TNF Blockers: Some Patients Do Not Achieve Good Response

About two-thirds of rheumatoid arthritis patients achieve a good response to one of the TNF blockers. Researchers have tried to determine why one-third of patients do not get a good response to TNF blocker drugs. Researchers evaluated the impact of rheumatoid factor isotypes and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) on the clinical response of patients receiving TNF blockers.

There were 132 rheumatoid arthritis patients refractory to DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) in the study. The patients were treated with Remicade, Enbrel, or Humira and completed a one-year follow-up. According to the study published in the November 1, 2006 issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, the results which were based on the clinical response found:

• Significantly higher IgA-rheumatoid factor in the group of non-responders to anti-TNF drugs.
• Significantly decreased levels of all isotypes of rheumatoid factor (IgM, IgA, IgG) after one year in the anti-TNF responder group. Anti-CCP was not significantly affected.

Related Resources:

• Arthritis Without Pain: The Miracle of TNF Blockers
• Test Your Knowledge: TNF Blockers (Enbrel, Remicade, Humira)
• Are Some Arthritis Patients Unsuitable Candidates For Biologic Drugs?
• Enbrel, Remicade, and Humira: How Are They Similar and Different?

_{Image © Scott J. Zashin M.D.}