Delayed anti-TNF therapy increases the risk of total knee replacement in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis
Ying-Chou Chen, Wen-Chan Chiu, Tien-Tsai Cheng, Han-Ming Lai, Shan-Fu Yu, Ben Yu-Jih Su, Chung-Yuan Hsu, Chi-Hua Ko & Jia-Feng ChenKnee
Background
This study evaluated the effect of early anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the subsequent risk of total knee replacement (TKR) surgery.
Methods
This retrospective observational study included a hospital-based cohort of 200 patients diagnosed with severe RA who received treatment with anti-TNF therapy between 2003 and 2014. Clinical parameters including age, sex, body mass index, and the time from the diagnosis of RA to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy were analyzed.
Results
Of the 200 enrolled patients, 84 underwent an early intervention (≤3 years from the diagnosis of RA to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy), and 116 underwent a late intervention(>3 years from the diagnosis of RA to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy). Five (6.0%) patients in the early intervention group underwent TKR compared to 31 (26.7%) in the late intervention group (p = 0.023). After adjusting for confounding factors, the late intervention group still had a significantly higher risk of TKR (p = 0.004; odds ratio, 5.572; 95% confidence interval, 1.933–16.062). Those receiving treatment including methotrexate had a lower risk of TKR (p = 0.004; odds ratio, 0.287; 95% confidence interval, 0.122–0.672).
Conclusions
Delayed initiation of anti-TNF therapy in the treatment of severe RA was associated with an increased risk of TKR surgery. Adding methotrexate treatment decreased the risk of future TKR.
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