Ultrasound-based withdrawal of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis (RA-BioStop)
- terminated early due to insufficient recruitment
Authors' conclusion
The primary endpoint was not reached.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in persistent ACR/EULAR remission on csDMARDs plus biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARDs), after stopping the bDMARD110 planned
- Participants
- 38 patients
- Exposure
- Power Doppler (PD) score≥1 vs PD=0 at baseline for prediction of relapse after bDMARD discontinuation
- PD score≥1n = 30
- PD=0n = 7reference
- Outcome
- PD score≥1 at baseline predicting relapse within week 16 after bDMARD cessation
- Follow-up
- Week 16
Methodological detailsultrasound blinded to clinical data, Terminated after 38 (34.5%) of 110 planned patients due to insufficient recruitment
- Ultrasound blinded to clinical data
- Terminated after 38 (34.5%) of 110 planned patients due to insufficient recruitment
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Relapse
P = 0.160
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Relapse | Remission | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline PD score, relapse until week 16 vs remained in remissionTrend | 5.2 ± 5.8 | 2.3 ± 3.0 | P = 0.079 |
Relapse at weeks 24 and 52
- Similar observations as at week 16
PD score at relapse vs preceding visits
- Mean PD score difference, higher at relapse (±4.5 points; p=0.034)
- 3.2
Original publication
Ultrasound-based withdrawal of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis (RA-BioStop). RMD Open. Published 7 August 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →