WHO Collaborating Centre consensus meeting on anti-cytokine therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

TY - JOUR

T1 - WHO Collaborating Centre consensus meeting on anti-cytokine therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

AU - Emery, P

AU - Reginster, J Y

AU - Appelboom, T

AU - Breedveld, F C

AU - Edelmann, E

AU - Kekow, J

AU - Malaise, M

AU - Mola, E M

AU - Montecucco, C

AU - Sanda, M

AU - Sany, J

AU - Scott, D L

AU - Serni, U

AU - Seydoux, G

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - Severe adult rheumatoid arthritis is a cause of progressive disability and increased mortality across Europe. A cure for the disease remains elusive, but control of symptoms and maintenance of individual independence is possible. Anti-cytokine therapies offer a new approach to disease management. They are effective after the failure of full doses of methotrexate, and are at least as effective as methotrexate in retarding the progression of radiological changes. Until more is known about the long-term safety and efficacy of these drugs they should be reserved for patients with severe disease who are progressing despite adequate doses of methotrexate or other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. They should be continued until therapeutic failure or intolerance. A comprehensive health economic evaluation is needed to optimally direct the use of these drugs. This should be undertaken when long-term safety and efficacy studies are completed.

AB - Severe adult rheumatoid arthritis is a cause of progressive disability and increased mortality across Europe. A cure for the disease remains elusive, but control of symptoms and maintenance of individual independence is possible. Anti-cytokine therapies offer a new approach to disease management. They are effective after the failure of full doses of methotrexate, and are at least as effective as methotrexate in retarding the progression of radiological changes. Until more is known about the long-term safety and efficacy of these drugs they should be reserved for patients with severe disease who are progressing despite adequate doses of methotrexate or other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. They should be continued until therapeutic failure or intolerance. A comprehensive health economic evaluation is needed to optimally direct the use of these drugs. This should be undertaken when long-term safety and efficacy studies are completed.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034944863&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/rheumatology/40.6.699

DO - 10.1093/rheumatology/40.6.699

M3 - Article

SN - 1662-3959

SN - 1462-0332

VL - 40

SP - 699

EP - 702

JO - Rheumatology

JF - Rheumatology

IS - 6

ER -