Delayed clinical response in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with etanercept.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate response in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who failed to meet response criteria after 3 months of etanercept treatment.


METHODS
This was a prospective ongoing multicenter observational study of all Dutch patients with JIA using etanercept. Response according to American College of Rheumatology Pediatric 30 criteria was assessed at study start and at 3 and 15 months.


RESULTS
In total we studied 179 patients of median age 5.8 years at disease onset; 70% were female. Thirty-four patients did not respond after 3 months, of which 20 continued etanercept and 11 achieved response thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
The delayed clinically relevant response in a substantial proportion of patients who initially did not respond justifies the consideration of continuing therapy to at least 6 months.
Otten
Marieke H
MH
Department of Paediatrics, Sp 1547, Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.otten@erasmusmc.nl
Prince
Femke H M
FH
Twilt
Marinka
M
van Rossum
Marion A J
MA
Armbrust
Wineke
W
Hoppenreijs
Esther P A H
EP
Kamphuis
Sylvia
S
Koopman-Keemink
Yvonne
Y
Wulffraat
Nico M
NM
Gorter
Simone L
SL
Ten Cate
Rebecca
R
van Suijlekom-Smit
Lisette W A
LW
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept