title: Safety of biologic therapies--an update.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists have set a new therapeutic standard for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Agents including infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab have demonstrated substantial improvement in signs and symptoms, disability, and quality of life, while significantly inhibiting joint damage in early and long-standing RA. Safety issues in concert with efficacy determine risk/benefit ratio and hence a position in the therapeutic algorithm. This brief review focuses on infection, congestive heart, and malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Therapeutics, The Rebecca MacDonald Centre for Arthritis and Autoimmune Disease, Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. edkeystone@mtsinai.on.ca
authors.forename: Edward C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Keystone
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069285:Infliximab; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept