Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2003
Comparative StudyThe cost effectiveness of rofecoxib and celecoxib in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
To evaluate the cost effectiveness of the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) selective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) rofecoxib compared with naproxen and the COX-2 NSAID celecoxib compared with ibuprofen and diclofenac. ⋯ Both rofecoxib and celecoxib are economically attractive in high risk and elderly patients. They are not economically attractive in patients at average risk. Coprescription of proton-pump inhibitors with COX-2 NSAIDs is not economically attractive for patients at high risk.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialSix-month results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of etanercept treatment in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.
There is increasing evidence that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is centrally involved in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and other spondylarthritides. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of anti-TNFalpha therapy with etanercept, a 75-kd receptor fusion protein, in active AS. ⋯ This study shows that on a short-term basis (3 months), treatment with etanercept is clearly efficacious in patients with active AS who are receiving NSAID therapy but not DMARDs or steroids. After cessation of therapy, almost all patients experienced a relapse within a few weeks. Thus, it seems probable that etanercept must be administered continuously in most AS patients to achieve permanent inhibition of the inflammatory process.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2003
Long-term anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients sensitizes the pituitary gland and favors adrenal androgen secretion.
New insights into the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have expanded our understanding about the possible mechanisms by which anti-TNF antibody therapy reduces local synovial inflammation. Beyond local effects, anti-TNF treatment may modulate systemic antiinflammatory pathways such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This longitudinal anti-TNF therapy study was designed to assess these effects in RA patients. ⋯ Long-term therapy with anti-TNF sensitizes the pituitary gland and improves adrenal androgen secretion in patients who have not previously received prednisolone treatment. These changes are indicative of normalization of the HPA axis and must therefore be considered as evidence of an additional antiinflammatory influence of anti-TNF treatment in patients with RA.