Publications

This study compared the clinical outcomes at one year after the treatment either abatacept or tocilizumab in routine clinical practice. This study employed propensity score matching and demonstrated that abatacept and tocilizumab had comparable continuing efficacies, and that treatment with the drugs resulted in comparable clinical and functional remission rates. Additionally, abatacept and tocilizumab showed similar effectiveness with or without MTX.While clinical efficacies, including SDAI, were comparable in both treatment groups, the predictive factors were different. Higher titres of RF and lower SDAI were associated with lower SDAI at week 52 in patients treated with abatacept, whereas lower HAQ-DI and no previous biologic use were associated in those receiving tocilizumab. The factors associated with HAQ-DI at week 52 were shorter disease duration and lower HAQ at baseline in both groups.Propensity score matching can contribute to the growing body of clinical evidence and might lead to the development of tailor-made medicine using biological products for patients with RA.