Why carry out this study?

Serology and biomarker status may impact treatment response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Patients with anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) positive (+) RA are more likely to develop more severe, erosive disease than patients who are ACPA negative (−).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of baseline ACPA status with response to treatment with abatacept or other non-TNFi b/tsDMARDs in patients with RA in a real-world setting.

What was learned from the study?

ACPA positivity was associated with a greater clinical response at 6 months among patients who initiated abatacept or rituximab compared to those who were ACPA− treated with the same biologic; no association was observed between patients with ACPA+ and ACPA− RA treated with tocilizumab or tofacitinib.

Based on underlying serology, patients with RA may respond differently to treatments with different mechanisms of action.

These results, and future studies, help clinicians develop individualized treatment plans for patients with RA.