Vnitr Lek 2006, 52(6):632-639

Biological treatment of rheumatic diseases

L. Procházková^*, J. Böhmová, M. Souček

II. interní klinika Lékařské fakulty MU a FN u sv. Anny, Brno, přednosta doc. MUDr. Miroslav Souček, CSc.

During recent two decades the progress in the understanding of the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases have led to new treatment targets, whose achievement claims new therapeutic advancings. Biological drugs complete or replace conventional immunosuppressive therapies in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In the treatment of rheumatic diseases are currently used TNFα inhibitors and blockade of the IL-1, in phase of clinical trials or actual registration are agents blocking IL-6, the antibodies against B cell and inhibition of activation of T-cells by costimulating blockade with CTLA4Ig. In the Czech Republic are for treating of rheumatic diseases approved TNF blocking drugs. Treatment with this drugs is centred in biological therapy centres and patients are enroled into Registry of patients treated with anti TNFα drugs (ATTRA), which enable long-term observation of efficacy and toxicity.

Keywords: rheumatic diseases; TNFα; TNF blocking agents; biological treatment

Received: January 26, 2006; Accepted: February 16, 2006; Published: June 1, 2006  Show citation