Applying science in practice: the optimization of biological therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

Table 3 Relative treatment effect for ACR20/ACR50/ACR70 responses in DMARD-IR patients

	Biologic DMARD versus placebo: relative risk (97.5% CI)	Tocilizumab versus alternative biologic DMARDs: relative risk (97.5% CI)
ACR20 (random-effects model)^a
Tocilizumab	2.1 (1.6 to 2.5)	1
TNF-α inhibitors	2.0 (1.7 to 2.3)	1.1 (0.8 to 1.3)
Abatacept	1.9 (1.4 to 2.3)	1.1 (0.8 to 1.6)
Rituximab	1.9 (1.3 to 2.5)	1.1 (0.8 to 1.7)
ACR50 (random-effects model)^a
Tocilizumab	3.6 (2.5 to 5.0)	1
TNF-α inhibitors	3.2 (2.5 to 4.3)	1.1 (0.7 to 1.6)
Abatacept	2.7 (1.7 to 4.0)	1.3 (0.8 to 2.3)
Rituximab	2.9 (1.5 to 4.9)	1.2 (0.7 to 2.5)
ACR70 (fixed-effects model)^a
Tocilizumab	6.8 (4.9 to 9.4)	1
TNF-α inhibitors	3.8 (3.1 to 4.8)	1.8 (1.2 to 2.6)
Abatacept	3.4 (2.5 to 4.8)	2.0 (1.3 to 3.1)
Rituximab	4.3 (2.2 to 8.9)	1.6 (0.7 to 3.3)

Data extracted from Bergman and colleagues [37]. ^aOnly the most appropriate estimates, according to the authors, are presented, namely random-effects estimated for ACR20 and ACR50 and fixed-effects estimates for ACR70 responses. ACR20, American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria; ACR50, American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement criteria; ACR70, American College of Rheumatology 70% improvement criteria; CI, confidence interval; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; DMARD-IR, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-inadequate response; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

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