Experts point out that the biological therapies are the most effective treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

-Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease severe and disabling from the point of view physical and work that affects approximately one percent of the adult population worldwide, mostly women (i)

– according to experts, some of the existing biological therapies show a lower immunogenicity, which can lead to significant clinical and economic consequences

– day data from the study have been PRESERVED, the first study conducted exclusively in patients with active moderate rheumatoid arthritis where it is shown that a high percentage of patients in treatment with etanercept reach remission clinical and radiological

Zafra, March 2012.- immunogenicity, aspects farmacoenómicos and cost-effectiveness of different biological therapies, as well as the results of the study may PRESERVE, they have been the topics covered during the multidisciplinary meeting in Zafra, under the title: optimization of biological therapy ”. The day has counted with the support of the biomedical company Pfizer, and has brought together rheumatologists and immunologists of Extremadura.

According to doctor José Luis Álvarez Vega, Hospital Infanta Cristina de Badajoz rheumatologist and coordinator of the day: this meeting has enabled us to deepen the knowledge of specific aspects of biological therapy, which is the Group of more effective drugs in the treatment of some of the major rheumatological diseases, between which lies the rheumatoid arthritis ”.

Immunogenicity is still the major problem of biological therapies, because it affects the efficacy of the drugs and their possible toxicity ” pointed out Dr. Alvarez Vega.

During the celebration of the day, the data from the study have been PRESERVED, the first study conducted in patients with active moderate rheumatoid arthritis. The study investigates the possibility of optimizing the treatment of patients with moderate AR to maintain control of the disease, once it has reached a good maintained clinical response pointed out doctor Eugenio Chamizo, section chief, rheumatology at the Hospital of Mérida. The study presents excellent results of etanercept for the treatment of this disease ”, has also highlighted Dr. Alvarez Vega.

Cost farmaeconómico

Biological treatments have a high cost and public resources are limited, especially in a situation of economic crisis like the present. For this reason, the specialists gathered in Zafra have stressed the importance of value the cost of employing these as effective biological agents in patients who need and facing the cost of not to use them ” has pointed out the doctor Chamizo. Among the main consequences of not using this treatment has highlighted: irreversible deterioration of the joints, systemic complications, increased use of prosthesis joints, inability to work, loss of productivity and working hours ”.

The meeting has been out since a multidisciplinary approach and has given the opportunity to clinical rheumatologists, immunologists and specialists in farmaeconomía, to deal with biological therapies. At the same time, Dr. Álvarez has stressed that has served to continue the training of medical and deepen the knowledge of specific aspects of his specialty, which will result in better care to the patient that suffers from a rheumatologic disease chronic inflammatory ”.

About Rheumatoid arthritis

It is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects mainly the hands and feet, although any joint coated by a synovial membrane may be affected.(i) you can also affect the knees, hips and shoulders. If the condition persists, it can cause permanent damage to tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone destruction and deformity.(i) it is a serious and disabling from the point of view of physical and occupational disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1% of the adult population worldwide. The prevalence is higher in women than in men. Rheumatoid arthritis can begin at any age, but usually manifests itself in people aged between 40 and 70 years.(i)

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Referencia:

(i) Lee DM, Weinblatt ME. Rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 2001; 358: 903-911.