Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that develops in some people who have the skin condition psoriasis. Affected joints become inflamed (swollen), stiff and painful. Drug treatments have been found to be effective but are expensive and may have serious side effects. Patients often ask to have drug treatments withdrawn or scaled down once their disease is stable. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of withdrawing versus continuing treatment in psoriatic arthritis patients.
Who can participate?
Patients with psoriatic arthritis presenting to rheumatology outpatient departments in Leeds, Bradford and York, who are in a stable low disease activity state.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to either withdraw treatment over 3 months or to continue treatment. Participants are reviewed in the clinic every 4 weeks to manage their treatment changes and monitor their response.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants in the withdrawal group will benefit from a controlled reduction in their current medication with the possibility of being drug-free at the end of the study. If their disease gets worse, the last removed medication will be re-introduced in a step-wise manner, with use of steroids if required. Participants in both groups will benefit from a 4-month intensive review of their disease.
Where is the study run from?
University of Leeds (UK).
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2012 to August 2013.
Who is funding the study?
Arthritis Research UK.
Who is the main contact?
Robin Waxman
r.waxman@leeds.ac.uk
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
V1 14/09/2011
Study information
Scientific title
REmoval of Treatment for patients in REmission in psoriatic ArThritis - Feasibility study [RETREAT(F)]: a randomised controlled feasibility study to compare withdrawal of therapy versus continuing therapy in low disease states in psoriatic arthritis
Acronym
RETREAT (F)
Study hypothesis
This feasibility study is designed to inform the sample size calculation for a full randomised controlled trial of treatment withdrawal in patients with psoriatic arthritis by assessing patient willingness to enter the trial, exploring barriers to recruitment, and determining the outcome of treatment withdrawal at 3 months. Participants will be randomized to treatment withdrawal or a control arm at a ratio of 2:1.
On 15/05/2013 the overall trial end date was changed from 31/08/2013 to 31/10/2013.
Ethics approval
Leeds Research Ethics Committee
Study design
Feasibility study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Psoriatic arthritis
Intervention
This feasibility study is designed to inform the sample size calculation for a full randomised controlled trial of treatment withdrawal in patients with psoriatic arthritis by assessing patient willingness to enter the trial, exploring barriers to recruitment, and determining the outcome of treatment withdrawal at 4 months. Patients presenting to rheumatology outpatient departments in Leeds, Bradford and York, who are in a stable low disease activity state, will be invited to participate in a short trial period of treatment withdrawal. Participants will be randomized to treatment withdrawal or a control arm at a ratio of 2:1.
Patients randomized to withdraw will undergo a phased withdrawal of medication where the last treatment added will be the first treatment withdrawn. Treatment will be withdrawn in a stepwise fashion phasing out and stopping over three months. Participants will be reviewed in clinic every 4 weeks to manage treatment changes and monitor withdrawal response using the Minimal Disease Activity criteria.
Intervention type
Drug
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
For this feasibility study we wish to know the proportion of eligible patients who are willing to undergo treatment withdrawal and the proportion remaining in minimal disease at the end of the study period. Within the three month treatment withdrawal period, a minimal disease activity (MDA) score of 5 or more (achievement of the minimal disease activity criteria) will be used to confirm continuing low disease activity.
Secondary outcome measures
Although no attempt will be made to stratify recruitment, relapse rate by drug withdrawn will be recorded. It is anticipated that the majority of patients will be taking TNF inhibitors at enrollment, but up to one third may be taking methotrexate alone.
Overall trial start date
03/09/2012
Overall trial end date
31/10/2013
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Patients must have a diagnosis of peripheral psoriatic arthritis of more than 12 months duration (according to CASPAR Criteria)
2. Patients must be in minimal disease activity (as defined by the validated MDA criteria) with physician indicated stability of disease for the six months preceding screening
3. Age > 18 years at time of commencing study, either male or female patients
4. Women of childbearing age must ensure adequate contraception for the duration of the study, including those who are randomised to the withdrawal arm, in case of need to re-treat if disease flare should occur
5. Men consenting to the trial should ensure adequate contraception for any sexual partner for the duration of the study
6. Patients must have adequate screening blood tests prior to randomisation including FBC, U&E and LFT
7. Patients must be able to adhere to the study timetable and protocol, and be able to sign an informed consent document
8. Patients must have been on a stable dose of TNF or DMARD for the six month period directly preceding screening
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
30
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Women who are pregnant, lactating or planning pregnancy within 6 months of last dose of protocol treatment
2. Use of any investigational medications or products within four weeks of randomisation
3. Change on DMARD or TNF dose in the six months prior to screening
Recruitment start date
01/12/2012
Recruitment end date
01/03/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Leeds
Leeds
LS7 4SA
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Leeds (UK)
Sponsor details
c/o Neville Young
The Research & Development Directorate
34 Hyde Terrace
Leeds
LS9 6LN
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
Arthritis Research UK
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Other non-profit organizations
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2015 results in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25644584