Adalimumab in combination with methotrexate for refractory uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a RCT



Ramanan, Athimalaipet V, Dick, Andrew D, Jones, Ashley P, Hughes, Dyfrig A ORCID: 0000-0001-8247-7459, McKay, Andrew ORCID: 0000-0003-1312-8911, Rosala-Halas, Anna, Williamson, Paul R ORCID: 0000-0001-9802-6636, Hardwick, Ben, Hickey, Helen ORCID: 0000-0003-0467-0362, Rainford, Naomi ORCID: 0000-0002-5876-3946
et al (show 10 more authors) (2019) Adalimumab in combination with methotrexate for refractory uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a RCT. HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT, 23 (15). pp. 1-139.

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Abstract

Abstract Background Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are at risk of uveitis. The role of adalimumab (Humira®; AbbVie Inc., Ludwigshafen, Germany) in the management of uveitis in children needs to be determined. Objective To compare the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of adalimumab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) versus placebo with MTX alone, with regard to controlling disease activity in refractory uveitis associated with JIA. Design This was a randomised (applying a ratio of 2 : 1 in favour of adalimumab), double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre parallel-group trial with an integrated economic evaluation. A central web-based system used computer-generated tables to allocate treatments. A cost–utility analysis based on visual acuity was conducted and a 10-year extrapolation by Markov modelling was also carried out. Setting The setting was tertiary care centres throughout the UK. Participants Patients aged 2–18 years inclusive, with persistently active JIA-associated uveitis (despite optimised MTX treatment for at least 12 weeks). Interventions All participants received a stable dose of MTX and either adalimumab (20 mg/0.8 ml for patients weighing < 30 kg or 40 mg/0.8 ml for patients weighing ≥ 30 kg by subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks based on body weight) or a placebo (0.8 ml as appropriate according to body weight by subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks) for up to 18 months. A follow-up appointment was arranged at 6 months. Main outcome measures Primary outcome – time to treatment failure [multicomponent score as defined by set criteria based on the Standardisation of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) criteria]. Economic outcome – incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained from the perspective of the NHS in England and Personal Social Services providers. Full details of secondary outcomes are provided in the study protocol. Results A total of 90 participants were randomised (adalimumab, n = 60; placebo, n = 30). There were 14 (23%) treatment failures in the adalimumab group and 17 (57%) in the placebo group. The analysis of the data from the double-blind phase of the trial showed that the hazard risk (HR) of treatment failure was significantly reduced, by 75%, for participants in the adalimumab group (HR 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.51; p < 0.0001 from log-rank test). The cost-effectiveness of adalimumab plus MTX was £129,025 per QALY gained. Adalimumab-treated participants had a much higher incidence of adverse and serious adverse events. Conclusions Adalimumab in combination with MTX is safe and effective in the management of JIA-associated uveitis. However, the likelihood of cost-effectiveness is < 1% at the £30,000-per-QALY threshold. Future work A clinical trial is required to define the most effective time to stop therapy. Prognostic biomarkers of early and complete response should also be identified.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Humans, Uveitis, Methotrexate, Antirheumatic Agents, Drug Therapy, Combination, Double-Blind Method, Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Female, Male, Arthritis, Juvenile, Adalimumab, United Kingdom, Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 23 Apr 2019 08:52
Last Modified: 21 Aug 2023 18:06
DOI: 10.3310/hta23150
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3037908