High dose therapy and autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation in rheumatoid arthritis--the feasibility of phase III trials

Abstract

If a niche is to be established for autografting in the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), investigators should have the common goal of providing higher levels of evidence. Autografting in RA can be envisaged only for severe RA that has resisted all safer available treatments, and given the relatively large numbers necessary for statistical power in randomized studies, investigators will need to work together. This article summarizes the current literature and discusses practical issues relating to future trials.