title: Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: etanercept a recent advance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the specific mechanism of action of biologic response modifiers and help clinicians place these new drugs in the context of established therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of scientific literature, including all the clinical trials for these drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biologic response modifiers target key inflammatory events involved in joint destruction. They have the potential to revolutionize the management of RA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Referral to a rheumatologist should be strongly considered as soon as the diagnosis of RA is made. Early referral to a specialist has been associated with improved health status for patients with RA due to early and aggressive therapy with these new agents.
authors.affiliation: jaylar@worldpath.net
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halin
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept