| Theme |
New Drugs for Dialysis Patients |
| Title |
New treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and collagen diseases patients with renal failure |
| Author |
Hiroko Kanda |
Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Toshihide Mimura |
Division of Rheumatology and Applied Immunology, Department of Medicine, Saitama Medical University |
| [ Summary ] |
Recently, treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and collagen diseases have progressed greatly. In Japan, several new drugs have been approved for RA. Approved were methotrexate in 1998 and leflunomide and infliximab in 2003. Etanercept and tacrolimus were also approved in 2005. Based on their pharmacokinetics, leflunomide may be administered to RA patients as an antirheumatic drug and etanercept as a tumor necrosis factor, regardless of renal functions. However, there are very few clinical reports showing that these agents are safe, well tolerated and effective in the patients with renal failure. On the other hand, little is known about the safety of other new drugs for patients with renal impairment. More clinical reports on new reagents are necessary to establish their usefulness in patients with renal failure. |