Eligibility of rheumatoid arthritis patients for anti-TNF-α therapy according to the 2005 recommendations of the French and British Societies for Rheumatology

Objectives. Several anti-TNF-alpha prescription guidelines in RA have been published, among which those issued by the British (BSR) and French (SFR) Societies for Rheumatology in 2005 are the most comprehensive. Objectives of the PRISME II survey were to assess and compare eligibility for anti-TNF-alpha therapy of RA patients consulting their usual rheumatologist according to (i) the SFR and BSR guidelines and (ii) the rheumatologist's opinion. Methods. PRISME II was a postal, cross-sectional, observational survey proposed to all office-based rheumatologists practising in France in 2005. Rheumatologists were to include three consecutive consulting anti-TNF-alpha-naive RA patients. Disease activity was assessed using the disease activity score 28 (DAS28). Structural damage progression was estimated based on the reading by the usual rheumatologist. The factors determining eligibility in the rheumatologists' opinion were identified by a logistic regression analysis. Results. Four hundred and thirty-four rheumatologists included 1132 patients. Ongoing RA structural progression was reported for 41% of the patients. According to the SFR and BSR criteria, 64 patients (7.0%) and 10 patients (0.9%), respectively, were eligible for anti-TNF-alpha therapy, while 10% were deemed eligible according to the rheumatologists' opinion. Determinants of eligibility according to the rheumatologists were: high disease activity (DAS28>5.1), ongoing structural progression and elevated daily corticosteroid intake. These three determinants feature in the SFR guideline. Conclusions. The proportion of RA patients eligible for anti-TNF-alpha therapy varies greatly according to the BSR or SFR guidelines. In France, there is a remarkable convergence between rheumatologists' opinion and SFR guideline regarding the main factors to consider for initiation of an anti-TNF-alpha therapy.