Delayed clinical response in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with etanercept

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate response in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who failed to meet response criteria after 3 months of etanercept treatment.METHODS: This was a prospective ongoing multicenter observational study of all Dutch patients with JIA using etanercept. Response according to American College of Rheumatology Pediatric 30 criteria was assessed at study start and at 3 and 15 months.RESULTS: In total we studied 179 patients of median age 5.8 years at disease onset; 70% were female. Thirty-four patients did not respond after 3 months, of which 20 continued etanercept and 11 achieved response thereafter.CONCLUSION: The delayed clinically relevant response in a substantial proportion of patients who initially did not respond justifies the consideration of continuing therapy to at least 6 months.