Aletaha D, Maa J, Chen S, et al. - Researchers ascertained whether disease term and number of prior disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) influenced response to therapy in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the larger study (N = 207), a greater number of prior DMARDs (> 2 vs 0–1) was related to smaller improvements in Disease Activity Score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28(CRP)), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) from baseline to week 24. RA duration of > 10 years vs < 1 year was correlated with higher HAQ-DI scores at week 24, although, results on DAS28(CRP) and SDAI were mixed. A bigger number of prior DMARDs and more prolonged RA term were related to lower American College of Rheumatology response rates at week 24. Data from the second trial (N = 67) casually validated these findings. In conclusion, in patients with established RA, the number of former DMARDs and disease term influences responses to therapy. Moreover, the number of prior DMARDs, despite disease term, has a limiting impact on the potential response to adalimumab therapy.