title: Clinical experience with inhibition of interleukin-6.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Prognosis depends on disease severity and response to treatment. Those patients whose diseases are refractory to treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and have persistent inflammation have reduced survival similar to patients with triple-vessel coronary artery disease and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Although DMARDs reduce inflammation and improve symptoms, they do not improve long-term prognosis. Chronic synovial inflammation results in damage to the articular cartilage and adjacent bone. Consequently,after 10 years of disease most patients develop significant disability due to joint damage. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key mediator of inflammation in RA. Inhibition of IL-6 reduces synovitis and improves symptoms. Therapies targeting IL-6 are promising new treatments for RA.
authors.affiliation: Sir Alfred Baring Garrod Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Rheumatology, GKT School of Medicine, 2nd Floor, Weston Education Centre, King's College London, Cutcombe Road, London, UK SE5 9PJ. ernest.choy@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Choy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D023421:Models, Animal; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors