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Survival during treatment with tumour necrosis factor blocking agents in rheumatoid arthritis

M Flendrie1, M C W Creemers, P M J Welsing

  • 1UMC Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|October 9, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents show similar drug survival rates for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Adverse events were consistent with prior reports, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring of these biological agents.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents represent a significant advancement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment.
  • Limited initial safety data necessitates intensive monitoring of these biological agents during their early clinical use.
  • Large cohort studies are crucial for evaluating the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of TNF inhibitors in chronic rheumatic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of TNF blocking agents in RA patients at a single academic center.
  • To perform a drug survival analysis comparing different TNF blocking agents used for the first time.

Main Methods:

  • A drug survival analysis was conducted on 230 RA patients treated with TNF blocking agents (adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept) since 1997.
  • Data were collected from patients at one participating academic center.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in drug survival were observed among adalimumab, infliximab, and etanercept.
  • The incidence of adverse events leading to drug discontinuation was comparable to previous reports.

Conclusions:

  • TNF blocking agents demonstrate similar drug survival rates in RA patients, irrespective of the specific agent used.
  • Adverse event profiles are consistent with existing literature, reinforcing the need for continued vigilance and monitoring.

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