Antitumour necrosis factor alfa treatments for rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common progressive inflammatory disease that can result in erosive joint damage, functional disability, and increased mortality comparable to that of triple vessel coronary artery disease and stage IV non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Epidemiological studies have shown that 30% of patients develop joint erosions within the first year and 70% within two years. Despite the early introduction of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), often in combination rather than as monotherapy, many patients continue to have active disease and to show progressive joint damage.