joint space narrowing

The main outcomes were disease progression, as measured by joint space narrowing (JSN) and knee pain (VAS).

In addition, 85 percent of patients taking the higher dose and 81 percent at the lower dose experienced no progression of joint erosion or joint space narrowing compared with 67 percent in the methotrexate and placebo group, researchers said. '

In the study involving nearly 1,200 patients, those who received Actemra by infusion every four weeks plus an older medicine, methotrexate, experienced significantly lower progression of joint erosion and joint space narrowing than those who received methotrexate and a placebo.