[Atypical hand, foot and mouth disease in adults: A note on 6 cases]. / Syndrome main-pied-bouche atypique de l'adulte : à propos de 6 observations.

INTRODUCTION: Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is form of viral dermatosis well known among the pediatric population, in whom it has a typical presentation. However, it is less common in adults, with a more heterogeneous presentation, potentially making diagnosis extremely challenging for the clinician. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case series from 2013 to 2018 of HFMD in adults, with all cases being confirmed by cutaneous polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We studied the clinical, epidemiological and viral characteristics of each patient. RESULTS: This series of 6 cases comprised 4 men and 2 women, with a mean age of 42.5 years. Five patients presented extended purpuric lesions, four had bullous lesions, and three showed cutaneous signs without any mucosal lesions. Extended lesions on the trunk were found in four patients. One patient presented rosette-shaped pustular lesions on the limbs, one had eczema-like lesions on the scalp, and one presented extended purpuric lesions on the soles. DISCUSSION: These different cases of adult HFMD raise questions about differential diagnosis in relation to other acute cutaneous and mucous diseases. It is essential to be aware of these different types of presentation of the disease in order to determine the diagnosis and discuss preventive measures.

[Cholesterol crystal embolism mimicking a DRESS]. / Des embolies de cristaux de cholestérol mimant un DRESS.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical presentation of cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) can be dermatologic when cholesterol crystals become lodged in small cutaneous arteries resulting in ischemia. We report a case of CCE with erythroderma misleading to a diagnostic of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). CASE REPORT: A 66 year-old woman presented with erythroderma few months after initiation of allopurinol. Acute renal failure was present with elevation in plasma creatinine concentration (523µmol/L) and hypereosinophilia (HE) (5666/mm3). Finally, the REGISCAR score helped to rule out DRESS diagnostic. Past blood-count tests were analyzed revealing chronic HE present before allopurinol initiation. Renal biopsy identified CCE. CONCLUSION: This case is the first to report a DRESS like presentation of CCE. Clinical findings are secondary to HE and not to occlusion of cutaneous arteries.

Predictive risk factors of serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with abatacept in common practice: results from the Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis (ORA) registry.

OBJECTIVES: Little data are available regarding the rate and predicting factors of serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with abatacept (ABA) in daily practice. We therefore addressed this issue using real-life data from the Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis (ORA) registry. METHODS: ORA is an independent 5-year prospective registry promoted by the French Society of Rheumatology that includes patients with RA treated with ABA. At baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months or at disease relapse, during 5 years, standardised information is prospectively collected by trained clinical nurses. A serious infection was defined as an infection occurring during treatment with ABA or during the 3 months following withdrawal of ABA without any initiation of a new biologic and requiring hospitalisation and/or intravenous antibiotics and/or resulting in death. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics and comorbidities: among the 976 patients included with a follow-up of at least 3 months (total follow-up of 1903 patient-years), 78 serious infections occurred in 69 patients (4.1/100 patient-years). Predicting factors of serious infections: on univariate analysis, an older age, history of previous serious or recurrent infections, diabetes and a lower number of previous anti-tumour necrosis factor were associated with a higher risk of serious infections. On multivariate analysis, only age (HR per 10-year increase 1.44, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.76, p=0.001) and history of previous serious or recurrent infections (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.20, p=0.009) were significantly associated with a higher risk of serious infections. CONCLUSIONS: In common practice, patients treated with ABA had more comorbidities than in clinical trials and serious infections were slightly more frequently observed. In the ORA registry, predictive risk factors of serious infections include age and history of serious infections.

Characteristics and management of gout patients in Europe: data from a large cohort of patients.

OBJECTIVE: To increase the knowledge of epidemiology and treatment of gout in a 'real-life' setting, we conducted a large observational analysis (CACTUS) in two European countries, namely France and Greece. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, observational analysis, conducted in France and Greece. The analysis was conducted in a field-practice scenario, with both general practitioners and rheumatologists recruiting patients for inclusion. Treatment methods and drug prescriptions were left to the sole initiative of the participating physicians. A number of epidemiological and clinical characteristics were recorded in a single inclusion visit. Compliance to maintenance treatment was also monitored after the inclusion visit by monthly interview. RESULTS: In total 3079 patients were included. Hypertension was the most common co-morbidity (68%), followed by hypercholesterolemia (59%) and obesity (48%). Mean serum Uric Acid (sUA) concentration was 8.7 mg/dl. Almost all patients received life-style or dietary recommendations. At inclusion, 81.5% of patients were on a urate-lowering treatment. Most of these patients had been treated with allopurinol; this treat-ment had been interrupted for lack of reduction of sUA levels below 6 mg/dl (47%), lack of symptom relief (34%) or poor compliance (23%). At the inclusion visit, 98% of the patients were prescribed an urate-lowering treatment: 87% received febuxostat and 12% allopurinol alone. Satisfactory or very satisfactory compliance to febuxostat was recorded in 92% of the patients, versus 82% in patients on allopurinol. CONCLUSIONS: CACTUS provides an overview of characteristics of gouty patients and gout management. Education of patients by healthcare providers seem to be a pre-requisite to optimize the management of gout, a condition which remains poorly man-aged.

Identification of patients with gout: elaboration of a questionnaire for epidemiological studies.

OBJECTIVES: In France, the prevalence of gout is currently unknown. We aimed to design a questionnaire to detect gout that would be suitable for use in a telephone survey by non-physicians and assessed its performance. METHODS: We designed a 62-item questionnaire covering comorbidities, clinical features and treatment of gout. In a case-control study, we enrolled patients with a history of arthritis who had undergone arthrocentesis for synovial fluid analysis and crystal detection. Cases were patients with crystal-proven gout and controls were patients who had arthritis and effusion with no monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid. The questionnaire was administered by phone to cases and controls by non-physicians who were unaware of the patient diagnosis. Logistic regression analysis and classification and regression trees were used to select items discriminating cases and controls. RESULTS: We interviewed 246 patients (102 cases and 142 controls). Two logistic regression models (sensitivity 88.0% and 87.5%; specificity 93.0% and 89.8%, respectively) and one classification and regression tree model (sensitivity 81.4%, specificity 93.7%) revealed 11 informative items that allowed for classifying 90.0%, 88.8% and 88.5% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a questionnaire to detect gout containing 11 items that is fast and suitable for use in a telephone survey by non-physicians. The questionnaire demonstrated good properties for discriminating patients with and without gout. It will be administered in a large sample of the general population to estimate the prevalence of gout in France.

Safety of surgery after rituximab therapy in 133 patients with rheumatoid arthritis: data from the autoimmunity and rituximab registry.

OBJECTIVE: We used data from the AutoImmunity and Rituximab (AIR) registry to investigate the safety of surgery for patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving rituximab (RTX) in routine care. METHODS: Data for patients included in the AIR registry and undergoing surgery during the year following an infusion of RTX were reviewed to describe the frequency of postsurgical complications, compare patients with and without complications, and identify factors associated with complications. RESULTS: We examined data for 133 patients with a known date of surgery and at least 1 followup visit, corresponding to 140 procedures, including 94 orthopedic surgeries (67%) and 23 abdominal surgeries (16.5%). The median delay between surgery and the last RTX infusion was 6.4 months (interquartile range 4.3­ 8.7 months), without any difference between patients with and without complications. Nine patients (6.7%) experienced 12 complications (8.5%), including 8 surgical site infections (5.7%) and 1 death due to septic shock. Postoperative complications occurred after 4.3% of abdominal surgeries (1 of 23) and 7.4% of orthopedic surgeries (7 of 95). On univariate analysis, spine surgery was associated with postoperative complications (P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: In common practice, the risk of complications may be more important in case of spine surgery, but does not seem to be linked to the time between the last RTX infusion and surgery.

Comparison of patient satisfaction with two different etanercept delivery systems. A randomised controlled study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The objective of this study was to investigate patients' perceptions of the acceptability of two devices delivering etanercept for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment and to explore whether specific patients' attributes are associated with device preferences. Two similar multicenter, open-label, randomised, parallel-design studies were conducted in a total of 13 European countries. A total of 640 adult patients with RA were randomised to receive etanercept 50 mg once-weekly subcutaneously for 12 weeks in either a pre-filled syringe (PFS) or a pre-filled pen (PFP). Patient satisfaction at week 12 was measured on a 0- to 10-point Likert scale (primary endpoint). The study was powered to demonstrate non-inferiority of a PFP over PFS for the primary endpoint. At week 12, mean patient satisfaction was 8.3 (± 2.4) points in the pen group and 7.2 (± 2.6) points in the syringe group. Non-inferiority and even superiority of the pen over the syringe was demonstrated. In conclusion, this study showed higher patient satisfaction in the group of patients injecting etanercept with a PFP compared with the group of patients using a PFS.

Positivity for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide is associated with a better response to abatacept: data from the 'Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis' registry.

OBJECTIVES: Very limited data are available regarding the efficacy of abatacept (ABA) in real life. The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy of ABA in rheumatoid arthritis and predicting factors of efficacy in common practice. METHODS: The Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis" (ORA) prospective registry, promoted by the French Society of Rheumatology, has included 1003 patients with RA. RESULTS: 773 patients had already fulfilled the 6-month follow-up visit. Only 21.3% of patients would have fulfilled inclusion criteria used in pivotal controlled trials. The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, was observed in 330 (59.1%) of the 558 assessed patients (good response: 20.4%, moderate response: 38.7%) and was similar in patients who did and in patients who did not fulfill inclusion criteria of controlled trials. Among EULAR responders, initial 28-joint disease activity score (5.4 (4.7-6.5) in responders vs 4.9 (4.0-6.0) in non responders, p< 0.0001), the proportion of rheumatoid factor (75.6% vs 66.7%, p= 0.03) and the proportion of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP)-positivity (75.9% vs 62.2%, p= 0.001) were significantly higher. In multivariate analysis adjusted on initial 28-joint disease activity score and CRP, anti-CCP positivity was associated with EULAR response (OR=1.9;95% CI=1.2 to 2.9, p=0.007), but not rheumatoid factor (OR=1.0;95% CI=0.6 to 1.6, p=0.9). Anti-CCP positivity was also significantly associated with a higher ABA retention rate at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Real life efficacy of ABA in the ORA registry was similar as that reported in clinical trials. Anti-CCP positivity was associated with a better response to ABA, independently from disease activity.

Predictive factors of change in BMD at 1 and 2 years in women with anorexia nervosa: a study of 146 cases.

UNLABELLED: Bone mineral density (BMD; measured by DXA) changes were observed at all sites at 1 year in 146 patients with anorexia nervosa. Four independent factors accounted for the variation in BMD at the spine: duration of anorexia, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide region of type I collagen (ICTP), and triiodothyronine (T3). No change in BMD was observed from 1 to 2 years during follow-up. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess changes in BMD at 1 and 2 years in anorexia nervosa patients, and to explore the relationships between change in BMD and various clinical and biological parameters measured at the first visit. METHODS: BMD was measured in anorexia nervosa patients at inclusion, at 1-year follow-up (n = 146) and at 2-year follow-up (n = 89). RESULTS: Bone loss was observed at all sites at 1 year. When multivariate analyses were performed, four independent factors accounted for the variation in BMD at the spine: duration of anorexia nervosa, BAP, ICTP, and T3. At the total hip site, leptin level was the main factor accounting for the variation in BMD. Strong correlations were also observed between weight at 1 year and change in BMD at 2 years. At the 2-year follow-up, no significant change in BMD was observed at the spine or femoral neck. In patients who were no longer amenorrheic at 1 year, a significant improvement in BMD at 2 years was observed at the total hip (+1.2%, p = 0.02) and femoral neck (+3.7%, p = 0.02). Similarly, in patients with a body mass index >17 kg/m(2) at 1 year, an improvement in BMD at the total hip at 2 years was observed (+3%, p = 0.02) CONCLUSION: Bone loss in anorexia nervosa patients occurs at an early stage, and the factors influencing such are different at the spine and hip.

