Six and 12 Weeks Treatment Response Predicts Continuation of Tumor Necrosis Factor Blockade in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Observational Cohort Study from Southern Sweden.

• OBJECTIVE: To investigate if treatment response predicts continuation of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We investigated if treatment response and/or achieving a certain activity state at 6 weeks or 3 months predicts continuation of treatment in an observational cohort of 1789 anti-TNF-naive patients with established RA disease from southern Sweden. RESULTS: Response to treatment at 6 weeks at overall/American College of Rheumatology (ACR20) or good/major level (except ACR70) significantly predicted drug continuation. Response according to all criteria sets at overall/ACR20 and at good/major/ACR70 level predicted drug continuation at 3 months, as did achieving low disease activity at 3 months irrespective of activity index applied. Remaining in a high disease activity state predicted drug discontinuation at both timepoints and according to all criteria sets. CONCLUSION: Response criteria may be useful aids in deciding on continuation of TNF blockade in RA as early as after 6 weeks of treatment. The various criteria sets perform similarly.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reumatologi och inflammation (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Rheumatology and Autoimmunity (hsv//eng)

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