title: [Selection of one of the TNF blockers; infliximab and etanercept].
abstract: Infliximab and etanercept, both of which inhibit tumor necrosis factor (TNF), show almost an equal efficacy in reducing disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis and suppressing joints and bone destruction in the disease. Requiring a concomitant usage of methotrexate (MTX), infliximab, a chimeric antibody against TNF-alpha, blocks TNF-alpha and kills TNF-alpha -producing cells. Etanercept, on the other hands, is a soluble TNF receptor which blocks TNF-alpha as well as TNF-beta but does not affect cells producing TNF-alpha. MTX is not required on the etanercept administration because no neutralizing antibodies against etanercept are theoretically generated. The strategy selecting one of them for a patient should be based on the understanding differences and characteristics of the reagents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology and Applied Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saitama Medical University.
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mimura
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept; D008727:Methotrexate