Treatment with Biologic Agents Improves the Prognosis of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Amyloidosis The Journal of Rheumatology, 05/16/2012

Kuroda T et al. – Patients with amyloidosis have a higher mortality rate, but the use of biologic agents can reduce risk of death. The use of biologics may not significantly influence the hemodialysis (HD)–free survival rate.

• One hundred thirty–three patients with an established diagnosis of reactive amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis participated in the study.
• Clinical data were assessed from patient records at the time of amyloid detection and administration of biologics.
• Survival was calculated from the date when amyloid was first demonstrated histologically or the date when biologic therapy was started until the time of death or to the end of 2010 for surviving patients.
• Patients who had started HD were selected for inclusion only after the presence of amyloid was demonstrated.

• Fifty–three patients were treated with biologic agents (biologic group) and 80 were not (nonbiologic group).
• Survival rate was significantly higher in the biologic group than in the nonbiologic group.
• Nine patients in the biologics group and 33 in the nonbiologic group started HD.
• Biologic therapy had a tendency for reduced risk of initiation of HD without any statistical significance.