title: Efficacy and safety of TNF-blocker therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is still unmet medical need in the therapy of severe organ manifestations of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Therapeutic agents targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines may be an interesting option.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review available data on the efficacy and safety of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockade in SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature was conducted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open-label experience suggests that TNF blockade is effective in SLE patients with arthritis, nephritis and skin disease. In particular, nephritis may remain in long-term remission after just four infusions of infliximab administered. Despite the induction of lupus-specific autoantibodies, short-term therapy with infliximab in combination with azathioprine appears feasible and relatively safe. The data call for controlled clinical trials, at least one of which has been initiated.
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Center Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine III, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany. martin.aringer@uniklinikum-dresden.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aringer
authors.forename: Josef S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Smolen
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009393:Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha