02\/skos\/core#\u0022\n    xmlns:xsd=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2001\/XMLSchema#\u0022\n    xmlns:mml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1998\/Math\/MathML\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Chead\u003E\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_itu2PgFdrjV-docKmLK8Jn5oXe_05RgvQh73eOhI_mE.js\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_at_symbol.js?nzo5tp\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_article_reference_popup.js?nzo5tp\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_I8yX6RYPZb7AtMcDUA3QKDZqVkvEn35ED11_1i7vVpc.js\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022\u003E\n\u003C!--\/\/--\u003E\u003C![CDATA[\/\/\u003E\u003C!--\n(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i[\u0022GoogleAnalyticsObject\u0022]=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,\u0022script\u0022,\u0022\/\/www.google-analytics.com\/analytics.js\u0022,\u0022ga\u0022);ga(\u0022create\u0022, \u0022UA-15605596-27\u0022, {\u0022cookieDomain\u0022:\u0022auto\u0022});ga(\u0022set\u0022, \u0022page\u0022, location.pathname + location.search + location.hash);ga(\u0022send\u0022, \u0022pageview\u0022);ga(\u0027create\u0027, \u0027UA-189672-26\u0027, \u0027auto\u0027, {\u0027name\u0027: \u0027hwTracker\u0027});\r\nga(\u0027hwTracker.send\u0027, \u0027pageview\u0027);\n\/\/--\u003E\u003C!]]\u003E\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022\u003E\n\u003C!--\/\/--\u003E\u003C![CDATA[\/\/\u003E\u003C!--\njQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {\u0022basePath\u0022:\u0022\\\/\u0022,\u0022pathPrefix\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022highwire\u0022:{\u0022markup\u0022:[{\u0022requested\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022variant\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022view\u0022:\u0022full\u0022,\u0022pisa\u0022:\u0022spmdc;13\\\/18\\\/14\u0022},{\u0022requested\u0022:\u0022long\u0022,\u0022variant\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022view\u0022:\u0022full\u0022,\u0022pisa\u0022:\u0022spmdc;13\\\/18\\\/14\u0022}],\u0022ac\u0022:{\u0022spmdc;13\\\/18\\\/14\u0022:{\u0022access\u0022:{\u0022reprint\u0022:true,\u0022full\u0022:true},\u0022pisa_id\u0022:\u0022spmdc;13\\\/18\\\/14\u0022,\u0022atom_uri\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022jcode\u0022:\u0022spmdc\u0022}}},\u0022googleanalytics\u0022:{\u0022trackOutbound\u0022:1,\u0022trackMailto\u0022:1,\u0022trackDownload\u0022:1,\u0022trackDownloadExtensions\u0022:\u00227z|aac|arc|arj|asf|asx|avi|bin|csv|doc(x|m)?|dot(x|m)?|exe|flv|gif|gz|gzip|hqx|jar|jpe?g|js|mp(2|3|4|e?g)|mov(ie)?|msi|msp|pdf|phps|png|ppt(x|m)?|pot(x|m)?|pps(x|m)?|ppam|sld(x|m)?|thmx|qtm?|ra(m|r)?|sea|sit|tar|tgz|torrent|txt|wav|wma|wmv|wpd|xls(x|m|b)?|xlt(x|m)|xlam|xml|z|zip\u0022,\u0022trackUrlFragments\u0022:1},\u0022ajaxPageState\u0022:{\u0022js\u0022:{\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/jquery.cluetip.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/lib\\\/jquery.hoverIntent.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/lib\\\/jquery.bgiframe.min.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/highwire\\\/highwire\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/highwire_at_symbol.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/highwire\\\/highwire\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/highwire_article_reference_popup.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/contrib\\\/google_analytics\\\/googleanalytics.js\u0022:1,\u00220\u0022:1}}});\n\/\/--\u003E\u003C!]]\u003E\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Clink type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/sites\/default\/files\/advagg_css\/css__ce2QY63WIanKyr8eSq7eavr1XQRRmFD6ZSmwpyJi8lM__zXwFqpqmxrZOXXcd_TpBQpjuELbmIP9wBR5UuTDWAO4__YJWWMMdfCJuAFm5cUEp88OsodhO3ZA-2lzRfoBsSlk4.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink rel=\u0027stylesheet\u0027 type=\u0027text\/css\u0027 href=\u0027\/sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/panels\/plugins\/layouts\/onecol\/onecol.css\u0027 \/\u003E\u003C\/head\u003E\u003Cbody\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panels-ajax-tab-panel panels-ajax-tab-panel-sageoa-tab-art\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-display panel-1col clearfix\u0022 \u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-panel panel-col\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-pane pane-highwire-markup\u0022 \u003E\n  \n      \n  \n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022pane-content\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-markup\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv xmlns=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022 id=\u0022content-block-markup\u0022 xmlns:xhtml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article fulltext-view \u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-start\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section