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EULAR 2016
European League Against Rheumatism
Annual Congress
London, United Kingdom, 8-11 June 2016
BLOOD TEST MAY HELP PREDICT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
TREATMENT RESPONSE
Important step towards introduction of personalised medicine in rheumatology
London, United Kingdom, 9 June 2016: The results of a study presented today at the European
League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress (EULAR 2016) showed that the presence of an
antibody (anti-CPP*) in the bloodstream of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) correlates with
response to different drug treatments.1 This finding is another important step towards the introduction
of personalised medicine in rheumatology, which is already having a major impact in cancer
treatment.
Being positive for the anti-CCP antibody was associated with a better response to the T cell costimulation blocker abatacept however, this antibody status was not correlated with the effectiveness
of a tumour necrosis factor-inhibitor (TNFi).
Anti-CCP positive patients have a more severe form of disease; some studies have shown that both
anti-CCP and RF antibodies are independent predictors of disease progression seen on X-rays,
others have suggested only anti-CCP antibodies are an independent predictor. 2 In addition, these
antibody-positive patients have been shown to benefit less from treatment with a combination of nonbiological DMARDs† and steroids than anti-CCP antibody-negative patients.2
“These findings are exciting as anti-CCP antibodies are a marker of disease severity and detectable
early in the course of the disease. A better understanding of the relationship between anti-CCP
antibodies and treatment response has the potential to advance patient care,” said Dr Leslie R.
Harrold of the University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, US and Corrona, LLC Southborough, MA,
US. “Specifically, patients with RA can spend years trying different treatments until their disease is
properly controlled. Therefore, identifying subsets of patients likely to respond to a specific drug or
class of drugs is so critical,” she explained.
*
†
Anti-CPP: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide
DMARDS – disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
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“Our findings have shown that the effects of TNF inhibitors are not dependent on the ACPA antibody
status. However, the outcomes of patients receiving the T cell co-stimulation modulator abatacept
were dependent on ACPA status with better responses observed in those who were positive for antiCCP antibodies, compared to those who didn’t have these antibodies,” Dr Harrold concluded.
This study evaluated the impact of anti-CCP and RF antibodies on treatment response separately in
patients initiating abatacept or TNFi. For the 566 patients who initiated abatacept, double positive
status was associated with a significantly greater response compared with double negative status on
all outcomes (disease activity measures and achievement of remission). Additionally, single positive
status was associated with a greater likelihood of remission as compared with double negative status
for abatacept users. Conversely, there were no significant differences in responses between antiCCP/RF groups in the 1,715 TNFi users. When the study team investigated the relationship with antiCCP and RF separately, the responses shown were driven by seropositivity to anti-CCP antibodies
alone and that RF was not an independent factor influencing response.
The investigators concluded that the differential effect of anti-CCP antibody status on treatment
response may be due to differences in the mechanism of action between the treatment agents.
Abstract Number: OP0178
-ENDSNOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information on this study, or to request an interview with the study lead, please do
not hesitate to contact the EULAR congress Press Office in the London Suite at ExCel London
during EULAR 2016 or on:
Email: eularpressoffice@cohnwolfe.com
Onsite tel: +44 (0) 7725 915 492 / +44 (0) 7786 171 476
Twitter: @EULAR_Press
Youtube: Eular Pressoffice
About EULAR
The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) is an umbrella organisation which represents
scientific societies, health professional associations and organisations for people with Rheumatic
Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMD) throughout Europe.
EULAR aims to promote, stimulate and support the research, prevention, and treatment of RMD and
the rehabilitation of those it affects.
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EULAR underlines the importance of combating rheumatic diseases not only by medical means, but
also through a wider context of care for rheumatic patients and a thorough understanding of their social
and other needs. EULAR is supported in this mission by its 45 scientific member societies, 36 PARE
(People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe) organisations, 22 HPR (Health Professionals in
Rheumatology) associations and 23 corporate members.
The EULAR Annual European Congress of Rheumatology is the foremost international medical
meeting announcing the latest research on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. EULAR 2016 is
expected to attract over 14,000 delegates from around 120 countries. Most if not all professions
working in the vast field of RMD will be represented.
To find out more about the activities of EULAR, visit: www.eular.org
References
1
EULAR 2016; London: Abstract OP0178
Farragher TM, Lunt M, Plant D, et al. Benefit of early treatment in inflammatory polyarthritis patients
with anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies versus those without antibodies. Arthritis Care &
Research. 2010; 62(5): 664-675. doi:10.1002/acr.20207
2