Etanercept in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
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.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Articles identified and retrieved from data sources were evaluated and, if determined to be relevant, were included in this review.


RESULTS
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.
Johnson
C J
CJ
Immunex Corporation, Professional Services Department, Seattle, WA 98101-2936, USA. cjohnson@immunex.com
Reilly
K M
KM
Murray
K M
KM
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept