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Study: TNF inhibitors linked with ‘slightly increased’ risk for extra-articular RA
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According to a recently published analysis of a community-based cohort, patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors had “a slightly increased” risk for the development of severe extra-articular rheumatoid arthritis.
However, researchers wrote this finding could be explained in part “by residual confounding because of higher disease activity in this group of patients.”
Lisa Theander, MD, from Lund University, and colleagues assessed 1,977 patients from a Swedish cohort established in 1997.
Investigators found new onset of severe extra-articular rheumatoid arthritis (ExRA) in 17 patients who took tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) out of 2,400 person-years that were at risk. In patients who did not take TNFis, there were 104 cases of recent onset ExRA out of 15,599 person-years that were at risk. After adjustment for patient age and gender, investigators found TNFis were linked with an increased risk for ExRA (ratio = 1.21). In addition, male gender, positive rheumatoid factor, long disease duration and greater disability were factors for ExRA. – by Will A. Offit
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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