Kietz, et al. (2002). Therapeutic use of etanercept in polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis over a two year period

[Wise Young]

• Kietz DA, Pepmueller PH and Moore TL (2002). Therapeutic use of etanercept in polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis over a two year period. Ann Rheum Dis. 61 (2): 171-3. Summary: Objective: To analyse the treatment response to etanercept in patients with polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods: 22 patients with polyarticular course JIA (19 females, three males; mean age 13.9 years; mean disease duration 6.3 years; 15 with polyarticular onset, seven with systemic onset, one with residual systemic activity; eight rheumatoid factor positive; eight with erosive disease) were treated with etanercept for up to 24 months. Etanercept was given subcutaneously at 0.4 mg/kg twice a week. Treatment response was ascertained in an open prospective study. Results: All patients showed impressive clinical improvement, with a decrease in swollen joint count by an average of 10.1 joints (mean of 49% decrease), a decrease in tender joint count by 9.3 joints (mean of 94%), and decrease in total joint count by 11.2 joints (mean of 48%). Duration of morning stiffness decreased to less than 10 minutes. Furthermore, haemoglobin concentration increased on average by 14 g/l (mean of 15.3%) and packed cell volume increased by 0.035 (mean increase of 12%), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate decreased on average by 42.8 mm/1st h (mean decrease of 64%). No major side effects were noted. Conclusion: Etanercept continues to be clinically effective and well tolerated in patients with polyarticular course JIA over a two year period. <http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/61/2/171
http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/61/2/171
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=11796406> Division of Rheumatology, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, St Louis University Health Sciences Center, St Louis, MO, USA.