OBJECTIVES:  This study evaluated effects of sirukumab, a selective, high-affinity anti-IL-6 cytokine monoclonal antibody, on the key treatment-related outcomes of work productivity/interference and general health status in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). METHODS:  Eligible patients were randomized 1:1:1 to sirukumab subcutaneous (SC) 50mg q4w, sirukumab SC 100mg q2w, or placebo SC q2w. Patients receiving placebo with <20% improvement at Weeks 18 or 40 or still on placebo at Week 52 were re-randomized to 1 of the 2 sirukumab dosages. The Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) evaluated health-related job limitations and productivity loss; the 3-level EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire measured 5 dimensions of health status (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression). Additional endpoints included changes from baseline in WLQ scores, EQ-5D index scores, and EQ-5D health state visual analog scale (VAS) scores at Weeks 24 and 52. RESULTS:  There were significant improvements in mean WLQ production loss scores from baseline for sirukumab 50mg q4w and 100mg q2w compared with placebo at Weeks 24 and 52 (both P<0.001; mean Week 52 change, -3.06 and -2.94 vs -0.73, respectively). Both doses of sirukumab led to significantly greater improvements from baseline in all 4 mean WLQ domain scores (mental-interpersonal, output, physical demands, time management) compared with placebo at Weeks 24 and 52 (all P<0.05). The mean EQ-5D index and health state VAS scores improved significantly from baseline at Weeks 24 and 52 with both doses of sirukumab compared with placebo (all P≤0.002; mean Week 52 index change, 0.20 and 0.20 vs 0.13, respectively; mean Week 52 VAS change, 16.80 and 17.14 vs 8.30, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: