Tumor Necrosis Factor Blockers in Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 342; no. 11; pp. 810 - 811
• Main Author: Pisetsky, David S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Massachusetts Medical Society 16-03-2000
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antirheumatic Agents - adverse effects; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Juvenile - drug therapy; Child; Etanercept; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - adverse effects; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin G - therapeutic use; Infliximab; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - analysis; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - therapeutic use; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200003163421110

For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a new era in treatment has begun. This optimistic view, shared widely by rheumatologists, reflects the introduction in the past two years of novel agents to treat this painful and debilitating condition. These agents, including the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, are the fruits of biotechnology and bring improvements in efficacy and safety. Furthermore, children will be among the candidates for these new treatments, since as shown by the results reported by Lovell et al. in this issue of the
Journal,
1
children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, like adults, have an impressive response to TNF blockade. . . .