Discontinuation is more efficacious than tapering of anti-TNF therapy in maintaining low disease activity (LDA) or remission status in patients with axial spondyloarthritis, according to a systematic review of 13 studies. Although the researchers assess the level of evidence as weak, discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy (in five studies) led to flare in 76–100% of patients, whereas tapering by reducing the frequency of anti-TNF administration (in eight studies) enabled 53–100% of patients to maintain LDA or remission.
References
Navarro-Compán, V. et al. Anti-TNF discontinuation and tapering strategies in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic literature review. Rheumatology (Oxford) http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kew033 (2016)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Collison, J. Anti-TNF drugs should be tapered, not halted. Nat Rev Rheumatol 12, 254 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2016.59
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2016.59