Standardization of joint examination technique leads to a significant decrease in variability among different examiners.

Objective: To reduce the amount of variability among assessors, we conducted joint examination standardization seminars in conjunction with multicenter clinical trials for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The examination techniques used were based on the recommendations of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).

Methods: To evaluate the effect of standardization, participants at the seminars examined a given patient with RA before and after they were made familiar with the EULAR examination technique.

Two-year efficacy and safety of infliximab treatment in patients with active psoriatic arthritis: findings of the Infliximab Multinational Psoriatic Arthritis Controlled Trial (IMPACT).

Objective: To investigate longterm efficacy/safety of infliximab over 2 years in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Initially, 104 patients were randomized to receive blinded infusions of infliximab 5 mg/kg or placebo at Weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14. At Week 16, all patients received infliximab 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks through Week 46.

An open-label pilot study of the effectiveness of adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and previous infliximab treatment: relationship to reasons for failure and anti-infliximab antibody status.

This prospective open-label pilot study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab and the relationship to antibodies against infliximab (IFX) in adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had been treated previously with IFX and experienced treatment failure owing to lack or loss of response or intolerance. Patients self-administered adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every other week for 16 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy for up to Week 56. Measures of effectiveness included American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index.

Sustained benefits of infliximab therapy for dermatologic and articular manifestations of psoriatic arthritis: results from the infliximab multinational psoriatic arthritis controlled trial (IMPACT).

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of infliximab therapy for the articular and dermatologic manifestations of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: One hundred four patients with PsA in whom prior therapy with at least 1 disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) had failed were recruited into this investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. During the initial blinded portion of the study, patients received infusions of infliximab (5 mg/kg) or placebo at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14.

Treating psoriatic arthritis: how effective are TNF antagonists?

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a seronegative spondyloarthropathy that commonly appears after the onset of the characteristic cutaneous lesions. This complication affects about 40% of patients with moderate to severe cutaneous disease. Analysis of synovial fluid and tissue in patients with PsA demonstrates a profile of high levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plus other cytokines similar to those seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).