Rheumatoid Arthritis: Kent JD

Goldstein JL, Kivitz AJ, Verburg KM, Recker DP, Palmer RC, Kent JD. · University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. · Aliment Pharmacol Ther. · Pubmed #12848634 links to  free full text

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In long-term outcomes studies, cyclooxygenase COX-2 specific inhibitors spare COX-1 at supratherapeutic doses and therefore demonstrate improved gastrointestinal safety over nonspecific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, in clinical practice, anti-inflammatory drugs are often used for short-term treatment of pain. AIM: To compare the short-term upper gastrointestinal mucosal effects of naproxen with the new COX-2 specific inhibitor, valdecoxib, or placebo, in elderly subjects. METHODS: In this multicentre, double-blind, randomized, study, elderly subjects (65-76 years old), with a normal baseline esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), received oral valdecoxib (a supratherapeutic 40 mg b.d. dosage, n = 62), naproxen (500 mg b.d., n = 62), or placebo (n = 62) for 6.5 days. Upper gastrointestinal mucosal injury was evaluated post-treatment by EGD (day 7). RESULTS: Subjects receiving naproxen (11/60, 18%) had significantly more gastroduodenal ulcers post-treatment than those receiving placebo (2/61, 3%; P < 0.01) or valdecoxib (0/60, 0%; P < 0.001). A similar significant finding was observed for gastric ulcer rates. All treatments had similar adverse event rates and clinical laboratory findings. CONCLUSIONS: Valdecoxib, even at supratherapeutic doses, was associated with an ulcer rate significantly lower than naproxen but similar to placebo in healthy elderly subjects, despite the short duration of therapy (6.5 days). Naproxen and valdecoxib were as well tolerated as placebo.

Silverstein FE, Faich G, Goldstein JL, Simon LS, Pincus T, Whelton A, Makuch R, Eisen G, Agrawal NM, Stenson WF, Burr AM, Zhao WW, Kent JD, Lefkowith JB, Verburg KM, Geis GS. · Pharmacia Clinical Research and Development, 4901 Searle Pkwy, Bldg A3E, Skokie, IL 60077, USA. · JAMA. · Pubmed #10979111 links to  free full text

Abstract: CONTEXT: Conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with a spectrum of toxic effects, notably gastrointestinal (GI) effects, because of inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1. Whether COX-2-specific inhibitors are associated with fewer clinical GI toxic effects is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether celecoxib, a COX-2-specific inhibitor, is associated with a lower incidence of significant upper GI toxic effects and other adverse effects compared with conventional NSAIDs. DESIGN: The Celecoxib Long-term Arthritis Safety Study (CLASS), a double-blind, randomized controlled trial conducted from September 1998 to March 2000. SETTING: Three hundred eighty-six clinical sites in the United States and Canada. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8059 patients (>/=18 years old) with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were enrolled in the study, and 7968 received at least 1 dose of study drug. A total of 4573 patients (57%) received treatment for 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive celecoxib, 400 mg twice per day (2 and 4 times the maximum RA and OA dosages, respectively; n = 3987); ibuprofen, 800 mg 3 times per day (n = 1985); or diclofenac, 75 mg twice per day (n = 1996). Aspirin use for cardiovascular prophylaxis (</=325 mg/d) was permitted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of prospectively defined symptomatic upper GI ulcers and ulcer complications (bleeding, perforation, and obstruction) and other adverse effects during the 6-month treatment period. RESULTS: For all patients, the annualized incidence rates of upper GI ulcer complications alone and combined with symptomatic ulcers for celecoxib vs NSAIDs were 0.76% vs 1.45% (P =.09) and 2. 08% vs 3.54% (P =.02), respectively. For patients not taking aspirin, the annualized incidence rates of upper GI ulcer complications alone and combined with symptomatic ulcers for celecoxib vs NSAIDs were 0.44% vs 1.27% (P =.04) and 1.40% vs 2.91% (P =.02). For patients taking aspirin, the annualized incidence rates of upper GI ulcer complications alone and combined with symptomatic ulcers for celecoxib vs NSAIDs were 2.01% vs 2.12% (P =.92) and 4.70% vs 6.00% (P =.49). Fewer celecoxib-treated patients than NSAID-treated patients experienced chronic GI blood loss, GI intolerance, hepatotoxicity, or renal toxicity. No difference was noted in the incidence of cardiovascular events between celecoxib and NSAIDs, irrespective of aspirin use. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, celecoxib, at dosages greater than those indicated clinically, was associated with a lower incidence of symptomatic ulcers and ulcer complications combined, as well as other clinically important toxic effects, compared with NSAIDs at standard dosages. The decrease in upper GI toxicity was strongest among patients not taking aspirin concomitantly. JAMA. 2000;284:1247-1255

Schiff MH, Burmester GR, Kent JD, Pangan AL, Kupper H, Fitzpatrick SB, Donovan C. · Clinical Research, Denver Arthritis Clinic, 200 Spruce Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80230, USA, and Department of Rheumatology, Charité Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. · Ann Rheum Dis. · Pubmed #16439435 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety of adalimumab in global clinical trials and postmarketing surveillance among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Safety data for adalimumab treated patients from randomised controlled trials, open label extensions, and two phase IIIb open label trials were analysed. In addition, postmarketing spontaneous reports of adverse events in the United States were collected following Food and Drug Administration approval of adalimumab on 31 December 2002. RESULTS: As of 15 April 2005, the RA clinical trial safety database analysed covered 10,050 patients, representing 12,506 patient-years (PYs) of adalimumab exposure. The rate of serious infections, 5.1/100 PYs, was comparable to that reported on 31 August 2002 (4.9/100 PYs), and to published reports of RA populations naive to anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Following implementation of tuberculosis (TB) screening in clinical trials, the rate of TB decreased. There were 34 cases of TB as of this analysis (0.27/100 PYs). The standardised incidence ratio for lymphoma was 3.19 (95% CI 1.78 to 5.26), consistent with the observed increased incidence in the general RA population. As of 30 June 2005, there were an estimated 78 522 PYs of exposure to adalimumab in the US postmarketing period. Seventeen TB cases were spontaneously reported (0.02/100 PYs) from the US. Rates of other postmarketing events of interest, such as congestive heart failure, systemic lupus erythematosus, opportunistic infections, blood dyscrasias, lymphomas, and demyelinating disease, support observations from clinical trials. CONCLUSION: Analyses of these data demonstrate that long term adalimumab treatment is generally safe and well tolerated in patients with RA.

Goldstein JL, Eisen GM, Agrawal N, Stenson WF, Kent JD, Verburg KM. · University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. · Aliment Pharmacol Ther. · Pubmed #15339324 links to  free full text

Abstract: AIM: In a predefined analysis, data were pooled from eight blinded, randomized, controlled trials, and separately from three long-term, open-label trials to determine the rate of upper gastrointestinal ulcer complications with the cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitor, valdecoxib, vs. non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. METHODS: In randomized, controlled trials, 7434 osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients received placebo (n = 973), valdecoxib 5-80 mg daily (n = 4362), or a non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (naproxen, ibuprofen or diclofenac; n = 2099) for 12-26 weeks. In long-term, open-label trials, 2871 patients received valdecoxib 10-80 mg daily for up to 1 year. All potential events were reviewed by a blinded, independent review committee based on a priori definitions of ulcer complications (perforations, obstructions, bleeds). RESULTS: In randomized, controlled trials, 19 of 955 potential events were adjudicated to be ulcer complications. Valdecoxib was associated with a significantly lower ulcer complication rate than non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (0.68% vs. 1.96%, all patients; 0.29% vs. 2.08%, non-aspirin users; P < 0.05). In long-term, open-label trials, seven of 310 potential events were adjudicated to be ulcer complications; the annualized incidence for valdecoxib was 0.39% (seven of 1791 patient-years) for all patients and 0.2% (three of 1472 patient-years) for non-aspirin users. CONCLUSIONS: Valdecoxib, including above recommended doses, is associated with a significantly lower rate of upper gastrointestinal ulcer complications than therapeutic doses of non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.