The efficacy of abatacept and tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated in clinical practice: results from the nationwide Danish registry

Taken from NRAS magazine, Winter 2011

150 patients with RA on abatacept and 178 on tocilizumab were identified from the registry. Over 90% of these patients were anti-TNF failures. The length of time patients were on abatacept or tocilizumab was investigated and their response to treatment but no comparison was made between the two.  Response to treatment was judged by measuring  variations of the DAS score and a comprehensive scoring of overall response to treatment, in this case the Eular response score. The findings showed a good or moderate response Eular score in over 70% of patients treated with either abatacept or tocilizumab at the 24 week stage. The decline in the DAS score was similar but the CRP inflammatory marker declined more rapidly in patients treated with tocilizumab.

The authors report that patients treated with both abatacept or tocilizumab achieved high response and remission rates and that both drugs are good options when anti-TNF has proved ineffective.