Predictors of radiographic progression in the ESPOIR cohort: the season of first symptoms may influence the short-term outcome in early arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine predictors of short-term radiographic progression in an inception cohort of patients with early arthritis. METHODS: Patients presenting with synovitis of at least two joints for 6 weeks to 6 months were included in the Etude et Suivi des POlyarthrites Indifferenciées Récentes (ESPOIR) cohort. Univariate analysis was used to determine the relationship between baseline variables and radiographic outcome (assessed by the modified total Sharp score (mTSS)) after 6 and 12 months. Stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to select independent predictive factors. The sensitivity and specificity of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) at baseline in discriminating between erosive and non-erosive disease were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: From data available for 736 patients, radiographic progression at 6 months was independently predicted by baseline ACPA, human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*01 and/or 04 genes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and mTSS. Interestingly, the season of onset of the first symptoms was associated with the severity of early arthritis (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.59, in winter and spring vs summer and autumn). Univariate analysis revealed similar results for season at 12 months (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.37). The peak of the ROC curves for radiographic outcome occurred with ACPA and RF values similar to the cut-offs provided by manufacturers. CONCLUSION: The authors found the onset of arthritis symptoms during winter or spring associated with greater radiographic progression at 6 months for patients with early arthritis. These data could reinforce the role of environmental factors in the development and outcome of rheumatoid arthritis.

Risk factors for severe infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with rituximab in the autoimmunity and rituximab registry.

OBJECTIVE: The risk of severe infection is a crucial factor in the assessment of the short-term risk:benefit ratio of biologic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is no increase in severe infections in RA patients treated with rituximab (RTX) in controlled trials, but this has not yet been assessed in daily practice. We undertook this study to investigate the occurrence of and risk factors for severe infections in off-trial patients using data from the AutoImmunity and Rituximab (AIR) registry. METHODS: The AIR registry was set up by the French Society of Rheumatology. The charts of patients with severe infections were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the enrolled patients, 1,303 had at least 1 followup visit at 3 months or later, with a mean ± SD followup period of 1.2 ± 0.8 years (1,629 patient-years). Eighty-two severe infections occurred in 78 patients (5.0 severe infections per 100 patient-years), half of them in the 3 months following the last RTX infusion. Multivariate analysis showed that chronic lung disease and/or cardiac insufficiency (odds ratio 3.0 [95% confidence interval 1.3-7.3], P = 0.01), extraarticular involvement (odds ratio 2.9 [95% confidence interval 1.3-6.7], P = 0.009), and low IgG level (<6 gm/liter) before initiation of RTX treatment (odds ratio 4.9 [95% confidence interval 1.6-15.2], P = 0.005) were significantly associated with increased risk of a severe infection. CONCLUSION: The rate of severe infections in current practice is similar to that reported in clinical trials. The risk factors for severe infections include chronic lung and/or cardiac disease, extraarticular involvement, and low IgG before RTX treatment. This suggests that serum IgG should be checked and the risk:benefit ratio of RTX discussed for patients found to have low levels of IgG.

Systematic review of the management of canine osteoarthritis.

