Is the sensitivity to change for lower disease activity greater than for higher disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis trials?
In RA trials, patients with lower disease activity within the range of current trial eligibility are more likely to show treatment efficacy than patients with higher disease activity. Lowering thresholds especially for TJC in trials may make it easier to detect treatment effects in RA.
IL-6 levels are associated with subclinical atherosclerotic lesions independently of traditional risk factors; the influence of IL-6 on ICAM-1 secretion may play a role in this association. These results argue the interest of IL-6 in the stratification of cardiovascular risk.