Etanercept in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Article Details

Citation

Johnson CJ, Reilly KM, Murray KM

Etanercept in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Ann Pharmacother. 2001 Apr;35(4):464-71.

PubMed ID
11302411 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review the classification, pathophysiology, safety, and efficacy of treatment options for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Etanercept, the agent most recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in JRA, is featured. DATA SOURCES: Articles were identified from a search of the MEDLINE database (1966 to January 2000) and through secondary sources. Meeting abstracts and posters were also evaluated. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Articles identified and retrieved from data sources were evaluated and, if determined to be relevant, were included in this review. DATA SYNTHESIS: JRA represents a major cause of functional disability in children. In contrast to traditional therapeutic agents for JRA, which act through generalized antiinflammatory activity or generalized immunosuppression, new therapeutic modalities have been developed that target specific molecules involved in the pathophysiology of JRA. Etanercept inhibits the activity of tumor necrosis factor and lymphotoxin-alpha. In a clinical trial of patients with polyarticular-course JRA, etanercept-treated patients experienced less pain and swelling in their joints, decreased incidence of disease activity, less frequent flare, and a longer time to flare than patients receiving placebo. Treatment with etanercept was generally well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Etanercept represents an exciting new therapeutic option for the treatment of JRA. The positioning of etanercept among other therapeutic options for JRA will be more clearly established as additional safety and efficacy data are made available.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
EtanerceptLymphotoxin-alphaProteinHumans
Yes
Antibody
Details