Vol.22 No.6

Original Article

Recent trends in use of nonbiologic DMARDs and evaluation of their continuation rates in single and dual combination therapies in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Japan

Authors

Michihiro Ogasawara¹ , Michiaki Kageyama¹ , Makio Kusaoi¹ , Shin Onuma¹ , Takayuki Kon¹ , Fumio Sekiya¹ , Kaoru Sugimoto¹ , Ran Matsudaira¹ , Masakazu Matsushita¹ , Kurisu Tada¹ , Kazuo Kempe¹ , Ken Yamaji¹, Naoto Tamura¹, Yoshinari Takasaki¹

Received:

22 September 2011

Accepted:

23 January 2012

Published online:

17 February 2012

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Abstract

Objective We aim to examine changes in usage of nonbiologic, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and evaluate their continuation rates in Japan.
Methods We analyzed DMARD treatment data for 3,734 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from 1998 to 2009 at Juntendo Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. The DMARD usage rate per month was determined to evaluate RA treatment history in the last decade. We also evaluated continuation rates of nonbiologic DMARDs in single and combination therapies and number of nonbiologic DMARD combination therapies used in each patient.
Results We found that nonbiologic DMARD usage has dramatically changed in the last decade, with the most commonly used DMARD shifting from bucillamine to methotrexate (MTX).MTXshowed the highest continuation rate; however, much lower continuation rate was observed when used alone rather than in combination treatments. Further, MTX was also used in the highest number of different combination therapies for a particular patient.
Conclusions These findings indicate that single MTX treatment may be unable to keep patients in clinical remission or lower disease activity compared with several combination therapies. Recent change in permitted maximum dosage of MTX from 8 to 16 mg/week may improve its efficacy and continuation rate in treating Japanese RA patients.

Key words

Combination therapy - DMARD continuation rate - Japan - Monotherapy - Rheumatoid arthritis