title: Safety of biologic therapies for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The introduction of biological therapies opened a new era of treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. After 15 years of experience with the first biologics for treatment of pediatric rheumatic disease, long-term safety effects are of great interest.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes published knowledge about safety aspects from clinical trials as well as from biologic registries in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients. Beside infusion and injection reactions, the occurrence and aggravation of infections, the occurrence of a second autoimmune diseases, including uveitis, psoriasis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, as well as cytopenias and the development of malignancies are major concerns regarding treatment with biologics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The safety profiles of approved biologics, the TNF-α inhibitors etanercept and adalimumab, and the IL-6-inhibitor tocilizumab are highly acceptable. This conclusion is not easily expandable to the IL-1 inhibitor canakinumab as well as the T-cell-activation-inhibitor abatacept due to lack of experience; however, both have showed an excellent safety profile so far. An increase in knowledge about risk profiles in national and international collaborations, with national as well as international registries, is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Paediatric Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics, Asklepios Clinic Sankt Augustin , Arnold-Janssen-Str. 29, 53757 Sankt Augustin , Germany +0049 2241 249 201 ; +0049 2241 249 203 ; g.horneff@asklepios.com.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horneff
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C541220:canakinumab; D000068879:Adalimumab; C502936:tocilizumab; D000068800:Etanercept
keywords: TNF-α-inhibitors; abatacept; adalimumab; etanercept; infliximab; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; safety; tocilizumab