Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Treat to Target

Treating to a target of remission or low disease activity

Treat to target (T2T) is an approach to treating Rheumatoid Arthritis / Rheumatoid Disease (RD) that combines aggressive or intensive treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and regular monitoring of disease activity (DA). The goal of treat to target is to achieve a “target” of clinical remission or low disease activity (LDA).

Experts agree the ideal target in RD treatment is remission, defined as “the absence of signs and symptoms of significant inflammatory disease activity.”[1] However, in some circumstances, LDA is chosen as an alternate target. There are various definitions of remission (or LDA) according to various DA measures, and unfortunately, clinical remission or LDA does not mean that all symptoms are necessarily eliminated. Research will continue to improve both treatment strategies and medications, so that hopefully complete remission will become more realistic for everyone with Rheumatoid Disease.

How does Treat to target work in Rheumatoid Disease?

With T2T, DA is measured; and if it is not improved, the treatment plan is adjusted. An expert international task force recommended that drug therapy be adjusted at least every 3 months until the desired target is reached.[1] Specific guidelines have been recommended for rheumatologists concerning when to use each type of medicine. Until the target is reached, doctors might recommend one of the following changes:

• Increasing a medication dose
• Adding a new medication
• Substituting a new medication for a previous medication

T2T can result in lower disease activity levels for people with RD, which can mean less pain, disability, and damage.

According to the TICORA study, which pioneered T2T in RD, striving for a specific improvement target improves outcomes.[2] One day, a cure for RD will be found to address all of the problems the disease creates, but today, intensive therapy with thorough monitoring produces the best outcomes. “The concept of achieving tight control of RA and treating to target has been well established and utilizes early diagnosis, aggressive treatment, and regular monitoring, leading to positive outcomes in a significant number of patients with RA who achieve current treatment goals of low levels of disease activity or clinical remission.”[3]

Which methods of measuring disease activity are used in T2T?

Patient reported outcome measures are used in combination with swollen and tender joint counts and blood tests to create instruments such as the CDAI (Clinical Disease Activity Index), SDAI (Simplified Disease Activity Index), DAS28 (Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints), and RAPID3 (Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3). Whichever instrument your doctor uses, what’s most important for PRD to know is that measuring DA is a valuable part of rheumatology care.

Various imaging tests are also used to help assess DA, such as musculoskeletal ultrasound, MRI, or nuclear bone scan. However, these tests do not provide a clear DA score that is needed in T2T. Disease activity is measured more frequently (often monthly) for patients with high or moderate disease activity. DA is measured less frequently, such as every 3 to 6 months, for patients in sustained remission or low DA.[1]

NOTE:  The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation has brochures available on Treat to Target and other topics – click here to view.

Recommended reading

• Sustained Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission Is Rare
• Accurately Measuring Rheumatoid Disease Activity
• New Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission Criteria
• 10 Reasons We Might Want a Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSUS) of a Joint
• 22 posts about measuring disease activity