OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of anti-TNFalpha agents by analysing the principal clinical outcomes in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: 1010 patients who received no clinical benefit from previous treatment with methotrexate and/or other DMARDs, were subsequently treated with one or more of the anti-TNFalpha agents. RESULTS: After the first six months of anti-TNFalpha therapy, 29% of the patients showed a good and 47% a moderate European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, and this positive result was maintained after two years of follow-up. Their median Disease Activity Score based on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the evaluation of 28 joints (DAS28) decreased from 5.94 at baseline to 4 after six months (p<0.001; Delta 1.94), and further significant responses were also observed after 12, 18 and 24 months; their median 36-month DAS28 score reflected mild disease activity. The median Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score fell from 1.34 at baseline to 1 after six months of therapy (Delta 0.34; p<0.05), and a further significant reduction was observed during the second and third year of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Especially when combined with DMARDs, anti-TNFalpha drugs can induce a good clinical response regardless of the particular molecule used, whereas their combination with steroids does not seem to improve disease outcomes at any time during follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of anti-TNFalpha agents by analysing the principal clinical outcomes in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: 1010 patients who received no clinical benefit from previous treatment with methotrexate and/or other DMARDs, were subsequently treated with one or more of the anti-TNFalpha agents. RESULTS: After the first six months of anti-TNFalpha therapy, 29% of the patients showed a good and 47% a moderate European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, and this positive result was maintained after two years of follow-up. Their median Disease Activity Score based on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the evaluation of 28 joints (DAS28) decreased from 5.94 at baseline to 4 after six months (p<0.001; Delta 1.94), and further significant responses were also observed after 12, 18 and 24 months; their median 36-month DAS28 score reflected mild disease activity. The median Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score fell from 1.34 at baseline to 1 after six months of therapy (Delta 0.34; p<0.05), and a further significant reduction was observed during the second and third year of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Especially when combined with DMARDs, anti-TNFalpha drugs can induce a good clinical response regardless of the particular molecule used, whereas their combination with steroids does not seem to improve disease outcomes at any time during follow-up.
Authors: Sam Norton; Bo Fu; David L Scott; Chris Deighton; Deborah P M Symmons; Allan J Wailoo; Jonathan Tosh; Mark Lunt; Rebecca Davies; Adam Young; Suzanne M M Verstappen Journal: Semin Arthritis Rheum Date: 2014-05-09 Impact factor: 5.532
Authors: Javier G Casado; Rebeca Blázquez; Francisco Javier Vela; Verónica Álvarez; Raquel Tarazona; Francisco Miguel Sánchez-Margallo Journal: Front Vet Sci Date: 2017-03-21
Authors: Sabrina R Kapoor; Andrew Filer; Martin A Fitzpatrick; Benjamin A Fisher; Peter C Taylor; Christopher D Buckley; Iain B McInnes; Karim Raza; Stephen P Young Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 2013-06
Authors: Pedro Santos-Moreno; Guillermo Sánchez; Danny Gómez; Juan Bello-Gualtero; Carlos Castro Journal: J Clin Rheumatol Date: 2016-03 Impact factor: 3.517