With the discovery of autoantibodies and other risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), researchers developed clinical trials to see whether the disease can be prevented entirely. In the past 10 years, a number of these trials have concluded, with variable results.
While some trials demonstrated no effect at all, others showed that medical intervention can delay the onset of disease in certain populations and even reduce the rates of progression to RA. These completed trials also offer researchers the chance to identify opportunities to improve RA prevention trials moving forward.
“We’re looking at all that data and trying to figure out what the next step is going to be,” said Kevin Deane, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine and a rheumatologist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
Key lessons include the need for improved risk stratification tools and better understanding of RA pathogenesis, he said.
The Research So Far
All RA prevention trials except for one have been completed and/or published within the past decade, bringing valuable insights to the field. (See chart below)
| Trial | Study population | N | Intervention vs placebo | Follow-up after intervention | Endpoint | Results |
| StopRA | ACPA+ individuals | 142 | Hydroxychloroquine 200-400 mg/d over 12 months |
