J Rheumatol
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To test the efficacies of a strategy for preventing tuberculosis (TB) in Indian patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitor. ⋯ With the use of these 4 TB screening tests in India, where TB is highly prevalent, TB could be excluded with a high degree of certainty (NPV 0.97). However, as even this combination of tests has only moderate sensitivity and specificity and poor PPV for detecting TB, vigilance may be advisable even if only one of the tests is positive.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Less radiographic progression with adalimumab plus methotrexate versus methotrexate monotherapy across the spectrum of clinical response in early rheumatoid arthritis.
To determine the relationship between radiographic progression and clinical response for adalimumab plus methotrexate (MTX) versus either monotherapy in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the PREMIER study. ⋯ In patients with early RA, adalimumab plus MTX resulted in less radiographic progression than MTX monotherapy across the spectrum of clinical response, including ACR20 non-responses and remission-like responses.
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To determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) medications in a real-world environment for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). ⋯ We obtained data on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of anti-TNF drugs using the HAQ score, which is known to be an excellent predictor of work disability, morbidity, and mortality. HAQ scores decreased with treatment and were sustained throughout the 3-5 years of followup. The NNT of approximately 2 seems favorable and was similar between diseases.
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Comparative Study
Greater perceived helplessness in osteoarthritis predicts outcome of joint replacement surgery.
To determine if there is a difference between male and female patients in their perceived control of osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms at the time of joint replacement surgery, as measured by the Arthritis Helplessness Index (AHI), and how this helplessness affects surgical outcomes at 1 year. ⋯ Interventions to improve control over arthritis symptoms should be studied with the goal of improving surgical outcomes.