SUCCESSFUL USE OF ETANERCEPT IN A PATIENT WITH POLYARTICULAR JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE PREDICTORS OF A GOOD RESPONSE TO ONGOING THERAPY

Abstract

The article presents a case of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis resistant to methotrexate therapy and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. The child was prescribed a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor etanercept at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg body weight2 times/week. The treatment with etanercept induced remission of the disease, ensured the function restoration in the joints. The predictors of a good response to etanercept were the younger age, the short course of the disease, the use of a small number of immunosuppressants before prescription of etanercept, the absence of concomitant use of glucocorticosteroids, and the absence of uveitis.

Keywords

• children
• juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• therapy
• etanercept
• response predictors