title: Infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: There is accumulating evidence that early and aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis may lead to enhanced and sustained clinical outcomes. The goal of therapy in rheumatoid arthritis is remission. Tumor necrosis factor is a pivotal pro-inflammatory cytokine in rheumatoid arthritis. Infliximab, a chimeric murine human antitumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody, was the first tumor necrosis factor blocking agent to be used in humans. Blockade of tumor necrosis factor occupies a central hierarchal role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and now several other chronic inflammatory conditions. Although there are still many limitations and hurdles in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, the introduction of infliximab and related drugs into clinical practice represents a real therapeutic advance which has made remission an achievable goal for many more patients. This article describes the role of tumor necrosis factor and the impact of its blockade with infliximab in rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Academic Section of Musculoskeletal Disease, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Chapeltown Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 4SA, UK. benazir_saleem@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Benazir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mackie
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emery