Some patients with rheumatoid arthritis do not respond to therapy with biologics. Khader et al identified factors associated with failure to respond to this therapy. The authors are from the University of Toledo.
Patient selection: rheumatoid arthritis
Predictors at the time of diagnosis of RA for a poor response to biologic therapy:
(1) older age (>= 50 years)
(2) female sex
(3) current or ex-smoker
(4) obesity (BMI >= 30 kg per sq m)
(5) poor functional status (HAQ >= 2; range is 0 to 3)