abstract\u0022 id=\u0022abstract-1\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESummary\u003C\/h2\u003E\n            \u003Cp id=\u0022p-1\u0022\u003ETriple disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy is superior to methotrexate monotherapy on measures of disease activity as initial treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The design and results of the multicenter stratified single-blind Treatment in the Rotterdam Early Arthritis Cohort trial [tREACH] comparing treatment strategies, including different glucocorticoid bridging therapies, in adults with early RA are discussed in this article\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022kwd-group\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ERheumatology Clinical Trials\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ERheumatoid Arthritis\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022kwd-group clinical-trial\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ERheumatology Clinical Trials\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ERheumatology\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ERheumatoid Arthritis\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-2\u0022\u003ETriple disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy is superior to methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy on measures of disease activity as initial treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-3\u0022\u003EThe design and results of the multicenter stratified single-blind Treatment in the Rotterdam Early Arthritis Cohort trial [tREACH] comparing treatment strategies, including different glucocorticoid bridging therapies, in adults with early RA were discussed by Pascal H.P. de Jong, MD, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-4\u0022\u003EIn 2010, the European League Against Rheumatology recommended MTX monotherapy rather than a combination of DMARDs as an initial treatment strategy for RA [Smolen Js et al. \u003Cem\u003EAnn Rheum Dis\u003C\/em\u003E 2010], although several clinical trials concluded that initial combination therapy had superior clinical efficacy over monotherapy. The principal motive for disregarding combination therapy were the fact that trials were biased by glucocorticoids and there were safety concerns. There is also not much data on the optimal glucocorticoid dosage and\/or tapering scheme, noted Prof. de Jong.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-5\u0022\u003EThe tREACH trial compared three treat-to-target strategies in 281 adults who had a high probability of progressing to persistent arthritis based on the Visser prediction model. Interestingly, the Visser algorithm and 2010 criteria for RA have similar discriminative abilities to identify patients at risk of persistent arthritis. Patients were randomized to one of three strategies:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\n         \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022list-simple \u0022 id=\u0022list-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cli id=\u0022list-item-1\u0022\u003E\n               \u003Cp id=\u0022p-7\u0022\u003E\u25aa Arm A (n=91): Triple DMARD therapy (MTX, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine) with one-time administration of intramuscular glucocorticoids\u003C\/p\u003E\n            \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli id=\u0022list-item-2\u0022\u003E\n               \u003Cp id=\u0022p-8\u0022\u003E\u25aa Arm B (n=93): Triple DMARD therapy with an oral glucocorticoid tapering scheme, starting at 15 mg\/day\u003C\/p\u003E\n            \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli id=\u0022list-item-3\u0022\u003E\n               \u003Cp id=\u0022p-9\u0022\u003E\u25aa Arm C (n=97): MTX with oral glucocorticoids as in Arm B\u003C\/p\u003E\n            \u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\n      \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-10\u0022\u003EPatients were followed every 3 months, with treatment decisions designed to maintain a disease activity score (DAS) \u0026lt;2.4. In the event of treatment failure, defined as DAS \u22652.4, the medication regimen was intensified to include biologic agents. In cases of sustained remission, defined as DAS \u0026lt;1.6 at two consecutive visits, medication was tapered. The mean symptom duration of participants was 166 days and the mean DAS at baseline ranged from 3.28 to 3.40. Women comprised 68% of the study populationw.