The patient perspective on biologic DMARD dose reduction in rheumatoid arthritis: a mixed methods study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the factors that play a role for patients with RA when considering dose reduction (i.e. gradual tapering until discontinuation) of biological DMARDs (bDMARDs), and to determine their relative importance.

Subjective Complaints as the Main Reason for Biosimilar Discontinuation After Open-Label Transition From Reference Infliximab to Biosimilar Infliximab.

Objective: To evaluate drug survival, effectiveness, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and safety in daily practice after transitioning treatment from original reference infliximab (Remicade [REM]) to a biosimilar infliximab (CT-P13 [Remsima; Inflectra]) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

Methods: Of the initial 222 REM-treated patients, 192 agreed to transition to CT-P13 and were included in this multicenter prospective cohort study. Changes in the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the C-reactive protein level (DAS28-CRP) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and changes in the CRP levels, infliximab trough levels, and anti-infliximab antibody levels were assessed after 6 months, and adverse events (AEs) were documented.

Performance of the Dutch SF-36 version 2 as a measure of health-related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the measurement properties of the Dutch SF-36 version 2 (SF-36v2) health survey in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Scaling assumptions, internal reliability, and internal construct validity were examined using available data from 1884 RA patients included in the Dutch Rheumatoid Arthritis Monitoring (DREAM) registry. External construct validity and responsiveness to change were examined using baseline and 6-month follow-up data from a subset of 387 early RA patients participating in the DREAM remission induction cohort.

Tailored cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise training for high-risk patients with fibromyalgia.

Objective: The treatment of patients with fibromyalgia (FM), a high-prevalence chronic pain condition with a high impact on both patients and society, poses a great challenge to clinicians due to a lack of effective treatments. In view of the large individual variability in outcome, selecting patients at risk of long-term dysfunction and offering tailored treatment may be promising for beneficial treatment effects.

Methods: High-risk patients were selected and classified into 2 groups (pain-persistence and pain-avoidance groups) and subsequently randomized in groups to either a treatment condition (TC) or a waiting list control condition (WLC).

Tailored cognitive-behavioral therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis for patients at risk: a randomized controlled trial.

Recent developments in chronic pain research suggest that effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be optimized when applying early, customized treatments to patients at risk. For this purpose, a randomized, controlled trial with tailor-made treatment modules was conducted among patients with relatively early rheumatoid arthritis (RA disease duration of <8 years), who had been screened for psychosocial risk profiles. All participants received standard medical care from a rheumatologist and rheumatology nurse consultant.