Retrospective Evaluation of the Radiographic Efficacy of Conventional and Biologic Treatment

• Number of Participants Without Radiographic Progression [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) up to 48 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  An increase of 4 or more points in the Ratingen score was necessary to detect a difference in radiographic progression. Ratingen score range 0 = normal joint to 5 = >80% of the joint surface are destroyed. Total possible score based on 38 joints was 0 to 190; higher scores indicated greater joint destruction. A decrease of 4 (smallest detectable difference) or more points in total Ratingen score was considered a decrease in erosive damage.
• Number of Participants Without Erosions [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) up to 48 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Radiographic assessment of no erosions using Ratingen scoring categorized as score of 0=normal joint.
• Change From Baseline in Disease Activity Score Based on 28 Joints (DAS 28) [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) up to 48 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  DAS28 calculated from the number of swollen joints (SJC) and painful joints (PJC) using the 28 joints count, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (millimeters per hour [mm/hour]) and patient's global assessment (PGA) 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.
• Change From Baseline in Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) up to 48 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate measured as millimeters per hour (mm/h).
• Change From Baseline in C-reactive Protein (CRP) [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) up to 48 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  C-reactive protein measured as milligrams per liter (mg/l)
• Number of Participants With Change From Baseline in Rheumatoid Factor (RF) [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) up to 48 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Rheumatoid Factor measured as a titer and categorized as negative (<1:16 ratio) or positive. A ratio >1:16 indicates a higher level of RF.
• Number of Participants With Laboratory Result for Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide-autoantibody-test (CCP) [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) up to 48 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Cyclic citrullinated peptide-autoantibody-test measured as Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA units or EU) and categorized as negative (<20 EU) or positive (≥20 up to >60 EU).

This study involves review and analysis of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who where treated with either conventional DMARDs (Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs) or Biologics and have two existing, consecutive radiographs (x-ray images) of hand and feet taken as part of routine treatment monitoring within a time interval of 12 to 36 months.

200

• 1
  DMARDs
  Intervention: Drug: DMARDs or Biologics
• 2
  Biologics
  Intervention: Drug: DMARDs or Biologics

Inclusion Criteria:

• Secure diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
• Older than 18 years
• Two consecutive plain radiographs of the hands and feet with a time interval of 12 to 36 months are available. The radiographs are recorded 2003 or later and are in accordance with a defined X-ray protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients who receive Anakinra, Rituximab or Abatacept