Etanercept significantly slows radiographic progression of psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis: PRERA Trial

GERMANY: According to research that was recently published in the journal, Rheumatology and Therapy, mean radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was relatively low and the proportion of individuals without any progression was significantly greater among those treated with etanercept (ETN) when compared to the pre-ETN period.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are two conditions in which inflammation can result in joint damage. Radiographic progression is the ability of X-ray images to demonstrate if the disease worsens. Etanercept is a drug that affects the immune system of the body and can lessen joint inflammation.

The so-called silent progressors-radiographic changes that persist long after a patient achieves clinical remission-may occur in individuals taking conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic medications (csDMARDs), according to research findings.

In patients with RA or PsA receiving ETN for up to 36 months in outpatient care in Germany, the study evaluated radiographic progression.

The first prospective, non-interventional, multicenter study conducted in the real world was called the Prospective Evaluation of The RAdiographic Efficacy of Etanercept in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis or Psoriatic Arthritis (PRERA) experiment. The study's two phases involved up to 10 outpatient visits for eligible participants (phase 1: 7 visits every 3 months between baseline to month 18; phase 2: 3 visits every 6 months between month 18 and month 36). Phase 2 enrollment was not required. At baseline (Rx1), months 12–18 (Rx2), and months 30-36 (Rx3), radiographs of the hands and feet were taken. Pre-baseline radiographs (Rx0) from the past, if any were available, were also evaluated. Any changes in the modified total Sharp score (absolute and annualized) were the main result (mTSS). Changes in the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), the joint space narrowing score (JSN), and the erosion score (ES) were additional outcomes. There were recorded adverse events (AEs) as well as serious adverse events (SAEs).