Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: current and future treatment options

Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common rheumatic disease in children. The management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis has improved in recent decades, and morbidity due to the disease is significantly decreased. In particular, the use of more effective drugs and their combination has changed the course of the disease in many patients. The increasing knowledge of inflammation mechanisms has lead to the development of new agents that target specific cytokines interfering with the inflammatory cascade. In particular, anti-TNF agents seem effective: etanercept is the only one licensed for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and Phase III trials on two other anti-TNF agents, infliximab and adalimumab, are ongoing. This review discusses the current practice in the medical management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and potential new agents are discussed.