title: Abatacept as add-on therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Abatacept is a co-stimulation blocker that inhibits T-cell activation and interrupts the process leading to inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with severe arthritis who took abatacept with at least one other disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in six and 12-month clinical trials demonstrated statistically significant improvement in tender, swollen joints and other clinical measures compared with placebo. Mild to moderate adverse events included headache, nasopharyngitis, hypertension and back pain. The adverse events were similar to those seen in placebo groups. Abatacept should not be used in combination with other biologic agents because of reported increased rates of serious adverse events, including serious infections. With its different mechanism of action, abatacept may be an alternative add-on therapy for patients with an inadequate response to other arthritis therapies.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002170:Canada; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017277:Drug Approval; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007155:Immunologic Factors