Dose tapering of biologic agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis —results from a cohort study in Germany

ConclusionDAS 28 remission, concomitant MTX, and lower glucocorticoid doses were positively associated with dose tapering of bDMARDs in RA patients. While this could be expected, the reason for the association with age, comorbidity, and the time between disease onset and bDMARD start is less clear.Key points• In rheumatology practice, tapering of biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs is feasible in nearly 30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.• The degree of dose reduction may exceed 50% of the recommended dose.• In a multivariable model, concomitant methotrexate is positively associated with dose tapering of biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Source: Clinical Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research