Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
The immunopathology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is now better understood, and this knowledge has been translated into more effective therapy with biologic response modifiers. The first group of biologic response modifiers are the tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. There efficacy in controlling RA has been such that remission is now the goal of RA management. As with any patient treatment, safety is an issue; patients will need ongoing monitoring for infections, tumors, and other rare complications.
Naguwa
Stanley M
SM
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California-Davis, 451 E. Health Sciences Drive, Genome and Biomedical Science Facility, Suite 6510, Davis, CA 95616, USA. smnaguwa@ucdavis.edu
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha