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Uveitis Flares in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Reduced With Adalimumab: Presented at ACR

By Ed Susman

BOSTON, MA -- November 12, 2007 -- The incidence of uveitis flares -- a common visual complication in patients with ankylosing spondylitis -- was markedly reduced when patients were being treated with adalimumab. That's according to research presented here on November 8 at the 71st annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

While on treatment, the painful and disabling disorder flared about 7.4 times per 100 patient-years -- less than half the recorded 15 flares per 100 patient-years when the individuals with ankylosing spondylitis were not on the biologic drug.

"Uveitis is a fairly common and potentially serious complication of ankylosing spondylitis," said Martin Rudwaleit, MD, Rheumatology Consultant, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany. "This study is an example of the research needed to better understand this condition and the impact it has on these patients."

Dr. Rudwaleit headed the Review of safety and effectiveness witH Adalimumab in Patients with active ankylosing SpOnDYlitis (RHAPSODY) trial, which examined the effectiveness of adalimumab in treating ankylosing spondylitis. The trial recruited 1,250 patients, including 274 with a history of uveitis.

In the prospective, multinational, open-label trial, adult patients with active ankylosing spondylitis who had insufficient responses to prior nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy received open-label adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every other week for 12 weeks. Patients with symptomatic uveitis at baseline and/or in the previous year received the same regimen for a total of 20 weeks. Evaluations of treatment effects were measured at weeks 2, 6, 12, and week 20, if applicable.

The uveitis analysis measured the number of acute flares during treatment with adalimumab both for all patients in the trial and for patients with a history of uveitis.

Overall, 27 adverse events of uveitis were reported for 25 of the 1,250 patients. Two of the 25 patients experienced an attack of uveitis for the first time. In both patients, the general ankylosing spondylitis disease activity was high at the time of the anterior uveitis episode.

"Adalimumab had a substantial preventive effect on uveitis flares in patients with ankylosing spondylitis," said Dr. Rudwaleit, "even among the patients who had a history of uveitis."

The study was sponsored by Abbott.


[Presentation title: Adalimumab Reduces the Incidence of Uveitis Flares in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis. Abstract 578]

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