Rheumatology 2001; 40: 699-702
© 2001 British Society for Rheumatology
Report |
WHO Collaborating Centre consensus meeting on anti-cytokine therapy in rheumatoid arthritis
University of Leeds, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, 36 Clarendon Road, Leeds LS2 9NZ, UK,
1 CH Université de Liège, WHO Collaborating Centre, Bone and Cartilage Unit, 45 Quai Godefroid Kurth, 4020 Liège,
2 University of Brussels, Rheumatology, Erasmus Hospital, 88 Route De Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium,
3 University Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, Building 1, C4-R, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands,
4 Department of Rheumatology, Lindenstrasse 2, 83043 Bad Aibling,
5 University of Magdeburg, Klinik für Rheumatologie, D-39245 Vogelsang, Germany,
6 CH Université de Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium,
7 Hospital Universitario La Paz, Rheumatology Unit, Paseo la Castellana 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain,
8 IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Rheumatology Department, Piazzale Golgi, 27100 Pavia, Italy,
9 Anti-inflammatory, Wyeth-Ayerst Research, 145 King of Prussia Road, Saint Davids, PA 19087-4588, USA,
10 Hôpital Lapeyronie, Service d’Immuno-Rhumatologie, 371 avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier Cx 5, France,
11 Kings College Hospital, Clinical and Academic Rheumatology, East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8PT, UK,
12 Istituto Ortopedico Toscano ‘P. Palagi’, Via Michelangelo 41, 50122 Firenze, Italy and
13 Global Strategic Marketing, Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, 555 East Lancaster Avenue, PO Box 8299, Philadelphia, PA 19101-8299, USA
Severe adult rheumatoid arthritis is a cause of progressive disability and increased mortality across Europe. A cure for the disease remains elusive, but control of symptoms and maintenance of individual independence is possible. Anti-cytokine therapies offer a new approach to disease management. They are effective after the failure of full doses of methotrexate, and are at least as effective as methotrexate in retarding the progression of radiological changes. Until more is known about the long-term safety and efficacy of these drugs they should be reserved for patients with severe disease who are progressing despite adequate doses of methotrexate or other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. They should be continued until therapeutic failure or intolerance. A comprehensive health economic evaluation is needed to optimally direct the use of these drugs. This should be undertaken when long-term safety and efficacy studies are completed.
Correspondence to: P. Emery, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University of Leeds, 36 Clarendon Road, Leeds LS2 9NZ, UK.
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