Tom W. J. Huizinga, MD, PhD
Head, Department of Rheumatology
Leiden University Medical Center
Leiden, The Netherlands
What are the critical elements of the current American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Guidelines algorithm for RA? Where does IL-6 inhibition fit into these guidelines?
What is the evidence-based approach to non-responsiveness to a TNFI?
What is the evidence-based approach to non-responsiveness to a TNFI?
In what patient subsets (RA biomarker subsets, obese, undifferentiated RA, high risk RA, poor responders, etc.) do IL-6 inhibitors appear to be most effective? Why?
What trials and meta-analyses evaluating RA patients have used health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as a metric for assessing patient outcomes? Which agents, including IL-6 inhibitors, have been evaluated against this metric, and what are the findings?
What is efficacy profile of IL-6 inhibitors? How does it compare as monotherapy to methotrexate plus and TNFI? What are the side effects we should monitor?
Do you monitor leukocyte counts in RA patients taking IL-6 inhibitors?
Do you monitor leukocyte counts in RA patients taking IL-6 inhibitors?
What is the meta-analysis evidence that earlier therapy for RA is preferable to improve outcomes? What is the conclusion from looking at the medical literature?
What role do the following factors play in identifying high-risk patients with RA, and what are the clinical implications of stratifying patients using these biological or clinical markers? Disease duration? High titer of RF? Elevated ...
What is the precise immunopathobiologic mechanism of action for agents targeting IL-6 in the setting of RA? What are the implications for using IL-6 inhibitors as monotherapy?
What are the best outcomes measures for RA?