A Study of MabThera (Rituximab) in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Have Had an Inadequate Response to a Single Anti-TNF Inhibitor

The DAS28 consists of SJC and TJC measurements, the ESR in mm/hr, and the Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity (participant-rated RA assessment) with transformed scores ranging 0 to 10; higher scores indicated greater affectation due to disease activity). DAS28 ≤3.2 = low disease activity, DAS28 >3.2 to 5.1 = moderate to high disease activity.

The DAS28-based EULAR response criteria were used to measure individual responses as none, good, and moderate, depending on the extent of change from baseline and the level of disease activity reached. Good responders experienced a change from baseline of >1.2 with a DAS28 score ≤3.2 and moderate responders experienced a change from baseline >1.2 with DAS28 >3.2 to ≤5.1 or a change from baseline >0.6 to ≤1.2 with a DAS28 score of ≤5.1.

Percentage of participants with low disease activity defined as DAS28 ≤3.2 at follow-up Week 24. The DAS28 consists of SJC and TJC measurements, the ESR in mm/hr, and the Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity (participant rated arthritis activity assessment) with transformed scores ranging 0 to 10; higher scores indicated greater affectation due to disease activity).

Percentage of participants with remission defined as DAS28 <2.6 at follow-up Week 24. The DAS28 consists of SJC and TJC measurements, the ESR in mm/hr, and the Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity (participant rated arthritis activity assessment) with transformed scores ranging 0 to 10; higher scores indicated greater affectation due to disease activity). DAS28 ≤3.2 = low disease activity, DAS28 >3.2 to 5.1 = moderate to high disease activity.

Percentage of participants achieving a response by EULAR category, including 'moderate', 'good', or no response at follow-up Weeks 8, 16, and 24. The DAS28-based EULAR response criteria were used to measure individual response as none, good, and moderate, depending on the extent of change from baseline and the level of disease activity reached. Good responders had a change from baseline >1.2 with a DAS28 score ≤ 3.2; moderate responders had a change from baseline >1.2 with a DAS28 score of >3.2 to ≤5.1 or a change from baseline >0.6 to ≤1.2 with a DAS28 score of ≤5.1; non-responders had a change from baseline ≤0.6 or change from baseline >0.6 and ≤1.2 with a DAS28 score of >5.1.

The HAQ-DI score consists of questions referring to 8 categories: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and common daily activities. For each of the categories, participants reported the amount of difficulty they had in performing 2 or 3 specific sub-category items. The standard disability score was calculated from the 8 categories by dividing the sum of the individual categories by the number of categories answered, yielding a score from 0 (without any difficulty) to 3 (unable to do).

The FACIT fatigue scale is base on a 13-item questionnaire to assess the therapy-induced fatigue. Participants were requested to score each question on a scale ranging from 0 (best) to 4 (worst). The scoring system of the FACIT fatigue scale adds up to a total scale ranging from 0 (best) to 52 (worst). The assessment was originally developed for chronic illnesses and is now validated for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The questionnaire was provided in a German translation.

The SF-36 is a multi-purpose, short-form health survey with 36 questions. It yields an 8-scale profile of functional health and well-being scores (domains) as well as psychometrically based physical and mental health summary measures. The SF-36 taps 8 health concepts: physical functioning, bodily pain, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, emotional well-being, social functioning, vitality, and general health perceptions. The 8 scales are further summarized to 2 distinct higher-ordered clusters: the physical and mental composite t-scores (PCS and MCS). The range for all 8 domains as well as for the composite t-scores is from 0 to 100 with 100 as best possible health status and 0 as worst health status.

The SF-36 is a multi-purpose, short-form health survey with 36 questions. It yields an 8-scale profile of functional health and well-being scores (domains) as well as psychometrically based physical and mental health summary measures. The SF-36 taps 8 health concepts: physical functioning, bodily pain, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, emotional well-being, social functioning, vitality, and general health perceptions. The 8 scales are further summarized to two distinct higher-ordered clusters: the physical and mental composite t-scores (PCS and MCS). The range for all 8 domains as well as for the composite t-scores is from 0 to 100 with 100 as best possible health status and 0 as worst health status.

ACR20/50/70 response: ≥20%, ≥50%, or ≥70% improvement, respectively, in tender or swollen joint counts and ≥20%, ≥50%, or ≥70% improvement, respectively, in 3 of the following 5 criteria: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain, 4) participant assessment of functional disability via a HAQ-DI, and 5) C-reactive protein or ESR at each visit.

The 28 joints to be assessed for tenderness and swelling were shoulder, elbow, wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints 1-5, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints 1-5, and knee on both sides of the body. The sum of swollen joints, each, ranged from 0 to 28 with 0 as best possible health status and 28 as worst health status.

The 28 joints to be assessed for tenderness and swelling were shoulder, elbow, wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints 1-5, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints 1-5, and knee on both sides of the body. The sum of tender joints ranged from 0 to 28 with 0 as best possible health status and 28 as worst health status.

Physicians assessed the disease (RA) activity on a 100 mm horizontal VAS. The left-hand extreme of the line (0 mm) was described as "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right hand extreme (100 mm) as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity).

Participants were to assess the disease (RA) activity on a 100 mm horizontal VAS. The left-hand extreme of the line (0 mm) was described as "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right hand extreme (100 mm) as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity).

Participants were to assess their current level of pain on a 100 mm horizontal VAS. The left-hand extreme of the line (0 mm) was described as "no pain" and the right-hand (100 mm) as "unbearable pain".

Mean CRP as measured as an acute phase reactant by mg per deciliter (mg/dL) at screening, Days 1 and 15, and Weeks 8, 16, and 24.

Mean ESR, as an acute phase reactant, measured in mm/hr at screening, Days 1 and 15, and Weeks 8, 16, and 24.

Mean RF as measured by international unit per milliliter (IU/mL) at screening and Weeks 8, 16, and 24.