Comparison of clinical and laboratory outcomes of Anti-TNF and Non-Anti-TNF biologic therapies in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of anti-TNF and non-anti-TNF biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic medications on disease activity, as well as hematological and biochemical laboratory parameters, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Materials and Methods: The study included 73 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The patients were aged 22–74 years and had been using biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for at least 6 months. Subjects were stratified into two groups. Group I comprised 44 patients receiving anti-TNF biological agents, and Group II consisted of 29 patients receiving non-anti-TNF biological agents. Demographic characteristics, serological features, pre-treatment and six-month post-treatment laboratory results, and Disease Activity Score-28 using erythrocyte sedimentation rate were retrospectively evaluated.Results: DAS28 decreased significantly in both groups, from 6.1±0.5 to 3.9±0.8 in Group I and from 6.2±0.7 to 3.4±0.9 in Group II with a greater reduction in Group II (−2.8±0.8 vs −2.3±0.7). ESR also showed a greater decrease in Group II (−24.9±25.3 vs −9.2±15.5), whereas the change in CRP was similar between the groups. HGB increased significantly in both groups, and neutrophil counts decreased significantly. In Group II, PLT levels decreased and AST levels increased. Conclusion: Both categories of biological treatment exerted beneficial effects on disease activity and inflammatory metrics.