PROPOSAL FOR ANTI-TNFα THERAPY IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors:
Božidar Ćurković, Đurđica Babić-Naglić, Jadranka Morović-Vergles, Branimir Anić, Simeon Grazio
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, infl mmatory disease with the prevalence about 1 %. Rheumatoid arthritis is caracterized with synovitis, erosive changes of the joints, pain and functional deficit. Etiology is unknown. In the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis the key role have proinfl ammatory citokines, particularly, tumour necrosis factor (TNFα). TNFα blockers have documented, fast and continuous efficacy with generally well accepted safety profile. Nowdays, TNFα antagonists are established drugs in early and late phase of rheumatoid arthritis. Prescription of TNFα antagonists is controlled, according local restrictions, regarding high costs of the therapy. On behalf of Croatian Society for Rheumatology we propose recommendations for the TNFα antagonist therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.