The way physicians are classifying some rheumatoid arthritis patients as ‘non-responders’ to anti-TNFs suggests there is room for improvement in adherence to guidelines, Canadian researchers say.

The researchers examined two registries that included data on 1376 patients prescribed tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for RA to better understand the characteristics of those classified as non-responders by doctors.

Depending on the registry, 14% or 18% of patients initiated on an anti-TNF biologic were later classified as non-responders, the researchers reported in the Journal of Rheumatology.

They first concentrated on people who, according to their doctors, showed no improvement at all when they were initially put on the drug (primary non-responders).