TNF-α is thought to play a pivotal role in the initiation and perpetuation of the chronic inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis. TNF-α blockers such as infliximab and etanercept are currently used in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when traditional DMARDs have failed and are effective in a significant proportion of patients. However, about one third are non-responders to anti-TNF-α. The aim of this study was to verify whether rheumatoid patients, after failing infliximab, can benefit from etanercept. We analysed 18 patients with active RA with no response to at least 3 DMARDs and where infliximab therapy had failed. The patients had received infliximab associated with methotrexate: eleven of them did not show any significant response, while seven patients, after a good response, relapsed. Etanercept was then started. EULAR criteria of response were used with calculation of activity index DAS28 at baseline, after 2 weeks, 3 months and every third month until last follow-up. A moderate or good response was achieved with etanercept in 13 out of 18 patients. From our experience, etanercept can be considered as a good alternative choice when infliximab has failed.

Switching to etanercept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with no response to infliximab.

DE VITA, Salvatore
2007-01-01

Abstract

TNF-α is thought to play a pivotal role in the initiation and perpetuation of the chronic inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis. TNF-α blockers such as infliximab and etanercept are currently used in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when traditional DMARDs have failed and are effective in a significant proportion of patients. However, about one third are non-responders to anti-TNF-α. The aim of this study was to verify whether rheumatoid patients, after failing infliximab, can benefit from etanercept. We analysed 18 patients with active RA with no response to at least 3 DMARDs and where infliximab therapy had failed. The patients had received infliximab associated with methotrexate: eleven of them did not show any significant response, while seven patients, after a good response, relapsed. Etanercept was then started. EULAR criteria of response were used with calculation of activity index DAS28 at baseline, after 2 weeks, 3 months and every third month until last follow-up. A moderate or good response was achieved with etanercept in 13 out of 18 patients. From our experience, etanercept can be considered as a good alternative choice when infliximab has failed.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11390/699437
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