Do patients with active RA have differences in disease activity and perceptions if anti-TNF naïve versus anti-TNF experienced? Baseline results of the optimization of adalimumab trial.

Background: The chance of a good response in RA is attenuated in previous anti-TNF users who start new anti-TNF therapy compared to biologic naïve patients. In active RA, those with previous anti-TNF exposure compared to anti-TNF naïve may have different baseline disease activity and patient perceptions when starting a new anti-TNF treatment that could explain the observed response differences.

Material/methods: The aim of this study was a post hoc analysis of baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the Optimization of Adalimumab study that was a treat to target vs.

Incidence and predictors of secondary fibromyalgia in an early arthritis cohort.

Objectives: Secondary fibromyalgia (FM) is common among patients with inflammatory arthritis, but little is known about its incidence and the factors leading to its development. The authors examined the incidence of secondary FM in an early inflammatory arthritis cohort, and assessed the association between pain, inflammation, psychosocial variables and the clinical diagnosis of FM.

Methods: Data from 1487 patients in the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort, a prospective, observational Canadian cohort of early inflammatory arthritis patients were analysed.

Comparison of anti-TNF treatment initiation in rheumatoid arthritis databases demonstrates wide country variability in patient parameters at initiation of anti-TNF therapy.

Objective: Characteristics of Canadian RA patients started on anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment were compared with 12 other countries.

Methods: Data from the Optimization of HUMIRA trial (OH) were compared with Canadian real world studies [Ontario Biologics Research Initiative (OBRI) and the Real-Life Evaluation of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Canadians Receiving HUMIRA (REACH)], and to data from American, Australian, British, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish RA databases. Patient characteristics and temporal trends at initiation of anti-TNF therapy were compared between countries.

Canadian variation by province in rheumatoid arthritis initiating anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy: results from the optimization of adalimumab trial.

Objective: We compared variations among Canadian provinces in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Optimization of Humira trial (OH) and from the Ontario Biologics Research Initiative (OBRI). Baseline characteristics were compared between regions: Ontario (ON), Quebec (QC), and other provinces (OTH).