Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor-?? Therapy for Rheumatoid and Other Inflammatory Arthropathies

Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha represents a major advance in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. It is usually well tolerated, but a potential increase in the incidence of some infections in patients taking anti-TNFalpha agents has been reported. Compared with younger people, elderly patients have more co-morbidities and are likely to be taking more medications. Moreover, the aging process induces an increase in the rate of infections. Nevertheless, in recent studies analysing the databases of etanercept trials, the normalised incidence of adverse events, serious adverse events, medically important infections and deaths was no…