Guidelines on biologic drugs for the treatment of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

Juvenilni idiopatski artritis (JIA) najčešća je kronična reumatska bolest u djece i jedan od glavnih uzroka kratkotrajnog ili dugotrajnog invaliditeta te smanjenja kvalitete života u djetinjstvu. Bez pravovremenog i adekvatnog liječenja bolest progredira i rezultira trajnim promjenama na zglobovima. Izbor terapije ovisi o tipu JIA, stupnju aktivnosti bolesti, prognostičkim čimbenicima te dokazanoj učinkovitosti i mogućim nuspojavama pojedinih lijekova. Cilj suvremenog liječenja JIA je postizanje potpune remisije bolesti, a ne samo ublažavanje simptoma i privremeno smirivanje upalnog procesa. Primjena bioloških lijekova dovela je do značajnog napretka u liječenju bolesnika s rezistentnim oblicima JIA. U radu donosimo hrvatske smjernice za primjenu biološke terapije u bolesnika s JIA.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic disease in children, and one of the major causes of short-term or long-term disability, and impairment of quality of life in childhood. Without early and adequate treatment the disease will progress and result with irreparable joint damage. The choice of therapy depends on the JIA subtype, disease activity index, prognostic factors, and prooven efficacy and probable side-effects of the drugs. The goal of modern JIA therapy is the achievement of complete disease remission, and not only the improvement of symptoms and temporarily inflammation control. The implementation of biologics significantly altered therapeutic approach to children with resistant JIA. We present Croatian guidelines on biologic drugs for the treatment of patients with JIA