title: Biologics in oral medicine: principles of use and practical considerations.
abstract: Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 525-536 Biologic therapies are relatively innovative treatments aimed at modulating lymphocytes or cytokines. There are currently three broad classes of biologic therapies, tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, lymphocyte modulators and interleukin inhibitors; all are increasingly used in the treatment of inflammatory immune-mediated conditions, and several have potential applications in oral medicine. Guidelines for their use in licensed indications (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease) include recommendations and guidance for patient selection and subsequent monitoring with discussion of potential adverse effects. An understanding of these is important when managing patients receiving biologic therapy for systemic disease, and compliance is essential in any use in oral medicine. Key aspects of current guidance are presented with particular emphasis on their relevance to clinicians working within oral and maxillofacial medicine/pathology/surgery and in specialist practice.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Affaires Poincaré, Rue Poincaré, Nice, France. iain.oneill@hotmail.com
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scully
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007378:Interleukins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D019242:Oral Medicine; D053210:Pharmaceutical Preparations, Dental / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007378:Interleukins; D053210:Pharmaceutical Preparations, Dental; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha