The safety of biologic agents in early rheumatoid arthritis

A. Kavanaugh¹, E.C. Keystone²

¹Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, The University of California, San Diego, California, USA; ²The Rebecca MacDonald Centre for Arthritis and Autoimmune Disease, Mount Sinai Hospital, The University of Toronto, Canada.

ABSTRACT
Accompanying the excitement surrounding the prominent efficacy of biologic agents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been concern regarding potential adverse effects. Data from clinical trials and pharmacovigilance has provided an assessment of their safety in patients with established RA. As biologic agents are utilized in patients with earlier disease, optimal determination of the risk/benefit will depend on continued careful monitoring, collection, reporting and analysis of safety information.

Key words
Pharmacovigilance, TNF inhibitors, biologic agents, rheumatoid arthritis, safety.

Please address correspondence to: Arthur Kavanaugh, MD, Center for Innovative Therapy, UCSD, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, Immunology, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0943, USA.

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2003; 21: (Suppl. 31): S203-S208.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2003.