Treatments for giant cell arteritis: Meta-analysis and assessment of estimates reliability using the fragility index

Alvise Berti, Divi Cornec, Jose R. Medina Inojosa, Eric L. Matteson, M. Hassan Murad

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: To better communicate the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of giant cell arteritis (GCA), we propose the use of the fragility index (FI), which is an intuitive measure defined as the minimum number of subjects whose status would have to change (e.g., from having the outcome to not) to render a statistically significant result nonsignificant, or vice-versa. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of RCTs of glucocorticoid (GC) sparing strategies for relapse-free maintenance in GCA, and used the FI to simplify the presentation of results. Results: Ten RCTs (nine phase II and one phase III enrolling 645 subjects) were included. Tocilizumab, IV GC and methotrexate significantly improved the likelihood of being relapse free with relative risks and 95% confidence intervals of 3.54 (2.28, 5.51), 5.11 (1.39, 18.81) and 1.54 (1.02, 2.30); respectively. The median FI was 4.5 (range, 1–28), and was generally higher for negative RCTs (n = 6; median FI 4.5) than for positive RCTs (n = 4; median FI 3.5). The range of FI per treatment was (1–8) for methotrexate, (2–6) for anti-TNF agents, 4 for abatacept, 3 for IV GC pulses and (4–28) for tocilizumab. Conclusion: Tocilizumab, IV GC and methotrexate improve the likelihood of being relapse-free in subjects with GCA. Assessment of GC sparing strategies in GCA has long depended on imprecise trials that would change significance if outcomes were reversed for a handful of subjects. FI may be used in rheumatology to simplify communication of statistical significance and overcome limitations of p-value.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)77-82
Number of pages6
JournalSeminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
Volume48
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2018

Keywords

  • Fragility index
  • Giant cell arteritis
  • Meta-analysis
  • Randomized control trials
  • Tocilizumab

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rheumatology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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