Primary prevention

There are no primary prevention measures for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Even though patients commonly have serological markers (rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide [anti-CCP] antibodies) years before they develop the disease, most patients with these markers do not go on to develop RA.[21][44][45]​​​​​

One phase IIb trial suggests that for people at high risk of developing RA (with serum antibodies to citrullinated protein antigens, rheumatoid factor, and symptoms, such as inflammatory joint pain) treatment with abatacept during the at-risk phase of RA significantly reduces the risk of developing RA at 24 months, compared with placebo. The estimated proportion of people remaining arthritis-free at 12 months was 93% in the abatacept group and 69% in the placebo group.[46] Abatacept has also been demonstrated to decrease MRI inflammation, clinical symptoms and risk of RA development in high risk individuals at 12 months in one randomised, multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.[47]​​

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