The study aim was to determine
whether obesity
represents a risk factor fo
r a poor remission
rate in RA patients requiring anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy for progressive and active disease despite
treatment with methotrexate or other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Methods. Patients were identified from 15 outpatient clinics of university hospitals and hospitals in Italy taking part in
the Gruppo Italiano di Studio sulle Early Arthritis network. Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), body mass index
(BMI; categorized as 30 kg/m2
), acute-phase reactants, IgM rheumatoid factor, and anti– cyclic
citrullinated peptide antibody values were collected. DAS28 remission was defined as a score of