[Proposal for anti-TNFalpha therapy in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory disease with the prevalence about 1%. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized with synovitis, erosive changes of the joints, pain and functional deficit. Etiology of the disease is unknown. In the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis the key role have proinflammatory citokines, particularly, tumour necrosis factor (TNFalpha). TNFalpha blockers have documented, fast and continuous efficacy with generaly well accepted safety profile. Nowadays, TNFalpha antagonists are established drugs in early and late phase of rheumatoid arthritis. Prescription of TNFalpha antagonists is controlled, according local restrictions, regarding high costs of the therapy. On behalf of the Croatian Society for Rheumatology we propose recommendations for the TNFalpha antagonist therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.