Annals of the rheumatic diseases
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As long-term treatment with antitumour necrosis factor (TNF) drugs becomes accepted practice, the risk assessment requires an understanding of anti-TNF long-term safety. Registry safety data in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are available, but these patients may not be monitored as closely as patients in a clinical trial. Cross-indication safety reviews of available anti-TNF agents are limited. ⋯ Analysis of adverse events of interest through nearly 12 years of adalimumab exposure in clinical trials across indications demonstrated individual differences in rates by disease populations, no new safety signals and a safety profile consistent with known information about the anti-TNF class.
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To review the occurrence and magnitude of workplace productivity loss and sick leave in inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients and to identify determinants. ⋯ IA impacts worker productivity, but its estimated magnitude varies. Higher levels of sick leave and workplace productivity loss were reported for increased levels of pain and decreased levels of functional ability.
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The recent approval of belimumab for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) ended a decade in which there was mounting optimism about the prospect for developing biologically based therapies for SLE. During this same period, steady progress had been made in understanding and applying conventional therapies for SLE. These advances in the use of conventional therapies provide an important frame of reference for evaluating the novel biologic therapies that are expected to emerge in the near future.
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Practice Guideline
EULAR recommendations for vaccination in adult patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
To develop evidence-based European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD). ⋯ Recommendations for vaccination in patients with AIIRD based on the currently available evidence and expert opinion were formulated. More research is needed, particularly regarding the incidence of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases and the safety of vaccination in patients with AIIRD.
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To review the evidence for the efficacy and safety of biological agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to provide data to develop treatment recommendations by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Task Force. ⋯ There is good evidence for the efficacy of biological agents in patients with RA. Safety data confirm an increased risk of bacterial infection and TB with TNFi compared with conventional DMARDs.