Table 1. Summary of all included studies in the meta-analysis and the characteristics of patients.
| Author (year) | Biologic | Biologic branch-MTX combination | RA Duration (months) | Total subjects | MTX Subjects | Biologic Subjects* | Biologic reported superior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathon (2000) | ETN | monotherapy | 12 | 632 | 217 | 208/207 | N/Ya |
| Bong Lee (2014) | TOFA | monotherapy | 36 | 956 | 186 | 373/397 | Y |
| Breedveld (2006) | ADA | monotherapy | 8 | 799 | 257 | 274 | N |
| Combined | 268 | Y | |||||
| Burmester (2015) | TCZ | monotherapy | 6 | 1157 | 287 | 292 | Y |
| Combined | 291 | Y | |||||
| Detert (2013)b | ADA | Combined | 2 | 172 | 85 | 87 | Y |
| Durez (2007) | INF | Combined | 4 | 44 | 14 | 15 | Y |
| Emery (2008) | ETN | Combined | 10 | 528 | 263 | 268 | Y |
| Emery (2009) | GLM | monotherapycombined | 48 | 637 | 160 | 159 | N |
| 159/159 | Y | ||||||
| Jones (2009)c | TCZ | monotherapy | 72 | 673 | 284 | 288 | Y |
| Smolen (2014) | ADA | Combined | 3 | 1032 | 517 | 515 | Y |
| St Clair (2004) | INF | Combined | 11 | 1049 | 298 | 373 | Y |
| Tak (2010) | RTX | Combined | 11 | 748 | 249 | 251 | Y |
| Westhovens (2009) | ABA | Combined | 6 | 509 | 253 | 256 | Y |
ABA, abatacept; ADA, adalimumab; CZP, certolizumab; ETA, etanercept; GLM, golimumab; INF, infliximab; RTX, rituximab; TCZ, tocilizumab; TOFA, tofacitinib; Mono, monotherapy; Comb, combined therapy; inj, injectable.
a
activity scores were not superior at follow up but the study conclusion states the biologic is beneficial due more rapid effect and less radiologic progression
b
trial not sponsored by industry
c
there was also a branch that received placebo 12wks and then tcz 12 wks. It was not included due to the short follow up using tcz
*
two numbers in a same trial correspond to different dose branches