Abatacept effectively reduces rheumatoid arthritis development in high risk patients, reveals research

A recent study by Maheen Asif and team unveiled great outcome of abatacept in delaying the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in high-risk individuals when used in conjunction with other treatments. The findings of this study were published in the recent issue of the Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism journal. Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease that affects around 0.5–1% of people worldwide. While onset can occur at any age, it usually occurs between 40 and 50 years of age. This is a systemic disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the joints that deteriorates bone and cartilage, limits everyday function, and raises the chance of mortality.

Long-term immunomodulatory drug administration is often required for the treatment of RA, and these treatments are often started after the beginning of clinical arthritis, which is characterized by swelling of painful joints. Not every patient will benefit from therapy, even if some may have remission. One biological DMARD that has been utilized to treat rheumatoid arthritis is called abatacept. Thus, the purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of abatacept in pre-clinical RA patients who are at high risk of developing the disease.

3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 367 individuals are included in the analysis. This study adhered to the guidelines provided in the PRISMA statement and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. According to the meta-analysis, abatacept improved the painful joint count and significantly decreased the probability of getting RA when compared to a placebo.

Furthermore, abatacept showed a noteworthy decrease in functional impairment. Also, there was no discernible variation in pain alleviation. A safety comparison between abatacept and the placebo groups did not show any statistically significant differences in the incidence of infections, cancer, or discontinuations owing to adverse events. Overall, this meta-analysis of the effectiveness and safety of abatacept in pre-clinical RA supports the use of abatacept as a feasible treatment option, as demonstrated by a delay in the onset of RA, fewer painful joints, and a beneficial impact on functional impairment and pain.

Source:

Asif, M., Asif, A., Rahman, U. A., Haseeb, A., Jafar, U., & Farooq, H. (2024). Efficacy and safety of abatacept in preclinical rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. In Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (p. 152562). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152562