Mode of action of abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis patients having failed tumour necrosis factor blockade: a histological gene expression and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging pilot study

摘要

Objectives:Abatacept is the only agent currently approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that targets the co-stimulatory signal required for full T-cell activation. No studies have been conducted on its effect on the synovium, the primary site of pathology. The aim of this study was to determine the synovial effect of abatacept in patients with RA and an inadequate response to tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) blocking therapy.