Efficacy of rapamycin in patient with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by articular inflammation and subsequent tissue damage that may result in severe disability. Several combinations of drugs, including immunosuppressive agents have been used to control disease progression. Although there is no information available on rapamycin efficacy in JRA, it has demonstrated a potential to inhibit inflammatory processes observed in adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We present a 21 years old renal transplant recipient with JRA, primarily treated with tacrolimus and steroids, who achieved a long-term disease remission after introduction of rapamycin. As long as pathogenesis of JRA and RA is similar, we conclude that rapamycin could be promising immunosuppressant for patients after renal transplantation suffering from both JRA and RA.