This review confirmed low employment rates after SCI. Future research should explore interventions aimed at helping people with SCI to obtain and sustain productive work.

ObjectivesTo examine the preferences of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and health professionals (HPs) for the route and frequency of administration of biologic drugs.MethodsOne hundred and seven RA patients treated with biological agents for intravenous or subcutaneous use, 35 biologic-naïve RA patients treated with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug and 30 rheumatology HPs (physicians and nurses) were recruited from two outpatient clinics in Copenhagen, Denmark. All subjects filled out a questionnaire interrogating their choice of preferred route and frequency of administration of a biologic corresponding to current available options, given that effects, adverse effects, and financial costs were identical for the different choices. The subjects were also asked to justify their preferences. The chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to examine the distributions over different preferences. Proportions were compared using Fisher’s exact test.ResultsForty-one patients were currently treated with subcutaneous self-injections at home (SCH) and 66 intravenously at the clinic (IVC). IVC was preferred by 85% of patients currently treated with IVC (P<0.0001). SCH was preferred by 71% of patients currently treated with SCH (P<0.001), by 77% of the biologic-naïve patients (P<0.01), and by 87% of HPs (P<0.0001). The proportion of patients favoring SCH was significantly higher for patients currently receiving SCH and for biologic-naïve RA patients than for those currently on IVC (P<0.0001). SCH once a month and IVC every 8 weeks were the most appealing treatment frequencies (P<0.01). The most frequent reason among patients for choosing IVC or SCH was a wish for safety, and a wish to minimize the time of transportation and treatment, respectively.ConclusionThe majority of RA patients treated with biologics preferred their current route of administration. Most patients, those inexperienced with biologics, and HPs favored SCH. Low treatment frequencies were generally preferred.

By implementing a clinical guideline, 62% of RA patients in sustained remission in routine care were successfully tapered, including 16% successfully discontinued at 2 years. Radiographic progression was rare. Maximum one bDMARDs, male gender, and low baseline MRI combined inflammation and combined damage scores were independent predictors for successful tapering.

Objective To assess the ability of ultrasound to predict successful tapering and successful discontinuation of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) at 2-year follow-up in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in sustained remission. Methods Patients in sustained remission (DAS28-CRP≤2.6) and no radiographic progression the previous year tapered bDMARD according to a standardized regime. One-hundred-and-nineteen of these patients were included in this ultrasound sub-study. At baseline, clinical assessment, MRI, x-ray and ultrasound of 24 joints were performed. Ultrasound-detected synovitis was defined and scored 0-3 using the Outcome in Rheumatology (OMERACT) scoring system at joint level for both greyscale and Doppler activity. Sum scores for each ultrasound modality were calculated for 24 joints at patient level. Final state of treatment was assessed after 2 years. The predictive value of ultrasound measures for successful tapering and discontinuation at 2-year follow-up was assessed via logistic regression analyses. Results Negative IgM-RF (OR = 0.29; 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=0.10-0.85; p = 0.024) and lower Doppler sum score of 24 joints (OR(95%CI)=0.44;(0.15-0.87); p = 0.014) were independent predictors for successful discontinuation of bDMARD at 2-year follow-up. The predictive value of Doppler sum score was independent of MRI findings. Previous numbers of bDMARDs were predictive of successful tapering (OR(95% CI)=0.58(0.35-0.91); p = 0.018), whereas ultrasound was not. Clinical parameters were not predictive for successful tapering/discontinuation. Conclusions Doppler sum score was an independent predictor for successful discontinuation of bDMARDs at 2-year follow-up - the odds for achieving successful discontinuation decreased by 56% per one-unit increase in Doppler sum score. Ultrasound could not predict successful tapering.