[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 caracterized with synovitis, erosive changes of the joints, pain and functional deficit. Etiology 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 generally well accepted safety profile. Nowdays, 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 Croatian Society for Rheumatology we propose recommendations for the TNFalpha antagonist therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.