Etanercept treatment in patients with refractory systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

In this cohort of children with SOJRA, 46% had a good or excellent response, and most were able to reduce concomitant corticosteroid doses. The response to etanercept was fair or poor in more than half our study population, and disease flares were common. Due to the unique cytokine profile of SOJRA, tumor necrosis factor blockade may not be the optimal therapeutic approach for children with treatment-resistant SOJRA.