Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Rheumatology
Tocilizumab In Early Progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis: Function, A Randomised Controlled Trial, Gerd R. Burmester, William F. Rigby, Ronald F. Van Vollenhoven, Jonathan Kay, Andrea Rubbert-Roth, Ariella Kelman, Sophie Dimonaco, Nina Mitchell
Tocilizumab In Early Progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis: Function, A Randomised Controlled Trial, Gerd R. Burmester, William F. Rigby, Ronald F. Van Vollenhoven, Jonathan Kay, Andrea Rubbert-Roth, Ariella Kelman, Sophie Dimonaco, Nina Mitchell
Jonathan Kay
OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ), an anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, has not previously been evaluated in a population consisting exclusively of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: In a double-blind randomised controlled trial (FUNCTION), 1162 methotrexate (MTX)-naive patients with early progressive RA were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to one of four treatment groups: 4 mg/kg TCZ+MTX, 8 mg/kg TCZ+MTX, 8 mg/kg TCZ+placebo and placebo+MTX (comparator group). The primary outcome was remission according to Disease Activity Score using 28 joints (DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) < 2.6) at week 24. Radiographic and physical function outcomes were also evaluated. We report results through week …