REVIEW - Switching anti-TNF-alpha agents: what is the evidence?

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Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2007 Oct;9(5):416-20.

Switching anti-TNF-alpha agents: what is the evidence?

kson AR, Mikuls TR.

Section of Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical

Center, 988025 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 98198-8025, USA.

The availability of biologic agents targeting tumor necrosis factor

(TNF)-alpha represents a significant advance in the management of

rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-TNF-alpha therapy has been associated with

dramatic improvements in the clinical signs and symptoms of rheumatoid

arthritis and has been shown to greatly retard the destructive process

that too often characterizes this condition. Although effective and

well-tolerated in a substantial proportion of patients, primary and

secondary failures of anti-TNF-alpha strategies have been well

described, affecting up to one-third to one-half of subjects treated

with these agents. Switching from one anti-TNF-alpha agent to a second

(or even third) anti-TNF-alpha therapy has emerged as a means of

addressing treatment failures with this drug class. This review

examines data addressing the practice of switching anti-TNF-alpha

agents in the context of initial treatment failure, with a focus on

data from peer-reviewed reports.

PMID: 17915098

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17915098

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