Predictors of response to anti-TNF-  therapy among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register

Anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) therapies represent an important advancement in therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there remains a proportion of patients who do not improve despite therapy. These drugs are expensive and have the potential of serious toxicity. Therefore, it would be ideal to predict the patients who will respond, so that the use of these drugs can be targetted.

To identify the clinical factors present at the start of anti-TNF-alpha therapy that are associated with response at 6 months in patients with RA.