A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Re-treatments With Rituximab in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Have Had an Inadequate Response to Anti-tnfa Therapies

The DAS28 is an index for measuring disease activity in rheumatic arthritis and includes swollen and tender joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and general health (GH) status. The index is calculated with the following formula: DAS28 = (0.56 × √(TJC28)) + (0.28 × √(SJC28)) + (0.7 × log(ESR)) + (0.014 × GH), where TJC28 = tender joint count and SJC28 = swollen joint count, each on 28 joints. GH = a patient's global assessment of disease activity in the previous 24 hours on a 100 mm visual analog scale (left end = no disease activity [symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms], right end = maximum disease activity [maximum arthritis disease activity]). When ESR equaled 0 mm/hr, it was set to 1 mm/hr. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where a higher score represents higher disease activity. A negative change score indicates improvement. The first retreatment may have occurred in the precursor study WA17042.

The DAS28 is an index for measuring disease activity in rheumatic arthritis and includes swollen and tender joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and general health (GH) status. The index is calculated with the following formula: DAS28 = (0.56 × √(TJC28)) + (0.28 × √(SJC28)) + (0.7 × log(ESR)) + (0.014 × GH), where TJC28 = tender joint count and SJC28 = swollen joint count, each on 28 joints. GH = a patient's global assessment of disease activity in the previous 24 hours on a 100 mm visual analog scale (left end = no disease activity [symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms], right end = maximum disease activity [maximum arthritis disease activity]). When ESR equaled 0 mm/hr, it was set to 1 mm/hr. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores represent higher disease activity. Low disease activity was defined as a DAS28 score ≤ 3.2. DAS28 remission was defined as a DAS28 score < 2.6. The first retreatment may have occurred in the precursor study WA17042.

Change of the Disease Activity Score 28 score from baseline was used to determine EULAR responses of good, moderate, or no response. For a post-baseline score ≤ 3.2, a change from baseline of < -1.2 was a good response, < -0.6 to ≥ -1.2 was a moderate response, and ≥ -0.6 was no response. For a post-baseline score > 3.2 to ≤ 5.1, a change from baseline of < -0.6 was a moderate response and ≥ -0.6 was no response. For a post-baseline score > 5.1, a change from baseline < -1.2 was a moderate response and ≥ -1.2 was no response. A good response could not be achieved for post-baseline scores > 3.2. The first retreatment may have occurred in the precursor study WA17042.

The ACRn response was defined as each participant's least favorable percentage change from Baseline in 3 measures, tender joint count, swollen joint count (28 assessed joints), and improvement score achieved in at least 3 of the 5 remaining ACR parameters: Separate patient and physician assessments of patient disease activity in the previous 24 hours on a visual analog scale (VAS, left end=no disease activity, right end=maximum disease activity; patient assessment of pain in previous 24 hours on a VAS (left end=no pain, right end=unbearable pain); Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (20 questions, 8 components, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do); and acute-phase reactant (either C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate). A higher change percentage indicates greater improvement from Baseline. The ACRn response was compared to Baseline in the precursor study WA17042. The first retreatment may have occurred in the precursor study WA17042.

The HAQ-DI is a questionnaire specific for rheumatoid arthritis and consists of 20 questions referring to 8 domains: Dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities. Participants completed the questionnaire by answering the 20 questions on a scale of 0 (without difficulty) to 3 (unable to do). The total score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 3 (completely disabled). A negative change score indicates improvement.

The SF-36 Health Survey uses patient-reported symptoms on 8 subscales to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The Physical Component Summary (PCS) score summarizes the subscales Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, and General Health. The Mental Component Summary (MCS) score summarizes the subscales Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, and Mental Health. Each score was scaled from 0 to 100 with a higher score indicating better HRQoL. A positive change score indicates an improvement in HRQoL.

The FACIT-F is a 13-item participant self-reporting questionnaire that assesses fatigue over the previous 7 days by scoring each item on a 5-point scale (0=Not at all, 1=A little bit, 2=Somewhat, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much). An overall FACIT-F score was obtained by summing the scores of all 13 items. The overall score ranged from 0 to 52. A lower score indicates less fatigue. A negative change score indicates improvement.

Radiographic progression was defined as a change of ≤ 0 in the total Genant-modified Sharp score. The Genant-modified Sharp scoring system assesses structural damage due to rheumatoid arthritis in radiographs. A score for erosions of 0-3.5 (8 gradations) is assigned for 14 joints in each hand and wrist, and 6 joints in each foot. Joint space narrowing scores of 0-4 (9 gradations) are assigned to 13 joints in each hand and 6 joints in each foot. The maximum erosion score is 40 x 3.5 = 140. The maximum joint space narrowing score is 38 x 4.0 = 152. Both the erosion and joint space narrowing scores are normalized to 145 and are added together for a maximum total Genant-modified Sharp score of 290; the minimum score is 0. A higher score indicates more damage. Data is reported for 2 groups.

The Genant-modified Sharp scoring system assesses structural damage due to rheumatoid arthritis in radiographs. A score for erosions of 0-3.5 (8 gradations) is assigned for 14 joints in each hand and wrist, and 6 joints in each foot. Joint space narrowing scores of 0-4 (9 gradations) are assigned to 13 joints in each hand and 6 joints in each foot. The maximum erosion score is 40 x 3.5 = 140. The maximum joint space narrowing score is 38 x 4.0 = 152. Both the erosion and joint space narrowing scores are normalized to 145 and are added together for a maximum total Genant-modified Sharp score of 290; the minimum score is 0. A higher score indicates more damage. A negative change score indicates improvement. Data is reported for 2 groups.

The Genant-modified Sharp scoring system assesses structural damage due to rheumatoid arthritis in radiographs. A score for erosions of 0-3.5 (8 gradations) is assigned for 14 joints in each hand and wrist, and 6 joints in each foot. The maximum erosion score is 40 x 3.5 = 140 which is normalized to 145. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 145. A higher score indicates more damage. A negative change score indicates improvement. Data is reported for 2 groups.

The Genant-modified Sharp scoring system assesses structural damage due to rheumatoid arthritis in radiographs. A score joint space narrowing of 0-4 (9 gradations) is assigned to 13 joints in each hand and 6 joints in each foot. The maximum joint space narrowing score is 38 x 4.0 = 152 which is normalized to a score of 145. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 145. A higher score indicates more damage. A negative change score indicates improvement. Data is reported for 2 groups.

The HAQ-DI is a questionnaire specific for rheumatoid arthritis and consists of 20 questions referring to 8 domains: Dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities. Participants completed the questionnaire by answering the 20 questions on a scale of 0 (without difficulty) to 3 (unable to do). The total score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 3 (completely disabled). A negative change score indicates improvement. Data is reported for 2 groups.