title: Adalimumab therapy in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA), a monoclonal anti-TNFalpha antibody, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  5 years retrospective observational study on 70 active RA (ARA 1987 modified criteria; 48 women; mean age 52.6 +/- 11.7 years; mean disease duration 6.7 +/- 3.2 years, mean DAS28 6.5 +/- 1.3) treated with ADA (classic regimen). All patients have been assessed according to a standard protocol: (i) clinical (tender and swollen joints; pain; global disease evaluation), (ii) inflammatory and (iii) immune parameters (total antinuclear and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies), (iv) activity and functional scores, (v) response to therapy (EULAR), (vi) adverse events. Evaluation was performed at baseline and every 3 months. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS-13, p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical significant improve in RA activity (mean final DAS28 3.6 +/- 0.8, p < 0.05), functional scores (mean HAQ 1.3 +/- 0.3, p < 0.05) and decreased X-ray progression (Sharp score) have been reported; 60% RA were responders (mean EULAR 2.7 +/- 1.2), 35.7% in remission, while switching to another biological agent (14.28% ADA failure) was done in 20% cases, clinical, biological and radiological efficacy and favorable safety profile of ADA have been demonstrated in real life long-term administration in active RA.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, "Gr.T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iaşi.
authors.forename: Codrina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ancuţa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ancuţa
authors.forename: Smaranda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miu
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iordache
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belibou
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chirieac
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000068879:Adalimumab