Objective. To compare tumor necrosis factor ␣ inhibitors directly regarding the rates of treatment response, remission, and the drug survival rate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to identify clinical prognostic factors for response.Methods. The nationwide DANBIO registry collects data on rheumatology patients receiving routine care. For the present study, we included patients from DANBIO who had RA (n ‫؍‬ 2,326) in whom the first biologic treatment was initiated (29% received adalimumab, 22% received etanercept, and 49% received infliximab). Baseline predictors of treatment response were identified. The odds ratios (ORs) for clinical responses and remission and hazard ratios (HRs) for drug withdrawal were calculated, corrected for age, disease duration, the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints

Objective. To investigate disease activity, treatment response, and drug survival, and predictors thereof, among Danish patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving their first treatment series with a tumor necrosis factor ␣ (TNF␣) inhibitor. Results. Of 764 patients with PsA, 320 received adalimumab, 260 infliximab, and 184 etanercept. Median drug survival was 2.9 years, and 1-year and 2-year drug survival rates were 70% and 57%, respectively. Clinical parameters that showed improvement over 6 months were the C-reactive protein (CRP) level, Health Assessment Questionnaire score, and 28-joint Disease Activity Score. Male sex, CRP level >10 mg/liter, concomitant methotrexate use, and low patient health visual analog scale score at baseline were associated with longer drug survival. Improvement was achieved by 59%, 45%, 24%, and 54% of patients according to the ACR20, ACR50, ACR70 response criteria and EULAR good response, respectively. A CRP level >10 mg/liter was predictive of the improvement responses (odds ratio [OR] 2.6 for ACR20, OR 3.0 for ACR50, OR 3.6 for ACR70, and OR 2.2 for EULAR good response).Conclusion. In these patients with PsA treated with their first TNF␣ inhibitor in clinical practice, high drug adherence and responder rates were observed. Moreover, increased levels of CRP at baseline were associated with both good treatment responses and continued treatment, which may be of clinical value in selecting the patients most likely to benefit from treatment with TNF␣ inhibitors.

NCT00209859.

Among RA patients with low disease activity or remission, a PRO-based tele-health followup for tight control of disease activity in RA can achieve similar disease control as conventional outpatient followup. The degree of disease control did not differ between patients seen by rheumatologists or rheumatology nurses.