Which Subgroup of RA patients benefit from Rituxan | Arthritis Information

 

Finckh A et al. - Study suggests that rituximab (RTX) is more effective than switching to an alternative anti-TNF in RA patients who stopped a previous anti-TNF treatment because of ineffectiveness.

Methods

• Aim was to analyze the effectiveness of RTX vs alternative anti-TNFs on RA disease activity in different subgroups of pts
• A cohort of RA pts (n=318) who discontinued at least one aTNF and subsequently received either RTX or an alternative aTNF
• Primary outcome: longitudinal improvement in DAS28

Results

• 155/318 pts received RTX and 163 received an alternative aTNF
• The relative benefit of RTX varied with the type of prior aTNF failure:
  • When the motive for switching was ineffectiveness to previous aTNFs, improvement in DAS28 was better with RTX than alternative aTNF
  • When the motive was other causes, improvement in DAS28 was similar between RTX and alternative aTNFs
• These results were not modified by:
  • number of previous aTNF failures
  • type of aTNF switches, or
  • the presence of DMARD co-therapy

http://ard.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/ard.2008.105064v1?rss=1

good point to keep in mind.I thought so Babs
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