Rheumatoid Arthritis: Todd DJ

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A digest of articles written 1999 and later, on the topic "Arthritis, Rheumatoid," originating from Planet Earth —» Todd DJ.  Display:  All Citations ·  All Abstracts
1 Review Abatacept in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. 2007

Todd DJ, Costenbader KH, Weinblatt ME. · Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. · Int J Clin Pract. · Pubmed #17313619 No free full text.

Abstract: Over the past decade, biological immunotherapy has revolutionised the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The most widely used of these therapies targets tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Approximately 20% of patients fail to respond to TNF-alpha antagonism, however, and a significant number of additional patients become refractory to anti-TNF-alpha therapy over time. Thus investigators have sought to target other pathogenic elements of RA using novel biological therapies. Abatacept is the first immunotherapy directed against the process of T-cell costimulation. Abatacept has shown clinical effectiveness in RA by improving disease activity, quality of life measures and radiographic progression of disease. In this article, we review the immunology of T-cell activation and costimulation, define the role of abatacept in this process, and discuss the clinical trials that led to the approval of abatacept as the latest biological therapy in RA in the USA and Canada. We also address the role of abatacept in the greater context of biological therapy for RA.

2 Article Serum sickness following treatment with rituximab. 2007

Todd DJ, Helfgott SM. · Department of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #17295433 No free full text.

Abstract: Serum sickness, an illness characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgias, can occur in patients who receive chimeric monoclonal antibody therapy. Rituximab, a B cell-depleting chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been used with increasing frequency in the treatment of rheumatologic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Serum sickness has only rarely been reported following rituximab therapy. All prior reported cases have been in patients with autoimmune conditions. We describe a case of serum sickness in a patient treated with rituximab for mantle cell lymphoma. We also review the literature of rituximab-induced serum sickness.