Interpreting the multi-biomarker disease activity score in the context of tocilizumab treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The multi-biomarker disease activity (MBDA) score measures 12 proteins involved in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to assess disease activity (DA). Previous studies demonstrated correlations between MBDA and clinical DA scores with some RA therapies. In this analysis, the relationship between DA and MBDA scores and changes in MBDA component biomarkers were evaluated in tocilizumab (TCZ)-treated patients.

Continued benefit of tocilizumab plus disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate clinical responses by week 8 of treatment.

Objective: To evaluate whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis who did not respond sufficiently to tocilizumab (TCZ) plus disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment by Week 8 responded at later timepoints when continuing to take their original dose of TCZ.

Methods: In this posthoc analysis of data from phase III randomized controlled trials of inadequate responders (IR) to DMARD or tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors (anti-TNF), percentages of patients meeting early response criteria were calculated by randomized treatment arm (TCZ 4 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg, or placebo in combination with DMARD). Percentages of patients achieving certain disease activity thresholds at later timepoints were calculated for patients who had/had not achieved response by Week 8.

Early effects of tocilizumab in the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis: a one-week sub-study of a randomised controlled trial (Rapid Onset and Systemic Efficacy [ROSE] Study).

Objectives: Tocilizumab has demonstrated efficacy in managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from week 2 onward. This sub-study assessed effects of tocilizumab plus disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during the first week of therapy.

Methods: Rapid Onset and Systemic Efficacy was a 24-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

The effects of splinting on outcomes for epicondylitis.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of splinting on outcomes for injured workers with epicondylitis.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using propensity score methodology to statistically control for all observed pretreatment differences between patients with and without splints.

Setting: Nationwide network of 253 occupational medicine clinics.