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-11\u0022\u003EThe difference in disease activity over time, as measured by area under the curve (AUC) for mean DAS score, was \u22122.39 in favor of the triple DMARD strategy (p=0.05; \u003Ca id=\u0022xref-fig-1-1\u0022 class=\u0022xref-fig\u0022 href=\u0022#F1\u0022\u003EFigure 1\u003C\/a\u003E). The largest difference in disease activity between groups occurred at 3 months indicating that treatment goals were achieved faster with triple DMARD therapy. The difference after 3 months diminished because of the treat-to-target approach in all groups, necessitating intensification of treatment in Arm C, explained Prof. de Jong. There was no difference on this outcome between the two glucocorticoid bridging strategies. Functional ability, as measured by the AUC for mean scores on the Health Assessment Questionnaire, was again superior with triple DMARD therapy versus MTX monotherapy (difference: 1.67; p=0.05), again with no difference on this measure between the two glucocorticoid strategies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\u0022F1\u0022 class=\u0022fig pos-float  odd\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-figure\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img-wrapper\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/13\/18\/14\/F1.large.jpg?width=800\u0026amp;height=600\u0026amp;carousel=1\u0022 title=\u0022Change in Disease Activity\u0022 class=\u0022fragment-images colorbox-load\u0022 rel=\u0022gallery-fragment-images-522721369\u0022 data-figure-caption=\u0022Change in Disease Activity\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022fragment-image\u0022 alt=\u0022Figure 1.\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/13\/18\/14\/F1.medium.gif\u0022\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022highwire-figure-links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00220 first\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/13\/18\/14\/F1.large.jpg?download=true\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-download\u0022 title=\u0022Download Figure 1.\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload figure\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/13\/18\/14\/F1.large.jpg\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-newtab\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EOpen in new tab\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00222 last\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/highwire\/powerpoint\/13834\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-ppt\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload powerpoint\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-caption attrib\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022fig-label\u0022\u003EFigure 1.\u003C\/span\u003E \n            \u003Cp id=\u0022p-12\u0022 class=\u0022first-child\u0022\u003EChange in Disease Activity\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-1\u0022\u003EAUC=area under the curve; DAS=disease activity score; GC=glucocorticoid;\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-2\u0022\u003EHCQ=hydroxychloroquine; im=intramuscular; iMM=initial MTX monotherapy;\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-3\u0022\u003EiTDT=initial triple disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy; MTX=methotrexate;\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-4\u0022\u003ESASP=sulfasalazine.\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-5\u0022\u003EReproduced with permission from PHP de Jong, MD.\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022sb-div caption-clear\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-13\u0022\u003ERadiographic progression after 1 year occurred in 19%, 23%, and 21% of patients in Arms A, B, and C, respectively.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-14\u0022\u003EAt 3 months, there were fewer treatment failures in the triple DMARD therapy groups, resulting in the prescription of \u223c40% fewer biological medications, and this difference remained over time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-15\u0022\u003EAt 12 months, use of biological medications was 29% in Arm A, 26% in Arm B, and 43% in Arm C. There were no differences between groups in serious adverse events and no difference in dosage adjustments per drug due to adverse events.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-16\u0022\u003EProf. de Jong concluded that treatment goals are attained faster and are maintained with the need for fewer biologic agents in RA patients started on triple DMARD therapy compared with MTX monotherapy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022copyright-statement\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022fn\u0022 id=\u0022copyright-statement-1\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2013 MD Conference Express\u00ae\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-end\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022related-urls\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/content\/13\/18\/14.abstract\u0022 class=\u0022hw-link hw-link-article-abstract\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EView Summary\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n  \n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_figures.js?nzo5tp\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_openurl.js?nzo5tp\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C\/body\u003E\u003C\/html\u003E"}