Noting that their results support and extend data from other studies, the authors said a realistic treatment goal for JIA should include therapy aimed at reducing inflammation to minimize disease-related disability, including growth impairment.
Commenting on the study, coauthor Daniel J. Lovell, MD, of the Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati says, “this study adds to an ever growing list of positive outcomes for children with JIA treated with anti-[tumor-necrosis factor] TNF therapies. Anti-TNF biologic therapies have been shown to have a profound and comprehensive effect on both physiologic and psychosocial outcomes in children with polyarticular forms of JIA.”
Reference
1. Giannini EH, Ilowite NT, Lovell DJ, et al. Effects of long-term etanercept treatment on growth in children with selected categories of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;62:3259-3264.
Sue Pondrom is a medical journalist based in San Diego.
