Repair of joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis does not relate to previous suppression of inflammation: a subanalysis after 8 years treat-to-target in the BeSt-trial.

Objectives: To investigate whether repair of erosions and joint space narrowing (JSN) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs and whether clinical variables predict this.

Methods: Eight-year follow-up data of the BeSt-study were used. Patients with recent onset RA (1987 criteria) were randomised to four treatment strategies and treated-to-target (Disease Activity Score (DAS)≤2.

Favourable effect of a 'second hit' after 13 weeks in early RA non-responders: the Amsterdam COBRA treat-to-target randomized trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of treat-to-target combination therapy with intensification at 13 weeks in early RA.

Methods: Early RA patients were classified as being at high or low risk of worsening RA based on disease activity and prognostic factors. High-risk patients received COBRA-light (prednisolone 30 mg/day tapered to 7.

Long-term effects on bone mineral density after four years of treatment with two intensive combination strategies, including initially high-dose prednisolone, in early rheumatoid arthritis patients: the COBRA-light trial.

Unlabelled: In this study, no difference in bone loss was observed between patients with early RA initially treated with COmbinatietherapie Bij Reumatoide Artritis (COBRA) (including initially 60 mg/day prednisolone) and patients treated with COBRA-light (including initially 30 mg/day prednisolone) during 4-year observation.

Purpose: To assess changes in bone mineral density (BMD) after 4 years in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients initially treated with COBRA-light or COBRA therapy.

Methods: In a 1 year, open-label, randomised, non-inferiority trial, patients were assigned to COBRA-light (methotrexate 25 mg/week plus initially prednisolone 30 mg/day) or COBRA (methotrexate 7.

Earlier is better when treating rheumatoid arthritis: but can we detect a window of opportunity?

Objectives: The window of opportunity (WOO) hypothesis suggests a limited time frame to stop rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We hypothesised that a WOO could either be represented by a hyperbolic ('curved') decline in the chance to achieve the outcome sustained drug-free remission (sDFR) over time, after which achieving sDFR is not possible anymore, or by a more gradual linear decline approaching zero chance to achieve sDFR.

Methods: Patients with RA (symptom duration <2 years) were included from two randomised trials: BehandelStrategieën (BeSt), n=508 and Induction therapy with Methotrexate and Prednisone in Rheumatoid Or Very Early arthritic Disease (IMPROVED), n=479.

High-grade Glioma - A decade of care in Christchurch.

Introduction: High-grade glioma (HGG) is a devastating illness. Our study aimed to investigate outcomes for patients with HGG treated in Christchurch focussing particularly on those diagnosed with glioblastoma mulitforme (GBM); compare GBM survival with international standards; examine factors associated with better prognosis; and assess the involvement of various allied health disciplines.

Methods: A 10-year retrospective study of patients who were diagnosed and treated for HGG at Christchurch Hospital.