Present and future of biologic drugs in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
Primary Sjögren's (pSS) syndrome is a chronic, autoimmune, and systemic disease characterized by xerostomia, xerophthalmia, muscle pain and fatigue. The disease may be complicated by a systemic involvement, such as a pulmonary fibrosis or the development of lymphoma which severely worsens the prognosis. Actually, there are no recommendations for the management of pSS. However, recent advances in the understanding of its pathogenesis have uncovered some pathways that have potential as therapeutic targets. Areas covered: In this review, the authors present the biologic drugs potentially valuable to the treatment of pSS in light of its physiopathology with a 'bird's eye' view of future prospects. The authors took into account relevant studies published from 2004 to 2016. Expert opinion: Biological treatment in pSS is a promising opportunity to potentially control disease activity and prevent its complication. Currently, inhibition of B-cell and IL-17 pathways seem to be the most promising avenues. New achievements in the knowledge of pSS pathophysiology are necessary in order to try to simultaneously predict the predominant pathogenic pathway, the kind of patients at major risk to develop a more severe disease, and the appropriate biological therapy to use.
a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Teaching Hospital Policlinico 'G. Rodolico' , University of Catania , Catania , Italy.|b Outpatient Clinic of Rheumatology accredited to National Health System , 'Artroreuma srl' , Mascalucia , Italy.
Domenico
D
Sambataro
b Outpatient Clinic of Rheumatology accredited to National Health System , 'Artroreuma srl' , Mascalucia , Italy.
Gianluca
G
Sambataro
a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Teaching Hospital Policlinico 'G. Rodolico' , University of Catania , Catania , Italy.
Ylenia
Y
Dal Bosco
a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Teaching Hospital Policlinico 'G. Rodolico' , University of Catania , Catania , Italy.
Riccardo
R
Polosa
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001688:Biological Products / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D001685:Biological Factors; D001688:Biological Products; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17
Biological therapy; Sjögren’s syndrome; physiopathology; review