RESEARCH - More RA remissions with TNF inhibitors than with DMARDs

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More RA remissions with TNF inhibitors than with DMARDs

Rheumawire

Oct 19, 2004

Janis

San , TX - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are more likely to

have disease remission if they take TNF inhibitors than if they take

traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), Dr C

Liang (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL)

reported in a poster presentation at the American College of

Rheumatology (ACR) 2004 meeting [1].

" This cross-sectional observation of an outpatient arthritis clinic

found a higher remission rate among RA patients on TNF-alpha inhibitors

than those on traditional DMARDs, " Liang tells rheumawire. " Patients who

took TNF inhibitors were 2.74 times more likely to be in remission. "

This study collected data from 331 RA patients during regularly

scheduled treatment at outpatient arthritis clinics. The researchers

recorded current and past medication use as well as disease-activity

status according to ACR criteria. Patients were grouped according to

medication use: TNF inhibitor users (n=118) vs patients who used

traditional DMARDs or no DMARDs (n=213). Patients were also grouped

according to disease status (remission vs active disease).

Liang said that TNF inhibitor users were about 4 years younger than

nonusers, had disease onset about 8 years earlier than nonusers, had RA

duration 3 years longer, and had less frequent use of nonsteroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), more frequent use of prednisone and at

a higher dose, and more previous DMARD failures.

Comparing patients in remission vs not in remission showed that those in

remission had a shorter duration of RA, were more likely to use TNF

inhibitors, used less prednisone and at a smaller dosage, and had fewer

previous DMARD failures. Also, male patients were more likely to be in

remission than females.

Patients in remission included 24% of TNF inhibitor users vs 15% of

patients who did not use TNF inhibitors.

" This study revealed an odds ratio of 1.84 (95% CI 1.05-3.24) in favor

of TNF-alpha inhibitors. After adjustments for age, sex, use of NSAIDs

and DMARDs and prednisone dosage, the odds ratio increased to 2.50 (95%

CI 1.34-4.66), " Liang reported.

Source

Liang GC, Cordero M, Dyer A, et al. TNF-alpha

inhibitors are associated with more remissions in rheumatoid arthritis

patients when compared to traditional disease modifying anti-rheumatic

drugs in a cross-sectional study of an academic based clinical practice.

American College of Rheumatology 2004 meeting; October 16-21, 2004; San

, TX; Abstract 371.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org