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Biologic agents for rheumatoid arthritis: 2008 and beyond

Nadera J Sweiss1, Linda L Hushaw

  • 1University of Chicago, Sarcoidosis and Scleroderma Clinic, Section of Rheumatology, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Journal of Infusion Nursing : the Official Publication of the Infusion Nurses Society
|January 15, 2009
PubMed

Insights

New biologic drugs offer advanced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment options. Nursing care is crucial for patient education and managing side effects of these novel therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Rheumatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with complex pathology.
  • Patient presentation and disease progression in RA are highly variable.
  • The therapeutic landscape for RA is evolving with the advent of novel treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review emerging biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for RA treatment.
  • To highlight the role of nursing in managing patients on advanced RA therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of late-stage clinical trial agents for RA.
  • Identification of novel biologic DMARDs targeting specific inflammatory pathways.

Main Results:

  • Several novel biologic agents are in late-stage development for RA.
  • Key agents include anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha therapies (golimumab, certolizumab), an anti-CD20 agent (ocrelizumab), and an interleukin-6 inhibitor (tocilizumab).

Conclusions:

  • Expanding RA treatment options necessitate enhanced nursing support.
  • Patient education and adverse effect management are critical nursing interventions for optimizing outcomes with new RA biologics.

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