This review assesses the evidence for the efficacy of therapies used in the management of osteoarthritis in dogs on the basis of papers published in peer-reviewed journals in English between 1985 and July 2007. Sixty-eight papers were identified and evaluated. They considered four alternative therapies, one use of functional food, two intra-articular agents, six nutraceutical agents, 21 pharmacological agents, two physical therapies, three surgical techniques and two combinations of weight control. There was a high level of comfort (strong evidence) for the efficacy of carprofen, firocoxib and meloxicam, and a moderate level of comfort for the efficacy of etodolac in modifying the signs of osteoarthritis. There was a moderate level of comfort for the efficacy of glycosaminoglycan polysulphate, licofelone, elk velvet antler and a functional food containing green-lipped mussel for the modification of the structures involved in the disease. There was weak or no evidence in support of the use of doxycycline, electrostimulated acupuncture, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, gold wire acupuncture, hyaluronan, pentosan polysulphate, P54FP (extract of turmeric), tiaprofenic acid or tibial plateau levelling osteotomy.

ARTIST (osteoarthritis intervention standardized) study of standardised consultation versus usual care for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee in primary care in France: pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of standardised consultations on patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. DESIGN: Open pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care in France. PARTICIPANTS: 198 primary care rheumatologists, each of whom had to include two consecutive patients who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for osteoarthritis of the knee. INTERVENTIONS: Standardised consultation was provided during three goal oriented visits (education on osteoarthritis and treatment management; information on physical exercises; information on weight loss) or usual care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in body weight and in time spent on physical exercises (Baecke index) at four months. RESULTS: 336 patients were included (154 allocated to standardised consultation and 182 to usual care). Nine patients were excluded because of lack of baseline data (standardised consultation, n=8; usual care, n=1). At four months, taking into account the clustering effect, the decrease in weight was greater in the standardised consultation group than in the usual care group (mean -1.11 (SD 2.49) kg v -0.37 (2.39) kg; P=0.007). The physical activity score was higher for the standardised consultation group than for the usual care group (mean 0.20 (0.65) v 0.04 (0.78); P=0.013). The standardised consultation and usual care groups did not differ in secondary outcomes, except for global assessment of disease activity (0-10 numeric scale: mean -1.66 (2.26) v -0.90 (2.48); P=0.003) and pain level (0-10 numeric scale: mean -1.65 (2.32) v -1.18 (2.58); P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: A structured consultation programme for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee resulted in short term improvement in weight loss and time spent on physical activity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trials NCT00462319.

Eligibility of rheumatoid arthritis patients for anti-TNF-alpha 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-naïve 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.

Long-term follow-up of patients with tuberculosis as a complication of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonist therapy: safe re-initiation of TNF-alpha blockers after appropriate anti-tuberculous treatment.

This study investigated the long-term outcome of patients with tuberculosis (TB) as a complication of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha blocker therapy. All TB cases (n = 21) complicating TNF-alpha blocker therapy from French university hospitals were collated between January 2000 and September 2002. Outcome was assessed via a postal questionnaire during September 2005. The mortality rate after 4 years was 4.8%, and one patient had relapsed and six (29%) patients had recommenced TNF-alpha antagonist treatment, after appropriate anti-TB therapy, without reactivation. These data support the concept that TNF-alpha antagonists can be restarted in TB patients provided that adequate anti-TB treatment has been completed.

Cysteine and serine proteases of synovial tissue in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the activities of cathepsin B (EC 3.4.22.1) and L (EC 3.4.22.15), calpain (EC 3.4.22.17), and dipeptidyl peptidase (EC 3.4.14.5 or DPP IV or CD26) in synovial membrane from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and post-traumatic joint injury (PT). METHODS: Forty RA patients were divided into two groups on the basis of surgical procedure: the RAs group comprised 18 patients requiring surgical synovectomy; the RAr group comprised 22 patients requiring a total joint replacement or arthrodesis. A third group (the OA group) comprised 19 OA patients while six patients with post-traumatic joint injury were included in the fourth group (the PT group). Cathepsin and calpain activity was assessed using a Cobas Fara II centrifugal analyser. DPP IV activity was determined kinetically using a fluorogenic substrate. RESULTS: RAs patients were significantly younger than RAr patients, and the mean duration of RA was shorter in the RAs group than in the RAr group. Cathepsin and calpain activity in synovial membrane was higher in RA and OA patients than in the control group, but no statistical difference was observed between RA and OA. However, cathepsin, calpain, and DPP IV synovial activity was significantly higher in the RAs group than in either the OA or the PT group. CONCLUSION: Our results show that proteinase activity tends to be higher in joints with early synovitis in RA, and suggest that these enzymes are not all involved at the same stage of the disease.

[Cutaneous manifestations during treatment with TNF-alpha blockers: 11 cases]. / Manifestations cutanées observées au cours d'un traitement par anti-TNF alpha: 11 observations.

BACKGROUND: TNFalpha blockers have recently extended the therapeutic arsenal available in dermatology. However, dermatologists must be informed of their potential adverse dermatological effects. While the chief adverse effect of TNFalpha blockers is risk of infection, cutaneous adverse effects have not yet been clearly elucidated and publications on this topic are few and far between. The aim of our study is to report various dermatological problems noted during treatment with TNFalpha blockers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patient files. The study population comprised patients receiving TNFalpha blockers and presenting cutaneous reaction, and seen in the dermatology department between August 2001 and December 2004. RESULTS: Eleven patients were included. The following cutaneous reactions were seen: delayed skin rash (1 case), lupus syndrome (1 case), cutaneous vasculitis (2 cases), palmoplantar pustulosis (2 cases), psoriasis vulgaris (1 case), atopic dermatitis (1 case), lichenoid rash (1 case), purpuric capillaritis (1 case) and melanoma (1 case). DISCUSSION: The cutaneous manifestations seen represented a wide range of different clinical pictures. Dermatologists must be aware of these potential adverse effects. Future improvement of knowledge of the physiopathological mechanisms as well as the institution of prospective cohort studies should provide clearer guidance on the management of such symptoms.

Lack of efficacy of a third tumour necrosis factor alpha antagonist after failure of a soluble receptor and a monoclonal antibody.

OBJECTIVE: Some studies have highlighted the potential benefits of switching from infliximab to etanercept, or after failure of one or the other treatment. To our knowledge, no study has assessed the potential benefits of using the three anti-TNF-alpha agents that are currently available. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the response to treatment in RA patients who had received the three anti-TNF-alpha agents, namely infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab. METHODS: Among a cohort of 364 patients undergoing biological treatments since the year 2000, 284 had been treated with only one anti-TNF-alpha agent. Our assessment focused on the records of 70 patients who had received at least two anti-TNF-alpha agents. Twenty of the 70 patients had received all three anti-TNF-alpha agents (infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab). Effectiveness was assessed using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), and adverse events were reported for each anti-TNF-alpha treatment. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients who had received two anti-TNF-alpha agents, 32 had switched from an antibody to a soluble receptor; 45% of them had a good clinical response to the soluble receptor. Thirty patients had switched from a soluble receptor to an antibody; 45% of them had a good clinical response to the antibody. Only eight patients had switched from an antibody to another antibody with an efficiency score of 33%. Of the 20 patients who had received three anti-TNF-alpha agents, seven had stopped receiving the third anti-TNF-alpha agent due to lack of effectiveness. In this group of non-responders to the third anti-TNF-alpha treatment, all patients except one had stopped receiving the two previous anti-TNF-alpha agents, without adverse events, for lack of effectiveness. These patients were deemed resistant to anti-TNF-alpha therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance to anti-TNF-alpha agents is rare. The lack of effectiveness of a soluble receptor and of one of the anti-TNF-alpha antibodies predicts the lack of effectiveness of the third anti-TNF-alpha treatment.