Abstract
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of anti-TNFα 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-TNFα agents. Results: After the first six months of anti-TNFα 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; Δ 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 (Δ 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-TNFα 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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 260-265 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Autoimmunity Reviews |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2009 |
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Keywords
- Anti-TNF-alpha treatment
- Biological drugs
- Disease outcomes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Immunology and Allergy
Cite this
Anti-TNFα therapy in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients : Clinical outcomes. / Bazzani, Chiara; Filippini, Matteo; Caporali, Roberto; Bobbio-Pallavicini, Francesca; Favalli, Ennio Giulio; Marchesoni, Antonio; Atzeni, Fabiola; Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo; Gorla, Roberto.
In: Autoimmunity Reviews, Vol. 8, No. 3, 01.2009, p. 260-265.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Anti-TNFα therapy in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients
T2 - Clinical outcomes
AU - Bazzani, Chiara
AU - Filippini, Matteo
AU - Caporali, Roberto
AU - Bobbio-Pallavicini, Francesca
AU - Favalli, Ennio Giulio
AU - Marchesoni, Antonio
AU - Atzeni, Fabiola
AU - Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo
AU - Gorla, Roberto
PY - 2009/1
Y1 - 2009/1
N2 - Objective: To assess the effectiveness of anti-TNFα 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-TNFα agents. Results: After the first six months of anti-TNFα 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; Δ 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 (Δ 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-TNFα 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.
AB - Objective: To assess the effectiveness of anti-TNFα 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-TNFα agents. Results: After the first six months of anti-TNFα 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; Δ 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 (Δ 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-TNFα 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.
KW - Anti-TNF-alpha treatment
KW - Biological drugs
KW - Disease outcomes
KW - Rheumatoid arthritis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58149476778&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=58149476778&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.autrev.2008.11.001
DO - 10.1016/j.autrev.2008.11.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 19027090
AN - SCOPUS:58149476778
VL - 8
SP - 260
EP - 265
JO - Autoimmunity Reviews
JF - Autoimmunity Reviews
SN - 1568-9972
IS - 3
ER -