Biologics in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2005 Nov;31(4):745-62.

Biologics in early rheumatoid arthritis.

de Vries-Bouwstra JK, Dijkmans BA, Breedveld FC.

Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam,

The Netherlands.

Treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with disease-

modifying antirheumatic drugs is started immediately after diagnosis,

resulting in more effective suppression of disease activity and

substantial reduction of joint damage. The development of biologic

agents has enabled remission as a realistic therapeutic goal in a

greater proportion of patients. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha

inhibitors, infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab, have been studied

in numerous randomized clinical trials. These agents can suppress

disease activity directly, slow or stop progression of radiologic

damage, and prevent further loss of quality of life. Patients treated

with tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors show few adverse events,

which together with the high clinical effectiveness is favorable for

treatment compliance. The exact role of these agents in the treatment

of early-stage RA is unknown.

PMID: 16287595 [PubMed - in process]