Precision Dosing of Intravenous Tocilizumab: Development of Pharmacokinetic Model-Derived Tapering Strategies for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Tocilizumab targets the interleukin-6 receptor, and dosing is complex owing to its nonlinear clearance related to target binding. Therefore, tapering tocilizumab requires a different approach than that of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi). This study aimed to identify these differences and enable personalized treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) beyond TNFi therapy.

Circulating Adipokines and Response to Treatment in Patients With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if baseline adiponectin, leptin, and resistin levels are associated with response to antirheumatic treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This study included 341 participants of the Nordic Rheumatic Diseases Strategy Trials and Registries trial with untreated early RA, randomized at baseline into four treatment arms: methotrexate combined with (1) prednisolone, (2) certolizumab, (3) abatacept, or (4) tocilizumab. Follow-up was up to 48 weeks.

Circulating Baseline CXCR3Th2 and Th17 Cell Proportions Correlate With Trabecular Bone Loss After 48 Weeks of Biological Treatment in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: The high prevalence of osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is due to inflammation that stimulates differentiation of osteoclasts, a process involving circulating monocytes and T cell-derived factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate relations between circulating monocytes, T cell subsets, and changes in bone characteristics before and after treatment with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in RA.

Methods: Thirty patients with untreated early RA who met the American College of Rheumatology/EULAR 2010 criteria were included.

Comparative Analysis of Coagulation Activation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated With TNF Inhibitors Versus JAK Inhibitors: A Prospective Study.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the activation of the coagulation system of RA patients and assess changes during anti-inflammatory treatment with tumor necrosis factor blockers (anti-TNF) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi).

Methods: Biomarkers for the coagulation system, including D-dimer, fibrinogen, prothrombin time, activated partial thrombin time, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), activated factor IX, antithrombin complex, and von Willebrand factor (vWF), were longitudinally measured in 83 RA patients treated with anti-TNF and 38 RA patients with JAKi. Data were collected at baseline, after 1, 3, and 6 months.

Association of rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies and shared epitope with clinical response to initial treatment in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: data from a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To investigate whether rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) and shared epitope (SE) allele-related genetic markers associate with treatment response to abatacept, certolizumab pegol or tocilizumab versus active conventional treatment (ACT).

Methods: Patients with treatment-naïve early rheumatoid arthritis were randomised in the NORD-STAR trial to ACT, certolizumab pegol, abatacept or tocilizumab, all with methotrexate. Centralised laboratory analyses for ACPA, RF and SE were performed.