Etanercept and methotrexate combination therapy.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a major proinflammatory cytokine in the rheumatoid joint. TNF activity can be neutralized by administration of a recombinant version of its soluble p75 TNF receptor linked to the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin IgG1 (etanercept). The present study examined the combination of etanercept with methotrexate (MTX) in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had persistent activity despite monotherapy with MTX. The etanercept-MTX group had a significantly better outcome than the placebo-MTX group using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. At 6 months, 71% of the patients in the etanercept-MTX group had an ACR 20% response (versus 27% in the placebo-MTX group). In the etanercept-MTX group, 39% had an ACR 50% response (versus 3% in the placebo-MTX group), and 15% in the etanercept-MTX group versus 0% in the placebo-MTX group met the robust ACR 70% response. The present study indicates that etanercept is a novel and robust drug in combination with MTX for the treatment of RA.
Bankhurst
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Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131-5271, USA. abankhurst@salud.unm.edu
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008727:Methotrexate